I want PIZZA!

Okay, I have been having a terrible craving for pizza! I think it was from Debby the other day talking about her personal pan pizza, because ever since, I have wanted pizza. No, I'm not talking about no damned "skinny" pizza either. I want a pizza loaded with sausage, pepperoni, and lots of artery-clogging cheese! Oooey, gooey, melted-stringy cheese. Oh, and not thin crust as you might have on your "skinny" pizza. Deep-dish OF COURSE!

I don't know if its because we are "SUPER BOWL-ing" tomorrow and the stores are packed with all the snack stuff, or if its just that I love sabotaging my own efforts. Who knows? I just want some damned pizza! I am, basically, junk-food's bitch! It definitely is my weakness. Any and all kinds. I'm more of the salty bitch than the sweet bitch!

Whew, ok, I had to get that out. I had to put it somewhere because I am not getting pizza. At least not tonight. If and/when I eat pizza again, I will have to make it a controlled setting for sure. Sounds like I am in a prison and I am an inmate or something, but I definitely am prisoner to junk food!

Okay, gonna go exercise because this is driving me totally F-ing insane! See ya!

My favorite day of the week!!

I so love FRIDAYS! It is truly my favorite day of the week. First, for me, its the last day of the work week. Friday NIGHTS are actually my favorite time of the week. Work is over and the whole weekend is ahead of you! WOOOHOOO!

Its been a pretty good week overall. Had two snow days off from school. I enjoyed them, yet ate badly and had the blahs really bad. I do better working I guess. I definitely do better food wise. My friend/co-worker are walking after work now and wow, it definitely makes me feel better after work. All these years of people telling me to just workout after you get home and you will feel more energized........well, hate to say it.........but they were right!!

Think the hubby is still going through "men"opause. He is still in sour mood. He's a great guy, but guess he's going through his blahs too. Guess I will give him some space and a little patience. Though there are times when I would just rather he would just GO SOMEWHERE ELSE for goodness sakes! I don't like arguing...it darkens my moods and especially darkens his!

Back at work for several weeks now and am feeling much better physically...however, I am being over-run by GERMS....yep! The Germ-X factory is making money off of me! My little kiddos and the never-ending run of runny noses, barking coughs, and projectile vomiting. TIS THE SEASON! Every time I turned around today, this one's head hurt, vomiting, crying because someone looked at me wrong.........felt like I was back 20 years raising my kids or something! Luckily, I have an aide who is the receptionist and she gets to handle the bad parts before I get involved! She handles the pukers, I handle blood and guts. Its our compromise! LOL So, I am hoping, everybody gets through with being sick and comes back happy and healthy Monday....either that or I am spraying them all with Lysol as they walk in the door!

That's enough for this Friday evening! Have a great weekend. Stay on your program the best you can. Walk. Enjoy life. Watch the super bowl! yeah baby!

Snow Days --- Not for me!!

Oh, I love getting out of school for them, but they are a nightmare for me food wise. I have fallen off the wagon and the damned thing has run me over!! We were out yesterday and today and well, my old junky ways just come right back at me! I junk out and I don't even have junk in the house. I just end up eating too many crackers or pretzels, quit tracking, quit doing everything I now I must do. So, surely we will be in school tomorrow.

I'm feeling a little depressed and I'm not sure why? I mean, I have (until yesterday) have been eating right, I am exercising ( did at least still do that today and yesterday), and am just feeling down. Maybe its the season! Who knows. Been fighting with the hubby. He's been terribly cynical about everything lately and its driving me crazy. He was home with me all day yesterday and well, I was definitely glad he went back to work today. I love him dearly but he goes through these spells where he is negative about everything and honestly thinks he's upbeat all the time. Really? Listen to yourself. Anyway, I don't think that's helping my mood any either. Now, I know I have been in a "people are driving me crazy" mood lately, evident in some of my postings, so one would think maybe its me. And well, maybe it is............but everyone else is noticing his moods too, so maybe he's hormonal, right? Maybe he is going through "men"opause!

Well, just another rant! Thanks for dropping by!

