Happy Birthday Grandpa

I met my family in Cibolo for dinner tonight to celebrate my Dad's 79th birthday. He says he doesn't know how a 79 year old is supposed to feel. He's still farming, and fetching and toting heavy things. I love him so much. He's my hero! My sister, brother-in-law, and three of their grandkids were there. They range in age from 8 to 6 to 2 months. I had the grandkids take photos of us. I think they like me even though I didn't bring my grandson with me.

Today was weigh in day, and I completely forgot when I dressed this morning. I didn't wear my usual weigh in clothes, so I took off my shoes. They weighed 1 lb! I can't remember how much I weighed last week, so I'll have to take a peek at the chart. Today I weighed 215.8. I think I maintained. Not sure.

I was in class all day again today. Then when we broke out for lunch, I had to run to weigh in, get Daddy's card and gift at Walgreen's, get cash at the Credit Union, get gift bag and tissue at Dollar Tree (everyone there was buying glasses, which had to be wrapped, so checking out took FOREVER!), get gas so I could make it to Cibolo, and run back to my office to grab my sandwich so I could eat it during class. Apparently 1-1/2 hours isn't long enough for lunch some days ;O)

Food:
Grilled Cheese sandwich (4)
chicken sandwich (4)
small sweet roll and medium one
2 beef enchiladas, rice, beans, lettuce with guacamole (looked like guacamole dip, not the usual hearty guacamole)
1 small scone

Exercise:
3564 steps

In Class ALL Day

Needless to say, I didn't get much exercise. I sat in class all day today. Because this is a busy time, when we got a break, I checked emails and caught up with projects. And I worked until 7:30 this evening.

I'm still incorporating salad and fruit (at least). Hopefully, it'll offset the huge pile of beef fajita, bean, cheese and avocado nachos I had for lunch.

Food:
Grilled cheese sandwich (4)
Nachos (too many)
Bill Miller Salad with 1/2 container of Ranch Dressing
Bill Miller fruit salad

Exercise:
3423 steps! Probably from delivering Avon brochures this morning.

Too Busy

I haven't had time to blog lately because life keeps getting in the way. Rain kept us from walking last week. This week, I have so much work to do that I'm staying until 6:30 to keep up.

I had an opportunity to do some fun things last week. Two dear friends and I went to a Toastmasters meeting for people who want to perfect stand-up comedy. It was an interesting experience. They "forced" us to do a stand-up routine. My friends were hilarious. It was actually a lot of fun. I was surprised at how little they laughed at each other's jokes. I can't help but think that was the reason they don't seem like they've been at it for a year. Then Saturday, I judged 3 humorous contests and 3 Table Topics contests. The food there was snacky food. Then at 4:00, I was offered a half a Subway turkey sandwich. It was DELICIOUS!

Sunday after church I visited my daughter and her family. They were preparing to go for a walk, so I joined them in my church clothes. Thank God I wasn't wearing heels. The 4 of us walked about 1-1/2 miles and chatted. I really enjoyed myself. My daughter was shocked that I was able to keep up with them. I don't mind telling you that I got hot. I was wearing long sleeves and slacks. They were in shorts and walking shoes. My shoes were comfortable except they cause blisters when I don't have hose on, which I didn't. I really miss walking after work.

Today I walked to the cafeteria, and then an hour later, I walked to the admin bldg. I'm really watching what I eat. No, I'm not on a seefood diet. I'm really trying to be good. I'm making better choices when eating out.

Food:
grilled cheese sandwich (lo-fat cheese and whole wheat bread) (4 pts)
salad with 1 tblsp vinegar & oil based Italian dressing.
3 slices Little Caesar pepperoni pizza (Customer appreciation day ;O))
1 pear (canned in light juice)

Exercise:
3611 steps

Way Off Track

I've fallen off the wagon. I'm off track. Way off track!

We haven't walked in a week or so, ever since that mutant mosquito episode. I've been glued to my computer at work and at home, so I haven't done any exercise.

I didn't go to WW today because I just didn't feel like it.

