Making a Change

Well, today's the day...the first day of the rest of my life! Well, sort of.

My local gym has been offering a "Make a Change" challenge. I have accepted the challenge. For the next 12 weeks, I'll be a member of the gym--no commitments, no contracts, no enrollment fee...just a member with a chance to make a change.

So, at 5:00 (less than an hour...ACK!), I'll meet with a trainer who will orient me and get me started. We'll work together to come up with goals and she'll show me what to do, how to do it, how often to do it, etc. Then in six weeks, we'll reevaluate and see what progress I have made (hopefully I won't have REgressed!).

Lucky for me, Big Joz bought that elliptical machine and set it up right in our living room, so on the days I only have to do cardio, I can just do it in the comfort of my own home. That Big Joz...he's so darn thoughtful!

So...wish me luck...you know I'm gonna need it!

PECA

I'm so glad my dear friends at PECA are reading my blog...I only wish that I had not had so much coconut rum that I can't remember who my PECA friends are! If anyone can help me solve this puzzle, I'd be forever indebted!

Yukky Pud

Pud is sick today. She got herself up at 5:00 this morning, like she always does, and got her shower. She came down with her pajamas back on and a towel wrapped around her head sniffling. She had thrown up in the shower. YUK! Then she had thrown up in the toilet. Then she came down and crawled in bed with me. Bless her little heart...when she's sick, she's absolutely pitiful! She made a comment about her mouth tasting gross...I assured her it smelled that way also! I hate it when my kids are sick. I hate it when I'm sick. I just hate sick.

Fitness, Diet, Exercise...words that upset me

I'm fat. Not obese. Just fat.

I gained over 40 pounds the first year I lived in Mississippi. I attribute the weight gain to quitting smoking, the stress of the move in general, drinking way too much wine on a very regular basis, becoming lazy and enjoying the relaxing life of a stay-at-home mom with nothing to do in a new town.

The move was over 18 months ago. I'm still not smoking, the stress of the move is really over, I'm not drinking as much wine (partly because it's VERY difficult to find MY wine here and partly because I've now discovered Coconut Rum!!), I'm now working full-time and really keep myself pretty busy.

My eating habits really have never changed...I ate about the same amount of "bad" food before I moved.

However, I'm tired of being this size. The number on the tag in the back of my britches doesn't necessarily bother me as much as the way I feel. My feet hurt, my ankles hurt, my knees hurt, and I know it's in large part to my larger size.

I've never been a real good dieter or exerciser. I lack motivation and knowledge.

However, I have decided that it's time to start taking better care of my physical self. I want to look and feel good on my 40th birthday...I know it will take time, so I'm going to start thinking about taking the initiative and doing words that upset me.

Disco Fever

My friend Nony & I were really busy at work today...well, not really, but we had fun anyway!!

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First Plane Ride

Pud enjoyed her first plane ride this past weekend. It was also the first plane ride Bud remembers...he flew when he was a toddler to Salt Lake City at Christmastime, but he doesn't remember it.

Anyway, we left our small hometown airport just before 6 am heading to Atlanta to make a connection to Kansas City. Getting through Security was an experience...naturally! I had Bud, aka "Mr. Know-It-All" trying to get the last word in with every comment anyone made. He was also in charge of THE backpack...the wonderful carry-on that carried Pud's & my makeup.

Luckily, Big Joz had driven to KC earlier in the week and had taken everything else with him, so we didn't have to check luggage.

Anwyay, Bud agreed to be the keeper of the backpack. While Pud & I were loading our spillable, smearable, otherwise-mess-making products into Ziploc bags, Bud decided to rearrange the backpack.

After we made it through the first round of "enjoy your local airport at its finest", one of the official looking guys walked toward me with MY MAKEUP BAG! Seems as if Mr. Know-It-All (Bud) had left it behind. When I barked at Bud, he mouthed back that it wasn't HIS makeup bag!

Then came the second leg of "Make it to the Airplane"--going through Security! My backpack had been a gift from our Director of Student Ministries--who I work for. And help chaperone trips for. He had completely outfitted my pack...along with a multi-purpose tool I completely forgot I had in there! I had to take a little trip back to the parking lot to deposit this handy dandy gizmo back into my vehicle! THEN go BACK through Security to fetch my kids!

All in all, we had safe travels, no turbulence and a pleasant experience (once we got off the ground!).

Pud did say, though, that she liked "cruises better because there's more to do." Duh!

I married a good man!

Do you know what Big Joz did late yesterday afternoon? Without being asked, he cleaned out my mother's refrigerator. Some of you know Mother. The biggest majority have never seen into her fridge. It's a scary sight!

Big Joz said he got started on the task when our daughter, Pud, was looking for something to eat. Something in a Wal-Mart sack had rendered, he said, and he was afraid for her life. That good man took it upon himself to rid much much crap out of the big cold box she once velcro-d shut.

Winner of the "I've Been in Here the Longest" award? A box of cream cheese dated August 29, 2001.

Before we left, we had hauled out a 40-gallon garbage bag full of outdated stinky stuff.

Big Joz is a good man.