Snow Day

Okay, a week or so ago, I wrote about getting out for cold. Now its a snow day. Well, wait, its an ice day, that's worse actually. We are actually on the cusp of getting some ice. Bridges and overpasses have some ice already so, NO SCHOOL TODAY KIDDOS! (Which includes me and my colleagues!) Now, they say there is no prayer in schools..!! WOOHOO I will take the day, because if you know anything about working in a school YOU ALWAYS NEED THE DAY OFF! (or working anywhere for that matter).

Since its still just 5 a.m. and had my "phone tree" teacher call me to start me calling everybody................well, I have done my duty and I am headed back to bed. I slept like crap and that was with the sleeping meds! Give me a break!

May come back later in the day and give an update! Night Night!!

Drama...Drama...Drama

Okay, let me preface this by saying...I'M NOT A DRAMA PERSON! I am a "take care of business" person. I do not like attention. I do what has to be done. I'm not a "sickie".

It seems like my being off the end of the year didn't make the drama at work go away. Used to I would head for the fridge by now, but luckily, I am walking away my stress these days.

I am a people person. I have said this before. I like people.......I like being around them, but it seems like I am surrounded by a bunch of women who are trying to out do each other in the drama department. Every Monday, I go to work. Happy and bouncy and ready for the day. By about 10 a.m., I feel like I have the life sucked right out of me. One of my aides always has a crisis that is life or death, but when you pin her down, its "Oh, it can wait!" The week before my surgery, she came in and her daughter had to have emergency hernia surgery and when I didn't balk (she really thought I would re-schedule), oh, well, her 15 year old daughter decided she didn't want the surgery! WHAT? Who is the parent? What happened to it being life or death? Well, not this person's son is on his death bed, but the doctor said he would be fine to wait and see a specialists next week? WHAT? Then, another aide is pregnant, can run down the hall to get mixed into someone else's business, but is too sick to do her own work.

Again, I am a "get it done" worker. I am the kind of person you want in a crisis because I react, take care of things, and then later I think about it!! LOL I am cool-headed and handle myself well, crisis or no. I am professional. I am a hard worker! I am so tired of not being able to go to work and do my job due to all the drama. I am constantly having to cover something for these two! HELP!

Okay, just needed to vent. These things usually lead me to eat, eat, eat. I am doing my best to stay away from the fridge!!!

Okay, my BP is down and I am relaxed...........!!!

Scale Suprise

Yes, I went to WW today and weighed in and stayed for the meeting. I do find going to the meetings and weighing in gives me some accountability. I lost 1.6 this week for a total of 11.8 in three weeks. Not too shabby I say!! I was surprised because I had Red Lobster Friday night and taco bell last night. I did stay within my points, but I don't like eating out that much when I am dieting. If I do eat out, I hardly ever do fast food. I know I can eat well at RL with grilled shrimp, broccoli, etc. Especially if I stay away from the biscuits. But, fast food? Well, I stayed within my points range yesterday, but I sure didn't feel good from it. I didn't give me a stomach ache or anything, just the blahs!!!

I have started walking with a friend everyday after school and its really helped my energy level. I called the doctor's office Friday and have an appointment to see him on Feb. 13th. Have to get these hormones checked. They have been kind "whacked" out since the hysterectomy, so we need to check on some things. Guess my remaining one little ovary is a bit overwhelmed! Since making the decision to have this hysterectomy I have read everything I can get my hands on about the hysterectomy, hormones, etc. and I must say, our bodies are amazing. It truly amazes me how the simplest things can set off a chain of events in our bodies. I am truly not a doctor person so, deciding to go was big. I am a "I will try to fix it on my own" person. And I have tried. They did give me something to help me sleep, at least until I can get to see the doctor. Well, I took it last night and feel like a different person today! So, that helped. Going to try and not take them often, but it was nice to sleep for several hours at a time! LOL

Well, that's my day so far. Hope everyone is doing great! I love all my blogging friends/buddies! Thanks for the continued support!

Been Busy Week

So, I haven't posted much this week. It's just been a busy week. I have been reading your blogs every night, just really haven't had much to say on mine! I'm doing good with WW this week, except I ate out twice this week and I never do as good, even though I eat well at the restaurant~ When I cook at home, I do much better.

