A Loss...

Official weigh in today! 4.5 off! Even got my exercising in yesterday. Was only able to stand 15 minutes because I stupidly put it off until after supper and I was still a little too full. Won't make that mistake again today. Now I only have a half pound to go to be where I was before Christmas. I'm so looking forward to new numbers. I know, I know, I'm a scale junkie at heart.

The wind kicked up before dawn this morning and I thought it would blow me off the mountain. Then the snow started. There's only about an inch and a half out there now and it sure is beautiful. Just hope the accumulation stays on the low side. National weather says we will only get 3 inches. That's enough.

Since my mailbox is at the bottom of the mountain, I tend to not check it everyday. I only check it when I'm going off the mountain for something else in the winter. In the summer I'll hop on the ATV and run down there to get it more often and enjoy the scenery a little while I'm out. But I haven't been to check it since last Tuesday. I just did (before the snow got too high) and was surprised with another Christmas present. It was from my NJ daughter. She made me the most gorgeous place mats. Going to clean my table off (crafting supplies all over it) today and take a picture of them. You're gonna love them. Both of my girls are so talented in the crocheting department and other departments as well. I am so proud of the women they have become.

Today and tonight will be quiet ones for me. I was invited to a New Year's Eve party but declined because I don't want to be out driving alone on New Year's Eve in the snow. Especially with the crazy drunks in this county that will be out there. And besides I don't have anyone to kiss as the new year rings in except my pups and they weren't invited. So what are your plans?

Enjoy the last day of 2008 and here's all my best wishes that 2009 will bring all of you what your heart desires. Maybe we will all reach goal in 2009 or maintain it if you already have.

Musings...

Well, this is the beginning of day 4 and so far so good. Didn't exercise yesterday but the food consumption went really well. According to MyFoodDiary I'll meet my goal by November '09, no February '10, no September '09... I've been getting a laugh out of that. It all depends on what I did that day. Now I'm wondering if I can just kick butt and make it sooner. This may be a way to really keep me at it with a vengeance.

I'm back to weighing myself every morning right now. Since I gained so much over the holidays I'm really anxious to see what happens. Right now I've got it almost all off. (That will surely mess up their computing.) But I know that after binging, for me, the first week the weight really drops.

I think I mentioned that they give you little smiley faces when you have done well and frowny faces when you haven't. Well...I will NEVER get a smiley face for my sodium intake! I do eat a lot of sodium rich foods and that is for health reasons. I tend to have low blood pressure and the doctors have always told me to increase the sodium so that I won't pass out. Even with a sodium day of over 4,000 I sometimes have dizzy spells. Hey, just had a thought, doesn't exercise decrease your blood pressure? Hmmmm, should I cut that out of my daily routine? Just kidding, I won't because it is good for my heart, heart, heart.

Later Bloggagators!

Some Ramblings...

Exercised again yesterday!

Ate within my allotted calories!

And that's all I have to say about that!

I've been working on more socks. I have all these partial balls left over from the ones I already made and I'm experimenting. Here's a pic of one I started.

Now all I have to do is remember which balls I used for the stripes and reproduce it on the other sock. Don't think I'll do the rest of them like that. I was looking at a catalog sometime before Christmas and they were selling "mis-matched" socks. Interesting enough, they were way more expensive than the matched ones. Think I will do that with the rest of the partial balls. I don't really need any more socks so maybe my family would like another pair or two. I'm beginning to think that I will just keep on making them because they are so much fun to do.

Started a new book a couple of days ago. It's "Duma Key" by Stephen King and I'm not sure what it will be like yet. It is interesting but so far it is just not like the usual SK novels. His writing has surely changed since his accident. I'll probably be into this one for a while since it is over 700 pages. I've read most everything he's written (pre accident) and I like Dean Koontz too. Have you read DK's "Marley and Me?" I've seen where they made a movie with that title. Wonder if it is based on his book. The book was really a good one and not at all in his regular genre.

Have a great week out there in blog-land.

Day 2 (545)...

So far so good. I made it yesterday! Yay! I had my doubts, that's for sure. I even exercised for a little while. I did have a problem last night at around 8:30, I was starving and had no more calories left. So I got myself some celery and munched on it for a while with a big glass of water. I figured celery would be a good choice since it takes more calories to chew it than it contains.

MyFoodDiary is a really cool site. It doesn't leave any room for guess work. It totals your calories as you enter them and tells you how many you have left in order to lose what ever goal you set for yourself plus it gives the amount of calories left to lose 1 pound a week. So you have options. And when you enter your exercise it adds some calories to your total left. That's why I exercised, to see what it would do. I really could have fudged it and just entered the exercise and not do it but that would be cheating, wouldn't it? At the end of the day you are asked to close out the day when you are finished. It then tells you how you did and gives you a date that you will be at your goal weight if you keep on doing what you did on that day. Hmmm, wonder if it changes as the days go by and you do better or worse. We shall see.

Guess you can tell I'm enamored with this web site and my new toy.

BTW the title means that this is day two of my new start and day 545 of when I began this. Sure wish I had stuck with it better and I may have been to goal by now. Oh, well, that's water under the bridge, or in my case I think it flowed over the bridge there for a while.

Those weren't my doggies in yesterdays post. I have one that looks sad all the time and one that just looks bored. They never pant so I can't capture them looking happy.

Pictures of the socks I made are coming. As soon as Cara takes a picture of her families feet for me to post. So please be patient.

Hope your Sunday is going as planned and is a blessed one.

A Fresh Start...

I've decided to get back on it!!

As I was lying in bed last night waiting to nod off I got to thinking about how far I've come in the past 544 days and how far I have yet to go. I decided it would be a shame not to continue the path I'm on. After all, I long to see my collar bones (can't remember the last time I saw them). I gained 5 pounds over the past 3 days and that is really BAD. I know we are not supposed to use that word but it is what it is. Today is the beginning of my continuing down the RIGHT path.

So, I joined Myfooddiary.com this morning. Cara was singing it's praises a couple of weeks ago and although there is a fee to use it, I decided I needed a tool that will help me stay on target. It does have some really neat features. The one I like the best is that after you enter a food it tells you how many calories you have left for the day in order to meet your weight loss goal for that week. This I think will be a very helpful tool for me. When I get the munchies or want something in the evenings, I can look there and see just what I can have. Just think, I will be able to check to see if I can have a cookie or not!

As hard as it was for me to do it, I updated my side bar to reflect my gain. After all, I'm doing this weight loss blog to help myself and if I can't be honest then it won't help me at all.

Hope your weekend is going well.

The Cookie Monster Came to Visit...

Baking cookies last night was a stupid thing to do. I really wanted it to feel more like Christmas with home baked goodies. BIG MISTAKE!! I had it all planned out. I'd eat 2 or 3 as a real treat and then one a day until they were gone. Wrong. I ate 6 before I had to slap my hands to keep them from getting into them and eating them all. I usually don't have a sweat tooth. So I was sure I could handle it. I guess I've found my weakness, home baked cookies. Cakes don't bother me that much and pies don't bother me that much, nor does candy, but home baked cookies, wow. Today has been a little better, I've only had 4, and I just can't make myself throw them away. I just can't! So my plan for tomorrow is, one for breakfast (they are oatmeal cookies after all) and one after supper.

Trivia time: Do you know why you get sleepy after a big turkey dinner? (If so, you can skip this paragraph.) Turkey contains tryptophan. It's an essential amino acid the body can not manufacture. It only comes from food. Tryptophan helps the body produce vitamin B (niacin) which in turn helps the body produce serotonin (a calming agent in the brain). Wonder if they put tryptophan in sleeping agents? If they don't, they should because anyone that has had turkey knows it really calms us down.

Have a good weekend.

Merry Christmas to All...