Does anyone care??

I'm kind of sad. I only have one "Follower". Does that mean that my friend Tony is the only one who reads this blog? Yes, I realize that just because he's following doesn't necessarily mean he's actually reading. MMS made a reference to "Big Joz" today, so I think she's read my blog at least once. And MD's mom said that she has read it once. Are these my only friends, I ask??

Just one follower and no comments...was it the abscessed anal gland post that is causing the demise of my time-sucker or do you people just not care enough to comment??

Lists

Are you a list maker? I am. I just love a list! A few years ago, a co-worker friend gave me a book about lists. I love that book.

I carry a small spiral notebook in my purse at all times. At the front, I keep my ongoing to-do list. At the back, my grocery list. In between, various things...right now, Christmas gift ideas (for me and for others, too!).

When I accomplish a task on my to-do list, I mark it off. I don't draw a straight line through the item, I don't scribble it out, I don't simply put a checkmark or an "x" beside it. Those ways drive me nuts. I have to do it MY way (of course, since it's MY list...in MY notebook!).

Starting at the left edge of said item, I make circles, starting at the bottom of the line, then circling over to the right...tight circles so that you can't see the item anymore. Make sense? Really, I don't care if it makes sense to you or not. It's my notebook!

By the way, I have control issues. That's another blog for another time.

I don't like to be wasteful of paper, so when the front page of the to-do list is full, I go to the back of the page. Then about half-way down the back side, I realize how "fresh" a new list would look, so I re-write my list on the next clean sheet of paper and proudly wad up and pitch that pitiful old list. Screw the wastefulness...I love a clean-looking to-do list!

Right now, I have some extra lists I don't normally have--a list of things to do before I leave town this weekend, a list of things to be sure I have with my on the airplane, and of course, the "master" to-do list...almost time to freshen it up a bit...as soon as I cross some things off.

I realize how twisted I am when I try and think of new things to add to my list just so I can do them easily and have the satisfaction of marking them off. Is there a medication for this??

Abscessed Anal Gland

Saturday afternoon I noticed this very angry raw spot on our cat Lucky's back end. I was certain that Jimmy Hoffman had chewed a plug out of Lucky's butt.

Jimmy Hoffman is our newest cat. He's not really new, though. He's exactly the same age as Lucky (which I think is about 7 1/2 years old, but I really can't remember how long it's been since the morning Ross announced that there was something coming out of Cleo's butt...I think he might have been in the 4th grade, come to think of it). Jimmy Hoffman is Lucky's brother but they haven't seen each other since their tiny kitten days. My friend Ronda adopted Jimmy, but named him Oreo. For various reasons, she no longer wanted Oreo to live at her house. She had planned on putting him down, but I just couldn't stand that thought since he wasn't sick or anything. So we adopted Oreo Labor Day weekend.

We renamed Oreo to Jimmy Hoffa because trying to find him those first couple of weeks was nearly impossible. He just disappeared all the time. One of our closer family members who shall remain nameless (not for safety and all, but just because it's not nice to poke fun!) frequently says things incorrectly; not necessarily mispronouncing, mind you. Just saying things wrong. A lot. It's become an inside joke with Big Joz, Bud, Pud & me. So, Oreo became Jimmy Hoffa who became Jimmy Hoffman. I digress. I'm good at digressing.

Back to the very angry raw spot on Lucky's butt. Bud & I took him to the vet yesterday. Lucky peed in the pet carrier about 42 seconds into the journey to see the doctor. Luckily our very wonderful and very experienced doctor quickly pronounced that this was not a bite at all but an abscessed anal gland. Lucky got a shot and we were given oral antibiotics to give to Lucky twice a day for a week. Then we were on our way. Lucky pooped in the pet carrier about a minute and 19 seconds into the journey home. Lucky is not a good traveler.

By the way, the incorrectly accused Jimmy Hoffman no longer lives at our house.

Merry Christmas!

Yes, I realize it's just the sixth day of October, but last week, Big Joz went out and bought my Christmas present! Bless his heart.

Did he purchase round-trip airline tickets to some nice faraway exotic land? No.
Did he book a week for me at some swanky spa resort? No.
Did he plan a romantic weekend getaway for just the two of us? No.
Jewelry? No.
Perfume? No.

He bought me a NordicTrack elliptical machine.

"With the brightly lit Grafixx™ Hi-Res display, intensity boosting StrideMax™ Incline Ramp, 8 Workouts and more, you have all the features you need to get the body you want." Yeah...but don't you have to use it??

OK. I tried. Actually, I tried four times over the weekend. And each time, I failed. After a couple of minutes of the pre-programmed "weight-loss program #1" when the resistance went to "3", I tuckered out. Completely out of breath and starting to break a sweat, I removed my body from the demon which threatened to kill me. Literally.

Last night, Big Joz asked me if I had "run" today. Is he crazy?? Does he want me to die??? Actually, no, he doesn't. Truly, he was being very thoughtful. I've whined and fussed to him for months now about being overweight, my ankles hurt, my feet hurt, my knees hurt, my clothes don't fit, and wishing I could change things. Bless his heart...he listened.

