Lark's Song

Weighing In - Week Thirty One

2012-01-30T12:57:00.000-06:00

I started a new job on Monday. I think the stress of starting over after 17 years and the longer commute may have contributed to my less than stellar results this week. Eating lunch out every day may have been a factor, too. My commute is longer and I'm getting home later, which makes it harder to fit in my evening exercise. I only managed three workouts for the week - unless you count the 5 block walk from bus stop to office.

I'm hoping to get used to my new schedule quickly so I can get back into a routine of packing a (nutritous) lunch 3-4 days and exercising at least 4 days each week. I'm also going to search for the pedometer that I know I have - somewhere - and wear it to work so I can see just how much distance I'm traveling. That has to count for something. Right?

My numbers for the week:

Pounds lost (-) or gained (+) this week: +0.4
Total weight loss: 15.2

Inches lost (-) or gained (+) this week: -0

Total inches lost: 26.5

Where do I get my best motivation? From you and from my friends at the Empty the Junk from the Trunk group on Facebook. Stop by and check it out.

My current motivation: Cute new clothes (smaller size) to go with the cute shoes and purse I bought over the weekend.

Weighing In - Week Thirty

2012-01-23T21:44:00.000-06:00

I just celebrated my last week at my job. And I do mean celebrated. Lunches out with friends - Mexican and Italian. Celebratory bottles of wine and skipping regular workouts (only did three).

So, why is it that I still lost weight? I'm not complaining. I just don't understand.

One of my super-healthy friends tells me that it's because the muscle that I've been building is burning more calories. I've never experienced this phenomenon before, and doubted its existence. Maybe I was wrong. Either way, I'll take my 1 pound weight-loss, and smile about it.

My numbers for the week:

Pounds lost (-) or gained (+) this week: -1.0
Total weight loss: 15.6

Inches lost (-) or gained (+) this week: -0

Total inches lost: 26.5

Where do I get my best motivation? From you and from my friends at the Empty the Junk from the Trunk group on Facebook. Stop by and check it out.

My current motivation: Life changes, and so should my health - in a good way! Now that I've started a new job, I need to get my schedule figured out so that I can still do my (almost) daily workouts. I'll let you know how that goes.

Weighing In - Week Twenty Nine

2012-01-17T13:02:00.000-06:00

I only made a little progress this week. Maybe it's the weekend snacking or maybe I'm adding muscle. I worked out 5 days in a row, y'all! I think that's a record for me. I'm really rockin' level 3 of the 30 Day Shred now. I love this workout, but I'm afraid that I will get bored with it after a while, so I'm in the market for a new challenge. If you know of any really awesome videos, please share!

I went clothes shopping on Sunday, and didn't find much. I bought a jacket, a pair of slacks and a coat. There wasn't much to choose from in the three stores I visited. Looks like they are clearing out the winter clothes to make room for spring fashions. Oh well, I guess that means I'll be visiting some other stores next weekend. Gotta dress for success!

My numbers for the week:

Pounds lost (-) or gained (+) this week: -0.6
Total weight loss: 14.6

Inches lost (-) or gained (+) this week: -0

Total inches lost: 26.5

Where do I get my best motivation? From you and from my friends at the Empty the Junk from the Trunk group on Facebook. Stop by and check it out.

My current motivation: Buying a new wardrobe for my new job... in a smaller size! Still shopping, so this hasn't changed. ;)

Weighing In - Week Twenty Eight

2012-01-11T20:45:00.000-06:00

I have decided that 2012 is going to be my year. The year that I get back to a healthy weight, take the time to enjoy my new camera, and make that career change I've been hoping for.

I've started reversing the damage from the holidays. I worked out 4 times during the week (one more than my goal) and lost 2 pounds and 1/2 inch. Since it was the first week of the new year, I decided to move up to level 3 of the 30 Day Shred. It's hard, but I surprised myself by being able to do all the moves. Of course I'm doing the beginner version, and I sometimes have to stop in the middle to rest for a few seconds... but I'm doing it and it feels great!

Those slacks that have been hanging in my closet... I wore them this week, and they looked great!

As for the other items on my 2012 list...

I started the year off with an afternoon of informal street shooting with my friend, Jennifer. It was great fun and definitely worth repeating - and with my purse that is now a camera bag, I'll be ready to take advantage of the next opportunity. In fact, I may even spring for a new Epiphanie bag this year.

The career change is already in progress. After 17 years with the same company, I have given my notice and will be starting a new job in less than two weeks. I'm scared and excited at the same time.

It's going to be a great year!

My numbers for the week:

Pounds lost (-) or gained (+) this week: -2.0
Total weight loss: 14.0

Inches lost (-) or gained (+) this week: -0.5

Weighing In - Week Twenty Seven

2012-01-02T22:20:00.000-06:00

I started this weight-loss journey six months ago, and no one is more surprised than I am that I'm still going strong. I think that the accountability of reporting my progress in weekly posts has been a huge motivation for me. It's also given my blog a boost. In my third year of blogging, I actually have (sort of) regular posts.

That makes the 4th week in a row weight gain a little easier to bear. I'd love to say it's water weight or muscle, but it's definitely those little holiday over indulgences that are to blame. (Did I mention that I'm glad Christmas is over?) I've gained a total of 6 pounds over the holiday. BUT I'm still 12 pounds lighter than I was when I started. And that's something to be happy about!

So, it's a new year and I am definitely ready to get back on track. One of my goals for this year is to get back to a healthy weight. Will I be ready for a bikini this summer? Maybe, maybe not - but without a doubt, I'll be closer than I was last summer.

My numbers for the week:

Pounds lost (-) or gained (+) this week: +1.4
Total weight loss: 12.0

Inches lost (-) or gained (+) this week: +0.5

Total inches lost: 26.0

Where do I get my best motivation? From you and from my friends at the Empty the Junk from the Trunk group on Facebook. Stop by and check it out.

My current motivation: Losing that muffin top!

2011 Goals in Review

2011-12-31T23:35:00.000-06:00

At the beginning of this year, I chose to set goals instead of making New Year's resolutions. Now that the year is coming to a close, it's time to review those goals and see how I did.

One of my goals for the year was to become a healthier person. In June, I finally got serious and started exercising regularly, with a goal of getting back to a healthy weight (losing 69 pounds). I haven't reached my goal weight yet, but I have managed to exercise at least 3 times each week (with only one exception). Part of my commitment was to be accountable and blog about my progress each week. I know that this is the reason I've stuck with it this time. I would consider the original goal met, and worthy of continuing.

Another goal was to make my home more comfortable by removing clutter. I've made a lot of progress, but still have work to do. I'm not sure that this is something that will ever be completely finished - especially when other family members (and their stuff) are involved.

Last year I bought myself a new camera for Christmas. My last goal was to learn how to use all the features. I've taken a lot of pictures this year - even framed a few - but I still have a lot to learn about my camera. I tried participating in a weekly photo challenge, but gave up after a couple of months when the topics didn't inspire me. Maybe I should create my own challenge where I just shoot what interests me. Hmm, I'll have to give that some thought.

I like these goals. I think that I'll keep them for next year as well.

Happy New Year, my friends!

Weighing In - Week Twenty Six

2011-12-28T10:48:00.001-06:00

I am so glad that Christmas is over. I gained another 2.4 lbs last week and I am thankful that there will be no more candy and baked goodies coming out of my kitchen for a while. Now, if I could just get rid of all the stuff that is already there... without eating it myself!

I'll be working a temporary job for the next few days. That will keep me busy (and away from temptation) for a while. I've done a pretty good job of staying on track with my exercise - getting in a minimum of three workouts a week - but it will be easier when vacation is over and I get back to my regular work routine.

There will be some changes this year, but I will have to share those with you in a later post. In the meantime, I hope you all have a very Happy New Year!!

My numbers for the week:

Pounds lost (-) or gained (+) this week: +2.4
Total weight loss: 13.4

Inches lost (-) or gained (+) this week: -0

Total inches lost: 26.5

Where do I get my best motivation? From you and from my friends at the Empty the Junk from the Trunk group on Facebook. Stop by and check it out.

My current motivation: Still looking forward to wearing those khaki slacks (and some black slacks that I picked up a few days ago) without any muffin top!

Weighing In - Week Twenty Five

2011-12-20T12:45:00.001-06:00

The holidays are the worst time for weight-loss. Cookies, candy, family get-togethers based on meals - it's all a huge marketing conspiracy to make us gain weight. Don't believe me? Then wait until the first of the year and see how many stores have big sales on exercise equipment. See? I know what I'm talking about.

Last week I gained again - just a little bit, though. My friend, Daria, swears that it's muscle weight, and since I'm still losing inches (yes, half an inch counts), I'm inclined to agree with her. My goal for this week before Christmas is simply to maintain. I will enjoy some holiday treats (including egg nog) and spending time with my family, and if I'm a good girl, maybe Santa will bring me something special this year.

My numbers for the week:

Pounds lost (-) or gained (+) this week: +0.6
Total weight loss: 15.8

Inches lost (-) or gained (+) this week: -0.5

Weighing In - Week Twenty Four

2011-12-13T12:06:00.000-06:00

The roller coaster is on a uphill track this week. Fortunately this week's up is a lot smaller than last week's down, and next week should be another down week - if I can stay out of the Christmas cookies, that is. The holidays are tough for me. I have a tendency to eat more when I'm stressed out and Christmas can be a pretty stressful time. I did finally get my Christmas cards mailed... now I just have to finish up the shopping and the wrapping and the baking. Seriously, you'd think that I wouldn't have time to eat!

Remember last week, when I said I needed to get new slacks? Well, I picked up a pair of khakis - the same brand I bought last time in a smaller size - and the darned things don't fit like I had hoped. They're just a little tight and... Hello, muffin top! I really don't want to return them. I'm thinking (hoping) that they will stretch if I wear them for a while. The old ones were always a little snug right after they'd been washed and then they would stretch out. Wishful thinking? Yeah, maybe.

My numbers for the week:

Pounds lost (-) or gained (+) this week: +1.6
Total weight loss: 16.4

Inches lost (-) or gained (+) this week: -0

Total inches lost: 26.0

Where do I get my best motivation? From you and from my friends at the Empty the Junk from the Trunk group on Facebook. Stop by and check it out.

Weighing In - Week Twenty Three

2011-12-04T22:47:00.000-06:00

As I stepped on the scale this morning, I recalled that I had only done 3 workouts last week, and had enjoyed a few cookies - okay, a lot of cookies. My expectations were pretty low. When I saw the number, I almost fell off the scale. I had lost 5 pounds since last Sunday. That might be my best week yet, and it more than makes up for the 2 pounds I gained last week.

I'm 2 pounds away from my first mini-goal, and 51 pounds away from my long-term goal. It may take me another year (or more) to get there, but I know I will make it.

I visited my mom and stepdad on Friday, and they both remarked on my weight loss. In fact, my mom commented that my slacks were looking a little baggy in the rear. Guess I'll be headed to the store during my lunch hour tomorrow to shop for new slacks... in a smaller size. :)

My numbers for the week:

Pounds lost (-) or gained (+) this week: -5.0

Total weight loss: 18.0

Inches lost (-) or gained (+) this week: -0.5

Total inches lost: 26.0

Where do I get my best motivation? From you and from my friends at the Empty the Junk from the Trunk group on Facebook. Stop by and check it out.

Weighing In - Week Twenty Two

2011-11-29T12:57:00.003-06:00

Okay, so I knew in advance that Thanksgiving was going to be a bad week for weight loss. I actually gained 3 pounds from all the feasting, but by my official weigh-in day it had corrected to 2.2. My goal is to get that back off quickly and continue making progress.

The good news is that I can consistently get through level 2 of the 30 Day Shred now. Woo hoo! It's not easy, but I can do it. I think I'll stay there for a couple of weeks before taking on level 3. During Thanksgiving break, my son had to exercise (once) to get credit for his kinesiology class, so he joined me in my workout. I dropped back to level 1 for him, and took great satisfaction in seeing that he found it just as hard as I did at first. These really are tough workouts!

It's been five months since I posted my "before" picture, so I thought I'd do a new one to show my progress. I still have a long way to go, but I can already see a difference.

My numbers for the week:

Pounds lost (-) or gained (+) this week: +2.2

Total weight loss: 13.0

Inches lost (-) or gained (+) this week: 0

Total inches lost: 25.5

Does 25.5 inches sound like a lot? I think so, too. Let me break it down for you. These are the areas I measure and how many inches I've lost in each: Waist -6, Hips -4, Neck - 1.5, Arm (upper) -2, Thigh -5, Calf -1.5, Bust -3, Chest -2.5

Looking for some company and motivation on your weight loss journey? Check out the Empty the Junk from the Trunk group on Facebook.

People Watching at RenFest

2011-11-26T23:10:00.001-06:00

One of my favorite events every year is the Texas Renaissance Festival. I won't go into a lot of detail about RenFest (you can click the link if you want details), I'll just say that it's an experience worth repeating. And we do... several times each year.

There is much to do at RenFest - shopping, games, shows and food - but my favorite activity of all is people watching. All of the actors and vendors dress in costume, as do many of the patrons, and it becomes a feast for the eyes.

I'd like to share a few of my favorite shots from this season with you.

Beautiful colors and a beautiful girl.

This lady paints pictures on faces. I think her face would make a lovely painting.

This man has the softest hands at the fair. No kidding!

Such a sweet couple.

The lovely Katie.

Tipsy and Traveller... and don't call her a bird, she's a dragon.

A distinguished gentleman.

This intense look turned into a playful laugh when we asked him what he was wearing 'neath his kilt.

A singing pirate.

Meow.

I love all the small music stages scattered around the festival.

A wise-looking mage.

Rhythm that makes you want to shimmy.

Oh my!

Would you trust this pirate?

A handsome rogue... who also happens to be my son. :)

Beautiful Cinder and her thousand watt smile.

A feast for the eyes and the ears.

As I said there is much to see and do at RenFest, and I can't wait to do it all again next year.

Huzzah!

Thanksgiving Tradition

2011-11-24T23:23:00.001-06:00

Another Thanksgiving has come and (almost) gone. My extended family used to get together at my sister's house for Thanksgiving, but we stopped doing that several years ago.  This year, it was just the three of us - me, my husband and our son (who was home from college).

Cooking a Thanksgiving feast for three people is a challenge for me. You see, when it comes to Thanksgiving, I like to cook BIG. A large turkey (18 lbs), mounds of mashed potatoes and gravy, and enough dressing to feed at least a dozen people. Plus green bean casserole, cranberry sauce (made by my son), rolls, and pie for dessert (apple this year). I know I could adjust my recipes to make smaller batches, but it just wouldn't feel right.

The good thing about this little dilemma is that we always have a ton of leftovers.  I'll be feeding my guys various reincarnations of turkey for the next few days. Thankfully, we all really like turkey.

The bad thing is that we don't have a lot of extra space to store all those leftovers. However, through a creative game of Refrigerator Tetris after dinner, I was able to squeeze everything into the fridge.  We just have to remember to be careful when we open the door.

Tomorrow morning we'll be getting up bright and early. No, we won't be taking part in the traditional chaos of the Black Friday shopping marathon. Instead, we'll be headed to the Texas Renaissance Festival to enjoy the festivities of the Celtic Christmas. It will be our last huzzah of the season. While we're there, we'll probably do a little Christmas shopping. It's traditional, after all.

I hope you've had a wonderful Thanksgiving and that your weekend is calm and soothing, or exciting and productive... or perhaps a bit of both.

Weighing In - Week Twenty One

2011-11-22T12:48:00.001-06:00

Hard work really does pay off. My numbers are headed back in the right direction again. Just in time for the food frenzy that is Thanksgiving.

My numbers for the week:
Pounds lost (-) or gained (+) this week:  -0.4
Total weight loss: 15.2
Inches lost (-) or gained (+) this week:  -0.5
Total inches lost: 26.5

Still on Level 2 of the 30 Day Shred, still can't make it all the way through.

My goal for the upcoming week is simply to maintain... and if I miss my goal, I will blame it on the Pilgrims. :)

Looking for some company and motivation on your weight loss journey?  Check out the Empty the Junk from the Trunk group on Facebook.

Weighing In - Week Twenty

2011-11-16T21:20:00.001-06:00

Grrr! I'm back on the weight loss roller coaster again. It is definitely time to put this program back into high gear.

This week I will work out more than three times.

This week I will make healthier food choices.

This week I will limit my portion sizes.

And next week... I will report a weight loss.

My numbers for the week:
Pounds lost (-) or gained (+) this week:  +0.2
Total weight loss: 14.8
Inches lost (-) or gained (+) this week:  -0
Total inches lost: 26.0

I'm still doing Level 2 of the 30 Day Shred, and it's still kicking my butt.  One day I hope to have enough upper body strength to make it all the way through without stopping. Then... I will move on to Level 3.

Looking for some company and motivation on your weight loss journey?  Check out the Empty the Junk from the Trunk group on Facebook.

Weighing In - Week Nineteen

2011-11-09T21:45:00.000-06:00

Some days I get home from work and I just don't feel motivated to work out. Especially on those evening when I have Scout meetings. The last time I felt that way, I thought about how good I feel after a workout... and I got out the weights and started up the video. I did feel better after the workout and I was proud of myself for sticking with it.

Nineteen weeks. This is the longest I have ever stuck with any weight loss effort. Could it be that it's becoming a way of life? Let's hope so.

Weigh-in this week revealed a small gain. I had done well the last few weeks, so I was due for a set-back. No worries. It keeps me motivated and will just make me work harder to get back on track. Time to kick it back into high gear.

