Sheesh-a-mundo...what a day. Church--which was great and Bishop had a great homily. Choir sang great (well Jeff the Choirmaster said we did), and then fun lunch at Pei Wei with friends.
And later in my day, a very intense conversation--oh let's call it what it was: a major knock-down, drag-out fight--with a friend. In Which Our Heroine Was Confronted With Some Of Her Shortcomings. But that doesn't make it any easier. And both of us were exhausted by it. A happy ending, but I hate it when I get reamed, deserved or not. Either way, it's just no fun. For either party...
So here I am at Central Library, with a red nose, eye-makeup cried off, and generally feeling like crappo. I'm not sure that's a word, but I used it and I like it.
Yes, I had a bagel this morning. Right now, I could give a rip about my weight, but don't worry, that will change. Very soon (like Wednesday morning because this Wednesday is Weigh-In Wednesday...)
Tonight will probably be...yogurt+ because Weltha no feel like cooking...at all...
And now, we are on to Day 4 of 30 Days of Truth.
And today's prompt is:
Something You Hope You Never Have To Do
I have thought about this...bury a spouse? Well, I'm not married but when I am, the chances are good that unless he is a bit younger than I, I will bury him. Bury a child? I don't have children of my own although I think that burying step-children would be almost equal in pain. Bury a sibling? The Brothers are almost 9 years older than I am...chances are good that they will go before me...
I could go on and on with things I hope I never have to do, and all of them are pretty doggone horrible. But here is one that I can tackle:
I hope I never have to go to prison.
I have a friend who has a very close family member in prison. It has been painful for her and for the family.
And everything I read about prison, well, it scares me. A lot. I think I would feel so lost I wouldn't know what to do with myself. And it would mean that either I had done something perfectly terrible or there had been a mistake. Either one of those possiblities makes me feel sorta sick inside.
I value my privacy; I hear there is none in prison. I value quiet and even silence; I hear that prison is terribly noisy. I value being able to go outside to the park and lose myself in nature; not even remotely a possibility in prison. I value my sense of safety; I would fear for my safety in prison--I sometimes have a REALLY big mouth, and I can imagine getting in trouble.
So...I never want to go to prison. And I can probably write about this because as scary as it is, I know it's not even remotely a possiblity. Thank goodness.
These first four days have been really...NOT FUN to write about. But tomorrow gets better...it's something people compliment me on...that's an easy one and a fun one. There is something that I get compliments on frequently, but you will have to read tomorrow...
And now...a completely non-productive hour playing Mafia Wars, because I need something mindless. Besides, I am totally poised to hit level 700 today. I'm all over that...
Sheesh-a-mundo indeed!
Independently,
Weltha
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Day the 131st - Day 3 of 30 Days of Truth
30 Days of Truth
Okay, I don't have the 30 Days of Truth logo with me...I'm at the library, blogging away...Just pretend it's here and go with it...
But first, I had yogurt+ last night for dinner and yummy it was...I love the walnuts (and their Omega-3s...) and the blueberries are...okay, not my favorite yet, and we love honey and cashew butter and Fage Greek yogurt...yes, yes we do.
Today, I am going to have grapes at lunch, which turned into breakfast-lunch and that's okay. I'm back to nothing-but-fruit-until-noon. Why?
Well, because that's how I eat unless I'm being careless. AND...I need more fruit and vegetables--always. But mostly because....I bought a set of scales last night. And my "old" scales may have been set too low, but I got on both last night (not the best idea...do try this at home, the "getting on at night" thing) and also this morning, and I weighed...more than the 222 I weighed during the move. Again, it may be that my old scales were set too low. It could be temporary fluctuation (and I do think I'm holding some fluid; my amber ring went on a wee bit tight today...) and it could also be that Queen of the Bagels has gained a pound or two. I do not like that. And I know better than to eat bagels and cream cheese day after day after day. It's a great treat once every week or so, but not daily. So, I'm back to eating as I am convinced I should--"should" in terms of what is best for me, not some arbitrary rule. And "should" in terms of "most of the time," realizing there is time off to stretch it out a bit to have some foods I don't eat as a general rule but wish to have for a celebration--like my birthday (September 11--yes, that September 11...I love having my birthday on a day that has such powerful meaning in this nation. Good job, Mom!) This means that when my birthday rolls around, I can have some cake or pie or ice cream or pudding--not all of them. And my new guideline is two bites. Too much sugar sends me into orbit...and then it's back on the prescription meds I will need to go. And I do not want to do that!
I am free to eat anything I want--but I choose to eat things as a rule that are good for me and lead to better health (and weight loss. Let's be real, here. That wardrobe of cute, adorable, stylish clothes is callin' my name...)
And in other news, today I went to Tuesday Morning and found a great pillow for my bed. A "sleeping on" pillow, not a "decorative" pillow--not yet...and talked with the woman at the register who had an interesting accent, and when she said that she was Russian, I greeted her in Russian (I know a few phrases here and there) and she said I spoke very well and pronounced it all beautifully--"I hear no accent!" And of course, that felt sooooooo nice. What a lovely thing to happen on a weekend.
All right...on to Day 3 of 30 Days of Truth. Today's prompt is:
Something You Hope To Do In Your Life
What? Just one? All right, here it is.
I want to teach English at a Christian college or university.
Now, why is this?
Before I answer this, I really try not to use my blog to preach at people--if I wanted to do that, I would have a different type of blog and "advertise" it that way. However, this is my blog about me, the Real Weltha, and I am a Christian. I realize I have at least one person following this blog who is defo not a Christian and indeed opposed to Christianity. Fair enough. I'm not trying to convert you, but I am trying to be true to who I am. I say this not to defend myself but to reassure my readers and followers that although I am not trying to pull the ol' bait and switch where I promise one thing but deliver another, I am also determined to be true to who I am. And I am a Christian. First, last, and always. I am a believer in and a follower of Jesus. Period. That's Weltha. It's how I identify myself to myself.
All right. We have that settled. First, I want to teach English on the college/university level. I love English--by that, I mean literature. And for me, primarily English literature. I love Milton and Shakespeare, and I love the Victorian era. I love those folks. I mean, I am wackadoodle ecstatic about Milton, Shakespeare, and the Victorians. And I can inspire students to feel the same way--I inspire people. I inspire my students. That is my gift.
In addition, I want to teach English with a strong background in film theory and film history. Film and literature go nicely together. I love film. I might even love it every bit as much as literature. I want a real academic background in film theory and history. I love that stuff--I mean, I am just wild about it. Mention Sergei Eisenstein or George Bluestone or Andrew Saris, and I'm all sorts of happy.
And I want to teach at a Christian college or university because I have found that in an openly Christian setting, I teach from the very deepest place in myself. And I change lives.
I know how that sounds..."full of yourself, aren't you?" "Just how big IS your big ego?" "Planning on ruling the world, too, while you're at it?"
No, but this--we have found--is the gift of God within me. I change lives. I don't try to, I am not aware of it, but it happens. I am mystified but have decided to accept it and just realize that God works in and through my life whether or not I understand it. I don't understand how this computer works, but I'm glad it does (or I would be doing this blog with flag signals and only a few of you would ever get to read it...). I don't understand how God works through me to inspire and change, but He does, and I am grateful.
This is the purpose of my life--to teach. I'm not "teaching" at the moment in a classroom, but I will be again. In the meantime, I am teaching, teaching, teaching every chance I get. I taught a woman at the grocery store today about the value of careful eating. I taught someone at church that God loves her and cares very much about every detail of her life and wants to be involved in all aspects of her being. I teach. I can't stop it. And I don't want to. It is that for which I was made.
This is actually what I will be doing one day. I don't know the timing of it, but I continue to move forward in this direction. I am doing my best to understand what my part is and to do it, and I am trying as hard as I can to actually do my part. And I know God is busy doing what only God can do. I would write "what only He/She can do," but this makes some of my readers crazy... ;-)
So that is what I hope to do one day. And my hope does not dissapoint me...
As always, thank you for ridin' the Bus of Weight Loss with me...people, I cannot do this without you.
Can. Not. Do. It.
Independently,
Weltha
Okay, I don't have the 30 Days of Truth logo with me...I'm at the library, blogging away...Just pretend it's here and go with it...
But first, I had yogurt+ last night for dinner and yummy it was...I love the walnuts (and their Omega-3s...) and the blueberries are...okay, not my favorite yet, and we love honey and cashew butter and Fage Greek yogurt...yes, yes we do.
Today, I am going to have grapes at lunch, which turned into breakfast-lunch and that's okay. I'm back to nothing-but-fruit-until-noon. Why?
Well, because that's how I eat unless I'm being careless. AND...I need more fruit and vegetables--always. But mostly because....I bought a set of scales last night. And my "old" scales may have been set too low, but I got on both last night (not the best idea...do try this at home, the "getting on at night" thing) and also this morning, and I weighed...more than the 222 I weighed during the move. Again, it may be that my old scales were set too low. It could be temporary fluctuation (and I do think I'm holding some fluid; my amber ring went on a wee bit tight today...) and it could also be that Queen of the Bagels has gained a pound or two. I do not like that. And I know better than to eat bagels and cream cheese day after day after day. It's a great treat once every week or so, but not daily. So, I'm back to eating as I am convinced I should--"should" in terms of what is best for me, not some arbitrary rule. And "should" in terms of "most of the time," realizing there is time off to stretch it out a bit to have some foods I don't eat as a general rule but wish to have for a celebration--like my birthday (September 11--yes, that September 11...I love having my birthday on a day that has such powerful meaning in this nation. Good job, Mom!) This means that when my birthday rolls around, I can have some cake or pie or ice cream or pudding--not all of them. And my new guideline is two bites. Too much sugar sends me into orbit...and then it's back on the prescription meds I will need to go. And I do not want to do that!
I am free to eat anything I want--but I choose to eat things as a rule that are good for me and lead to better health (and weight loss. Let's be real, here. That wardrobe of cute, adorable, stylish clothes is callin' my name...)