Work has been hell this week because one of my aides has been out all week. So, basically, I have to do her work and mine gets neglected. This too shall pass. On the upside from work, my best friend/co-worker and I have started walking in the gym every day after school. She and I are both likely to do our exercise if we do it before we get home. So, we have planned on walking every day after school. That makes me feel good too, because I can come home from work and already be done with the exercise. Last night I did some light weights after I got home, but to know that the main part of my exercise was done, sure was a nice feeling. I have worked up to 40 minutes (and I walk fast -- but she does too!), but she was only at thirty minutes, but she worked it out and kept up the last 10 minutes. That was nice.

Just wanted to check in and tell everybody I was still out there!!! Thanks, as usual for everybodys' continued support. It really does make a difference.

WOOHOO!!! Down 2.2 !!!!!

That's right folks, down another 2.2! I am sooooo happy! I was worried after my mess up the other day, but I got right back on track and really worked hard to make sure that one screw up didn't define my entire week.............and IT DIDN'T! Now, I have got to make sure this next week, I stay focused the entire week. That would be nice, huh? I always seem to have at least one bump in the road, but they are little bumps, that I count anyway. I am working on the detours so I won't have to go over those bumps!!

I am slowly getting back into an exercise routine and I know that is helping. It also makes me feel better. I picked up a 50 lb. back of dog food this week, forgetting that I am not supposed to be lifting that much just yet, so that set me back a couple of days, but I worked through that as well.

On a different, yet related topic, I saw my sister this weekend. She and her husband are the type of people who are hung up on weight and obsessed with calories. She is obviously the total opposite of me. I can remember when her two year old little girl was little, her husband would nag her that she was feeding her toddler too much because she had a round little face and that chubby cheeked look. You know, like most toddlers look. By no means was this child even chubby.......just normal. Well, after seeing them this weekend, I realize I am so grateful I am dealing with my issues as opposed to theirs. Isn't that funny? I would never want to look like they do. My poor niece, who is twenty, is 5'9" and MAYBE 115 lbs. She looks terrible.......and what is so bizarre to me, they think she looks beautiful! She looks emaciated. She has NEVER looked this bad to me. She has dark circles under her eyes, her bones stick out of her clothes, and she won't eat. All she has EVERYDAY is steamed veggies. This is what my sister and her husband have instilled in her and to me it is so sad. Now, I have ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS had a weight problem. My children never did/have! I always fed them healthy stuff throughout their growing up years. Oh, my youngest loves junk food like I do, but it wasn't in my house that often (I was a "sneak" eater, so it was never around them!). This is what I don't understand about our society. There is truly a double standard....Don't you think?

My sister, in all her neurotic glory, has instilled in her daughter that fat is evil to the point that she starves herself. Now, how is that healthy. But, BUT, society agrees. The emaciated 20 year old would be considered healthy compared to the 20 year old who was fifty pounds overweight. Now, when I was 20, I was 50 lbs. overweight (hadn't got off the baby weight!! - still haven't LOL). But, I was so much healthier than she is now. I rode horses everyday, for hours at a time, and this didn't include just riding, this was exercising them, walking out the pasture to get them, brushing, saddling, etc......What I am getting at is, my 50 lbs. didn't hamper my health as much as her malnutrition does. Why can't they see that? She's a size zero. That's what matters to them. This is a girl who doesn't do anything. NOTHING. She goes to the gym with my sister (she's obsessive compulsive about the gym - but its okay to eat like a pig in her opinion as long as you go to the gym for four hours and burn it off - instead of learning how to eat), but she can't keep up with her because she is so out of shape. Now, about 20 pounds ago, I would say she was absolutely the most beautiful girl I'd ever seen. Model beautiful. Not now.

It's also amazing to me how two (three actually) people can be raised by the same people and yet see the world in entirely different ways. I am so much more grounded than she is (yes, I am patting myself on the back). Don't get me wrong, I love my sister, I always will. I just don't understand her mind set. That being said, I also have two VERY DIFFERENT SONS who are so polar opposites, but that doesn't make me understand it! God definitely made each of us differently!!!

So, hopefully someone reading this may have an AHA moment and realize we ALL have body issues. Even those who think they are perfect............they just don't realize perfect, as with beauty, is in the eye of the beholder...don't you think. It's not real. My sister has gone up and down in her weight through the years....nothing I ever thought was even the least bit heavy and to me she looked her best with a little meat on her bones. The highest size (we don't discuss weight) she has been is a 10. To me, she was gorgeous then. Now, she's a 4, maybe. She looks gaunt, dehydrated, emaciated and now she's got her daughter looking that way. But, again, polar opposites. Now, if I can just be that kind to myself...right? I don't like the fat, or the way I look, so I understand where they come from perfectly well......but I don't let body image completely define me. I am afraid that is their first priority and the saddest part of all is, neither one of them is happy.