We had our little Christmas dinner a bit early this afternoon. I set a special place for "the kids" with their own little place mats. We had turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, green beans, creamed corn and cranberry sauce. Actually they had all of that except for the dressing and cranberry sauce. I didn't figure they'd like those so I left them off their plates. I think they really liked it because as you can see they cleaned their plates and didn't even spill anything. It was really funny watching them lick up the mashed potatoes.

It's sure interesting the way I've changed. When I got my plate fixed the first thing I dug into were the veggies. I've come a long way "baby." I haven't had mashed potatoes in a long time and they sure brought back memories. I only fixed two medium potatoes so that I wouldn't have a lot left over to haunt me because I made them like I used to with real butter and Carnation milk. I figured since it's Christmas that was one of my presents to myself.

I was invited to a neighbor's house for dinner but I declined since I already had the turkey breast thawed and have been looking forward to it for a while. Besides it's been really nice and relaxing.

I was contemplating baking cookies yesterday and decided not to since I'd be the only one eating them. But I've changed my mind. I'm going to whip up a small batch and ration myself with them. I mean what's Christmas without Christmas cookies?

I've heard from all my family and friends today and they are having a nice Christmas too. I hope yours was grand as well.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night...

Holiday Greetings...

Merry Christmas

Happy Hanukkah

Just Some Ramblings...

Sure is cold here but I know it is most everywhere right now, so I won't whine too much. I did stop in at the dollar store yesterday for some household cleaning supplies that were dwindling and happened to see sweat pants on sale. I decided with this cold snap that I needed some so I got two pair. Boy am I glad that I did. They feel nice and comfy right now and much better than the thinner pants I've been wearing around the house lately. And they're mediums!

We have no snow so we won't have a white Christmas. For those of you out there that do, enjoy it for me.

Cara has a really good blog about eating comfort foods. It has put everything into perceptive for me. Go check it out.

My eating lately has been great. I'm still not counting and measuring, as I'm still on vacation from obsessing. Hopped on the scales yesterday morning and was down a half pound. But since I'm not on this cycle of trying to lose weight, I'm not changing my side bar right now. Think I'll wait for a couple more weeks and see if it stays that way or just maintains like it has been.

Two more days! Are you ready? I am. Have my dinner all planned out for the doggies and me. They are really excited about it too, I can tell. Didn't get them any presents though. I think they'll enjoy the turkey breast enough without presents. After all food is more important to them than another squeak toy.

Have a great day.

Sensible Eating...

I don't know what came over me when I went to Wal-Mart Wednesday but I picked up a couple bags of potato chips. Yeah, a couple, one in regular flavor and one in the sour cream/cheddar flavor. I have been wanting them so badly lately. Just a few with a sandwich would be nice. And the last time I had chips I was pretty careful to ration them out a few at a time. So I thought what the heck, I can do this. They stayed unopened until yesterday. I decided I'd give them a try. I opened the plain ones and counted out one portion. I brought them to the computer to munch on while I read and commented on some blogs. Well...I didn't enjoy them at all. The taste wasn't nearly as satisfying as I'd thought it would be. I did finish off the portion and then had a few peanuts to wash away the yucky taste of the chips. What's with that, anyway? Am I morphing into a healthy eater? This just couldn't be happening to me. I put a chip-clip on the bag and tossed them on top of the fridge way in the back. Still haven't tried the cheddar ones and at this point I really have no desire to do so, so they are right beside the other ones for the time being.

Cake...remember the cake I told you about that my friends had brought. It was/is about 5 inches long and about 3 by 3, in the cutest little ceramic baking loaf dish. I still have about 3 bites left!!! Yeah, I've made it last for 5 days instead of the 4 I had planned. One reason is that I refused to cut myself a piece and set down with it. I just kept a fork near by and took a bite whenever I wanted something sweet after a meal. This has worked out really well.

It's been a couple of "gloomy Gus" days here and I'm not complainin'. At least all this precipitation is in the form of rain and not snow. The road up the mountain is clear of snow and ice so I don't have to worry about slip/sliding down or up. I'll take the soggy ground anytime as long as the road stays clear. Usually after the first snow fall the road stays icy all winter but since there's been so much rain it's all gone as of now. I'm sure now that I've stated that fact we'll have a great snow fall soon and the road will be horrible so I'm knocking on wood just in case.

Gonna have some oriental chicken over pasta for supper. And since I have been eating a lot of beans instead of chicken I'm actually looking forward to it for a change.

I must confess that I haven't been very diligent with my exercise. I only did the Richard Simmons DVD 4 times and haven't thought about it in about a week. It's just so boring exercising alone. I get all fired up when I try something new then it gets boring and I quit. I've got about 5 DVD's of different types of exercise and different people that I could change them around and not get bored with any one of them, but the aloneness gets to me. Just don't know how you all keep at it.

Have a great weekend. Enjoy all the Christmas doings going on. But don't forget what the season is really all about.

Good Doctor's Visit...

Back from the doctor and shopping jaunt. And I'm "plum tuckered out."

Test results were great. Cholesterol was 192!! Sugar was a little high but not in the danger range, just have to keep an eye on it is all. That had me bumfuzzled since I have cut out all sugar and have very little carbs. She said that if I hadn't lost the weight I'd probably be on insulin since it runs in my family. So we will keep an eye on it for the time being. And isn't it amazing I have no aches and pains now :o)

Of all the things to forget before my trip was my list for WalMart. Good grief. I'm afraid to look at it now to see what I forgot because I don't want to have to kick myself in the butt this afternoon.

Stopped at the Post Office on the way home and got all my packages mailed out. Now I can just relax. It's ALL finished, WooHoo!

I was really thrilled with something that happened at the doctors. Don't know if you remember but the "really cute" med student asked me to make a pair of socks for his Mom and girlfriend. I took them to him and again he asked me what I wanted for making them. I told hem they cost $21 for the materials for both pairs and he gave me $50. I felt that was too much but he said it was perfect as far as he was concerned. He said he was definitely not losing my phone number or email address because he'd probably want some more. I splurged at WalMart and bought myself another Jimmy Buffet CD.

I even treated myself to breakfast at Hardy's I had a steak biscuit minus 3/4 of the biscuit. I feel really great right now and am going to go curl up on the couch with my book and enjoy my afternoon.

Happy Hump Day Y'all!

Comfortable Company...

I don't know what is going on in my head right now. I've been so blessed with good health over my 60+ years and have been bragging lately that at this ripe old age I'm not on any meds AT ALL. No high blood pressure, no diabetes, no cholesterol problems and so forth. Then I go to the doctor last week because I wasn't feeling so well in the female department. I insisted on getting a complete blood work up too, even though the doctor tried to talk me out of it because of the cost, she wasn't sure my insurance would cover it. Well, the female test has come back with an all clear. Whoopee!! Now I'm waiting on the blood work part. And the bad part is that I'm imagining all kinds of problems. Every little ache and pain I may get during the day has me thinking that maybe something is really wrong with me. Example: pain in the side of my neck wrapping around to the back, had me thinking I was going to have a stroke. Now, this has just got to stop! I think it is because I live alone and start to imagine all sorts of negative stuff that no one can talk me out of. Or it may be my mortality that is niggling at the back of my mind. Gotta get back that positive thinking about my health.

Company came and went and I enjoyed them immensely. They brought left over fried chicken and a very small friendship cake as a Christmas present. I really thanked them for making the cake a small one. And I did get into it yesterday and ate about 1/4. I'm working on making it last at least 4 days and counting the calories into my daily allotment. The fired chicken? Well, I opted for 2 wings. One I ate the night they arrive and the other was for lunch the next day. "All things in moderation."