And in other news, today I went to Tuesday Morning and found a great pillow for my bed. A "sleeping on" pillow, not a "decorative" pillow--not yet...and talked with the woman at the register who had an interesting accent, and when she said that she was Russian, I greeted her in Russian (I know a few phrases here and there) and she said I spoke very well and pronounced it all beautifully--"I hear no accent!" And of course, that felt sooooooo nice. What a lovely thing to happen on a weekend.
All right...on to Day 3 of 30 Days of Truth. Today's prompt is:
Something You Hope To Do In Your Life
What? Just one? All right, here it is.
I want to teach English at a Christian college or university.
Now, why is this?
Before I answer this, I really try not to use my blog to preach at people--if I wanted to do that, I would have a different type of blog and "advertise" it that way. However, this is my blog about me, the Real Weltha, and I am a Christian. I realize I have at least one person following this blog who is defo not a Christian and indeed opposed to Christianity. Fair enough. I'm not trying to convert you, but I am trying to be true to who I am. I say this not to defend myself but to reassure my readers and followers that although I am not trying to pull the ol' bait and switch where I promise one thing but deliver another, I am also determined to be true to who I am. And I am a Christian. First, last, and always. I am a believer in and a follower of Jesus. Period. That's Weltha. It's how I identify myself to myself.
All right. We have that settled. First, I want to teach English on the college/university level. I love English--by that, I mean literature. And for me, primarily English literature. I love Milton and Shakespeare, and I love the Victorian era. I love those folks. I mean, I am wackadoodle ecstatic about Milton, Shakespeare, and the Victorians. And I can inspire students to feel the same way--I inspire people. I inspire my students. That is my gift.
In addition, I want to teach English with a strong background in film theory and film history. Film and literature go nicely together. I love film. I might even love it every bit as much as literature. I want a real academic background in film theory and history. I love that stuff--I mean, I am just wild about it. Mention Sergei Eisenstein or George Bluestone or Andrew Saris, and I'm all sorts of happy.
And I want to teach at a Christian college or university because I have found that in an openly Christian setting, I teach from the very deepest place in myself. And I change lives.
I know how that sounds..."full of yourself, aren't you?" "Just how big IS your big ego?" "Planning on ruling the world, too, while you're at it?"
No, but this--we have found--is the gift of God within me. I change lives. I don't try to, I am not aware of it, but it happens. I am mystified but have decided to accept it and just realize that God works in and through my life whether or not I understand it. I don't understand how this computer works, but I'm glad it does (or I would be doing this blog with flag signals and only a few of you would ever get to read it...). I don't understand how God works through me to inspire and change, but He does, and I am grateful.
This is the purpose of my life--to teach. I'm not "teaching" at the moment in a classroom, but I will be again. In the meantime, I am teaching, teaching, teaching every chance I get. I taught a woman at the grocery store today about the value of careful eating. I taught someone at church that God loves her and cares very much about every detail of her life and wants to be involved in all aspects of her being. I teach. I can't stop it. And I don't want to. It is that for which I was made.
This is actually what I will be doing one day. I don't know the timing of it, but I continue to move forward in this direction. I am doing my best to understand what my part is and to do it, and I am trying as hard as I can to actually do my part. And I know God is busy doing what only God can do. I would write "what only He/She can do," but this makes some of my readers crazy... ;-)
So that is what I hope to do one day. And my hope does not dissapoint me...
As always, thank you for ridin' the Bus of Weight Loss with me...people, I cannot do this without you.
Can. Not. Do. It.
Independently,
Weltha
Friday, March 18, 2011
Day the 130th--Day 2 of 30 Days of Truth
Welcome back to Rancho Weltha, to endless convo on coleslaw and cashew butter, and right now, to 30 Days of Truth.
By the way, our receptionist, Judy, complimented me yesterday and said, "Hey, you're lookin' good." She sees me every single day, so her comment means a lot--I must be losin' weight. (I must...I must...repeat 200 times...)
Scales tonight or tomorrow...Weigh-In Wednesday THIS Wednesday, 3/23/11. Be there. Aloha...
Yes, I had a sort of celebratory bagel this morning--I put together a bookshelf last night for the kitchen--to hold my cookbooks and some kitchen items not easily put in cabinets, etc. So very proud of myself, and my late and great father would have been, too. Yes, I can READ and FOLLOW the directions! Anyhoodle, I had a real bagel sandwich at Old School - the Wall Street which is a lovely little turkey sandwich with good stuff inside on an everything bagel. I felt I needed the protein, so there...
And lunch is...coleslaw and some pasta (yes, I said it...I said it...) salad. Last night and tonight are gonna be yogurt +. You know, plus all the normal stuff I put in it...
I was worried about something...nothing big...and now I'm not. And it's Friday. And a lovely weekend ahead with nice weather. People, what's not to love about that???
Today is Day 2 of 30 Days of Truth and here is the prompt:
Something you have to forgive yourself or someone else for.
This is always sorta interesting because I try to "be current" with forgiveness. I'm sure there are areas I need to forgive people for, but I think most of the big stuff is taken care of. I try, at least. I really do.
But as for myself, I work on forgiving myself for unkind, stupid, or wrong things I have done and said in the past due to the pressures of being bipolar. I don't think that being bipolar is my "get out of jail free" card. Not at all (and my therapist and my best friend both agree that I don't do this--that I'm not lookin' for some excuse to break bad...and get away with it...)
But bipolar people have struggles...all kinds of struggles...and when meds are wrong or not working properly, we can spiral down. I have done this. In fact, I had a 3 1/2-year bad period (yes, three and a half years...) that started November 4, 2006. I had a seizure. In public.
That's not really the bad part. Trying to find out what caused it (and we never did find out) revealed an aneurysm on my right carotid artery behind my right eye. And it had to be fixed. But it could wait a while. It waited about 5 months.
And thus began years of difficulty. Oh, the surgery (the "less-invasive" coiling technique) went just fine...but the emotional fall-out, combined with bipolarity and the economy...and honestly, it was more like 4 years. And during that time, I did and said unkind, stupid, and wrong things. I'll leave it to your imagination--no, I didn't commit murder or vehicular homicide or adultery or sell or take drugs or get drunk...but there was enough of difficulty, sorrow, pain, disappointment, failure, and just general unhappiness and inability to do better in my life to last...several lifetimes.
And it ended this last November. Much of the "end" came when I chose to eat differently. Now do you see why I write this blog that sometimes I feel like no one reads? I need to write it. I need to keep eating right.
And I have to forgive myself--or rather, believe God's forgiveness for me and stop beating myself up over and over--for so much. By the way, here's a shout-out to Janis, my therapist, who never gave up on me and always believed in me. And several other people believed in me, too--Debbie from California and Mr. Debbie, Jean, Bill the English Prof, Keith the English Prof, and a host of others, including Poodle and Woodstock who remained--or became--my friends during what is without question Weltha's Darkest Hours. OH, if you only knew what those 4 years entailed. I can honestly say after 3 1/2 years, it was much, much better. And at the 4 year mark, it was...much better. The darkest time has passed. And I continue to refuse to scourge myself over the past. That's what I have to "forgive myself" for...
These first two have been fairly painful to write. I think it gets better fairly soon. Thank goodness.
If you've read this, you're faithful to be part of this blog...thank you.
Independently,
Weltha
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Day the 129th--Day 1 of 30 Days of Truth
Yes, yes, I know I promised and I'm going to deliver.
Today is Day 1 of 30 Days of Truth. Consider this my Lenten Food Meditation...
But first...last night I got home only to find my check had arrived (huzzah!) and off I went AFTER CHOIR PRACTICE to go do a little late evening shopping. And ended up having 2--yes, 2--salads with chicken on them; one from Arby's (boo....) and one from Sonic (thumbs sorta up). And realized that for the same price I could have gone to the Brook and had a really great salad. Of course, I was able to sit in my car and read, but I could have read at the Brook, and not have had to contend with the styro cup o' water that...broke, leaving my trousers and the car wet but my mouth thirsty...The Arby's salad had chicken but it also had bacon in it, and I'm not consuming a great deal of pork these days. The Sonic salad has more lettuce and a yummy grilled piece of chicken...I loved it. Anyhoodle, I had plenty to eat and it's good to shock your body with a few extra calories or it thinks it's heading for starvation...
And this morning, Fage yogurt with the requisite blueberries, walnuts, agave nectar, and cashew butter. The blueberries for antioxidents, the walnuts for Omega-3 fatty acids, the agave for a "better" sweetener, and the cashew butter for...for goodness sake! Because it's so, so good...
All right, here goes with item #1 of 30 Days of Truth:
Something You Hate About Yourself.
Already, I'm not likin' this...I try not to use the word "hate" in reference to people but particulary in reference to myself. Let's make it "Something you deeply dislike about yourself."
I dislike my tendency to be critical. I grew up with some critical people, and I can be the worst in terms of a really negative, critical attitude. With that comes a tendency to...gossip and backbite and "talk ugly" about people. I sure wish this were not the case, but I have struggled with it my entire life. You can only imagine my shock when I realized that I have been a practicing Christian for almost 42 years (I'd love to say "since 10 years before my birth, making me a mere 32" but that would be a terrible lie...) and this MAJOR area hasn't really changed. So...that's why I am concentrating on it during Lent. I need God's help, because I have felt the lash of vicious words myself, and I do not like it. And yet, I have criticized and judged and talked about people in the past. I find it mean-spirited of me, and lacking in character. I really, really dislike this. Add to that a tendency sometimes to sneer at people (privately of course...) who lack what the Great Weltha considers sufficient education, culture, good manners, good grammar, ability to dress oneself, the list could go on for weeks, and it makes me one not-so-lovely individual. Years ago, I watched an HBO presentation on Winston Churchill [my hero] entitled "The Gathering Storm"--it was a dramatization of Churchill and his life during the "wilderness years" when he was in political exile in the 30s. At one point, he takes his youngest child, Mary, to a music hall to see his older daughter, Sara, perform. He notes the man she later marries, Vic Oliver, and refers to him as "common as dirt."