BUT, I am eating more fruits and vegetables. I am drinking more water. I am pretty good about what I eat, except some cookies this evening. I just need to watch my portions and get back on the track.

Tomorrow night a couple of friends and I are going to a Toastmasters meeting that's featuring stand-up comedy. We're also going to celebrate a birthday or 2 or 3. We used to talk almost every day and see each other all the time, but we hardly get together at all anymore, and we're all 3 so busy we don't get to even talk on the phone.

I'm looking forward to tomorrow evening. It should be a blast! I'm hoping I'll burn lots of calories laughing. Too bad my pedometer doesn't count belly laughs ;O)

Then we're going to eat French cuisine. I guess I'll have to follow my own advice and check out the menu beforehand so I don't order something stupid.

Food:
1 sausage & egg taco, 1 apple turnover
1 apple cakey thing that was full of calories and fat :O(
1 pkg 2 pt wheat crisps
1 steak, spinach & saffron rice
6 cookies

Exercise:
3455 steps

Busy, Busy, Busy

I spoke to a dear friend for 2 hours last night. We finally hung up at 11:30. So, 4:55 came awfully early this morning. We dressed and hit the road at 5:50 this morning so I could stop by the office on our way to Junction. We spent the morning in Junction visiting with my Dad. We stopped by Cracker Barrel on the way home for lunch. When we got back home, I immediately crawled into bed and slept hard for 1 hour. Then I dressed and went to a lecture at the Pearl Brewery for the Mind-Science Foundation. It was a good lecture about the Consciousness of Desire. It was about how your brain reacts to desire. Very interesting.

Food:
1 bowl corn flakes with skim milk
1 med order tater tots
1/2 order chicken & dumplings with corn, green beans, carrots
1 biscuit.
Other half of above with 2 cornbreads.
various pieces of cheese and 4 cracksrs with a glass of red wine

Exercise:
3826 steps
moved furniture around

Garage Sale Day

My daughter had a garage sale today. She mentioned it and I couldn't resist stopping by. I spent most of the time with my grandson, which I enjoy a lot. We watched Finding Nemo, and pretended we hadn't seen it before.

My daughter was sort of embarrassed because some of what she had for sale was either stuff she acquired from me while living with me or things I gave her. I did take 3 things, 2 of which I gave her. One was a crystal chess set that I thought was so pretty, and the other was a Force (from Star Wars) tee-shirt we had as volleyball uniforms before I got pregnant the first time. It's amazing how small the tee-shirt is. I'm going to use it as a nightshirt for my grandson when I'm over at their house or he spends the night with me.

Unfortunately, it rained today, so her traffic was sporadic. Then after she gave up and loaded all the left over stuff back into the garage, a couple of guys with a little boy stopped by and bought all the leftovers for $50. They had a pickup and trailer. While they were loading up, the sky opened up and drenched them, upholstered furniture and all. They waited until it stopped and finished loading. My son said he thinks the same guys came to the garage sale next door a few weeks ago and loaded up all their leftovers for $50.

It beats having to wait 2 weeks for someone to pick it up or haul it to Goodwill or Salvation Army.

The only exercise I got today was from picking up toys, carrying some stuff back into the garage, and looking for an illusive pair of pull-ups.

I only snuck 2 small handfuls of M&Ms and a small handful of raisins. Both tasted nasty. I don't even enjoy Diet Coke anymore.

My son looked up the side effects of Lamisil, and loss of taste was one of the first listed. Sometimes it's permanent. I guess this is a mixed blessing.

Food:
Large bowl of corn flakes and skim milk
M&Ms raisins
1 string cheese stick
5 pepperoni slices
1/2 very small pizza
1 double meat Whataburger with fries
2 ginger snaps
12 Ritz crackers

Exercise:
Picked up toys
2762 steps

Snickernut Cookie is Still My Favorite

I started drinking coffee about 8 years ago after Starbucks changed the world. First I drank their hot chocolate, then Frappuccinos and cappuccinos, and lattés. For a "cheap" substitute, I started mixing hot chocolate in coffee at places like church or meetings that furnished both.