They were so funny after we finished supper. They had been to Indiana and I was the last stop on their way home. They know that I have a DVR and wanted to know what movies I'd taped. So they picked one out that they wanted to watch (and I'd seen a couple of times already). I put it on and about halfway through it I looked over when I heard snoring and noticed that they were both asleep. And it was only 7:30. They must have been zonked with all the traveling and visiting. They did wake up with just 15 minutes left of the movie and I filled them in on what they had missed. Then they headed to bed. Well, he did anyway. She stayed with me and we talked for a couple of hours. Guess hers was a power nap. He was my hubbies old school chum and married this wonderful woman 5 years ago. She is the sweetest most thoughtful person I've ever met.

She can't stand to set still so she got up the next morning and began cleaning. What? I cleaned before they came. But that's just her. She saw something that I had put off and just did it. I had been saving boxes and putting my personal paperwork in them to be burned and was saving them for when they came because he loves to start a fire outside and I had decided I'd have some fuel for him to start the fire. Well, the wind was just blowing too much for a fire so she proceeded to make everything compact and take them to the garage for me to save for when they come back and the wind isn't too strong. This used to bother me but it doesn't anymore. I just let her go, because that's the way she is. I even joked with her about when she comes back in the spring I'd put Windex in her hand and put her on a ladder outside with me on the inside armed with my own bottle and we'd hit all the windows.

Follow-up visit with the doctor tomorrow at the horrible (for me) hour of 9:00 AM. Hope the blood work is back by then. Will be heading to Lewisburg for the last of my Christmas shopping and stocking up on what is needed for my "little" Christmas dinner alone. (Gonna stay home again this year. I feel better in my comfort zone.) Then stop on the way home and mail all the packages I need to.

Hope your week is going good and continues to do so.

A Good Day for Chili...

It's been a rather quiet couple of days. Once the rain and flooding stopped the snow started and it got really cold again. Just a dusting this time but I think it's going to be that kind of winter.

Eating has been on target and exercising could use some work.

May have some company tomorrow, just for the night. So, I made a big pot of chili just in case. And if they don't come I will freeze it and be set for a while. Gonna make some Pumpkin Custard (crustless pumpkin pie) just in case and hope that they don't eat it all so there will be plenty for me. I love that stuff.

I've got all my Christmas shopping finished except 2 gift cards. Will try to go to Lewisburg on Tuesday and take care of that, then I can say I'm done.

Hope your weekend is pleasant and not too hectic during this season. Don't forget to stop and take a deep breath or 12 and remember what it is all about.

T-shirt...

Okay, I've been searching and searching and can't find it. Who posted a picture of herself in the "I love (with a heart instead of the words) myself" t-shirt? I gotta have one of those and the person said they were at Target. I don't have one within 2 hours of my home. Hold on a minute, let me go to target.com and look........well, that took a while (there were 19 pages of t-shirts). Did you miss me? Shucky darn. Couldn't find one.

The craziest thing happened last night. I had just turned over to find a new position in bed and heard a car driving up my driveway. I waited a few seconds and listened and the horn beeped. I looked at the clock and saw it was 5:30. So I didn't turn on any lights and felt my way down stairs wanting to catch whoever it was without alerting them. They had already gone. I went back to bed and started wondering what I would have done if it had been a "bad guy." Then I hit myself in the forehead and thought, "you dummy, that's why you bought guns." So maybe if I'm in a panic like last night I won't remember what to do. Don't tell any "bad guys" out there that I forgot to take my gun with me or the directions to my house either.

Have a good one, blog-buds.

NSV...

I should have known the doctor wouldn't notice my weight loss because it's been over 2 years since I've seen her. It's been so long that she didn't even remember that she had seen me before at all. You see, she and her husband are in practice together and she had to take a leave of absence for family reasons and I only saw her once. So, very subtly I asked her what my weight was the last time I was there and she about freaked out. Being a doctor she immediately asked if the weight loss was intentional. Then she started singing my praises. Later on when the med student (and he was a real hotty too) was drawing my blood he continued to gush and told me that I had just added many years to my life. He has such a wonderful bedside manner, :sigh: but he's young enough to me my grandson.

The best part of the visit was weighing on official scales instead of home scales. My weight was 182.5 with all my clothes on. (Durn, they wouldn't let me strip to weigh in there in the hallway of the practice.) I had on heavy jeans and a sweater, so I'm a thinkin' that I could probably knock off a pound or two to get my home weight since I do that in my undies. You know what that means? It means that my maintenance is working!!! I haven't counted calories or anything in quite some time and have just been eating the way I have learned to do over the past year and a half. It means that I have learned a new life style of healthy eating! It means that my persistence is paying off! It means that I'm a new person! It means that I love myself!

I did get a wee nap in before the phone rang. I didn't turn it off because I was expecting a call and figured that the call would keep me from sleeping too long which would keep me up to all hours. Don't know what has happened to me but I'm not a night owl any more. Yes, I think I do know what has happened to me. It's this durn time change and the darkness that comes so early. About an hour after dark I start getting sleepy. Oh, well, this is getting me up earlier so that's all right too.

Talked to both my girls yesterday evening and after talking to Cara I was in the mood to put Richard Simmons into the DVD. I only did about 20 minutes this time but at least there was some extra movement in my day. I have to print a retraction or correction or whatever you want to call it. I blogged the first time I did the DVD that my heart rate was 270 and that is wrong. I didn't look closely at the timer on the screen and he was counting off 10 seconds. I'm used to counting off 6 seconds and just adding a zero to the number. So if I do it the way he did it my heart rate was really 162. That sounds more like it.

Have a great hump day!

Coffee Update...

I made it through the exam but it hurt like it has never hurt before. I was in real tears by the time she finished. Seems I have a bacterial imbalance in the cavern due to old age and no estrogen in the system at this time in my life. I've got three meds to take to solve the problem and then I wait to see what the results of the tests bring. I hate waiting.

And speaking of waiting...while I was waiting for my scripts there was a box of yummy looking Hersey's brownies staring at me. Lawsy mercy was that a tough one but I didn't cave. I walked away with only the scripts, and a free calendar.

And there was a med student there and I gave permission for him to be in during my exam. Had a pair of my homemade socks on and he has commissioned me to make a pair for his Mom and girl friend for Christmas. I have to go back for a check up next week and will have them ready for him then. He wanted to know how much I'd charge and I had no idea so I just said to reimburse me for the materials and we'd call it even. I so enjoy making them. He balked on that and said he wouldn't take them that way so I told him to just give me what he thought they would be worth.

So after that I headed to town and ended up going to 9 different places to get all the stuff done that I needed to do. And I won't have to go off the mountain again until next week when I take my doggies to the groomers and back to the doctor. Now I'm too exhausted to exercise and think I'll take a nap instead. I can always exercise tomorrow or later today.

That half peanut butter sandwich was a life saver. Is peanut butter a wonder food or what?

Coffee

Boy, I must really be addicted to coffee though I only have one cup a day. I'm setting here sipping water. Can't have anything else until my blood work at 11:00. But I'm going to fool them, I'm taking a half a peanut butter sandwich with me and a bottle of Kool Aid and scarf it down after the blood is drawn. Actually I'm doing that because I have a lot of errands to run and don't want to faint from lack of nourishment on the way.

Thank goodness a lot of you had new posts for me to read which helped pass the time and keep me from thinking of coffee and food.

Not much else to add today. Maybe my adventures out into the big bad world will spark something for later or tomorrow.

Have a wonderful Tuesday.

Good Carbs and Bad Carbs...

I'm having a lot of trouble feeling full and staying that way without snacking unless I have some carbs in my diet. So I went online and checked out good carbs vs bad carbs. Seems the the bad carbs are the ones that keep me feeling full longer. Now, I could make my own pasta out of whole wheat flour but I haven't been able to find a recipe that doesn't call for a lot of processed white flour. Do you have one? What I didn't find out in my research is whether potatoes are good carbs or bad carbs. Do you know? In my remote area I can't find store bought whole wheat pasta (my Wal-Mart doesn't even have any, or the spinach kind either). The past couple of weeks I've been eating a lot of beans and that is good but even beans don't stick with me that long without a corn muffin, so I'm thinking that I'm hooked on bad carbs.