Okay, done rambling........What do some of you feel about the whole body image thing and what society deems "beautiful"? Several of you have written on this topic lately. But, why do people feel that body image, or FAT, or even the lack there of, totally defines a person? I don't guess I will totally understand that! I remember being totally "judged" when I was just 50 lbs. overweight, wonder what they are saying now!??? LOL Oh well!

The End of Week Two

So, this is the end of week two back at work after the hysterectomy. I have also had two, almost three weeks back on WW. I think I am doing pretty good. With the exception of last night of course. Stressful day, blah blah blah, then the girls night out dinner (which by the way I planned out and did very well) and then finding out that school was closed (which was NOT stressful), but I came home and yes, I ate those damned pringles, a cadbury egg and heath bar (half of one!! LOL). So, as I sat there, disgusted with myself, I was thinking..soooo what the hell is stopping me from making this a full fledged BINGE! Oh, I headed to the fridge, but there really wasn't anything in there that I wanted, especially since any of it would've had to have been cooked, and well with the exhaustion I have been having, no way in hell!! So, I sat back in my chair and after a few minutes of self-loathing, I decided to add up all the shit I had eaten. I mean, I spent the whole day, eating barely any points because we were having our monthly girls night out dinner...........but I ate very healthy at the dinner and had barely any points (6 pts at dinner, go figure!).

Well, after adding, and "guess-tim-ating" (high I might add), I didn't go over my points. I literally was ready to just chunk the whole thing because I had screwed up without even checking how badly I had done so. Well, I felt much better. Still mad at myself for binge-ing, but happy that I stayed within my points. DAMN THOSE CADBURY EGGS! "Baaachhh baccchhhhh - Thanks Easter Bunny!"""""

So, I am determined not to let it define me this week. I have started walking in the gym after work (too cold outside here - haha), so I had earned 4 pts. afterschool yesterday and didn't use them.

Today, I have done very well on program. Still have a few points left and its nearly 10 p.m. I worked out again today. Have got my positive outlook back. That positive outlook of my tends to be very "shy" and runs away from me a lot, but she's with me right now! So, after a nearly crappy eating disaster, I turned it around and made it a positive. Made me work harder! We all know that's what it's going to take, even though it really pisses me off!

Take care!

Another day in the bizarre south!!!

Yep, I live in the south. Yep, I have said it before. Have I told you how bizarre it can be to live here? Well, I will now.

I have lived here the majority of my life with some detours in California (several times) and Japan (twice). When it snows here, flurries send people over the edge. No one can drive (that's true any time of year, haha). Flurries send people to the grocery store causing otherwise sane people to stock their fridges with 20 days of food! Flurries make otherwise sane school officials cancel classes in fear that buses cannot drive on the snow (WHAT SNOW?). Oh as I child I loved it. As an employee of the school system, I LOVE IT! Most of the years I spent in school, snow days made children almost as happy at Santa, Easter Bunny, and the Tooth Fairy combined. But, especially in the last six years since I have been working for the school system, we just haven't been having any snow days. Barely any. Must be global warming (WHATEVER! - what nonsense).

Okay, I said all that to tell you this.............Tomorrow, schools are closed here in my little town. WHY, you ask? Because its cold. Yep, I said - BECAUSE IT'S COLD!! WHO DOES THAT? Okay, I am not complaining by any means. With all I have been through lately, I need the extra day off. But, school is closed tomorrow because its cold and the wind chill is going to be somewhere between 10-20 below zero. Ok, children in upstate New York, or Minnesota, Or North Dakota, or Wisconsin, or anywhere else that gets REAL snow, REAL cold temperatures, REAL winters....I don't think they get out for this stuff.

Okay, DISCLAIMER here:.....I realize that it will be cold in the morning. I realize we are not prepared here in the south for these kinds of temperatures. I know there are some parents who will send their babies out into the cold and have them stand there forever waiting on the buses......BUT REALLY? Closed due to the cold!

