What in the H is going on????

Okay America - what are you doing?? What is happening in our world today??? Every time you turn on the television something else has gone to "H-ll in a hand-basket" (as my grandmother used to say). Is it just me, or is the entire world heading straight to a depression????

A few weeks ago, okay more than a month ago, I wrote about affluence and how the US is so obsessed with 'things' - well, ladies and gentlemen, I think it has come back to bite us in the proverbial butt! The really sad thing to me is - we (and I mean the collective 'we') don't want to take responsibility for our own actions. No one held our arm behind our backs and made us go out and buy a McMansion when we could only afford a doghouse - much less force us to mortgage it at 100% with an ARM loan. Now those mean ole' bankers want their money back - imagine that! And America is crying for the government to bail them out. Well, folks, its time to bite the bullet and face the fact that you can't have everything - WHAT!!! Yes, you can't have the mega mansion, all the new clothes, the new furniture, the new cars, live pay check to pay check and borrow from MasterCard to pay the Visa card bill. It's time we step up to the plate and be grown ups.

Now, that I've fussed about everyone else and said that I don't think the government SHOULD bail out the stupid - let's talk about what will happen. The feds are going to buy up all these "bad loans' that will allow these dumb idiots to stay in their homes, and those of us that are responsible, pay our bills on time, only buy what we can pay for, are going to get the shaft! What do I mean by that statement you may ask? Well, let me explain. D and I figure that the home we bought last October is now worth approximately $50,000 to $75,000 less than what we paid for it. However, we make our mortgage payment every month on time, and pay all our other obligations on time. Because we are responsible adults no one will do a dang thing to help us in any way. IF the feds want the economy to get better and is going to buy all that bad debt, why not adjust our principal, lower our payments and we will have more money to spend every month. What would that mean - well, we might be able to go out and buy that camper we have been wanting, or D could go out and buy that boat that he so wants. We could take a couple of trips - even if it were only to Atlanta or Savannah. The point would be, we would feel like we could spend that extra money instead of holding on to every penny we have because we don't know what is coming next.

Actually, you know what I would really like the feds to do? Nothing, but I know that isn't going to happen. I may not be an economy major, but I know that the news and feds have, not just America, but the whole world so scared that if they don't do something soon everything is going to get much worse. I know that, but the little girl in me (yes, she is still there even if I am over 50) wants to scream and yell and pitch a royal fit screaming "IT'S NOT FAIR!!!! IT'S NOT FAIR!" I want people to step up to the plate and say, okay I screwed up - but I will cut back on the unnecessary stuff ($10.00 movie tickets, $5.00 coffee's), take my lunch to work (oh horrors!), and actually work to pay my debt.

I know, I know, some of you are saying, what if that person doesn't have a job - they lost their job due to the bad economy and they can't find another one. I realize that is the situation for some - but NOT the majority. But you know what - people are not going to take responsibility for what they have done. We as a society are so used to having someone else bail us out of our messes that we expect it. And the world is going to be bailed out again, but at what expense to our children's children???? I just hope and pray that those in charge know what they are doing, but I don't have much faith in that - I'm not blaming the Republicans or the Democrats - I'm blaming all of "us" who spent when they didn't have it and continue to allow others influence what they do.

My prayer is that whomever is our next President and those who are in the Senate and Congress can forget the 'party line' crap and do what is right for this country. We didn't elect them to sit up in Washington and sit on their a-- and make pretty speeches. Or to take money under the table for all the lobbyists. We elected them to represent "we the people" - I think many have forgotten that. Maybe what "we the people" need to do is to let those know what we want them to do instead of sitting on our A-- and crying "oh me! oh me!".

Okay, I'm going to get off my soap box now. One last word - please pray that those in 'charge' are lead by the Almighty in heaven and NOT by the dollar.

Until next time America!

Lazy Days?????

Okay America - I'm back for a short little post - Things have been rather hectic around here and I have not had a chance to sit down and write my little posts like I should. What, you may ask, has kept me so busy that I can not bore the rest of the world with my little coming and goings? Well, first of all - football season has started - and my family will attest to the fact that football has to be my favorite thing in the world (next to the family and the dogs). In fact, while I am writing this quick little post I am also listening to the football game - Packers and Cowboys.

The other big thing that is keeping me busy is my job - yes, you heard me right - I have a job. No, I didn't get one in the teaching profession (although I did have the principal of a school call me and want me to do a long term sub job - which I turned down). I do have a part-time job here in the village in the marketing department - I am developing marketing for different areas here. A new learning curve, but I think I will enjoy it once I get my feet wet.

One of the advantages this job provides is flexibility - I work 40 hours in a two week pay period. I can do 20 and 20, or 32 and 8 or all 40 in one week. And while the pay is not what I would make at teaching the flexibility is very appealing.

So, while I might not have a full time position - I am bringing in some income and things are looking up in the house (By the way, Dan even applied for a job, and might start working as a tutor at one of our local schools). You just never know where life will lead next - stay tuned America!

Until next time!

The Summer of Health and Fitness

Well, as we approach the "official" last weekend in summer - I thought I would do a recap of what my summer looked like here in Dowling Park, Florida. In May, Dan and I decided that we would not do any traveling this year - due to many issues from gas prices to inflation and not feeling as if we should let go of any money (i.e. the purchase of a camper or purchase of any cruise tickets - which would also mean airline tickets). So, how do you think we decided to do with our long wonderful summer in the great state of Florida? How about - EXERCISE!

Seriously, Dan and I were sitting in the hot tub in the Copeland Center (our indoor exercise, swimming pool, hot tub building) and we made a commitment to each other to go down to the exercise room every WEEK day for three months and see what kind of difference in our bodies it would make - we even shook hands on it - which made it official. The next day I made each of us a chart with weight and different measurements on it (chest, waist, hips, upper arms and upper leg) - I mean, I was SERIOUS! We agreed we would weigh in every Monday and only take our measurements once a month.

Starting the first Monday in June (June 2nd) we trooped down to the exercise room - I jumped on the treadmill and Dan on the bike. The first week we each did 20 minutes at our preferred method of torture.

On Monday of the second week it was time to weigh in - I lost 1/2 a pound - Dan 3 pounds. So, I added two different exercise classes - one called "Walk and Stretch" which is a combination of aerobics (45 minutes) and yoga (45 minutes) and the other a water aerobics class. Then I also did my 20 minutes on the treadmill.

The third week weigh in arrived - I lost another 1/2 pound - Dan 2 pounds. I was doing my two classes, had increased my time on the treadmill to thirty minutes - upped my speed and incline AND was doing 20 minutes on the bike. I was really working - Dan was still doing 20 minutes on the bike daily (He was complaining every day, but he was still going). I mean what was he complaining about - he was only working for 20 minutes a day and had lost 5 pounds in two weeks - I was working between 1 and 3 hours daily and had only lost 1 pound - but I kept telling myself I was developing muscles and they weigh more than fat - Yeah, right.

Week four arrives and it's time to do the measurements - weight - NO weight lost, measurement - 1/2 inch on upper arms, and 1/4 inch on upper legs - NOTHING in my chest, waist, or hips - Dan - lost another 2 pounds (he wouldn't do his measurements, but he had lost 7 pounds in a month and I had only lost 1 pound!)

Okay, now I was really serious - everyday an exercise class - 45 minutes on the treadmill -speed 4 - with spurts at 5, incline 4.5 AND 45 minutes on the bike. I kept asking the instructor WHEN am I going to start this great feeling after exercise - right now all I felt was exhausted!
She said "Give it 6 weeks - then you'll start feeling it". Okay, that meant another week to go - I can do this!