My numbers for the week:
Pounds lost (-) or gained (+) this week:  +0.6
Total weight loss: 15.0
Inches lost (-) or gained (+) this week:  -0
Total inches lost: 26.0

I tried Level 2 of the 30 Day Shred on Friday... and it totally kicked my butt. It's more intense and there are a lot of plank-based moves. After a few weeks at this level, my shoulders are going to look amazing.

Looking for some company and motivation on your weight loss journey?  Check out the Empty the Junk from the Trunk group on Facebook.

Weighing In - Week Eighteen

2011-11-02T21:55:00.000-05:00

If you've been paying any attention to my blog, you may have noticed that there was no week seventeen post. What happened? Wood Badge happened.

Wood Badge is adult leader training offered by the Boy Scouts. It's held over two 3-day weekends, and last weekend (actually 2 weekends ago) was the second weekend of the course - my second Wood Badge staff experience. It was busy, intense and, when it was over, I was exhausted. And I'm looking forward to doing it again.

I think I may have had a small weight gain from all that great food at Wood Badge, but I didn't do my weigh in, so the world may never know. So... we'll just skip ahead.

The first part of my week was spent trying to catch up on errands that I normally do on the weekend. Fortunately, I did manage to do my workouts during the week. Those 20 minute sessions (30 Day Shred) are easy to fit into my schedule, which means I can do them even on those nights when I have Scout meetings.

My numbers for the week:
Pounds lost (-) or gained (+) this week:  -1.6
Total weight loss: 15.6
Inches lost (-) or gained (+) this week:  -1.0
Total inches lost: 26.0

I'm still on Level 1 of the 30 Day Shred, but it's getting easier. I think I may be ready to move up to Level 2 soon. Yay!

Looking for some company and motivation on your weight loss journey?  Check out the Empty the Junk from the Trunk group on Facebook.

Weighing In - Week Sixteen

2011-10-18T13:40:00.000-05:00

Twenty minute sessions of Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred x 4 nights = one very happy me.

After eight weeks, my scale is finally reporting some decent numbers again. If I had know that a simple switch in my exercise routine - one that takes less time, even - would make such a difference, I would have done this weeks ago.

I swear, if I ever meet Jillian, I'm going to give her a big kiss!!

My numbers for the week:
Pounds lost (-) or gained (+) this week:  -2.4
Total weight loss: 14.0
Inches lost (-) or gained (+) this week:  -0.5
Total inches lost: 25.0

Looking for some company and motivation on your weight loss journey?  Check out the Empty the Junk from the Trunk group on Facebook.

Weighing In - Week Fifteen

2011-10-11T13:14:00.000-05:00

Broiled Salmon with Raspberry Citrus Sauce

It was bound to happen. I slacked off on my exercise (only 3 times) last week and ate a few too many desserts and not-so-healthy meals. And then there's the water retention. It all added up to a (small) weight gain for the week. I wasn't shocked when I got on the scale... mildly annoyed, but not shocked.

The good news is that I still lost inches. Yay!

The best part of last week, was that my husband and I celebrated our 22nd wedding anniversary on Friday. I tried out a new recipe for the occasion - broiled salmon with raspberry citrus sauce. I used this Mrs. Dash recipe, with a few little modifications, and the results were amazing. It was healthy (shhh) and so good! I will definitely be making it again.

I've decided to change up my exercise routine and am starting Jillian's 30 Day Shred. I like this program because it mixes cardio, strength training and ab work - and it only takes 20 minutes a day. Maybe this time I will stick with it for an entire month. Wish me luck!

My numbers for the week:
Pounds lost (-) or gained (+) this week:  +0.4
Total weight loss: 11.6
Inches lost (-) or gained (+) this week:  -2.0
Total inches lost: 24.5

Looking for some motivation on your weight loss journey?  Check out the Empty the Junk from the Trunk group on Facebook... these folks are an inspiration!

Weighing In - Week Fourteen

2011-10-06T21:33:00.000-05:00

If ever there was a week when I had low expectations for weigh-in day, this was it. I'm staffing another Wood Badge course (I'll explain this in a separate post for my non-Scouting friends) and weekend #1 started on Thursday, which left me with two free nights for exercise. Even worse, the meals served at Wood Badge were really good, and snacks and candy were plentiful.

My job as Scribe involved lots of keyboard time (working on the daily newsletter and printing various forms and handouts), paparazzi duty (taking random shots of the participants), and making appearances at all the group assemblies, but mostly lots of keyboard time.

I returned home from Wood Badge on Sunday evening, and chose to postpone my weigh-in until Monday morning. I always do weigh-ins first thing in the morning. Besides, I was in no hurry to experience disappointment.

Imagine my surprise when I actually lost weight. Granted, it was a very small amount, but at least it wasn't a gain. Yay me!!

I never did get around to taking measurements, but I will make sure to do that next weekend. I have one more Wood Badge weekend (in three weeks) plus preparation, and I'm hoping that I can make it through without gaining any weight. I'll be watching what I eat, exercising as often as I can, and keeping my fingers crossed.
My numbers for the week:
Pounds lost (-) or gained (+) this week:  -0.2
Total weight loss: 12.0
Inches lost (-) or gained (+) this week:  ?
Total inches lost: 22.5

Looking for some motivation on your weight loss journey?  Check out the Empty the Junk from the Trunk group on Facebook... awesome people helping each other.

Weighing In - Week Thirteen

2011-09-27T22:21:00.000-05:00

I went to an All-Class High School Reunion on Saturday night, and actually felt good about the way I looked. I'm nowhere near my goal weight, but I am making steady progress and feeling better about myself.

My numbers for the week:
Pounds lost (-) or gained (+) this week:  -0.6
Total weight loss: 11.8
Inches lost (-) or gained (+) this week:  -1.0
Total inches lost: 22.5

This week I'm adding more water to my diet. The regular trips to the water cooler give me an excuse to take breaks from my computer. (My eye doctor would be so proud.) I'm also still packing my lunch. That's working very well, and I like having healthier choices.

The Empty the Junk from the Trunk 10-week motivation project has come to an end. I did not meet my goal for the final week, but I did lose 6.6 pounds during the challenge, and I'm looking forward to the next one.

Weighing In - Week Twelve

2011-09-21T22:00:00.000-05:00

I worked out just as hard last week as I usually do, but my results weren't quite what I had hoped.  Was I disappointed? Why, yes, I was. Until I put on a pair of shorts that I bought at the beginning of last summer, and they were quite loose. Then I took them back off again... without unzipping them. Awesome!

My very smart friends at Empty the Junk from the Trunk keep reminding me that the way my clothes fit means more than the numbers on my scale, and they are so right. I love that my clothes are fitting better, and that some are even a little too big. It won't be long before I have to go shopping, which I usually hate, but now I'm actually looking forward to it.

My numbers for the week:
Pounds lost (-) or gained (+) this week:  -0.2
Total weight loss: 11.2
Inches lost (-) or gained (+) this week:  -0.5
Total inches lost: 21.5

I've decided to make another change in my eating habits. I work in an office where lunch is provided (free) almost every day. Unfortunately, the hot lunches are not very healthy and the salad bar is not always available. So, I've decided to start bringing my lunch. This way I can have a healthy lunch and use up some leftovers. (I still haven't gotten used to cooking for two again.) I'm also hoping that this change will provide another boost to my weight loss.

Only one more week left in the Empty the Junk from the Trunk 10-week motivation project. If I meet my weekly goals, my name goes into a drawing for a small cash prize. Will I meet that 2 lb weight loss goal this week? We'll see...

Weighing In - Week Eleven

2011-09-11T22:15:00.000-05:00

It seems like I've always struggled with my weight. I've tried different diets and different exercise programs - some more successful than others - but nothing ever seemed to stick.

This time something's different.

I know I've expressed disappointment that the weight is coming off slowly - about a pound a week - but I haven't been depriving myself of anything. I eat whatever I want, I just try to make healthier choices most of the time and take smaller portions. Today, I even had ice cream! I'm finding it much easier to make those healthy choices now, and the smaller portions are just enough - leaving me satisfied instead of stuffed.

My real secret weapon for weight loss is exercise. That's right, I decided to get off my couch and move it. I'm not much of a morning person, so I do my exercise when I get home from work - before I have a chance to get too comfortable. Thankfully, my family has been very understanding and hasn't complained that dinner comes a little bit later these days.

My favorite workout right now, is Zumba. I have a set of DVDs that lets me alternate between three different workouts. When I want to really challenge myself, I put in Jillian's Yoga Meltdown DVD. I still can't make it all the way through that one - even on the easiest level. I do occasionally take the day off due to scheduling issues or sometimes just because I feel like it, but I don't let that happen too often. I try to work out four or five times a week.

So what's different?

I think it's me. I'm tired of wishing I could lose weight and am doing something about it. It's not quick. It's not easy. It's a lifestyle change, and hopefully it will be permanent. If it takes me sixty-nine weeks to reach my goal of losing sixty-nine pounds, then so be it.

My numbers for the week:
Pounds lost (-) or gained (+) this week: -1.0
Total weight loss: 11.0
Inches lost (-) or gained (+) this week: -4.0
Total inches lost: 21.0

I've joined my friends at Empty the Junk from the Trunk Facebook group in a 10-week motivation project. If I meet my weekly goals, my name goes into a drawing for a small cash prize. I haven't hit all my goals lately - exercise, water, and eating are all good, but I haven't managed the two pound loss. Maybe the goals are too high? Nah!

Another Good-bye

2011-09-06T23:15:00.001-05:00

Last week was another tough one. With emotions still running high after moving my son to college, I had to say good-bye to someone else who is very dear to me. My boss of 17 years retired on August 31.

Ken was easy to work with from the very beginning. His cheerful demeanor and mischievous grin put me at ease in my first ever temporary job. So much so that, after working with him for just over a week, I handed him my resume and insisted he forget all about his short list of job applicants and hire me full time. Luckily, he agreed.

Ken has been the best boss I've ever had. He was easy to talk to and he always listened to what I had to say. We didn't always agree on everything, but I never felt like I had to censor myself with him. He encouraged me to think things through and form my own opinions.

Over the years we've faced many challenges together and had more than our fair share of successes. We've enjoyed the good times and weathered the bad times. Through it all, I've always felt secure in the knowledge that he was there supporting me.

We all expected Ken would retire soon. In fact, he had set a date - four years in the future. But things don't always go according to plan. An opportunity to retire earlier was presented and Ken accepted. We were all happy for him, but it was still hard to accept that he won't be around any more.

On his last day at work, I wasn't able to speak to anyone without the threat of tears. There were so many things that I wanted to say, so much I wanted to thank him for, so many memories to share. But I couldn't get the words past the lump in my throat.

Now that he's gone, the office will never be the same. I will miss his smiling face and his silly little songs - often accompanied by graceful dance steps. I will miss his practice of "managing by walking around". I will miss his words of encouragement.

I hope Ken knows how much he means to me and how much I will miss him.

Thank you, Ken, for everything.

Weighing In - Week Ten

2011-09-03T18:59:00.001-05:00

I thought I would do something different this week and post my results on weigh-in day instead of waiting until the middle of next week.

It was a rough week, but I stayed on track. I exercised 4 times, didn't eat too many desserts and lost one pound. I was hoping for two, but I'll take it, because it means I've hit a milestone. I've lost a total of 10 pounds! Of course, it also means that if I plan to wear a bikini next summer, I'm going to have to step it up and do better than a pound a week.

My numbers for the week:
Pounds lost (-) or gained (+) this week: -1.0
Total weight loss: 10.0
Inches lost (-) or gained (+) this week: -0.5
Total inches lost: 17.0

I've joined my friends at Empty the Junk from the Trunk Facebook group in a 10-week motivation project. If I meet my weekly goals, my name goes into a drawing for a small cash prize. We're starting week 8 and I'm hoping that I'll meet my weekly goals at least once more before the project is over. Next week my goals are to exercise at least 4 times, increase my water intake, and lose 2 pounds. Wish me luck!

The Hardest Day

2011-09-01T23:06:00.000-05:00

One of the most satisfying things about being a parent is watching your child learn and grow into a responsible young person. It's also one of the hardest things about being a parent. Because you know that the day is approaching when your child will be an adult.

It's frightening.

A parent's first job is to protect and provide for our children. We naturally want to give them the best of everything and do whatever it takes to help them succeed. As they grow, our efforts to help are eventually met with, "Let me do it, Mom." This is our cue to step back and watch as they demonstrate all their newly learned abilities. Ah, sweet success!

Then comes THE DAY. Your baby is ready to venture out on his own. His bags are packed and he is ready to leave the nest.

