I’m addicted to Twitter, but I’m very particular about who I follow. Twitter can clutter very quickly, so I want to follow people with quality Tweets and interesting links; that’s why I follow ted on twitter.

Ted is the Founder and CEO of Izea, and we all know I give Izea a big thumbs up, so I have to follow the man behind the curtain. He asks interesting questions, makes random witty remarks, and leads you to other influential bloggers and important people to follow.

Ted makes my Twitter list, and he should make yours, too.

We all need to congratulate ourselves. We made it through the first full week of 2009 and it’s time for Four Foods on Friday! I’m sure most of us made a food-related resolutions, promise, or dream. I started Atkins this week, so what better way to torture myself than to talk about carbs!

Just joking! Here are this week’s four delectable questions…

1. Waffles. Do you usually eat frozen or homemade?

Frozen, but we do love Batter Blaster!

2. Eggs. Do you buy brown, white, or it doesn’t matter?

I’m intimately involved with eggs since starting Atkins, but I’ve never seen brown in the grocery store. We do get them quite often at work from a local farmer for photoshoots, though.

3. Oatmeal. Do you usually make instant or cooked?

Instant, maple and brown sugar. Ahhh…if only.

4. Bacon. Share instructions or a recipe that you use bacon in.

Being on Atkins, I’ve been eating bacon every day. My favorite is the pre-cooked, microwavable bacon from Costco. 45 seconds in the microwave, and it’s perfect with eggs. 60 seconds and it’s nice and crunchy to crumble into recipes.

I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism back in September, and since then I have been diligently taking my medication, having follow-up blood work drawn, and waiting for my appointment with an endocrinologist. I’ve been frustrated with the weight gain, my hair falling out, and constantly being tired. Mike would throw in that he’s frustrated with my crankiness, and that’s a valid complaint, too.

Finally, I had my endocrinologist appointment, and was optimistic that there would be tests to run that my family doctor hadn’t and that the doctor would have some sage wisdom about treatment options. I had my questions ready and immediately got the distinct feeling that he wasn’t taking me seriously.

All my optimism completely vanished when the doctor diagnosed me with depression, suggested I had gotten fat because I got married, asked if I ever tried Weight-Watchers, and offered lap band surgery as a treatment option. I admit that I teared up trying to defend myself, but the water works didn’t officially start until I called my mom to tell her how this incompetent doctor treated me…and again when I got home and told Mike.

I have heard lots of horror stories about doctors being rude to hypothyroidism patients and dragging their feet with treatment options, but I thought if I went in there prepared, asked the right questions, and showed that I was making an effort, that the doctor would take me seriously and we could get my levels regulated. Instead, I got the bumbling Dr. Adlar who treated me like some fat woman using hypothyroidism as an excuse for my weight gain. Never mind the pervious blood work showing my elevated levels or the fatigue, hair loss, carpel tunnel symptoms, dry skin, and joint pain that I’ve had for the past year.

Now I’m back to square one, except I’m pissed off and upset; making an appointment with my family doctor and my gynecologist to see if they have any recommendations for a reputable endocrinologist.

It’s Four Foods on Friday: Ice Storm 2008 Edition! I’m working from home today, so I’m answering this week’s Four Foods on Friday questions early so I’m not distracted all day. Although I do have to go around visiting everyone’s posts!

1. What’s your favorite crunchy food?

I’ve been snacking on La Choy rice noodles lately. They are very crunchy and quite tasty.

2. How often do you try new recipes?

Not as often as I should considering I work with a chef every day.

3. Name a food that you almost always have in the house.

Edamame! The Archer Farms steam bags of edamame from SuperTarget are my favorite. I just bought four bags yesterday.

4. What kind of food do you leave out for Santa on Christmas Eve?

Cookies and milk. Sometimes carrots for the reindeer.

I was so swamped at work today that I didn’t even realize it was Friday! After the 5 o’clock bell rang, it was great to realize that I had Four Foods on Friday and two days off to look forward to.

This week is all about parties, because it’s Val’s son’s 9th birthday! I’m not known for my hosting skills (we’re still the youngest married couple in our families, so we still get invited to other people’s house and aren’t expected to host…yet), but I have coordinated quite a few work-related shin-digs, so I might have some party merit.

1. Cake. Buttercream, whipped cream or ice cream?

Buttercream. Cold buttercream. I don’t like whipped cream and I don’t like warm cakes.

2. When entertaining do you use real, paper, plastic or styrofoam dishes?

Usually the heavy duty plastic so we don’t have to worry about anything getting broken, and sometimes we even wash it and reuse it!

3. When hosting a party do you cook, have it catered or go to a restaurant?

A party is any gathering with more than two people in our house, and it usually caps out at four when my parents visit, so there isn’t much need for catering.

4. Share a recipe that you frequently serve when having a party.

Uncork cheap champagne, pour in glass, drink from noon until the guests leave.