Big Behind

Do you ever feel like you are walking backwards instead of forwards?  You know how you feel so overwhelmed by what all needs to be done and for every forward action there are at least twenty-five backwards actions?

That's how I'm feeling today!  Actually it started about two days ago.  I know it was the emotion of children packing and getting ready to leave for college.  I know it was the pile of laundry on the floor and not getting to the washer.  I know it was the pile of dirty dishes mounting. I know it was the knowledge that "team" does not apply in my workplace.  I am getting very tired of co-workers NOT pulling their weight and being a TEAM!  It is all crashing in and an even bigger problem is I've already taken my vacation!!!!!!!

I love to travel but I think I need a stay-cation.  One of those times off from work where I can get "home" things accomplished.  And maybe take in some sights in my rural town.  Who am I kidding?  I've seen EVERYTHING there is to see in this town.  So yep, I need to stay home and vacate some of this clutter that is causing me such stress.  Oh, and I need to remember to take my thyroid medicine too!  When I start feeling like I want to slap the dickens out of a person (a few co-workers come to mind!), I know I've forgotten to take my medicine!  LOL

Kiddos got off yesterday college-bound.  I'm happy to report I didn't shed one tear although my eyes misted when I showed pictures of them all packed up and ready to go.  I headed out to work before they drove away.  I know I would have bawled if I watched the behind of the car drive away.  I'm still getting misty just typing this.  I despise this feeling.  Here I go on the roller-coaster again.  I know they need to spread their wings and fly and experience life in their own personal and wonderful way.  But I can still get misty about it!

All aboard!

Even Trevor was all packed up with a clean fresh cage.  Makes traveling more enjoyable for the humans in the car!

Where's my doggie treat, Gran-Rat?

 I always gave that rat a treat and now looking at this picture, I bet (sniff sniff) Trevor was expecting (sniff sniff) her doggie treat.  Why am I misting up over Trevor???? I really need to get my mind on something else.

Hang On, Trevor!

Seat belts on and Trevor is hanging on for dear life!  I am happy to report all three made it safely back to college.  

Hubby is leaving today with the rest of their stuff.  The van is all loaded.  I won't take a picture of Hubby leaving with all their gear.  I might have to have to spend my long weekend in a rehabilitation ward! 

Anyone have a good anti-depression medicine to recommend?  I'm starting to mist again.

Paleo What?

When eldest daughter (aka Career Girl/ Working Girl or whatever else I have called her!) was in 2nd grade, one of her vocabulary words was paleontologist.  I nearly swallowed my tongue!  Are you kidding me?  What's with the years and years of dinosaurs???  Every year...up until the time I decided to homeschool them, they learned something about dinosaurs.  Now don't get me wrong: I LOVE dinosaurs and ancient history and PRE-history but come on....let's spend more time on the basics!

Well guess what?  Those children have grown up and are researching and writing and you'll never guess what they are coming up with!  Dinosaurs again....and this time it is in the form of a diet.  YES....that four letter word we love to hate!  D-I-E-T.

College Girl (aka Rat Mom) announced she was on a Paleo Diet.

         A what?

         A diet designed by our blood types.

         Uh huh.

Ever the skeptic strawberry, I looked it up and damn if there isn't an actual diet.  I bet those researching doctors had "paleontologist" as a vocab word in second grade!

Here is a brief description of the diet.

• Breakthrough nutrition program based on eating the foods we were genetically designed to eat-lean meats and fish and other foods that made up the diet of our Paleolithic ancestors.

 a diet that emulates what our hunter-gatherer ancestors ate — a high-protein, high-fruit and veggie diet with moderate amounts of fat, but with high quantities of healthful omega-3 and monounsaturated fats. Protein has two to three times the thermic effect of either fat or carbohydrate, meaning that it revs up your metabolism, speeding weight loss. Additionally, protein has a much greater satiety value than either fat or carbohydrate, so it puts the brakes on your appetite. Finally, three recent clinical trials have shown high-protein diets to be more effective than low-fat, high-carbohydrate diets in promoting weight loss.  (info "gathered" from the paleodiet.com)

Now you will notice that it doesn't say a word about blood types.  "The hunter-gatherer doesn't fall far from the top of the cave."  My dear child has added an extra bonus by combining another diet called "blood type diet."

This diet takes a look at your blood type and which foods you "can" eat to best match with your blood type.  Rat Mom is O negative (which these researchers say is the oldest blood type) so naturally she would want to be on a diet that our hunter-gatherer ancestors were on.  She chose the Paleo Diet because let's face it....that's pretty old!

My blood type is a "newer" variety so she exclaimed "Oh, you can eat everything."

Uh, Hello!  That is how I got in this shape in the first place!  No thank you!

We do have fun in the strawberry patch.  But all good things come to a close (for a while).

Please keep my little ones in your prayers as they head back to college today.  

I woke up at dark-thirty to make a care package (which I promised) for them.

Oh ding dong, the temptation of it all!

Did cave people have chocolate chip cookies?