Haven't done my exercise today yet but will before the day is out. I tend to want to do it in the afternoons. Gotta save my mornings for blogging, answering emails and surfing the net. Besides, I'm just not a morning person and it takes me a long time to really wake up fully.

Have a good week. Only 20 days left 'til Christmas.

Frustrating Day...

Me and my big fat mouth fingers. I just had to go and say write that I hadn't seen a snow flake, didn't I? I saw my first one yesterday around 11:00 AM and it hasn't stopped since. We only have a couple of inches, thank goodness.

What an interesting day yesterday was. I told you that the satellite repairman called to get directions. He said at that time that he had a couple of other calls to make before he got to me but if he would be too late he'd call and let me know. I got a call all right, from his main office in Raleigh, NC, apologizing that he wouldn't make it because he had to go home sick. They told me to call the Dish people and reschedule. I hate calling them on the weekend because I don't get anyone that lives in the US. Their weekend tech support is based in India. And I have very difficult time understanding them. But I had to bite the bullet and do it anyway. After punching 1 or 2 or 3 at least 1,325 times, I started just punching zero until someone answered. As I was talking to the person and trying to explain that they had called and said the guy wouldn't be coming he pulled up in my driveway. I was wondering how someone in NC would know that someone in WV was sick and I got my answer. The right hand doesn't know what the left hand is doing.

He came in and went through all the checking procedures through the TV (which I had already gone through) and couldn't find anything wrong. I explained that an error message came up only periodically and that it said Error 004. He still had no idea what that was. So he went out and proceeded to climb on a ladder to check the satellite itself. He got a step ladder out of his truck and was getting ready to back his truck up to the edge of the house to put the step ladder on the tail gate of the truck. Thank goodness I was watching out the window. I ran out and told him where my extension ladder was. I've never had to call 911 for an ambulance and didn't want to do it then either. It's hard telling how long it would take them to get here and it is really cold out right now.

He checked everything on the satellite itself and found nothing wrong. I kept suggesting that he call tech support and he wouldn't do it. There is a way you can get into tech support on the TV so he did that. I don't think he wanted to talk to anyone from India either. Well, in the tech support system on the TV you are asked to type in the error number and it will tell you what the problem is. NOT. It kept coming up "invalid error number." So all in all there was nothing found to be wrong with the system and the trip was for naught. But he was a nice young man and has a brother that does construction work and he gave me his card so I may have someone that can do some work for me when the weather gets a little better.

I still don't have railings on my stairs and a little trim work needs to be completed before I can get carpeting and the brother does all that kind of stuff including flooring. So maybe it wasn't a complete wash.

I have a service contract with the Dish people and they told me when I called that I'd have to pay the repair man $29.95 for the service call. I argued about that a while and was told that the service call wasn't included in the contract, just their equipment. Well...the nice young fellow informed me that there would NEVER be a service fee and that the service call WAS included in my contract and if I ever had anyone out here that asked for money to refuse. At least I didn't have to pay for a service call that found nothing wrong. And so far I haven't gotten the error message again.

Easting wasn't so good yesterday and it wasn't so bad either. Got the munchies again last night and couldn't quell them with my usual tricks. Didn't exercise yesterday either. Got to thinking about it yesterday and decided to come up with a plan that would, maybe, keep me on a exercise regiment without making myself think I'm pushing myself so much that I might rebel and quit all together again. So...I decided to do the DVD Mon., Tues., Thurs., and Fri. This way I'm giving myself the weekend off and a day off in the middle of the week. I know it should be more than 4 days a week but at least it isn't zero days a week. And maybe if I can turn that into a habit I can add more days or different things later on.

I've crocheted myself a scarf and mittens to match. The gloves I had already, didn't go with my coat at all and for the life of me I can't figure out why that matters here in the mountains but I just wanted a set that would look nice in case I ever go anywhere that someone may see me. I started making myself a sweater last spring and am about halfway through the front. I put it aside to start on Christmas gifts so I got that out yesterday and will work on it some here and there. I shouldn't have started it because I hate working on large projects. I like instant gratification and that isn't going to be the case with a sweater. And it will probably be too big when I finish it since I started it 20 pounds ago. But at least I'm making it out of cotton so maybe I can shrink it. Haven't looked closely at the label yet and I'm hoping the yarn isn't the preshrunk kind. I may just have to wear it big and not worry about it.

So how was your Saturday?

Soup Weather...

Found something really yummy. I made a pot of Taco Soup and had a left over corn muffin. It was soooooo good. The soup is yummy in it's own right but with the corn bread it is even better.

And soup weather is definitely here in the mountains. It was 15 when I got up this morning at 8:00.

I'm having trouble with my satellite and have a repairman coming this afternoon to fix it. He called to get directions and asked what the problem was. (Guess technical support doesn't give the repair men much info on what is wrong, they must just call and say this person needs service.) When I told him it was error number 004 (which is what comes up on the screen periodically) he had no idea what that was. This is going to be a fustercluck for sure. And I was impressed that he actually has 4-wheel drive so that means he won't have any problems getting up the mountain. I haven't been off the mountain in a week so I don't know how bad the main (dirt) road is coming up but I know my driveway is clear.

We still haven't gotten any snow and they are predicting it every day. Only 20% to 30% but you'd think I would see a flake now and then. Hey, I'm not complaining about it though. I just hope it holds off until after my doctors appointment on Tuesday. Then I've got a dentist appointment the next week but that one I can cancel if the weather is bad. And since I hate going to the dentist almost as much as getting the dreaded yearly body exam, I won't mind putting that one off until better weather. I was kinda stupid for making it in December anyway.

Had one of my munchy nights last night. I was just thinking about that the other day and was amazed that I had quit munching all evening like I used to. Guess it's going to hit in cycles. It was really hard to break that habit, so I hate to start it up again. I broke it by just mind over matter. Every time I'd get a craving I'd just stand up, walk around the living room a while and assess my hunger level. If it was just cravings and not hunger I'd set back down and continue crocheting or watching TV. If it was really bad I'd get ONE Hersey's dark chocolate kiss and put it on the roof of my mouth and tell myself that it was all I was going to get in the sweets category. And if it was salt that I craved I'd have a few (and no more) almonds. It took a couple of weeks and a lot of will power, but it finally kicked in and I haven't had the cravings in a while. It does help to make sure I am really full after supper.

Have a great weekend.

I Wanna Be a Meterologist...

Meteorologists suck. We never got the ice storm (thank goodness) and didn't even get the rain or snow they changed their forecast too. They also forested snow today and through the weekend and the sun is out today and the skies are beautiful. I guess I talk about the weather so much because I'm fascinated with it (certainly not because I'm old). I've been fascinated with it all my life. I should have gone to school to be a meteorologist instead of a teacher. I've even looked on line for courses on it but they are way too expensive, so I guess I'll just talk about it instead.

Yep, I did the DVD again yesterday. Gonna take today off. Don't want to wear it out or get bored with it too soon. And since I'm so out of shape I should probably take it easy at first anyway.

Eating was good yesterday except the cream cheese I got into last night. I had stuffed celery as a snack. Now if it weren't for the cream cheese on it that would have been a good snack. But I had some left over from the cake I'd made and it kept talking to me. Well, I got my fill and to beat it all it didn't taste as good as it used to. YAY!! I won't be wanting that for a long, long time since I didn't enjoy it. It's kinda funny how some of the things I used to love just don't taste that good anymore (then again, some do).

I started having cramps about a week ago and I haven't had the "ick" in 10 years or so. So I decided I better go to the doctor and have it checked out. Got an appointment next Tuesday. I've been putting it off since hubby died and he wasn't around to goad me every year about it. Guess I'll have to have that dreaded mammogram too. YUCK!