Week six had arrived - Monday, water class and an hour and a half in the exercise room. Man, I'm tired and I really don't feel that well - maybe I'm coming down with a cold. Tuesday - Walk and Stretch and another hour and a half on the treadmill and bike - let's add some weights today - still don't feel well. Once I get home- take a shower, let's lie down for a little while. Six p.m. and I wake up - get up, fix dinner for Dan, go back to bed and sleep all night. Drag myself out of bed and go back to class - sleep all day, eat, back to bed. I can't keep this up - what's wrong with me????? Wednesday - I can't drag myself out of bed, much less to exercise - I spend three days in bed. Finally, I get back to class and ask my instructor what happened - you know what she said???? I was over training!!!! OVER TRAINING - ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!!!! I can't lose any weight, but I can over train! FORGET IT !!!!!!!!

Now, that doesn't mean I don't go down to the center and work out occasionally - I even go to a few classes, BUT, I don't do an hour and a half in the weight room or any of the foolishness -
and you ask about Dan - oh, he gave up at week four - so much for the summer of health and fitness!!!

Until next time America!

Why Can't I be Satisfied???

Hello again to you out there in the Blogisphere (is that a word? - who knows). The plans for my entry this week changed just a few minutes ago when I read the blog of a friend of my oldest daughter. C (my daughter) and M have been friends since elementary school - C and I were able to visit with M when we took our trip to NYC last year in March. M has a great blog that you should read sometime (Even the Fleas - cute title).

So, what does M's blog have to do with why I changed what I was going to write about - her subject this week got me thinking about a lot of areas of MY life - you see M's blog talked about affluence- or the pursuit of "things" - and that pursuit of things has been behind quite a few of the situations I have been forced to deal with the last month or so.

You see, as I have said in past posts, I have been thinking about going back to work - I even did all the steps necessary to get my teaching certification restored (yes, that is done - all I need to do is get hired by a county) which leads to the problem. Due to the great state of Florida's method of taxation, the state is in a dire financial bind - and they (meaning the state) has cut funding to education (all schools throughout the state have seen major funding shortfalls). This means the county that I live in and assumed I would be able to get a teaching position in this school year is NOT hiring - nor are any of the surrounding counties that are within a reasonable driving distance.

Sooooo, I looked at other places that I might be able to work and lo and behold, one of the few counties in the state that IS hiring is POLK county - or the county that Dan and I retired from six years ago. Now, Polk county is just a three to four hour drive from our home in North Florida; therefore, I would not be driving back and forth every day. We thought that I would stay in Lakeland during the week (living with my youngest daughter and son-in-law - wouldn't that be a treat for her!) and I would either come home every other weekend or I would come home one weekend, stay in Lakeland a weekend, Dan would come down a weekend, stay at home a weekend - get the drift. In other words, we would only see each other twice in a month - not the best of circumstances. However, I would have a job.

Now, I filled out the application (yes, even though I worked for the county for fourteen years, I still had to go through all the channels and jump through all the hoops). I even had an interview set up, when Dan and I both came to our senses. What were we thinking - this is STUPID! Which leads me to the question, why in the world would I even consider doing something so stupid????? The answer to that is the almighty dollar!

You see, Dan and I have a very lovely home (I might even post a picture of it sometime) and we are able to pay our bills on time every month - BUT, we don't feel we have the spare money to do the extra things we want to do - like travel, build a pergola in the back yard, new camper, new bedroom furniture, new clothes (now there is a good reason for that "want", but more about that in a later post), Dan a boat, did I mention travel - get the idea??? And, this is the killer, we aren't satisfied with what we have - I mean we always want to make things better.

Which leads me back to M's blog about affluence - why can't I/we be satisfied with what I/we have???? Maybe it has something to do with "the American dream" - you know what I mean - that generational thing where your parents want you to have things better than they did, and how are you going to do that IF you don't go out and get stuff. Maybe it's a disease that I/we suffer from - you know that "I just have to have something", even when there is nothing wrong with what I already have.

I can give you a very good example of this problem. This week I canned peaches (Yes, Susie-Ann homemaker is still alive and well, thank you very much for asking). I did half peaches in quart jars, sliced peaches in pint jars, and peach preserves in jelly jars (and I did a good job, even if I do say so myself) - but that leads me to my excess - instead of borrowing a canner (the great big pot that you have to put your fruit (in my case) into for the 'water bath') Dan and I went to Wal Mart and bought one of our own - I even talked to Dan about borrowing one - I had a friend who volunteered to let me use hers, but no, I had to have my own - WHY? In my defense, I don't like to borrow things - never have ( I did borrow a camper one time - and that was a disaster - I mean after I wrecked the thing and had to pay a couple of thousand dollars to get it fixed I decided that borrowing things was not a good idea - I'm pretty bright huh?). The other thing was (this is my usual defense) the canner only cost $20.00.

Maybe, it's advertising (sorry, M)- You know the false belief that "if you have this certain product (whether it's shampoo, face cream, clothes, car, house, etc.) you will be happier, you'll have more friends, you'll be admired, etc". Maybe, it has to do with my childhood belief that I wasn't good enough. Maybe it's guilt (for what I have no idea)- Maybe it's a combination of all the above! Who knows what has caused it - the real question is what can I/we do about it.

I once had a sweatshirt that said "Happy with what I have, but always willing to have more", and that was my belief at the time. I had just gotten divorced, had my first job teaching, had my two girls, and the first home I had ever bought on my own. Even though we (my girls and I) didn't have a lot of extras, I was happy with what I had and proud of what I had accomplished. I think I need to work on getting back to that point in my life - just being happy with what I have (and I have soooo very much to be happy/thankful about), and, if something extra comes along, be willing and thankful to accept it.

So, you might ask, what about the job situation? I (we) have decided that I will stay here in Suwannee County - maybe do some long term substitute teaching (I don't think I want to do daily substitute teaching this year), look into the tutoring program and see if that is an option, and I have interviewed for a position here in the "village" which might produce a part time job. All of these options means a lot less of the almighty dollar, but I will be home where I want to be. If none of these things work out, we'll just have to work with what we have, try and save a little here and there, and our children might just have a smaller Christmas this year. No matter what happens, I'm going to work on "being happy with what I have".

Until next time America!

Little Miss "Susie-Ann" Homemaker

Hello, Blogging world - it's me again and have I been busy!!! So many things have happened to me in the past month or so, it's a problem to think about where to begin. However, I have decided to let you in on my latest adventure from this past week -after this adventure I have been told that I am turning in to "little Miss Susie-Ann homemaker". Now, folks, I can't be just a simple Susie homemaker - after all I AM southern and everyone knows that all southern girls have two names (ex. Mary Beth, Samantha Ann, Jessica Lee, etc.). So it just goes to reason that my new name is going to be Miss Susie-Ann Homemaker. Why? Well, I thought you would never ask.










These, my friends are - homemade, fig preserves!! Made by - yours truly!! Now, this part is really important - I have never made preserves before, much less picked the figs, cut them up , cooked them, and yes, put them in jars and preserved them (yes, there is more to it than just putting the cooked fruit into a jar).



So, how did this not so country girl get to the place that she is actually making preserves. Well, some of that will be covered in future posts, BUT the short of it is - money!!!!! Dan wanted preserves and they are darned expensive in the store - and a friend of mine in the "village" said - "Well, Carol, there is a fig tree back behind 'Joe and Sarah's' house (not their real name to protect the innocent - ME!) and you could go and pick your own and make some preserves." Now, this friend does not realize that I am kitchen challenged - if you don't believe me, just ask my kids - they will tell you. I have even bragged in the past that "the only reason we have a kitchen is because it came with the house". I will be the first to tell anyone that I am no cook, chef, or any other word you could invent if it has to do with doing something in the kitchen. Seriously, I really don't know how I managed to raise two children and do so little in the kitchen. I can do a little more than "Hamburger Helper", but let's not push it too far. My belief has always been - why cook, that's the reason God invented restaurants. But I get too far off topic - back to my preserves.