There are times I have referred to people as "common as dirt." Generally I do this with a peevish expression and dripping contempt in my voice.
Yes, I "deeply dislike this" about myself.
Fortunately, the "30 Days" get better or I could not handle it. Believe me when I say that I am singularly ashamed of being this way, and I also am helpless to conquer this--or even want to--on my own. Many people are not familiar with Lenten practices, but the whole point is to allow God to search us and work with us. It's not about "giving up chocolate." It's a time to focus and lie still under the surgeon's scalpel...
I laughingly say, "All right, I traded in the swearing for not criticizing and not complaining," but the truth is that when I swear, for the very most part it is not directed at anyone. It's more a punctuation mark (a rude one, that's true) in my vocabulary or a way to express how I feel when a box of 24 cans of Fancy Feast bursts open and the 24 heavy little cans rain down on my thin-skinned foot...but for the most part, my swearing is an "outward" thing. The criticism and the complaining--those are inward things. This season, we are dealing with some inward things...much harder, I find. "Giving up chocolate" or other items of that ilk are easy...outward things are easier; inward things that mold and define my character are much more difficult for me.
And the irony is that for the very most part, I have "given up" chocolate...I've had it once since I started The Big Bus Ride To Thinosity, and will probably have some more soon...but I don't have to have it....
Segueing neatly out of my dark confession, I have found a recipe for Dark Chocolate Parfait that I am going to try because it's a vegan recipe using cocoa and soy products and it's supposed to be...wonderful. Simply wonderful. I'm all over that.
I may try it this weekend--we'll see. If it's good, I am SO gonna post the recipe!
Tomorrow, Day 2 of 30 Days of Truth:
Something You Have To Forgive Yourself Or Someone Else For
Stay tuned and join the fun--remember, if I can't post it on FB, you can actually Favorite my blog on your Web browser and visit every day!
Independently,
Weltha
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Day the 128th
Tomorrow, I am going to "start something."
No, not a fight with someone...much as it sounds like I am.
I'm going to start "30 Days of Truth" in my blog. Tracey of "Life at Tracey Speed"--one of the blogs I follow and which you can find over at the right--did this some months back and posted the entire list of the "30 Days" prompts.
It seemed cool and a cool thing to do during Lent. Besides, you all have GOT to get bored reading that I had coleslaw with my lunch for the 87th consecutive day, or hear me wax eloquent on the joys of cashew butter (cool thing: one of my friends said she just has to try it so I gave told her the brand I use and the store where I buy it and another makes a cashew cream sauce which recipe I can hardly wait to get my mitts on....)
Meanwhile...today. I have to confess that I am not exercising at all. As in AT ALL, but I hope this will change because I am buying a used elliptical from a friend from grad school (back when I was there...) and I can put it in my room and...ellipticate?...while I watch a movie or read a book. How cool is that?
Yeah, I know...maybe, maybe not.
Anyhoodle, back to today. I had a cranberry-orange-walnut bagel with butter this morning...because I felt like it, OK? And then lunch was...you can guess...work salad bar...and it is getting really good. Thing is that "they" have fruit on the salad bar and I'm a believer in eating fruit on an empty stomach, letting it digest and then...yes, eating your other food later--we're talking 30 minutes, but still..what to do? what to do?
Of course, I could have nothing but fruit for lunch. That's a thought. Not my favorite because I will absolutely have to eat something later...
Anyway (because I try not to say "anyhoodle" twice in one written item or it all gets waaaaaaaaaaaaaay too precious), I am looking forward to getting the doggone scales because we NEED to know what's going on with my weight. Period. Weigh-In Wednesday is a week from today--Wednesday March 23.
Choir practice tonight...and I am going to Target on the way to research prices on a few things....I'm nothing if not a careful shopper...
Remember, tomorrow starts 30 Days of Truth....
Love you all!
Independently,
Weltha
No, not a fight with someone...much as it sounds like I am.
I'm going to start "30 Days of Truth" in my blog. Tracey of "Life at Tracey Speed"--one of the blogs I follow and which you can find over at the right--did this some months back and posted the entire list of the "30 Days" prompts.
It seemed cool and a cool thing to do during Lent. Besides, you all have GOT to get bored reading that I had coleslaw with my lunch for the 87th consecutive day, or hear me wax eloquent on the joys of cashew butter (cool thing: one of my friends said she just has to try it so I gave told her the brand I use and the store where I buy it and another makes a cashew cream sauce which recipe I can hardly wait to get my mitts on....)
Meanwhile...today. I have to confess that I am not exercising at all. As in AT ALL, but I hope this will change because I am buying a used elliptical from a friend from grad school (back when I was there...) and I can put it in my room and...ellipticate?...while I watch a movie or read a book. How cool is that?
Yeah, I know...maybe, maybe not.
Anyhoodle, back to today. I had a cranberry-orange-walnut bagel with butter this morning...because I felt like it, OK? And then lunch was...you can guess...work salad bar...and it is getting really good. Thing is that "they" have fruit on the salad bar and I'm a believer in eating fruit on an empty stomach, letting it digest and then...yes, eating your other food later--we're talking 30 minutes, but still..what to do? what to do?
Of course, I could have nothing but fruit for lunch. That's a thought. Not my favorite because I will absolutely have to eat something later...
Anyway (because I try not to say "anyhoodle" twice in one written item or it all gets waaaaaaaaaaaaaay too precious), I am looking forward to getting the doggone scales because we NEED to know what's going on with my weight. Period. Weigh-In Wednesday is a week from today--Wednesday March 23.
Choir practice tonight...and I am going to Target on the way to research prices on a few things....I'm nothing if not a careful shopper...
Remember, tomorrow starts 30 Days of Truth....
Love you all!
Independently,
Weltha
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Day the 127th
I woke up very happy this morning, although I could not tell you why. I just felt...happy. Eager to face the day.
And it's been a good day. Of course, the day started with a veggie sandwich on Asiago from Old School Bagel Cafe and a Blackberry-Jasmine iced tea. Yes, some days I get a bagel. There you have it. I enjoyed it immensely this morning.
And lunch was the wonderful salad-bar-at-work, complete with the good coleslaw and a bit of yummy macaroni salad. I know, lots of people think one should call it pasta salad and maybe one should but it was made with macaroni and that's what I call it. It was good. I had just a little. I liked it. A lot.
And tonight? Ah...tonight is going to be Greek Yogurt (Fage!) with blueberries and almonds (cuz we out of walnuts...) and honey and cashew butter. Oh yes, yum.
I ate bunches of tomato chunks on my salad-bar-at-work, and they made me happy. Very happy.
And tomorrow is a fun day--I will watch GLEE at lunch on my computer (you know, the one that's working better and moving faster and has a better Web browser...that computer) and then off I go to Choir practice. And of course, I enjoy that. A great deal.
No, I didn't have my halvah last night...after my popcorn, I was just too tired. Honestly, moving (twice) and then the time change (the ever-unpopular and universally-loathed "Spring Forward") has left me...tired. But today, I feel better.
My church has a wonderful Lenten study group: Christ and the Chocolaterie based on the film Chocolat, directed by Lasse Holstrom and staring Juliette Binoche, Johnny Depp, Judy Dench [excuse me, that's Dame Judy Dench], and Alfred Molina. If you haven't seen this movie, it's worth seeing--whether or not you want to find any Lenten or otherwise-Christian implications in it. It's just a good movie--and Juliette Binoche is radiant, as is Lena Olin (later in the movie, and, yes, I forgot to mention her so don't get all up in my grill... ;-)
Don't you love the way I color Chocolaterie and Chocolat the color of chocolate? Yeah, me too...
Unfortunately, our study books have not come in (boo, hiss, and snarl) so we are postponing tonight's group until next week--and we will either meet during Holy Week (which will make four straight church nights for me and other Choir members with Choir practice and the rest of the Holy Week Services...) or we'll double up one week. I'm looking forward to this so much!
Yes, tonight will be delicious yogurt and maybe some halvah...woo and hoo.
Thanks for travelling with me on this journey (I almost said "faith journey" because that's what Bishop says. A lot. And I like it.)
Independently,
Weltha
And it's been a good day. Of course, the day started with a veggie sandwich on Asiago from Old School Bagel Cafe and a Blackberry-Jasmine iced tea. Yes, some days I get a bagel. There you have it. I enjoyed it immensely this morning.
And lunch was the wonderful salad-bar-at-work, complete with the good coleslaw and a bit of yummy macaroni salad. I know, lots of people think one should call it pasta salad and maybe one should but it was made with macaroni and that's what I call it. It was good. I had just a little. I liked it. A lot.
And tonight? Ah...tonight is going to be Greek Yogurt (Fage!) with blueberries and almonds (cuz we out of walnuts...) and honey and cashew butter. Oh yes, yum.
I ate bunches of tomato chunks on my salad-bar-at-work, and they made me happy. Very happy.
And tomorrow is a fun day--I will watch GLEE at lunch on my computer (you know, the one that's working better and moving faster and has a better Web browser...that computer) and then off I go to Choir practice. And of course, I enjoy that. A great deal.
No, I didn't have my halvah last night...after my popcorn, I was just too tired. Honestly, moving (twice) and then the time change (the ever-unpopular and universally-loathed "Spring Forward") has left me...tired. But today, I feel better.
My church has a wonderful Lenten study group: Christ and the Chocolaterie based on the film Chocolat, directed by Lasse Holstrom and staring Juliette Binoche, Johnny Depp, Judy Dench [excuse me, that's Dame Judy Dench], and Alfred Molina. If you haven't seen this movie, it's worth seeing--whether or not you want to find any Lenten or otherwise-Christian implications in it. It's just a good movie--and Juliette Binoche is radiant, as is Lena Olin (later in the movie, and, yes, I forgot to mention her so don't get all up in my grill... ;-)
Don't you love the way I color Chocolaterie and Chocolat the color of chocolate? Yeah, me too...
