Reproduction

I get it.  Reproduction in living things, that is.  I understand there's parts and there's other parts and somehow those parts can combine to make a whole separate part that becomes another living thing.  I get that part.  I just don't get how reproductions happens in non-living things.  Let me explain.

When I clean (or should I say whenever I clean, and it's not very often), my method is to clean a room and take all that room's offending junk to another room, usually known as the "holding" room (which is usually the dining room because the only thing that rarer than my cleaning is anyone actually eating on the dining room table in the dining room).  Anyhow, I will methodically sweep through the room being cleaned and take a load to the holding room, thus making the "cleaned up" room actually appear to be clean.  Here's where the my reproductive ignorance steps in.

Invariably, in the short span of time that it takes for me to get from the room being cleaned to the holding room and back to the room being cleaned, apparently reproduction has taken place.  It would seem that the more I clean out of a room, the more there is to clean out.  And apparently the obviously fertile junk is also doing its thing in the holding room, as the pile of junk there gets larger and larger, IN BETWEEN TRIPS FROM ROOM TO ROOM.  It's scary, because it would seem that junk reproduction knows no boundaries, either.  Books seem to give birth to doll clothes, pencils, and paper cups.  And don't even get me started on the boxes full of garage sale stuff.  Apparently that subset of junk is even randier, because I can walk away from a box with two things in it and upon my return, the box is so full I can barely close it.

So if anyone understands junk reproduction, please let me know so I know what things to keep separate.  Or at least let me know of junk birth control!

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The Good Stuff From Today:  Lindley and Everley time; Sam bringing Baja Burritos for dinner

Join Udderly Pink (Without Walking a Step)!!

First, watch these and get inspired.  First, from 2007:

Then, from 2009:

So, are you ready to walk 60 miles in 3 days? Not so much? What if you could join our team and NOT WALK A SINGLE STEP? Well, you can. Here's how:

First, say to yourself, "Yes, I want to join Udderly Pink!" To be an honorary member, all you have to do is donate $230 (that's 10% of what we have to raise) to one of our team members. I know that's a lot of $, but you don't have to pony it all up yourself. Get 23 of your closest friends to donate $10, or 230 to donate $1, or 46 friends to donate $5, or one really good friend to donate $200 and a merely good friend donate $30. Somehow, come up with $230, click on our website here, pick a team member and donate your proceeds.

Don't think you can donate it all now? Comment on this blog or email me at LuanneDavidson@gmail.com and tell me you want to be an honorary member, and I'll put you on the list. We don't walk until October, so you have February/March/April/May/June/July/August/September to get in your $230 (that's 8 months, which is a little less than $30 a month, or a dollar a day - if you figure your friends into this, you're gonna need a calculator).

Once you've committed to being an honorary member, we will send you your honorary member package.  What is in it?

You will receive one of our deluxe team jackets, complete with our team name and your name (or a name of your choice) embroidered on it (we do have black jackets for you dudes out there).

You will also have your name put on our Day 1 shirts, which you will get in September.

You will get a copy of our training walk schedule, if you want to join us here or there, and we'll even throw in a chocolate bar for you to enjoy in bed, thinking of us on the weekend we have training walks of 18 miles on one day and 15 on the next.

There will be other surprises in the package - we just have to figure out what they will be!  But most of all, you will be a part of us as we walk 60 miles in 3 days to raise money to fight breast cancer and help those who are affected by this disease.

We'll send you your honorary member package just as soon as we hear you say you want to join us.  We figure with a bright pink jacket hanging in your closet, you won't forget your commitment!

So, all you need do now is donate, comment, or email and let us know your jacket size.  It will be the easiest 60 miles you've ever walked!

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The Good Stuff From Today:  Everley time; Maribeth bringing dinner; jacket pickup; 3-day planning

Words

There are a lot of words.  I know several of them.  There are nice words and not-so-nice words.  And I know several of both kinds.  And I've used both kinds.  But the thing is, when someone directs words at me that I don't like, it tends to deflate me.  And I don't like any of it - the words, the person, or the message.  And it doesn't matter if there are ten good word messages received at the same time - it's the bad message that I let get the best of me.