In recent days I have decided that one of the things I am going to have to do to save some money - since other measures I have tried in the last few weeks have not worked - is to become more familiar with things in the kitchen, so, when this friend tells me about the fig tree - I say to myself "okay, self, you can do this" - I mean after all I do have a Master's degree. (Never mind that it is in Educational Leadership! It is a Master's for Pete's sake!)



So, down to 'Joe and Sarah's' house to the infamous fig tree. I take Dan with me, because my friend had told me that she and I weren't the only ones who knew about this fig tree and to be able to reach the ripe figs I was going to need a ladder. Dan and I load the ten foot step ladder on to the top of the golf cart and head off to the fig tree - where I proceed to climb the ladder while Dan "spots" me. (Good thing he is there to 'spot' me - I almost fall off the ladder twice as I am trying to reach "that perfect fig" - not that I know what a "perfect fig" is - have I told you that I have never even eaten a fig, except in a Fig Newton cookie? No, well, that is just another little element in this little adventure.) I am finally able to pick two plastic containers full of figs without falling off the ladder and breaking any bones. I tell my dear husband that I think this will be enough and back home we go after loading the ladder BACK on top of the golf cart. (I have NO idea if I have enough figs to make preserves, but it sounded good!)



Now, back home I come face to face with the kitchen and come to the quick realization that I don't have a recipe for fig preserves. I might not have a recipe, but I do have the Internet - off to the office I come and type 'fig preserves' in Goggle. Now, I'm not sure what I thought would happen, maybe a couple of recipes would come up, but no, not for me. Instead out pops not one, not two, not even three, but 257 recipes. Oh, great - 257 different ways to make fig preserves- who knew? For heaven's sake, I just need ONE - two hours later, after reading about half of the 257 different recipes, I say to heck with this - let's just take a couple of these, combine them and see what happens.



First things first - wash the figs - cut the figs- measure the figs. This isn't so hard. Okay, two quarts of water, three cups of sugar, six cups of figs, 1/4 cup of lemon juice - OH NO!!!!! The recipe didn't say two quarts it said two cups!!! Pour everything through the colander (have to save the figs) and start again - Two cups of water, three cups of sugar, six cups of figs, and 1/4 cup of lemon juice - bring to a boil and cook.



This is what fig preserves look like after about 2 hours cooking on the stove. About another hour later I had the most beautiful preserves you have ever seen! My Dan loves my preserves! Now, I won't bore you with the process of sterilizing the jars, lids and seals, nor the part of 'setting' the preserves in a boiling water bath for ten minutes. The point is - I did this all on my own - with no help from anyone, (well you can't count the Internet - it doesn't stand over you to make sure you don't use 2 quarts of water instead of 2 cups!).

And, guess what, the roof didn't fall in and I didn't kill anyone or even make them sick - maybe there is a place for me in the kitchen - I might not be Emeril, or even Paula Deen, but I am this household's "Susie-Ann" homemaker - and I think I even like it. Did I hear Food Network calling??? No, well, maybe next week.

Until next time America!

Quiet Week, Not like Last Year at this time!

This week had been fairly quiet around here - not much happening. We did a tour for people who are considering moving to our area on Wednesday - Dan went on a Pontoon Boat ride yesterday - went to Lake City (to J C Penny's) shopping on Friday afternoon. That's about it - oh well - you can't have everything. Much different than a year ago.

One year ago, on Monday (by date) or yesterday (by days of the week), my youngest daughter was married. June 23, 2007 - it is very hard for me to believe that a whole year has gone by. That day was very special - I don't think I have ever seen a couple that was so happy - every time you looked at them they were smiling or laughing - they were (and are) genuinely in love and happy.

This is one of my favorite pictures from that day - it was taken at the reception site and I just love this picture - along with about one hundred others - but there is something special about this one.

Don't ask me what - I can't answer that one, but it's special to me.

One year ago was a very busy time - I had spent almost a month with my daughter and her fiance (oh, the patience he had, that's when I was sure he was a good guy!) - helping with the last minute details and getting things ready - then it was here -then, in a flash, it was over. All the planning, the worries, it was all worth it.

I'm hoping that my daughter and son-in-law will be having a special time this Monday and that they celebrate their first anniversary together with as much love and happiness as they experienced one year ago on their wedding day. May that love grow over the years and their marriage be blessed.

Love to you both!

Another one of my favorite pictures - my two girls, my prides and my joys - I am so proud of both of them and they are both so special each in their own way. Don't get this ole mom going - I'll be here all day.

Just know that these two girls, along with Dan, are my reason for living - the three of them complete me (Okay - Tom Cruise isn't the only one who can say that line!) I will love them through eternity and beyond.

Oh, yeah - I can't forget the two fat daschunds - love them too!!

Until next time America!

Bathroom Blues

This is the master bathroom in our home - day before yesterday it did not look like this - it was white - all white. I hate white walls!!!! It takes no imagination at all to have white walls (in my humble opinion, that is - if you have white walls and like them, well, I just don't know what to say other than 'well, okay then.'). Anyway, for me, the white had to go.

I have been trying for about three months to get Dan to agree to painting the bathroom. However, he just wasn't that "in to it", but I didn't give up. No, not me - I just keep suggesting, making little comments, etc. BUT not nagging (I hate it when someone nags!) Now, don't get me wrong - he had agreed to paint the bathroom and we had even bought the paint- he just didn't want to do the painting (He agreed with me that the white walls had to go).

Let me make a comment here - people have asked me if the dogs shed and I have always said "no" or maybe "just a little" - well, I found out that's a lie - just look at my white bathroom floor and you will see that the two little darlings do shed, probably just as much as any other dog, except their hair is short, so you don't notice it as much - unless you have a white floor. Then every single little hair just stands out. I haven't meant to lie - I just didn't realize how much until I had a white floor.

Back to our blue bathroom - last Monday we decided to paint the bathroom this weekend - we couldn't paint it on Tuesday, we were having company. We couldn't do it on Wednesday, housekeeping was coming (Yes, I am fortunate enough to have a housekeeper come every other week - it takes her two hours to clean and it is well worth every cent!), Thursday we had more company coming - so that left the weekend. So, first thing Saturday morning we got up, had our coffee, read the paper (The Gainesville Sun), ate some breakfast, then off to the bathroom to prep it for painting (which meant taking down the pictures, light fixtures, switch plates, moving all the decorations and towels to the bedroom, and laying down the canvas tarp).

Next, came changing into the 'painting clothes' - I don't know about you, but I have a certain set of clothes that I wear whenever I paint. I have the paint color of our house in North Carolina on them, even my youngest daughter's kitchen color that Justin and I painted before their wedding last year. Why do I have "painting clothes" - well, that should be fairly obivious - I get paint all over me - I mean, I do actually get some on the wall, but when it gets on my hands, I just wipe it on my clothes. It's more fun that way, and you have a great record of all the colors you have used in the past.

Finally, the bathroom is ready for the paint. Now, when Dan and I paint (and we have painted a lot!) we have a system - since he is so tall, he does the cutting in (plus, many, many, many years ago he worked for a building contractor part-time, and his job was to paint - so he has the experience to do it correctly) and I do the 'rolling'. Well - have any of you ever painted a bathroom??? Talk about cutting in - it is a 'forever' job! Then, Dan did not have "his" brush. To tell the truth, just between us, I think he took it to Melissa and Justin's when he went down to help them paint a couple of years ago and didn't bring it back with him - but he fussed and fussed about "the" brush - he ended up going down to the little hardware store close to the house and buying another brush (which he did like better, but it still wasn't "his" brush). Next, to make matters even worse, we had to put on two coats - which meant he had to cut in TWICE! Well, it took us all day Saturday, BUT we got it done.