I'm a little excited about going to the doctor, since I haven't been since I started losing weight. I sure hope he's pleased with me about it.

Finally got all my Christmas crocheting projects done last weekend and now I'm crocheting for me. That's part of the reason I got finished so soon, I'm sure. There were several things I wanted to make for myself and I wouldn't even start on them until I got all the other stuff finished.

Have a great weekend out there folks.

Ouch...

Well, I did it. I actually got off my duff and put the DVD in and danced with Richard Simmons. Didn't do much sweatin' cause I had the heat turned down and it was a little chilly in here when I started but I was nice a warm when I finished. The DVD is an hour long but I only made it half way through and just couldn't stand huffing and puffing any more. Boy, I've got a lot of work to do to get back to where I was this summer. I actually enjoyed it and will do it again today. One of the best parts of his DVD's is that there are people up there dancing with him that are my size and what used to be my size. I've tried several others but didn't like them because the people on there could do everything perfectly and definitely didn't look like they had ever been over weight or out of shape.

He stopped about 15 minutes into it and had us take our pulse and mine was 270. Forgot to strap on the HRM but will do that today and record my accomplishments. The ouch in the title is my neck. In one of the dances he had us stretch our necks and boy did mine crack when I bent it to the side. I think I over did that one a little because my neck is really sore on one side. Funny how we don't move our neck in every day living.

I've got his second one too but won't try that one right now. It is supposed to be a little more intense and right now I just want to try to make it through the first one all the way through.

I've got some extra water run and filled up all the animal's dishes, so we are set if the power goes off. I've got a rechargable lantern but for the life of me I can't find the charger. I haven't used it since my hubby died and I don't know where he put it. So it will just have to be candles and oil lamps.

Dependancies...

Been watching the weather reports closely and I think it's about time to run some back up water for tomorrow. They are predicting a wintry mix in my area. So just in case there's ice I want to be prepared. Prepared for the electricity to go out. I've got plenty of candles, extra batteries and some oil lamps. I even got book lights, one for upstairs and one for down so it will be easier to read. Now if I could just figure out a way to make a battery operated crochet light. Hmm, maybe I aught to try my hand at being an inventor. Oh, and I even have some of those little Sterno cooking thingies. It really doesn't cook anything but warms it up. So I've got soup in the freezer for emergencies. I may even make another batch today, just in case. Who knows, maybe if I get really prepared it won't happen.

The last time the electricity was off for a extended period of time (three days) I packed a bag and called a local motel to see if they had power (not in that order). They did and accepted dogs. As I was getting ready to walk out the door the power came on. The power going off is the only thing I dread about living where I do. Everything else I love.

Maybe I should look into getting a generator. Wonder how long it will run on one tank of gas? Guess I could do some research. Course then I'd have to have an electrician come out and hook it up to my fridge, well, TV, some lights, hot water tank and the microwave. Hey, that would take a large generator!

We sure do depend on electricity a lot in this day and time. And fortunately I'm not old enough to remember any times without electricity.

My eating was horrible yesterday. I got into things I shouldn't have. Just had to have some broccoli with cheese sauce. And I didn't use the kind of cheese that's good for me either, nooooo, I had some Velveeta and used it. There was some left over and I threw it away this morning. All the Velveeta is gone now, thank goodness.

As soon as I'm through catching up on what's going on in your lives I'm putting on an exercise DVD and do some sweatin' before my shower. So there.

Have a great Wednesday.

Borrrrrrrrring and an NSV...

Well, I think I did a little too much thinking on yesterdays post. I'll try not to do that again. It's just not my forte. Sorry I was sooooo boring.

After going out to dinner and a movie (we walked between the restaurant and theater) last Saturday I discovered that my jeans were too light weight for winter and they are the only pants I have so I started catalog and on-line shopping. Thought I'd get a pair of chords. After looking at the size charts I've discovered that I have a size 12 butt and a size 14 waist. I just hate having a baggy butt so I went searching for stretch chords. I hate to order them on-line without trying them on so I started getting disgusted. Then I remembered picking up some jeans at Wally World at the first of the summer and after getting them home I discovered they were stretch but too slim cut, but I kept them hoping they'd fit later on. So off I went to the bottom drawers of my stash and found them. Hey they are 14P slim and fit perfectly and they are heavy enough for winter. Yay, I don't have to waste the money on a new pair of jeans but I'd still like a pair of chords.

Haven't done so well the past couple of days with my eating. I haven't eaten unhealthy but a bit too much. I've gotten down all my water though and that's a good thing. I've also noticed since the bread problem (almost running out), I'm eating more bread than usual. Just craving those sammies. So I've got to get a handle on that one. A loaf has been lasting me about 2 weeks and last week I went through a whole loaf. So far it's going better. I've never been much of a sandwich person and usually didn't eat that much store bought loaves of bread. I much prefer biscuits and corn bread and hot rolls. At least I don't have them often because I'd do myself real damage. Although I am considering whipping up some corn muffins to have with some pinto beans for supper. I do have enough will power to freeze the left overs and use them sparingly.

Things are back to normal for me and the dogs since the puppy's gone. Sure glad for that. When you're as old as I am (and the dogs) change is a little hard on us.

I entered the Mary Lou's Weigh Platform Giveaway!

Check out Roni’s Weight Loss Blog for more information.

With all the problems I've been having lately this just might be the key to keeping me on track.

So how's your week going after the holiday?

Here's to Us...

As we are at the end of a challenging holiday and preparing for another, here's a toast to us:


May we recover from our indulgences of this last holiday celebration,

And may we survive the next with little or no regrets.




Don't know if this will help but it couldn't hurt.

This is a really hard time for those of us that are trying to become healthier and happier through weight loss and/or exercise. I've noticed that a lot of us (me included) have been struggling with sticking to our regiments lately. Whether they are obsessions with trying to eat correctly or struggling with trying to keep up the exercise programs we have set for ourselves. After giving these problems considerable thought, I've come to the conclusion that it may just be the holiday seasons that we were facing. Now that one is down and there's one more to struggle through, we are going to need all the encouragement we can get. So lets be sure to read and comment as often as we can to help each other out.

We all know that stress makes us struggle harder with our plans for becoming or staying healthy, and there surely is a lot of stress during this time of the year.

I've been searching for help on this problem and have come across these:

1. Write about your stress. (we are doing this with our blogs so we've got that one covered)

2. Basic breathing exercises...with this technique you breath in through your nose to the count of 5 and breath out through your mouth to the count of 8 being mindful that you breath with your stomach. This is also called "baby breathing."

3. Music therapy...helps change the mood of your day and can be very relaxing.

4. Humor therapy...laugh, laugh, laugh, even at yourself.

5. Guided imagery...find a relaxing place to set and begin the basic breathing exercise. Then call up an image of yourself in the most relaxing setting you can think of. As you are in this setting try to involve all your senses. Think about how it looks, smells, feels, sounds and tastes. Stay here for as long as you can and enjoy your mini-vacation.

6. Progressive muscle relaxation...You do this through flexing and relaxing each of our muscles to help us relieve tension and feel more relaxed. Start with the face, then work down the body from the shoulder to the toes.

7. Sex...don't think I need to go into this one any further. But the article I read said that when we are stressed this may not happen as often as needed to be helpful so those of us that have a partner may want to try to make a little more time for it.

8. Yoga

9. Exercise...we need to keep those endorphins flowing to help relax us.

If you have any suggestions or other stress relievers you use please share them with us.

Weekend Recap...