So maybe today I will make a change.  Or maybe even two.  Maybe starting today, I will let the deflating words just blow away like a deflating balloon.  I will wave them goodbye, and hold on to the good message words like holding on to a $10 Disney World balloon - worth savoring because you don't get them everyday.  But more importantly, I will stop using those hurtful words, realizing that it's not my place to correct someone's opinion, or point out how they're wrong in my eyes, or blast my thoughts on top of someone else's just because I can.

Words - forget the sticks and stones - they can hurt much worse.  But more importantly, they can heal and make things all better.  You just have to use the right ones.

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The Good Stuff From Today:  Everley time; Maribeth bring bar-b-q for dinner; seeing Molly's bathroom remodel progress; 2 slow miles in the 'hood; getting car spruced up and car place people

A Good Monday

Today I finally got back on track.  After last week's post-cruise food-eating debacle, I wasn't planning to weigh in.  But I decided to be accountable (that would be accountable to me - not you - at least not yet) and I got on my scale.  I somehow managed to stay the same as last week - no loss but no gain either.  I could deal with that.  Then I actually got my butt out the door and walked two miles, even though it was super slow.  I managed to eat on program and keep away from temptation by staying busy and drinking lots of water.  I prepared a lunch and dinner - okay, so I microwaved something - but at least I didn't go through a drive-thru.  Now if I can hang tough for the rest of tonight, then I'll start over tomorrow, hoping that by taking it one step at a time (no matter how slow), I will have another successful day!

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The Good Stuff From Today:  2 slow miles; emailing with KB, Marilyn, and Kat; staying on track; getting bills paid; clean sheets

My Fashion Statement

A long time go, when I was in the "family way" (that's what we called being "with child"), maternity fashion was pretty simple - the more material you could put into a garment, the better, because it just made it more fluffy, thus hiding the obvious.  In fact, it was a given that big fluffy sleeves were even more important, to give proportion to your big mid-section.  And it was considered an even bigger bonus if your outfit had a humongous big bow or ruffle on the front - as if that would disguise the big bump that you were growing in front.

These days it seems that less is more.  Now it's better to accentuate the obvious, I guess so that every kick can not only be felt by those parties most closely involved with the unborn, but seen by any random passerby.  Maybe it's because women now just wear their regular clothes for the nine months after impregnation, and they get a little snug (unlike some of us who started wearing maternity clothes pre-impregation).  Maybe it's because this is the only time in their lives these women will have a chubby part, and it so fascinates them that they feel the need to accentuate it.  Maybe it's just the fashion.

I'm just glad that I was a part of the fluffy generation and not the present one.  I just don't think there would be enough spandex to cover all of me and mine!!

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The Good Stuff From Today:  Lindley and Everley time; chili lunch with most of the family; Steve's ING Miami Half-Marathon finish; phone chat with post-Hawaii KB

Doesn't This Look Like Fun?

And this was after 60 miles!!

We're waiting for you to join us (and the fun)!!

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The Good Stuff From Today:  Lindley and Everley time; Molly picking up lunch from the OG; adjusting the blinds in the den

What Happens When You Surf The Web For Blog Topics ...

... you end up finding stuff like this, and hope that neither you nor anybody that is in your family who actually cooks cupcakes will actually think that this sounds so good that they must actually be baked.  And then consumed.

Just when you thought the whole Twinkie dissolution situation had kept your ever-increasing waist safe ...

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The Good Stuff From Today:  more Container Store shopping with Molly; chili in the crock pot

Cruise Food Detox

It ain't easy, folks.  For a week I had 3 meals a day, of which at least one (and usually two) consisted of three (or more) courses.  As if that weren't bad (or good, depending on your perspective) enough, at least one (or many more) of them had chocolate dishes (and yes, that would be plural) for dessert.  Then, to add insult to injury (or fat to my butt), there was always a pizza or burger or anything ready and waiting to be inhaled at the pizza/burger/anything places that were on the way from our stateroom to the spa (our usual route for the day).  So, to put it bluntly, by now my food intake theoretically should have been drastically cut off, since there are no chefs or cast members or wait staff to stuff my cheeks (both upper and lower) with delicious food.