Now, ladies and gentlemen, I don't know about you - but I think this is beautiful!! I have never painted anyroom blue before (at least I don't remember painting anything blue, and there is no blue on my painting clothes)- and this isn't really a blue-blue - it is more of a grey-blue - and, I like it a lot. Now, I want to paint the guest bathroom - and my family will never, in a million years, guess what color - NO NOT Green but a color I have NEVER painted, and I'm sure of that. I never even thought I would ever paint a room this color! How about hydrangea blue - you know a purple-blue - yes, I said purple (but not really PURPLE - just a touch of purple in a blue). Dan has not agreed yet - he said he would "have to see the color first". So, I will have to find just the right shade. Now, watch out world, I am on a mission!

Now, just one more little thing. Friday, Dan was out in the back yard and called for me to "come quick" - which he NEVER says. So, I come running - I mean, I think there is something wrong with him - or heaven forbid- one of the "two fat daschunds", but no everything was fine with them, but there was 'something' in the yard.

If you look very closely in this photo you will be a little baby bunny - it was hiding behind the water hose next to the house. We kept the "two fat daschunds" in the house for a couple of hours. I went out a few times to check and the baby was still there. But a couple of hours later, after a rain storm, it was gone - but I have a picture. (Doesn't take a whole lot to excite me, does it?)

Hope all you father's have a great day! If you haven't called, or seen, your father today - Go call them or see them - it will make their day - Until Next Time America!

My little piece of heaven

What, you may ask, am I doing posting a picture of a room? Well, my dear little ones, this is more than just a room - it is THE room. What is 'THE ROOM'? It is my 'man-cave' (for those don't understand that phrase - please read men are from mars and women are from venus - it will explain it all). No, actually this is a picture of my craft room (or scrapbooking room) and it has become my sancutary.

Let me explain - when we moved into our house in October there was a "bonus room" over the garage that is suppose to be used for storage, but I wanted a room to call my very own - I mean, Dan has the garage and the river - so I needed a place to put all my stuff and not have to worry about having to clean it up when I was in the middle of a project. Well, my dear husband decided I could have the "bonus room" and he built my desk area with kitchen cabinets and a formica counter top - we bought two bookcases from Target and moved the couch that makes into a bed (just flips out) upstairs, installed curtains and blinds, and now I have a room of my own.

I just love my room - there is only one problem, well three actually. First, we have not yet installed a door at the bottom of the stairs sooooo I have to clean my counter top every day to get the dead bugs that have flown up the stairway off - it is actually better since we put the window blinds up.

Second, since this was suppose to just be used for storage, there is only one electrical plug and it is on the "L" part of the room (which you don't see in the pictures). This part of the room IS, in fact, being used for storage and we have installed floor to ceiling drapes to hide all that from the pretty part of the room. To solve the power issue, we have run a heavy duty extension cord around the perimeter of the room so I can have my lap top computer and printer along other electrical equipment. Which brings us to problem number three - and it's a biggie - at least it is to me.

You see, once again, since my lovely room was not intended to be used as a real room it is NOT air conditioned. That is a MAJOR problem in Florida. My wonderful husband tells me that we will install a small air conditioner after we solve problem number 1 (the door) and problem number 2 (the power). (Which will lead to problem number 4 - we aren't suppose to have window air conditioner units in our development, so we will have to come up with a way to disguise it, in the meantime don't tell anyone what we are planning!)

I have installed a window fan that pulls hot air OUT of the room and have a stand fan that blows air onto me. This also creates a problem, as the fan blows the pictures, paper, and such that I am trying to work on, but without the fan, I can not STAND to be up there. I have learned to try and block the air when working or at least have something I can weigh the pictures and such down as I manipulate them on the page that I'm working on . I keep telling myself that this has to be good for my diet - I should be able to sweat at least 10 pounds off every day.

This is an example of some of the work that I have done this week - This is a picture of my mom and dad on their wedding day- April 12, 1947. I'm working on some really old pictures that I have first (me growing up, my parents and grandparents when they were young) - then I will move forward to the more current stuff.

I love to scrapbook and I have made both my daughters scrapbooks of their childhood (but I don't have any scrapbooks for myself). So that is my goal with this room - I try to work for an hour or two every day - but that usually leads to four or five as anyone who scrapbooks understands. Sometimes Dan comes out and looks up the stairway and asks me IF I'm going to do anything for supper - that's how involved I get.

I'm happy with my room and enjoy spending time up in my little piece of heaven, but I sure do wish I had air conditioning!

Until next time America!

P.S. A personal message to my daughter - congratulations on your win- I sure hope we know what we are doing.

Way Down Upon the Lazy River

This week Dan and I took a pontoon ride "down the lazy Suwannee River" - even though we have lived here on the river for almost seven months I have to admit I had not been "on the river" yet. Dan had gone on the ill fated canoe trip after which he came home and declared that he 'needed something with an engine" (BTW - the canoe has not left the yard since) but I had not had the opportunity to do so until this past week.


Our community owns a nice pontoon boat and, in the summer, it is available for excursions on the river (driven by a "pilot" from here in the village). I mean, it's not like you can just go down and jump on the darn thing and take off on your own, but you can go on these little "excursions" with other members of the community.

Our allotted time was on Wednesday at 1:00 in the afternoon. There were eight other people aboard (including the "captain" and "first mate" - this meant the person driving the boat and the person who jumps out on the dock with the rope to tie the boat up after the trip). The day was lovely - blue sky with a few clouds and the temperature was only a mere 92 degrees - spring time weather in Florida.

All was going well, but I knew it couldn't last, I mean I was on board. We went up the river for about 45 minutes - then turned around to head back to the dock. However, some on the boat decided we needed to take an extra excursion and go down to the bridge that crosses the river about a mile from the dock and proceeded to convince the captain to go on this little extra trip (the captains only comment was "what if we run out of gas?" and everyone decides that Dan can swim for help- yeah right!). This little side trip went well, so on our way back to the dock Dan decides we (meaning he and I) need to trade places with some of the other people aboard - you see we had been sitting in the front so I could take pictures and Dan thought we should give others the opportunity to sit in the front. (The good thing about his idea was we would now be under the bikini top and in the shade instead of out in the hot sun. ) So I agree - I mean I can always stand up to take any picture I need to, and I REALLY wanted to be in the shade at this point. Well, as the picture shows, this was not such a good idea after all. This is my sweet husband retreiving the hat of one of the passengers. Seems that she did not think she needed to tie it on and the hat blew overboard (and we couldn't just let it go - polluting the river!). Isn't Dan just the nicest little thing????




Actually the trip was rather nice and I would like to do it again sometime, maybe when the weather gets a little cooler - like November or December.


Until next time America!

It's Been Awhile -

I can not believe that the last time I posted was over a month ago - April 7th - you have got to be kidding me - so what's up???? Let's see if I can get you caught up in all the coming and going - especially the goings- of my life.

Okay, first - I have been working (substitute teaching) quite a bit in the last six weeks - at least once a week and sometimes twice a week - every single Friday (I don't thing anyone works on Friday around here!). It has been interesting - I have discovered a couple of things - number one (and this really surprised me) I actually still enjoy teaching - I have had some good classes and some not so good classes, but I still enjoyed teaching. The worst day was when there was no teaching to do (or at least the classroom teacher didn't leave anything for me to do with the kids) - a spelling test and a math test - that was it for the whole day. Well, if you know me at all you know that didn't work for long - I created my own lesson plans and taught anyway. I'm not sure the kids knew what to think, but at least I kept them busy. I also discovered that I like to teach fourth grade - I used to think that fifth grade was my favorite grade level, but I have discovered that I like the kids and the curriculum of fourth grade. I am still considering going back to work full time next year (and I know that there will be at least one opening in fourth grade even with all the budget cuts that have occurred in Florida). I think I might have a pretty good chance of getting that position IF I decide for sure that is what I want to do.