That day came for me last week.
~~~~~

It's time. Time to load his boxes and bags in the truck. I resist the urge to check the contents, and satisfy myself with a few reminders about key items that I suspect he may have forgotten. Last minutes items are retrieved and we are on our way. During the drive, we discuss seemingly random things like vehicle maintenance, health insurance and credit cards.

We arrive at the university, locate his dorm and wait patiently as he navigates the check in process. Then we help him move his belongings into the room that will be his home for the next nine months. After all that hard work, everyone is hungry, so we head to the local pizza place for lunch. Lunch is followed by a trip to the grocery store to stock up on snacks and drinks.

Suddenly, it's time to say good-by. Somehow I manage to hold it together through hugs and kisses, and then we're gone. On the way home, I hold back the tears.

My baby has grown up and now he's on his own. He's been preparing for this his entire life. He's ready. He will be fine - great, in fact.

I'll be fine, too. After all, it's only college, it's not forever, and the relatively short drive will make visits easier and (hopefully) more frequent.

It has been one of the hardest days of my life... and one of the most satisfying.

Weighing In - Week Nine

2011-08-31T21:49:00.000-05:00

I was expecting a difficult week, and it was. Work hours were consumed with meetings (again), and on Tuesday we helped James move into his dorm room at A&M. There were a lot of less-than-healthy meals and more than a few desserts, and I only exercised 3 times. But I managed to survive and even (surprise!!) record a small weight loss.

My numbers for the week:
Pounds lost (-) or gained (+) this week: -0.4
Total weight loss: 9.0
Inches lost (-) or gained (+) this week: -0.5
Total inches lost: 16.5

This week I will get back on track. I will lose the weight. I will be bikini ready by next summer. Hey, it could happen.

I've joined my friends at Empty the Junk from the Trunk Facebook group in a 10-week motivation project. If I meet my weekly goals, my name goes into a drawing for a small cash prize. I've won the prize once, and earned back my investment. While it would be nice to win again, I'd really rather see everyone else have a shot at it. Good luck everyone!

Weighing In - Week Eight

2011-08-22T13:09:00.000-05:00

I am really feeling good about this little weight-loss project of mine. I'm working out four or five days a week, I have more energy, and I'm losing weight. I'm seeing a difference in the way my clothes fit - especially my pants. I could probably fit into a smaller size right now, but I'm going to wait a bit longer before buying any new pants. Maybe I can even go down two sizes!

Here are my numbers for the week:
Pounds lost (-) or gained (+) this week: -1.2
Total weight loss: 8.6
Inches lost (-) or gained (+) this week: -1.5
Total inches lost: 16.0

I've joined my friends at Empty the Junk from the Trunk Facebook group in a 10-week motivation project. If I meet my weekly goals, my name goes into a drawing for a small cash prize. I bumped my goals up a little bit last week and unfortunately didn't lose enough weight to qualify for the drawing. That's okay, though. The fact that I lost weight makes me very happy.

This week my baby heads off to college and I will be childless for the first time in 18 years. I'm not sure if that will have any effect on my results. I guess we'll have to wait and see.

Weighing In - Week Seven

2011-08-15T23:08:00.000-05:00

Some weeks I actually look forward to weigh-in day. Not this week. With a grand total of only three exercise sessions and more than a few tasty desserts consumed during the week, I was prepared to see my weight go up.

Imagine my surprise when I stepped on the scale and I had lost weight. Not a lot, but it wasn't a gain. Could it be that the roller coaster ride is over? Probably not.

The really big surprise came when I got out the tape measure and found that I had lost 4.5 inches. That's a number that I can get excited about!

Here are my numbers for the week:
Pounds lost (-) or gained (+) this week: -0.2
Total weight loss: 7.4
Inches lost (-) or gained (+) this week: -4.5
Total inches lost: 14.5

I've joined my friends at Empty the Junk from the Trunk Facebook group in a 10-week motivation project. If I meet my weekly goals, my name goes into a drawing for a cash prize - not a big amount, just something to make it interesting.

I won the $10 prize in the last drawing! Last week I didn't meet my goals, so I'm out of the running this time.

My goals for this week - continue using my food journal and limit desserts to no more than four, exercise at least 4 times, and (hopefully) lose at least 2 lbs. I'll let you know how that works out.

Weighing In - Week Six

2011-08-06T22:01:00.000-05:00

It seems that my weight loss journey is going to resemble a rollercoaster ride. One week I'm up, and the next I'm down. I won't lie - I'm terribly disappointed every time the numbers go up. But knowing that they will probably go down again next week makes it a little easier to deal with.

This week was a good week.

I stuck to my plan to limit desserts, and only indulged four times. This seems to have made a difference, so I'm going to repeat that next week. And yes, afternoon cookies at meetings count as dessert.

Still rockin' the Zumba videos, and loving it! I exercised 6 nights in a row, and actually looked forward to it. The really good news is that my foot pain has lessened. Still hopeful that it will go away completely.

Here are my numbers for the week:
Pounds lost (-) or gained (+) this week: -2.4
Total weight loss: 7.2
Inches lost (-) or gained (+) this week: -1.5
Total inches lost: 10.0

I'm sticking with my current plan - food journal (limit desserts), exercise at least 5 times, and weekly progress reports. I am determined to reach my goal!

I've joined my friends at Empty the Junk from the Trunk Facebook group in a 10-week motivation project. If I meet my weekly goals, my name goes into a drawing for a cash prize - not a big amount, just something to make it interesting. I met my goals this week, and my name is going into the drawing. Yay!

Praying for Rain

2011-08-03T22:10:00.001-05:00

It's August, and it's hot in Texas. REALLY HOT! For the last week, the temperatures have hovered at or above 100 degrees. At this moment, the temperature has dropped to 92... and it's 9:30 at night.

Not only is it hot, but we're in the middle of a severe drought (over 13 inches below our average rainfall). Recreational lakes are dangerously low, roads are cracking, and wildlife is coming into residential areas in search of food and water. People are praying for a hurricane in the Gulf, hoping that it would bring rain.

I'm doing my part to conserve water by not washing my truck, even though it was the victim of a fly-over bird bombing last week; by not watering the weeds that pass for ground cover in our yard; and by doing as few loads of laundry as possible. I know! It's a huge sacrifice, right?

Seriously though, I am so very grateful that I work in an office. I can't even imagine how uncomfortable it is for those people who work outside - especially those guys who are shoveling asphalt to repair all those cracked roads. I am grateful for an air conditioned home (and car) and for the trees that shade our property and keep our electricity bills out of the "oh my gosh!" range. I'm very fortunate.

I'm still praying for rain, though. Maybe even a hurricane...

Weighing In - Week Five

2011-08-01T22:00:00.000-05:00

I was feeling really good about my progress this week, and expecting good results at weigh in. Then I got on the scales. Another gain. Not a big one, but still a gain.

Reviewing my food journal shows me that I am still struggling with the lunches during our daily meetings. Gotta stay away from the desserts and afternoon cookies! Today I learned that the meetings have been extended for another four weeks. Joy.

Zumba is still my favorite go-to exercise. I exercised six nights last week! I'm still experiencing pain in my foot - most likely plantar faciitis - it's not severe and goes away with stretching and massage. My hope is that it will go away completely as I lose weight.

Here are my numbers for the week:
Pounds lost (-) or gained (+) this week: +0.4
Total weight loss: 4.8
Inches lost (-) or gained (+) this week: -1.5
Total inches lost: 8.5

I refuse to let this minor setback get the best of me. My plan is to continue with my food journal and exercise program, and to say no to desserts a little more often.

I've joined my friends at Empty the Junk from the Trunk Facebook group in a 10-week motivation project. If I meet my weekly goals, my name goes into a drawing for a cash prize - not a big amount, just something to make it interesting. I did not meet my goals this week. Hopefully I will do better next week!

Weighing In - Week Four

2011-07-24T15:09:00.000-05:00

This week was much better than last week. I spent most of the week in meetings, where I did not get to chose my lunch menu, but I did try to keep my portions small and stay away from the cookies (most of the time). I managed to avoid fast food completely and stick with my regular exercise program, and the results were pretty darn good.

Food Journal: Faithfully recorded everything... including the occasional cookie. I wish these meetings would be finished, so I could go back to my regular routine, but it looks like we have a couple more weeks to go. Ugh!

Exercise: I did the Zumba Accelerated Fat-Loss Program every night except Tuesday and Saturday. I love this workout! I need to get some new shoes, though - some that have great arch support and don't grab the carpet while I'm dancing.

Measurements: Here are my numbers for the week.
Pounds lost this week: 4.6
Total weight loss: 5.2
Inches lost this week: 2
Total inches lost: 7

Last week, I gained 2 pounds (probably from water retention), so the 4.6 pound loss this week puts me back on track. If I can continue to lose 1-2 pounds a week, I will reach my goal of losing 69 pounds by next summer. New bikini, perhaps?

I've joined my friends at Empty the Junk from the Trunk Facebook group in a 10-week motivation project. If I meet my weekly goals, my name goes into a drawing for a cash prize - not a big amount, just something to make it interesting. I met my goals this week! Yay!

Weighing In - Week Three

2011-07-17T18:46:00.002-05:00

This whole week was slightly "off" for me. Monday and Tuesday were spent in all-day meetings (food and snacks provided) and Wednesday through Friday were spent with my son at new student orientation at Texas A&M University. I wasn't following my regular schedule and it showed... and not in a good way.

Food Journal: I was good about writing everything down. Everything. I still have an issue with snacking, but I'm getting better. I limited myself to one or two (small) cookies instead of half the bag. My biggest pitfalls were during our college trip. I can easily see where the "Freshman 15" comes from - late night studying, student gets hungry, and the easiest option is fast food. Hello, Whataburger! (Gotta remember to send healthy snacks with my son this fall.)

Exercise: Sunday through Tuesday, I did the Zumba Accelerated Fat-Loss Program. It alternates between the 50 minute Cardio Party and the 45 minute Sculpt and Tone plus the 20 minute Standing Abs workout. The sessions are twice as long as what I've been doing, so it's tough, but I love it. During our visit to A&M, we did a LOT of walking and one evening we hit the pool - mostly to cool off, but I did get in a few laps.

Measurements: Here are my numbers for the week.

Pounds lost this week: -2 (gained)
Total weight loss: 0.6
Inches lost this week: 1
Total inches lost: 5

I am disappointed that I gained two pounds this week, but I'm not surprised. I made poor food choices and exercised less. There's a good chance that some of the gain is from water retention. Anyway, I'm not going to get discouraged about it... just going to start fresh this week, stick with my program, and report better results next week.

I've joined my friends at Empty the Junk from the Trunk Facebook group in a 10-week motivation project. If I meet my weekly goals, my name goes into a drawing for a cash prize - not a big amount, just something to make it interesting. Wish me luck in meeting my goals this week!

Weighing In - Week Two

2011-07-09T10:32:00.000-05:00

I just weighed in for the week. The pounds aren't exactly melting off, no Biggest Loser style results here, but I am making steady progress, which is exactly what I expect for the "program" I'm following.

Food Journal: Everything I ate went into the journal. It really does help to put it down on paper so I can see what I'm eating, and how much. I'm getting better about the snacking during the week. Lately, those cookies that tempt me at work just don't taste as good. I wonder if they've changed their recipe or if it's me. Either way, it's easier to say no. Weekends are still a challenge, especially when I'm home all day. I'm dealing with this by buying healthier snacks, like fruit and nuts, so I can reach for them instead of candy.

Exercise: On Sunday, we visited my mom and spent the afternoon swimming. I would so love to have a pool that I could use everyday. The exercise is great, and it's easy on the knees. For the rest of the week, I stuck with the Zumba Express workout. Next week, I'm going to start the Accelerated Fat-Loss Program, which incorporates the rest of the videos. Should be fun!

Measurements: Here are my numbers for the week. Remember, my goal is to eventually lose 69 pounds.

Pounds lost this week: 0.8
Total weight loss: 2.6
Inches lost this week: 2
Total inches lost: 4

I wish that the weight would come off faster, but I think I'm doing pretty good for someone who doesn't have a personal trainer and isn't following a strict diet.

Are you looking for some encouragement in your weight loss journey? Stop by the Empty the Junk from the Trunk Facebook group and request an invitation to join. The awesome ladies in this group help keep me motivated and they can help you, too!

Weighing In - Week One

2011-07-05T14:08:00.001-05:00

It's been a little over a week since I officially started my campaign to get fit and lose weight. I had hoped to post on Saturday, but life somehow got in the way. Go figure. Anyway, here are my results as of Saturday.

Food Journal: I did a good job of writing everything down. I made healthier choices on some days, like skipping the bun and condiments on hamburger day at work. My biggest problem area is snacking in the evening. I did notice that there was less snacking by the end of the week.

Exercise: I mowed the yard on Sunday (an hour using a push mower). Monday through Friday I did the Zumba Express workout (20 minutes) each evening. On Saturday, I took a break from exercise and did housework and ran errands instead. I am really enjoying the Zumba workout. I'm at a point where I am comfortable with the moves in the Express workout and I think I'm ready to move to the next level.

Before (taken 6/29/11)

Measurements: My goal is to lose 69 pounds. That may sound like a lot, but it will get me to a healthy weight for my height. I'm pretty happy with my numbers for this week.

Weight loss this week: 1.8
Inches lost this week: 2

Posting a picture was a tough decision for me. I have a habit of deleting all the pictures of me that I don't like, as a result, there aren't too many pictures of me. However, I wanted a "before" picture to help measure my progress, so here it is. You don't know how badly I wanted to PhotoShop the heck out of this picture (or maybe you do). But I didn't. All of the bumps and bulges are mine, and I'll own them. For now. I'll try to post additional pictures as I go, so you can see my progress.

I've met some new friends through the Empty the Junk from the Trunk Facebook group. It's so helpful to connect with others who are facing the same challenges - keeps you motivated. If you're looking for some encouragement, stop by and request an invitation to join.

Weighing In

2011-06-29T15:52:00.002-05:00

My new scale, and toes in need
of a pedicure.

I've had it with feeling fat and frumpy when I should be forty(ish) and fabulous. So I've decided to do something about it.

Here's the plan...

Food Journal: I have a tendency to snack. A lot. Writing down everything I eat will force me to acknowledge how much I'm eating, and hopefully encourage me to eat less. That's the theory. I'm also trying to make healthier choices and reduce my portion sizes.

Regular Exercise: I'm an admitted couch potato. Don't get me wrong, I love to go camping and hiking. But when I'm home, I'm usually curled up on the couch with a book or my laptop. Last week, I received my Zumba Total-Body Transformation System from Amazon, and discovered just how fun this exercise program can be. I love Latin dance and I'm really hoping that this is something I can stick with.

Measurements: On Saturday, I bought a new digital scale. I recorded my weight and measurements and will check these weekly. This is my least favorite part of the plan because my numbers really suck right now.

Accountability: I'll be posting my progress here every week. No, I'm not going to post my weight or measurements (I'm not that gutsy), but I will report how much I've lost - or gained. I'll also share my observations on eating and exercise.

So far I'm feeling really good about this. I've been faithfully doing Zumba workouts every evening. I skipped over the weekend, but made up for it with running a ton of errands on Saturday and mowing the yard on Sunday. The food journal is an eye opener. It makes me think twice about grabbing yet another handful of M&M's. As for the measurements... well, I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

Let's Hear It For the Boys

2011-06-20T14:26:00.000-05:00

Aren't boys amazing? They can spend an entire afternoon pelting each other with paintballs in 100 degree heat, and still remain best friends. Let's hear it for the boys!

This photo was submitted in the I Heart Faces weekly photo challenge - http://iheartfaces.com/.

Things My Father Taught Me

2011-06-19T22:34:00.002-05:00

I haven't spoken to my father in over ten years.

My parents divorced when I was seven and we moved to Texas a few years later. For years, I tried to stay in contact with him through letters, phone calls, occasional visits, announcements and greeting cards. I maintained the hope that one day he would realize that he missed me and wanted me to be a part of his life.

I pretended that it didn't hurt when he never responded. I was kidding myself.

Five years ago, I gave up. I finally admitted to myself that he was never going to respond and I was wasting my time.

If I were to talk with my father today, I would thank him for teaching me a few things about parenting.

You do not divorce your children when you divorce your spouse. Children are family forever.
Children are a labor of love. They should never be made to feel like a burden.
It takes very little effort to show your child that she is loved.
Children (both boys and girls) need a male role model in their lives.
Promises are not made to be broken. Sometimes, it can't be helped, but it should be a rare occurrence.

These are just a few of the things I have learned from my father. I like to think that they have helped make me a better parent for my son.

Perhaps one day my father will realize what he's missed.

Graduation

2011-05-31T14:59:00.000-05:00

We found out on Friday that James would be sitting on the stage during graduation - one of the top ten students in his class. (He is number ten.) On Saturday morning, we found out that he would be speaking.

What?? Why doesn't my son share these small, but important details? And why didn't I order a video of the ceremony?

We arrived at the SHSU Coliseum at 1:30 - an hour and a half early, as instructed. The students found their seats, then proceeded to mill about the coliseum floor - taking pictures and visiting with friends.

My mother and her husband joined us a few moments before the ceremony began and we watched as the students lined up by rows and filed out. As they exited the coliseum, we noticed that each student carried a rose and each row of students was connected by a ribbon tied to their roses. Interesting.

The ceremony itself went by in a blur. We cheered when they introduced the top ten students and listed their accomplishments, and we were happily surprised when the principal acknowledged James' attendance achievement. We listened to the clever speeches and then watched our son and his friends, some that he's known since kindergarden, walk across the stage and receive their diplomas. We cried as they cut the ribbons at the rose ceremony, separating each student from his classmates. We broke into wild applause as James took the stage for the closing speech, and we all cheered as the caps went flying into the air... and James' cap landed at the principal's feet.

We've watched these kids grow up and now they're headed off in different directions and to new adventures. They've come so far... and we can't wait to see what they'll accomplish next.

Congratulations Caney Creek Class of 2011! Good luck and God Bless!

Photo credit: David Mackey

Present and Accounted For

2011-05-27T16:15:00.000-05:00

In my last post, I mentioned that my son, James, has never missed a day of school. Not one single day.

His goal of perfect attendance was established in sixth grade. He had just been recognized for 6 years of perfect attendance (not counting kindergarten) and decided that he was half-way there. Why not go all the way? An article about a local girl winning a car for outstanding attendance may have influenced his decision somewhat, but that doesn't matter. The boy had a goal.

For thirteen years, he has been in class or at school-sponsored events every school day. Never absent, never tardy, and never leaving early for a doctor visit. And for thirteen years we have monitored his attendance records, understanding that sometimes people make mistakes. There were lots of mistakes once he reached junior high - not surprising, considering each teacher was keeping track of 3, 4 or 5 times as many students. At least once a year we contacted the school to report errors. The errors were always corrected... or so we thought.