Unfortunately, that has not penetrated the food control portion of my brain (which unfortunately takes up most of my brain).  Food control thinks I should still be taking in the same amount of food, even if it's  cheese sandwich or ice cream or crackers (which pretty much sums up my pantry/frig contents).

So I shall continue to attempt to whip my brain back into reality.  At least until next month, when the princesses embark on our cruise.

At least it's only four days (which means about 48 meals) ....

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The Good Stuff From Today:  Everley time; Mathieu bringing lunch; visiting Maribeth and dinner with Molly and Steve

She Who Finishes Last, Still Finishes! And Gets a Medal!

Back in the day when I was doing my first races, I was at a party with some parents of my son's friends.  The talk turned to marathons and I said that I had walked/ran a few.  One of the fathers turned to me and asked me why I walked them, to which I replied that I walked them because I could not run them.

There are a lot of runners out there who do not understand why walkers walk them.  Some of those runners can get downright mean about it.  Unfortunately, they will never know the absolute joy from finishing a race when you are happy to be the last person in, because it means you finished.  They will never know what it feels like to be Jena - and it's truly their loss.

Congratulations to Jena, and all of us who are out there with her.  Back of the pack rocks!!

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 The Good Stuff From Today:  Watching the rerun of the Golden Globes while under the covers in bed; Everley time; Lowes shopping with Molly

Maybe tomorrow ...

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The Good Stuff From Today:  Everley time; Container store with Molly; Starbucks delivery via Mathieu; diet coke delivery via Steve

A Quiet, Yet Firm Thud

I knew I needed to do it.  But I didn't want to do it.  So I put on my big-girl panties (and they ARE big!) and did it - I got on the scales to see the damage from last week's cruise.  While there was a gain, it wasn't as bad as I expected, so the scales did not go flying out the window.  Guess it's time to start over.  Again.  Of course, eating rocky road ice cream while watching "The Biggest Loser" seems somehow a bit wrong ...

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The Good Stuff From Today:  derm appt with Missy; Lindley and Everley time; Wal-mart trip with Steve; rr ice cream; unpacked suitcase

Potties, Pee, Poop, and Pink Cars

It's amazing when it all comes together - rewards for everyone!!

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The Good Stuff From Today:  David's visit; Lindley's potty success; Steve picking up/putting together the promised pink car; an hour with Massage Envy dude; lunch with Mathieu and Lynnette; CPK with Mathieu, Maribeth, and Lynnette (Steve had a sandwich); Lindley and Everley time

Home Happy

I'm home again.  It was a great week and a great cruise, but I'm glad to be back home.  Of course there's about a bazillion things I need to do, but I'll get them done.  Eventually.

Meanwhile, I'll just enjoy being around my own stuff and sleeping in my own bed, even though nobody will prepare my multi-course meals or clean my room twice a day or have a warm lounger ready for me. 

I'll be content to follow the WW menu, cozy down in my Sleep-number bed, and be entertained by the Lindley and Everley Show.  Once again I'll be in charge of my destination and chart the course ahead of me.  I'll plan my own activities and pour my own drink of the day.  In other words, things are back to normal - at least normal for here.

At least for the next six weeks, until the Princess Half-Marathoners board the Disney Dream!

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The Good Stuff From Today:  debarking fun; transport from boat to airport; safe, smooth flight home; empty middle seat; Molly and Brooke Hogan meet and greet; Maribeth picking us up at the airport; Molly's bathroom remodel progress; Everley time; Lindley's potty progress; Mathieu's garage work

On Friday, I ...