Unfortunately, our study books have not come in (boo, hiss, and snarl) so we are postponing tonight's group until next week--and we will either meet during Holy Week (which will make four straight church nights for me and other Choir members with Choir practice and the rest of the Holy Week Services...) or we'll double up one week. I'm looking forward to this so much!
Yes, tonight will be delicious yogurt and maybe some halvah...woo and hoo.
Thanks for travelling with me on this journey (I almost said "faith journey" because that's what Bishop says. A lot. And I like it.)
Independently,
Weltha
Monday, March 14, 2011
Day the 126th
What a lovely day...I started out working and my computer slooooooooooooowed to a crawl, so I called the IT Help Desk. They always live up to their name and never more than today.
I simply called to ask them to defrag my computer (as in most companies, we can't do it ourselves because of various security issues), and the person who answered did a few other things to speed up my computer and then updated my security system, and ol' me said, "Hey! I'm using an outdated Web browser...could that be updated?" The answer was "yes" and now, I have a new version of my Web browser and am delighted that my computer rans faster and better. No, it will never zip through like these new, really powerful computers can, but until the upgrade this year, it's much better. And my Web browser is making me very happy.
Before I launch into "I ate this and so help me I really NEED to go for a walk somebody slap me if I don't...", I wanted to comment about my Lenten observance. Without going into any detail, a friend told me yesterday that "lots of people have talked about you" and apparently in a way that I would not care for. Truth be told, this wasn't news, but I sure didn't want to hear it again. And of course, it sounded and felt like...dozens of people had been blackening my name. And yes, it hurt. As in...a whole lot. And to make it worse, it involved people at church. Yes, that hurt "somethin' fierce" as my Ozarks' mama used to say...
And of course, the friend thought she was helping. So...I made a decision. I'm not doing too well not swearing (because Fafnir would NOT get in his cage this morning so his neutering is being put off a week...) and I'm still lugging and hefting and doggone it, I keep hitting my legs and it hurts, it does. So, the occasional oath emerges from my petal-like lips...
But I decided that there was one thing I could deal with. I was really hurt to hear I had been "talked about" and that people were "saying things." I really hate hearing that, and I have two friends whom I am going to have to gently ask not to tell me these things but either ignore it (and their consciences) or else ask, "So, when you talked to Weltha about her multitude of shortcomings, exactly how did she respond?" which is a way I think is appropriate to handle hearing--or worse--being told things about a friend. I just don't want to hear that people are gossipping about me. Not at all.
Which leads me to a decision I made this morning: I decided that by golly and with God's help (because I really have no power to do this on my own...), I am going to stop "talking about" other people--if it isn't good and positive and something kind about that person, girlfriend here is going to SHUT HER BIG MOUTH. It hurts terribly being talked about. And because I have experienced this first-hand, I am going to do my best to control my own "talking about" other people. I cannot control the people who talk about me--I can, with God's help, control what I say about others. Enough is enough. (sheesh...)
I keep coming back to this, but it would be so easy to give up chocolate for Lent (I haven't done that. I actually had some organic chocolate, sweetened with a superior sweetner, with chilis in it just last week. Mmmmm, mmmmmm, good)--much easier than not complaining or talking ugly about people.
It hurts terribly to know you have been the object--and perhaps deservedly--of someone's criticism. And I'm not going to do it any more. Period. Enough. Let this Lenten season be a time where God helps me put a cork in my mouth.
And today...I had an apple for breakfast, and realized I do need my almonds here at work for when I need a little boost in the middle of the morning or the middle of the afternoon. Lunch was salad bar, with the superior coleslaw (they had already planned to serve the good coleslaw, so my little Coleslaw Protest didn't do much more than confirm that they were making a choice that at least one person was pleased with!). Work salad bar has been getting better! It was never awful, but now there are sliced up red peppers and tomatoes and mushrooms and often there are sliced hard-boiled eggs (I try to get the ends where it is mostly the white)--and I am going to need to start making my own salad dressing very soon...!
And I'm happy with my work--it's not always the "most interesting" but it pays the bills, I know it is valuable and needed work, and I work with and around really great people. I am happy.
So...today, as I am watching what I put INTO my mouth, I want to be sure I watch what comes OUT OF it. I grew up around some critical people, and it's time to break the chain of criticism and gossip.
I know, I know...waxing way too philosophical today...I am going to have a treat tonight--I'm going to make a little chocolate halvah--it tastes good, and it's good for me. Here's how, and yes, it's a recipe but don't hold that against me.
I simply called to ask them to defrag my computer (as in most companies, we can't do it ourselves because of various security issues), and the person who answered did a few other things to speed up my computer and then updated my security system, and ol' me said, "Hey! I'm using an outdated Web browser...could that be updated?" The answer was "yes" and now, I have a new version of my Web browser and am delighted that my computer rans faster and better. No, it will never zip through like these new, really powerful computers can, but until the upgrade this year, it's much better. And my Web browser is making me very happy.
Before I launch into "I ate this and so help me I really NEED to go for a walk somebody slap me if I don't...", I wanted to comment about my Lenten observance. Without going into any detail, a friend told me yesterday that "lots of people have talked about you" and apparently in a way that I would not care for. Truth be told, this wasn't news, but I sure didn't want to hear it again. And of course, it sounded and felt like...dozens of people had been blackening my name. And yes, it hurt. As in...a whole lot. And to make it worse, it involved people at church. Yes, that hurt "somethin' fierce" as my Ozarks' mama used to say...
And of course, the friend thought she was helping. So...I made a decision. I'm not doing too well not swearing (because Fafnir would NOT get in his cage this morning so his neutering is being put off a week...) and I'm still lugging and hefting and doggone it, I keep hitting my legs and it hurts, it does. So, the occasional oath emerges from my petal-like lips...
But I decided that there was one thing I could deal with. I was really hurt to hear I had been "talked about" and that people were "saying things." I really hate hearing that, and I have two friends whom I am going to have to gently ask not to tell me these things but either ignore it (and their consciences) or else ask, "So, when you talked to Weltha about her multitude of shortcomings, exactly how did she respond?" which is a way I think is appropriate to handle hearing--or worse--being told things about a friend. I just don't want to hear that people are gossipping about me. Not at all.
Which leads me to a decision I made this morning: I decided that by golly and with God's help (because I really have no power to do this on my own...), I am going to stop "talking about" other people--if it isn't good and positive and something kind about that person, girlfriend here is going to SHUT HER BIG MOUTH. It hurts terribly being talked about. And because I have experienced this first-hand, I am going to do my best to control my own "talking about" other people. I cannot control the people who talk about me--I can, with God's help, control what I say about others. Enough is enough. (sheesh...)
I keep coming back to this, but it would be so easy to give up chocolate for Lent (I haven't done that. I actually had some organic chocolate, sweetened with a superior sweetner, with chilis in it just last week. Mmmmm, mmmmmm, good)--much easier than not complaining or talking ugly about people.
It hurts terribly to know you have been the object--and perhaps deservedly--of someone's criticism. And I'm not going to do it any more. Period. Enough. Let this Lenten season be a time where God helps me put a cork in my mouth.
And today...I had an apple for breakfast, and realized I do need my almonds here at work for when I need a little boost in the middle of the morning or the middle of the afternoon. Lunch was salad bar, with the superior coleslaw (they had already planned to serve the good coleslaw, so my little Coleslaw Protest didn't do much more than confirm that they were making a choice that at least one person was pleased with!). Work salad bar has been getting better! It was never awful, but now there are sliced up red peppers and tomatoes and mushrooms and often there are sliced hard-boiled eggs (I try to get the ends where it is mostly the white)--and I am going to need to start making my own salad dressing very soon...!
And I'm happy with my work--it's not always the "most interesting" but it pays the bills, I know it is valuable and needed work, and I work with and around really great people. I am happy.
So...today, as I am watching what I put INTO my mouth, I want to be sure I watch what comes OUT OF it. I grew up around some critical people, and it's time to break the chain of criticism and gossip.
I know, I know...waxing way too philosophical today...I am going to have a treat tonight--I'm going to make a little chocolate halvah--it tastes good, and it's good for me. Here's how, and yes, it's a recipe but don't hold that against me.
- Start with tahini (which is sesame seed paste--I can get it at almost any grocery store in their ethnic section around the "Jewish" foods)--spoon some into a bowl.
- Add honey to taste--it thickens the tahini, and I don't like it terribly sweet--I like the sesame flavor to come through.
- Add some cocoa powder--and voila! a delicious chocolate treat that is good for me. The cocoa powder has antioxidents.
Who knew??? Is this cool or what? Oh, given up chocolate for Lent or just not eating it? I bet there are some other great flavors to add...maybe a little vanilla extract or some almond extract...so easy! Yum, yum, yum...good and good for me.
I am happy. Very happy. As I said...who knew???
All right...choose 3 people and say 3 good things about them. Extra points if they are someone who irritates you.
Let me know how it went (without mentioning names of course...'cause that sorta defeats the purpose, like in a big major way...)
Independently,
Weltha
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Day the 124th and Day the 125th
This move and the unpacking (and the concommitant exhaustion) have slowed me down on the blogging. And I am sorry...I mean, after all, I DID promise to post daily and to put my new pics on monthly (failed miserably there...).
Saturday was a day of shifting stuff around, unpacking more boxes, and just generally trying to make decisions and heft things that are heavy. Thus, I have all sorts of bruises on my legs because the bags will bang into my legs when I least expect it, usually when there is something sharp-edged and heavy inside. Yow-wow-ouch...
And all I managed to eat was two bowls of yogurt (Greek Fage!) with blueberries, walnuts, honey and cashew butter.
But today, I had--yes!--a pumpernickel bagel with honey-almond cream cheese and then a bowl of yummy homemade chili.
And this evening...probably more yogurt AND some popcorn. Not mixed together, you understand. Bleeeeeeeeeeeeeeh!
The Lenten disciplines are...quite a challenge. Because I'm not giving up "my favorite food"--I am (as you have ad nauseum) trying to stop swearing when I'm under stress and trying to stop complaining, and wouldn't you know it? Opportunities to avoid both are coming thick and fast, and girlfriend here is doing...not so great.