Last week, we attended the senior awards presentation. James received several awards , but we were surprised that there was no mention of his attendance achievement. I may be a little biased here, but I think that lifetime perfect attendance is something that deserves recognition. Otherwise, why would anyone ever bother attending more than the minimum number of days required?

James followed up with the school this week, and learned that his record showed an absence in 8th grade, and that he would have to contact the junior high to correct it. I remembered reporting that absence to the school on the last week of classes and receiving assurances (as usual) that it would be corrected. Only this time, it wasn't. I guess I should have checked... verified that it was corrected... followed up every time to make sure that people were actually doing their jobs. Silly me - expecting people to keep their promises... to do their jobs.

Today I made phone calls, speaking with people who claimed to be unable to correct records that had already been submitted. (If that is true, we have a seriously flawed system.) I worked my way up to the district superintendent's office, where I finally spoke with someone who actually seemed to care. She took my information and promised to help resolve the problem.

It's amazing how quickly things happen when you get the right people involved. Within an hour, I received a call from the high school principal. She had talked to the junior high principal who agreed that the record was incorrect and James really did have perfect attendance. She apologized for the confusion and told me that they were ordering a plaque for James. It wouldn't be ready until after graduation, but at least his efforts would be recognized.

I'm sad that he wasn't able to share his achievement with his friends on awards night. So I'm sharing it here... with you.

Way to go, James!

Senior Year

2011-05-25T16:17:00.000-05:00

This is my son's last year of high school. We've been acknowledging it all year... last first day of school, last homecoming, last fall festival, last marching band competition, last football game, last banquet, last fundraiser, last class project, last concert, last test, senior awards night, prom. Every event was marked as their last by the senior class.

And on Saturday, we will celebrate the culmination of twelve years (thirteen if you count kindergarten) of academic study and extracurricular activities.

Graduation.

My baby boy is graduating.

For thirteen years, he has attended classes - never missing a single day of school, he has maintained an A average, and has never gotten a bad conduct report. He will graduate summa cum laude, top 5% of his class, an AP scholar, with a UIL award and a President's award.

I am so darned proud of him, I could cry.

And I probably will.

There's Something About Cats

2011-05-17T13:53:00.002-05:00

I keep asking my husband to please remind me again, why we have cats.

They really are worse than children. They require constant maintenance - food, water, and litterbox cleaning (yuck). Closed doors upset them and they will stand outside the door, yowling, until it is opened. They are always underfoot. Even when you are careful to avoid them, someone gets their tail stepped on. They sleep all day and race around the house at night, using sleeping humans as their own personal trampoline.

Everything is a toy to cats. They will steal things from my purse to play with and leave them floating in their water bowl when they are finished. (So far my blue tooth hasn't made it to the water bowl yet, but I'm keeping my purse zipped from now on.) Body parts (toes, fingers, hair, etc.) are also great toys - perfect for clawing and biting.

We chose not to have our cats declawed and they have repaid our kindness in so many ways. The little furballs have practically destroyed the upholstery on my favorite chair and the carpet in our hallway and are now expanding their efforts to other areas of the house. Their most recent adventure... the box springs. My husband thought they were playing under the bed while he was trying to nap. When he looked under the bed, no cats. But then a face peeked out from the bottom of the box springs. There was a hole in the cover and they were playing inside. (Yet another item to add to my ever expanding to do list.)

Did you know that cats have a special defense mechanism? It's strongest in kittens, but works for adults, too. I can be furious with them and then one will climb into my lap, curl up and start purring... and I melt. It happens every time... and we still have cats.

Last week's MCP Project 52 photography challenge topic was Window Light. I was lucky to have my camera handy when one of the girls was enjoying the afternoon sun, and caught this picture. Notice that there are no curtains in front of this window. There's a reason for that.

Ursula

2011-04-25T15:29:00.000-05:00

This is Ursula. Her mother came into our family as a stray two years ago. Ursula was the first-born of four kittens and one of three that we kept. (The fourth went to my step daughter.) Ursula is small and she has no tail, but she has a big personality and beautiful golden eyes, which she usually closes whenever I try to take her picture. On Saturday, I was lucky to catch her napping in the sunbeam. A rare quiet moment.

I am submitting this photo to the iheartfaces photo challenge. I'm hoping that they will love it as much as I do.

Froggy

2011-04-21T15:45:00.001-05:00

Four years ago, my son and I planted a hosta in our flower garden. Every winter, the hosta turns brown and dies, and every spring, it comes back as lush and green as ever. I was in the yard on Sunday afternoon, looking for a good place to hang a hummingbird feeder, and I stopped to admire the hosta. Then I noticed that there was a cute little green tree frog sitting on one of the leaves. So I did what any aspiring photographer would do - I grabbed my camera and took the little guy's picture. I had to share it with you, of course. Isn't he cute? Too bad I don't have a current photo challenge with a green theme. This would be perfect. :)
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I have finally reached the end of my 52 Organizing Missions.

#48 Organize Your Kids & Their Bedrooms - I have a 17 year old son. Getting him to organize anything is a losing battle. I have offered to do it for him, but he has declined, knowing that many of his possessions would simply disappear. He leaves for college in the Fall. Before then, his room will be cleaned and organized. Or else. ;)

#49 Find Your Business or Career Passion - I am 47 years old and still don't know what I want to be when I grow up. I may never know. But I have learned that I still enjoy photography and am working to develop my skills. Maybe one day I might even earn some money from it. A girl can dream! In the meantime, I will do what I do very well - system administration - and branch out where I can.

#50 Create a Debt Repayment Plan - I did this a long time ago. The only debt we currently have is our mortgage and a short term note for the truck I bought last month.

#51 Create a Weekly Schedule Template - I've been using a weekly planner since I attended Seven Habits for Highly Effective People 17 years ago. It has been a lifesaver for me and I would be lost without it. It is my master calendar - recording everything from birthdays and anniversaries to reminders to change the A/C filter. Effective? Very!

#52 Simplify Your Life - My new mantra. I will continue to declutter my home and keep new clutter from building up by following the one in one out policy. I will carefully consider each new request for my time before saying yes. I will slow down and enjoy life rather than blindly racing through it at warp speed.

Through this challenge, I have learned that I wasn't as disorganized as I originally thought, but I still have areas that could use improvement... and I will continue to work on those.
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I've installed a new comments application on my blog, and I'm curious to see how it works. I'm hoping that some of my regular readers will leave me a quick hello to help me out.

Thanks for stopping by!

Furry Friends

2011-04-19T22:37:00.001-05:00

It's Tuesday, and I have already submitted my entry for the weekly MCP Project 52 photography challenge! Did hell freeze over? With 90 degree temps outside, I think not.

Actually, this week's topic was an easy one for me: Furry Friends. We happen to have a lot of those running around our house. Sometimes they even allow themselves to be snuggled, and I took advantage of one of those special moments to capture my shot.

This is my son, James, and his cat, Stormie, taking a catnap together. They are the best of friends, and both of them tend to be a little furry. (Sorry, James, but you must admit that the sideburns do give you a furry look.)

For my fellow cat lovers... a few more of our friends (Ursula, Shadow, and Puck in the background). We have eight cats in all.

Just call me the crazy cat lady...

The crazy cat lady who submitted her photo early this week.

Yes!!!

Wind in Her Hair

2011-04-18T12:51:00.000-05:00

Some of our friends brought their daughter by for a visit during a recent Scouting event. At first, she was shy around me and my camera, but it didn't take long for her to warm up and start posing. Isn't she adorable?

Time for Hummingbirds

2011-04-18T12:05:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, a hummingbird hovered outside my patio door for a moment. I stopped what I was doing to watch him, wishing that I had put up the feeder so he would stay long enough for me to take pictures, and then he was gone. It made me think about all the opportunities that we miss because we are too busy doing other things.

I've been struggling with my schedule lately. Flitting here and there like the hummingbird - trying to keep up with work, home, school and Scouting commitments, and still find time for me. Of course, the “me” time is what tends to slide. I really enjoy the weekly MCP Project 52 photography challenge, but the last few weeks were hard. I didn't have any really good ideas for the theme, so I waited until the last minute to take pictures... never a good idea.

Week 14's theme was Fusion. I wasn’t sure where to go with this, but a creative co-worker gave me an idea. An active imagination led Bo to attach a Chevrolet grill to the front of his desk – in a way, combining work and play. Is this fusion? Absolutely! And it was a lot better than my alternative picture of bugs on the front of a car. I was happy with the final result, but I wish I hadn’t waited until the end of the week.

The theme for week 15 was What People Think About You. Rather than showcasing one of my activities, I decided to put myself in front of the camera for a change. First, I had to learn how to use the self timer because I have not yet bought a remote. Then I had to pick a location. I tried a few pictures at work, but I wasn’t able to get a good angle without my tripod. I tried again at home, with the tripod this time. Better, but evidently I still have a lot to learn about using my camera, because I wasn’t able to get a clear shot. Every single one was blurry. Since I was running out of time I picked the least blurry shot to submit. My husband claims that I am constantly on the move, so maybe this could be his representation of me. I’m not happy with this picture. If I had started sooner I think I could have done a much better job.

I think it’s time to evaluate the activities that take most of my time. Aside from work, which is a necessity, which activities could I eliminate? Am I doing these things because I enjoy them or because I feel obligated? What would happen if I stopped? What else could I do with my free time?

It’s a lot to think about. And I will while I watch my newly hung hummingbird feeder for visitors… with my camera at the ready.

My Crazy-Busy Life

2011-04-07T15:23:00.000-05:00

I should have realized that I was tempting fate when I wrote about making weekly posts on my blog. That was on March 21 - more than 2 weeks ago. Now I feel bad for letting my readers down - all two of you - when you've been so good about checking in with me. I will do my best to catch you up on my crazy-busy life.

My participation in the MCP Project 52 has been affected by my schedule. I submitted pictures for the last two weeks and they were on the suggested theme, but I think you'll agree that they are not my best efforts.

Week 12's From the Jewelry Box had me digging out my collection of 80's twisty beads for a colorful, but messy shot, and Week 13's Just for Fun, an example of our Spring Fellowship craziness, was a late submission that missed the deadline for the group - probably just as well.

The best part of the last two weeks was spending time with my family. First, there was the Woodlands and Wildlife Expo two weekends ago where my son, James, and I took a couple of wildlife photography seminars; played with working dogs, a wolf hybrid, snakes, and a petting zoo full of cute critters; ate food prepared by the local dutch oven society; and picked up some trees to plant in our yard.

That was followed by all of us heading into Tomball for the German Heritage Festival. Polka music, German beer, brats and sauerkraut! What more could you ask for? All in all, it was a wonderful (busy) day.

With the deadline for finishing our pow-wow outfits fast approaching, all of my spare time last week was dedicated to bead work and sewing. I am happy to report that the projects were finished in time. Well, mostly finished. I still plan to do some ribbon work to decorate James' leggings and aprons, but they were at least wearable.

Here we are in our dance regalia.

James entered the dance competition and took first place in Senior Straight Dance. He received a certificate and a belt buckle, along with quite a few nice compliments about his new outfit. There was no competition for ladies, but I enjoyed my evening of dancing and watching the boys compete.

Now that the big weekend is over, I'm trying to get back on my regular schedule. (My blog wasn't the only thing I neglected last week.) Oh, and I'm looking for ideas for this week's photo challenge - Fusion. If you have any suggestions, please send them my way!

Darks and Lights

2011-03-21T16:27:00.000-05:00

The super moon this weekend was the perfect subject for the weekly MCP Project 52 theme: Darks and Lights. I took this picture on Friday night, right before the submission deadline. I was hoping to get some more shots on Saturday night, but it was too cloudy.

I love what this project has done for my blogging habit. I've gone from random, inconsistent posts to weekly posts. I'm still kind of random about which day I post, but then nobody's perfect. Especially not me.

I started carrying my camera to work most days, so I can catch those unexpected shots. My husband thinks it's quite amusing to watch me gathering all my bags as I head out the door. With my camera, purse, laptop and sometimes my lunch, I could sometimes use an extra hand. So, I am in the market for a new purse that will double as a camera bag - but not look like a camera bag. There are some great looking bags out there, but they tend to be a bit expensive. Let's face it, I'd rather spend my money on lenses and gadgets, so my current plan is to find a nice large bag and modify it with an insert. Wish me luck!
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I am determined to keep up with my 52 Organizing Missions until the very end... which isn't all that far away. Since I last reported, I have done these:

#45 Organize Your Garden - We have one small flower bed. It has been weeded and I cleared out the dead leaves. A couple of the bulbs have come back and I'm hoping to get some new flowers planted next weekend. Yesterday, we mowed and trimmed the vines along the fence.

#46 Give Yourself a Makeover - Bought a couple of new shirts. Working on revamping the wardrobe, slowly and deliberately. Trying to get back into my workout routine. It's not easy, but I refuse to give up.

#47 Declutter Your Thinking Habits - Negative self-talk is something I am very good at. I'm trying to catch myself whenever I start to head down that dark path and talk myself into a u-turn. This one's tough!

One of the earlier projects - clearing out the old VHS tapes - is done. On Saturday, we delivered three boxes full of videos to our local library for their spring book sale. They were almost as excited to get them as I was to get rid of them. Win-win!

Only five more missions to go!

Childhood Toys

2011-03-15T16:11:00.001-05:00

The theme for week 10 of MCP Project 52 was Childhood Toys.

This one almost had me stumped. My son is a teenager and his current toys consist of computer games and paintball gear. Not exactly what I had in mind.

I know that some of my own childhood toys are still hidden away in the attic of my Nana's house, but I didn't have the time, or the money, to make a trip back home for a photograph.

I really thought I was going to have to submit an off-theme photo.

My co-worker, Claudia, saved the day when she returned from a trip to Germany with some cute little wooden toys. I remember having one like this when I was a kid. You press a button on the base and the animal goes limp, then springs back to life when the button is released. Just the thing for a little stress-relief during the hectic workday.

She brought chocolate, too. Bless her!

Express Yourself

2011-03-06T22:14:00.003-06:00

Last week's theme (week 9) for the MCP Project 52 was Express Yourself.

The thing I love most about digital photography is the ability to delete. I can take a hundred shots to get that one perfect picture. All without paying for film and developing.

Last weekend, I took senior portraits of my son, James. Because he was posing for his mom, there were many moments of silliness. I captured more a few of these, including some where his very expressive face perfectly displayed his feelings about posing for "just one more shot."

I did get some really nice shots that I will share later, and I saved the cost of hiring a professional, so I'm pretty happy about the experience. And James really didn't mind it all that much.

The View From Here

2011-02-27T14:52:00.000-06:00

Last week's theme (week 8) for the MCP Project 52 was The View From Here.

I noticed a bit of purple color peeking out from my leaf covered flower bed. Brushing the leaves aside revealed the hyacinth plant that had quietly sprouted and created beautiful blooms to welcome the arrival of Spring.

This little plant makes me smile when it blooms. I am reminded of the day I bought it off the clearance rack at Lowe's - an Easter leftover, more dead than alive. I was warned that if it had been forced to bloom for Easter, it might never bloom again. I decided to take a chance. After all, it was only a quarter.

The first Spring after we planted the bulb, it sprouted small green leaves. Nothing like the day lilies I was used to. This plant was small, a runt. We watched to see if it would bloom, but it never did. Sadly, I realized that the warnings were probably true. I thought about digging it up, but never did get around to it.

The next year, it sprouted tiny leaves again. Then, it surprised us with its pretty purple flowers. And this spring, though the plant is still small, the flowers are larger and prettier than ever. Almost as if the hyacinth is thanking me for taking a chance on it.

The view from here... it looks like Spring. And I think that quarter was a very good investment. :)
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It's been a while since I reported on my 52 Organizing Missions progress. Here's the latest.

#40 Conquer Storage Space Demons
For me, this would be the attic and storage shed. I hate to admit it, but I haven't done anything with these yet. The storage shed will be a huge project, mostly due to the riding lawn mower (dead) that needs to go away and the crumbling floor that will need to be replaced. I will get it done, eventually. As for the attic... I went up there and looked around to determine how big the job really was. It's pretty big. I will need a completely free weekend (as if) to empty, sort and organize that space. I'm hoping to get it done soon - otherwise it will get too hot and will have to wait until next fall.

#41 Simplify Your Life - Possessions
This has been on-going for several months. I have been clearing out small areas, and letting go of those things that I no longer use or love. The teddy bear collection, which used to be huge, has been pared down to a few favorites, and the outdated country decor is steadily disappearing from the walls and shelves. The old VHS movies will be donated to our library for their Spring sale and next, I'll start sorting through the bookshelves.

#42 Simplify Your Life - Time
This is a tough one for me. I have trouble saying "no" and tend to over commit myself. With my son headed to college next fall, I have found someone to take over my role in our Boy Scout Troop and will be training him over the next few months. I am looking forward to staying active in Scouts, but it will be nice to know that I can take a week off when I want. I'm also coming to grips with the fact that I don't have to do everything perfectly. There IS such a thing as "good enough" and I'm able to accept that now.

#43 Declutter Your To-Do List
This is a tough one, but I'm working on it. I have a project list - things that I'd like to get done, but they aren't a high priority. This list is posted on my fridge - if I have some spare time, I can check the list to see if there is something that I can work on. If not, it can wait. I'm looking at my work routine to see if there are activities that can be eliminated.

#44 Live Within Your Home's Boundaries
Roughly translated - don't become a hoarder, keep only those things that fit neatly within the allocated space. We don't have a garage, so our camping gear sometimes seems to overflow the closet where it lives. I am constantly on the lookout for new storage ideas. Maybe when I get the attic and shed cleaned out...

It's hard to believe that there are only eight weeks left in this project. I haven't completed every step so far, but I am actively working on them. Am I becoming more organized? I'd like to think so.

Hearts and Flowers

2011-02-23T14:34:00.001-06:00

In honor of Valentine's Day, the theme for week 7 of the MCP Project 52 was Open Your Heart.

I am not a fan of Valentine's Day. The whole hearts and flowers thing reminds me of high school and the annual Valentine's Day Carnation ritual - where everyone reported to home room to watch as the popular girls received bunches of The Carnations. It was, I suppose, a good fundraiser, and made some people very happy. Most of us, however, would have preferred to spend that hour parsing sentences.