Which leads me to another thing that has happend. The last time I posted I was to take the subject area test again in order to get my teaching certification reinstated - well, I received the test results last Thursday and I PASSED!!!!!! So, I have filled out the paperwork and will send it in along with my $56.00 on Tuesday and wait to get my certificate. I should have everything in place by the middle of the summer and be able to apply for any full time position that comes up IF I decided to go back. I know that I keep saying "If I decide to go back" - in all likelihood I will go back next year full time - IF I can, in fact, get hired. It will be good to earn some money again and if I work just nine years I can retire again - this time at full pay, because I will be 65!

How can that be, you might ask??? Well, a couple of weeks ago I had a birthday - yep! This ole girl turned 56 - no more double nickle for me - time marches forward and I just happen to follow along. We really had a quiet time and did not do any real "celebrating" - just dinner at home - I did receive a beautiful hydrangea (which I love) and a wonder metal daschund sculpture that I am going to put on the porch (right now it is sitting on our living room floor).

Now let's talk about things that have disappeared around here - well, I told you guys that we traded the Chevy truck and Dan got a Jeep Wrangler - well, guess what!!! A couple of weeks ago, we traded my PT Cruiser AND Dan's Jeep Wrangler for - an F-150 truck and a different Jeep Wrangler. Let's start with the F-150 (which is now MY truck)- we have been talking about getting a camper (a hybrid or expandable trailer) so we can travel and we could not pull it with the old Jeep or the Cruiser, sooooo we found a nice used F-150 and there went the Cruiser - then on the same lot was a "BAA BAA" - yep - a beautiful Black Jeep Wrangler - same year as the one Dan had just bought, but it was BLACK - sooooo, he convinced the car dealer to trade his Jeep for the black Jeep EVEN - no money exchanged hands - keys for keys. He is sooooo happy!!! He has his BAA BAA back AND we have a Ford truck (he has always been a Ford man!).

Now for the next news. We have been looking at campers for a couple of weeks now and had it narrowed down to two - one in Valdosta and one in Inverness. However, we decided that now is not the time to go out and spend that kind of money - we don't know what the economy is going to do and we certainly don't know where the price of gas is going (other than up!). So we might have actually done a responsible thing - we have decided to wait for about six months or so and see what is happening. So NO camper for us at this time. So, it looks like we will be spending the summer here at home and just take it easy. Maybe, my girls and can see us at some point, even for just a weekend. That would be nice.

Speaking of my girls, let me digress some and go back to my birthday - my oldest daughter bought me a GREAT Birthday present - I just won't get it until October. What do I have to wait for six months to get - how about seeing Neil Diamond in concert- That is such a COOL present - I just love Neil Diamond. The last time I saw him in Tampa was probably over 20 years ago. Anyway, I'm looking forward to being able to go see him again especially with my daughter this time.

Okay, one last thing before I sign off for tonight - we had one other thing leave us in the past couple of weeks - baby birds that we helped raise. A wren built a nest in a potted plant that sits right beside our front door and laid five eggs. We kept an eye on the nest and momma for a couple of weeks and then we discovered that the eggs had hatched - all five! Now this poor little house wren was very busy trying to feed five hungry little birds, so we went down to the tackle store and bought some worms. We put worms out for momma a couple of times a day to help her feed her brood. Then, one day a couple of weeks ago we were able to watch as the five little babies left the nest for the first time. They were so cute popping out of the little nest and sitting on the side of the potted plant building up the courage to jump. When they did they flew over to a bush that is beside the porch and momma was waiting for them. Now we are having to keep our garage door closed all the time because we have another house wren trying to build a nest on top of the freezer in the garage - we have put out a basket in hopes that she will decide to build there instead. Once again we'll just have to wait and see.

Well, once again I have not been very funny, but at least I have caught up - now that I'm not working (next week is the last week of school here, and I doubt is anyone will be out next week) and we are not planning any trips, maybe I can stay current with my blogging - and maybe I can get back to being funny again.

I wish all of you a happy Memorial Day - please remember why we have the holiday tomorrow and pray that our troops come home soon - safe and sound. Be safe. Until next time America!

Okay, so where have I been for the last month. I really don't know what has happened to the time, but it just seems to fly by and I don't get anything accomplished. Anyway, I'll try and get you caught up on my not so fascinating life.

First of all, the diet and exercise thing is not going well at all. I think the real eye opener for me was last week while I was visiting my youngest daughter for a couple of days. We were out shopping (something I haven't done since her wedding last June) and I tried on some dreaded bathing suits (something I haven't done in about 10 years). Let's just say 10 years ago I looked much better in a bathing suit, but that isn't even the real point. I will say that my body has changed tremendously - and not to the good, BUT what really hurt was I realized that i was doing NOTHING to change the looks of my body and I had NO ONE to blame but myself. I talk a real good game - how I'm going to do this and do that and I might actually do it for a couple of days, maybe even a couple of weeks and then I stop- I don't mean forget to go a couple of days - I mean I just stop all together. I told my daughter that I don't do anything to change the way I look, so I better stop complaining. I have to get mad at myself and right now I don't guess I am - I mean I'm wearing a size 8 - not that bad (I would rather be in a 6, but an 8 is okay). The thing that really bothers me is the 'saddle bags, 'love handles' and the belly 'fat' - If I ran around naked all the time then it would be easy to change (I guarantee you that I would be doing sit ups or what ever it would take to get rid of this stuff) - I am still vain, but I can very easily hide my 'flaws' with the right clothes. As long as I don't have to see them I can ignore them.

So, what is the solution - well, it MIGHT be coming later this week - I had my lab work done this morning for my physical this Thursday - Depending on my labs I might be told what I have to do - and that might be what I need.

I wish I knew what to do - as I said in my very first post - I don't know how to exercise on a regular basis - and diet, well, I'm a little lost on that subject too. In my youth, all I had to do was not eat for a couple of days (or skip a couple of meals) and I would be back in my size 2 - that doesn't work at 55 years of age. Maybe if I had someone to answer to - like the doctor - it would make a difference - I don't know. Maybe if I take a picture of myself that could make a difference - I don't know about that either. Anyone have any ideas that will get me going and STAY at it???? Right now I feel like I am a failure - and I really don't know how to change.

Other than that not a whole lot has happened - I did interview for two long term sub positions - I didn't get either one of them - I think the main thing was I didn't have a Certificate of Eligibility at the time, but I do now. I also take the state test on the 19th of this month - IF I pass this test I will be able to get my certificate reinstated. Right now, all I want to do is substitute teach - I don't think I want a full time job. I should be able to do that without passing the test, but I can't get the county's personnel office to call me back. SOOOOO, Wednesday or Thursday of this week, I will go to the county office and wait until I see someone in personnel to tell me what I need to do to finally get on the sub list. I have all the paperwork in - so I really don't know what the hold up is.

I have been volunteering here in the village - and that has taken up some of my time - it has been nice to get out and meet people and feel needed by someone. I will continue to do this even if I do get on the sub list. We get our tax return back from the accountant tomorrow - that might be enough to make me diet - we might not be able to afford any food after tomorrow.

Well, that is about it - I will try and do better with my posting in the future - I'll do my best to get back on the Sunday afternoon posting schedule. I would love to hear from anyone with comments - maybe you could be my motivator. Until next time America!

Broken Heart

The first of this week my heart was broken. I knew the time was coming - in fact, I thought it was going to happen a couple of years ago. However, it didn't and things got better - much better. Then, out of the blue, when I wasn't expecting it - wham! I don't think I will ever be the same.

No, my husband hasn't left me, and nothing has happened to either of the "fat daschunds". So what, you may ask, has broken my heart? Brett Farve retired! I know you probably don't understand. However, I am a HUGE football freak and have been a Brett fan FOREVER !! Win - lose- didn't matter - I just needed to see "my boy". My husband has said many times that I would leave him in an instant for "my" Brett - and while I always said he was exaggerating I'm glad that I was never put to the test.

