It Was About Time

Every Wednesday is weigh in day to see if the previous weeks efforts have netted a loss. I was thrilled the week that I stepped on the scale and it said I had lost four pounds. I got off the scale and got back on just to be sure. Although it would have been nice, I didn't expect to lose that much weight each week. The next week Wednesday came, on the scale I went. I got off the scale and then back on....same as the week before. So I continued my efforts until the next Wednesday. On the scale I went, off the scale and then back on...same as the two weeks before. Another week....Wednesday, on the scale I went, off the scale and then back on...same as the three weeks before. So this past Wednesday, before I got the scale, I had a little talk with the scale:

"Look, I've been working my ass off! I exercise 3 to 5 times per week....for an HOUR, kickboxing no less and usually follow it with some light weights or pilates. I can barely remember what chocolate tastes like. There's no bottle of Mountain Dew camping out on my desk all day--its a bottle of water--and I drink it, I don't like it but I drink it. I've cut back the sugar in our sweet tea to the point that it's probably heresy to actually call it sweet tea anymore. I drink Sprite Zero with dinner and take a can to work for lunch. Yes, I have regular soda when we go out to lunch because unless we only go to Subway every time there's no other place that has the stuff and it's the only diet drink that doesn't make we want to toss my cookies. I get fajitas and don't eat the tortillas. The cheese in our house is 2%--no fully loaded yummy cheese. I miss great italian food....let me tell you....skim milk does not make a good alfredo sauce. I watch my portions, I go hungry and 100 calorie packs of popcorn are my new best friend. I read the nutrition label on everything, I check to see how many points everything is and I make as many low fat substitutions as possible when making a recipe. Cheese dip has become a rare luxury. Yes, I use my daily points, but not all my weekly ones and I even leave activity points on the table. So, this week you'd better show me some movement in the right direction or I'm tossing you into the driveway and then I'm going to jump in my car and run you over--repeatedly. You want mercy? I'll give you the same mercy you've shown me for the last few weeks."

So on the scale I went, then off, then back on to be sure....finally another 2 pounds lost!

Today

The day began with a broken door knob. Letting the dog outside became a bit of a challenge when the door knob came partially off in my hand and it's impossible to explain to the dog why a task that normally goes quite quick is taking such a long time. The knob still worked if held just right, pushed in with just the right amount of pressure and then turned, but not too quickly. "Honey, where did you say you put that $10 off coupon for Lowe's?"

So, on the way to Heidi's housewarming add one stop at Lowe's for a new door knob set. Fortunately, this went quickly and I was off to see Heidi's new place.

I was very excited to see Heidi's new place and to give her the combo birthday/housewarming/Christmas presents that I had for. I take great pride in picking out the perfect gift for people....it's almost a mission. (I love getting gift certificates, but usually feel rather the failure when I give them. ) I do not take great pride in the fact that her birthday present is several months late as I do my best to be quite timely in the giving of gifts. But I was quite thrilled with the choices that I had made with these gifts and could not wait to give them. Her place was adorable! I agree with her statement that it was more contemporary than expected but still was very much her and very warm and inviting (her throw pillows were also heavenly soft)! And she seemed very happy with her gifts (black and white Mickey Mouse ear salt & pepper shakers, white Mikey Mouse ears serving platter, and Disney princess snow globe ornaments). It was also hard not to stand by the kitchen table and just everything in sight since it was all quite scrumptious...although she was very good with her tasty, healthy choices (the pumpkin spice squares with chocolate chips where incredibly tasty) as she has also been on a weight loss trek.

From there, the weekly trip to the grocery store. It somehow seems that no matter how little I buy, I'm always spending more money than I think I am and more than I want. And it seems the healthier I eat, the more things cost. But since we haven't learned to live without food, I suck it up and move along.

I dashed home, unloaded and put up the groceries and then put the finishing touches on the gift basket for the baby shower that was next on my schedule for the day. I also love making my own gift baskets (Heidi almost got one before we went Disney) and filling them with a variety of things. I also tend to spend too much money when doing this, but life is short and I can't take it with me. So this one was filled with a lot of the little things from the baby registry. I was particularly fond of the rubber ducky thermometer. I remember when I was buying a number of the items...the color changing spoons to ensure the food isn't too hot, the cord shortener and so forth that one has to wonder how all of us grown-ups made it without all this stuff to ensure our safety and how much guilt modern parents must feel if they don't get all this stuff.

And off to the baby shower (after picking up the mum-in-law)....and more yummy snack food temptation. I did fairly well...I didn't actually shove my face into any platter of food, but I probably did have too much cheese, but it's CHEESE. It was sweet to watch her open all the gifts for her first baby and oooh and aaahh over all the cute baby items.

From there, I took the mum-in-law to the quilt stop to pick up a pattern she'd ordered. And now I might be taking a class with her one Saturday a month...but not in quilting (of course, she needs no classes in quilting as she's an ace). I don't even know what they call what we'd be doing...I'm sure the lady told me...but it doesn't require a sewing machine or particularly advanced skills (I only cross-stitch), but it looks like fun and the stuff is cute. And since I have a great mum-in-law, I think it would be a lot of fun and give me something else crafty to do other than cross-stitch!

A quick trip to drop off the mum-in-law and then off to The Fresh Market to spend a Gift Certificate we've been holding on to for no particular reason on some yummy filet mignon kabobs for the hubby to grill tomorrow then home to cook dinner.

It was a busy day.

It was a good day.

What Art Movement Am I?

You Are Expressionism

Moody, emotional, and even a bit angsty... you certainly know how to express your emotions. At times, you tend to lack perspective on your life, probably as a result of looking inward too much. This introspection does give you a flair for the dramatic. And it's even maybe made you cultivate some artistic talents! You have a true artist's temperament... which is a blessing and a curse.

What Art Movement Are You?

More Random Bits

The Patriot Act: Should have been called "We Call it National Security so You Won't Care About Giving Up Your Rights Act."

Movies I want to see: "I Am Legend", "Sweeney Todd"

Christmas present purchased: 11

Most promising presidential candidate: Stephen Colbert (I don't care is SC dems did kick him off the ballot)

Pets: When is the dog going to stop digging up the yard?

Number of times our basement has flooded: None (do the words Extreme Drought Conditions mean anything to you?)

Strangest gift I've ever purchased for a 9 year old girls birthday: Make Your Own Mummy Kit (trust me...she'll love it. Bonus points: Doesn't include enough gauze for mummification attempt on younger brother)

TV: Thumbs Up-Moonlight; Thumbs Down-House

Time Change: It would have been better if I had managed to actually sleep the extra hour (remind me again, why do we still change time twice per year?)

Worst TV Commercial: Viva Viagra