And no, I'm not adding in the things I would like to add in. Yet.
Meanwhile...I am looking forward to buying new scales so I can get back to weighing every other week for Weigh-In Wednesday.
This is short today, but thank you for sticking with me. It's no fun to try to read a daily blog that isn't being posted daily, but plans are in the works to change that.
And to be able to post it daily onto Facebook. Which helps.
Comment if you can--I miss hearing from you all but have received many emails that people have had trouble with the commenting. I may have to change it all up to make it easier.
Independently,
Weltha
Saturday was a day of shifting stuff around, unpacking more boxes, and just generally trying to make decisions and heft things that are heavy. Thus, I have all sorts of bruises on my legs because the bags will bang into my legs when I least expect it, usually when there is something sharp-edged and heavy inside. Yow-wow-ouch...
And all I managed to eat was two bowls of yogurt (Greek Fage!) with blueberries, walnuts, honey and cashew butter.
But today, I had--yes!--a pumpernickel bagel with honey-almond cream cheese and then a bowl of yummy homemade chili.
And this evening...probably more yogurt AND some popcorn. Not mixed together, you understand. Bleeeeeeeeeeeeeeh!
The Lenten disciplines are...quite a challenge. Because I'm not giving up "my favorite food"--I am (as you have ad nauseum) trying to stop swearing when I'm under stress and trying to stop complaining, and wouldn't you know it? Opportunities to avoid both are coming thick and fast, and girlfriend here is doing...not so great.
And no, I'm not adding in the things I would like to add in. Yet.
Meanwhile...I am looking forward to buying new scales so I can get back to weighing every other week for Weigh-In Wednesday.
This is short today, but thank you for sticking with me. It's no fun to try to read a daily blog that isn't being posted daily, but plans are in the works to change that.
And to be able to post it daily onto Facebook. Which helps.
Comment if you can--I miss hearing from you all but have received many emails that people have had trouble with the commenting. I may have to change it all up to make it easier.
Independently,
Weltha
Friday, March 11, 2011
Day the 123rd
It just occurred to me.
Yesterday, Day the 122nd, was 1/3 of the way through this Ride On The Big Bus To Weight Loss.
So hard to believe, and so much more weight that I need to lose. So. Very. Much. More.
Last night, girlfriend here ran a few errands--went to Tuesday Morning and bought some really cute placemats, bought some nails and a hammer at ACE Hardware (and resisted the urge to buy the Pink Hammer for Komen Cure for Cancer), went to the Dollar Tree and bought cheap placemats to put the cats' food upon, and lip shimmer and who knows what else....and went home and did a little toward the unpacking and sorting and shifting and then thought, "I'll just put my pjs on, and get in bed and watch a movie for a while.
And bingo! I woke up, it was midnight, I was tired, and...fell back asleep after turning movie and light off...with my makeup on (boo...) but did get up this morning as early as I had hoped...and needed to because there was a pile of unsorted laundry on my bed that needed to be...sorted. So I did.
I got some SmartFood popcorn at the Dollar Tree and enjoyed it thoroughly--it's simply white popcorn with white cheddar on it. Yes, that was dinner because I was...tired.
This morning--NO BAGEL (yes!) but rather a crisp, juicy Pink Lady apple for breakfast and then the ubiquitous salad bar for lunch. OH! I lodged my Coleslaw Protest yesterday, only to be assured that the Regular and Delicious Coleslaw will be returning next week. Now...if I can just get the folks who run the cafeteria and put the items for the day on the board to stop using an apostrophe in a plural, and learn to spell rotisserie correctly...I will be so happy.
I may or may not be having a dinner guest Monday pm--3 were invited and two have had to send their regrets. One still has to respond...actually, I am almost hoping we can't do it because I need to...rest...I mean, I would have to do a lot of the cooking on Sunday, and it's already "Spring Forward" which means that I am going to have to leave for church at what feels like 7:30 am because 8:30 am will be about the right time to get me there for our 9 am rehearsal...ah well...
GOT to get those scales because I cannot, cannot tell what's going on with my weight. I have eaten what feels like a TON of bagels in the last few weeks what with the Four-Phase Move and all, and I have no idea if I am the same, have gained weight (Please. No.) or if I have lost (not bettin' the farm on it...)
Yes, dear Readers, I am in a slump. So...I'm gonna mix it up a bit and go for a walk today and tomorrow. And Sunday. And that should kick-start getting back with it.
But will it fix these cliches in which I am writing...that's the bigger question...
But I am very proud of the apple this morning for breakfast. Go ME!
Independently,
Weltha
Yesterday, Day the 122nd, was 1/3 of the way through this Ride On The Big Bus To Weight Loss.
So hard to believe, and so much more weight that I need to lose. So. Very. Much. More.
Last night, girlfriend here ran a few errands--went to Tuesday Morning and bought some really cute placemats, bought some nails and a hammer at ACE Hardware (and resisted the urge to buy the Pink Hammer for Komen Cure for Cancer), went to the Dollar Tree and bought cheap placemats to put the cats' food upon, and lip shimmer and who knows what else....and went home and did a little toward the unpacking and sorting and shifting and then thought, "I'll just put my pjs on, and get in bed and watch a movie for a while.
And bingo! I woke up, it was midnight, I was tired, and...fell back asleep after turning movie and light off...with my makeup on (boo...) but did get up this morning as early as I had hoped...and needed to because there was a pile of unsorted laundry on my bed that needed to be...sorted. So I did.
I got some SmartFood popcorn at the Dollar Tree and enjoyed it thoroughly--it's simply white popcorn with white cheddar on it. Yes, that was dinner because I was...tired.
This morning--NO BAGEL (yes!) but rather a crisp, juicy Pink Lady apple for breakfast and then the ubiquitous salad bar for lunch. OH! I lodged my Coleslaw Protest yesterday, only to be assured that the Regular and Delicious Coleslaw will be returning next week. Now...if I can just get the folks who run the cafeteria and put the items for the day on the board to stop using an apostrophe in a plural, and learn to spell rotisserie correctly...I will be so happy.
I may or may not be having a dinner guest Monday pm--3 were invited and two have had to send their regrets. One still has to respond...actually, I am almost hoping we can't do it because I need to...rest...I mean, I would have to do a lot of the cooking on Sunday, and it's already "Spring Forward" which means that I am going to have to leave for church at what feels like 7:30 am because 8:30 am will be about the right time to get me there for our 9 am rehearsal...ah well...
GOT to get those scales because I cannot, cannot tell what's going on with my weight. I have eaten what feels like a TON of bagels in the last few weeks what with the Four-Phase Move and all, and I have no idea if I am the same, have gained weight (Please. No.) or if I have lost (not bettin' the farm on it...)
Yes, dear Readers, I am in a slump. So...I'm gonna mix it up a bit and go for a walk today and tomorrow. And Sunday. And that should kick-start getting back with it.
But will it fix these cliches in which I am writing...that's the bigger question...
But I am very proud of the apple this morning for breakfast. Go ME!
Independently,
Weltha
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Day the 122nd
What a difference a day makes...24 little hours...
I love that song. And how very true it is because:
I love that song. And how very true it is because:
- Fafnir stopped being mad at his mommy and cuddled up next to me last night and then acted all sorts of normal. I am so glad.
- Friends are paying for his being neutered. I'm paying for his shots, but a group is paying for the neutering. People, this is major. They volunteered. They know that not only do I not have billions of spare dollars but that moving took it out of me.
- I ate fruit for lunch today. All right, I did have a veggie sandwich for breakfast on an Asiago Bagel at...Old School Bagel Cafe, but hey! I'm celebrating something...not sure what...
- My check came last night. I mean, it NEVER comes on Wednesday, and there it was. Yes, I was delighted. I needed the $$$.
Honestly, there is not enough moolah this time to buy the scales because there are a few things I really need before then, and you know, the money only goes so far, but...
No, I'm not using this as an excuse to avoid Weigh-In Wednesday next week...it's just that I really need some new scales and it isn't going to happen this week...dang it...
However, this will be a weekend of a LOT of exercise because I will be unpacking and hefting things around (I love that word "heft," don't you? I knew you did...)
And I need to shut down being Queen of the Bagel... (sorry Scott...)
Oh, how am I doing on my Lenten committment to use my words better by not swearing and not complaining and instead pray more and for more people and read a valuable book?
Well, the swearing kinda jumped up last night when I was trying to corral Fafnir into his carrier and then when I ran an errand for Pearl, and this nimrod pulled out in front of me so I couldn't make my turn because I'm just so important...
And I'm sure you can tell I'm complaining--even complained on FB about people who know zippidy-do-dah about Lent but knock it anyway...and of course, it came across as...sorta mean-spirited...I don't much like that...when I do that.
The praying? Oh, pretty much zilch (note to self: settle yourself down tonight and take at least 15 minutes and get after it) and the book? HA! I fell asleep to I, Robot last night and woke up to see...Will Smith doing something....
But with Scarlett, I say, "Tomorrow is another day." And it's a good thing, too.
One thing that really helped with this move--whether or not I lost any more weight or even if I gained a pound or two--is that I have not been eating junk, and that makes ALL the difference. I can't speak for everyone, but when I am eating fried foods all over the place, drinking Coca-Cola or iced tea, eating sweets and foods with lots of preservatives and artificial what not (and not eating plenty of fruits and vegetables), we all know it. I'm way too easily on the ragged edge.
I have cried exactly twice, all right, 3 times...over this move. Once when I was anxious that some of my stuff had been thrown out (it wasn't, and I knew to just leave it alone for the moment); when Fafnir went missing; and when I realized that some of my movers had done something extremely nice for me. As in extremely nice. Normal Weltha-gets-weepy moments. Not Weltha-has-a-meltdown moments...
That has been one of the best things about changing how I eat--I feel so much more stable in my emotions. This is HUGE, people--huge.
