I have to give credit; my LA Fitness closed for a few weeks to update and remodel. The big boy lift area is a great addition and it really feels like some planning went into this update.

Netflix citing YouTubes popularity over their viewers as a reason to give them a monopoly seems beyond small dick energy to me.

Does sitting on the calf extension (not actually extending anything) while playing air guitar count as exercise? Does this crap happen at an Equinox?

Michael is loving the chocolate banana bread baked lately; so I am all for fulfilling more requests! This batch utilizes my sourdough discard and they are so moist! The icing decoration I just made up on the fly and so it feels a little wonky; but tasty!

Art Basel in Miami. Interesting to see so much contemporary art. The people watching was cool too! #artbasel

Ready for the tree skirt holiday party! Made the shirt myself!!

Making blueberry and cranberry scones…this is why my six pack stays hidden.

First attempt at a soft sourdough loaf tonight. Not half bad, and I’m looking forward to making toast with butter and jam!

In an effort to cut back on the alcohol during the week; Monday-Thursday is mocktails in the evening. Today’s while I prep dinner is blood orange Italian soda, tart cherry juice and a sharp hit of fresh lemon juice. Served in my 1960’s Rogaska Crystal. Gotta make em just as special!

Im digging the leg definition I’m getting!

FWIW I've encountered angry vegans. (Nothing against vegans, vegans are cool.) But this guy's point is overall pretty good.

Ok so Stranger Things 5 episode 4 gay superpowers theme may be over the top but I’m a total fan of it and “bout damn time”!

It’s raining all day, chilly…no better day than to make some banana bread! Nigellas Domestic Goddess recipe. #nigella

As a follow up encore to the pecan pie that has been inhaled; I made a chocolate version today. And added hand whipped chantilly cream to give that finishing touch. Served on Royal Doulton.

Besides making pie dough; raised dough for cinnamon rolls and other goods; I found time to make an organizer for our Splendor game and expansions. The gold coins (dads railroad commemorative tokens) and gems are token substitutes to add some additional geek flavor to the game!

The two part user agreement on Borderlans 4 seems absolutely ridiculous. It was longer than the credits for most movies! 😳

I couldn’t resist; brown sugar, maple, pecan pie. No corn syrup recipe and the crust was one of my flakey yet melt in the mouth best!

Post cruise workout; a smattering of lifting and cardio to make me sweat.

Shirtless men in painted on compression shorts, riding bikes at sunset. Welcome to the start of winter in Wilton Manors.

Home from a month trip and cruise; and I stand on the scale with eyes closed anticipating not good news….I lost 2.5 lbs! Oh man! Heck yeah! I’ll take that!

If I have to listen to another person ramble on for 20+ about which specialty restaurant they dined at the previous night I’m going to scream! 😖

A few more days on the ship and I’m trying to find motivation to workout.

Embarrassing is a 80 year old with a cane ready to throw down over a coffee. It’s not the last one on the ship being made. Sheesh! 😒

Loving Mallorca!

In Gosford Park writer Julian Fellows said one of the worst insults one could say in society was “you’re the kind of person who is rude to service (servants)”. Today seeing a 70 something Napoleon yelling at the ship staff about his eggs not coming out in time was an epitome of that.

Battling the bulge on the ship in Kusadasi! Loving a near empty gym this morning!

Oia, Santorini. Gotta love the souvenirs I’ll be picking up for friends!

Walking among the ruins of Mercati di Traiano Museo dei Fori Imperiali; was such an experience. I have seen it in prior trips but never went to see it. If your an ancient civ buff; it’s a must see.

Staying at the Cardo Roma in Rome. Their gym is so gorgeous! So many US based hotels could learn a few things.

Waiting in line at the hotel buffet breakfast and wondering why AI hasn’t bused the tables faster?

Mike and the Mechanics “can you hear me” playing in the hotel coffee shop feels weirdly appropriate today…

I’m in a hotel lobby and seeing the various airlines represented. I will say Emirates flight attendants uniforms are impeccable! USA based airlines could learn something about branding style. I mean down to the red purse the uniform is perfect.

Great evening of Broadway (O Mary!) and heading back to the room with sustenance.

Arrived at JFK late and now it is the slowwww pilgrimage to our hotel downtown. Yeah, Ft Lauderdale Traffic (even some of Miami’s) looks like a piece of cake in comparison.

One my favorite bakes that I don’t do nearly enough is babka. The opening of layers allows the dough and fillings to rise easier in the oven and caramelize at the same time. This one is chocolate cinnamon pecan with a cinnamon buttercream drizzle. Heaven!

Michael has been working on using puzzle pieces to make sculptures in forms of trees, cakes, and wall designs. Taking a large amount to our former employer for consignment today. Fingers crossed they sell!

Tonight’s sourdough. Proofed in the fridge two days. I was concerned as it had dried on the top a little. But onward we go; and what a great little loaf! Had some olive oil and balsamic and tangy whiskey sour to enjoy it with.

These are the things I think of as I lift…the days menu…dinner was simple and straight forward…citrus teriyaki style salmon over garlic smashed potato’s and I have two loafs of sourdough in battens in the fridge for tomorrow. Dessert was a nice Victoria sponge; cherry and whipped cream. Ahhh.

Tonights Brit Bake Off; I made a Couronne Bordelaise. It has two flavored doughs; lemon and rosemary, second one; roasted red pepper and tomato. The filling was a veggie beef and carmelized onion marinara, mozzarella and Parmesan. Nice bake and a spicy tomato chutney really made it this evening!

I saved a little of the same sourdough and pulled this Margherita pizza together. Not half bad and hubby ate several pieces too! 😊

It’s a small boulle loaf but, it’s my first actual sourdough without adding any commercial yeast to help me out. Tastes good and has a great crunch! I’m inspired to try more!

In my British Baking Show mode; so this morning I made a chocolate Victoria Sponge with mock chocolate ganache icing. You can’t beat a better breakfast on a Sunday.

I think I found decent lighting at my gym finally.

Finished a new plumeria painting on gold leaf. Approx 16” x 16”.

Promoting the Rapture seems like a bad strategy to help with making more money for “the building fund”. 💵🤑🤑🤑

Anyone who does sourdough will get why after weeks of a meh starter I’m happy this afternoon! May have to make something soon! The jar behind is my discard jar.

Sister in law is visiting and we are wrecking our diets haha. Getting it in this am before brunch with friends and wrecking it further.

Hubby loves my hair long (I’m working on that Lestat balance of length and slight curl..it ain’t easy ya’ll), but tells me he doesn’t like it when I put it up in that utilitarian man bun. (But he gets it…).

With all that’s going on in the world…and apparently we have no idea what had been unleashed…🙄. As I have my breakfast at a great little diner..can we all just remember…