Da bomb

When I was growing up, the war was still Cold and “the bomb” referred to the nuclear bomb — you know, the one we were convinced Russia would drop smack-dab in the middle of America’s heartland and end life as we knew it.

I was in sixth grade when “The Day After” first aired on TV. That movie, about the aftermath of a nuclear explosion over Kansas, scared the crap out of me. We spent an entire class period talking about it with our social studies teacher, Mr. Grawcock.

The next year, “Red Dawn,” starring Patrick Swayze, C. Thomas Howell and a young Charlie Sheen, came out in theaters. With all that star power, I begged my mom to take me to see it — and loved the movie about high school kids fighting back against Communist invaders.

I found “Red Dawn” on again last weekend on AMC. (They were “Crazy about Swayze.”) I fought with the Boyfriend to watch it — and was disappointed. The movie wasn’t as good as I remembered it being. The years haven’t been kind.

Not surprising, I guess. Nowadays, the war’s on terror and “da bomb” refers to something else altogether.

Speaking of, here are a few things I’m declaring “da bomb” this weekend:

Low-carb nirvana

— The Atkins Daybreak Oatmeal Cinnamon Square. I tried my first one this morning, and thought I’d died and gone to heaven. It’s got the texture of a cookie. Frankenfood or not, I’ll be buying more of these, stat.

— Roasted brussels sprouts. I know I’m coming late to the party on this one, having seen the dish on several blogs. But I finally had a chance to make some for myself the other day, and they were delicious. The best part? peeling off the crunchy, browned outer leaves. I’ll definitely be adding them to my meal rotation.

It wasn't supposed to stick.

— The weather no longer looks like this. The weather forecast for Thursday said no accumulation, but that’s what happened. Luckily for winter-haters like me, it’s been sunny … if still cold … ever since.

— I’m starting two days off to spend with the Boyfriend, in beautiful, sunny central Arizona.

Love the views!

— I’ve lost a pound from my last weigh-in. I can’t remember if I got on the scale Thursday or Friday … but either way, a pound down is great. I’ll take it.

—I’m prepared for my days off with lots of snacks and low-carb foods, so I can stay on track and watch the scale move even farther in the right direction.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend, folks. I know I will.