At a class reunion party in 2005, the host offered HEB Texas Pecan coffee to the group at the end of the evening. I liked it and drank 2 or 3 cups that evening. Practically the next day, I bought a bag and a coffee maker to make it. A friend at work suggested I try Snickernut Cookie, another HEB Café Olé flavor. I liked it, and I've been drinking it ever since.

While shopping Wednesday, I decided to try different Café Olé flavors, and last nght I brewed Mocha Java, which was good. And this morning, I tried the Morning Blend. It's good also. I'd drink them in a pinch. But nothing beats Snickernut Cookie. It even smells good.

When people come into my office, they almost always comment about how good it smells. Café Olé flavors don't taste like mixes. They taste like flavored coffee beans. There are other Snickernutty flavored coffees, but they don't compare to Café Olé. I drink it all day long, starting with 3 cups while I dress in the morning, one or 2 after I get to work, and a couple in the afternoon. I really enjoy getting home in time to have a cup in the evening before 7:00. It's so good that nothing has to be added to it. I feel like people add cream and sugar to coffee because it tastes so awful without it. So they're adding all those extra calories or chemicals (as the case may be).

Truth be told, I'm probably having chemicals with every cup. Whoever heard of a snuckernut cookie bean?

I got home last evening after the storm and hit the kitchen snacking on anything I could get my hands on -- cookies, Ritz crackers, carrots. By the time dinner was ready, I wasn't all that hungry. I fried some plain skinless chicken thighs and put a shoulder roast and carrots in the crock pot for today.

Food:
Corn Flakes and skim milk
chicken taco salad (no shell) with salsa as dressing
Ritz crackers, 2 cookies, 6 baby carrots
2 chicken thighs

Exercise:
2937 steps

New Territory!

I lost .8! I'm so excited! Everything seems to be back to normal, and I'm back on the right road.

I haven't been to 215.8 since 2007, and it feels good! Of course, to make sure I would show a loss, I picked out the lightest weight clothes I could find. I even held 2 blouses up to see which felt lighter. I feel like I cheated. But the proof will be in the pudding next week when I weigh in again. Ooh, pudding...yum!

I'll have go to weigh in early next week because I'll be judging a speech contest during the lunch hour. It's that time again. Next Saturday and Oct. 2, I'll be judging contests again. One will be at the Pearl Brewery, which will be interesting. I'll be there this coming Monday for a Mind-Science Foundation function. Life is soooo interesting!

Food:
Bowl of corn flakes, skim milk
3 oz brisket, 1 link sausage, potato salad, spanish rice, pinto beans, 2 slices white bread (I don't know why I ate the bread)
1 pkg wheat crisps
1 leg & thigh of rotisserie chicken

Exercise:
3695 steps (including walking to WW meeting and to another building to get my lunch)

Now I Can Move Forward

Yesterday was a busy day! I started out by giving a speech about Effective Communication to a leadership workshop that studies John C. Maxwell's book "The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership."

A friend and I did this a few years ago as a tag team presentation about Toastmasters for an audience of about 25 people. Then I got a call to do a talk in January about Effective Communication for a leadership workshop for Security Service FCU. The audience there was about 60 people. We decided to do it as a mini Toastmasters meeting with a speech, evaluation, and table topics.

I could only get one of my Toastmasters club members to do it with me, so I reached out to our Area Governor, and he readily agreed to do it. Then the workshop organizers moved the date to a week later, and he wasn't able to be there on the new date. He reached out to other area governors, and I met an awesome guy who did a funny evaluation of my speech.

When I got a call in May from someone in the audience in January to do this presentation, I immediately called him to assist. We did the same basic thing we did in January. I spoke, he evaluated, and the group conducted their own table topics. We timed, rang the "ah" bell, and evaluated the table topics. It was fun! I stressed out for the last 2 weeks because I didn't have time to prepare.