Now I don't know what I will do - there are a lot of "pretty boys" out there - Tony Romo, Tom Brady - YUCK! Where are the boys who love to play football - the boys who play because they love the sport - not the huge paycheck or the publicity! Brett played because he loved to play - he ran around the field like a five year old - so excited about a touchdown - or a play. I'm sure he loved his paycheck, but that was not his main reason for playing. He played because he love the game - you could see it when he slapped an official on the butt as he was leaving the field after a completed a pass that resulted in a touchdown - or when he was on the side line kidding around behind the back of one of his coaches. Brett just loved the game. Sure there were days when he made mistakes, but he never gave up - he played every week and played with his heart - not his wallet.

He has gone through many hardships on and off the field in the last couple of years and I respect how he handled each one with dignity. While he decision has broken my heart I understand his decision. Brett - I wish you all the best. I can always hope to see you in some way next football season - maybe as a commentator?? There is always hope.

P.S. If you are ever looking for an older woman give me a call, but I hope you like daschunds!!

The River

Have you ever been around a river that was rising - not at flood stage yet, but on the rise? Well, that is were I am living at the moment. Let me digress a little and explain - when Dan and I moved to North Florida in October the Suwannee River was at an all time low - it had never been this low in recorded history - but it was cool looking at the limestone deposits on the side of the river. Of course, we couldn't get anywhere near the river on the docks - the water was too low. Dan's favorite thing (besides bugging me) was to take the golf cart down to "his" dock, sit - smoke a cigar and contemplate whatever it was that he wanted to contemplate. This was his "man cave" since he didn't have one at the house. It was nice - he could get away from all the girls in the house (the two fat daschunds and me) and yet we knew where he was IF we needed him.

Well, he can't get to "his" dock today - the river is so far over the path that the golf cart with the lift kit can't get through the water. This just happened today. Yesterday the water was over the path, but it wasn't that deep - today all that can get through are frogs and snakes.

Speaking of frogs - I decided to join my 'big guy' this morning and see how high the water was. As we crossed the road and started back to the dock I started hearing a noise. I thought it was ducks - lots and lots of ducks - maybe a whole flock that was migrating somewhere and thought this was a good place to sit down for awhile - but as we got closer to the water's edge I realized it wasn't a flock of ducks - it wasn't even one duck - it was hundreds and hundreds of frogs. Now for some silly reason we had decided to take the "two fat daschunds" with us on this little jaunt and Samantha decided that she wanted to 'hunt frogs' and dove into the water. I about freaked out - all I can think about is snakes! (Not that I had seen any, but I just knew they were out there in that water waiting to get my little dog ) I yelled for her to come - what was I thinking???? She comes to me but now she is wet and covered with dirt and what does she decide to do? Of course, she jumps into the golf cart and up into my lap - YUCK!!!! What was little Jessie Lee doing while her 'big sister' was getting in trouble, just sitting beside me in the cart - looking around and whining (That's my girl!).

Well, we take the girls back home and then decide to go ride around in the Jeep and see what we can find. I take the camera and take a few pictures of the river. I'm also hoping that we don't get stuck anywhere - even IF the Jeep is four wheel drive. Well, the trip was successful - we didn't get stuck - we looked at the water levels (the river is NOT over it's bank anywhere that we saw) but it is certainly flowing quickly.

What does the future hold for us 'on the river' - well, I'm not really sure. We will just have to keep one eye on the weather and the other on the river. Stay tuned -it could get real interesting around here in the next week or so.

Academy Awards Night

(Picture from my front yard)

Tonight are the Academy Awards. I'll watch and critique those who look so much better than I without trying much. I'll say such things as "Oh my God! What was she thinking??" or "Wow! That's a beautiful dress." I'll pretend to know so much more than I actually know to impress my very impressional husband - who is really not all that thrilled with the idea of spending the evening watching a "bunch of people who are so full of themselves", but he will to please little ole me. I will have my favorites (Johnny Depp anyone?) and then I'll have the disappointment of some of my favorites NOT winning (Johnny Depp anyone?). Okay, I'm really watching to see the fashions - I really don't care who wins in most cases - I quit caring when 'Love Story' didn't win way back when (I won't say how old I was then, but I was very impressionable). The fact of the matter is I don't remember how old I was when 'Love Story' was up for an Oscar, but I just KNEW it was going to win - when it didn't I was devestated - I don't remember what movie did win, but it wasn't 'Love Story'. Oh, the days of youth!

Today Dan and I drove around in the new Jeep and looked at the river - it has risen about 3 to 4 feet just overnight. I took some pictures (a sample is above). I'm trying to learn how to do many different things with my camera and I'm going to a photography class on Tuesday - I'll take that picture with me for "show and tell" along with some of the ones from last weekend at the reenactment. We'll see what the rest of the people think of my ability. Who knows, maybe I'll try and sell some of my pictures - what do you think of that idea???

The other thing that happened this week is - I'm working on gettting my teacher's certificate reinstated and going back to work (maybe full time, but for now as a long term sub). I didn't think that I would ever go back in the classroom, but it might be just the thing that I need. I enjoyed teaching and I've been told I did a good job. I have all my paperwork in - but because I let my certificate expire last year I have to take the subject area test again. That should be exciting. Dan has even said that he would go and do tutoring. IF I go back to work as a long term sub then we will be able to travel (all the money I make will go into a 'travel account'). Without working we won't be going anywhere - Dan still wants a boat and a camper - and to be able to buy these things I'm going to have to work. I mean, I am the youngest and I can get in another 10 good years before I 'retire' again. We'll see how it goes - I have applied for two long term sub positions already, but until I get my certificate reinstated OR a temporary certificate I can't do anything. Time will tell.

Diet sucks - had a doctor's appointment this week and have gained 1.6 pounds - oh well, maybe it's muscle. I'll just keep trying and trying.

Gotta run - the awards program (or at least the red carpet thing) is starting - I'll check in with you all next week (see I pretend that someone is reading this). Have a great week!

War

Today I did something I have never done before. My husband and I went to a Civil War Reenactment - the battle of Olustee - which was the largest battle fought in the state of Florida. I took my camera and got some good shots of the actual battle. It was really pretty neat - I would love to go to other 'battles' in our area. There will be another reenactment in Crystal River in March. I will try to get to that one also.

One of the things I liked about the reenactments are all the people who dress in period costumes. I would like to do this, but the dresses are not cheap! We saw some really nice dresses but I don't have $175.00 to spend on a dress that I would only wear occassionally at best. I do have a dress that I bought two years ago for a celebration in Franklin, NC. I could wear it to these reenactments. I did buy a bonnet today (actually a straw hat) that would go with this dress. Maybe I'll get brave enough to wear it in March IF we go to the reenactment in Crystal River. Will keep you posted.

The exercise went pretty well this week - did quite a bit of walking, went to my line-dance class. I don't know about the weight - I did not weigh this week, but I don't feel any reduction. I have decided that I am not going to worry about the number on the scale for awhile. I am just going to do the exercise and see where that leads. If I watch my portions and continue to exercise then something good will happen - I just know it.

The only other big thing that happened this week - Dan bought a new Jeep - well, not exactly new, but new to us. It is a 2006 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited. We no longer have a truck. Dan was never happy with the truck (he always blamed me for buying a Chevolet, and he's a 'Ford man' when it comes to trucks). Anyway, to make a long story shorter, he did not like the Silverado and fussed about it every chance he got. So, I told him to do what ever he wanted and he wanted a Jeep. Maybe now I'll have some peace - I don't guarantee it, but at least I won't hear about the truck anymore (unless it's to say that he wants a new truck - I should hear that in about 3 months).