WooHoo!!! I just HAD to step on the scales this morning to see what damage I did to myself the past couple of days. I stayed the same! Whew!! Because I just had to have a piece of cake Friday and another one last night. But never fear I sent MOST of the rest of it home with the kids and the rest (that wouldn't fit in the containers I had) is in a pan right now with other garbage being dumped on top of it. So no more cake for me. We even went out to eat last night before the movie and I couldn't resist the homemade "pot bread." This place uses little souffle dishes to bake their bread in. It is sooooo wonderful. Normally when I go there I ask them not to bring the bread but since it was more than just me I didn't want to do that to the others and I also just can NOT have it on the table without eating some. But on that I really didn't over do it.

The movie we went to see was the new James Bond flick. It was so good that about a half hour into it I fell asleep and woke up when the credits rolled. They told me I didn't miss much because it was very confusing. How's that for an expensive nap?

I'm a bit on the nervous side right now because we were having a freezing rain when the kids left this morning. They called me when they got over the first set of mountains and to the interstate and I checked the weather for them and looks like they will just have rain for the remainder of their trip. They promised to call me periodically to let me know they were safe and they always call when they get home.

So my home is back to normal. My dogs are still a little on the skittish side. They aren't sure the puppy is gone as of yet but it won't take them long to get back into the swing of things.

Oh, I watched a great movie this morning. It was called "Freedom Writers" and it is a true story about a teachr (I tend to watch all the teacher movies out there) and it was a really great one.

Gonna go now and check on what's going on in your lives. Sorry, I didn't have time last night to do that, but I've got plenty of time now.

Movie NSV...

My daughter was tickled pink with the puppy. And the puppy was thrilled with her new Mommy too. The wee one got a lot of lovin'.

And helped Mommy play cards.

Had a great visit even though it was short. They are leaving early in the morning to head back home.

We went to a movie tonight and I didn't even eat one kernel of pop corn. It smelled sooooo goooood.

Didn't do too badly on "the" big meal, but enjoyed a little of everything. Now I've got to buckle down and get this last 30 pounds off. I may be ready to get back with it. Think I'll sleep on that thought.

A New Member to the Family...

Hope you had a wonderful day with family and friends.

As most of you (in the USA) are crawling into bed sated on turkey and all the trimmings I am getting ready to start mine in the morning. Got my cake baked today and it is a whopper. It made too much to put into the three loaf pans like I had planned so I had to bake it in a 13x9 pan. I almost screwed it up. It called for 1 cup of crushed pineapple and I just threw the whole (20 oz) can in without looking at the recipe. So it took a little longer to bake to get done but it sure smells gooooooood.

Now I can share with you the reason I took a 6 hour trip last Saturday. I went to pick up a Mini Schnauzer puppy for my oldest daughter. I am so anxious for her to get here tomorrow to see her reaction. It is a total surprise Christmas present. She has an Australian Shepherd that is 13 years old. The Ausie had some problems a couple of weeks ago with some weird fleas and is partially paralyzed. When the troubles started her fiance called and asked if I would get her a puppy for Christmas. I had already thought of it and had it in the makings at that time. My daughter has wanted a Schnauzer for several years so this is the opportune time to make that wish come true.

The week I've had with the puppy has been a real experience. My dogs hate her!!!! They feel that Mommy has forsaken them and even though I'm not giving the pup a whole lot of love (so she won't bond with me) they think I don't love them any more. The first night I put the puppy in a crate and she cried and howled ALL night long. Boy, was my butt dragging the next day. The crate is now on the porch out of the way because I just couldn't spend another night like that. It's also been a real joy watching the pup learn and grow in just a week. When I brought her home she was having a hard time walking around and I think that was because she'd been in a cage all her life and never had a lot of room to walk around. It didn't take her long to learn that she had a lot of area to walk around and she finally learned how to run. She takes off across the floor and still has a little problem and ends up tumbling "ass over tea kettle" as my great grandmother used to say. And she finally learned how to "follow the feet", "follow the feet", "follow the feet." I've gotten pretty good at getting her outside to tinkle but am having a hard time timing her poopy cycle. I know it's supposed to be after she eats but she isn't doing it like she is supposed to. Thank goodness that won't be my responsibility after tomorrow.

Guess I'd better hit the sack so I can get my bird stuffed and in the oven on time tomorrow.

My Thanksgiving Day...

One more day 'til cooking, family and friends for most of us here in the USA. So here's an early wish for you all.

We didn't get the ice storm, thank goodness. We have gotten more snow but only a dusting both Monday and Tuesday. I think there was really more than a dusting but you see, the winds blow up here on this mountain in the winter time like crazy and it just blows it all off to the east of me. I would wager that the winds hit 40 miles per hour in some of the gusts and it is really spooky with all the trees around me but somehow they manage to stay up-right. ::knock on wood:: So all in all the prediction was 4-6 inches but with the winds it was just a dusting.

Gonna have to make a trip into town today to get a few last minute things that the other store didn't have last Saturday.

My company (daughter and her fiance and one of his daughters from NJ) aren't coming until Friday. They are stopping in Roanoke, VA to spend "Turkey Day" with his grandfather. He hasn't spent much time with him in the past couple of years and his health is failing so he wants to spend at least one day with him. So my cooking will be on Friday. They will get to eat 2 Thanksgiving dinners. Made me proud when my daughter told me how tickled she was that I was cooking turkey and all the trimmings for Friday. She said thank goodness that she'd get to eat the real thing when she got to my house.

I will be doing my baking tomorrow and the major part of the cooking on Friday. I'm only baking one cake for the occasion. It's going to be a carrot cake with all kinds of yummies in it and cream cheese icing. Gonna bake it in three small loaf pans and that way they can take the left overs home with them in the loaf pans. Yea, boy, I'm gonna have at least one piece and try real hard to make it ONLY one piece. My other plans for eating off kilter will be the dressing and broccoli casserole. Well, I may have some mashed potatoes with a little bit of gravy on them and one roll, but hey, it's Thanksgiving and I don't think I could cook all that stuff and not have a little bit of it. They have requested candied yams and that will be prepared too but I won't be having any of them. There will be plenty of other stuff to enjoy and I can have baked sweet potatoes any time.

Last year it was just me and the dogs and I did make a turkey breast with all the trimmin's. I was very conscious of my food intake then and since it was only me I made everything weight friendly. That won't be the case this year so I will just be careful and have small portions so that I can enjoy the flavors without going overboard. The cake is the only thing I will probably have problems with and that is a new one for me since I usually don't crave sweets, but it is my mothers old recipe and it brings back a lot of memories. If I'm going to eat sweets it is usually pies that I can't turn down and that is the main reason I won't be baking any pies this year.

So, to all of you out there in blog-land. Have a really wonderful Thanksgiving!!

Just a Peek...

Things are going alright for me right now. Food intake has been healthy (mostly). Except for the burger I had last night for supper but it was the first red meat I've had in over a week (and I'm not counting the burger on the road on Saturday, when traveling that doesn't count, right?) and it was 93/7 lean. I even had it on light bread at 35 calories per slice so that was good. Actually the burger wasn't all that bad after all. But then I did have a chocolate chip cookie last night. It was one of those "Mini" mixes and boy was it good. It kept me from snacking all evening.

I've been hitting the bed early (for me) lately. I'm worn out by 10:00 and that is very odd. Course I'm up and wide awake early too so maybe my sleep schedule is just changing. When I get up that early it makes for a very loooonnnngggg day. And now that it is getting dark earlier I start getting sleepy very soon after dark. I hate (as I'm sure you do too) switching back and forth between regular time and daylight savings time. I just wish they'd pick one and stick with it. I don't care which one they pick as long as it stays the same.

Keeping my scales covered has really helped me from obsessing over my eating. But I keep thinking that maybe I should take a peek just to make sure things aren't going in the wrong direction (especially after the cookie last night). Think I'll take a peek, hold on while I go check....................cool, they're staying the same. Whew!!

Have a great week getting ready for Turkey Day.