Today we stopped at Castaway Cay.  The weather was a bit cooler and fairly windy, but we had to get our Konk Koolers, so off the ship we went.  We took our shirts/medals for a picture with Donald, then headed to Serenity Bay, where we bundled up waiting for lunch to commence.  Once we had our fill of ribs, chicken, and steak (among other things), we headed back to the ship for naps.  We ended up leaving Castaway Cay two hours late - as it turned out, a passenger had a heart attack and passed away while on the island.  It was my first (and probably only) time to see Castaway Cay in the dark - sorta spooky!  Anyway, we finished the night (and the cruise) at Palo with our new buds (and also tablemates) Katie and Nancy.  We stopped by Animator's Palate to say good bye to our other tablemates, Dude and Humberto (who actually only joined us twice for dinner) and to our servers, Cheddar Cheese, tall dude, movie-star-lookalike dude.  All in all, a pretty great cruise!!

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The Good Stuff From Today:  picture with Donald; lunch and Kooler on CC; dinner at Palo

On Thursday, I ...

Shrimp and the precursor to the french fry

Some lobster thingy and a radish

Dessert - we had 3 of these and ice cream

We ate at Remy's for the brunch.  We combined our reservation with that of our tablemates Nancy and Katie, whose reservation was only ten minutes before ours.  We had five courses, plus the ham course which we got in the ham-cuttin' room (aka the wine room) where Jacques told us what we would be eating.  Which I really didn't understand and really didn't care.  To be more succinct, it was all very delicious.  There was also a lot of champagne, a glass with every two courses, which included the ham course. 

In other words, based on my descriptions, I should stick with McDonald's.  Thank goodness Molly had her camera!!

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The Good Stuff From Today:  Rainforest with Molly; Remy with the girls

On Wednesday, I ...

Toured the Bacard Rum Distillery

Toured this fort and walked all over it

Toured San Juan, Puerto Rico

All in all, a great day of touring!!

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The Good Stuff From Today:  Excursion with Molly; dinner with Katie and Nancy and kidding around with our dining staff

On Tuesday, I ...

Arrived here in the morning

Rode the Aqua Duct (I know if I've eaten too much
 if I get stuck somewhere in the middle)

Tried to decide which yacht to purchase

Walked around and shopped here

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The Good Stuff From Today:  walking around St. Thomas; rainforest room; watching "Lincoln"

Yeah, Like I'm Gonna Post What I'm Eating?!?!

Just look at this picture and imagine the rest - it doesn't get any healthier!!

 And this was just the "dessert" table - there were lots of other tables, plus the regular menu!

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The Good Stuff From Today:  Palo brunch, rainforest room; afternoon naps, chatting with the tablemates; hats from the dudes

Things To Do On A Cruise ...

. . . at least for the first 24 hours.

1. Eat
2. Drink (especially the free ones at various meet and greets
3. Nap
4. Eat some more
5. Nap some more
6. Sleep and soak in the hot tub in the Rain Forest Spa Room
7. Change into stretchy pants
8. Eat some more, but nap first
9. Talk about missing table mates with the table mates who are at dinner

More tomorrow - it's time for bed!!

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The Good Stuff From Today: rain forest room lounging; food; chatting with table ladies

A Walk In The Park - Or From Park To Park

When people go to Disney World, they do a lot of walking.  So do I.  It’s just that sometimes I walk from one park to another and back – on purpose.  In other words, I have a love of Disney half-marathons.  Today was one of those days I got to wog 13.1 (or 13.3 as my Garmin recorded today).

I was a bit concerned because I haven’t been training (even though that’s unfortunately an all-too-common trait of mine).  I was a lot concerned because of my recent back complaints, especially the fact that on Tuesday night I could barely even get out of bed.  But I really wanted to do this race, because I needed yet another jump start on my 2013 exercise goal/hope, and I really wanted to wear the cute yellow race shirt that you get for entering.

So, this morning at 4:50, Molly and I headed for the race start (we purposely stay at a resort close enough to walk to the start).  We found our corral (actually climbed over the fence to an earlier starting corral) and waited for the start.

The first corral went off at 5:30 am, and we started about 30 minutes later.  Quite a while later, I managed to make it across the finish line, receive my medal, and earn the right (in my opinion) to wear the race shirt.  Just in case you weren’t a participant in today’s race, I will give you the highlights, or at least what I consider the best parts of today’s race:

The start which includes fireworks.  The first ones are big, and then every corral that starts after that gets its own fireworks.  Pretty cool way to get started, even if it’s at dark-thirty in the morning.

