Recreational softball

Totally out of character, I signed up for my company's softball team. I haven't played since I was 11 and I was terrible then. The first game is on Tuesday and I'm really nervous. Will I be able to hit the ball? Will I be able to catch the ball? Is the ball going to hit me? Ugh.  So last night I went to Target and bought a glove, a softball, a pair of youth's large batting gloves (because I don't want calluses) and a pair of sports sunglasses. I'm going to the nearby batting cages with a friend today and plan to play catch with Max this weekend.

Why am I doing this? Well, I know I need to get more exercise and this will ensure that I do. Also, it's a good way to get to know some people at work that I don't know very well or hardly at all. Admirably goals but I still feel like I'm crazy for signing up. Ugh.  Wish me luck. Please.

Grace's Mandarin

188 Waterfront St.
National Harbor, MD 20745
www.gracesrestaurants.com

Pros:
We ordered the Chicken Lettuce Wrap to start. The chicken filling was delicious but we ran out of lettuce so we ended up eating the rest with our spoons. I ordered the Peking Duck Buns and liked them. The steamed buns were fairly authentic and the filling was tasty (though I could have done without the pickle just because it's not my favorite). Definitely enough food, portions were not a problem. I felt satisfied at the end of my meal - especially after the fortune cookie. Service was good.

Cons: 
Overpriced by at least 1/3, if not 1/2. We had a 10% off special and it STILL cost over $75 for one appetizer, two entrees, one soda and tip. The dining experience was not THAT good. The noise level was more like a casual dining restaurant. Hot towels on a hot day? Um... yeah, no thanks. The shabby menu almost falling apart, the wall next to our booth was dirty, and the ladies room needed to be cleaned up. And the qipao our waitress was wearing had a loop at her waist to hold the tongs for the towels, which Max thought was practical but it looked tacky.

Verdict:
Probably will not be going back unless there is a half off special. Especially since parking at National Harbor is not free! (My number one pet peeve about National Harbor)

Vote for your FAVORITE farmers market!

Shopping at your Farmers Market helps keep farmers on the land. Vote now to give your market the recognition it deserves.

Visit your local farmers market to vote with your dollar.

Or VOTE ONLINE

Instagram slideshow

Birds

Took a short walk at lunch and witness two things that made me smile enough that I thought I'd share.

1) A sparrow furiously flying about 4" back and forth to grab a (rather large, ick) spider from its web at the top of a street light.

2) Two sparrows sitting on a porch banister, the one on the left that was slightly fatter hopped on top of the one on the right to get to the other side of the second bird.

Also, an older couple was walking along and I saw the husband move to walk on the other side of his wife, next to the street. And as my friend Rue taught me, "A gentleman always walks on the outside next to the street." Very sweet.

Sony NEX-5N

I received an extravagant birthday present from my in-laws... a new camera! The detail it picks up is amazing - some things that I can't see with my eye.

Micronutrients

After watching Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead, I started looking into a more nutrient rich diet. I even bought a juicer! 


For my own future reference, here's a list of food high in micronutrients I found online:

1000	Collard greens
1000	Kale (boiled)
1000	Turnip Greens
1000	Watercress
1000	Mustard Greens
905	Kale (uncooked)
824	Bok choy
739	Spinach
672	Brussels Sprouts
559	Arugula
554	Radishes
518	Cocoa (dry powder, unsweetened)
481	Cabbage
475	Basil, fresh
474	Parsley, fresh (1 tablespoon)
457	Spearmint, fresh (1 tablespoon)
444	Bean sprouts
420	Red pepper
420	Cabbage (raw)
393	Kohlrabi
389	Romaine Lettuce
376	Broccoli (raw)
365	V-8 juice, low sodium
359	Radicchio
352	Red Cabbage (raw)
344	Carrot Juice
342	Tomato juice
336	Carrots (boiled)
322	Escarole
295	Cauliflower (boiled)
280	Lemon (raw)
258	Green Pepper
244	Artichoke
240	Carrots (raw)
236	Cranberries
234	Asparagus
223	Guava
222	Zucchini
212	Strawberries
193	Pomegranate Juice
178	Blackberries
173	Scallions
166	Pomegranate
164	Tomatoes
159	Butternut Squash
157	Plums (fresh)
135	Mushrooms (raw)
135	Celery
130	Blueberries
127	Snow peas
124	Brazil nuts (0.25 cup)
119	Mushrooms (boiled)
109	Orange
106	Rhubarb
104	Lentils, boiled (1 cup)
102	Grapefruit
100	Red Kidney Beans, boiled (1 cup)
100	Fava Bean, boiled (1 cup)
100	Cantaloupe
100	Lime
100	Kiwi
97	Ketchup (low sodium)
94	Great Northern Beans, boiled (1 cup)
94	Cannellini Beans (1 cup)
83	Sweet Potato
78	Sunflower Seeds
74	Green beans
72	Apples
70	Green Peas
68	Cherries
65	Flaxseeds
65	Sesame Seeds
64	Pineapple
58	Edamame
57	Chick Peas (Garbanzo), boiled (1 cup)
53	Oats, old-fashioned
51	Mango
50	Onions
50	Cucumbers
48	Pistachio Nuts, unsalted (0.25 cup)
47	Soy Beans, boiled (1 cup)
46	Tuna, yellow fin, cooked, dry heat (4 ounces)
46	Lima Beans, boiled (1 cup)
44	Corn
43	Potatoes
43	Barley, whole grain
43	Wild brown rice
41	Brown rice
41	Flounder, cooked, dry heat (4 ounces)
41	Sole, cooked, dry heat (4 ounces)
41	Pecans (0.25 cup)
39	Salmon, pink, cooked, dry heat (4 ounces)
39	Mahi-Mahi, cooked, dry heat (4 ounces)
39	Bison, top sirloin
38	Almonds, unsalted (0.25 cup)
38	Shrimp
37	Peanuts, all types, unsalted (0.25 cup)
37	Tofu
37	Avocado
36	Nonfat milk
35	Haddock
34	Pork tenderloin
32	Barley, pearled
31	Grapes
31	Cod, Cooked, dry heat (4 ounces)
30	Banana
30	Nonfat plain yogurt
29	Ground beef, 95% lean
28	Low-fat milk
27	Kamut, whole grain
27	Chicken breast
27	Flank steak
27	Eggs
27	Grouper, Cooked, dry heat (4 ounces)
26	Peanut butter
26	Pine Nuts or Pignolia (1 tablespoon)
24	Low-fat plain yogurt
21	Feta cheese
18	Tilapia, Cooked, dry heat (4 ounces)
17	Macadamia Nut, unsalted (0.25 cup)
17	Chestnuts (1 ounce)
16	Raisins
10	Coconut

Sources: 

• http://archive.mensjournal.com/andiscores/2
• http://experiencelife.com/article/eating-by-the-numbers/
• http://www.loops4health.com/_1_Food_Nutrient_Density_Values_ANDI.pdf