Snow Pictuers...

I had a request for snow pictures, so here they are. These were taken last Monday during the storm.

The first one is of my closest neighbor. The one that comes up only during hunting season and causes me to have to pull my blinds so that he won't get an eye full.

The second one is the dragon in my yard. I call hime Mountness. Sort of a play on words, get it? Lockness/Mountness.

Sun is out today and the snow is melting. Sure hope the ice storm they were predicting for tomorrow doesn't show it's ugly face.

Home Again, Home Again, Jiggity Jog...

I made it home safely from my little trip. It took me 3 hours one way because the roads near me weren't in great shape. Kinda icy going over the first mountain. So, I drove nice and slow and pulled over a lot to let the lunatics that wanted to speed pass me.


Got this cartoon in the mail from my sister-in-law. She cut it out of First magazine and I just had to share it with you.






I wasn't real good on the road. Got hungry and the only place to stop was a fast food place, so I got a plain cheeseburger and took off one of the buns. Alas, they didn't have chicken. Actually this place's specialty is biscuits and I knew if I got anything on a biscuit I'd eat the WHOLE thing. Was hungry coming home too but waited until I got home and had a piece of left over chicken. That satisfied for a little while but I'm going to have to have something else sooooooonnnnnnn.

Stopped at a grocery store (the same franchise I shop at in my town) in a little town on my way home and they had very little of the stuff I normally buy. They didn't even have any light bread and only one kind of whole wheat bread to boot. Sure glad I don't live there. I wouldn't be able to stay on this healthy eating life style. Their produce area was the pits too.

Have a great Sunday!!

Bread and a Trip...

Ok, first of all about the bread. I buy light wheat bread for my half sammies. It usually takes me 2 weeks before I buy another loaf and then I have to throw away part of the one I have left. But for some reason just knowing the bread is getting low makes me want sandwiches more. Does that happen to you with anything? So that's why I've been stressing over it.

Now about the trip tomorrow. I think I'm going to have to call the person and postpone it until Sunday. It is snowing like crazy here. Already another 3 inches. Supposed to be in the 40's on Sunday and sunny so that means that the driveway will definitely melt. This trip is to pick up something for my daughter in NJ for Christmas. Want to have it for when they come for Thanksgiving. Can't tell you what it is yet since she does have this web address and she never reads my blogs (or never mentions reading them) but sure as I mention what it is here she'll check in to see what I write about. So, I'll share it with you after Thanksgiving.

Just hope the weather clears up the first of the week so I can go to the grocery and get the Thanksgiving provisions. Course if I can't that means that they won't be able to get here either and there won't be any reason to cook that kind of meal.

This is really weird that we are having so much bad weather this early. The last time this happened we had a REALLY bad winter.

The daughter in NJ is trying her best to talk me into going home with her until Christmas. I just don't want to do that. I want to be home. I like my home and I'm more comfortable here. She even tries to entice me with her high speed Internet. But again, that's not enough. And besides her fiance has a 4 year old that is there half the time and I'm just too old to put up with a youngin' that age for any period of time. It wears me out!

Have a great weekend y'all.

Donna's back...

Donna's back! Woo Hoo!! Drop by and give her a shout.

I think winter has arrived in my mountains. I don't care what the calendar says, it's here, here. Snowing again but just little, teeny, wee flakes. Sure hope it doesn't amount to much since I have a 5 hour (round) trip to take on Saturday. I figure the main roads will be clear but I hope my driveway is passable for when I get home.

Not much happening in my life. I woke up at 5:00 this morning, wide awake. What's with that anyway? My butt's been draggin' all day and I have tried to lay down and nap but it just won't come.

I discovered some bagels and hamburger buns in my freezer so now I don't have to worry about running out of bread before Saturday. Just had to tell you all about that because I know that you were really worried about me running out. Yea, right.

The Catalogue...

I just took a trip down memory lane, through a catalog. Actually they called it a "catalogue." It's from The Vermont Country Store. This is a small catalog and if you're like me I always start at the back and work my way forward. This was the right thing to do because all the "Olden Days" stuff is in the back. I can remember setting and going through a catalog much like this one with my grandmother.


Gosh I hadn't thought of some of these things in a long time. If you're over the hill (Hill? What hill? I didn't see no stinkin' hill.) like me you may remember some of these things too. There was Ralston Hot Wheat Cereal. And Fizzies drink tablets. And do you remember the little magnetic trick dogs?

They even had some of the old "timey" clothes that my grandmother used to order. Wow, that was fun.

Did you know that when I was little they didn't have tooth paste? It was tooth powder that we sprinkled in our palm, wet the tooth brush and dipped it into the powder. We didn't have roll on or spray deodorant either. It came in a little jar with round wipes inside. And no TV either! Yep, no TV. Can you imagine being that old?

I know I don't usually post more than once a day but I just had to share that with you.

Life's Goooooooood...

Well, we didn't get the additional 6 inches, just one more it seems. And it's not because it didn't try hard enough. It snowed off and on all day and really hard, but the sun kept coming out periodically and guess it melted some in between squalls. At least it didn't do like in 2003 where we had a foot then a freezing rain storm and then another foot of snow, etc, until there was 3 feet with ice in between each foot and on top. Blue skies today so maybe the sun will come out and melt what's on my driveway. I could stand to go to the grocery store but not in dire need yet. Down to 1/3 loaf of bread but I can always make biscuits if I run out. Would make bread but don't have any yeast in the house. And THANK GOODNESS the power has stayed on. Whoops, "knock on wood."

My cats are outside cats and I have to give them water about 3 times a day because it keeps freezing. So I remedied that one. I went on line yesterday and ordered an electric water dish. It even has a thermostat that allows it to only turn on when needed. How cool is that? Evidently the cats get up before I do because there's always a little hole licked in the ice and I always feel sorry for them that I didn't get up and water them early. When it comes I won't have to worry about that anymore.

This not obsessing about food is really making a difference in my whole outlook on life. I cheated today and got on the scales just to see what a week without obsessing did to me and I've stayed the same. Maintanance is a good thing for me right now. I'm going to be really careful over the holidays (both of them) and eat the stuff I used to eat (if I cook it) but not over do it. Won't make any cookies or cakes or pies that will tempt me. I like my weight friendly pumpkin custard just fine and will enjoy that as my dessert.

One thing I will miss about the holidays in pistachios. My mother always sent me a big bag of them every Christmas. Was a tradition. When she passed away I was really distraught that the tradition wouldn't continue but low and behold, one of my nieces picked up on my sadness and always includes pistachios in my holiday packages. Now comes the hard part of not eating the whole bag in one setting. For me they are just like potato chips. I can't eat just one. Last year (the first Christmas on this healthier me journey) I gave them away. But this year I am not going to do that. I'm going to ration myself and enjoy a little of the olden days. I mean, what good's livin' without enjoying it.

Later blog-buds.

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow (again)...

Woke up to 6 inches of snow this morning and they are predicting 6 more before night fall. The sun came out for a little while and melted about one inch of the snow already on the ground but it is now falling in earnest and piling up quite nicely. Might as well rejoice in this beautiful day because there's not a thing we can do about the weather, and why complain.

Just put on a pot of soup to simmer and am going to crawl under a down comforter on the couch with my book and just enjoy myself immensely. That is, after I finish up here.

Hope all is well with you on this glorious Tuesday!

Taking a Break...

Hey, two days in a row! I'm almost back.


I read almost everyone of my blog buddies posts last night and I commented on very few. I, for some reason, just feel that I can't give any good advice right now. So if I missed commenting on your post please forgive me. I will try to do better.


This break from obsessing over my weight loss is so much better for me right now. I'm still doing pretty good and definitely not eating the things that are bad for me. I'm sticking to my healthy meals and snacks. So I guess I have developed a healthier lifestyle (without the exercise).


