just 10 more

Hmmmm…..came across one of those lists of  25 “no sweat” ways to lose weight and it has left me scratching my head and a bit steamed at the supposedly “easy” ways to lose weight.  Maybe I just haven’t waited L-O-N-G enough.  Suggestions like—switch to 2% milk and 25 lbs. will melt away in a year; HA!!!  I’ve had nothing BUT SKIM for at least 5yrs.  Cut out sodas and lose another 20 easily—-I had some diet Sprite last month (about 4oz.) ; must have blew that one!!!  Can’t tell you the last time I had a real soda.  Maybe these suggestions expire with age—they don’t work on anyone over 40 or something.  Makes me wonder how heavy I’d get on a month of eating like a NORMAL person!  Like I USED to be–sniff, sniff. Enough!!!!

Anyway, horse camp  finished with a show for parents this afternoon.  A. did her dressage exercise w/o errors.  Yay!  Handled her horse (Usher) well in the flat work and jumps.  I was told today (by a parent) that her horse has a bit of  ”personality” and history and has thrown many a rider and the regulars at that barn are a bit leery of him which is why she ended up with him all week.   Seemed fine to me.  He just seemed small  compared to Rachel.

No transgressions in the food dept.; been really good for a grand total of maybe 2 days.  I read that people have been on their food plan w/o erring for X number of  days, or that they’ve exercised X number of days in a row and I wonder how in the world they do it…(and X is a huge number!!!!)….I am amazed by some of ya’all.  I have come to the conclusion that I need to stop grabbing handfuls of cashews as snacks; they may be “good” fat but too calorie dense and fat is fat whether good or bad.

Got a list of books and authors to Ruby; reading Marcia Muller—The Ever-Running Man—–right now.  Walking my neighbor’s dogs with A. (2 huskeys–yep, she got another one) while she’s away. Poor Betsy, we come in and she smells them and gets all upset but hard to handle 3 dogs even with 2 people especially since Betsy doesn’t like the new one who insists they will play. 

Off to bed with my book and hot milk (life in the fast lane, dontcha know); g’nite chickadees.

Didn’t ever make it on the exercise bike last night; went to garage and dh had so much stuff leaning on it I didn’t even try.

Took A. to horsey camp then went to bank and gym; it’s a whole different group there late morning.  Wanted to do 3 miles on tm but settled for 2.6 as I was absolutely dripping sweat all over—my t-shirt was just soaked.  Went up front to the rower where it was quite a bit cooler and the temp guage on the wall up there said 80; so god knows how hot it was in the rear of the gym—did 7 of the 10 minutes I had planned; I was too wiped out by the heat.  They are “working on” the ac; problem is, they’ve BEEN working on it for weeks and it’s getting worse and worse.

Anyway………food: grapenuts flakes w/skim, V8, decaf tea w/skim……..lunch: roast beef sandwich on onion roll, mixed greens salad w/ tomatoes and cucs, balsamic dsg., chow chow…………dinner: bar-b-que pork (ate 2/3), sm. amts. of cole slaw and beans, 4 hush puppies w/ a bit of butter

 Picked A. up at 5pm and encountered a long black snake (at least, I think it was a black snake and they are good guys) on the 2 lane road out of the stables………he was crossing the road, so  I put my blinkers on, stopped, and held up traffic for him.  He made it safely across.  My good deed for the day.  This stable where they have camp is a huge stable—-90 horses!!!  A. had a super time according to her—lots of jumping, dressage, and some classroom theory.  In bed already!!!

I have a dull headache; been with me most of the day.  Don’t know if it’s allergies or from being so miserable hot in the gym…….gonna put my feet up, read my book, a Dick Francis, make my mug of hot milk shortly and hit the bed.

G’nite, chickadees.

Hmmmm…anybody have any experience with these?  I took A. to her mowing job yesterday then dropped her off at one of the historic homes for volunteer work and followed signs to what was termed an estate sale.  I always thought it meant someone died and all belongings were being sold.  People were alive and well; it was basically a yard sale being run by a business.  Everything had a price but you could dicker or put a bid in a box and have them call you later if no one else bought and the people accepted your bid.  Saw a few things I wouldn’t have minded having but didn’t feel like playing the pricing game.  That, plus the fact that I don’t NEED anything.  Hmmmm….there is one painting that I keep going back to in my mind…..oh, and a mirror, and a dresser and a wrought (sp?) iron plant stand…….oh, well—wasn’t meant to be or I would have bought at the time; anyway, feeling guilty cause my credit card bill was way high this month.