I don't think cave people had chocolate chip cookies unless that sneaky dinosaur tried to steal one and got it in the head with a bat!  Maybe that's why the dinosaurs are extinct today.  Chocolate chip cookies war!

This is what my darlings promised to do last night!

Guess what is still in the sink this morning?!

I'll let it slide this once!  After all, I don't have them for much longer.  Do I really want to guilt them about the dishes when there will be something better at some future time????  LOL

Happy Paleo Thursday, Grainiacs.

Rollercoaster

How can one go from singing "I've got the joy,joy, joy, joy down in my heart" to "This sucks!!!"???

Up and down and down and up.  Dieting sucks!  Scales suck!  Not taking care of myself to begin with-- SUCKS.

I found a small notebook and started thumbing through it.  One page had this entry:

blog- started 8/31/11

keep it current

keep it simple

keep it real

60 lbs in one yr

4 out of 5 ain't bad; but the bad part is the 60 pounds in one year.  It didn't happen.  Where did I go wrong?  Oh yeah, the "I lost 20 pounds and now I'm cocky attitude!"  20 is good.  It is a nice even number but it isn't the 60 I had hoped for on that August 31, 2011.

I could have a pity party, but I bet you wouldn't come, right?  Twenty pounds is GREAT.

But it wasn't your goal, Mona keeps reminding me.

Up and down and down and up.  The journey continues....

I've Got the Joy, Joy, Joy

That song takes me back to my teen years helping the church with our Vacation Bible School.  Such a peppy song.  Such a fun song. 

J-O-Y

Definition:  the emotion evoked by well-being, success, or good fortune or by the prospect of possessing what one desires.

"down in my heart."

a state of happiness or felicity

If I had a tombstone, that's what I'd want on it.  Strawberry exemplified happiness and felicity...even under stressful times.  Unfortunately I can't always say that!

I do have a reminder, though.  Hubby went to pick up my license plate for me yesterday while I was at work.

Strawberry & her BSW

Am I the only one who finds this extremely funny??????  That must be the joy coming out!  LOL

Hard Core Baby Medicine!

I'm late....I'm late.....I took baby benedryl for the first time last night.  I bought the product days ago but I kept thinking I'll wait till I really need it.  Last night at 9:30 I decided I really needed it.  For the past couple of nights I kept tossing and turning (remember the post?) and by last night I had a tickle in my throat.  Well you understand.  So one tsp of baby benedryl knocked me out for almost 10 hours!!!! 

Hubby asked "Did you set your alarm?" 

To which I replied "Yes; what time is it?"

"7:47."

"AAAAHHHHH."

So I can't post today, Grainiacs....I'm late!

LOL

Yesterday I had my laughing out loud moments.  One at work and the other at home-- which is good.  Those are the two places I spend a lot of time.  Hubby has been thanking God for living in Rural USA away from any and all major malls!

Have you ever had one of those shocks where someone said something or did something so out of the ordinary that you just laughed and laughed?  Yesterday a supervisor and I were sending playful emails back and forth.  Really she said "you will do _____ on Wednesday and Thursday next week" and I replied "I don't think I want to!"  She replied "Well you are gunna" and then added this statement in huge pink letters.  Now before you think I'm cheeky with the boss....you are right!  We send this type of bantering all the time and we ALWAYS include smiley faces and LOL type words.  So we were playing with each other and we both knew it.  When I read the statement I laughed out loud and I mean L-O-U-D.  This statement is so out of character for her.  I wasn't expecting it and she laughed really loud when she heard me because she knew what I was reading.  She ran over to my desk and explained that she saw it on facebook and loved it.  Now if you are my facebook friend, you'll know what I'm talking about.  I shared it on my wall.  But for you, Graini-MOM, here it is on my blog....just for you!

Now imagine this statement in all capital pink large font letters.....in an office email!!!!  Still makes my tummy jiggle.

I was still laughing when I got home for lunch and told my family about it.  My second laugh in about 45 minutes was when College Girl (aka Rat Mom) read out a joke she found on Pinterest--another site that can eat up a day.  So much fun...so much to see...I try to limit being on that site!

What makes this funny is that math brainiacs will not get the joke.  For those of us to whom this applies, we find it hilarious.

Again, I posted it on my facewall, I mean, facebook wall...that's what happens when you are still laughing and typing..sorry for the duplication here, folks, but Graini-mom really needs to get facebook...or not...duplication especially when they are jokes is a good thing (unlike waiting...but that was yesterday's topic!).

I mean really, if you struggle with math word problems, doesn't this make sense????  LOL

I received great suggestions for belly laugh comedies.  Unfortunately netflix doesn't offer the I Love Lucy series.  Fortunately they do offer Laurel and Hardy and Carol Burnett.  I plan to have a belly laugh of a weekend.  How about you?  Laughed out loud lately?  Well, partner, that's good!

