just 10 more

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!

Still down that last pound from the very end of May so it wasn’t an error, which I’m very glad for.  Had a super busy week-end—out of the house all Friday eve, all day Sat., and all of Sun. from 1pm on.  Way too much; the end of school may do me in.  Bad for good choices—end of year stuff including orchestra concert with food after and an awards celebration at a very expensive upscale Italian place and I’m in charge of the cake (!!!!). At least the video essay on Macbeth is done and handed in; didn’t ever think those kids would get done.

Gym today:  2.5mi. on tm w/incline, 8 min. hard row, ladies lite aerobics—-geeze; even the ladies are having a cook out next Monday evening!!! 

The one thing I did do when I was at home Sun. morning was to make a big pot of chili and a big pot of veg. soup for the week.

Food today: bfsk: grapenuts flakes cereal w/skim, V8, blueberries…….lunch: mixed greens salad w/ green olives, tomatoes, red pepper, cucs and balsamic vinegar dsg.,    end of chicken and brown rice (very little), cantaloupe…………dinner: bowl veg soup

Time for bed, chickadees.

It’s been an insanely long day but I wanted to check in before midnight as it’s the last day of the month and I can say I was down a pound this am…….so, now it’s 4 for the month of May.  This is the best I’ve done in over a year for a monthly total lost.  I looked at my chart from last year and I’m 3 1/2 lbs. heavier than last year at this time, but I’m in a much better frame of mind than when I last posted.  Some days ya just can’t face it, ya know?  Especially the forever part.

I’ve been good about food.  Did 20 hard mins. on the exercise bike Thurs. night and gym Fri.:  3.12 mi. on tm w/incline, 6min. hard row, ladies lite aerobics.

Onward to June, chickadees!!!!!!

Wow, it got down in the 40’s last night—thought we were done with all that.  Sure was cold taking A. to the bus stop this am. at 6:15.  Just moved my tomatoes into the first patch of sunlight.  We have soooo much shade, I’m carrying them about the yard to different spots so they can catch the sun as it moves.  It’s not hard now but come July when the cages are in the pots and they have grown, it gets a mite difficult.

Gym yesterday: ladies lite aerobics and 1.68mi. w/ incline on tm.

Attended a function at A.’s school last night; ate 2 small (1″x 1″) bar thingys; one lemon and the other pecan; otherwise food has been very good.  Down one more pound on the scale yesterday and still today, so that makes 3 for the month.  Not my goal of 5 but more than half.  Now I sound like a certain 15 yr. old I know—” I know it’s a C but I only missed a B by one point.”  It’s STILL a C and might as well have been on the lower end and missed a D by one point—a C is a C is a C.  And 3 pounds is NOT 5.  I’m sooooo tired of this and the thought that I’m going to be doing it FOREVER is almost too much today.  I guess that’s why we do it one day at a time, like alcoholics.  I want to be rid of 15 lbs. and I want it gone NOW!!!!!!!  It always amazes me (and not in a good way) that I weigh more now than when I started this blog, full of fervor and resolve and determination.  The first 30 had already come off right like clockwork; thought I could hop in here when I stalled and POOF—the last 10 would just melt off.  HAH; it’s a whole YEAR later and I’m STILL here, still plugging away, mostly overall losing ground.  Frankly, I think I’m having a temper tantrum…..I’m so frustrated!!!!!!  Sometimes the thought of always making the “good” choice for the REST of my LIFE sucks, just sucks.  Yes, I said sucks!Enough of this, I can’t stand myself today.  sorry.

We got in late Sunday night; Lexington was beautiful—temp was great, clear skies, just wonderful.  Had a 5th floor room w/balcony and a view to kill for.  Mountains everywhere you looked.  I get soooooo sick of the flat here, miss my mountains and I drank in my fill with my eyes this week-end!!!!

The horse competition was not quite what I expected.  I was thinking about a course something like a golf course with jumps for the horses.  WELL……it was almost knee high WEEDS and up and down rough walking for miles and miles and I have a huge blister to prove it.  There were 2 cross country courses; one more difficult—included one jump off for the horses that  was called the Geronimo—it was taller than my daughter!!!!  5′ 2″.  This is the course we headed to first; the third girl over the jump where we were sitting fell off and got somewhat trampled by her horse; had to be taken off in an ambulance.  She was back Sunday; not riding though.  We saw dressage, both cross country courses and stadium jumping.  Missed steeplechase.  Sunday, saw some of the awards even.

Food for the week-end and holiday was pretty good; only one bad thing–a Mc Donalds hot fudge sundae.  Didn’t gain any per the scale this am. 

Came home partly on the Blue Ridge Parkway which is a route you MUST try if ever in the area.  Gorgeous, gorgeous scenery.

Gym this am: weight machines–still easy on the arms, 2.77mi. w/sl. incline on the treadmill, speed 2.8 to 3.6.

