Happy New Year !!!

I'll be back in a couple days with a real post.  Until then.... Stay safe and have a great evening!

Friend Makin' Monday (on Friday) - Christmas is Coming

Wooo, I've missed doing these!  Many thanks to Sara at sararunsthisweigh.com for keeping this going!

Christmas is coming!

Here’s how it works: you copy the questions, answer them and post them to your own blog. Then you come back here, and in the comments, post the link to your blog post with your answers to this week’s questions. If you don’t have a blog of your own, just post your answers in the comments.

1. Do you celebrate Christmas?  Yes

2. What are your Christmas traditions?  Every other year (this is one of them) we drive to Arkansas and spend Christmas and New Years with my Mother In Law.  We get together with my crazy family before we leave to exchange gifts & hang out.  For the Michigan years, it's changed in the past couple years since Dad passed away, so I'm not even sure what they're doing anymore.  In my house, we also take an evening to go out to dinner at this little diner called chomp (yes - lowercase c) and walk up & down Main Street in nearby Rochester. The entire mile or so stretch is totally covered in lights.

3. Do you decorate for Christmas?  Yes!  I have a small collection of blowmolds for the front yard - for some reason I have no pictures - GASP !!!  I'll remedy that when we get home.  On the inside we have our tree with colored LED lights & I have a collection of over 100 nutcrackers so they are everywhere!

4. What was Christmas like for you when you were a child?  I'm the youngest of 5 so it was chaos.  It always looked so magical, coming down the stairs and seeing all those presents around the tree!!

5. Is there anyone on your Christmas list you don’t like buying gifts for? Why?  The hubby is a pain in the butt to buy for and so is the kid (she's 17).  Neither of them lack for anything. 

6. Is there anyone you particularly like buying gifts for?  Nope.  I was so disgusted this year that I threatened to give everyone in the family nutcrackers from my collection....and I did!  

7. Did you believe in Santa as a child? Do you remember when you found out he wasn’t real?  My brothers & sisters did a great job of not giving away that secret!  I found out the year I was probably 10 when I went into the basement ~ where I never went ~ and saw Mom with a pile of presents behind the couch.  Let me tell you I turned and ran back up those stairs!

8. I know Elf on the Shelf has only been around since 2005, but did your parents do anything similar when you were younger to make you behave during the holidays?  Nope.  

9. Speaking of Elf on the Shelf, do you have one?  No way - they are so creepy!

10. What is your dream Christmas (present/decorations/vacation/whatever)?  My dream present would be something thoughtful that I didn't have to suggest to someone or buy myself.  I actually broke down & cried while wrapping the presents this year since I wasn't looking forward to the annual disappointment (this includes Valentines & birthdays, too). And it was, too.  I didn't get the simple thing I suggested to the hubby because I didn't search for it online and send him a link to it and I didn't get the simple thing I suggested to the girl because her & the hubby didn't make time to go out shopping together before we left to come to Arkansas.  They thought I was kidding when I told them they both suck. 

Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas!!

Merry Christmas !!

Merry Christmas from all of us at the Love Shaque!!

(Merry Christmas from the Family)

(Santa Claus is Coming to Town)

The downward spiral continues!

Whew! Finally got a minute to sit down & finish this post!

I was up 1 lb last week, but after the company Christmas party & Mother Nature doing her thing, I really wasn't too upset. That made the 1.8 lb loss especially nice this week! I was hoping to just maintain, so very happy!



Total lazy last weekend! Just vegged around the house all day Saturday. Then Saturday night, Miss Angela had a "lock in' at the dance studio, basically a sleepover with usual girl stuff, movies, popcorn, games, dancing - just AT the dance studio. They have a ton of fun each year! So Randy & I dropped her off, then went out to dinner and walked up & down Main Street in nearby Rochester, looking at Christmas lights....



a good mile + stretch is covered like this! We strolled along, looking in shop windows & just enjoying ourselves, along with several gazillion other peoples.

I had a lousy sinus headache on Sunday and didn't want to do anything. I didn't even track!