·         

     All the costumes that the runners wear – everything from Mr. Incredible (who really wasn’t so incredible to look at in his red lycra jumpsuit) to Disney princesses to pirates and more.  Me?  I just have on a t-shirt and jogging capris, hoping the person behind me (and there are fewer and fewer as the race progresses) isn’t offended by any possible wedgie.

·    The turn when you enter the Magic Kingdom and catch the first glimpse of the castle – it’s just a cool moment.  Almost as cool as when you enter the castle from the other side, accompanied by the trumpeters heralding you through the castle, and run through to the front.

·        

     The runner I talked to at Mile 8ish, who said she had her gallbladder out seven weeks ago and had survived cancer twice, and was doing the Goofy, which meant she was doing the half-marathon today and the full tomorrow.  Sort of made my Texas-size blister on the bottom of my foot seem like nothing.

·          

     The gospel choir singing just before the 13 mile marker – so inspiring and a joy to hear!

·         

      Every mile marker, because it meant I was a mile closer to the finish.

·     Finishing.  Period.

The weather was great for the race, even though it got a little warm toward the end (at least my end – if you were a normal runner, you probably never experienced the warm part because you were D-O-N-E by the time it got warm).  I didn’t fall down (although I saw a few people who did).  I finished.

And the extra-best part?  After I finished, I showered, had a bit to eat and headed to the cruise port for a 7-night cruise!!

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The Good Stuff From Today:  the race and all its components; boarding the ship; boiled shrimp lunch; dinner table mates; rain forest room

Cruise Eve

I'm planning to board this beauty tomorrow around lunchtime.  That is, after I complete (hopefully) a little walk in the morning.  I'll let you know how it all pans out!!

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The Good Stuff From Today:  expo-ing with Molly; shrimp-n-grits and cobb-ish salad lunch at Olivia's with Molly; afternoon napping

Real Reality Check

Stuff happens.  But usually it's way far away - like in Connecticut, or Colorado, or Arizona.  Anyplace that's far away both physically and emotionally.  Far enough away that whatever happened makes you feel sad, but your protective layer keeps you safe from real pain.  But then it hits a little closer.  And you realize, even just for a little bit, how much pain is possible.

A long time ago I took swimming lessons from a woman who pretty much scared the boo-jeebers out of me.  Why?  Because she was strict and no-nonsense, which are probably some of the best qualities when teaching a child to swim.  My best memory of those swimming lessons is the day that my swim class was sitting on the side of the pool, waiting impatiently for Mrs. Robson to come out and start our session.  At some point, somebody (no, not me - really) thought it would be a good idea if we got in the pool.  We all stayed close to the edge, but we all got in nevertheless.  A dumber idea was probably never hatched.  Mrs. Robson came out, and I do believe I remember lightening bolts coming out of every orifice in her red-faced head.  To say the least, she was not pleased.  To say the most - well, she did, giving us a lecture on pool safety that we would never forget, not for the long time we spent treading water listening to her - at least 36 hours (or so it seemed to us at the time).  But we learned to never go into a pool without supervision.  And I learned to swim, as did my siblings, and even my mother who didn't learn until she was an adult.  And I credit it all to Mrs. Robson.

Yesterday, Mrs. Robson died in a house fire, along with her caregiver and her grandson, both of whom died trying to rescue her from the burning building.  It happened in my hometown, and the tragedy has really hit home, literally.  While other tragic things have happened recently that have touched my heart, this has found a soft spot and hit with a sharp pain.  Someone that had a pivotal role in my upbringing has been lost tragically.  A classmate has lost her son, who died a hero rescuing his grandpa and going back for his grandma.  A family I know has had their hearts ripped out, and I mourn with them and for them.

I think of this tragic circumstance and realize how fragile and unpredictable life is.  How in just a second that which we hold dear can be swept away.   I think I realize how precious each minute we have is, but I wonder if that's even possible, since I do believe we can't always know how precious something is until we lose it.  All I know is that I can honor the memories of this precious family by trying to appreciate the precious experiences and memories of my own, by realizing I have been given the gift of time that the Robsons were not.