I've been reading some and crocheting A LOT the last week. Got an afghan and two pair of socks to finish before Thanksgiving so I can send them home with my daughter in NJ. Yep, she's coming for Thanksgiving. YAY!! I won't have to spend it alone and cook for just me and the dogs. Then all I have left is 2 scarves and a pair of mittens to finish after that. Then my Christmas will be done. Not much in the store bought presents from me this year. I always prefer getting something made with love myself so I hope everyone else does too.

I had the news on just now and Huntington, WV just hit the national news. It's about 3 1/2 hours away right on the Ohio border. They are number 1 in obesity, diabetes, heart disease, lack of teeth and a couple more that I don't remember. And here I thought I lived in the county that had all of those things. It was really funny that the mayor of the city told the news that his city was focusing on the economy instead of themselves. How funny is that?

Have a great week!

Hangin' In There...

I'm still here. Just haven't been in the mood to blog lately. Can't think of much to write about. Guess the ole creative juices aren't flowing. Still kinda low.

I'm still on this friggin' weight loss journey. Never fear, I haven't given up. I haven't weighed myself since Wednesday and there was a half pound loss. But it's still discouraging. I decided to just cover the scales up for a month or so. I even went 5 days without meat this week. Didn't really mean to but kept eating beans and taco soup (from the freezer) and peanut butter. Just didn't feel like cooking. Found some chili in the freezer and had it last night and that was the first time for meat. My colon told me about it this morning.

Hope you are all doing alright. I'll get caught up on what's happening in your lives as soon as possible.

Apologies...

Wow, I didn't mean to get so maudlin yesterday. Guess I was just depressed and needed a pity party. Sorry 'bout that. Still a little blue today but it is better. I spent the day in bed napping off and on yesterday. My defense mechanism for depression and it usually helps as it did yesterday. I have no idea what makes me get into those moods, there are so many other people out there that have such enormous problems in their lives that mine are minor in comparison.

Sorry that I didn't get to too many of you yesterday but I will catch up later today. I just wasn't much in the mood to read or comment.

I'm showing a half pound loss so far today but tomorrow will tell the real story.

About what I said yesterday about wanting a mate. NOT!! Just part of the pity party. I like living alone. Now don't get me wrong, I would love a companion of sorts but not on a daily basis. The perfect relationship would be a part time one. Like maybe on the weekends ONLY. I've settled into a routine and like being able to sleep and eat and clean whenever I want to and not have to please someone else. I like just pleasing me for a change, since I've always pleased others all my life.

Have a great Tuesday.

Struggling with Emotions...

The confusing cycles we go through during weight loss are very hard to deal with at times.

When we start this journey we are all excited about finally becoming THIN. We are gung-ho in the beginning if we are truly dedicated this time around. When we see the pounds dropping off the excitement continues and it keeps us on the straight and narrow of our path. We start seeing a difference in our bodies and hear from others that they are seeing it too. What a wonderful feeling to know and see the changes we are working so hard to make.

Then somewhere along the way we discover that it isn't all about being THIN but about being healthier. We realize that we are feeling better not just about our looks but inside too. We can walk farther without huffing and puffing. The joints in our legs don't hurt as much any more and what a wonderful feeling that can be. We discover exercise and some of us get a real natural high form it.

We try experimenting by adding more exercise or different exercises to find the right mix for us. And we try incorporating our favorite foods into our daily or weekly food intake to satisfy our cravings. We finally find the right mix and are euphoric that we have found the correct path for our lifetime journey. Along the way we have discovered that this is indeed a lifetime journey because we know in our hearts and heads that if we don't stick to this new life style we will be back up there where we began if not larger. And we really don't want to go there again. Ever!!

Then a plateau happens. Yea, just happens. The first week we just accept it as part of the process. Then when the weeks continue it becomes harder and harder to accept. Discouragement sets in. We want to quit and just enjoy our food again without measuring and weighing and eating so many salads we feel like we are going to turn into a head of lettuce. At this point some of us to give up. At this point some of us take a side track. And at this point some of us just understand and have the resolve to continue no matter what happens.

Well, I'm among the side tracked group right now. The closer I get to goal (66 pounds gone and 33 to go) the slower it comes off and the harder it is to stick with it. Yes, I know, I am only two thirds there and not really that close to goal but at this point I am so discouraged that I really have entertained thoughts of just giving up. I won't though. After all, I gave away all my "fat" clothes and don't want to buy any new "fat" clothes, ever!! So here I set wondering what I'm going to do. I am so sick of cooking healthy, I am so sick of cooking just for me, I am so sick of the whole shebang.

Those of you that have followed me for a while know that I don't exercise. I tried it and it just doesn't work for me. It felt wonderful when I started and I was really excited about getting healthier in that aspect too. But when I started exercising is when my plateaus started and even gains. Sure the clothes were getting a little smaller but we all know what the numbers on the scale do to our minds.

I am in this alone, physically that is. I know I have all of you, constant readers, but you can't be with me to exercise with. I am just not the type of person that likes doing things or going places alone. After all, these past 2 1/2 years are the only years in my 62 1/2 years that I've ever been alone. And it isn't just about likes, it's about being terribly uncomfortable doing things alone. I have anxiety attacks when I try going somewhere or doing something alone. I've purchased about 6 exercise DVD's and can't even make myself do any of them in the privacy of my home by myself. I've got dance DVD's, exercise DVD's, yoga DVD's...I even got 2 of Richard Simmons "Sweatin' to the Oldies" DVD's and the plastic wrapper is still on them. I know I have to get over this and just start doing something but I can't seem to make myself, despite all your encouragement.

So, right now I am side tracked mentally. I have quit journaling my food intake. I am keeping track of it in my head and so far I haven't done too badly but I'm just sick and tired of obsessing over this. I want that magic wand that will make all of this go away and POOF I'll be thin and healthy. Ever feel that way? Only every minute of every day, huh?

I really wish that there was someone in my life, in my home with me to help me through this and encourage me hourly to continue. For some reason the dogs like me no matter how I look or how healthy I am and don't care either way...stupid dogs. Don't they realize that being healthier I'll be here longer for them, to take care of them, to love them? Sure wish they could talk. I live in an area where there isn't a place where I could meet someone new for my life. I do love where I live and have lived in the country setting so long that I wouldn't be able to live in a city any more so moving isn't an option. Not only because of my comfort but financially either.

I know I'm not alone with most of these feelings. I know you have been there too. But I just had to get it off my chest. Maybe that will help.

Hope your week is better than mine seems to be starting out to be.

Cluck, Cluck, Cluck...

Not another chicken recipe!!!I just had a really good dinner and I thought I'd share it with you. I got this off the Bisquick box.

ULTIMATE CHICKEN FINGERS

3 Chicken breast (skinless/boneless)
2/3 Cup Bisquick
1/2 Cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 tsp garlic salt
1/2 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp pepper
1 egg slightly beaten
3 TBSP butter or margarine, melted

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Line a cookie sheet with foil and spray with Pam or use non-stick foil.

Cut chicken into strips long wise.

Combine dry ingredients in a gallon zip lock baggy.

Dip chicken into eggs.

Place chicken in zip lock and shake to coat.

Place on cookie sheet and drizzle with butter. Bake for 20 minutes turning half way through.

Now, I did it a little differently and it was still really good. I didn't use the egg, just the dry ingredients and I didn't drizzle the butter on it. The original recipe calls for cooking for 12-14 minutes but I found that it didn't get browned properly in that length of time. And I only used one chicken breast since there is only one of me. :o) I had some hot mustard and mixed honey in with it and made a yummy dip. The WW points and calories are below for the way I did it.

Weight Watchers Points = 6 (6 oz chicken breast)
Calories = 262 (6 oz chicken breast)

Well, Cammy, this wasn't a memory about salad but at least it is a healthy post.