I did finally go & get my knee checked out. I pulled a tendon and that's why it's been so wonky. The pain is never the same. Sometimes it'll be just fine and I walk OK, then a minute later I'll have shooting pains and can't put any weight on it. I actually went a couple days with it almost feeling normal, then I sat at the desk and had my foot up under me, like I like to sit - and that was a mistake. It didn't like being twisted and let me know! I did manage to get out for a couple walks with the dog, since it's been an oddly snow-less winter so far. Some days 45 degrees feels downright balmy!

So my plans for this weekend include getting my house presentable. We are going to be spending some time in Arkansas soon with the mother-in-law and either one or both of my sisters are stopping in to check on the cats while we're gone. So I prefer it to look somewhat decent for them! I also have a bunch of present wrapping to do and also present buying - the family gathering is Sunday. Ugh, I'd rather draw names and only have to worry about 1 person, but Nooooooooo, Mom & one sister already went crazy. I've joked about giving everyone a nutcracker from my collection (I have over 100 and won't miss a couple), but the more I think about it, the more I like that idea! Nutcrackers for everyone! And maybe a gift card geared toward each person's interests or likes.

Arkansas is going to be a challenge. 16 hours (2 days) to get there and the same coming back. A good week at MIL's house. And since it's just her, she doesn't ever have any kind of food selection in her house at all. I'll pack a cooler with snacks & water (since I tend to let myself dehydrate when in the car for long periods - I have to stop that!!) We will hit Kroger as soon as we get there so I'll be able to stock up on fruit & veggies & stuff. But there will be a lot of going out to eat. We will go to this seafood place to get catfish. I'll simply get it grilled instead of fried. We will go to Outback so Mom can get her coconut shrimpies. There are options there. We will go to Chic-Fil-A since we don't have them here and Randy & Angel have this idea that it's the most amazing fast food ever <<eye rolls>>. Pretty sure they have grilled chicken now. Cracker Barrel will happen, probably more than once. I know they have a lighter menu. And there will be a decent amount of walking. We will walk along the Promenade behind Bathhouse Row in Hot Springs. Angel & I are planning to take a 90 minute walking ghost tour one night. Angel wants her ears pierced again so that'll mean a trip to the mall. There's plenty of stuff to do to keep moving.

ON the plus side, I'm pretty sure Randy is going to renew my gym membership as a Christmas gift for me! Woohoo! Can't wait!

My WW leader gave us all little silver bells at the end of the meeting Wednesday - to remind us to believe - believe that we can conquer the holiday season! I put mine on a ribbon and will be wearing it daily.

Woohoo!

I came, 

I saw, 

I kicked Thanksgiving's butt!  

WOOHOO!!

Down 1.4 lbs this week!  

And last week when I had the WW meeting's travelling tracker?  

Down 2.4 lbs!

So looking at my progress reports this week - I made sure I tracked everything in my handy-dandy notebook (just like the traveling tracker) as well as on eTools.

This included going out to dinner on Wednesday and having "autumn chicken".  It's basically a chicken breast stuffed with cornbread and smothered in a maple cream sauce and sprinkled with dried cranberries.  Omnomnomnom.  It comes with the soup & salad bar (they had AMAZING mushroom soup that night) and mashed sweet potatoes, corn and a giant chunk of steamed carrot and 2 trees of broccoli.  51 points for the day.

Thursday we started out with my sister's breakfast casserole with who-knows-what all in it.  Hashbrowns & eggs & cheese for sure.  I did scarf a few chips with salsa & some Doritos during the day.  Thanksgiving dinner was all in moderation.  Turkey & gravy.  Mashed potatoes.  3 rolls (OK, I went overboard there, but I like bread!!), green bean casserole, cranberry sauce, a decent sized salad w/ lite dressing.  I only took a tiny spoonful of the stuffing, since for some reason my sister added walnuts to it and it was the most unappetizing shade of grayish black I'd ever seen on something that wasn't burnt.  I know she put all sorts of good stuff in it, since I saw her making it, but that little bite was so bland!  It was scary.  Anyhoo, then I had a half slice each of the apple & pumpkin pie with light Cool Whip and a couple bite-sized cream puffs.  And 1 margarita. I didn't even go back for seconds!  Another 51 points for the day.