Food yesterday: Lo sodium V8, grapenuts flakes w/skim, decaf tea w/skim……….lunch: Arby’s french dip minus the cheese………….later: cherries, blueberries and cashews and 4 of A.’s canned  raviolis.

Food today:  grapenuts flakes w/skim, decaf tea w/skim……….lunch: 1 and 1/2 hotogs (Hebrew National–fat 1.5 gms and 45 cals each) w/ 1 1/2 slices white wheat bread and mustard,  chow chow (this is basically marinated and cooked vegtables in liquid of sugar, vinegar, mustard, water, flour, salt and tumeric)—served cold, made a big container last night, maybe a local (Pa.) thing.  Also called “End of the Garden Relish”; but it’s not relish—never understood that.  My mom canned it every year; I’m not that ambitious—-cut the recipe in 1/4 and it still lasts forever in the fridge.    Dinner: 2 pieces pizza–one of them was very small, 1/2 Greek salad, small serving mint chocolate chip ice cream………will have a mug of hot milk later in bed

A. starts horse camp tomorrow—I’ll have 9-5 to myself, what freedom in the summer!  MUST hit the gym!!!!  Going out to the garage to the bike; will do at least 15 min., hopefully hard .  Must wear pedometer tomorrow.  All I did today was laundry, cook, run A. back and forth to the stable, move a few plants, and water them, sweep patio—–not much to show for the day.

Remember—new week=== clean slate, chickadees!   G’nite.

No, not my double one on my face; the chinchillas.  They went home today with much trauma and excitement.  A.’s friend and her mom and 3 little brothers came around noon to get them; they were transferred smoothly to a small bird cage for travel since the big cage had to be put on it’s side in the mini van.  All loaded with much discussion (read fighting) about who would hold them, the bird cage came apart and 4 chins were running all over the van closed in with 4 fighting kids; the mom was outside.  They were SLOWLY caught—the heat was getting to them and I ended up driving A., her friend, and the chins to their home in my car as the tension level in the van was not conducive to anyone’s well being at that point.  The poor mom, she was being so calm and trying to be reasonable in the face of  an awful situation.  I suppose she does this every day—OMG!!!  I couldn’t, I just couldn’t; and I know these to be really good kids.  Hats off to all with more than one child.  I came home and took a nap.

Life has been much slower since the end of school.  Sleeping well, sleeping in till 7-8am every day—heaven.  Didn’t make gym Mon., did Wed., planning on it tomorrow.  Had new orthotics made for A.’s running shoes by her physical therapist this week. Food has varied from very good to totally awful.  Today was awful–one reason why I made the effort to get on here and post.  Need to blog it all again and get accountable; I slip SOOOO far, SOOOO fast!!!!!!

Went to annual review of A. sched. for next year w/ head of IB program—-she said that our IB kids who took IB exams last year scored well enough to put the school in the top 2% of all the IB programs worldwide.  This year they had 3 seniors who attained GPA’s of higher than 4.9 so they gave them all top honors.  A.’s swimming with some very smart fish, she still seems happy with it all and wants to do this.  I can’t imagine myself making the decisions she’s made at her age.

We saw the Rachel the wonder horse last night.  She behaved very well; calm as could be.  Took along one of the women (a lovely woman from France) from my exercise group as she likes horses and wanted to meet Rachel.  A’s lesson was cancelled as her instructor had an injured pony on a neighboring farm to attend to.  She had a good ride anyway and horse camp is next week so she should get her fill of horses (as if that’s possible!!!).  The following week a day trip to DC is in the works.  Also, her first semi-formal event!!!!!!!  July will be orchestra camp; she teaches at the early sessions and usually plays with the later one…..don’t know exactly how that will work this year with her switching to cello.

The weather has been great the last couple days, no humidity, not too hot.  The only problem, and it has been terrible at times, is all the smoke from the wildfires west and south of us.

Summertime and life is good, chickadees!  I could get used to this!!!!