With those painful memories clouding my attitude, I certainly couldn't go with the obvious subject choices. Someone had already posted an open book with pages folded into a heart and I'm not a medical professional so a shot of open heart surgery was out. What to do?

I thought about it all week and finally made a decision right before the deadline on Friday evening. I chose to shoot this ceramic jewelry box that was given to me by my best friend, Cathy, on her wedding day... a day filled with wonderful memories.

And memories like that are better than all the flowers and chocolate in the world.

Silent Words

2011-02-10T14:15:00.001-06:00

The ASL sign for "word"

The theme for week 6 of the MCP Project 52 is Words. This theme offered so many different options to choose from, that I had trouble deciding what to shoot. Stacks of books, printed words, words made from blocks; all of these were already represented in early submissions to the Flickr group. So, I went with my first idea because it was different.

When I was 11, my church started a deaf ministry program and offered sign language classes to anyone who was interested. I loved learning how to sign and looked forward to Sunday mornings where I could sing the hymns with my voice and my hands, and I could hear and see the words of the sermon as they were translated.

I made new friends through the ministry. We sat together during church and sometimes met for lunch afterwards.

I surprised my neighbor by introducing myself to her elderly father. I spent many hours with him, "listening" to stories of his youth and admiring his artwork.

A year later, we moved to another state, and I fell out of the practice of signing. I still remember a few words and, of course, the alphabet, but I have forgotten most of what I learned. But I will never forget the friends who welcomed me into their silent world with jokes and laughter and songs - friends that would likely have remained silent strangers without a common language to bring us together

Tiny Dancer

2011-02-04T23:17:00.000-06:00

The theme for week 5 of the MCP Project 52 is Muse.

I had trouble choosing a subject for this theme. There were so many things to choose from - my family, the cats, nature. All of these inspire me in different ways. Like many people, I find it difficult to make a choice when I have too many options, so I waited.

Predictions of snow in the Houston area caused schools and offices (including mine) to close today. I stayed home, waiting for the snow and (I hoped) inspiration. The expected snow never arrived. So much for the idea of a rare snow day photo shoot.

I grabbed my camera and crunched through the ice-covered grass, taking pictures of seed pods, leaves, birds and icicles. Then I noticed an icicle outside the back door. The shape of it reminded me of a tiny, graceful, dancer, and I knew that I had my photo for the week.

Muse n. Greek Mythology . Any of the nine daughters of Mnemosyne and Zeus, each of whom presided over a different art or science.

Do you see it, too?

Project Interrupted

2011-02-03T15:23:00.000-06:00

I am working on some new accessories to wear at an upcoming pow-wow - a ladies breastplate for me and a set of bandoliers for my son (who will help with his part of the project). After two on-line orders for beads and leather, a trip to Hobby Lobby for leather dye, and another on-line order for more beads, we have all of our supplies. I am armed with patterns, examples and helpful suggestions from friends, and I am ready to get started.

My finished project will
(hopefully) look something
like this.

Last night I got out all of the leather strips, cut the lengths needed for both projects, and marked where the holes should go. I used to think that a leather punch was required for this step, but my friend, Helen, gave me an even better idea - drill the holes with a Dremel. It's faster and easier on the hands - and you can drill the strips lengthwise, which is what I plan to do with my project. I am making a breastplate that will look almost exactly like one of Helen's. The colors looked really good with my outfit and the fit was right, so I asked her if I could copy it and she very graciously said I could.

I got the Dremel out, found the drill bit I wanted to use, and... it didn't fit. The collet was too big for the bit. Bummer! I was all set to work on this project, and couldn't go any further. So, I packed the Dremel back in its case, collected all my leather strips, and put everything away again.

This seems to happen a lot with new projects. I think I have everything I need, until I get part-way through and find that I'm missing a critical piece. (This is one of the hazards of trying out new crafts.) Then the project is set aside until I can get the required part or tool. Sometimes that happens the next day, sometimes (okay, most of the time) it takes longer.

Since I have a deadline, I guess I'll be making a stop at the hardware store this afternoon for a new collet. I want to get this project underway. I have a pow-wow to attend in April!

Tick-Tick-Tick

2011-01-28T14:34:00.000-06:00

The theme for week 4 of the MCP Project 52 is Soothing Repetition. This is the photo that I'm submitting.

We bought this cuckoo clock in Germany when we were on our honeymoon (just over 21 years ago), and over the years we have gotten used to the sounds it makes - the soothing tick-tick-tick, the cuckoo that pops out and sings every half hour, and the dancers that spin around their circle to the tunes of Edelweiss and The Happy Wanderer.

A few years ago, our clock stopped working. If you've ever owned a cuckoo clock for any length of time, you know how hard it is to find someone who is willing to repair them. The little shop where we had taken it once before had gone out of business. After several months of searching, I found a shop that advertised cuckoo clock repair, so I took it in and dropped it off. I tried to be patient, because I know that clock repairs never happen quickly. Three months went by before I called to check on our clock. The owner promised that he would start working on it the following week. Again, I waited. A month later, I called again. He told me that it might require some extensive repairs and it could be very expensive. Something in his voice told me that he really didn't want to work on our clock. Then he offered to sell me a new clock. I picked up our clock that afternoon and we hung it back on the wall in our living room. It is still nice to look at, even when it's not working.

Several months later, fate smiled on us. While shopping at the Texas Renaissance Festival, my husband met a young man who works at a clock shop. A clock shop that wasn't too far from our home. A clock shop that repairs cuckoo clocks! We wasted no time in adding our clock to the (very long) repair queue at their shop. It took a few months for our little cuckoo to get to the front of the queue, but when it did, it was updated with all new workings. The repair was expensive - more than the original cost of the clock, including what we paid to ship it to the States - but it was worth it.

The now working clock has returned to its rightful place in our home, and we have since turned off the cuckoo and the music. Not because the noise bothers us after all those months of quiet, but because it attracts the attention of our new kittens. This is not a good thing. We can easily imagine the potential disaster of a kitten trying to "capture the cuckoo". So, for now, we will be content with the soothing tick-tick-tick of our little Black Forest cuckoo clock.

In case you're wondering, the name of the clock shop is Moore Time, located in Old Town Spring, Texas, and no, I did not receive any payment for this mention.

Adventures in Medicine - Part 6 (The Final Chapter)

2011-01-19T23:54:00.000-06:00

Today, I took my last dose of Coumadin. My six months of taking Coumadin should have run through the end of January, but I have run out of pills - ten days early. I don't see any point in buying a month's worth of pills when most of them would go to waste, so I'm done. (I also don't plan on making that final doctor's visit to be told that it's okay to stop taking the Coumadin.)

The Coumadin has caused joint pain and an overall lack of energy. I'm hoping this reverses soon so I can get back on my regular workout schedule. I'm looking forward to eating broccoli and spinach salad again. And now, as my sister so cheerfully reminded me, I can shave my legs without fear of cutting myself.

I hope I never have to deal with blood clots again.

Ever.
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Shades of Gray

I'm still getting to know my new camera, and loving every minute of it. The theme for week 3 of the MCP Project 52 is Shades of Gray, and here is the photo I submitted today. This picture was taken on Sunday, when it was cold and rainy, and I think it really conveys the feeling of cold. I love how black & white brings out detail that might be missed in a color photo.

Which do you like better - black & white or color?

Bad Day, Good Day

2011-01-13T22:33:00.000-06:00

Today has not been one of my better days. I put my truck in the shop again. Looks like there is a problem with the transmission - yet another expensive repair. *sigh* At least I know my truck is in good hands with my friends at Milstead.

These Boots Were Made For Walkin'

Even with this less-than-stellar news, I was able to find redeeming moments in my day. The theme for week 2 of the MCP Project 52 was to illustrate a song. I thought about this one for days before finally coming up with an idea. Here's my picture and my song is These Boots Are Made For Walkin'. My picture is an illustration of the song title, not the lyrics. These old boots have been around for a long time, and have been re-soled four times. Obviously, they have seen a lot of walkin'. I was thrilled to get some comments on my photo from the Flickr group, and would love to hear what you think, too.

I'm still keeping up with my 52 Organizing Missions.

#38 Organize Your Exercise - My exercise of choice is yoga - specifically, Julian Michael's Yoga Meltdown. I have the DVD, I have all the supplies, and I have a schedule that will work. I was doing regular yoga workouts last year before I went into the hospital. Now I just have to get back into that routine. Wish me luck.

#39 Declutter Your Surfaces - This is one that I started working on a while back. It is so easy to let things pile up, so this requires constant maintenance. My next target with this is our home office... there's a work table in that room that has turned into a huge pile of books a papers that need to be sorted, filed, and organized. Now, I just have to get my husband on board. *crossing fingers*

I just realized that there are only 13 more missions to go. Wow! I'll be organized in no time.

Today was a pretty good day after all.

The Ornament Game

2011-01-09T22:57:00.000-06:00

Loki, preparing to climb

Every year, I feel a little bit of dread when we start setting up the Christmas decorations. Why? Because we have eight cats. The cats love Christmas decorations. They think of the tree as their own personal climbing tower, complete with dangling ornaments that they aim for, much like the "golden ring", as they launch themselves from the branches.

Each morning I gather the ornaments that the cats have collected and discarded on the floor of the living room, and carefully hang them back on the tree... all the time knowing that these same ornaments process will be repeated the next day, and the next, and the next.

Christmas day is the last day I carry out this little charade. After that, I am too busy with winter camp to bother, and there is really no point in it anymore. We just collect the ornaments until it is time to put everything back in the attic.

Here is this year's collection. The angel is starting to look a little shabby after her numerous skydiving episodes and will probably have to be replaced with something a little sturdier next year. Not pictured are the ornaments that were "retired" this year because they were damaged beyond repair.

At least we don't have to worry about getting bored with our collection of ornaments. We are constantly buying new ones to replace those that the cats have taken a liking to. (Or maybe it's dislike - I can't be sure.)

We have joked about discarding the traditional ornaments and decorating our tree with a variety of cat toys. I'm thinking that may be a good plan.

Christmas Vacation and a New Year's Challenge

2011-01-07T23:32:00.000-06:00

Every year (for seven years now) we have spent the week after Christmas at Boy Scout Winter Camp. Sleeping in tents with temperatures sometimes below freezing... doesn't that sound like fun? The last two years, we have opted to commute so we could enjoy hot showers and warm beds every night.

Our current job at camp is to run the Trading Post. This is the place where people come to visit, warm up, shop, and spend every dollar they brought. We sell items ranging from shampoo and hand warmers to souveneir shirts and patches. The most popular item is always knives. No surprise there.

This year I had a wonderful staff (3 adults and 2 teenagers) who dealt with the mad rush of kids each time we opened our doors - locating products, answering questions, changing all those first day $20 bills - and made it look effortless. I was also charged with managing the Snack Shack, and was lucky to have 3 great teenagers who efficiently (and with very little supervision) sold assorted snacks and drinks to the eager crowds of campers.

We did really well this year. By the last full day of camp, the Snack Shack was sold out and the Trading Post inventory list had gotten significantly shorter. We were able to complete our last day inventory in record time.

People ask why we keep coming back to work (volunteer) at Winter Camp every year and my answer is that it's fun. I'll choose Winter Camp over after-Christmas shopping every time! We always have a great time, and we are already making plans for next year... or should I say this year? :)

Stormie contemplates Christmas

Speaking of this year...

In honor of 2011, I've decided to try something new. I have joined in MCP Project 52, where I will submit 52 photos based on a weekly theme. I'm a little shy about sharing my work, but this seems like a good opportunity for me to get to know my new camera (one of my New Year's goals) and the challenge will (hopefully) encourage me to try new things. The first weekly theme is Something Around the House, and this is the photo I submitted. There are eight cats in our household, so I thought it was quite appropriate.

I'm looking forward to the weekly challenges and will also share my photos here. Won't you join me?

Goals for 2011

2011-01-04T14:32:00.000-06:00

I have given up on New Year's resolutions. I mean, how many times can you resolve (and fail) to lose weight, find the perfect job, etc., before you finally admit that the whole resolutions thing isn't working?

This year, I have decided to set goals, instead.

1) Become a healthier person. Eat less junk food and make time for exercise.
2) Make my home comfortable. Continue removing the anxiety-causing clutter. Work on one small area at a time until the whole house is done. (No, my house does not look anything like those on Hoarders, but there is enough random stuff sitting around that it makes me uncomfortable.) I plan to celebrate reaching this goal with new paint for the walls.
3) Learn how to correctly use all the features on my new camera. Then take some pictures that are worthy of framing and hanging on those newly painted walls.

That's it, just three goals. I'm hoping that at this time next year, I can look back and say that I reached my goals.

An update on my 52 Organizing Missions...

#36 Organize Your Paperwork - I usually stay pretty organized with paperwork. During Christmas vacation, I cleaned out my overstuffed file cabinet. Now my file cabinet is neat and I can easily file my bills and statements.

#37 Organize Your Diet - This one is harder. I've set the goal of eating healthier (less junk food), but eliminating it completely would take it away from the other people in my household, so I will just have to use will power. I do plan to incorporate more fresh fruits and vegetables in our diet and will try to cook meals from scratch as much as possible.

Believe it or not, I am caught up on the missions! Never thought that would happen after last summer. :) I will continue to do my best to keep up with these weekly missions as I work toward my goals for 2011.

Celebrating the New Year

2011-01-01T23:31:00.001-06:00

We haven't gone out for New Year's Eve in years, and this year was no different. We stayed home, the three of us sitting in separate rooms playing on our computers. Just before midnight, we came together for a glass of chocolate wine - something new this year, and quite good. We toasted the New Year and then went back to our respective computers to serve the gaming addiction before heading off to bed.

I gave up on New Year's resolutions years ago, but I am setting some goals this year. One goal is to declutter every room in my house. I started a few months ago - choosing one small area to work on each day. Today, I made some really good progress. I finished up Winter Camp paperwork, handled the e-mails that accumulated while I was away at Winter Camp (more on camp later), sorted out t-shirts for donation, cleared out old files, and I even got to sleep late!

I have two more days before I go back to work, and I hope to get a lot more done. Oh, and maybe relax a little, too.

Picture This

2010-12-21T10:57:00.000-06:00

Photography has always been a hobby for me. When I was in high school, I bought a Canon AE-1 and carried it around with me everywhere. I photographed people, animals, flowers, buildings, hot air balloons, and just about anything else I saw.

I loved taking pictures. But film and developing were expensive and I didn't have a darkroom, so I was limited.

And then there was digital. *cue choir*

Several years ago, we bought a digital camera for the family. The Kodak EasyShare - a simple point and shoot camera that was easy to use and took nice pictures. Best of all, no film and no developing. I could take as many pictures as I wanted (until the memory card was full) and delete those that I didn't like. It was nice, but I wasn't completely satisfied.

I started looking at the high-end digital SLR cameras. This was what I really wanted, but I wasn't ready to spend that much money. So I waited.

My next camera purchase was a Pentax W90. This is my "activity" camera. We do a lot of camping and backpacking, so resistance to water, shock and dust are important. The Pentax has a lot of great features and takes really good pictures. I found myself getting hooked on my old hobby again.

The siren song of the digital SLR's got louder.

And then I got the most wonderful news... our company was paying Christmas bonuses this year. I could finally get my new camera. I debated the features of the Canon (my old favorite) versus the Nikon. I polled my friends for their recommendations. I talked to professional photographers. And I made my decision.

My new Nikon D90 is on its way and should be here in time for Christmas.

And I can't wait!

______________________

The latest update on my 52 Organizing Missions:

#35 Set "Yes" Priorities - This will be ongoing. I know my priorities and I will consider each commitment (before I make it) to make sure it contributes to my priorities.

#34 Donate 50 Things - I have a garbage bag full of clothes and a box of miscellaneous items that are going to the thrift store this week. :)

#33 Organize Your E-Mail Management - I deleted old e-mails (on all accounts) and unsubscribed from a bunch of newsletters that I have no interest in reading.

I'm more than half-way through this project, and I can see a definite improvement. This has really helped me get back to being a calm, organized person.

I Remember Christmas

2010-12-16T22:16:00.001-06:00

I remember waiting for Christmas and feeling like it took forever to get here.

I remember decorating the tree on the day after Thanksgiving.

I remember baking enough cookies to fill a dozen gift tins with my family.

I remember driving around town to look at the lights.

I remember singing Christmas carols in the neighborhood and at nursing homes.

I remember shopping for the perfect gift.

I remember making gingerbread houses.

I remember eggnog, spiced cider and mulled wine.

I remember visits to (and from) Santa Claus.

I remember Christmas concerts, as a performer and as a listener.

I remember spending time with my extended family during the holidays.

I remember Christmas.

Adventures in Medicine - Part 5 (The Neverending Story)

2010-11-29T15:51:00.000-06:00

When we last left our heroine (back in August), we were still trying to get the PT/INR to settle at a steady 2.0. An October reading of 2.0 got me a month-long reprieve from finger sticks, but the success was short-lived. In November, it was back down to 1.4. A week later, with increased dosage, it was up to 1.8. (Finally headed in the right direction.)

The doctor decided I should stay at that dosage and then proceeded to explain to me that IF there had been no previous history of blood clots and IF we had an idea of what might have caused the clots he would take me off the medication after 6 months, but since that wasn't the case here...

Seriously??

I patiently related my case history to him once again, reminding him that I did NOT have any history of blood clots and that we DID have a good idea of what had caused them, and concluded by saying that I was very excited about stopping the medication at the end of January. He had to count on his fingers (I'm not making this up!) before agreeing that the end of January would indeed be the six month mark.

I am SO looking forward to January and the end of this story.
____________________________

On another note...

I really fell behind in my 52 Organizing Missions, but I have finally caught up. I am happy to check off the following missions.

#13 Organize Your Emergency Contacts - Nicely typed and posted on the kitchen bulletin board.
#14 Organize Your Household Notebook - Actually, I use a Rolodex, but it works for me.
#15 Organize Your Kitchen Surfaces - Nice and tidy, everything in its place.