It's a first for me and I just wanted to share! Of course, staying on program is always hard for me on weekends and days off......but I will just have to suck it up and make it work. This is still mind blowing for me! LOL Too Bizarre!!

Quick Note

Just wanted to put up a quick note......Exhaustion set in today! I am worn out...! Have had two fairly good OP days....haven't gone over points, so that's right?

Thanks for all the support and wonderful comments. I truly appreciate it! It really makes a difference!

Curling up on the couch now to get some rest. Need sleep and lots of it, just can't seem to sleep these days!

Here's to hoping everybody is doing good and having a great day!

SUPER SUNDAY

Well, went to Weight Watchers this afternoon and ...............lost 2.6! I was afraid I hadn't lost. That's what I get for trying to weigh in at home, huh? I've worked out the past two days and it has made me feel a lot better. Trying not to push myself, as I feel some twinges and pulling, but all in all feel great.

Also, it's a super Sunday for me because I have my family around me and we're watching football! What could be better? Hope everybody is having a great day and I hope everyone has a great on program week, whatever program they are doing!!!

SOUTHERN WOMEN! ((a little long = but funny))

Being from the south, we have to poke fun at ourselves every "now and again"! I just wanted to share this with everybody. Lighten things up a bit today!!







SOUTHERN WOMEN

Southern women appreciate their natural assets:
Clean skin.
A winning smile.
That unforgettable Southern drawl.

Southern women know their manners:
"Yes, ma'am."
"Yes, sir."
"Why, no, Billy!"

Southern women have a distinct way with fond expressions :
"Y'all come back!"
"Well, bless your heart."
" Drop by when you can."
"How's your Momma?"


Southern women know their summer weather report:
Humidity
Humidity
Humidity

Southern women know their vacation spots:
The beach
The rivuh
The crick

Southern women know the joys of June, July, and August:
Colorful hi-heel sandals
Strapless sun dresses
Iced sweet tea with mint
Straw hats and big sunglasses

Southern women know everybody's first name:
Honey
Darlin'
Shugah

Southern women know the movies that speak to their hearts:
Fried Green Tomatoes
Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood
Steel Magnolias
Gone With The Wind

Southern women know their religions:
Baptist
Methodist
Football (yeah baby!!)

Southern women know their country breakfasts:
Red-eye gravy
Grits
Eggs
Country ham
Mouth-watering homemade biscuits with momma's homemade jelly

Southern women know their cities dripping with Southern charm:
Chawl'stn
S'vanah
Foat Wuth
N'awlins
Addlanna

Southern women know their elegant gentlemen:
Men in uniform.
Men in tuxedos
Rhett Butler

Southern girls know their prime real estate:
The Mall
The Country Club
The Beauty Salon

Southern girls know the 3 deadly sins:
Having bad hair and nails
Having bad manners
Cooking bad food


More Suthen-ism's:
Only a Southerner knows the difference between a hissie fit and a conniption fit, and that you don't "HAVE" them, you "PITCH" them.
_____

Only a Southerner knows how many fish, collard greens, turnip greens, peas, beans, etc., make up "a mess."
_____

Only a Southerner can show or point out to you the general direction of "yonder."
_____

Only a Southerner knows exactly how long "directly" is, . as in: "Going to town, be back directly."
_____

Even Southern babies know that "Gimme some sugar" is not a request for the white, granular sweet substance that sits in a pretty little bowl in the middle of the table.
_____

All Southerners know exactly when "by and by" is. They might not use the term, but they know the concept well.
_____

Only a Southerner knows instinctively that the best gesture of solace for a neighbor who's got trouble is a plate of hot fried chicken and a big bowl of cold potato salad. If the neighbor's trouble is a real crisis, they also know to add a large banana puddin!
_____

Only Southerners grow up knowing the difference between "right near" and "a right far piece." They also know that "just down the road" can be 1 mile or 20.
_____

Only a Southerner, both knows and understands, the difference between a redneck, a good ol' boy, and po' white trash.
_____

No true Southerner would ever assume that the car with the flashing turn signal is actually going to make a turn.
_____

A Southe rner knows that "fixin" can be used as a noun, a verb, or an adverb.
_____

Only Southerners make friends while standing in lines, ... and when we're "in line," . we talk to everybody!
_____