My dh is NOT an animal person; allergic to cats, barely tolerates (although I know he REALLY loves her) the dog.   No snakes, lizards, rodents….no, no no.  So when A.’s friend C. called needing emergency sitting for her chinchillas we said yes (after making sure A. reminded her we have a hound) and I told her to let me tell dad.  I told him we were having 4 house guests and he was so relieved it wasn’t people that he forgot to be too upset.  They (2 adults and their 2 babies) are in a spare bedroom/storage room.  The door is closed and we put a baby gate in the doorway just in case.  At 14, I’m not sure how much Betsy the basenji would care but she does still chase squirrels; never catches them but……   Anyway they are the cutest things!!!!  In a double decker cage, set in a large frig. box as the kids can squeeze out the cage.  They have a wheel and run like hamsters on it.  Also take “dust baths” in a little bin.  The babies are still nursing.  We have them till Thursday.  I’m just glad she didn’t need us to take her piranha; I find him most unattractive.

Made it to gym today—3.15 mi. on tm, ladies lite aerobics, a little achey, not bad at all.

 Food—good       Need to get on the scale again.  I lost 4 in May, 1  in June, then had gained 2 back the last time I hopped on.   SO…..of course my way of dealing with this is to not get weighed!!!!!!  STUPID, STUPID, STUPID!!!!!

Saw Rachel a few hrs. early evening.  A. had a good session with her.  On Wednesday, during A.’s lesson, a beautiful fox ran right thru the training ring.  I was surprised Rachel didn’t react.  Have seen this fellow out there several times but never so close.

Off to check on the “house guests”, then bed.  G’nite, chickadees.

I must have it; otherwise why would I think I could repeatedly climb up and go down a very bumpy twisting four story high slide at the water park today and not feel like I’ve been run over by a steamroller???  I truly DO forget that I’m in my mid-50’s and people in their 50’s don’t usually do such things.  We had a race there today and free access to the park after.  There were tons of people from the running club and my gym and I’d like to know just what I was thinking.  I’ve taken aspirin; must make it to gym tomorrow or I’ll never hear the end of it.  It WAS FUN!!!! but, worth it????  Guess we’ll see tomorrow, chickadees.

Need to learn to act my age—–NOT!!!!!

I finally,FINALLY got over that magic 10,000 steps!!!!!  Just over 14,100 for the day.  Gym this am: weight machines, light on upper body–rt. shoulder still just isn’t quite right, didn’t go over 70 lbs. on any upper body machines…….3.64 mi. on tm……..10 min hard row……ladies lite aerobics.

Bfsk was usual, lunch was at the home (just beautiful) of one of the women from the exercise group; a pot luck; ate as well as possible,  had some gelato late afternoon and just a few min ago one slice lo fat cheese and a few black olives, will have some warm milk (skim) yet before bed.

We went to the stable tonight—Rachel was just fine; no limp.  A. only rode about 10 min and just walked her because of the extreme heat.  Flies were awful so we washed her down well and loaded her up with fly spray before turning her out for the night.

Good night, chickadees; going to read the paper yet and turn in.

Wore my pedometer all Saturday; full day with no real sit down time, still logged less than 6,000 steps.  Did many loads of laundry, carried water to all the plants, cleaned a bit.  Temp reached 101; we had a record and super humid too.  That evening our club had a race; A. ran (got third), I volunteered at the finish line.  They shortened it from a 5K to only 2mi. because of the heat.  Picnic afterward and door prizes. I WON!!!!!…….a month long membership at an upscale and very pricey local  gym—-I’m sure they would take one look at the ratty clothes I exercise in and not let me through the door.  It can be used any time in the next year; gotta think about this.  Anyway, I’m happy at my gym (and it’s free, courtesy of my dh’s old job).  Food—not too bad, except for one scoop of B&J mint chocolate chip ice cream on the way home from the race.