#16 Streamline Your Books, CDs and DVDs - With my huge book collection, this is a work in progress and will continue to be for some time, but I have made good progress.
#17 Create Your Bedroom Sanctuary - One of the rooms that I have not allowed to get cluttered.
#18 Organize Your Computer - My computer is my lifeline - and I keep it pretty organized, did get rid of some old unneeded files.
#19 Organize Your Office - Cleaned up my work office (in preparation for a move). The home office still needs work.
#20 Create Your Organized Life Bedtime Routine - This one was easy - I already have a routine that works for me. Just added a little preparation for the next day and it was good to go.
#21 Create Your Organized Life Morning Routine - Finally got this one down... even to the point of starting a load of clothes or dishes before I head out the door.
#22 Organize Your Bathroom - Threw out all the old, unneeded products and found space in my drawers and cabinets!
#23 Declutter Your Friends - I've looked at this one, but don't see any need for changes yet.
#24 Create a Chore Chart - Have the weekly chores down, still working on the less frequent ones.
#25 Procrastination Demon Busting - What I'm doing right now... getting caught up!
#26 Reflect and Reward - Nice.
#27 Streamline Your Work Tasks - Done.
#28 Streamline Your Home Organization Tasks - Getting there.
#29 Make The Most of Your Personal Time - Another work in progress, but I'm getting better.
#30 Organize Your Personal Stress Management Plan - Working on this one too - need to really start saying "no" more often.
#31 Organize Your Living Area - This one is in good shape.
#32 Organize Your Laundry - Another easy one. We are limited to one wash load per day (due to being on a septic system) and I keep to a pretty strict schedule. My son organized my laundry room cabinets a few years ago and we've done a pretty good job of keeping them neat.

While I may not have fully completed every assignment, I have done enough on each of them to let them go and remove them from my to do list. This is a huge step toward getting organized for me.

The Mailbox Fairy

2010-11-24T09:40:00.000-06:00

We live on a two-lane, blacktop road in a somewhat rural area. The road curves in front of our house. Sometimes drivers don't see the curve because they are ~~drunk~~ distracted, and they run off the road, leaving tracks in the grass or landing in a shallow ditch (one woman even rolled her car over our driveway and landed in front of the neighbor's house).

Our mailbox sits right next to our driveway - directly in the path of these off-road drivers. I have lost count of the number of times it has been hit. Sometimes it's a simple matter of putting the post back in the ground; sometimes the box looks more like a pancake and has to be replaced.

A few months ago, we replaced our scarred, bent and faded mailbox with a new one. The pole was a little wobbly, but the new box looked good. Within weeks, the pole was leaning backward, probably due to a glancing blow from a passing truck's mirror. It was still functional, so we left it alone. Evidently this was a good decision. Tire tracks in front of the box show that it's Leaning Tower of Pisa impression allowed it to survive another near miss the following week.

Last weekend, the mailbox took a more direct hit which bent the door and left the pole leaning at a 45 degree angle. The mailman deemed it unusable (meaning he could no longer reach it from his car) and refused to deliver our mail.

I asked my son to fix it (knowing there was little chance of this happening while there were video games to be played) and was pleasantly surprised when I got home from work to find the mailbox standing straight, the door looking less bent, and filled with mail. I hugged my son and thanked him... and got a blank stare. He didn't fix it. I asked my husband if he had fixed it. Nope.

It must have been the mailbox fairy. Thank you, mailbox fairy!

Busy

2010-11-22T16:14:00.001-06:00

"If you want something done, ask a busy person." This is so true! Busy people are organized. Busy people have great resources. Busy people can juggle multiple priorities. Busy people rarely say no.

Busy people are exhausted.

I know. I am a busy person, and I frequently live in a state of chaos with my crowded schedule and ever-growing "to do" list. It's been like this most of my life. At my high school choir banquet, I was presented with the "workaholic" award. I wasn't there to accept the award... I was working that evening.

I work a full-time job to support my family. I cook, I clean (sort of) and I sew. I chaperon the high school band at football games and competitions. I hold several volunteer positions with Boy Scouts and regularly help at special events.

I sometimes find myself thinking that I can relax after I finish (insert current project here) . But when each project is finished, another one is waiting to fill the void.

My friends and family don't understand. Why do I take on these added responsibilities? Do I have a desire to feel needed? Am I searching for approval?

Maybe.

But for me, it's much more than that.

It's the smile on my family's faces as they model their new Renaissance costumes. It's all the kids calling me "mama" on the band bus. It's camping with my son and our Scouting friends. It's meeting new people and making new friends. It's congratulating 46 adults who just completed their Wood Badge training course and seeing the looks (and tears) of gratitude on their faces.

It's the best feeling in the world.

Water Woes

2010-10-18T15:03:00.000-05:00

I woke up Saturday morning before the alarm went off. We had a busy day planned, so I fought the urge to roll over and go back to sleep, and got up instead. After saying good morning to my husband, who was already busy surfing the 'net, I went to the kitchen to start a pot of coffee. But first, I had to deal with the pile of recyclables taking up space on my countertop. Cans were crushed, plastic smashed, and glass bottles gently placed in the bin. Then, finally, the coffee was set to brew. Time to deal with the hand-wash-only dishes. I turned on the water and reached for the sponge and... the water dropped to a bare trickle. Uh-oh!

The water going out is never a good thing. For most people, it means you call the water company to report an outage and then wait for them to get it fixed. When you live in the country, like we do, you don't have a water company... you have a well. When you have a well, you call the well repair company and wait for them to come fix it... and hope that it's something simple (cheap) to fix. (There are not a lot of cheap parts on a water well.)

This is not the first time we've had our well repaired. Not surprising. We've lived in the house for 20 years, and things are bound to break if you hang around long enough. We were fortunate enough to find a wonderful company in Conroe - McKnight's Water Well Service. If you're in the area, and need this kind of service, give them a call. They're fast, they do a good job for a fair price, and they don't recommend unnecessary repairs (if it can last six months, they'll tell you to wait).

This time, it was the pump. It was an easy repair - took less than half an hour - but it wasn't cheap. As he was leaving, Mr. McKnight informed us that he has personally replaced every working part of our well, except for the float valve (replaced before we found McKnight's) and the cement storage tank (if that ever needs replacing we have serious problems indeed). We should be good for a while now (I hope) and, while we like Mr. McKnight, we hope we don't have to see him again any time soon.

After spending the rest of the day (11 hours) working at the school's fall festival, that hot shower felt so good! The new pump? Worth. Every. Penny.

Disclaimer: McKnight's Water Well Service did not reimburse me for mentioning their business in my blog. (They don't even know about it.) I am just a satisfied customer who highly recommends this company.

The Half-Time Show

2010-10-06T15:12:00.001-05:00

Most folks refer to this time of year as football season, but at our house, it's marching band season. The after school practices, the Friday night games, the weekend competitions... they have been a part of my son's life for four years now. Aside from providing black socks, washing the band shirt and shorts, and attending a couple of games every season, I haven't really been involved with the marching band... until this year.

This is Jimmy's last year of high school, his last year of marching band, so I decided to become an active member of the band boosters. Yes, I am officially a Band Mom. I ride on the bus with the kids to games and competitions, help move equipment on and off the field, pass out water, take pictures or run the video camera, and answer to "mama" for 60+ teenagers.

At first, I thought that I would be spending a lot of extra time with my son, but that isn't the case. We drive to and from the school together and see each other while moving equipment, but that's about all. The rest of the time I am in the stands dancing and cheering with the other moms. We try to pay attention to the game and cheer when our team scores, but we know we are all there for only one thing... half-time! The team may win or lose, but the band always puts on a great show.

Last Saturday I attended my first band competition. Working on very little sleep after the previous night's game, we arrived at the school at 6:00 AM. After a quick review of video and a walk-through of their routine, we boarded the bus for the 1-1/2 ride to the host school. We arrived around 8:30 and started preparing for the 10:00 performance. After performing, the kids watched the other bands to see what their competition had to offer, and waited for the awards ceremony.

Evidently, the judges were impressed with our little band from Panther Land. They gave them a rating of 1, and awarded them with trophies for Outstanding Drum Line, Outstanding Drum Major, and Outstanding Overall Performance. After three years of "almost, but not quite," the kids were thrilled to win three out of five categories for their division.

I am so glad that I decided to be a part of this amazing group of individuals. I'd like to attend every single game and competition, unfortunately other committments will prevent this, but you can bet I will be there every time I can... with bells on. Yes, I said bells. Go Panthers!!
__________

Due to my recent hospital stay and my new Band Mom duties, I've fallen behind on my 52 Organizing Missions. I plan to continue with the project and I have a few updates to add.

#10 Clear out your closet. I pulled out a large bag full of clothes that I no longer wear. Still plenty of stuff that needs to be weeded out. I'd like to pull out everything and evaluate each item - something to plan for the future. Done (for now).
#11 Create your wardrobe wish list. I have more than enough clothes to meet my current needs. No need for a wish list. Done.
#12 Organize your accounts and credit cards. Did this one several years ago. We have one checking account and a 529 savings for my son's college (next year!!!!). The credit cards have been whittled down to 4 - a gas card and 3 majors - and they are all paid in full every month. Done.

I'm expecting #25 tomorrow, so I have a lot of catching up to do. Maybe when marching band season is over...

Will Work for Wheels

2010-10-01T14:39:00.001-05:00

There comes a time when you begin to wonder if your vehicle is worth keeping. You know... when you spend more time at the repair shop than you do on the road, or when the repair bill is more than your paycheck. This is where I am today. Once again, I'm waiting on a mechanic to finish working on my truck.

I've considered trading my '03 Explorer for a newer model, but now I feel like I have to keep it for a while longer to justify all the money that I've just put into it. Last week it was brakes and struts (and a few related things) - $2800. Then it was new tires - $550. And now I am looking at the possibility of having to replace the rear end - another $2500. Ugh! I'm working just to keep my truck running!

I do have to tell you that I'm really fortunate to have found a great shop to handle all my repairs - Milstead Automotive. They do a great job, they don't try to sell you repairs that you don't need, and they stand by their work. And no, they did not pay me anything to mention their services - I am just so happy with them that I felt I had to share. If you are in The Woodlands or Conroe area, this is a great place to take your vehicle. If you go there, you might see me... patiently working on my laptop as I wait for them to complete yet another repair.

I'm Proud of My Eagle Scout

2010-09-15T15:02:00.001-05:00

In first grade, my son brought home a flyer about Cub Scouts. My husband took him to the after school meeting and signed him up for Tiger Cubs. He stuck with Cub Scouts for 4-1/2 years, learning important skills like:

     How to properly race a sailboat in a raingutter without swamping it,
     How to make silver turtles,
     How to build a prize-winning pinewood race car, and
     How to have fun on camp-outs (even when it rained).

We learned along with him.

He earned belt loops and pins, arrow points, badges, and enough patches to completely fill his little red "brag vest" - plus a few more. In 5th grade he earned the Arrow of Light and was ready to join Boy Scouts. The event was marked by a nighttime ceremony that included older Scouts in Indian regalia and a roaring bonfire.

After joining Boy Scouts, the learning continued and the adventures got more exciting. He went on monthly campouts - including canoe trips, climbing, and backpacking. He participated in service projects with his troop. While earning merit badges, he learned more skills and investigated hobbies and possible careers. He took leadership roles within the troop and began teaching younger Scouts. He quickly moved up through the rank requirements and by the age of 12 he was a Life Scout.

Instead of trying to earn Eagle right away, James decided to "relax".

He planned and completed the restoration of a nature trail at the local Scout camp. It took three years for him to complete the related paperwork, but he finally finished it and earned the Hornaday badge for his efforts.

He was elected by his fellow Scouts to the Order of the Arrow (Scouting's honor society). He attended all the regular Lodge and Section events - as a participant at first, then as a staff member. He joined 500 fellow Arrowmen in reclaiming 134 acres of overgrown meadows in the Mark Twain National Forest in Missouri. He attended the National Order of the Arrow Conference at Indiana University. Last year he received the Vigil Honor for his past and future participation. He currently holds the office of Order of the Arrow Chapter Chief.

In addition to leadership and merit badge requirements, James had to plan and complete a project to qualify for the Eagle award. He led a group of Scouts, Scouters, friends and family, in building four picnic tables – providing outdoor seating for the students of a local elementary school. His project was completed in June. And upon returning from summer camp in July, he completed his Eagle Board of Review and became an Eagle Scout.

Last Sunday, we held an Eagle Court of Honor to celebrate his achievement. I struggled to hold back tears as I listened to him tell of his experiences in Scouting and thank those people who had mentored him through the years. Scouting has helped my little boy to grow into a strong, well-rounded, and compassionate man.

I am so very proud of my Eagle Scout.

Adventures in Medicine - Part 4 (The Home Version)

2010-08-26T14:45:00.002-05:00

It has been a few weeks since I was released from the hospital, but the adventure is far from over. Let me catch you up.

I left the hospital on Wednesday (Aug. 4) with prescriptions for 3 days worth of Lovenox injections and 10 days worth of Coumadin, and an appointment with my new GP on Friday. My first day home included errands to the hospital to get copies of my records (check) and my bill (not ready yet), Hastings to rent movies, and WalMart for vitamins (without K). It was a lot of walking for someone who had been in bed for five days, and I was tired when we got home.

I managed my injections with no trouble at all. I'm glad I didn't need any help, because the guys disappeared when I brought out the syringes. A little squeamish, perhaps?

I was sure that I had lost weight with all those "two bites and I'm done" hospital dinners, so I dug the bathroom scales out of the closet. I think I last weighed myself was in April or May. Anyway, the results... I had lost 13 pounds! Now, the trick will be keeping it off without the hospital diet plan.

On Friday morning, I met my new GP. He is short, red-haired and had received no information about me from the hospital. Good thing I brought the records with me. My PT/INR was 1.9, so the doc decided we would stop the Lovenox after the remaining three injections. Yay! He scheduled blood work for the following Wednesday and told me I could go back to work on Monday.

After my blood work appointment on Wednesday, I stopped by the doctor's office to see what the next step would be. The doc obviously didn't remember me. He asked me if I had a history of blood clots (no, just the one I was hospitalized for last week) and later commented that we did not know what caused the clots (actually, we're pretty sure that it was the injury to my leg muscles combined with the birth control pills I was taking). They checked my PT/INR - still 1.9. The doc modified my Coumadin dosage - added another 1/2 tablet every Wednesday. I thought this was a bit strange, but later learned that these tiny adjustments are pretty standard. He recommended that I get support stockings to help with the swelling in my ankle and calf. (Yeah, that's not happening.) I scheduled a two-week follow up appointment.

I've started getting the bills for my little adventure. The hospital bill was over $30,000 and I've only started getting the various lab and consultant bills - looks like that will be another thousand. I am so glad I have good insurance. Even so, it's going to take a bite out of the old bank account.

The two-week follow up appointment was yesterday morning, and I was reminded of why I stopped using this practice for my son many years ago. After my name was called, I sat in the exam room and waited for the doctor... for an hour. When he finally arrived, I had to repeat my history for him. (I now have a serious lack of confidence in this doctor.) My PT/INR was at 1.3, so the doctor changed my dosage again. First, he told me to take 1-1/2 tablets for the next three days (to give it a boost) and then he wanted me to take 1-1/2 tablets on Sundays and Wednesdays and 1 tablet on all the other days. He drew a little calendar on a prescription form to explain it.

I asked about my blood work and he was surprised that no one had called me with the results. (I wasn't.) As of two weeks ago, my hormones were all normal, I had iron deficiency anemia, my cholesterol was high (215 which is below average for me), I had a high platelet count (no big surprise), my C reactive protein count was above average, and I needed more vitamin D. None of this was surprising, but I will be interested to see what changes in 4 weeks when we run it all again. In the meantime, we have added calcium supplements to my daily pill collection.

I have another appointment to check my PT/INR in 2 weeks.

I can't wait.

Adventures in Medicine - Part 3

2010-08-12T10:46:00.001-05:00

Tuesday, August 3
Last night, I slept! I remember waking at midnight when the tech came to take vitals, then again at 4:00 (more vitals), at 4:40 for the vampire, who collected four more vials (total - 37), and finally at 7:30 when breakfast arrived. Nine hours of sleep (more or less) does not make up for the previous 3 nights, but it helps.

Today's PT/INR is 1.22 - still just barely creeping up. The doctor doubles my dosage of Coumadin.

I have no morning visitors, so I spend time on Facebook. I am terribly amused by a friend's analogy comparing blood clots to loud drunks tubing down the Guadalupe river toward his favorite fishing spot.

I take another shower (a long one) and wait for the pulmonary specialist... who never shows. I visit with a dietitian who instructs me on which foods to avoid while taking Coumadin. Evidently all of those wonderful leafy green veggies that are so good for you, are now off my diet. They have vitamin K and that reduces the effectiveness of Coumadin. No more spinach salads or broccoli for a while.

I scare the staff when my telemetry monitor makes strange noises. They come running into my room to check on me and find me calmly writing in my planner. I wish I knew what I did to cause this... I could try it again later when I get bored.

There is talk of sending me home, but I still need the twice daily shots of Lovenox. Patient services checks on the cost of the prescription. It is almost $1100 for 7 days ($220 after insurance). At 4:00 I realize that I will not be going home today, and am disappointed.

Afternoon visitors arrive - family and a friend. It's a slightly smaller crowd this time, only 6 people at once. They stay until dinner time. Then it is just me and Mike - until he leaves for dinner. Jimmy stops by on his way home from a Scout meeting and stays until 9:00.

I have a male nurse tonight. Something new and different.

I stay up late playing on Facebook. I realize that I have forgotten to order breakfast. I hope they send something good. I am not worried, because I know that breakfast is the one meal that they do really well at this hospital. Even the eggs are good. Lunch is usually good as long as you stick to soups and salads. Dinner is tricky. If you order items from the grill (chicken strips or burgers) you are fine, but stay away from the dinner entrees. They have three different choices each night, and so far they've all been disappointing. I can tell that I have lost weight during my stay here.

Wednesday, August 4
The vampire is late today. She arrives at 6:00 (better watch out for that sun!) - total vials collected now at 41. I watch TV until breakfast arrives. I am pleased with the selection, but there is too much food and I don't eat everything.

My PT/INR is 1.52. It has jumped 0.3 in one day. I am encouraged.

The pulmonary specialist arrives to tell me my echo cardiogram was normal. He can do nothing more for me and is signing off my case. I am overjoyed. This improves my chances for going home today... and I am no longer stuck in bed!!