One Moment, Please

That is what I tell my customers when they ask to speak to someone.  I'm not sure what happens on the other end.  Maybe they listen to some asinine message or some elevator music or maybe there is complete silence.  Waiting, waiting, waiting for someone to pick up on the other end.  Waiting, waiting waiting for something to happen- like the damn computer to catch up to my typing so I know what I'm typing here.  I'm in fast mode and everything....EVERYTHING seems to be in slow mode.  My work computer is taking forever to get going.  I arrived at work 5 minutes earlier but couldn't clock in on the computer till 5 minutes later.  S-L-O-W.  My computer here at home is having a hard time waking up.  I just typed a blank paragraph and 3 minutes later, it showed up on the monitor.  And guess what?  No spelling mistakes!!!  LOL

Waiting.  It's hard.  I've changed the lyrics to Elton John's song.  "It's a sad sad situation; waiting seems to be the hardest thing!"

I feel like almost every aspect of my life is waiting right now.  Waiting for my seminary advisor to get back with me so I can plan for my next semester.  Waiting for the phone to ring about a certain situation for Hubby.  Waiting for the weight to come off.  Waiting to take college kids back to college.  Waiting for an upcoming trip.  still Waiting for the computer to catch up with my typing. Waiting....waiting....waiting.

Before I picked up my car, I waited with excited anticipation.  I was giddy.

While waiting for the computer to catch up, I wait in anger.

Waiting for the phone to ring, well, that just wears you down.  Why don't they call?

Waiting for the kids to go back to college is a mixed emotion.  I want the day to come and then I don't.

Waiting for the weight to come off; that, too, is mixed emotions.  Thing #1 and Thing #2 argue constantly in my head about it.

How we choose to react to waiting just might be the hardest thing to do.

Tossn' & Turnin'

For over a year I've heard the benefits of a good's night sleep and weight loss.  I must confess I haven't experienced either on a regular basis.  I wonder how much weight Rip VanWinkle lost?  I tried doing the couch potato thing- isn't that the equivalent of sleep?  But that definitely doesn't work.

Almost 6 years ago, Hubby and I purchased our wonderful pillow-top mattress.  It was a gift to ourselves since we moved and we didn't move our previous (very old) mattress.  Plus we decided we wanted a king-size bed vs. the queen.  We loved our pillow top until that fateful day we had to flip it.  You see, there is no pillow-bottom!  So for the past 6 years we have rotated our pillow-top half-degrees.  Last week, I called a halt to the rotating.  We were going to have to flip that baby!  So flip it we did.  And yes, it is firm...so firm it's like sleeping on only the box springs!!  I was complaining to a co-worker about our pillow top not having a pillow bottom too.  She smugly replied, I have a "season" mattress!  Okay she didn't say it smugly but I was thinking...now why didn't I think of that!  It is satin on one side and  flannel on the other side.  Hubby would hate it and quite frankly with the menopause and everything...I'd hate it too!

Two nights ago, I could have sworn I'd have lost at least 4 pounds with all the tossing and turning I did.  Even the cat didn't want to sleep with us that night for fear of getting pounced on instead of being the pouncer.  I stepped on Kaa (my ss-scale) in the morning and no amazing loss there.  One grainiac recommended taking a baby benedryl to help sleep and I am heading out to Wal-Mart to pick up a box.  Hopefully the pharmacist does not have to regulate them.  Please people....stop making drugs with the over-the-counter drugs.  You are playing havoc with my convenience and I'm losing sleep over it!!

Have a restful Wednesday today, Grainiacs.

Laugh...it's good for you

When was the last time you had a good loud belly laugh?  Well, partner, that's been too long!  I can't remember the last time I laughed so hard that my body ached and tears ran down my face....and quite frankly, that's been too long.  Studies show laughter IS the best medicine.  We lost another funny lady yesterday.  RIP Phyllis Diller.

A couple of weeks ago a young co-worker was showing me how to do some of her work (I'm to be her back-up when she goes on vacation or is sick).  I was busily working away and she was busily glancing over to make sure I was doing things right while texting and checking statuses on her facebook--don't get me started on that!!!!  Any who, I had a question and as she turned to me she kicked over her leg to cross it and hit the level on my chair.  "Elevator going down."  Slowly I sunk down way past my desk.  I looked like the little girl character Lilly Tomlin portrayed.... and that's the whole truth. ppthh  My co-worker went into hysterics.  She couldn't talk because she was laughing so hard.  Personally I didn't think it was all that funny but she couldn't stop laughing.  Tears were pouring down her cheeks.  Finally when she could talk she said "you should have seen your face!"

I WANT TO BELLY-LAUGH LIKE THAT!!!!

Have any good movies to recommend, Grainiacs???  Right now, a few of the co-workers are reading "50 Shades of Grey"-- I'm really not into that.  I don't want my belly hurting THAT WAY, you know???  So, I'm in the mood for laughter.  I think I'll pick up some I Love Lucy re-runs.  Now that funny lady could really get the belly to jiggling.