Friday I had to work, so Randy & I came home Thursday night.  I was able to have a decent breakfast & lunch.    Friday after work, we met the family in Flint at Crossroads Village, etc.  Usual stuff there.  A lot of walking, considering my knee is still bothering me. And it was cold as crap!!  Afterwards we stopped at this coney island place and I had a half order of fish & chips.  They didn't have much to choose from!  But I got chicken noodle soup & of course fries.  It was OK.   Only 40 points today.

Saturday we had pancakes & way too many snausages, then later on after doing some shopping, I had a beef pasty & a salad for dinner. 44 points for the day.

So we did a bit of walking and such over the weekend.  All last week at work was insane - lots of laps around the room, to the fax machine, to the copier, distributing papers to certain people, etc, etc, etc.   Thursday I was up early & went out to take care of the horses.  We went for a walk.  Helped Laurie in the barn some more, cleaning stalls & scrubbing buckets, etc. .
Friday night was tons of walking at Crossroads Village.  Saturday we took the dogs for a walk again & then did some shopping.

We got home Saturday evening.  Sunday I was out putting Christmas decorations out, since it was in the 50s - got to take advantage of warm weather when it's December! I was so not in the mood.  It took much longer than it really needed to.      

 I was done by 3 pm, then had to take a break.  My knee was swelling again & I was just ready for a break.

So I'm extreme proud of myself for having a loss this week.  My next big challenge is this Saturday - the company Christmas party at this fancy Italian restaurant.  Last year I decided I was only going to eat 'special' things.  Like stay away from the lasagna, since we have it pretty often at home, things like that.  And since they always bring out a ton of food to each table, it's OK to just try a little bit of each - I know I won't go home hungry!

Challenge after that is Christmas.  We're going to Arkansas this year and the mother-in-law isn't known for having a lot of healthy stuff in her house.  We always go grocery shopping as soon as we get there.  Hope we can this time, since we'll get there Christmas Eve!  

It's about time to turn in, so Later!!

Pre-Thanksgiving thoughts....

I've been doing really well with the WW 'travelling tracker' this week. Like really been paying much closer attention to portions & what I shovel into my face & if I'm really even hungry or not.  I just bought one of the WW Success Kits, so I may continue to use the notebook tracker, as well as my eTools.  I can always pretend that I need to turn it in.  We'll see how the scale agrees or disagrees.

I don't know if I'll be able to get on to blog much tomorrow after my meeting, which is why I'm on now.  I'll be going straight to the 4pm meeting after work, and then I'll have to pack up the family & stuff and head to my sister's house.  We'll be going out for dinner, then hanging out for the evening.  Then spend all day Thursday there.

Friday will suck.  I have to work - I was going to attempt to get out of it, but my coworker's sister passed away last weekend and her services are Friday afternoon.  Crap.  I hate covering for her, since 90% of my day is spent doing her work and I get way behind in my own.   She's been out since last Thursday, too.  I do need to leave a little early, tho.  Friday night, we have tickets to Crossroads Village / Huckleberry RR for the tree lighting & carols & fireworks & train ride & all that fun stuff.  It really is a lot of fun.  Sort of our way to usher in the Christmas season.  As of Friday, I will no longer be offended at my neighbors who have had their tree up in their front window for the past week (I keep hoping their cat knocks it over) and I may even listen to some music.

The only problem is that I'm gimpy.  Crossroads Village means a lot of walking!  I got out of bed around 4am yesterday and as I walked to the bathroom, something popped in the back of my knee.  I went back to bed, but when I got up with my alarm, it popped a couple more times.  It hurt like crazy all day yesterday with occasional shooting pains & it was nasty swollen and I could feel the fluid in there. It was worse with my knee brace on!  And of course I had to go grocery shopping and such.  Last night I took the dog outside and bent over to pick up a branch off the patio and twisted slightly - I thought I was going to cry and would have to call Randy to come help me back in the house. It was bad.

Today I felt like I was walking like Asimo....

It doesn't hurt as bad, but I still can't bend it enough to use the stairs gracefully or get in the car without grabbing my leg to pull it in or anything.  It's still swollen, too. Since I'm walking funny, the muscles in both legs hurt & ache.  Hopefully by Friday it'll be better. I'll just take a bunch of aspirin before we go. 

Now I'm really glad Zumba is done til the beginning of the year! There's no way I could do it. 