Luckily, I thought to ask if I could speak at our last Toastmasters meeting, where I gave my talk. Our club members gave me some great feedback, and with that, I reworked my presentation and practiced it several times over the weekend.

Yesterday, I was calm and ready to do it.

My son and I went to Cheesey Jane's for lunch. I had their bean burger, which was delicious, but their tater tots were NOT. Even though they had an odd flavor, probably from old grease, I ate every one.

I went to the grocery store, took a 20-minute nap then headed to church to help prepare for a memorial service reception in the hall.

After the memorial service, I met a friend so we could ride together to the last class reunion meeting. What a day!

Food (Wednesday):
1 slice pepperoni pizza
Bean burger with avocado and tater tots at Cheesey Jane's
beef taco salad at Felix's Restaurant in Universal City
chips and salsa
1 Miller Lite

Exercise:
4658 steps

Mutant Mosquitoes

In an effort to recover the ground we lost because of the proposal and rain, we decided to walk the 2-mile track today. That way, we couldn't talk ourselves into shortening it.

About half way around, something landed on my arm and stung me. I slapped it off. Noticing it was big, I assumed it was a horse fly because horse flies sometimes bite like mosquitoes. Then my walking partner had one on her. It was a mosquito! And it was HUGE! When she killed it, it left a big blood streak on her leg. Before we knew it, we were covered with them!

I had a stretchy band with me that I started slapping myself with - slapping my legs, back, front, and she had a paper towel that she was slapping herself with. We had to decide, continue on or turn around and go back. At one point, once we decided to turn back, she asked if I was up to running. I don't know if I even know how to run, it's been so long. To tell you the truth, if the roles had been reversed, I might have said "see ya" and run for all I was worth. But she was kind enough to stick with me, and we power walked, slapping ourselves.

We must have been a sight! Walking and slapping, dancing and jiving. I wish we had a video! It was probably the most aerobic walk I've ever been on. I kept expecting someone of the maintenance persuasion to drive by so we could talk about mowing the grass or spraying or something. Someone usually drives by. But not tonight!

The Fitness Center guy said he'd heard about the mutant mosquitoes. I think an email should be sent to the staff to warn them to not go out unprotected.

Food:
Bowl of grits, 1 serv with 1 tbsp margarine (4)
Chicken salad sandwich, pretzels, pickle spear
Church's fried chicken, 2 thighs & 1 leg

Exercise:
7228 steps, including 4630 aerobic (almost 2 miles)

Hanging out at the Rest Stop

My journey seems to have stopped. I'm trying, but nothing here seems to be appealing to me. I guess having my sense of taste messed up is messing me up. I couldn't wait to get home to have a glass of wine Friday night. And it didn't taste good. I was so disappointed. We went to Michael's for some beads, and I bought some peachie-o's and Riesen's candy. And neither of them tasted good. It's so frustrating.

Anyway, I managed to catch up on my rest this weekend. Which is a good thing. I watched movies and recorded shows all weekend. As a matter of fact, after I got home from Michael's Friday night, I haven't left the house. I went out to the backyard a couple of times, but it was so hot, I just puttered a few minutes and came right back in. I guess I'm still recuperating from the 2 weeks of stress and extra work.

Friday we walked a mile. I kept saying anything was better than nothing. We managed the minimum. I walked 5577 steps Friday. Saturday I walked 771 steps and today I walked 1449. Twice as much, but it's not enough to write home about really.

My weight is good. I showed 215 on the scale AGAIN!!! I've got to get my enthusiasm back. I think the speech I'm supposed to give Wednesday is the reason I'm not myself. I'm taking the day off Wednesday. Hopefully, Thursday, everything will be back to normal. Fingers crossed.

Food:
grilled cheese sandwich (4)
cheese nachos (16)
baked potato with margarine and cheese
green beans w/margarine
baby carrots

Back on the Track Again!