Lazy Monday....NOT

It is a cool 55* degrees this morning in Rural America, Grainiacs.  And I LOVE it!!!  A pastor friend posted on his facebook page that he went for a quick little 15 mile sprint this morning.  I couldn't help myself.  I commented that my idea of a quick little sprint is to the bathroom.  Sheesh, 15 miles!!! What a show-off! 

I have been suffering from sinus ache or headache; I can't quite tell what it is but yesterday after church I basically lounged on the couch and watched the Hallmark Channel!  I didn't have any bon-bons in the house or they would have been consumed.  It was a lazy day.  And really, Hallmark Channel provided  the perfect feel-good movies for me.

I think I've mentioned before how vital taking a sabbath is for good mental health and it gives the body a chance to recoup from all the weekly stresses.  Stress=bad; sabbath=good.  So instead of saying I was lazy, I will call it sabbath.  There is a story about a Harvard president who was in go-go-go mode when finally his body demanded rest.  He had to take a three-month "sabbatical."  We do not want to get to that point, right?  So take some time for quiet-- whether it is taking a much deserved nap or sitting quietly watching the Hallmark channel or even taking a nice "quick little sprint."  And it doesn't have to be on a Sunday or for a whole day.  Sabbath does not mean being a slug for slug's sake; it is intentional resting. 

I plan to schedule a sabbath after work today.  I feel like cooking.  Funny story: I had to smile last night when Boy asked Hubby, "what's for dinner?"  Don't you love it?  Gender roles do NOT apply in this house.  Of course no one cleans so that might be the cause of my headaches!?!  LOL  Maybe it's attack the dust bunnies time.  Speaking of that, JR (my jack rabbit) is gone.  I wasn't able to get a picture of him/her.

Remember to take time for yourselves, Grainiacs, and please take care of yourselves for slug sake!

Moana got her way!

Moana (aka my moaning inner child) got a new play toy, Grainiacs.  It is big and shiny and white.  No it's not a new toaster.  No it's not my Madonna cone-shaped bra.  It comes with a hefty sticker price...although mine is not so hefty.  I have been wanting to reduce my carbon footprint and my old conversion van just isn't hitting it.  Cars are on sale and the banks are offering good lending rates and well....now's the time (isn't that a car commercial?).  I still plan to walk to work at least once a week, though.  I haven't given up on that dream.  Speaking of dreams...well, that can wait.  I'll remember, don't worry!  LOL

Ta Da.....

My BSW- Big Shiny and White!  Remember?

I wanted a strawberry color but then people would know exactly where I was at ALL times.  Look, Strawberry is at Wal-Mart AGAIN!  Look, Strawberry is at the liquor store!  Look, Strawberry is at Sonic; isn't she trying to lose weight?!?  Rat Mom wanted me to get a lime green car.  Yeah, right!  Then I'd really stick out in my rural town.  Funny thing.  When you live in a farming community in a rural area, guess what the car lots have most?  T-R-U-C-K-S!!  In every color, size, shape and form.  Little cars?  Not so much and when they do have a small car, the color is white!  Yes, I could have special ordered my car in my strawberry color but then I'd be paying more and I have to say, Grainiacs, I looked at this same car (2011) at a used car dealership.  This 2012 baby with a few more bells and whistles I bought for 2,000 dollars more BUT I get warranty and what a sweet warranty I got!!!  I did this all on my own....no Hubby help.  Let's sing Helen Reddy:  I am woman hear me roar.

Ain't my BSW pretty?  I'm driving a spaceship!

Happy Strawberry with her pretty purchase

So, Grainiacs, it's off to work so I can keep up the payments.  Hi ho, hi ho, zoom zoom zoom.

Not Easy

Going against one's grain is not easy...I won't say the "never" word because that would be defeatist.  Although I'm really wondering about my grain!  I start out so good, Grainiacs.  And then evening and nighttime come and well, I guess my Ms. Hyde defeats my Dr. Jekyll.  What's a strawberry to do but keep on trying. 

I have four children and each one is as different as different can be.  Yes, they share some of the same attributes but on the whole they are individual with individual thoughts and beliefs.  Hubby and I raised them the same yet they don't share the same beliefs or ideas we do!  Imagine that!!!!  LOL

Take Rat Mom aka College Girl for example.  She has always loved animals.  So it wasn't a shock when she brought home a pet rat.  I did suggest she buy a pet rock next time around.   I'm tired of taking care of her pets while she's gone!

Those rats keep getting bigger! Don't you love the backwards baseball cap??? What a cutie!

 

For a couple of summers, Rat Mom worked as a summer teen at our zoo.  While working in the herpetarium, her job was to smack the rats and mice and feed them to the reptiles, etc.  I vaguely remember she wanted to save a rat and bring it home.  I said "no."  Then she found a hurt duck and called to see if she could bring it home.  She has a hard time going against her grain too!!  Except now she doesn't ask; she just does!

What a beauty!

Our "cheese" face!

dog treat for Trevor.  This rat thinks she's a dog. See we all have to fight our grain!