I pray for strength and comfort for Aimee, her husband, and their daughter as they try to make their way through this indescribable time.  I pray their memories somehow ease their pain in the days ahead.  And I pray that the love of God surrounds them and keeps them close, just as He holds Mrs. Robson and Sam, until they all meet again.

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The Good Stuff From Today:  safe, smooth flight to Orlando; room ready upon arrival; getting shoes for Lynnette and Molly; Molly's arrival in Orlando; nice volunteers at Expo; dinner with Steve 

Progress

My back is some better, meaning I can walk without assistance.  The rough times are when I change from sitting to standing, or really anything to standing.  But that's better than the knife-stabbing that was going through my lower back last night.  Here's hoping that I will be even better tomorrow, although lifting those stupid weights this afternoon to move them was probably a dumb idea ...

I'm almost packed for our trip to Orlando and the cruise.  Of course, I'm attempting to pack 10 days worth of stuff into a carry-on.  Why?  Reasons that are too idiotic for even me to deem as making sense.  Maybe it's the Tylenol talking ...

My eating log for today?  Sort of stayed on track then veered off into "whatever" land.  It wasn't that I ate poorly today - I just didn't eat smartly.  And we needn't even discuss what next week's cruise eating will be ...

So, in terms of a Wednesday, today was a good one.  But then again, aren't most Wednesdays good?!

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The Good Stuff From Today:  easing of back troubles; getting the house picked up before travel; Everley time; MB bringing me Arby's for lunch; spaghetti dinner with Steve, Maribeth, Mathieu, and Everley

Reality Check #2

Hello!!  I am not a young whipper-snapper anymore.  As much as I try to deny that fact, sometimes it comes back to bite me - usually in various places on my aging body.  This week, it's been my aging back.

Last Friday I helped Sam tote half a recliner down his stairs and into his car.  Granted, it was old-lady style, meaning I have a tendency to fall down stairs, so I have to take it one step at a time.  Which probably meant Sam's brains were about to explode out his ears because of the hours it was taking to haul the half-recliner down the stairs, possibly causing him to consider tossing both the half-recliner and the whole-yet-old mother over the railing.  But eventually we made it down the stairs and out to the car. 

I'm not saying that the moving caused the issue, but on Saturday, my back started complaining.  Now back in the day, when my back was young and supple, I could move anything.  And I did.  I'm not staying that years of back abuse caused my current back problems, but it probably hasn't helped.  Anyhow, because my back was voicing some concerns, Molly and I decided against an IKEA run and opted for pedicures instead.

I thought I was on the mend until yesterday when sometime between bagging my groceries at Kroger and arriving back home, my back went into full-fledged hissy fit mode.  After I pulled into the carport, my back suggested that I spend the rest of the day in the car, not moving.  Somehow I cajoled it into getting out of the car, getting the sack of perishables out of the car, and slowly moving into the house and depositing said perishables into the refrigerator.  I then deposited my body on the couch and texted various family members that tonight's dinner menu for Lindley's birthday had changed from spaghetti to Papa Johns, and from homemade cupcakes to somebody-go-get-some cupcakes. 

I did not move from the couch for the rest of the night (even during the birthday festivities) until everyone had left.  I managed to hoist myself from my seated position, and with my hands on Steve's shoulders, made it to the bed, where Steve had the heating pad on and ready.

It wouldn't be so bad, except that I have sort of a busy week ahead, and I'm hoping that the promise of a cruise will convince my back to loosen up.  Maybe if I promise that the only lifting I will be doing will be the drink of the day?

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The Good Stuff From Today:  Lindley and Everley time; Lindley's birthday party; Steve helping me with my back troubles; Molly's bathroom reno discussions

Reality Check

After watching "The Biggest Loser" last night, I knew the time had come.  Time to weigh in again.  I started back on Weight Watchers last summer, but have had a bit of trouble staying on the wagon lately.  Probably due to the fact that I was too heavy for the wagon, what with my carrying around a big butt the size of a picnic basket full of delicious, point-ridden food.