A financial services rep stops by to ask how I plan to pay my deductible and (estimated) co-pay. I dutifully hand over my credit card. I expect to be doing a lot more of this as the bills start rolling in. Now, I am sure that I will get to go home today.

I take a long shower (bliss) and "forget" to have the tech reconnect the telemetry monitor.

My doctor stops by. She wants to send me home, but is concerned about the Lovenox. I assure her that I can administer the injections myself. I convince her to write a prescription for three days instead of seven, to reduce the cost. If my PT/INR is still below 2.0 after three days, my doctor can prescribe more. This solution works for her and she begins the discharge process.

I gather all my things and prepare to check out, then I wander down the hall to fill my water mug - feeling almost guilty for being out of bed. A friend stops by with a gift of puzzle books. She is happy that I am going home and stays to keep me company while I wait.

The doctor moves my evening injection up to 6:00 (instead of 9:00), so I can leave. I receive instructions on how to administer the Lovenox and am surprised at how easy it is to stick myself with a needle.

I call Mike to come pick me up. He has 30 minutes to get there before shift change. If he is late, we will have to wait another hour. He and Jimmy arrive with 10 minutes to spare. The nurse has stashed a wheelchair in my room (smart woman), and we are loaded and out the door in less than five minutes.

Our first stop is Pizza Shack, where I have some of the most delicious pizza I have ever tasted. My hospital diet has given me a new appreciation for good food. Our next stop is the drug store, where we fill my prescriptions for Coumadin and Lovenox. The bill is almost $100. Yikes!

Finally, we head home. I am so happy to be back home. I unpack my bag and settle in.

The cats take a full day to recognize me. Darn cats.

Adventures in Medicine - Part 2

2010-08-08T00:05:00.001-05:00

Saturday, July 31
The phlebotomist arrives at 4:45 AM to collect more blood samples. I have started referring to the phlebotomists as vampires. I am not the only one... the nurses do it too.

I give up on trying to sleep, turn on the TV and wait for breakfast. Breakfast arrives at 7:30 and it is surprisingly good. My husband arrives with more stuff from home - things to keep me busy. A friend from work stops by for a visit. She was recently in the hospital, so we compare notes.

I am hooked up to a telemetry monitor, so they can keep tabs on me, and now the IV has to stay in. It's in the bend of my left arm - uncomfortable. I am not happy. Fortunately, the telemetry monitor is wireless, so I can still get out of bed without assistance.

After lunch (decent food), more visitors - family and friends all arrive at the same time. My room is crowded with seven visitors. It's hard to keep up with what everyone is saying.

My doctor stops by and tells me it's okay to walk around a bit if I want to. Then the pulmonologist arrives and asks all the visitors to step outside. He tells me that they have found a clot in my lung and wants me to stay in bed for 5 days. He uses strong, scary language - tells me that I am lucky to be alive and if another clot goes to my lung I might not be so lucky. He schedules an echo cardiogram.

The vampire comes and collects 8 more vials of blood. (Total vials - 25)

Interesting fact about hospital stays: Your nurse and tech team changes every 12 hours. Sometimes you get a different team each day.
Most nurses and techs are great, but some are not so great. Tonight I have one of those not so great teams. The nurse injects the Lovenox so quickly that it burns for half an hour afterwards. (Future shots will be preceded by instructions to inject the medicine slowly.) I ask the tech for more water at midnight. At 7:30 she remembers to bring the water. I wish I was at home.

Sunday, August 1
No vampires this morning. Surprised, since they are supposed to check my PT/INR levels every day. PT/INR measures the length of time it takes for the blood to clot. Normal is 1, they want my number to be between 2 and 3.

I want a shower, and spent most of the night formulating a plan to convince the nurse and tech to let me have one. I am surprised when the tech arrives and asks me if I would like a shower. Just like that... no negotiations required. It is amazing just how much better I feel after a shower.

My boss and her husband stop by for a visit in the morning and my family shows up in the afternoon. Having the visitors spaced out is much better than everyone showing up all at once.

The vampire shows up after dinner and collects four more samples. (Total vials - 29) Later I learn that my PT/INR is 1.0, yesterday it was less than 1.

I'm still not sleeping well. I can't get used to all the noises, the people in and out of my room every hour, and the bed that is constantly adjusting. I am enjoying the novelty of having television, though.

Monday, August 2
Vampire's running a little late this morning, she showed up at 5:00, collected 4 more samples. (Total vials - 33) At 6:00, the tech arrives with the echo cardiogram machine. Finally, we get to see if my heart is still functioning properly. The tech arranges my bed so that I can see the monitor. Very cool pictures and sounds. The tech keeps me laughing the whole time. What a great way to start the day.

Breakfast is good. This is the one meal that they consistently do well. I have learned that sandwiches and salads are a safe bet, and to stay away from the dinner entrees.

My PT/INR is 1.1 today. The number is just barely moving up. I want it to move faster so that the shots can stop... so that I can go home.

Not many visitors today - most everyone has to work. Mike comes by for a few hours during the day, then he and Jimmy come back in the evening. I receive a lovely bouquet of flowers from work. They make me smile.

I watch TV until 10PM. I am so tired that I can't hold my head up. I shut off the lights and go to sleep.

Yes, sleep.

Adventures in Medicine - Part 1

2010-08-03T23:56:00.002-05:00

Friday, July 30
While I was at summer camp, I strained a muscle in my leg. A month later, the muscle is still sore and swollen and I'm hurting, so I follow the advice of concerned family and friends, and make a 9:00 appointment with my orthopedic doctor. The doctor tells me I've definitely strained and probably even torn the muscle. He schedules me for a venous doppler (ultrasound) to make sure that I don't have any blood clots in my leg, and tells me that he doesn't expect they will find anything.

I arrive at radiology half an hour early for my 1:30 appointment. Good thing, since the nurse has sent me to the wrong place. I am directed to the cardio-pulmonary unit... at the other end of the hospital. No problem - walking helps stretch that sore muscle. Cardio sends me to the registration desk, where I learn that the doctor's office has not yet sent any orders. A few phone calls takes care of the problem and I am registered as an out-patient. I arrive back at the cardio-pulmonary unit... exactly on time.

After only five minutes in the waiting room, I am led to the exam room. The scan takes only a few minutes. The results take a bit longer. Fortunately this hospital firmly believes in a TV for every room, so I watch and wait. The tech returns with the news... "You are positive for DVT (deep vein thrombosis)." I am stunned.

I am no longer allowed to walk. The tech and her student assistant load me into a wheelchair and take me to the emergency room. (Next door to radiology, where I started). I wait while they try to contact my doctor - who has left for the weekend. I start making phone calls to notify family, friends and work. After an hour or so, a nurse tells me that they are going to admit me. A tech will take me to registration.

We arrive back at registration and, again, they do not have any orders. We learn that I should have been registered at the ER registration desk, not the outpatient desk. No worries - paperwork is faxed and the registration is completed. I am given an armband and taken to my room on the fourth floor.

I am greeted by my day nurse, who has a list of questions for me, and my technician. The interview process is lengthy and peppered with amusing comments and laughter. I am instantly at ease with this fiesty lady from New York. After all the questions have been answered and my vitals have been checked, I call Mike (my husband) with my room number and a list of things to bring from home.

Mike and Jimmy (my son) arrive with my necessities (laptop) and we discuss all that has happened. They leave briefly for dinner. My own dinner is delivered - typical hospital food. Fortunately, I don't have much of an appetite. I get a chest x-ray while sitting in bed (didn't expect that!) and a new nurse and tech. I also get my meds - Coumadin and Lovenox, which is delivered by injection - in the abdomen - twice a day. Ouch!

Mike and Jimmy return quickly followed by the phlebotomist, who collects 13 blood samples - enough to allow for all the tests that might be ordered.

After my family leaves for the evening, I keep myself entertained with e-mail, Facebook and Twitter until I learn that I have been scheduled for a CT scan. I get an IV line and take a wheelchair ride to radiology. The radiology tech is handsome and gentle. He'd fit right in on Grey's Anatomy. (I am later berated by a single friend for not doing a wedding ring check.) I have never had a CT scan before, so he tells me what to expect and warns me of some of the strange sensations that I might experience. The scan only takes a few minutes and I am on my way back to my room.

At midnight, I turn off the light and try to sleep. My bed has an air mattress and is designed to aleviate pressure points. It is contantly adjusting - inflating and deflating - and it's noisy. At 3:00, my nurse unplugs the bed so I can sleep. She is certain that it will not fully deflate. I wake up an hour later on a flat mattress. She plugs the bed back in. Between hourly checks, I try to nap, without bending my left arm, until morning.

How I Spent My Summer Vacation

2010-07-29T20:21:00.000-05:00

Summer camp with the Boy Scouts - what a great idea for a summer vacation! Who wouldn't enjoy swimming, hiking, canoeing, and sleeping under the stars? Sounds like great fun.

Okay, now let's add a hurricane in the Gulf, and point it towards the Texas coast, uncomfortably close to where you are camping. That changes things just a bit, doesn't it?

Here's how it went.

The first two days of camp were pretty good. It was a bit hot and humid, but a light breeze kept it bearable. We slept in A-frame tents with the flaps rolled up. I was lucky enough to get a tent to myself... well, sort of. Every tent had its own collection of bugs: assorted spiders, masses of daddy long-legs, cicadas, katydids, grasshoppers, and walking sticks. I found this little guy in my tent. He was about 6 inches long and as big around as my pinky!

On Wednesday morning, the weather turned rainy and it stayed that way for the rest of the week. All of the water classes were cancelled because the river's current was deemed too strong, so our boys were unable to complete those merit badges. By Friday, the river had risen 2 feet and, after lunch, camp staff moved everyone to the dining hall at the top of the hill. We had a quick adult pow-wow and decided to leave early since the classes were done and the closing activities would be limited due to the rain. The boys were packed up and ready to go in record time. I think we were all anxious to go home.

So here I sit, almost a month later, still nursing a sore leg (strained muscles from too much climbing followed by too much driving?) and reliving my week at Scout camp.

Did I have a good time? Yes. Even though I never got to take that canoe trip, it was still a fun week.

Will I go again next summer? Mmmm, I think I'm gonna hold out for that cruise.

The Lazy Days of Summer?

2010-06-24T14:14:00.002-05:00

June has been a very busy month. The first two weeks were kind of a blur of working then coming home and trying to feed my family without the use of a stove. Then, there was the matter of installing the new stove.

Installing a stove should be a very simple matter, but the word simple just doesn't seem to apply to our house. Problem #1: We noticed right away that the new stove seemed to be shorter than the old one. Evidently the standard size of drop-in stoves has changed over the years. (Am I the only one who thinks this is really stupid?) So, we got some 2x4's and, with the help of a friend, created a frame to lift the stove to the correct height. So far, so good. Problem #2: When we tried to slide the stove in, we found that the opening in the counter top wasn't wide enough. After several days of shaving and checking and shaving some more, my hubby got the opening wide enough to fit the stove. Finally! We celebrated by baking cookies after dinner.

Last Saturday, my son and ten of his friends (and a few adults) spent the day working on his Eagle project. It was hot and humid, but everyone worked really well together. At the end of the day, there were four brand new picnic tables ready to be used by the students of a local elementary school. The tables turned out so nice that I just might have to get them to build one for my backyard.

I've been keeping up with my 52 Organizing Missions, even though I haven't been keeping up with my blog.

#6 Detox Your Car - This one was easy. I can't stand a messy vehicle, so I keep mine neat. I removed a couple of extra camp chairs from the back and threw away some expired insurance cards that were in the glove compartment. Done.
# 7 Be Happy - I've made my list of 10 things that make me happy, and I am working on incorporating those things into my life more often.
#8 De-clutter 50 Items - For this mission, I focused on my junk drawer and two utility drawers in my kitchen. I was able to get rid of over a hundred things. Most went straight to the trash. Now I can open and close my drawers without worrying about them getting stuck!
#9 Filing System Nirvana - I simplified my filing system several years ago and have been doing a pretty good job of shredding old paperwork regularly. Just had to clean out a couple of folders to call this one done.

I just got my e-mail for Mission #10 and am really looking forward to that one. I almost did this for #8, but figured that it would come up as a separate mission later. I was right. (See, it does happen sometimes.) I'll have to wait a couple of weeks to do this one.

Next week I am going to summer camp with our Scout Troop. It will be hot and humid, and I expect to see some of the typical problems that arise when you have 18 boys camping together for a week, and I will be spending part of my time teaching adult classes. Somewhere in all that, I plan to have a little fun.. maybe take a hike or borrow a kayak and paddle down the river. And that is how I will spend my summer vacation.

Next year, I'm planning a cruise.

Fire! (or "How I Spent My Weekend")

2010-05-31T11:22:00.000-05:00

It started out as a typical Saturday morning. I awoke to the sound of the coffee grinder. My husband was up and he was making coffee. Yes! After lying in bed for a few more lazy I-don't-have-to-get-up-yet moments, I followed the lovely aroma of fresh coffee into the kitchen.

Coffee was poured, options were discussed, and we went about the business of making breakfast. I put the biscuits in the oven and started browning sausage while my husband mixed the orange juice.

Four minutes left on the biscuits and he noticed it... the strange glow on a small section of the oven's heating element. Then there were small sparks. At first, we both thought it was a spill... perhaps a bit of grease from last night's roast chicken. After a few minutes we realized that this was no spill. The element itself was burning. We removed the biscuits and turned off the oven, hoping that would solve the problem. It didn't.

Time for more serious measures. Hubby sprayed it with our handy kitchen fire extinguisher, which resulted in a cloud of chemical dust that quickly spread throughout the house and sent us running to open windows. It did not, however, put out the fire.

One final option before calling the fire department was to shut off the power at the breaker box. That finally did the trick. We breathed a sigh of relief (near the open window, of course) and then, after the dust settled, continued with our weekend breakfast. Amazingly enough, the food was undamaged and the biscuits were browned to perfection.

After breakfast, my husband and son disconnected the stove so we could safely turn the power back on, and moved it to the backyard. I actually smiled a little as I said good-bye to the last of our old 1980's harvest gold appliances. (Yuck!)

Anyone who has ever used a chemical fire extinguisher, know that the dust gets everywhere. It took over an hour to clean up the kitchen... and I haven't even started on the rest of the house. I am just thankful that most of the bedroom doors were closed.

Our afternoon plans changed slightly. We still went to the movies (because I really needed to relax), followed by appliance shopping. Our new stove will be delivered in two weeks. Yes, I said two weeks. Our stove is a drop-in model, which is not stocked in any store and has to be ordered.

Things are going to be a bit different for the next two weeks, but we are not without options. I can cook meals using the crock pot, microwave, toaster oven, electric wok, charcoal grill, and Coleman stove. I think we're covered. It does feel strange to walk into my kitchen and see the hole where my stove used to be, but in two weeks, we will have a brand new stove.

Now, if I could just do something about that yellow laminate counter top...

Camping at Brazos Bend

2010-05-25T14:40:00.000-05:00

I enjoyed camping when I was a kid, and didn't get to go often enough. I can remember one overnighter with Camp Fire Girls where we held skills competitions. I can light a fire and cook a pancake like nobody's business, y'all.  And I will never forget the weekend trips to Sulphur with my extended family. Sheltering from tornados in a car dealership basement with other campers - including a man who was wearing only a towel, and later watching my Nana try to burn her bra. These are the memories of my childhood.

Scary, isn't it?

When my son joined Cub Scouts in first grade, camping became a regular activity for our family. And, 10 years later, I still love it.

Last weekend, we camped at Brazos Bend State Park with our Boy Scout Troop. It was dark when we arrived, but the woods around us sparkled with thousands of fireflies and the moon lit the path to our campsite.

Our campsite was deep in the woods, so it took a while to haul all of our gear in from the parking lot. Once we were settled, the other mom in our group suggested a quick shower to rinse off the sweat.  Have I mentioned the high humidity in this part of Texas? The restrooms were about 1/4 mile from the parking area (great exercise opportunity) and, to our disappointment, were not equipped with showers.  It wasn't the first time I've had to settle for a sponge bath.

It was still warm outside when we turned in for the night, but I was comfortable. The "bath" had cooled me off and I left the rainfly off my tent to catch stray breezes. The boys were excited, as they always are on the first night, and stayed up talking late into the night.  As their voices finally quieted, the chorus of snores began. Sleep was a long time in coming. One day I will learn to pitch my tent at the edge of the campsite, not in the middle.

On Saturday, the boys cooked, swung from vines, hiked, looked for alligators, learned about Texas snakes and did a simulated space mission. It was a busy day. After dinner, the boys put on a campfire program and performed a flag retirement ceremony. Then we all went to the observatory to see the stars and planets through the big telescopes. It was my first trip to the observatory and all I can say is... wow!

The moon and the fireflies lit our way back to camp and we all went straight to bed. If there was snoring, I fell asleep before it began.

Sunday morning in camp is bittersweet. I find myself sad to be leaving such a beautiful place, but eager to get back home where I can enjoy a hot shower.

On Tuesday night, we'll be planning our next camping adventure.

I can't wait!

Communication

2010-05-21T14:41:00.000-05:00

Yesterday I received Mission #5: Become A Smart Verbal Communicator from Get Organized Wizard. The instructions were to (1) streamline my voicemail message, (2) write a script for leaving voicemails, and (3) write a script for delegating.

I've updated both my home and work voicemail messages to ask callers to tell me what they need from me and to leave contact information if they expect a reply. Rather than playing phone tag, we can actually use the voicemail system to communicate. Wow, what a concept!

The tips for leaving voicemails for other people tells me to leave a detailed message that includes who I am, what I need, if a reply is needed or if there are deadlines, and my contact information. I will try to follow these tips when leaving messages. I wonder if the recipients will actually listen to the whole message or just hit delete and call me back.

I don't have anyone to delegate to, so I skipped this part. Okay, that's not exactly true. I sometimes ask my son to do things for me. But, have you ever tried to give detailed instructions to a 16 year old boy? Yeah. Unless it's instructions for how to get to the next level of their favorite video game, you might as well forget it.

Another mission completed. I wonder if it would be rude to forward this one to a few people who could really use it...

Commit for Life

2010-05-18T12:13:00.009-05:00

My first donation was at a high school blood drive. I was eighteen. After graduating, I found that the donor coaches would sometimes come to my workplace, and I would happily roll up my sleeve. Boy Scout winter camp usually brings another opportunity to donate.

Without really trying at all, I've donated 22 pints of blood. That's 2 donations away from 3 gallons, people. But I have yet to live up to the Commit for Life promise I signed three years ago. The commitment says that I will donate once per quarter. My average... twice a year.

It's easy to donate when the coach comes to my office, but that only happens once or twice a year. Last year I couldn't donate at winter camp. I was still ineligible from my previous donation... by ONE DAY. I realized that meeting that once per quarter goal might actually take some effort on my part.