The gettin' thinner part? It's happening, and it will continue. I'm eating the way I am MOSTLY now because I feel so much better. Not to mention my joints don't hurt like they did when I was trying to drain the known universe of Coca-Cola....
Yes, I will try to post these onto Facebook...and please, try to comment if you have a moment...it gets lonely out here in Eatingrightville...
Independently,
Weltha
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Day the 120th and Day the 121st
All right, all RIGHT, get OFF my back because I am soooooooooooo tired from unpacking and everything that, no, I didn't post yesterday.
Honestly, it has been...not a nightmare because everyone helped so much and because my housemate is a wonderful person. I am one fortunate woman. So...it's not a nightmare...
No, it's that unpacking and all the decisions and the "let's take this over to storage even though I thought I really wanted it but I really don't need it right now" is wearing. Not to mention, the Case Of The Missing Fafnir.
Fafnir is my 3rd cat, and I need to find a safe and loving home for him. I should have done this a long time ago and I did try, but he moved with me. And...in the process of the move, he "got lost" at Pearl's and the next thing you know, she is wearing herself out looking for him and then...she found him yesterday, the little sneak.
And apparently, he was quite the handful to wrangle...and now, I have to pick him up and find a home for him. And pay for him to be neutered (which I never did because of $$$ or at least I thought that was the problem...) and have his basic shots. Oh yikes.
So...if you live in "my area" of the world, and you would like a lovely little male cat (a slender little fellow who is a yellow tabby with white paws and chest and amber eyes), let me know. He needs a home. And I need to have only two cats again...it's too much $$$ and it's too much in terms of...beings running around harrassing each other.
No bagel yesterday either but a hot pumpernickel with honey-butter this morning. And then I thought, "Oh brother...is the butter counting as dairy because it's Ash Wednesday?" and then I realized...the chances were good it was margarine, which is a cousin of plastic...and I don't think that violates the fast...well, that's my story and I'm stickin' with it.
Last night, I went to Pei Wei with Debbie's son and daughter-in-law and also with Rachel, whose mother's wedding I was in...many moons ago. We had a great time catching up--middle-aged me and these Young Folk--and I had the Asian Chopped Chicken Salad...so glad to have it. So glad. No edamame because I was tired...I had had salad bar for lunch...nothing exciting and who KNOWS where that coleslaw came from because it's not the great stuff they WERE serving...I may have to lodge a Coleslaw Protest...
And today...same lunch...you know, I may have to start packing my lunch simply because I need to have more interesting foods to post. Am I sending you all to the Nation of Yawn?
Yes, today is the first day of Lent...and I am, as I said, giving up swearing and complaining (doing fine on the first for the most part; not so great on the second...) and adding in trying to pray for people...I must make a list. A major list. And then, I am reading a book by the Archbishop of Canterbury and I cannot REMEMBER the doggone name. No, "doggone" isn't swearing. It's...emphasis.
And tonight is both the Ash Wednesday Service (after I go to Pearl's and pick up Fafnir...which should be entertaining...) and then after the service, CHOIR PRACTICE. I imagine I will make it home very very tired. Not to mention that Fafnir probably will NOT like the carrier but what's a girl gonna do?
and yes, I need to get a set of scales this weekend, and next Wednesday, we will update on Weltha's Weight.
Right now, I just want to sleeeeeeeeeeeep...and watch a movie first. But WHAT have I done with the remotes? And yes, I can hit the buttons but I hit the wrong one last night and am now not sure I can fix it with the buttons...I need the Remote Clappers...you know, clap my hands and they go "beep beep" or something like that.
Thanks for stickin' with me...I will (I WILL) do a better job of posting. Yes, yes I will.
Independently,
Weltha
Honestly, it has been...not a nightmare because everyone helped so much and because my housemate is a wonderful person. I am one fortunate woman. So...it's not a nightmare...
No, it's that unpacking and all the decisions and the "let's take this over to storage even though I thought I really wanted it but I really don't need it right now" is wearing. Not to mention, the Case Of The Missing Fafnir.
Fafnir is my 3rd cat, and I need to find a safe and loving home for him. I should have done this a long time ago and I did try, but he moved with me. And...in the process of the move, he "got lost" at Pearl's and the next thing you know, she is wearing herself out looking for him and then...she found him yesterday, the little sneak.
And apparently, he was quite the handful to wrangle...and now, I have to pick him up and find a home for him. And pay for him to be neutered (which I never did because of $$$ or at least I thought that was the problem...) and have his basic shots. Oh yikes.
So...if you live in "my area" of the world, and you would like a lovely little male cat (a slender little fellow who is a yellow tabby with white paws and chest and amber eyes), let me know. He needs a home. And I need to have only two cats again...it's too much $$$ and it's too much in terms of...beings running around harrassing each other.
No bagel yesterday either but a hot pumpernickel with honey-butter this morning. And then I thought, "Oh brother...is the butter counting as dairy because it's Ash Wednesday?" and then I realized...the chances were good it was margarine, which is a cousin of plastic...and I don't think that violates the fast...well, that's my story and I'm stickin' with it.
Last night, I went to Pei Wei with Debbie's son and daughter-in-law and also with Rachel, whose mother's wedding I was in...many moons ago. We had a great time catching up--middle-aged me and these Young Folk--and I had the Asian Chopped Chicken Salad...so glad to have it. So glad. No edamame because I was tired...I had had salad bar for lunch...nothing exciting and who KNOWS where that coleslaw came from because it's not the great stuff they WERE serving...I may have to lodge a Coleslaw Protest...
And today...same lunch...you know, I may have to start packing my lunch simply because I need to have more interesting foods to post. Am I sending you all to the Nation of Yawn?
Yes, today is the first day of Lent...and I am, as I said, giving up swearing and complaining (doing fine on the first for the most part; not so great on the second...) and adding in trying to pray for people...I must make a list. A major list. And then, I am reading a book by the Archbishop of Canterbury and I cannot REMEMBER the doggone name. No, "doggone" isn't swearing. It's...emphasis.
And tonight is both the Ash Wednesday Service (after I go to Pearl's and pick up Fafnir...which should be entertaining...) and then after the service, CHOIR PRACTICE. I imagine I will make it home very very tired. Not to mention that Fafnir probably will NOT like the carrier but what's a girl gonna do?
and yes, I need to get a set of scales this weekend, and next Wednesday, we will update on Weltha's Weight.
Right now, I just want to sleeeeeeeeeeeep...and watch a movie first. But WHAT have I done with the remotes? And yes, I can hit the buttons but I hit the wrong one last night and am now not sure I can fix it with the buttons...I need the Remote Clappers...you know, clap my hands and they go "beep beep" or something like that.
Thanks for stickin' with me...I will (I WILL) do a better job of posting. Yes, yes I will.
Independently,
Weltha
Monday, March 7, 2011
Day the 119th
Here we are, at Rancho Weltha, posting at lunch.
If you scrooooooooooooooooll down, you will see the posting for this weekend and sorry, get off my back about it. Girlfriend here was exhausted.
We are moving Weigh-In Wednesday from THIS Wednesday (March 9) to the following Wednesday (March 16) because moving has left girlfriend broke for the rest of the week, and she's not gonna shell out for a new set of scales when she's busy countin' change to buy lunch. And inexpensive lunch, at that.
Today's lunch was salad bar--and I chose the fruit. Cut up watermelon chunks, pineapple chunks (real fresh pineapple, not canned stuff), strawberry pieces, and whole red grapes. I made a discovery: cashew butter is fairly meh on things like melon, but put it on an acidy fruit (like the strawberries and the pineapple or even an apple) and it's really wonderful. The tart acidity and the sweet mildness of the cashew butter are a marriage made in food heaven.
Speaking of which...Wednesday begins Lent, and I am an Anglican. It's funny--lots of people get all het up about Mardi Gras, but I get all interested in Lent.
And of course, Wednesday (ASH Wednesday) is not only a day of obligation (translate: supposed to go to church, which I will) but also a day in which I am not supposed to eat meat or dairy--which I won't because I'm not young, elderly, or sick.
So...this year, I am "giving up" certain speech patterns (all right, I have been known to swear. Happy?) for Lent and also I am going to try to stop complaining (out loud or in my heart...) and I am also going to pray more for more people and read a book I have meant to read on Christian aesthetics.
I am comforted to know this is not an "all or nothing" competition. I am endeavoring with God's grace to subtract some thing and to add others. I will make mistakes--if I drop cat food cans on my foot, I may swear (at least in my mind...) and I will stumble over the not complaining thing quite a bit. Some days, I won't pray as I should...but I hope I can at least read the book!
And of course, it's easier to observe Lent in terms of the fasting because I am not eating a bunch of "stuff." Of course, there goes the chocolate-with-chilis for the next 40 days...
Independently,
Weltha
If you scrooooooooooooooooll down, you will see the posting for this weekend and sorry, get off my back about it. Girlfriend here was exhausted.
We are moving Weigh-In Wednesday from THIS Wednesday (March 9) to the following Wednesday (March 16) because moving has left girlfriend broke for the rest of the week, and she's not gonna shell out for a new set of scales when she's busy countin' change to buy lunch. And inexpensive lunch, at that.
Today's lunch was salad bar--and I chose the fruit. Cut up watermelon chunks, pineapple chunks (real fresh pineapple, not canned stuff), strawberry pieces, and whole red grapes. I made a discovery: cashew butter is fairly meh on things like melon, but put it on an acidy fruit (like the strawberries and the pineapple or even an apple) and it's really wonderful. The tart acidity and the sweet mildness of the cashew butter are a marriage made in food heaven.
Speaking of which...Wednesday begins Lent, and I am an Anglican. It's funny--lots of people get all het up about Mardi Gras, but I get all interested in Lent.
And of course, Wednesday (ASH Wednesday) is not only a day of obligation (translate: supposed to go to church, which I will) but also a day in which I am not supposed to eat meat or dairy--which I won't because I'm not young, elderly, or sick.