So going against the grain...something inbred that is unique to me will be W-O-R-K.  Ah, that four letter word.  Instead of using a different "four-letter-word" I think I'll just confess that last night was another "stop eating that *&%$ and move your body!  I AM journaling so I know what I'm doing and when I'm doing it.  That's a start, wouldn't you say?

Stop the Madness

This was originally coined for an anti-drug campaign.  Today I want it to mean stop the madness with guns!  Don't get me wrong, I believe in the 2nd Amendment but something has gone awry.  Since when is the right to bear arms (and protect oneself) to include gunning down innocent people watching a movie in CO?  Or for a gang member to sit in his car and open fire into an electronics store where an innocent man holding his 12 year old's hand while they are buying a gift for the wife and mother gets shot and killed on impact in OK?  Or to open fire on innocent people worshiping God in WI?  Stop the madness!

Just recently "thugs" drove to the Grand Mosque in Oklahoma City at 2:45 a.m. on a Sunday morning and spattered the door with paint using paintball guns.  In my mind, these type of people are the ones you want to watch for the rest of their lives and they definitely should not be allowed to own a gun of any kind....including a BB gun nor a paintball gun.  We have got to stop the madness.  

Fear and hate should have no room in our lives.  Fear causes us to do drastic things.  Hate causes us to purchase an assault weapon.  Now before you mistake what I'm saying, my father was a hunter and owned guns.  He shot and brought home the deer meat- I really never acquired a taste for venison!  Others in my family own hand guns.  They all bought them legally and have taken classes on how to use them-- legally.  It is their right to bear arms.  Personally, I'm not Annie Oakley and have never cared for guns of any kind.  I'm even horrible at laser tag.  A gun just does not feel comfortable in my hands, but I will not forbid anyone else that right.

That being said, we have to get the guns off the black market.  There is no sense in tougher gun control laws against good law-abiding citizens when the bad guys are gonna get them anyway!  We take a stand against drugs and bulimia and cancer-- all things that kill-- let's stop the madness and write our congress and fight for getting the illegal guns off the streets.  I think what happened in Colorado (that lunatic bought them legally!) has opened some eyes on the flaw in the "obtaining a gun legally" system.  So yes, I am for tougher gun laws.  I live in OK and we now have the "Make My Day" law giving citizens and now businesses the right to defend themselves and property without worrying about "the legality of self-defense."  I looked up "open carry" for fire arms.  I don't think Texas and Oklahoma got the memo that you cannot openly carry a weapon.  I have been in both states where I have witnessed a person (non-law enforcement!) packing some heat.

I copied this off Wiki so the laws might have changed in both states.  I have to get to work right now so I cannot keep researching this subject! 

Open carry laws of loaded handguns (OpenCarry.org)^[13]

  Permissive Open Carry State

  Licensed Open Carry State

  Anomalous Open Carry State

  Non-permissive Open Carry State

 

 

 

I didn't mean to get on this soapbox this morning, Grainiacs.  I guess I'm mad at myself for overeating last night.  The madness needs to stop with me.  Have a wonderful and safe day.

Absent-minded Strawberry

Yesterday was a pretty exciting day, Grainiacs.  But it didn't start out that way.

I woke up and every bone (probably muscle) in my body ached.  I got out of bed hunched-back and my legs wouldn't move except for a shuffle.  I felt like Rip VanWinkle waking up from a 50 year nap....could it be?  Could I be 100 years old instead of 52????  Nope, it was my walking exercise!  I remember now.  Timing myself to walk to work.  I'm really ashamed to say when I timed the walk it only turned out to be 1.9 miles.  My eyes were playing tricks on me.  I could have sworn it was a 2.5 to 3 mile jaunt to work!  I think I've mentioned many many times before....my rural town does NOT have good sidewalks.  I was bemoaning this fact with a customer and she remarked that our elementary school STILL does not have a sidewalk.  Sidebar:  it is a new school-- this being it's 3rd year in existence so you'd think that our civic leaders would get a move on and lay a sidewalk so the children don't have to walk in the ditch or worse the street!  No, our city leaders are more worried about fining people because the next door neighbor dog has knocked over your garbage can yet again-- $200.00 fine!!!!  We have a young couple in our church who is "trying" to get ahead but city government keeps fining the pants off them for various reasons and they aren't the only ones.  We have an elderly lady in our community who loves flowers.  She was fined $94.00 because her flowers were keeping her from cutting her grass and weeds.  Amazing!  You ask, well appeal to the judge.  He seems to be in on it!  And if you don't pay, he'll throw you in jail.  I'm asking you-- do I live in Dodge City in the 1800's????  The same few continue to govern this town and they (or their ancestors) have done so since the Land Run.  Okay, enough of my soapbox on that.  There are plenty of things to brag about.