Put 100 Southerners in a room and half of them will discover they're related, even if only by marriage.
_____

In the South, y'all is singular, all y'all is plural.
_____

Southerners know grits come from corn and how to eat them.
_____

Every Southerner knows tomatoes with eggs, bacon, grits, and coffee are perfectly wonderful; that red eye gravy is also a breakfast food; and that fried green tomatoes are not a breakfast food.
_____

When you hear someone say, "Well, I caught myself lookin'," you know you are in the presence of a genuine Southerner!
_____

Only true Southerners say "sweet tea," "sweet milk," and "light bread" Sweet tea indicates the need for sugar and lots of it -- we do not like our tea unsweetened. "Sweet milk" means you don't want buttermilk. And "Light bread" is white bread.
_____

And a true Southerner knows you don't scream obscenities at little old ladies who drive 30 MPH on the freeway. You just say,"Bless her heart" .. and go your own way.
_____

To those of you who are still a little embarrassed by your Southerness: Take two tent revivals a nd a dose of sausage gravy and call me in the morning. Bless your heart!
_____

And to those of you who are still having a hard time understanding all this Southern stuff, .... bless your hearts, I hear they are fixin' to have classes on Southernness as a second language!
_____

And for those that are not from the South but have lived here for a long time, all y'all need a sign to hang on y'alls front porch that reads "I ain't from the South, but I got here as fast as I could."

Southern girls know men may come and go, but friends are fahevah !

"Nuff said!"

Good Days and Bad

This week, though its been rough, has been pretty good so far. Have done pretty well with WW and planning ahead and keeping myself on program. I stepped on the scale, even though weigh in isn't until Sunday, and well, I was up yesterday and back down today. That's the thing about weighing everyday......our bodies are so fickle that they just tease us!! So, I'm not going to worry about it. I know I am doing what I should, if it doesn't come off today, it will come off tomorrow.

Work has been pretty easy to get back to. I have no complaints. I am exhausted though. I thought I would be in pain or ache, but I really don't. Just so damned tired I can't see straight. One part of me wants to call in sick tomorrow, but I won't. I don't................so I will trudge on and sleep all weekend. LOL -- I jest, but actually, I'm not sleeping much these days. "They" say its normal after having a hysterectomy, but first of all, who the hell is "they" and what part of me has EVER been normal!!

You know, speaking of fickle (above).....after being back at work, I think I could really enjoy being a hermit!!!! I have always been a people person. I work well with people, around people, for people, whatever..........but people are annoying the shit out of me this week...............I think I enjoyed my solitude way too much during my six weeks off. Oh, and its definitely not the kids that bother me. I love kids. For some reason, the bad ones flock to me and I seem to have a way of being able to get through to them. No, its adults. Sneaky, whiney, gossipy, ass-kissing, brown-nosing, lazy (oh especially lazy), responsibility-shirking adults!

Well, that's my take for the day! Gotta run (I really am in a good mood -- betcha couldn't tell!!)

Here I go!!!

Okay, so Estela tagged me with this 4 x 4............(you just wait - I will get you back! LOL)


Four places I go over and over again:

1. Gatlingburg, TN - It's the most beautiful place to me. My family and I like to hike down to the Little Pigeon River and sit on our "big rock" and picnic and listen to the sounds of the water rushing over the rocks! Heaven!
2. Orange Beach, AL - My family and my sister's family like to go on vacation together and sit on the beach and just chill! Nothing better. We go every year if we can.
3. Wal-Mart for me too, unfortunately. I am different from Estela. I hate going, but on my side of town, its actually headed out into the country and its the best place to grocery shop. It is one of the things I dread the most! I am not a shopper of any kind whether its Wal-Mart or Macy's! LOL
4. Work - nuff said!

Four people who mail me regularly: (we're talking e-mail here, right? not snail mail cause nobody snail-mails anymore except my mother!)

