Again with the Time Warp

Why is it the days DRAG BY yet the weeks fly by so fast??? It has been almost 2 months since my last post.........bad bad blogger..........

Not sure I have too much exciting to say, but thought I should check in! I recently passed my 2 year anniversary of not smoking.......It is finally starting to be easier and there are actually whole complete days that pass where I am not even missing it..........

I am glad to report that just as I had to get in the right mind set to quit smoking cold turkey (and i'll have you know.......I have not cheated not even ONCE......) I find myself getting into that same mind set for losing weight......

I just finished my first week of Weight Watchers......well I am not actually going to the meetings or getting weighed in......I am doing it on my own armed with my trusty cell phone in hand........as it turns out......having this smart phone is like carrying a computer in your hand. With the proper apps downloaded on to the phone, you can make food choices no matter where you are. Taco Bell - eat a regular crunchy taco for try the fresco taco........hmmmm, let me check my handy dandy cell phone computer - Regular 170 calories, vs Fresco which is 150 calories........doesn't seem like much of a difference but it does add up. The freedom of eating ANYTHING ANYWHERE is unbelievable..........no depriving my sense of taste........as it turns out......it's all about the portions. For the points allowed (which my phone also figured out for me) I am eating about 1200 calories a day.......give or take a few.........

That's a buttload less calories than I have been consuming...........I want to lose 10-15 lbs before I start exercising to any extent as my joints and feet are killing me...........most likely from the stress of all the extra weight.........I know that for me........if I start the exercise too soon and end up hurting myself.........I will slide right back in to old habits.

I have a wedding next weekend........which will be tricky........but a 3 mile walk the following morning for a charity.........that should wipe out the evils of eating/drinking at the reception. Hopefully.............

Anyway, I think WW's is an excellent program and hopefully I am in the right mind set this time to work on my fitness.

Happy Spring to all of you.........I hope you are enjoying the return of good weather.

xxoo

Can I get a Witness??!!

LADY'S YEARLY EXAM I went to the doctor for my yearly physical.

The nurse started with certain basics."How much do you weigh?" she asked."135," I said.The nurse put me on the scale.It turns out my weight is 180.

The nurse asked, "Your height?""5 foot 4," I said.The nurse checked and saw that I only measure 5' 2"

She then took my blood pressure and told me that it is very high."Of course it's high!"

I screamed, 'When I came in here I was tall and slender! Now I'm short and fat!"

She put me on Prozac.

What a bitch

Whew........Long Time No See the Sun

Does this look familiar? Oh how I wish for sunny days..........even the cold is tolerable when Mr. Sun is out! I think I might need to invest in a plant light and sit under it for a few hours a day!

Been a long time since I have seen my blog too! We've been apart for too long..........We finally finished up our 3rd Christmas last week, returning from visiting Duane's family in Ohio. Now I am ready for some spring time!

It seems things are whirling around me so quickly.....is it just me or does everything move much much faster the older you get? The days sometime drag (particularly the weekdays) but yet the months race by! I find myself having to write EVERYTHING down for fear of losing the memory of ever having the thought at all......I guess we're all on overload and things get away quickly.

On a lighter note............it occurred to me last night that while my 40's were times of getting to know myself again and sorting through the BS of life.........My 50's are getting to be quite humorous............I went to a new GYNO this month who advised me that I am perfectly "NORMAL"..............WTF?? this is normal??? I wonder how she defines Psychotic? Actually the diagnosis is both comforting and disturbing...........looking around me I wonder how many other nutcases around me are considered "normal"

While in my 40's I started sprouting some hair in new places...........easy to stay on top of though it takes constant vigilance.........I have deemed my 50's to be the Mole-y years.............that's right...........for some reason my body is once again rebelling and deciding that I need these hideous things called skin tags to start sprouting...........well at least I don't have hair sprouting out of some mole...........seen that.........NOT NORMAL..........though my Gyno would probably say that is "normal" too..........LOL - So I guess a couple of times a year I will head to my dermatologists and have them removed.......AGAIN. Ah the joys of getting older!! There are some positive things as well...........I didn't write them down as they happened and so I forget what they are...........