I actually missed walking after work. Today we got a chance to go around the track, not the 2-mile we usually walk on because it's too muddy. We walked on the paved track around the ball fields. After 4 laps of a 1/3-mile track, I was ready to call it quits. My partner suggested we sit for a while. We chatted, and then she suggested we try 2 more laps. After we did the 2 more laps, she reminded me that we did 2 miles. I was so glad we did! The sun was blazing and the humidity was high, but the breeze made it bearable!

At weigh in today, I lost .8 lb, which makes up for the .8 lb gain last week. You can see by my chart that I'm not making any progress. Well, that'll stop now that I'm back to a routine!

Food:
grilled cheese sandwich
chicken, salad, 10 baby carrots
2 pkg of 100-calorie chocolate chip cookies
hamburger with lean beef, whole wheat bread, tsp mayo, and spicy mustard with lettuce and 1-pt cheese.
3 chalupa shells for chips

Exercise:
Walked from a meeting to Weight Watchers meeting
8159 steps, including 2-miles after work!

I'm Tired, Cranky, and Stressed

AND I've probably gained a ton! The proposal work is continuing. Today we boxed it up to ship. The shop finished printing the 100 copies, and I approved burning 100 CDs that didn't work. We don't know if it was something we did or the burner. Either way, it was more work than we anticipated. I'm just glad the day is over.

I spent most of the day today doing the work that I wasn't able to do for the past few days. I have worked 53 hours of OT! My paycheck should be doubled! I hope I'm wrong and it's more ;O). Then this will all be worth the cramps and stress.

The storm was pretty bad last night I heard. I didn't actually hear the storm, just the comments about it today. I was too tired to care. What I did hear was my house alarm going off every time the electricity cut off and on. I'd wake enough to see that everything was dark and wait for the next alarm and then set my TV alarm, which is how I wake up every morning. I can't remember if I had to do that 2 or 3 times last night. We've definitely made up for our rain deficit.

I haven't been able to walk this week, but that's OK because I've walked as many steps without the 2-mile track. Today, I was pretty stuck to my computer catching up. We plan to walk tomorrow. I definitely need the stress relief walking brings.

Food:
grilled cheese sandwich (4)
Special K bar (5)
rotisserie chicken leg & thigh
10 carrots (0)
6 Ritz crackers & 3 oz. cheese
1 pkg 100 calorie choc. chip cookies
4 oz chicken thighs

Exercise:
3726 steps

I'm Baaaack!

We finally finished the proposal we've been working on. I worked 11.9 hours OT last week, and then I worked all weekend, including Monday, for a total of 46.5 hours of OT! I'm exhausted. Our meals were furnished, so I didn't eat as healthy as I should have. I did a lot of walking. 6733 steps yesterday, and 7916 today, and I never left the building!

I'm exhausted and glad the worst is over. Now it's just the clean up. My office was proposal central today, including people using my computer, phone, laptop. A table was set up in my office for the food, we cut a birthday cake in there and had meetings in there. It was CRAZY! I loved every minute of it!!!

My son had a flat tire Sunday night on his way home. And it was pretty bad, so he took it to be replaced. They wouldn't replace it because my car is an all-wheel drive, and the tires need to have the same amount of tread so the transmission works best. I happened to have a check for just about the amount of 4 tires that I hadn't deposited yet. So, as usual, the Holy Spirit took care of me. Thank you God!!!

Now I'm going to bed. I'M EXHAUSTED!!!

My Plate is Full!

I do this to myself all the time. When life gets comfortable, and I can finally rest, I say "yes" to something that seems harmless. Then before I know it, I've said yes to more somethings until they all seem to pile up on me. In May, I said I'd give a speech at a leadership workshop. I gave a similar speech in January about effective communication. I'm assuming the person who called me liked the topic because she was in the audience in January.

My segment of the workshop is an hour, so I thought I'd knock out an advanced Toastmaster speech project and speak for 15-20 minutes. So, for the past 3-1/2 months, I've had this in the back of my mind -- I need to prepare for this speech. Then I sat down several weeks ago and put the material together. It was way too long, and I finally got to whittle it down last weekend. That's great! Well, that speech is so long I can't even make myself read it! Can you imagine what it would be like for the audience? I was thinking that when someone I consider a Toastmaster mentor called me to ask how I was doing with the speech. He suggested I do some audience interaction. I found the perfect thing to do. A Communications Assessment. Now I have to give it Sept. 15! And I've not even read through it more than 2 times! I'm so glad my mentor called. He helped me get over the hump.