I don't have an exact count but our ladies collected OVER $700 at the brunch for SoleMates.  That means an over $1400 check was written to the organization.  The leader was brought to tears.  And guess what?  Money is still coming in.  We live in a generous time and I thank you for your generosity!  I can't post pictures of the kids (obviously!) and we aren't supposed to know who the recipients are (for privacy reasons) but I might be able to get a few pictures of the actual shoes!  The great thing about this program is the woman in charge takes the children or meets up with them at Wal-Mart.  The parents or guardians are not allowed to go back to the shoe department.  This is time that the children get to pick their very own shoes.  Not shoes that Mom or Dad want them to have.  In the past, the parents have pointed out which ones they want the kids to have and the leader noticed the fallen faces of the kids when they succumb to parent's wishes.  She decided that next year that the kids go with her and parents remain behind in a different department.  She also found that she needed to cut or mark on the shoes on the inside so that parents wouldn't bring back the shoes and get money in exchange.  We live in a fallen world.  Thankfully, the employees of Wal-Mart noticed this type of transaction right away and let the organization's leader know immediately what was happening.  That is a good thing about living in a small town.  Think positive, Strawberry!!!  LOL

I will get off my soapbox and continue getting ready for work....oh one more thing...I was so busy yesterday that I missed eating my mid-morning snack.  My stomach didn't even growl to say "You who, I'm hungry down here!"  At 11:53 I received a phone call from a Texas friend driving from KS through OK and on to TX.  She called to say that she was in my little Rural Town.  So I hopped in my car and met her at the fast food joint.  We talked and she ate and I didn't realize it was time for me to head back to work.  I didn't eat there because I didn't know how many calories were in a taco or a bell so I headed back to work.  I still wasn't hungry but called College Girl (aka Rat Mom) to bring me a slim-fast or atkins shake to tide me over till evening....plus I still had my mid-morning apple.  I have to say, this was not the brightest plan but I didn't have time to plan out the meals.  Interruptions will happen, Grainiacs.  It's best to know what items you can eat at a restaurant BEFORE you get that call to come and meet.  Tonight I have some homework.  I'm making a notebook listing what I can eat at the various fine dining places here in Rural Town.  Taco Bell, Taco Mayo, Sonic, Braum's, Kentucky Fried Chicken--aren't I blessed?  LOL

Good intentions...yeah, right!

I decided to walk to church yesterday by way of "how long would it take me to walk to work?" You see, Grainiacs, in going against my grain I'm also trying to reduce my carbon footprinting.  I live in such a small town, you know and walking is good for your health ....and....who the hell thought up this hair-brained idea anyway????

I set out at 9:05 a.m. on a not so brisk 77* temperature morning.  All was fine (or so I thought), I looked at my phone and 15 minutes had passed and I wasn't even out of my neighborhood yet!  Uh oh.  I felt a tiny drip of perspiration.  I kept walking.  Then thoughts of calling Hubby to come and save me popped in and out of my mind.  It had happened before-- he wouldn't be shocked but I like to play a game so I began thinking of excuses I had already given him.  Hey, I hadn't used the "I NEED to go to the bathroom, come and get me quick" excuse yet!

The cell phone remained in my bag except for the occasional glance at the time.  I wasn't even half-way to work yet.  A tidal wave of sweat began flowing down my back and forehead.  I was out of the neighborhood and onto the heat stroke area of no trees.  I cursed myself for not applying sunblock onto my lily-white skin.  You know in this day and age with holes in the ozone layer, etc. it is work to remain lily-white!

Maybe this isn't such a good idea right now.  By the time I got to the bank (35 minutes later) I had sweated and patted all my foundation right off my face.  My eye make-up was nicely adorning my upper lip creating a straggly purple and black mustache.  I was huffing and puffing towards the end of my jaunt and had sucked in a few flying insects.  When I smiled, I flashed something more resembling the grill of my car rather than thousands of dollars worth of orthodontics.

I figure in order for me to walk to work, I'd need to carry along with me:

• shampoo
• towel
• change of clothes
• change of shoes
• wash cloth
• face cleaner
• make-up kit
• strong anti-antiperspirant/ deodorant
• tooth brush & toothpaste
• floss for de-bugging
• eye wash and contact solution to get the sweat out of my eyes and contacts

I recall my son training for the Philmont Boy Scout camp.  For weeks that boy walked the neighborhood carrying all his sleeping gear, supplies, clothing, etc. on his back. We were new to the area and I know the neighborhood watch committee was eye-balling him.  I have a mental picture of what I'd look like carrying all my worldly possessions on my back.  I'd be crawling after 15 minutes!  I hear now's the time to buy a new car!!  I think I'll purchase an eco-friendly vehicle instead....that or move closer to work and church.  Lest you think I give up that easily, Grainiacs, I have the resolve to keep practicing at the walking to work idea.  Fall is right around the corner and the temperatures are lowering.  Why it's 66* this morning.  I will keep with my "can do" attitude, though, I won't be walking to work THIS morning.  LOL

Happy Birthday shout-out to a peach of a Grainiac!  Happy Birthday, Peaches!!!

Still counting Saturday

I must admit I'm having fun counting calories.  Who'da thunk it?  I'm the one who likes things fast and easy.  Think fast food!  That has been my problem with losing weight; I have that all or nothing mentality.  It might have taken 10 years to put on the weight but I want to lose it in a month!