So...this year, I am "giving up" certain speech patterns (all right, I have been known to swear. Happy?) for Lent and also I am going to try to stop complaining (out loud or in my heart...) and I am also going to pray more for more people and read a book I have meant to read on Christian aesthetics.
I am comforted to know this is not an "all or nothing" competition. I am endeavoring with God's grace to subtract some thing and to add others. I will make mistakes--if I drop cat food cans on my foot, I may swear (at least in my mind...) and I will stumble over the not complaining thing quite a bit. Some days, I won't pray as I should...but I hope I can at least read the book!
And of course, it's easier to observe Lent in terms of the fasting because I am not eating a bunch of "stuff." Of course, there goes the chocolate-with-chilis for the next 40 days...
Independently,
Weltha
Day 117 and Day 118
Oh, here I am Gentle Readers All, begging your pardon for NOT posting as I said...it has been...crazy. I'm ready to repeat my mantra of "never move, never move, never move" or at least the one known as "clean out all junk and stuff you really don't use, once every year."
But "it" is almost complete, and I am so...grateful. More shout-outs to people who went above and beyond the call on all of this move (which has been far more complex than I wanted to tell...trust me...it has had nightmarish moments...): Rack and Eric, and Woodstock. Honestly, these guys should be canonized (except we're Anglican and we don't do that, but they deserve it). Rack said he was just trying to max out on Karma points, but it's more than that. They are good guys. Really, really good guys. As in excellent guys. And Woodstock has a conference looming at the end of the month and helped me like a big dog and that paper isn't written yet...Anyhoodle, these guys KNOW what they did to help me, and for that, I say, "Thanks, men." And of course, a major, major thanks to Alyce The Pearl. Sister, you are indeed the Pearl of Great Price--you are a major lifesaver and that smothered steak, mashed potatoes and salad really hit the ol' spot!
Such good people. And I am so tired from it all...
Well, I have finally jerked the slack out of myself and as of Saturday, I had the last of the bagels for a while...I have really been tempted to eat "naughty foods" and I think that is the reaction to stress. I mean, come ON, for YEARS and YEARS at a time, my response to stress of any sort was Dr. Weltha's prescription of a bag of M&Ms or double-cheeseburger-and-monster-tots at Sonic or triple dip of Chocolate Fudge in a waffle cone at Baskin-Robbins...or perhaps a combination of all of these, washed down with gallons of Coca-Cola...
This morning, instead of stopping off for my "poor you...you moved and now there is all this unpacking and the nonsense that goes with it" bagel breakfast, which is perfectly all right once or twice a month but not 7 days a week, I had a banana (because Work's cafeteria has bananas for $ .87, including tax) with...cashew butter. It is an incredible combo, and because I'm not the biggest banana fan but do appreciate how they contain soluble fiber and potassium, I am happy to have a way that makes me want to eat my 'nanas...
Lunch today is going to be Work salad bar and that's perfectly fine because there is a great deal of Good Stuff showing up on that salad bar....Me loves that. Me loves it loooooooooooooong time...
Starting next Monday, I think I am going to invite the movers over in small groups and have dinner for them. Right now, the best way to do that is on a Monday night because my housemate is out on Monday nights--and it's not like I don't want to include her because I do; she's great!--but because I would like a low-key, no introductions the first time I entertain these nice people who labored so hard.
Honestly, the men (and women...) of St. Jerome's have been the best in terms of this complex, complicated, multi-faceted move. I'm leaving out the details because...because I try to type happy stuff and not a bunch of "top this stressful situation" stuff. Suffice it to say that the St. Jerome's friends who helped took so much of the stress out. I have found moving stressful in and of itself but have NOT been a big "stress eater." Good for Weltha!
I did have one major treat in all of this and I may have told you: a bar of organic dark chocolate with chilis in it. I love chocolate with chili pepper in it--like the Incas (or was it the Aztecs? So not my era of history...now if it were the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars....I know, I know...I'm sending you to the Land of Yawn...)
All right, I'm back to posting every day. I LOVE that people in Russia and in Spain are reading me. This is WAY cool! And we've had some readership in Germany and in Ukraine, too.
I will post later today (lunch...) for today's post, and then I am CAUGHT UP!
Love you all...comment if this dadgum thing will let you!
Independently,
Weltha
But "it" is almost complete, and I am so...grateful. More shout-outs to people who went above and beyond the call on all of this move (which has been far more complex than I wanted to tell...trust me...it has had nightmarish moments...): Rack and Eric, and Woodstock. Honestly, these guys should be canonized (except we're Anglican and we don't do that, but they deserve it). Rack said he was just trying to max out on Karma points, but it's more than that. They are good guys. Really, really good guys. As in excellent guys. And Woodstock has a conference looming at the end of the month and helped me like a big dog and that paper isn't written yet...Anyhoodle, these guys KNOW what they did to help me, and for that, I say, "Thanks, men." And of course, a major, major thanks to Alyce The Pearl. Sister, you are indeed the Pearl of Great Price--you are a major lifesaver and that smothered steak, mashed potatoes and salad really hit the ol' spot!
Such good people. And I am so tired from it all...
Well, I have finally jerked the slack out of myself and as of Saturday, I had the last of the bagels for a while...I have really been tempted to eat "naughty foods" and I think that is the reaction to stress. I mean, come ON, for YEARS and YEARS at a time, my response to stress of any sort was Dr. Weltha's prescription of a bag of M&Ms or double-cheeseburger-and-monster-tots at Sonic or triple dip of Chocolate Fudge in a waffle cone at Baskin-Robbins...or perhaps a combination of all of these, washed down with gallons of Coca-Cola...
This morning, instead of stopping off for my "poor you...you moved and now there is all this unpacking and the nonsense that goes with it" bagel breakfast, which is perfectly all right once or twice a month but not 7 days a week, I had a banana (because Work's cafeteria has bananas for $ .87, including tax) with...cashew butter. It is an incredible combo, and because I'm not the biggest banana fan but do appreciate how they contain soluble fiber and potassium, I am happy to have a way that makes me want to eat my 'nanas...
Lunch today is going to be Work salad bar and that's perfectly fine because there is a great deal of Good Stuff showing up on that salad bar....Me loves that. Me loves it loooooooooooooong time...
Starting next Monday, I think I am going to invite the movers over in small groups and have dinner for them. Right now, the best way to do that is on a Monday night because my housemate is out on Monday nights--and it's not like I don't want to include her because I do; she's great!--but because I would like a low-key, no introductions the first time I entertain these nice people who labored so hard.
Honestly, the men (and women...) of St. Jerome's have been the best in terms of this complex, complicated, multi-faceted move. I'm leaving out the details because...because I try to type happy stuff and not a bunch of "top this stressful situation" stuff. Suffice it to say that the St. Jerome's friends who helped took so much of the stress out. I have found moving stressful in and of itself but have NOT been a big "stress eater." Good for Weltha!
I did have one major treat in all of this and I may have told you: a bar of organic dark chocolate with chilis in it. I love chocolate with chili pepper in it--like the Incas (or was it the Aztecs? So not my era of history...now if it were the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars....I know, I know...I'm sending you to the Land of Yawn...)
All right, I'm back to posting every day. I LOVE that people in Russia and in Spain are reading me. This is WAY cool! And we've had some readership in Germany and in Ukraine, too.
I will post later today (lunch...) for today's post, and then I am CAUGHT UP!
Love you all...comment if this dadgum thing will let you!
Independently,
Weltha
Friday, March 4, 2011
Day the 110th - Day the 116th...She's ALIVE...
Two words of advice: Never. Move.
Actually, that's sorta unfair to my friends and helpers in the move...they were STELLAR, but I am exhausted. Not to mention stomach problems (and let's not mention them...let's just say...it was...something else and leave it at that) However, if you will read to the bottom, you will see the much-deserved shout-out to my movers.
The stress was pretty much off the charts at moments, but thanks to the fact that I am not swilling Coca-Cola and chowin' down on Tater Tots and heaven only knows WHAT else, I am not freaking out from it all. All right, I had some physical symptoms, but between our weather being one thing one day (we had a blizzard and sub-zero temps...) and another thing another day (it's in the high 60s and low 70s this week...) and everything going on with this move (which is a great deal more than I have let on...), I am happy that I haven't just totally freaked out, torn my clothes off, and run naked, screaming into the night...
Which would not be a pretty sight...I mean, there's less of me, but not that much less that I'm going to run around sans clothing...Actually, I wouldn't do that anyway, because...I just don't do things like that...(who knew?)
Food. You want to know, right? I won't lie--I have been Queen of Old School Bagel Cafe, mostly as a treat for eating well and not freaking out, tearing off clothes, etc. However, this has been balanced with salads, fruit, steamed vegetables, and the Deliberate Avoidance Of Naughty Foods. I even ate once at--gasp!--Sonic, where I am proud to say that I had the grilled chicken salad with a single packet of honey mustard dressing, no croutons. Why? Because that's what I wanted--not a hamburger, not french fries...a salad. One night, I had a soup-bowl portion of frozen green peas (heated, naturally) because that's what I wanted. Next night, frozen corn (because, etc. etc.)
Lunch today might be salad bar or might be apple-with-cashew-butter. Our work salad bar has been featuring a fruit salad--and I might have just that and drizzle some cashew butter on it...
Tonight, St. Jerome's has its annual Mardi Gras Fundraiser with dinner and silent and open auctions. It's a major deal for us--not just the biggest fundraiser of the year for our tiny parish, but it is also the major social event of our year. Poodle has "purchased" a table of 8, and I am one of his guests. What this means is that I get to sit with one of my BFFs, have lovely food, and enjoy delightful conversation with some very dear people. And yes, I will be having some of Bishop's special bread pudding BUT I am going to have one spoonful and that's it.
I have discovered that if I don't eat sugar and drink pop and generally abuse my body with grease, additives, preservatives, and artificial gunk, I don't have to take prescription meds. I do, of course use the Bach Original Flower Essences, particularly Rescue Remedy, but no prescription meds. And I remain...serene and feeling good.
