Hey, Amanda and I got Luigi (Scotty) a shirt……a real chef’s shirt, and he loves it. It was really kind of a joke after the big dinner he made for the girls the other night. But you have to admire a teenage boy who wants to learn to cook. We all love to eat, and there is not too much worse than having to horse down a bad meal. Amanda has agreed to teach him Kansas cooking (which I interpret as following a recipe to a tee – except for the part of servings) and with that, so far, he has done a fine job.

I however was heavily influenced by where I grew up. There was a lot of ethnic food in the South Bend/Mishawaka area and most of the people I saw cook didn’t seem to be reading anything. Cooking was done by remembering and “by taste.” It is a methodology that appalls my scientist wife, so it is indeed one that I am anxious to teach him.

Sadly, being on this diet, I will not be able to do much more than just sample anything that we cook. It is worth it though. I hit the scales this morning at 228.4! I am committed to hanging in there, and intend to up until starvation has me really committed.

In truth, the quick weight you lose at the beginning of a diet helps to make the changes your body goes through tolerable. I am fighting off headaches, a bit of jaw pain, and the desire to scarf down Ben’s leftover macaroni (that I MADE….by taste). But I am doing fine and moving ahead.

Anyway, I am off to tell a few Ratatouille jokes to Scott in his new shirt….not too many though. I am afraid he might start eating in front of me!

Goodnight my friends and God Bless!

Tommy+