Two months ago, I had a day off and decided to stop by my neighborhood Blood Center to make a donation. I learned that they are open until 6:00 PM Monday - Thursday. I get off early enough to go after work. Great! So, I marked my calendar to donate again on May 17.

Yesterday, I drove straight to the Blood Center after work, ready to continue my renewed commitment of regular donations. But I hit another roadblock. My hemocrit (iron level) was 1 point too low. 24 hour deferral. Crap!

The technician gave me some helpful advice on getting more iron into my system and suggested I come back in a day or two. Since the technician was talkative, I asked her about platelet donations. I'd heard about it, but wanted details. I learned that it takes 6 whole blood donations to generate the same amount of platelets that can be collected from 1 automated platelet donation, and platelets only have a shelf life of 5 days so they always need donations. The process takes 2 hours and you can donate every week (max of 24 per year).

I'm not sure if I can sit still with a needle in my arm for 2 hours, but I'm thinking about giving it a try. My appointment is tomorrow.

How about you... would you do it? Have you done it?

Update (5/20/10)

I did it! I donated platelets and red cells yesterday. It was a lot like giving blood, just took a lot longer. I was on the machine for 1 hour, and they told me that it might be longer next time. The only side effect I experienced was a strange tingling in my mouth, and my hand did get a little tired of squeezing the ball after a while. I did not get light-headed at all (which sometimes happens when I donate whole blood).

The best part is that I don't have to wait 8 weeks to make my next donation. I can go back next week if I want. However, the Blood Center recommends waiting 2 weeks, which will work better with my schedule. And I get to watch TV - another big plus, since we still don't have it at home.

I've already marked my calendar to make another appointment on June 2. Anyone want to join me?

Time Flies

2010-05-17T13:25:00.005-05:00

When I was a little girl, time moved so slowly. I was always waiting for things to happen: school to start, summer vacation, birthdays, Christmas. (It took FOREVER for Christmas to get here.)

Now-days, time just flies by.

What's up with that?

Did you know that there are only 3 weeks of school left? And Christmas will be here before you know it, y'all!

This time warp thing plays havoc with my attempts at getting organized. There's always something else that needs my attention. And then there's Facebook... but that's a topic for another post.

Fortunately, the last three missions from Get Organized Wizard turned out to be easy ones.

April 29, Misssion # 2 - Detox your briefcase/tote/bag
I removed the papers from my briefcase and filed them, then removed a few excess pens and paperclips. Done. I had cleaned my purse out the previous week, so I focused on my make-up case. Threw away a couple of old lipsticks and some band-aids that had lost their stickiness. Done.

May 6, Mission # 3 - Organize your bill payment
I set up on-line bill pay (not automatic) with my bank over a year ago, and I love it. When bills come in the mail, I go on-line and schedule the payment. I've set up some bills with on-line notifications. I get an e-mail whenever there is a new bill to be paid. So easy and I don't have to worry about things getting lost in the mail. Done.

May 13, Mission #4 - Forgo the freebies
Last year, I discarded all the old kids meal toys and free items that were taking up space. I no longer bring home any of those cute little advertisement freebies - unless it's something that I can really use. When they are offered I either decline, hand it to someone else, or toss. So nice to not have a bunch of plastic "thingies" lying about. Done.

Since these missions were so easy, I added a quick clean-out of my armoire. It was time. The shelves were overflowing with shorts, t-shirts, and sweats, and the doors did not want to stay closed any more. I took 15 minutes and removed everything that I did not like or that did not fit. It almost filled a garbage bag. I took the bag to a local thrift store, along with a box of kitchen items and a hamper full of my son's outgrown clothes. It felt so good to get all that out of the house. And now... I can close my armoire again!

After all my organizing efforts on Saturday morning, I went to my friend's house to sit in the hot tub and drink beer.

A girl's gotta take some time to relax! ;)

Taking Out The Trash

2010-04-29T13:35:00.004-05:00

Last week I started the "52 Missions" program from Get Organized Wizard. The first 30-minute mission was to go around the house and fill a hu-u-uge trash bag with stuff to throw away. I managed to fill a medium sized bag with randoms items that I found in the kitchen, living room and master bedroom.

To keep the peace, I avoided my son's room and the office (where my husband spends most of his waking hours). I will tackle those later, when ~~they're not looking~~ I can enlist their help.

My craft room was also ignored, for now. It has only recently become my craft room and is still in a state of barely controlled chaos. I thought it would be best to wait and do a thorough job of sorting and discarding later.

I didn't do the whole house, so I'm not entirely pleased with my progress, but I did feel pretty good about throwing away that bag of junk.

Today, I received my second mission... detox your briefcase/tote/bag. Ugh! I think this one will take longer than 30 minutes.

Getting Organized - Again

2010-04-22T13:11:00.006-05:00

I used to be one of those super organized people. You know the type... a clean desk, a tidy house, able to instantly locate anything, a to-do list that actually got done (mostly). Yes, that was me. Was. Lately, I've been slipping. Clutter seems to have taken over my house when I wasn't looking, and I have this huge to-do list that doesn't seem to be getting any shorter.

I was reading blogs today (which may be part of the reason I'm not getting much done), and I think I may have found a solution. Amanda at Tall Glass of Water recommended the free "52 Missions" program from Get Organized Wizard. Sounded good, so I said "sign me up!"

So, I signed up and just received the e-mail with my first mission. The mission is to fill a hu-u-uge trash bag with "stuff" to throw away. This could be fun. Hmmm, I wonder if my husband and son will mind if I throw some of their stuff away, too.

I'm hoping this project will also give me an incentive to post more regularly. Hey, it could happen!

Wish me luck.

A Christmas Story

2009-12-18T09:57:00.005-06:00

This week, my son and I finally got around to putting up the Christmas tree. Actually, he did most of the work while I supervised. After all, he is sixteen and one day he will have his own house to decorate, so it's good practice for him. Oh, alright! I was being lazy and really not feeling very Christmas-y.

While he was digging around in a box of decorations, he found our copy of an old Christmas story, "The Year Mrs. Claus Saved Christmas". It was given to us by my mother-in-law when Jimmy was a baby. It had been years since we had read it together and he did not remember it. I asked him if he would like me to read it to him.

With an eagerness that recalled a much younger version of himself, he climbed into my lap and waited for me to begin reading. Yes, in my lap. All 6'3" and 170 pounds of him! And so the two of us sat together in my chair, our faces lit by the glow of Christmas lights, and I began to read. As I read the familiar story, I was reminded of past Christmases when he was small.

Nearing the end of the story, I felt tears well up in my eyes, and I had to stop and clear my throat several times before I could finish. It wasn't the story that caused my emotion. It was the closeness that we shared, like when he was little. It was knowing that moments like this one are getting fewer and fewer every year as my little boy grows into a man. It was knowing that, one day, he might read this same story to his own child. But most of all, it was remembering that this is what Christmas is all about.

I think that now I'm starting to feel Christmas-y after all. Merry Christmas everyone!

My Most Amazing Weekend

2009-10-22T16:12:00.004-05:00

This post is for those of you who wanted the details…

I am a member of the Order of the Arrow. No, it’s not some wizarding group, or super-secret club. The OA is a service-oriented group of Boy Scouts – basically it’s their honor society.

Last weekend was OA Fall Pow-wow – one of our annual get-togethers. We had major fun, as always. But this time, was really special. On Saturday, my son and I were called during the Vigil Call-out Ceremony. This is a huge honor and we were both surprised to have been chosen. In a few weeks, we will experience Vigil Weekend. We are not sure what to expect, so we are both excited and a little apprehensive, but I’m told that it will be a wonderful experience.

But there’s more…

After much hugging and congratulations, we left the ceremony ring and headed to the Pow-wow arena. When we arrived, Jared, one of our youth singers, asked me if I would be the Head Woman for the pow-wow. Me? Head Woman? Really? Stunned. Not knowing what Head Woman entailed… of course I agreed. I’ve only danced at a couple of pow-wows, so I had no idea what I was supposed to do, but the other dancers graciously instructed me and kept me from making a total fool of myself. I danced at every opportunity, but I don’t think my feet touched the ground once. I truly think I could have danced all night.

Vigil. Head Woman. To be so honored, twice in one day – it is impossible to describe how that feels. It truly was a most amazing weekend.

Morning Talks

2009-08-14T10:04:00.002-05:00

For the last few years, my son’s school bus picked him up around the same time I leave for work. We would wait for the bus together in my cool/dry/warm (depending on the weather) SUV, and we would talk. Our conversations covered many topics, varying from the mundane (school work) to the serious (politics). We have learned a lot about each other through those 10 minute talks.

A few weeks ago, my son got his drivers license. He has been practicing for a year and now he is ready to drive solo. When school starts this year, he won’t be riding the bus. He will be driving his new (used) pick-up truck.

I have all the normal concerns of the parent of a teen driver (accidents, tickets, insurance premiums). But more than that, I will miss our morning talks. I’m sure we’ll still have great conversations at home or on the road, but there’s just something special about morning – when the sun hasn’t quite risen and everything seems fresh and new. Things always seem a little brighter in the morning.

I will always treasure the memories of our morning talks, and I’m going to miss them.

Maybe I can convince him to get up a little earlier so we can talk over breakfast.

Note: This post was written in the morning, which explains the optimism expressed in that last sentence.

How do you like your eggs?

2009-06-29T10:11:00.005-05:00

In the movie Runaway Bride, the reporter (Richard Gere) notices that the reluctant bride (Julia Roberts) eats her morning eggs cooked in the way her latest fiancé prefers. His ultimate question to her is, “How do you like your eggs?”

Unfortunately, I think there are a lot of women who have no idea how they like their eggs. What is it about being in a relationship that causes us to forget who we are and what we want? If marriage is supposed to be a partnership, then why do we defer to our man when it comes to making choices?

I know a woman who, very much like a chameleon, has remade herself to match each of her three husbands. Okay, I’m assuming this with the first husband, because I really didn’t know her back then, but…

Husband number two liked car racing and cruises. Therefore, these became the focus of their leisure activities. When he became ill and required a transplant, she spent all of her available time in his hospital room. After his recovery, they became involved in activities promoting organ donation – spending time with the families they had met through the hospital.

About a year after his death, she met future husband number three. Forgetting all about organ donation, she began riding motorcycles, fishing, and working out at the gym – activities previously regarded as dangerous or boring. His family and friends became her new family and friends, superseding the relationship with her own family.

I wonder what she would choose to do with her life if she was responsible for making all of her own choices? Would she know how to make a choice, or would she be paralyzed by the options? Has she lost the very essence of who she is in the pursuit of making her man happy?

Do you find yourself making every choice based on someone else? Are you settling for less than your heart’s desire? Have you given up your dreams?

How do you like your eggs?

Photo credit: Ian Bretton, via www.freefoto.com

Justice is Served

2009-06-10T21:08:00.002-05:00

My uncle was a Baptist preacher and respected businessman. He has been married to my aunt for almost 40 years. They have three children and 5 grandchildren. On December 11, he was charged with molesting two of his grandsons. When questioned, he admitted to touching the boys "in a sexual way". He claimed that he did not know why he had done it, but it might have something to do with his numerous blood pressure medications.

He is a liar.

My uncle was touching children "in a sexual way" long before he could use blood pressure medication as an excuse. I learned about his "you touch mine and let me touch yours" game when I was 11. My sister was 7. Our mother, single and raising her two daughters with the help of her family, chose to refrain from making any public accusations. The following year, we moved out of state and the mess was quietly contained.

I have often wondered if my cousins were abused by their father. Were they also keeping "our little secret"? Thankfully, my cousins did not keep it a secret when their sons reported the abuse to them. They called the child advocacy center and the Sheriff's Department. They stopped the cycle of abuse.

Today, my uncle was sentenced to 13 years in prison.

Justice is served.

My Cable Company Turned Me Off TV

2009-05-04T13:32:00.001-05:00

Last month, we gave up TV. We watch the occasional movie on DVD, but other than that, our brand new HD TV stays turned off. No news, no sports, no reality shows… nothing. This change has been brought to our family by our local cable company – Almega Cable.

I actually prefer satellite to cable. As soon as satellite was available in our rural area, we signed up. Unfortunately, the trees got so tall that we could no longer get a signal, so we switched back to cable. We put up with fewer channels for the same amount of money because, unless we cut down some trees, that was our only option.

Fast forward to December 2008. Our cable company (the only provider in the area) was bought out by a company called Almega Cable. We had no warning… just got a bill with a different name on it. We verified the company’s credentials and started sending our payments to them. The problems with reception started in mid-February, and we responded by calling their service number. The response was a little slow, but at least they did respond by sending a technician out to correct the problem.

By March, half of our channels were gone (blue screen – no signal) and the rest were fuzzy, and the response to our service calls changed. The standard response became, “The service tech will be in your area next week.” This was always repeated in a heavily accented voice, making me wonder if the calls were being routed to India. We mailed our regular payment in March, hoping that they would eventually fix the problem and credit us for the outages as they had promised. Wishful thinking.

On April 1, we were down to two channels (audio and snow). Still the same song from the service department, and efforts to talk to a manager were met with total failure. Calls to various regulatory agencies didn’t get us any closer to a solution, either. But the cable bill came – regular as clockwork! Instead of sending them any more money, we sent a letter detailing our complaints along with a log of all the service calls we had made. I guess we were hoping to finally get through to someone. No such luck!

We have learned that Almega is capable of being very responsive… when it comes to customers that don’t pay their bill. On May 1, they shut off our service. Pretty quick response, don’t you think?

I think I’ll send them one more letter, asking for a refund of my last payment, since I never got any service for it. I think I know what the response will be.

Now that I’ve gotten kind of used to not having TV, I have a decision to make. Do I cut down a couple of trees, or just leave things the way they are?

Dreams

2009-03-18T22:08:00.004-05:00

Yesterday, while reading Alisa Bowman's latest blog, How to Face Your Biggest Fear, the phrase "find and chase your dream" started me thinking. Dreams. Life goals. Career goals. Oops, I think I may be missing something really important here.

When the topic of career goals comes up during my annual reviews, I am at a loss. Where do I see myself in five years? Well, since I've been doing essentially the same thing for the last 15 years, I might assume that trend will continue. I don't hate my job (most of the time), but I can't help but wonder if I wouldn't be happier doing something else. Honestly, I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up. This is the real reason why I've never gone to college. I have absolutely no idea where to start or what courses to take, and my practical side won't allow me to waste money on courses that I don't "need".

When I was younger, I had a couple of big goals. I wanted to have a house and a family before I turned 30. I was married at 25, bought the house a year later, and the child came a few months after my 29th birthday. Goals met. Since then, I haven't really set any new goals. Now it seems that just keeping my head above water is enough. Sure, I have short-term goals, like sewing a costume for Ren Fest or getting all the laundry done, but that's just "to do" list stuff. It's not even in the same league.

Dreams. Everybody has a dream. Right? I'm pretty sure that I had some as a little girl, but I don't remember what they were. I'm not sure what happened to them. But I think it's about time that I figured out what they are now. I need to start chasing them while I'm still able to run!

The Masquerade

2009-03-04T08:09:00.006-06:00

My favorite holiday is Halloween. Always has been. I love the idea of dressing up and becoming someone else. For the same reason, I'm a Ren Fest junkie. Any excuse to put on a costume or a mask, and I'm in! Interacting with other people (who don't know me) as a Renaissance lady, a gypsy fortune teller, a witch, or whatever, holds a special charm for me.

I have always dreamed of attending a masquerade ball... wearing a beautiful dress and dancing with mysterious partners. Hmmm, maybe one day.

Even when I'm not playing dress-up, I find myself wearing a mask of sorts. I very rarely share my true feelings with anyone - preferring to act as if life is normal, hunky-dory even, when all hell might be breaking loose around me. Okay, maybe that's a little extreme. But I do tend to tell people that I'm fine, when I have a multitude of worries nagging at me. Over time, I guess I have learned that people really don't want to hear about your troubles when they ask "how it's going". They're just making polite conversation. (If you've ever had anyone respond to that question with a laundry list of all their problems, you know exactly what I'm talking about.) So I just smile, and say all is well.

So, what about you? As you are dancing with each new partner at the masquerade ball of life, do you "tell all" or do you just adjust your mask and smile?

Stray Cats

2009-02-25T08:34:00.007-06:00

In years past, hobos left marks on fenceposts to communicate with each other. A drawing of a cat would indicate a good woman who was willing to share food with a hungry traveller. I often wonder if animals do the same. You see, my house is a magnet for strays. It could have something to do with the rural location, but it also happened when we lived in a suburban apartment. No, I am convinced that we have been "marked".

Over the last 20 years, we have adopted a total of 11 cats and 6 dogs. About half of our pets came from the local shelter and the rest were strays. Sometimes you get strays with benefits, i.e. pregnant cats. Our very first stray cat presented us with four kittens. We kept two and gave two to my mother-in-law. One of those came back to us later. Today, the animal count is 5 cats and 2 dogs.

We had been feeding a stray cat for several months. A few weeks ago, she decided that she trusted us enough to come inside and meet the rest of the family. On Saturday, we took her to the vet for a check-up and vaccinations. The vet said she's healthy and should deliver in about 4 weeks. Yes, another stray with benefits.

Our son is ecstatic. The little furballs haven't even made an appearance yet and he's already asking if we can keep one. He must have shared the news with some of his classmates, because he told us that several of them wanted a kitten. I might make a deal with him... he can keep one if he will help find homes for the rest.

It's a good thing that I like cats.

Arrivals & Departures

2009-02-24T13:09:00.006-06:00

Arrivals: Me. As in, I have finally decided to take the plunge and create my first blog. I've been meaning to do this for some time now, but things keep getting in the way... work, child, laundry, you know... things. How many times have the experts told me that I need to make time for myself and do the things that I want to do? Well, now is the time. I cannot promise that I will be regular in posting my musings, but I will post them. The first step has been taken, so the rest should be easy. I have arrived.

Departures: Me, again. Posting my thoughts for public review is a huge departure for me. I am usually quite shy - or I used to be. As I grow older, I've started to notice that I'm coming out of my shell more. Perhaps I'm no longer trying to impress or seek approval as I did when I was young. Either way, it's a change... a departure.

And so... the voyage begins.