Anyhow, I haven't weighed in since November 12, with good reason - I did not want to known the cold hard facts of not staying on the wagon.  However, this morning, I decided to do what I needed to do, and stepped on the scales.  While the numbers I saw were not happy numbers, at least I did not throw the scales out the window.  What I saw was what I needed to see to get back on track. 

And I have decided to take it a step further.  I am going to post my food diary on the side of this blog (I'll start tomorrow, by the way - for reasons I refuse to discuss).  I'm hoping it will keep me honest and on track.  We'll see!

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The Good Stuff From Today:  short line at the emissions place; chatting with Bill and Hughes about Molly's bathroom remodel; spending the day with Everley; picking up Lindley from school; Steve coming home early to play with E; chicken sapa dinner; box of goodies from the Graves abode

Guilty Pleasure - The Biggest Loser

Tears, backstories, sweat, vomit, fat jiggles, more vomit, yelling, screaming, crying, dripping sweat, buckets of bodily fluids, sob stories, victories, back-stabbing, evil food, lectures, treadmill-falling-off, rowing, cheering, leg braces, ice packs, ropes, jumping, weeping, wailing, weigh-ins - what could be better?

Unless your television has smell-a-vision ...

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The Good Stuff From Today:  Lowes and pedis and Target with Molly; Lindley and Everley time; CPK with the females in the family

We're Back At It ...

The Udderly Pink Team, that is.  We dropped a couple of members, but added two to take their places.  Today we had a planning meeting to get the party started - the fundraising party, that is.  We've got some good ideas that we'll be sharing soon.  And since 2013 is already speeding by, October will be here before we know it!

Stay tuned for future updates - first up:  how you can be an honorary member of Udderly Pink without walking a step!!

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The Good Stuff From Today:  Lindley and Everley time; Udderly Pink team meeting with Karen, Molly, Sharon, Bruce, and Marilyn (via facetime)

I Didn't Eat It ...

Mainly because this is an old picture of a party long gone.  But it sure is pretty to look at.  And it sure was good to eat.  I'm hoping that just looking at it will work wonders on my willpower.  If only I could stop licking my computer screen ...

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The Good Stuff From Today:  Unsuccessful car title-ing and successful emissions testing with Maribeth and E; picking up Lindley from school; Lindley and Everley time; brief visit with Sam at his house

Three Days In ...

... and I already need to be doing better.  I'm not sure why, but all those changes that I hope to make in 2013 are getting a slow start. 

But it's going to happen.  Really.  I am going to be successful.  Just gotta get that construction crew going ...

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The Good Stuff From Today:  getting files cleaned out

In Ten Days ...

 First there's a few hours of this ... 

Then there's a week of this ...

At least I got them in the right order ...

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The Good Stuff From Today:  having a list and accomplishing things on it; Everley time; sleeping a little late; Steve's safe travel home;

2013, Here I Come!!

Today marks the first day of the new year, or the day that everything should change - if you subscribe to the "resolutions" thing.  As for me, I would absolutely LOVE to make a plan and stick to it throughout the next 365 days.  But I know myself too well - as much as I attempt (admittedly half-hearted most of the time), I haven't had a ton of success.

So what shall I do this year?  Already I have several things in the works - a cruise or two, a half-marathon or two, a 3-day Breast Cancer Walk in Washington, DC, a Disney World/Disneyland trip or two, and maybe a bit of granddaughter sitting here and there.

What would I like to be writing about this time next year?  If I had my druthers, I would like to reporting on January 1, 2014, that I have accomplished the following:

1. I lost enough weight so that I would actually tell you my starting weight.
2. I eat so healthy on a regular basis that I cannot image eating otherwise.
3. I mop my floors more than once a season.
4. I exercise at least 3x a week.
5. I jog (which would be a move up from wog) 5x a week, at a decent pace (for me, anyway)

At least those are my top five - now to go find my druthers and get started.

Happy New Year and hope 2013 turns out to be all you want it to be!!

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The Good Stuff From Today:  black-eye peas in the crock pot; Lindley and Everley time; safe travel home for Sam and Lynnette