Food: grapenuts flakes w/ skim, tomato juice, decaf tea w/ skim…….snack: 1/2 Wasa, 1/2 pear…………..lunch: broccoli, brown rice, chicken, fruit salad of blueberries, cantaloupe and pear…………

Today starts the holiday week-end.  A. and I will be leaving, probably at the crack of dawn, for Lexington (about 5 hrs. away) tomorrow.  Don’t like the idea of being on the highway in all the traffic but she really wants to see the competition being held this week-end at the Va. Horse Center.  I guess it’s pretty high level if you follow the horse world—I don’t, but she’s raving about the chance to meet some people named O’Conner.  It’s dressage, cross country and stadium jumping leading up to the Olympics.  Staying over Sat. night—outrageous prices, btw, but it’s not like we do this often, in fact, never before stayed over and it’s a lot of driving for one day.

Made it on the exercise bike yesterday.  Didn’t make gym today cause A. had a late start at school.  Later this evening I’m going to a flee market and antique show up at the convention center.

Food today: grapenuts flakes w/ skim, V8, banana bread……………….banana for snack………….lunch: 3 jalapeno stuffed olives, cottage cheese, 1 Hebrew National lo fat hot dog, 1 piece whitewheat and mustard, blueberries and cantaloupe…………dinner will be salmon and a big salad w/ tomatoes, red pepper and cucs.

Weight is same; still only 2 down for the month.  Wednesday night I did have a scoop of mint chocolate chip—no will power that night! Other than that food has been really good.

A. just got home from school; gotta find something for her to eat and finish up the laundry.

Have yourselves all great week-ends, chickadees!!!

I’m actually sitting in front of the computer with (hopefully) no one ready to kick me off because they desperately need it.  I’ve gotten a few other blogs read and some comments made but haven’t gotten to my own for way too long.

I need to clarify or correct some things from previous posts, mea culpa; mea maxima culpa.  OK  #1. When I wrote that there were 18 (or whatever) tornados south of us, I didn’t mean all 18 touched down or caused damage—just that 18 were spotted, I think 3 touched down from that day, plenty, but a lot less than 18.   #2. The vet was called and came out to check Rachel’s eye but the decision to call him (and the bill) belongs to her owner; A. and I simply alerted the stable owner and the horses’ owner and actually it was A.’s riding instructor who said it shouldn’t wait till morning.  #3. The cello music really isn’t awful ( I reserve that word for the brief foray a few years ago into oboe); it’s just that beginning cello is far, far removed from the beautiful violin music I’m used to hearing coming from her room.  Violin has certainly helped, she’s well into the second year cello book already.  Sorry for misleading or confusing anyone.

I’ve been busy but not terribly so, just couldn’t get in front on the computer and stay there.  Volunteered at 2 races last week-end; a high school fund raiser and an elementary PTA one, both fun, well organized and great people to work with.  On the way to the h.s. one I saw an eagle soaring above and being harassed terribly by a couple crows.  When I was leaving the race I saw another one; like to think it was the same eagle and he got away from the crows!  Early Sunday am, I was still in bed, about 7am, and I heard loud, loud bird noises in the backyard.  Got up and went to a back bedroom, and there, less than 10 feet away, on a branch in the river birch, was a huge red tail hawk with all the smaller birds giving him h*ll.  He looked at me (I think he looked disgusted) and flew off.  He was awesome, really awesome.

I made gym Monday: tm. 2.34 mi. and ladies lite aerobics, will go again tomorrow.  Weight is still down 2 for the month, doubt if I’ll make the 5 by the end of the month.  Going away 2 days, just overnight Saturday to Lexington to watch a horse competition.  Friday I’m supposed to go to an antiques show with one of the aerobics women. Our strawberries are gone, never did get to freeze any–they didn’t last that long.

Rachel’s eye is much better; riding lesson tomorrow night.  We were supposed to be at the school board meeting tonight for A.’s political action credit but she decided to skip it, fine by me, I was more than ready to come home.  When I get off here, I have one short errand to run and then I’m going to be glued to my book and the tv. for a couple hrs. then bed.

G’nite chickadees.

Well, maybe not forever, but today for sure.  Went picking, dragged dh along (he’s off today and tomorrow).  For someone who went along grumpy and out of sorts it sure was hard to convince him we had enough and could leave.  Gave a few pounds to my neighbor.  Have eaten some; will freeze what’s left after tomorrow.  YUM!!!  I didn’t get picking last year and made up my mind that I wasn’t about to miss out 2 yrs. in a row.

While I was down country, I stopped to see Rachel–we went for A.’s lesson last night and she appeared to have something wrong with one eye when we went out to bring her in.  Vet was called and she has a small ulcerated area, medicated now and looking a lot better, poor gal.

I’m tired; between the picking and all the weeding and planting I did tonight I think I’ll be sore tomorrow.  Gym tomorrow so we’ll see how it goes.

Food has been good; well, pretty good….I did have one piece of chocolate cake at a lunch buffet but I didn’t overeat.

The cello came home Tuesday and it’s wierd to hear such beginning sounds after being used to the violin.

Ran into another parent from the kids old running team from the club.  His son, who was a doll, graduated last year.  Here I thought he was perfectly happy doing car mechanic stuff for a car dealership and it turns out he’s gone and joined the marines; in boot camp now.  Impossible to imagine.  I think I was expected to be happy and enthusiastic.  I think I blew it.

G’nite, chickadees.