So Thanksgiving.  Maybe if it was just one meal it would be different.  But we start Wednesday & if I didn't have to work - it would go thru Saturday.  It still does, I just get a reprieve.  I'll just have to be careful with the mindless snacking that tends to happen.  My WW leader, Eileen says to imagine her sitting next to me.  I just don't know how that would work, she seems like she'd be fun to hang out with.  But I'm pretty sure she'd do some silent judging if I reached for the chips or whatever. I'll keep that in mind. 

Oh yeah, Saturday will probably mean more walking - my sister mentioned going to this antique store that has 2 stories and the upper floor is a lot of holiday (Halloweeny) stuff.  Squeee! 

 
So I need to do something to keep my mind off the munchies. Would it be weird to take a picture of Eileen, print it out & glue her face to one of those cheesy wooden masks on a stick from Joann Fabrics?   Too much?

Back in the saddle again!

For Realz this time!

With yet another gain under my belt this week (and I'm starting to feel it in my jeans) - this week at my WW meeting, I volunteered to take home the "Travelling Tracker".  I think this is gonna be good for me.  It's simply one of the spiral notebook trackers and someone different has been taking it home each week, and filling it out.  So far, they've been averaging 3+ lbs loss each week with it.  It's kinda neat to go back and see what others have been eating - makes for some new ideas, too. Whoever had it last enjoyed (and tracked) a rum & diet Coke each night!  Heehee!

Yup.  I can totally understand the gain. 

Since the weather was extremely crappy last night, I went from the meeting, back to the studio to wait for Angel to get done with all her classes instead of going home.  I'm sorta bummed that Zumba is done til the beginning of the year, but I digress.  I took that time to figure out exactly what I was going to eat today and the Points values for them.  I even included snacks!  I have my pad of paper in front of me, with tomorrow's figured out so far, gonna work on the weekend next.  Randy has been out of town all week and comes home Sunday - that's when it'll get tough.  He is a total saboteur to me.  I'd really like to get his happy butt on plan with me.  I fear for his health sometimes.  

I know this is what I should have been doing forever, but somehow excuses kept popping up.  I knew what I needed to do, but just hadn't made myself sit down and PLAN!  So here I am.

Like I said, this is going to be good for me.  I'm really paying attention to how I feel in regards to hunger and not giving in to mindless nomming.   I actually an surprised at how OK I feel.  I feel like I want to snack right now but not because I'm really hungry.  7pm is a normal person's dinner time, but I told Angel when I picked her up tonight, we'd stop at Wendy's.  Sadly she doesn't get out of dance til 9:15.  But I already have one of their Apple Pecan Chicken salads written down in the tracker.   They are really good and only 9 Points!  So I shall have something to drink and maybe a 2 point bar instead.

I also went out this afternoon & got my first snow-shovelling activity points of the season!  Woohoo.  We only have a few inches, but the wind is blowing and it's too damn cold!!  This was the second time Miss Angela has driven in the snow this week.  I heard her & her duet partner talking at the studio last night that they want to wait til spring to take their driving tests for their licenses. Sorry, Sunshines.  You live in Michigan.  Driving in snow is inevitable!

Since I just bought my Vue in August, this is also my first time in a long time driving an SUV in snow.  Totally different  I thought because it's heavier than my Escort, it wouldn't slide as easily.  WRONG!  So I'm pretty glad the girl gets to drive the Escort.  It's a good old car, even with the small hole in the floorboard!

Happy Veterans Day !!

***************************************

...and a big hand salute to those who served

before me, with me and after me....

Bootcamp

Mar - May 1992

NTTC Corry Station, Pensacola FL

CT'M' A-School (that I dropped out of)

May - Sept 1992

USS Canopus AS-34 Decommissioning Crew

Sept 1992 - Dec 1994

USS Abraham Lincoln CVN-72

Dec 1994 - Apr 1997

Naval Station Evertt, WA

Apr 1997 - Mar 2000

Happy Halloween!!!

The big day is finally here!!

WoohoooO!

Just a quick post - I'll be back again this weekend. Hope we don't freeze and/or blow away tonight!  Check out this notice from the National Weather Service...  I live about a mile north of M59.  Yay. 

OK - ignore this.  Somehow I got it to link to the website & it's current!