I've got to get back on track as I have back slid HORRIBLY through the holidays which I can now say are officially over.............which leads me to ask the question - Is Wii Bowling considered exercise? I certainly hope so!!

2009 Reflections

Wow oh Wow.........where has this year wandered off to??? I am sitting here trying to remember the good things that happened in 2009.......but for me personally.........there has been so much stuff that has gone horribly wrong.....for now, those things seem to overshadow the good......

Since September, I have lost 3 members of either my family or my extended family. My father was diagnosed with Kidney Cancer in August and had to have the affected kidney removed. Because he is a Type 2 diabetic......the remaining kidney has been damaged and is just limping along......causing him to have to start dialysis....while he is now cancer free! He unfortunately at age 69, must remain cancer free for a minimum of 2 years to be put on a transplant list.........he's very upbeat about the situation and seems to be accepting what he's been dealt.

One of my closest friends lost her grandson to the hand of the babysitter in September.....seems charges will be filed shortly.......the situation just drags on and on never giving the family any closure or time to finish grieving..........they still have a long and horrible road ahead of them with the criminal aspect of the situation..........to think that an 18 month old baby lost his life at the hands of a lunatic is just inconceivable.........

I've already blogged about losing Kaci...........another stab to the heart............

In October, Duane lost his father to a sudden heart attack.

It is true that you never know what life has in store for you.

I apologize for the depressed attitude today.......these things are just overpowering my soul and I find them to be a bit overwhelming today.

I am trying to put myself in a better frame of mind while Duane is at the gym......Blogging helps and maybe a few cocktails will soften the blows for the evening.

I know in my heart that I have so much to be grateful for......and I am.........those things will again rise to the surface......but for today, at least for a little while........I am having myself a pity party.

So here's to you my friends! I hope time spent with your families over the Christmas holidays was everything you hoped for.

May you remain Healthy and Prosper in the New Year!!
xxoo

Rest In Peace My Friend

This was done by her oldest son Tyler Kobel in his mom's remembrance

Why?

This morning I received a call from Kansas City from one of my oldest, closet friends. She lost her sister last night to cancer.......this is the second sister she has lost to cancer......the first from breast cancer at age 28 and now her second sister at 36. This sister beat breast cancer......inflammatory breast cancer.....the most aggressive kind only to have cancer return as brain cancer.......when I see the toll this took on such a beautiful person in only a year......I have to ask WHY???

This is a family I became very close with over 25 years ago.......though geographical distance has separated us...we always managed to stay in one another's "business". I will miss Kaci sooooooo much. She truly was a beautiful person with an infectious laugh no one will ever forget. Another hole is left in their family. Please pray for her remaining sisters, Krysti, Klover and Kim. As well as her husband Darren and her two young sons...You can only imagine the devastation her parents are feeling after losing yet another child. My only solace is knowing that she and Kricket are together and will forever watch over their family until they can all be together again.

When they say life is not fair......this is a perfect example of why.

I am posting one of my favorite pictures of Kaci (she's in the middle) so you can see her beautiful smile. Rest in peace Kaci - You are loved and will be missed by many.

Seems appropriate

A picture of the sunset on Cozumel taken 12/11/2009 for your enjoyment. Wish you could have been there with me!

Not my words.........though I wish they were........food for thought, enjoy!

Takes 2 min to read this. This is something we should all read at least once a week. It was written By Regina Brett, 90 years old, of The Plain Dealer, Cleveland , Ohio . To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me.It is the most-requested column I've ever written. My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone...

4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.

8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.

9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.

13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.

16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.

19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

22. Overprepare, then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.

24. The most important sex organ is the brain.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words. 'In five years, will this matter?'

27. Always choose life.

28. Forgive everyone everything.

29. What other people think of you is none of your business.

30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

33. Believe in miracles.

34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.

35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.

37. Your children get only one childhood.

38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.

41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

42. The best is yet to come.

43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

44. Yield.

45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a "gift."