A while back I bought this book on sale at Hastings-- I don't even remember when or why now.  It has been sitting on my recipe bookshelf for years!  It isn't the easiest book to read yet and the internet is chock-full of calorie counting websites so I wouldn't go out and buy one...unless it is on sale and let's face it, what girl doesn't like a sale?

The great thing for me about counting calories is I can get lost in this book or on the web looking up foods so I'm not thinking about how hungry (or not hungry) I am.  So far no mindless eating.

Hubby got into the act and set up an excel sheet for me.  I'm going to town with this counting calories, right???  I wanted to share what it looks like.  Hubby is the excel genius so he programmed it with my calories for the day.  Every time I input my food and its calories, it is automatically deducted from the spreadsheet.  By the end of the day I'll see how many I have left.  As long as my figure is in parentheses, I'm fine and on target!  I'm also tracking what time of day I tend to eat.  It isn't showing on this spreadsheet picture but I've gone back and added.  This way I can predict when I'll be getting hungry and can make sure I have a healthy snack or am close to home so I can eat a healthy meal.

Decently and Orderly! Good Presbyterian calorie counting

You will notice that I had a lite vanilla coffee at 9:30 p.m.  NEVER AGAIN!!!!!  I was tossing and turning all night and into the morning.  I could barely lift myself out of bed on Friday morning.  But on Friday, I had that delicious "pick-me-up" drink at 3:00 p.m. at work. 

Kitzilla says she is counting calories too.  

let me wash my food first

oops, missed a spot

num num num

how many calories are in this clothes rack?

Fabulous Friday

Success!!!  I went the whole day yesterday counting calories and stayed under my target amount in order to "lose" weight.  I didn't get hungry and snack.  I talked myself out of those "you want to eat ________"....(I will not fill in the blanks because one Grainiac said she starts craving whatever item I post....so for you- fill in your own blanks! LOL).  I drank water when "something else" was calling me.  Since I have kicked my diet coke habit (I really have!  I don't crave it at all and since I've been without since July 23, I don't want to break it.), I am drinking Sonic's diet cherry limeade. Oh yum.  Now that I'm counting calories I went to their website and found out a small diet cherry limeade has 14 calories....a route 44--  26 calories!!!!!  So I will start packing my own afternoon drinks from now on, thank you very much, Sonic for making a great alternative to my diet coke addiction and adding a bajillion calories to it!!!!! 

Note: it's calorie free and sparkling!!!

 I'm running late....what's new....so I'll post more about my calorie counting later.  I survived the time-warp Thursday.  Have a fabulous Friday, Grainiacs!

Time-Warp Thursday

I remember a time long years ago when a (wo)man wanted to lose weight they counted calories.  Do you remember that?  It got me to thinking this morning while I was showering:  have we lost something now that diet programs are too easy and we don't have to work as hard at losing weight?  For some reason putting ON the weight is super easy.  Taking it off?  Not so much.

So for today and for the rest of the week (hopefully, Grainiacs) I will go back to the archaic way of counting calories AND writing down what I eat.  Wish me luck.  Traveling in my time machine will be dangerous.  If you don't hear from me again it's because I'm stuck in the 60's and we didn't have home computers and internet and blogs back then OR I'm curled up in the corner with a box of chocolates!

Oliver prefers to receive the attention!

A book to read on my journey.  Not as exciting as 50 shades of grey- which I haven't read-  yet!

Wonderful Wednesday morning

In keeping with the alliteration, it WILL be a Wonderful Wednesday.  Today our ladies are having their Christmas in August brunch.  The whole fellowship hall is decorated in red and green and evergreens and Christmas plates and decorations.  It isn't quite up to the wonderful winter wonderland we have during Advent and Christmas but it does knock down the temperature a notch looking at Christmas things.

Every year, a speaker comes to give us an update on a community program called SoleMates. Not to toot our own horn but our church ladies have matched dollar for dollar what the SoleMates group collects.  When it first started we donated about $250 or $300.  Last year it was over $550!!!  This program was started at least 10 years ago...maybe even during the land run when folks wore out their shoes, who knows?  But today's SoleMates collects money and then takes children in need to buy a brand new pair of shoes so they can start out the school year on an even footing with the rest of the kids.  Teachers had noticed that children were coming to school barefoot or in shoes 10 times too big for their little feet.  Sometimes they had mix-matched shoes on.  The poverty in my little rural town is huge.  Children on assisted lunch program is astronomical.  The majority of children take backpack lunches (provided by the school) home on the weekends.  During the summer the schools open for breakfasts and lunches so the children will be able to eat during the summertime.

Every community has its poor.  Its biblical.  Jesus says the poor will always be with us.  What wonderful Wednesday wishlist do we have for Christmas that will bless others?  Why wait till Christmas?  It's Christmas in August!

P.S.  I got about 5 minutes of exercise in yesterday so today I am walking to the church for the ladies brunch.