I'm very pleased with the cemetery this year.  The lights still aren't exactly what I want, but its getting there.  Maybe next year!  And yes, I've already had a few things flit thru my mind that I want to improve upon for 2015.  

 Oooo spooky ghost!

Have a safe & Happy Halloween (or Sanheim or whatever you do)!

Friend Makin' Monday - 10/6

Happy Monday!  I've been slacking the last few weeks - I started the posts, then life happened and I'd forget to finish.  

Nothing much going on - working on my Halloween display when I can and I took the family on a Cemetery walk this weekend.  We didn't make it to the tea, where they served foods that were traditional at a Victorian-era wake, but we went thru the Crocker House museum where they had it done up as a house of mourning - mirror covered, a real coffin in the parlor, windows darkened, porch draped in black, etc.  The volunteers explained all the customs & beliefs and was really interesting.  Then we got on a bus to the cemetery and they had 6 people there as reenactors, they stood next to a headstone of some local person and told their story.  That was really neat since they were just average people with average lives.  They were all excellent story-tellers!  Sunday we went to visit Mom for a while.  

FMM

Happy Monday everyone.

If you’ve taken part in Friend Makin Mondays before then you are familiar with the rules. If you’re new, please take a moment to answer this week’s question on your own blog then add your link in the comments section here so we can all see your FMM questions and answers. Please invite your blog readers to add their links here too so everyone has to opportunity to be seen. The idea is to connect with other awesome bloggers so take a moment to read and comment on a couple of other posts.

This week’s random questions come from Tyra at Random Acts of Snark. Thanks Tyra.

1. If you had to be allergic to something, what would it be?  I'll stick with what I am allergic to - sulfa.  It's a type of penicillin that they gave me when I had mono, many moons ago.  It made me break out into hives when I went out in the sun!  So I'd choose that since there are other medications available.

2. If you sat next to Jesus on a bus, what would you talk about?  What his private life was like, as a kid / teenager.

3. If money and time were no object, what would you be doing right now?  I'd be at home working on getting my Halloween stuff out!

4. If you had one day to live over again, what day would that be?   I'd go with my wedding day, too.  They only thing I'd change is NOT wearing a corset - those things are torture!  But it was the best day of my life & I smiled like an idiot all day!

5. If you could eat your favorite food right now, what would it be?  The answer could be different on other days / times but today is a chocolate chip cookie skillet from Chili's.  They make it in a min-cast iron skillet and put a scoop of ice cream and drizzle of chocolate on it.

6. If you could learn any skill, what would it be?   Hmm, some mad woodworking skills would be cool.  

7. If you were sent to live on a space station for three months, and could only take three personal items, what would they be?  My Kindle with approximately 7000 books pre-loaded on it.  My iPod with tons of music pre-loaded (both of these with batteries that don't run out!)  and a photo album of my family. 

8. If you could buy a car right now (money no object) what would it be?  I'm pretty happy with my 2008 Saturn Vue - I've only had it about 2 months.  But to be totally outrageous, it would be anything that the guys on Top Gear test & review.  So some fancy foreign car, like a Buggati Veyron or something like that.

9. What’s your favorite cartoon character and why?  Kermit the frog isn't really a cartoon character, so it would have to be either Popeye or Bugs Bunny.  Kermit just rocks.  Popeye & Bugs always entertained me to no end, tough & funny & lovable.

10. Does your name have a special meaning or were you named after someone special?  I'm pretty sure my name is one Dad just came up with.  But check out how weird he was....His name was James Curtis.  Half brother was Curtis James.  Brothers are John James and Terry Curtis.  (nephews have a variation of his names, also!)  then us girls are Laura Lee, Linda Bea and Lisa Marie. All start with L end with A and rhyme.  But Lee is after Gpa, Bea is after Gma and Marie is after Mom (Mary).  So yeah, we're special!

Thanks Tyra for the questions, these were fun to answer. Now it’s time to go answer these questions on your blog and come back here and post the link to your answers.

Have a great day!!

Ugh, I hurt!

But it's a good hurt!  I went back to Zumba tonight.   ((smiley face!!))  I really like wall push-ups!  I can keep good form and go all the way to the wall and feel my arms, back & chest working!  On the floor? Forget it.