BAD night; awake about 3 hrs. in the middle of the night; ended up coming down to the recliner—that hasn’t happened for a bit.  Still max hot today; 98 on my thermometer in deep shade about 11:30 am.  Had orchestra dinner and awards tonight.  I picked up the cake.  Gotta say they did a great job on it—school colors and pic of a violin on it.  We sat with A.’s orchestra teacher; I really like that woman.  Dinner was delish but not on ANYONE’S  diet, I’m SURE my calories are in the stratosphere for today and I didn’t even finish.  The dipping oil had wonderful herbs in it, and the bread, OMG!!!!  I know I ate too much but $26.00 is way more than I usually pay for a meal and no way was I gonna walk out of there hungry—even a little bit!!!

Judy said on her blog—new week, clean slate and this is one chickadee who needs that clean slate!!!

Sleep tight, chickadees!

L-O-N-G week…….A. had lots of stuff to finish up for school; late, late nights for her, plus the orchestra concert and other usual activities.  Next week is just a couple exams she has to take; exempt from most.  I still wish she hadn’t done IB—high school just shouldn’t be this hard or insane……or expensive, I just wrote another check for 40.00 for some review book for next year and the awards banquet for orchestra (this Sun.) costs 52.00 for both of us.  She got  the “most improved” award for the soccer team at that dinner.  AND cross country practice for fall starts one week after school ends.  The summer work is shaping up as endless, including a reading list of 33 books for English alone.  Hours and hours of required volunteer work.  VACATION??????  What vacation? 

Went out to see Rachel tonight for the first time in over a week; poor horse, only to find her gait off.  Don’t know if she pulled something, turned an ankle, or maybe it’s from the farriers work.  Didn’t ride; told the stable owner who said she wasn’t like that when they turned her out a couple hrs. earlier.  Same thing we were told when we found the eye problem.  Emailed her owner too.

Been hot but we’ve been somewhat saved by a pretty nice cooling sea breeze—west of here they had mid-90’s, we got up to 88 yesterday.  They’re talking triple digits for the week-end though.  We have a race tomorrow evening; it’s close to the water so maybe it won’t be too bad.

My neighbor had her first ripe tomato this week and I have one starting to change color, should have it by mid-week.

Gym today:  2.88 mi. on tm w/incline, ladies light aerobics—tired, A’s late nights are catching up to me too.

Food:  Bfsk:McDonalds bacon, egg, cheese biscuit, decaf coffee w/creamer………snack: banana, 1/2 Wasa cracker………….snack: 2 jalapeno stuffed olives, f.f. cottage cheese, thin sliced deli turkey… dinner: pulled pork bar-b-que (ate about 2/3 of the serving), 2  small hushpuppies w/butter, baked beans, cole slaw……..(kept the snacks light cause I knew I’d be having this for dinner)

G’nite, chickadees.

a nap coming on……and I shouldn’t need one; I had a full 7 hrs. last night for the first time in ages.  I have given up Jay Leno; didn’t even watch Boston Legal last night, usually reading and just catch bits and pieces anyway.

I was down another pound today—-got on and off the scale 3 times and yep, there it was, one more gone.  Total amazement cause yesterday I was afraid I was pigging out big time and blowing it.  Even had 2 bits of Gharidelli (sp?) dark with raspberry filling—it was in a pkg. from a friend (?).  So….one down for June, so far (being positive!!)

Hot and humid here….really more like Aug.  no days under 90 in the forcast for the next week.  Storms later.  Later—never got those storms:  94 and super humid!!!!!

Gym this am: 2.30 mi. on tm w/incline, 8 min. hard row………then went out to bfsk with a couple gym buddies.

Food: V8, Grapenuts Flakes w/skim, decaf tea w/skim………….late bfsk: 2 over easy eggs, 1 1/2 toast, 2 pieces bacon, o.j., about 2/3 of the hash browns—and it wasn’t a big serving…….almost 2pm, starting to get hungry………..dinner: f.f. cottage cheese, 4 thin slices thin deli turkey, bowl of veg. soup……….after concert: sm. hot fudge sundae, left a bit uneaten

Planted a bunch of stuff yesterday— 3 more tomatoes, pineapple coleus, mini dahalias, a caladium…….still have a few impatients to get in and some hosta……….tomorrow am, maybe.

 Orchestra concert tonight, got brownies to make yet and need to get there early to help set up.  Later:  Decided it was soooo hot didn’t want to turn the stove on and bake; ended up buying peanut butter cookies.  Checked plate after concert, despite being store bought, they were GONE.

See ya, chickadees! G’nite!