Okay, I think I will sign off for this week - I have not been very funny, but sometimes you just aren't.. you guys have a good week ahead and I'll "see" you next Sunday. (You will also notice that this is the first time I have added pictures - I am still learning how to do things on the blog and the second picture was suppose to be at the bottom - oh well, I'll figure it out later - I will improve - stay with me out there)

Not Fair

We're home and you guessed it - I gained weight. Not much, only a pound, but I really watched what I ate and did not go overboard on anything. I can list here what I ate and in what quanity, but I won't bore you with the nitty-gritty. I really thought I had done well, then Saturday morning, after my shower, I weighed. What a let down, BUT what really made things bad was when Dan came in and said he lost TWO POUNDS!!!! Did he watch what HE ate - no way! Let me give you an example.

Thursday we drove over to Murphy, NC for the day. Did some shopping and had lunch. Everyone ate the same thing for breakfast - Sausage Biscuit from MickeyD's BUT I had black coffee while Dan had a medium coke (no calories for me, calories for him). For lunch I had a slice of ham and brocolli quiche with a side salad - I will admit I had a coke. Dan had a spiral ham dinner with gravy, potatoes, and a salad - he had unsweet tea (used Equal in his tea). Then for dinner we ate at home - beef pot pie and potato - Dan had two servings along with a sweet potato and butter. I had a white potato with butter - NO pot pie and water to drink, Dan had tea.

Another example - Friday morning on the way home - I had an Egg McMuffin and black coffee - Dan had a Big Breakfast and a coke. For lunch I ate a Happy meal cheeseburger (didn't eat all the fries). Dan had a Quarter Pounder w/cheese meal! (Anyone else see a pattern here?) Okay, so Dan likes Mickey D's but come on people, look at the differences in what we ate and you will see why I ask - is this fair??? I think not.

I would have been happy to break even on this trip, but for me to gain a pound and him to lose two pounds. Something here is just not fair. I know, I know. I can hear my daughter now - "What did you tell us the whole time we were growing up 'Life's not fair, get over it' so Mom get over it. " But this is different - it just isn't fair - really it's not!

Okay, so we all agree - it's not fair. What am I going to do about it? Well, Saturday I walked - not just around the block like I usually do, but about 1-1/2 miles. Downloaded a book into my new iPod and just started walking. Then later in the day I also walked around the block. This morning, I worked out in the yard - planted 128 different bulbs (Tulips, Daffodils, and Iris), pulled weeds and grass as well as raked, and I'll just keep it up. I'll walk, and I'll work in the yard. I'll do my line dancing and I'll try that new class this week. Most importantly, I'll just keep trying. Sooner or later something will work - or maybe a whole bunch of different things will work. I'll just keep going. I really would be happy to see just a couple of pounds off - that would give me some motivation. Of course, the fact that I tried to put on a pair of dress pants today that I wore to work less than a year ago and I couldn't get them over my fat rear end - that could be some motivation too! (you think???)

In case you're wondering - I did finally find an outfit to wear - went to the wedding anniversary reception - Dan ate, I didn't.

IT JUST ISN'T FAIR!!!!!!


BULLENTIN - This just in - Dan just told me that he weighed this morning and gained back the two pounds he had lost.

Life just might be fair.

It may just takes some twists and turns sometimes to keep us on our toes. I'll get back to you later and let you know for sure, but for now -

I still think it isn't fair!

Nothing

This week was a bust - literally. I did nothing - well, I take that back. I did vote, but that's it. I was down and out all week with the worst migraine headache I think I have ever had. Most of the week I spent in the bed with the lights off and my head covered. I didn't even eat that much - you would have thought I would lose weight because of that, but NOOO, can't even lose weight when I'm sick. I finally went to the doctor - which I NEVER do. He gave me some different medicine - which worked - thank goodness!

This coming week will not be any better. Today is the Super Bowl (more about that later) and we have wings, enchilladas, chips, nuts, etc. to enjoy during the game. Tuesday we are leaving town for the week - going back up to the mountains to see some friends - soooo, that means I will not be here to do any exercise and the diet will go to pot. Maybe I can get my line dancing class in Monday night anyway.

Now, for a quick commentary on the game. Much to the chagrin of my new son-in-law, I will have to go with the New York Giants - not that I really think they will win, but I will be pulling for them anyway. There are many reasons why, but let's just stay with I want the Miami Dolphins to have the only undefeated season in my young lifetime. So, I will sit and eat all the things I shouldn't be eating and I will pull for a different Manning then I pulled for last year.

I'll post next week about how much I didn't do and how many calories I inhaled. Stay tuned - it could get interesting. In the mean time, I hope you all have a great week and I'll "see" you next Sunday. Oh yeah - GO GIANTS!!

On the Verge

What has happened to me this week that warrants my boring the rest of the world? Absolutely nothing - I went to my line dancing class (on time) and had a great time. It was actually a great work out. I found out a lot of things about my fellow line dancers. For example, the next "youngest" member of our group started a year and a half ago. Some of the others have been coming to this class for over twelve years - now I don't feel so bad when I have no idea what I am doing. I also found out that one of our group will be ninety-one this Monday (yes, I said 91 !!!) Amazing!!

I joined another class this week - water aerobics. There are five of us in this class - and yes, I am the youngest one there. But surprisingly, I am the only one who lives here. I don't know how long I will stay in this class -I might join a different class next week. This just doesn't seem to push me as much as I think I need - I don't think that this class is the right "fit" for me, but one good thing is I actually went. Maybe I will talk to the instructor Monday before class and see what he says. I might just need to give it a chance and see - I can always change in a couple of weeks if I don't see any results.

As far as the diet is concerned - well, it's going. I am watching what I eat and the portions - but so far it doesn't seem to be helping. I know that I just have to hang in there and see what happens, but it sure does get discouraging. I don't seem to be making any progress. Maybe I just need to increase the exercise part - more bike riding, walking, dancing, aerobics. Something HAS to work. Anyone have any advice - ANYONE????? I need some encouragement here because right now I don't feel like what I am doing is making any difference. ANY advice at all would be most appreciated. Hope to hear from someone, anyone, this week.

Good-Bye Dollie

Last Friday, my ex-mother-in-law passed away unexpectantly. Some people may think that it is strange that I still had contact with an "ex" but I did. No, we didn't visit often, but we did have time together since her son and I divorced. Dan and I have been to her home for dinner and I visited her in the hospital a couple of months ago with Melissa and Justin.

Dollie and I had our moments, but we also had good times. She had a great sense of humor all her life and it got her through some tough times. She loved with all her heart and she will be missed by many, including me. Rest in peace, Dollie, and I'll see you at the Eastern Gate one day!

Friday Night Adventure

Another week - another adventure! Well, maybe not. This week has been a week of failures. I'm looking forward to my line-dancing class (remember 5:15, 5:15, 5:15), but instead I get a telephone call and a note on my front door that the class has been cancelled. Not a good beginning to the week. Wednesday I did manage to get my 'tookus' up and on the bike for a ride. I went for a ride with Dan on Thursday and it even went well, but, that was it for the week.

If failing to exercise was not enough, you won't believe what happens at the Friday night social. Dan and I spent the better part of Friday in Tallahassee, FL looking for a new couch for our Florida/TV room. Dan and I can't agree on what we need in the room - he wants to be comfortable while I want to make sure there is seating for company as well as being comfortable - not an easy thing to accomplish since Dan is 6'4" and I'm 5'7" - and his idea of comfortable and mine aren't the same (anyone say "big man recliner"). Anyway, I finally persuade him we need a beautiful WHITE leather sectional. What about the "two fat daschunds" you might ask - I actually heard myself saying the WHITE leather "would be EASY to keep clean", was I possessed?????