1. My sister in Nashville.
2. My best friend, Anita.
3. My sister in law in OK.
4. My sister in law in England.

Four of my favorite places to eat, (apart from home):

1. Don Panchos (local mexican restaurant)
2. Red Lobster
3. Oyster House in Orange Beach, AL
4. Bubba's in Orange Beach

Four places I'd rather be now:

1. Gatlinburg, TN
2. Orange Beach, AL
3. Ireland
4. (Stealing from Estela) - In a thinner body!!!!!

Four favorite TV shows:

1. NCIS
2. BONES
3. CSI: NY
4. CSI

Four movies I would watch over and over again:

1. Remember the Titans
2. White Christmas (I am a sap, I know)
3. Cars (yep, sappy again - I am a kid at heart!!)
4. Dark Knight (Love Christian Bale)

Four people I would like to tag:
(Ok, couldn't get the link to work)

1. Carlos - You're Gonna Need a Bigger Boat
2. Stages of Change
3. Karen (Katschi) - Fitcetera
4. Debby - De-Puffing Pixie with Weight Watchers

Okay, there you go! YOUR TURN - Think people, Think!!!

Not much to say.....

Not much to say tonight. Second day back at work. I feel a lot better than I thought I would. I am achy at night, but I really thought I would be so exhausted I couldn't move. I don't feel that way. I think the being back OP for the past week before I went back to work really helped. It helped me clear my mind of that sugar fog from Christmas! Luckily I had kept up with my work while I was off, or it would've been overwhelming. Just have a lot of filing to do since I couldn't bring that home with me.

Basically a pretty good day....Work wise and diet wise. Here's to having a whole week like that!!

Well, I've been tagged!

Okay, the 10 interesting things got handed to me, but as I sit here, I can't imagine that there are 10 interesting things about me.......

1) I have two of the most beautiful children in the world. Well, now they are grown men, but they will always be "kids" to me! My oldest is studying to get his master's degree in Forensic Anthropology and has been married for two years. My youngest played one year of college football, but hasn't figured out what life has in store for him yet, but he will. He's a smart kid. I love them both very much.

2) I have an amazing husband who I fell in love with immediately. He is truly my hero. He's jumped out of helicopters, swam with sharks, been on five continents, been to war, is a fireman, and loves me and his kids with everything that he is!

3) I come from a very Irish background and my grandmother and grandfather came here from County Cork, Ireland to Ellis Island right around 1900 (1902 I think). I am very proud of my Irish heritage. That is probably the only country I care to visit at this stage in my life.

4) I have lived in Japan, twice. First when I was ages 4-7, then again at the ripe old age of 20. My father was in the Navy and then I married someone in the Navy. Go figure. I learned Japanese when I was little, but didn't remember much when I went back as an adult. Its amazing living in another culture/country. I don't remember too much from childhood, but I remember a lot from my second trip there. My husband was already in Japan and I flew, by myself (not quite, I had a one year old in tow), terrified, to another country, hoping and praying my hubby would be at the airport to meet me!

5) I am a country girl at heart that loves city conveniences. Horses have always been my true passion, but after the hubby and I got married and started moving everywhere, we had to give up the horses...then, the family came along, and life happened. I want to get some land now that the kids are grown and get back to riding horses. Of course, I need to have a starbucks at least within 50 miles of me!!

6) I have spent way too much time in my life being afraid of my own shadow. I never let anyone mistreat my children, but I can let others run me over in a minute. I need to start loving myself like I love my children! In high school I let my fear keep me from my graduation (graduated, just didn't go to graduation). I didn't know it then, but I had an anxiety problem. Have had many an anxiety attack since then!

7) I am also, very much, a dog person. Well an animal person anyway. My daugher-in-law calls me the dog whisperer. I can train a dog so easily. She thinks I have a calling. I love animals, but you have to make sure they know they are the animals and you are the human. People tend to forget that. I have five beautiful dogs - two golden retrievers, one pug, one husky/lab/wolf mix, and a lab/pitbull mix that was born under the school that I work at! Call me crazy, but I love them.

8) I love football! No, really. (Watching Ohio St. vs. Texas right now!!!) Even my husband says I know more about football than he does. Comes from having boys play football from the time they were six!!

9) I'm always the person that gets called on for everything. The "go to" person....Not the one everyone picks first, but always the one they have to go to get things done. I guess that's why I do a lot of work for my boss that is her responsibility. Its annoying. I am very OCD when it comes to my work. There is not another secretary in our system that does the things I do, yet, I do them.....but, I love my job, just not my boss. She can't do the charts, and graphs, and spreadsheets, or any other computer program she needs to do for her job, she calls on me to do it...............but since I can't be there to give the presentations for her, it is nice to know that she always falls on her face when called upon to explain herself! ITs funny really. I am the financial person where I work, so she hasn't got a clue about what comes in and goes out, yet I submit them to her on a monthly basis for approval. Oh, and budget.....she wouldn't have a clue (enough of that, I could go on all night).