This works out well - I take Miss Angela to dance, visit for a while, go to my WW meeting, then back to the studio for Zumba.  I get done the same time Angel gets done with pointe.   I'm pretty proud that I did not order anything from Wendy's when we stopped - just got something for the starving kid and waited to have a salad when I got home.

I was able to get a new Simple Start book from the desk ladies tonight.  Yay!  I've gotten in such a habit of what I pack for breakfast & lunch every day that I forget that I have things like cheese sticks that I could have for a snack when I get home.  I walk in the door at 4 and am ravenous!  I like having options, but this book also tells me exactly what I should be eating.  I opted not to get on the scale tonight, so maybe next week will be a pleasant surprise!

So here's my progress reports.  I changed my days on both eTools and the Activelink to Wednesday so that blank day is showing up again.  But that's OK.  Ugh, Friday was ugly!  I used a total of 61 points that day!   I don't think I've ever used that many (if any) of my APs ever!  Randy & I went out to dinner and I got a burger with a snotty egg (sunny side up) and bacon on it and we split an appetizer of chips & guac.  I obviously tracked it all!  But damn, it was sooooooo good!

22 APs for the week.
Hmm, it has my baseline set at 5 APs -  so my goal is 35 per week to reach 100%.  I just noticed that!

Alrighty, my hair is finally dry so I'm going to take some aspirin to ward off aches & pains and turn in for the night!

On an ending note, check out this tree I pass on my way home, it's so pretty!   Funny how just the top part has changed color!   I wish my maples trees were like this - mine just turn yellow.  Yawn.

Ugh

So last week I decided to pay attention to my carb intake - just for shitz & gigglez, ya know.   Holy crap!

I didn't even finish out the week, but Sunday was 147g, Monday 250g, Tuesday 200g, Wednesday 195g. The Lean Cuisines I had for lunch ranged from 29g - 51g themselves!  It was somewhat depressing.  I'm thinking I need to cut back on the processed foods (OK, and get back to the gym!) and maybe my numbers will start moving in the right direction.  I've been looking for my Simple Start book from WW, but can't find it, so I'm going to have to get a new one at the meeting this week.

I think I'm going to start going to Wednesday meetings at the new place.  Last week I had to go to Open House (curriculum night / meet the teachers / whatever you may call it) at Miss Angela's school on Thursday so I went to the Wednesday WW meeting.  Well on Wednesday, I only went back to the studio to find out all the info from Angel's ballet teacher on how to sew the ribbons & elastics onto pointe shoes.  They all assumed I was there to Zumba!  But since I wasn't wearing the right shoes or bra, I told them I'd do it this week.  That actually may work pretty good.  I liked the leader better, too.

Here's this week progress reports - I have no idea what happened Wednesday!  Totally missed tracking completely.  I was up a smidge and had 26 APs.  Mother Nature may have had a hand in the gain, tho.

You know what I hate?  When you eat something that may be perfectly on plan and such, but afterward you feel like you ate a whole cow?  I know that has to do with paying attention to my body's fullness signals, but it still sucks.  

Friend Makin' Monday - More Randomness (fashionably late!)

OMG, I've been paying attention to the amount of carbs I consume on a regular day - just out of curiosity's sake......all I have to say is OMG.  Easily 250g yesterday alone!  The Lean Cuisine I had at lunch was 51g.  My usual morning oatmeal with protein powder & Greek yogurt is over 41g.  Wow.  Just Wow. 

Friend Makin’ Mondays

If you’ve taken part in Friend Makin Mondays before then you are familiar with the rules. If you’re new, please take a moment to answer this week’s question on your own blog then add your link in the comments section here so we can all see your FMM questions and answers. Please invite your blog readers to add their links here too so everyone has to opportunity to be seen. The idea is to connect with other awesome bloggers so take a moment to read and comment on a couple of other posts.

I would love some topic/question suggestions from all of you, please email your ideas to  sarah@losingweightandhavingfun.com Thanks

This week’s random questions come from Tyra at Random Acts of Snark. Thanks Tyra.

1. If you were a vegetable, what vegetable would you be?  How about a potato?  Versatile & tasty.

2. If you woke up tomorrow as an animal, what animal would you choose to be and why?  A cat!  They're lazy and aloof and everything is on their terms and that's exactly how people expect them to be.  My cats are the most spoiled critters ever, but they are very lovable.