Terrific Tuesday Morning

Well our temp is not exactly 66* like yesterday but 75* is terrific too....way better than 115* let me tell you!  Yesterday was a good day- I stayed on track with the eating, came home from work, and fell asleep on the couch.  So much for exercising!  Today there are no excuses.  I WILL get some movement in my day.  I don't have to block out 30 or 45 minutes or an hour.  I can just start with 10 minutes walking around the house if that's what it takes.  I can do a few crunches on the floor while watching TV or jogging in place.  Whatever it is, it will be moving my body.

In their book Body Clutter, Marla Cilley (The FlyLady) and Leanne Ely (The Dinner Diva) have a chapter called "Excuses, Excuses!!"    By saying "My weight hasn't changed in 15 years"--that is an excuse AND perfectionism, because by saying that, [you're] really saying, I'm not willing to change.  And being unwilling to change is simply another way of being paralyzed by perfectionism because if you can't do it right, you're not going to do it [at] all.  

This really spoke to me.  Wow.  I have yo-yo-ed up and down for OVER 15 years.  I lose 10 or 20 and boom, it's back on.  This time I lost but haven't put it (all) back on and then some.  I'm proud of that fact but I can't stop there.

So today is a Terrific Tuesday.  Hope you have a terrific day too.

Kitzilla is definitely planning for a terrific day:

Good Monday Morning!

What a great day today is.  The temperature here in Rural, USA is 66*!!!!!!  I opened the door to let the furmily out and a gust of cool breeze swept right by my face.  I'm wearing short sleeves in honor of the wonderful weather God has sent.  Thank you, Lord.

It is also a good day because I had a wonderful weekend.  Rat Mom is home and I spent time with all my little ones in the strawberry patch this weekend....even the bigger one too.  Saturday I picked up Rat Mom and Career Girl met us to go shopping.  Retail therapy-- just what the Dr. ordered.  I also picked this great find.  I've been needing a laundry hamper for me.  In the past I bought generic looking ones and somehow on some certain day I seem to lose possession of my laundry hamper.  Well, no more, Boys!!!!  This is MY hamper.  Can't you tell???!!!!

Oliver has to check it out first. That's one big strawberry!!!

He moved so I could capture the cuteness of it!

 Cute, cute, cute, strawberry hamper.  Only problem is it is so small--2 bras and 3 undies fit in this thing!  Not really, but yes, it is small.  The good news is I can't put off doing my laundry.  Bad news is the floor space for throwing dirty clothes on is immense!  LOL  This going against the grain can really suck, you know?

Rip it and die, Cat!!!!!

 Oliver decided it would make a nice punching bag. 

It is also a great day because I have been diet coke or any caffeinated dark cola FREE since July 23rd.  My new favorite drink is diet cherry limeade from Sonic.  Hubby found an alternate at the store.  I found a convenience store that sells a sort of "crunchy ice" that I like and now I can have an inexpensive bubbly fix.  Life is good (isn't that a brand name too?)!  While shopping with my girlies this past weekend, Career Girl introduced me to 2 new items.  One will help keep me hydrated.  I love the taste of this water.  It isn't cheap, though, but it will help increase my water consumption because it has a great taste.

This next item will tame my chocolate crave and help keep me regular!

This is delicious--just don't eat more than one!

 Some of you know what I'm talking about!  Don't eat too many Fiber One products in a day.  Oh boy, not a good feeling, sound, or smell!  Nuff said (well, probably too much said to begin with, but now I'm stopping.).

If the small box is good, the BIG box is BETTER!!!!!  Thanks, Dad.

 Grainiacs, I hope you are having or will have a great Monday morning!  It's a beautiful day and a new start for any projects or goals we might have today.  Now go tackle the day.

Another manic Friday

Tomorrow Rat Mom is coming home!  She has been gone all summer.  Unfortunately that has given me a whole summer to "junk" up her abode while "straightening" up the rest of the place.  LOL  Poor kid is going to be tired and ready to relax.  I guess I know what I'm doing today after work.

Speaking of work, yesterday after work I turned on the sprinkler and watered our poor dry crunchy grass.  I think I mentioned my spoiled pets are so spoiled that they have begun peeing and pooping on the back patio because they don't want to hurt their precious paws by walking in the dead hard grass.  Sheesh, what divas...now where do they get that?!?  But look what's overhead...

Oh I hope those clouds send us rain.  As I was taking the picture a few drops of rain fell on me.  Yipee!!

Our poor plants and grass really need it.

Crunchy Grass!  Hurts little paws.  Hey I wouldn't want to sit on a cactus feeling potty either!

Did I tell you the boys went for a grooming?

Here they are in all their splendor...

Brooks is getting cataracts.  That is not the red eye or rather green eye of the camera!

Garbage Gut looks a tad possessed

I bet you thought I was talking about the human boys, right Mom?  Well, they are next in line for the grooming.  Their long hair is not getting in the way of their toilet hygiene....well?.......No just kidding.

TGIF, Grainiacs!!!!