So now, I have this new great big monster-looking thing in my family room. I can watch TV under the ceiling fan while I work out. I can also plug in my iPod and listen to my eclectic mix of tunes. The monster claims to have a personal fan on it, but after two minutes on the thing, I can blow more air than it can.

But I'm not going to fuss at Big Joz. He just wants me to be healthier so I can be around for lots more years! Bless his heart.

Sinful Saltines

Well, I believe they turned out pretty well. They were very easy and only had four ingredients! I brought them to work this morning and have gotten pretty good reviews. Someone suggested they'd be great for tailgating. A couple folks mentioned that they were, in fact, very sinful! Here you go...tell me what you think about 'em! (They have a Heath or Skor bar taste to them).

Sinful Saltines

3/4 c. butter
3/4 c. brown sugar
1 sleeve saltine crackers
1 c. chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line jelly roll pan with aluminum foil, then spread out crackers onto pan.

Slowly melt the butter and sugar in 3 qt. saucepan. Increase heat and bring to a boil. The mixture will change consistence in 2-4 minutes and you’ll know it’s done (don't you love recipes like this!) Be careful not to burn!

Pour syrup over crackers. Place in oven about 10 minutes or until bubbly all over. Remove from oven and sprinkle with chocolate chips. When shiny, spread chocolate all over.

Cool and cut or break into smaller pieces.

Recipes

Boy, do I have quite a collection of 'em! Not just in nice bound cookbooks, mind you. I have a 3-ring binder filled just with some of the ones I've printed off the computer (various sources, I might add). I have little recipe cards tucked here and there with things I probably have eaten somewhere and liked the tidbit so much I asked for the recipe.

In 1998 I published a family cookbook. (Yes, I'm a "published author"!) Ten years later, I am still very proud of that collection of favorites. And I'm still REALLY pissed at the UPS store for "losing" my original cookbook...the one with the chocolate gravy stains, handwritten notes and personally signed by eight of the nine children my great-grandparents raised. But that's another story.

I've considered attempting Volume 2, but maybe what I really want to do is just use my trusty computer and word processing skills to assemble and print for just a few special people (me, Bud & Pud). Bud and Pud are my kids. If you're reading this, you probably know their real names, but you know, for the sake of safety and all, I'll just refer to them as Bud & Pud. Remember--my sweetheart's name is Big Joz (for the sake of safety and all).

Anyway, what I need to do is actually start trying these recipes. If something is a big hit, type it up and insert it into the Word document. If not, pitch it and don't ever look back.

For some reason, I believe I have more sweet recipes than anything else. I think I know why this is. Not because I just love sweets (which I do, generally, but actually prefer salty food over sweet food). I think it's because my culinary skills lean toward savory things. I can throw this and this together and usually come up with something that tantalizes the taste buds. But with sweet stuff, it's a little more exact. At least for me. I'll get into all that another day.

Right now, I'm just thinking about the first recipe I'm going to prepare to see if it passes the cookbook test or not. My judges--Big Joz, Bud & Pud.

Lucky for you...when I try a recipe and it makes it to the next level, I'll share it here with you for your thoughts.

And now, the lucky winner of the first "see if it's good enough or not" recipe is..."Sinful Saltines". Stay tuned for results.

Happy Fall Y'all!

Fall is in the air. The calendar says it's October 1st. Our downtown area is decorated with scarecrows, mums, cornstalks and bales of hay. The weather is cool and crisp. The magazines have recipes for soups and stews and desserts of apple and pumpkin. I love fall.

My husband (Big Joz) and I fell in love during the fall. You know we met the first day of my freshman year in college...at BAND CAMP! Yes, we were band nerds. I remember sipping hot chocolate with peppermint schnapps out of thermoses when the band played at the football games at Central Methodist. Mmmm...would keep you all warm on the inside! I digress....

I've already missed a major fall event this year--the Delta Fair. For the first time I can remember in my entire life, I did not attend the fair.

I did not get to peruse the baby picture exhibit and whisper to whoever was standing there with me that I could certainly understand why that baby didn't get a ribbon. And most defintely, I sure couldn't understand why that one DID!

I didn't get to walk through the American Legion building and stare for hours (well, not really, but for a long time anyway) at the various photography exhibits thinking I should certainly have entered some photos I had taken.

I didn't get to walk through the "Open Foods" area and reminisce about the year that I won a ribbon on every item I entered (three 1sts, two 2nds and a third).

I didn't get to make myself sick by trying to eat at least one item from every local food booth (caramel apples, funnel cakes with powdered sugar glaze, Tyrone burgers, Sumach corn dogs, just to name a few).

I didn't get to express my redneck self at the Demolition Derby. Of course, since the year of the big "fracas", I hadn't been too excited about that anyway.

I didn't get to see all those friendly faces I really miss seeing now. I didn't get to "smell" the fair. I didn't get to fuss at my kids for putting too many quarters in the quarter thing. I didn't get to stand in line with little kids during Armband Day. I didn't get any fresh-squeezed lemonade. I didn't get to use my lifetime pass.

And I didn't get any taffy!