But I digress - I'm suppose to be telling you about the social. Okay, we get home from Tallahassee (after purchasing the WHITE leather sectional) - social starts at 7:30,check the calendar - yep- 7:30. Go to the neighborhood grocery store and buy $12.00 worth of chicken to fix on the grill because I forgot to take something out of the freezer before we left for Tallahassee. I season the chicken and Dan puts it on the grill then proceeds to come in the house and watch TV. (Anyone see where I am going with this story???) After a fair amount of time and Dan making no attempt to go out and check on the chicken I ask (I know this is going to be bad) "What about the chicken, hon?" I can see him start to fume, but (to his credit) he dutifully gets up and goes to check - never mind he is muttering to himself all the way. Thirty seconds later he sheepishly walks back in the house and states that he has completely burned up the chicken - I don't mean slightly blackened - I mean burnt to a crisp. (Oh, by the way, we were within seconds of the grill exploding which probably would have burnt the house down around us.) Okay, I have saved the house, but that doesn't give us anything to take to the social. To the pantry I run - what to fix, what to fix? Canned beans to the rescue - I proceed to dump 4 different kinds of beans into a pot, pull out the spices and 'ta da!' food for the social. 7:15 arrives and we jump in the truck to make the trek down to the community center to meet all our new neighbors (have I mentioned the fact that we have just moved to this community in October?) Okay, so what goes wrong now??? Nothing, except as we walk in with the wonderful pot of beans, everyone else is leaving! The social didn't START at 7:30 it ENDED at 7:30. Now, I am really starting to believe I am time challenged. Not only can I not make it to my line dancing class on time, now I can't get to a social with food involved on time - what is the matter with me? Back home we go with THE pot of beans - Dan eats burnt chicken (he will eat anything!) and beans and I have a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. So much for making a great first impression! (Oh, by the way, we cancelled the white leather sectional Saturday morning!)

So what will this week bring? Well, tomorrow I will attempt the line-dancing class again. I will also TRY to make it to the exercise room at the community center sometime during the week. I'll let you know how that goes. As for the diet, well, maybe that will be the topic for next week.

Boot Scootin' Boogie

Monday evening I attended my first line dance class. No matter I was an hour late (Let's just say I thought the class started at 6:30). I did wonder why everyone looked at me funny when I walked in and took a place on the back row, far right corner. The instructor was working on the sound system, so it looked like the beginning of a class. The music started (Ricky Skaggs) and the group starts a line dance that I have never seen in my entire life. I stumbled all over the back row and looked like a bloomin' idiot. I make excuses and think to myself "it's my first class and they've been working on this dance for months". Let's make a long night short and say that this was the first time the group had worked on the dance. I'm not sure at this point IF I had been on time I would have been able to do the dance, but I do think that I would not have been a bumbling fool. I mean, in my younger days I was known to be a fair dancer, but no one would have believed it when viewing my performance Monday night. I was ready to say that I had lost all ability to do anything when I discovered I was over an hour late to class - OPPS!!! However, I did not give up. I just kept on trying and we will see if I do better this week. Tomorrow night we start at 5:15 -the instructor made sure that I was aware of the time. I think that I need to find something that is fun if I am going to exercise. I'm hoping this is it. Let's also hope that I make a better impression on the group tomorrow.



Tuesday Dan (my husband) and I went into town and bought a couple of bicycles. They are called "cruisers" and actually have comfortable seats (anyone remember the 'old' bicycle seats - not the ones you have to peel out of the crack of your rear end after ten minutes but real comfortable ones?) and wider tires, so we can ride off-road as well as on the pavement. This is a good thing since we are very close to the river and hope to ride along the trails there. They had to be special ordered, so it took a few days to get them in. Thursday we picked them up. When we got home Dan decided we needed to take a nice "little" ride and go to the mailbox (at the community center - about 1 mile from our house). After two minutes I am not too sure this was such a good idea - my legs and knees are burning. By five minutes I know this is NOT a good idea and there is NO way I'm going to make to the end of the road, much less to the mailbox and back. Let's just say that my determination got me to the mailbox and home, but I was NOT having a good time (can your legs fall off from riding a bicycle???). The good thing was I made it home and was able to walk in the back door. While my rear end didn't hurt everything else did! This will be one of those activities that will take time to develop and like, but I will not give up this easily. I will prevail!!

This week I also decided to buy a new diet book - one of ones that is the new rage. After reading through this new book (by a very well know author) I know that there is NO WAY I can survive on 1500 calories. (This is the amount of calories that I am suppose to have because of my "activity" level.) I'm supppose to drink a lot of smoothies and eat fruit and nuts. Come on, get serious! People have to have REAL food. (If any of you know Dan - can you imagine me looking at him and telling him he is going to have a smoothie and a handful of nuts for dinner?? I don't think so!!) After the shock of reading this so called 'diet for life' sinks in I'm more convinced than ever that I am just going to have to increase the exercise and forget the "diet" part. I can watch the portion control - and I can even give up things like soda (this will be a little difficult since I don't drink tea) and sweets (I've never been a big sweet eater anyway) but I HAVE to have real food to eat. We will just try to cut out the fried foods (this will be the hardest for me - no more french fries!) and eat more vegetables (not as easy as one might think). Anyone have any ideas?

So, this week has seen some new adventures - some fun (line dancing), some not (bike ride), but I have not given up on either. I will contiune to go to class on Monday's (5:15 - 5:15 -5:15) and take smaller bike rides (maybe without Dan to begin with). I'll also try to add something else new this week and let you know how it goes next Sunday. Feel free to leave a comment or question - I am always up for suggestions (on the diet or new exercise). Let's see how this goes together.

Perspective

145, 55 - just a couple of numbers. Isn't it amazing how we let a number define who we are, not only to other people, but more importanly, to ourselves? 145 could be an aspiring number or it could be a number people hate. It could be a number that someone wants to reach or it could be a number that we hope we never reach. It is all in our perspective - someone once said that a person's perspective is all there is - an observation that I firmly believe in. That will be true in this blog - my perspective and yours will probably not be the same, but I hope you will learn something from mine and I hope to learn something from yours.



What is my perspective on these two numbers? Well, they could be just numbers that I pulled out of thin air, but they aren't. The first one is my weight and the second is my age. The first one is a number that I am not very happy with. The second is a number that I am living with.



I know that there are many people who would be very happy if they weighed what I weigh. Some would say that I am being vain and unhealthy about my weight. Once again, perspective is all there is - when you have weighed 110 to 115 pounds your entire adult life and now, at the tender age of 55, you are 30 pounds over that weight - well, to me, there is a problem. To me, it is no different than someone who weighs 175 pounds and wants to weigh 145 pounds. 30 pounds are 30 pounds. I believe my major problem is I never had to diet or exercise to maintain the 110-115 pound weight of my younger years. Now, I have NO idea what I am suppose to do. Diet and exercise, what is that? How do you do it? I know that for some, it is like breathing - you just do it, but for me it is like moving to Italy and not knowing how to speak Italian. I'm completely lost!



The second number - my age - well, my perspective will change depending on the day you ask me - most of the time I'm okay with my age - today isn't one of those days.



So, that leads me to why I am writing this "blog" (which, by the way, is a new venture for me). I will attempt to explain what I am doing about one of my numbers and how I am coming to grips with the other. What I learn about "diets" and exercise. How I try to learn to eat different things that I may not like to eat - fish for example (yuck!) I HATE fish, but that will be the topic for another day. What exercises work, or not work, for me (I haven't found any yet!) Along the way I hope to find some new friends and learn some new things about myself (and maybe about you too).



I would like to invite you to join me on this journey through 2008. I hope to have many successes to talk about, but will also have some failures along the way. Please join in with questions, answers, comments, and suggestions. It will interesting to see where this year will lead us and see how much our perspectives will change along the way.