10) On the outside you would see me as a tough, pulled-together individual (except for the weight of course) and on the inside I am a marshmallow. I cry at sappy movies. I love babies and puppies (obviously). I love people, yet enjoy being by myself!

Ok, that was 10......may not be interesting, but there they are!

Back OP - First WI

Okay, so today was my first WI back on the wagon! I lost 5.4!!!! I was very excited. I realize your week one is always the biggie, but I didn't think it would be that big since I am not doing too much just yet! I am truly happy with that. I have done very well OP this week. I did drink a REAL coke today, but I have counted and adjusted the rest of my day for it!......

They gave out the new "Momentum" info at the meeting today. Basically its the core and flex plans combined with you counting and using more CORE foods. Not a big deal for those of us who always counted in the first place. I will try to incorporate more "filling foods" in my diet, it only makes sense, actually.

Well, tomorrow I have to go back to work after being off for nearly seven weeks. Its been nice and I dread going.........but then again I don't. I enjoy my work, just not the boss. She lives to make people's lives miserable. Not fun to work around. Luckily I have good friends where I work and we all support each other. We have to!

My worries are mostly because my energy level is not back up to pre-surgery levels and I know it will be a tough few weeks getting back in the swing of things. I am just not really into stress these days....don't handle it well. So, they may get a real bitch back (which I can be one anyone when they piss me off) or an emotional wreck. Let's hope they get the bitch, they are used to that! LOL

Just wanted to share!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Awwwwhhhhhh!!

Now that's the way to start a new year!!! I went for a massage today! I feel like I have just melted. I am so relaxed. After my massage, my girlfriend and I went to a two hour lunch and Starbucks afterwards. She and I work together and this was our last day of freedom before returning to work on Monday.

You just don't know how stressed you are until you have a massage. I didn't realize I could actually feel that relaxed. I highlly recommend it!

Now, start your year off right by doing something for yourself! Don't feel guilty. Don't make excuses. Just do it!!


(PS - We ate at Jason's Deli and got a skinny latte at Starbucks so a wonderful OP day so far!!)

2009! What Will It Bring???

New Year! New You? Well, let's hope so! I guess the older you get, the more your wishes for the New Year change. Notice I didn't say resolutions???!!! I don't do them. For more years than I care to remember, losing weight, of course is at the top of my list. But, this year, hell yes I want to lose weight. But, I am trying a different approach.......

I have noticed in my wise old age of 44 that as we get older, and especially as our children get older, time seems to fly by. I touched on this a bit in my last post. But, this year, I am making "slow and steady" my approach. We always tend to "wish" our lives away and when we do, mostly what we get is another year gone by.

Remember when we were kids and we wished our lives away? Especially with my oldest son...he wished his life away. I can remember him wishing he was 10, then wishing he were in middle school, then wishing he were in high school, can't wait til I turn 15 so I can get my permit, 16 so I can drive, 18 because (well I'm not sure why other than you are an adult - whatever that means), I can't wait til I graduate, I can't wait til I go to college, I can't wait til I graduate college, I can't wait til I get married, get funding for my master's, get my PhD........okay, my point is all the while..................he's wishing his life away. How many of us are present in our lives when we are wishing we were that magic age? It all comes and goes so fast. I, of course, wanted him to go through these milestones, but not so damned fast! LOL (I use him as an example, because well, my youngest isn't so eager to take on the world!)

So, this year, I want to savor every moment. Slow down. Take the time to pay attention to what goes on around us. We all get caught up in the every day hustle and bustle and forget to breathe, relax, enjoy............?.................Let's all try to do this in the upcoming year. Of course we all need to take care of our families, that's what we do. But let's see you (us) take care of yourself (ourselves).

I will start it for us...............tomorrow I go for a massage! I plan on doing this more often this year. I am also planning our beach trip for June. Invest in yourself. This doesn't mean spend money, just invest in your health, your sanity.................YOU ARE WORTH IT!! (Oh, and SO AM I!!!!!)

What will you do for you within the next week?????????????