Now, I have this speech to prepare for. I just finished putting together a newsletter that I do every other month. Work is crazy because we've had to split up the work of a co-worker who is no longer with us, and her work is added to my already full plate. Then we started working on a proposal that's keeping me at the office all weekend (Labor Day and all!), and 3 people on my team of 4 will be gone most of next week!!!

Calgon -- Take me away!! Do you remember that commercial? I'm heading to do just that!

I've been stress eating and not enjoying it because of a med I'm taking that seems to have robbed me of my sense of taste. So you could say I have no taste ;O).

Food:
chicken sandwich (whole wheat bread with chicken lunch meat and dijon mustard)
2 whole wheat pancakes with syrup, 2 strips of bacon and 2 servings of fruit (banana slices, strawberries & grapes)
pad tai
salad with delicious shrimp
spring roll
slice of ice cream cake
2 chalupa shells with refried beans

Exercise:
4817 steps

TGIF!!

I'm glad it's Friday! Not because I don't like my job. Not because it's a holiday weekend. But because it ends a week where I've worked 15 hours of overtime. Tomorrow actually begins another week of OT. I'm reaping the benefits of having worked overtime in the last pay period. But I'm getting a little stressed from the strain of running into challenges at every turn. I like challenges, don't get me wrong. It's nice to be challenged and feel a sense of accomplishment. And I do feel a sense of accomplishment. But the challenges just keep coming. I figure that one of these days, I'll catch on and catch up.

I worked late this evening, missing walking after work, and babysitting my grandson. We just couldn't coordinate our schedules this evening. But, you know, I don't think I would have survived. I probably would have fallen asleep before him (again).

I did walk to another building for lunch, but it was to eat pizza after I'd already eaten lunch. How stupid is that?

Anyway, shake it off. Tomorrow is another day. I can get back on track, and maybe I'll sneak in a mile or two.

Food:
Grilled cheese sandwich (4)
rotisserie chicken leg & thigh
2 slices pepperoni pizza
very small salad
small ice cream cone from Sonic
4 peppermints
1/2 bag Fritos
rotisserie chicken leg & thigh
FEELING REALLY ROTTEN now that I've seen this list.

Exercise:
4286 steps
some knee bends this morning (8 -- hey, it's a start)

1 Step Back

I was so happy Tuesday that I weighed 215 on my scale, then this morning, I got on the scale and it wasn't good. When I weighed in today, the scale showed a gain of .8.

Now that I think about what I've eaten, I'm surprised that was ALL I gained. I've slacked off about walking, and I've eaten more JUNK food in the last week than I have in months!!! And even though I've eaten more than my share of points, it hasn't deterred me any.

So, what's going on? I'm stressed. It's as simple as that. I have to survive until Sept. 15, then I can relax a bit. My 40th Class Reunion is the weekend of Oct. 8, and around that time I have a proposal or 2 to survive; then after that, I can't think of a thing going on. Oh wait, there's the holidays. But, I'll think about that tomorrow.

I didn't blog yesterday. I can't believe I skipped a day. I told myself I wouldn't. Life is sooo busy these days.

My son and I went grocery shopping yesterday. We spent the most time in front of the crackers and cookies trying to find SOMETHING to snack on! I couldn't believe how many points everything was. 1 cookie - 2 points. 2 crackers-2 points. Dang -- I didn't even think about popcorn until just now. ;O(

Food:
Grilled cheese sandwich (4)
rotisserie chicken (leg & thigh)
Baby Carrots
1 pkg 100-calorie chocolate chip cookies (they're sooo small!)

Exrcise:
8904 steps so far (and it's only 6:42). Hopefully, I'll hit 9,000!
Walked 2 miles AND walked to the WW meeting.