3. If you could live anywhere on this planet, and take everything that you love with you, where would you choose to live? Tell the group about your choice.   I've had a chance to travel a bit while in the Navy and see places I normally wouldn't get to (Jebal Ali & Bahrain especially but also Singapore and Hong Kong and Diego Garcia) Lots of cool places, but I'm afraid there's no place like home.  I'd like to stay in Michigan - 4 distinct seasons, no hurricanes or sharks, the views are fantastic.  It's a beautiful place.

4. What favorite color are you and how does being that color make you feel?  I like cobalt blue.  It's calming and makes my eyes look amazing.

5. If you could choose an imaginary friend, who would you choose and why?  I don't know.  I can't remember ever having one.  But I carried my Raggedy Ann doll around with me everywhere - she was my friend for years.  She eventually fell apart and I almost peed myself when I found a very similar one in new condition at the local Salvation Army.  Same embroidered heart on her chest & everything.  

6. If you could sit on a bench in a beautiful woods, who would you like sitting next to you on the bench and why?  My hubby.  We don't even need to talk when we're together.  Just being is enough.

  

7. Are you sunrise, daylight, twilight, or night? Please share why you picked your time of day?  Sunrise.  The air is fresh & clean, things are just waking up - the sky is spectacular.

8. If you could choose your age forever, what age would you choose and why?  If I was feeling selfish - 23.  I was as free as I could be (being in the Navy) I was in shape and life was good. On the down side, I didn't have my family & experiences under my belt that I have now.

9. If you could be in the movie of your choice, what movie would you choose and what character would you play?   I've mentioned the Man from Snowy River in a past FMM, but I'd like to either be Jessica (the gorgeous long dresses & lots of horseback riding) or Kelly McGillis from Top Gun - even tho women weren't on carriers when that was made.  (doing cool stuff with fighter jets)

10. If you could meet any historical figure, who would you choose and why?  Someone like JFK or John Wayne,   They'd have cool stories to tell about their lives and stuff they've done.

Yay!

A real post from me!

I'm kicking my butt and making myself start writing real, quality posts a LOT more often than I was.  I follow a lot of blogs and Adrienne over at Chronicles of a Curvy Housewife was talking about getting into a low carb challenge with some FB friends.  Since I've been trudging right along with WW, I haven't paid much attention to low carb anything, even tho it plays a big part in calculating my Points.  

I don't want to dive right in with going low carb, I want to pay attention to how many I consume in a day.  At least for starters.  

As of this afternoon - I was at about 140 and that did not include my dinner of baked salmon, green beans and wild rice.   I even tracked today - and I've been really bad with slacking off on the weekends.  

So here's my last week's progress reports from eTools - I was pretty happy with being down 1.2 lbs after being up 1.7 after vacation.  I'm glad I wasn't counting carbs then - it would have been astronomical!  

Activity was decent - 33 APs for the week.  My goal for each week is 32.  I'm kind of surprised since I haven't done a whole lot.  I think the Activelink gets a false reading if you do a lot of driving.  

eTools

Activelink 

Sheesh, is it cold where you are?  It's calling for clear and 41* tonight!  I don't think it even made it up to 60* today.  Sure wish we could see the northern lights!  They're supposed to showing pretty far south, but according to the NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center (am I a geek or what??) it's not looking likely anyway. 

I made a point to clean out out laundry room today, which is where our furnace is located.  I should take a pic - I don't know what moron thought this layout was a good idea.  Maybe when it was built they used smaller stackable units.  But I have to straddle the corner of the furnace in order to reach into the washer and then twist my left leg in awkwardly to open the dryer door and stand like that while transferring clothes.   Anyhoo, I made sure there were no stray socks or dryer sheets or dust bunnies around the furnace in case we decide we need to turn it on tonight. 

Alrighty - we'll see how I do with da Carbs tomorrow.  Miss Angela is gone for the weekend, so we may go out for breakfast.  I'm not sure about dinner yet.  If I have my say, we won't be ordering our usual pizza - YAY!  If I never saw the Jet's delivery guy again in my life, it would be too soon.  Her & Randy could live on that stuff.  

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