Last night, the whole "move thing" and the "ongoing" for the next few weeks until all is unpacked and I have settled in, just got to me, and I decided that the best thing to do was to go to my room, shut the door, hang with the cats, and read a book. Which I did. And great equilibrium was restored. That's another positive effect of eating well--you can hear your own negative emotions and know what to do about them. They sneak up on you much slower, give more warning, and seem to dissipate much faster...
Next purchase: a set of scales. My old set was...very old and in not-so-great-condition for a variety of reasons. I am looking now for new scales. Meanwhile, I am going to continue good eating and start to get MUCH more exercise.
Thanks for stickin' with me during the Week Of No Posting...I may have a day or two in the next week where I don't post, but that should pretty much be it.
A MAJOR shout-out to the move helpers: Havah, Rack, Eric, Woodstock, Marke, Mike, Gary, Steve, Lee, Elmer, and Thomas. Havah, Rack, and Eric deserve special mention because went the extra mile on a second day...and never a word but helpfulness and kindness. Woodstock deserves special mention because he gave up valuable weekend study and rest time to help--and he doesn't have much extra time to just give away as it is. Steve and Thomas came along as friends and volunteers. And Marke fed me, Mike yakked with me, Gary was so sweet and hard-working...and Lee and Elmer drove an hour just to get here and help. All right, they ALL deserve a special mention! And Alyce..."Pearl" herself has been the best. Thank you, Pearl...I'm gonna be there for you if you need me when you move.
And that's about it for today...stay tuned, more to come, more weight to lose, more exercise to have, more fun and frolic, more great clothes to fit into...
Independently,
Weltha
Actually, that's sorta unfair to my friends and helpers in the move...they were STELLAR, but I am exhausted. Not to mention stomach problems (and let's not mention them...let's just say...it was...something else and leave it at that) However, if you will read to the bottom, you will see the much-deserved shout-out to my movers.
The stress was pretty much off the charts at moments, but thanks to the fact that I am not swilling Coca-Cola and chowin' down on Tater Tots and heaven only knows WHAT else, I am not freaking out from it all. All right, I had some physical symptoms, but between our weather being one thing one day (we had a blizzard and sub-zero temps...) and another thing another day (it's in the high 60s and low 70s this week...) and everything going on with this move (which is a great deal more than I have let on...), I am happy that I haven't just totally freaked out, torn my clothes off, and run naked, screaming into the night...
Which would not be a pretty sight...I mean, there's less of me, but not that much less that I'm going to run around sans clothing...Actually, I wouldn't do that anyway, because...I just don't do things like that...(who knew?)
Food. You want to know, right? I won't lie--I have been Queen of Old School Bagel Cafe, mostly as a treat for eating well and not freaking out, tearing off clothes, etc. However, this has been balanced with salads, fruit, steamed vegetables, and the Deliberate Avoidance Of Naughty Foods. I even ate once at--gasp!--Sonic, where I am proud to say that I had the grilled chicken salad with a single packet of honey mustard dressing, no croutons. Why? Because that's what I wanted--not a hamburger, not french fries...a salad. One night, I had a soup-bowl portion of frozen green peas (heated, naturally) because that's what I wanted. Next night, frozen corn (because, etc. etc.)
Lunch today might be salad bar or might be apple-with-cashew-butter. Our work salad bar has been featuring a fruit salad--and I might have just that and drizzle some cashew butter on it...
Tonight, St. Jerome's has its annual Mardi Gras Fundraiser with dinner and silent and open auctions. It's a major deal for us--not just the biggest fundraiser of the year for our tiny parish, but it is also the major social event of our year. Poodle has "purchased" a table of 8, and I am one of his guests. What this means is that I get to sit with one of my BFFs, have lovely food, and enjoy delightful conversation with some very dear people. And yes, I will be having some of Bishop's special bread pudding BUT I am going to have one spoonful and that's it.
I have discovered that if I don't eat sugar and drink pop and generally abuse my body with grease, additives, preservatives, and artificial gunk, I don't have to take prescription meds. I do, of course
Last night, the whole "move thing" and the "ongoing" for the next few weeks until all is unpacked and I have settled in, just got to me, and I decided that the best thing to do was to go to my room, shut the door, hang with the cats, and read a book. Which I did. And great equilibrium was restored. That's another positive effect of eating well--you can hear your own negative emotions and know what to do about them. They sneak up on you much slower, give more warning, and seem to dissipate much faster...
Next purchase: a set of scales. My old set was...very old and in not-so-great-condition for a variety of reasons. I am looking now for new scales. Meanwhile, I am going to continue good eating and start to get MUCH more exercise.
Thanks for stickin' with me during the Week Of No Posting...I may have a day or two in the next week where I don't post, but that should pretty much be it.
A MAJOR shout-out to the move helpers: Havah, Rack, Eric, Woodstock, Marke, Mike, Gary, Steve, Lee, Elmer, and Thomas. Havah, Rack, and Eric deserve special mention because went the extra mile on a second day...and never a word but helpfulness and kindness. Woodstock deserves special mention because he gave up valuable weekend study and rest time to help--and he doesn't have much extra time to just give away as it is. Steve and Thomas came along as friends and volunteers. And Marke fed me, Mike yakked with me, Gary was so sweet and hard-working...and Lee and Elmer drove an hour just to get here and help. All right, they ALL deserve a special mention! And Alyce..."Pearl" herself has been the best. Thank you, Pearl...I'm gonna be there for you if you need me when you move.
And that's about it for today...stay tuned, more to come, more weight to lose, more exercise to have, more fun and frolic, more great clothes to fit into...
Independently,
Weltha
Friday, February 25, 2011
Day the 109th
I will post again on Monday...No Saturday or Sunday posting this weekend but will post for both on Monday.
THE MOVE is this weekend, and I will be up to my eyeballs in moving and all the fun that goes with it this weekend.
In other news, I am going to buy a new scale and have thrown my old one out--it was just...not in good shape. I promise to buy one BEFORE my next Weigh-In Wednesday!
Major shout-out to my movers: Rack, Eric, Marke, Mike, Gary, Havah, Lee, Elmer, and Michael (he of the Cher-like legs...Day the 102nd...with his permission, I added the pic to the post...don't miss it...he's up to 61 page views and will probably never forget the trauma of it all...). Thank you, men and woman--you are the BEST!!!
And in yet OTHER news, I had a veggie bagel on Asiago at Old School this morning...and this is my tiny little break...at the library for a few and then back home to continue to get ready...the hours are tickin' down...
Love you all--tune in on Monday!
Independently,
Weltha
THE MOVE is this weekend, and I will be up to my eyeballs in moving and all the fun that goes with it this weekend.
In other news, I am going to buy a new scale and have thrown my old one out--it was just...not in good shape. I promise to buy one BEFORE my next Weigh-In Wednesday!
Major shout-out to my movers: Rack, Eric, Marke, Mike, Gary, Havah, Lee, Elmer, and Michael (he of the Cher-like legs...Day the 102nd...with his permission, I added the pic to the post...don't miss it...he's up to 61 page views and will probably never forget the trauma of it all...). Thank you, men and woman--you are the BEST!!!
And in yet OTHER news, I had a veggie bagel on Asiago at Old School this morning...and this is my tiny little break...at the library for a few and then back home to continue to get ready...the hours are tickin' down...
Love you all--tune in on Monday!
Independently,
Weltha
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Day the 108th
Today, I celebrate yet another of the BFFs...my dear friend Grammy Jean.(I know...it's a weensy picture...and she is a little person...but there she is with MR. Jean and the grandbabies...)
But first, I have posted in the shout-out blog to Woodstock a picture taken at a Halloween party where he came as Mother Mary Woodstock in nun garb, fishnet stockings, and stilletos. [I showed up as Princess Alice Cooper Grad Student, which means I wore my Master's gown and hood, a tiara and loads of smeared black eyeliner. No, I have no pictures of that...why do you ask?]. Anyhoodle, he posed showing his lovely Cher-legs, and they are the envy of every woman I know, particularly me...
Here is the link to his shout-out on my blog and the picture of his legs...
And now...on to Grammy Jean...
Jean and I met because I was working one summer at my Christian school where I used to teach, and she had just become the Office Manager for the school's Superintendant. I was on a project, and we were both fairly new to the Wonderful World of Computers (does this tell you how long ago it was?). I sat right near her and sure enough, we bonded over WordPerfect.
And we have remained friends ever since even though I have done everything and its brother since that time, and she is the director of a wonderful organization that works with children with developmental disabilities. I have watched her children grow up, marry, have their own children, and through it all, Jean and I go to lunch about once a quarter, exchange Christmas and birthday gifts, and stay in close touch. To say that she has been a rock and a true friend is to call the Grand Canyon a big hole in the ground...
One of the things I love the MOST about Jean is that she always sees the best in any situation and always believes the best about people. She has always done this with me--and she has remained totally enthusiastic about my plans, ideas, people in my life, and where I go to church.
And yes, Jean is another one of those 24/7, 365-days-a-year-no-let-up sort of Christians, so when she says she is praying for me, I take it to heart and know that I am indeed prayed for. I say all the time that I don't know how or why prayer works, but that it does change things--as Bishop emailed me today, "it moves mountains!"
Here is the short list of cool things she has done:
- Celebrated with me my graduation from grad school with my Master's in Language and Literature
- Rejoiced at how happy I was--and am--to find St. Jerome's as my church
- Laughed at anything funny I said
- Commiserated when things didn't go so great for me
- Prayed for me when I was out of work and broke
- Given me the coolest and most thoughtful gifts--and I have them all to this day
- Shared with me the comings and goings of her own life and allowed me to be a part
And you know what? In all of this, she became one of my Best Friends Forever.
Jean--you are also celebrating with me that I am losing weight and doing this blog! You are a true friend--one whom I will know and love for the rest of my life. I am so glad we worked together that summer...little did we know...
So...here is to real friendship, hanging together as women or buddies or whatever, and making a difference in each other's lives...
Indendently,
Weltha
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