Challenging Challenges

Bodies are strange … well, my body is strange.

About 10 days ago my sister-in-law challenged me to lose 2 lbs in 2 weeks, a challenge that I accepted with alacrity. And so I weighed myself at the start and posted the result – 126.8.
So, I worked my ass off (don’t I wish!!) at the gym and, for the most part, ate right and first the scale said 125.6 and then, on Monday 122.4. I couldn’t actually quite believe the 122.4 but it stayed there for 4 days straight so I figured that I could believe it (I even tried to check the scale by picking up a heavy book to see if the scale would move).

And then …

This morning …

128.8! 128.8!

What the hell????

How could I gain 6 lbs overnight?

I don’t even feel bloated. I admit that I have been sick all day but honestly 6 lbs? 6 lbs???

I can’t wait to see what it will be tomorrow.

Aggg!!!!

Ella

Caution: Grammar Police On Patrol Here

If I get on too much of a high horse today please let me know. In fact, I would be happy to have high horse alerts for any of my posts.

I don’t know why I’m back on words again today but I am. I think that it might be because I’m getting older and perhaps more persnickety but I get irritated when people (native English speakers) don’t have even the most rudimentary grasp of their own language.

Now before you say “Hey! You make some pretty glaring mistakes in this blog Missy!” just wait a second while I explain that usually forgive most things but there are a few language mistakes really bug me (don't even get me started on the whole "by accident" / "on accident" topic). Today’s “bug me” topic is the difference between “your” and “you’re”.

First, if you don’t know the difference “you’re” means “you are” and writing “your” in this case just isn’t right. Perhaps it is wrong or snobby or something else of me but it kind of disappoints me with a person who makes this mistake. I don’t assume that they just made a typo although this might be the nicer assumption to make. And, for right or wrong, it drops their IQ in my eyes just a little.

I know that I don’t have the best grammar and I know that I don’t use punctuation that follows the rules sometimes so I am sure that there are people that read my blog that just cringe at my mistakes as I do with the whole your / you’re thing. So, don’t get to thinking that I think that I am all that because I recognize the difference. I just thought that I would comment on it is all (did you like that use of Texas drawly vernacular with the is all?).

Perhaps next week I will blog about the use of sentence capitalization and punctuation in emails – another pet peeve of mine that shows my age!

Have a sunshiny day!

Ella

PS A note to Megara - 122.4lbs baby!!

Wii Tennis Elbow Anyone?

Okay, now this is a bit embarrassing but my arm is sore today from Wii Tennis. Really, that’s just a bit embarrassing, maybe more than a bit. I work out almost every day and today I was almost brought down by the Wii? Sad, Sad, Sad for multiple reasons including the fact that I'm not even very good at it.

Prince Charming and I (emphasis on the “I”) have been knee deep in contractors, public adjusters, etc. this week. We had some good news (some insurance money that we didn’t think that we were getting – big, big YEA!!) and some bad news (there is a huge, huge amount of the bedroom and laundry room walls that need replacing because of some ongoing leaking). We were given some hope (we love, love, love our public adjuster because he may be able to squeeze a few more bucks out of the flood / wind insurance companies) and had a little time to reflect on just how much still needs to be done. Overall though I would have to say that things are looking up and we are grateful.

While I am in the grateful department I want to put in a big plug for my lovely Pumpkin. I am soooooo soooooo sooooo lucky to have a daughter like her. Love you baby!!

I’m working out with Little John tomorrow. Wish me luck although I’m not going to push it by playing Wii Tennis tonight so I might just be okay.

Have a good one!

Ella

Word Woes

Isn’t it funny how one thing can happen and then another linking and then another all in the same subject realm and you keep getting hit on the head with examples until finally you give in and really, really start to think about a topic. In consequence all day today I have been thinking about the incredible power of words.

A friend of mine told me a story (true) about how an ill-thought, ill-spoken opinion comment made in someone’s hearing (they didn’t know that they were overheard but hadn’t tried to hide their comment) that recently lost that person their dream job a decade after the comment was made (one of the interviewers overheard the comment). The commenter will NEVER know that they lost the job because of that comment. All they know is that they won’t get the job. Hmm …

So let’s think about this for a minute. Think about all of the pronouncement-like, judgmental comments that we have made in our lifetime. How many of these comments have bitten us in the ass but we don’t even know it. It may not be as much of an ass biting as the poor schmuck in our example but then again, it may just. The point is … we won’t even know. Or maybe the point is that words are powerful and so guard the “bad” ones or the “bad” thoughts or the thoughtless ones. I don’t know.

Anyone who knows me knows that I am pretty forthcoming with an opinion if asked, and often if not asked. People are very fond of saying “Tell us how you really feel” after I have just “expressed myself” on a subject. I tell it like I see it. If I start guarding my words am I staying true to myself? If I don’t guard them am I willing to live with the consequences of those words? Is it enough to remember this cautionary tale and bide accordingly (whatever that accordingly means to you)?

If we go back to yesterday’s Golden rule discussion it might be good to bring that rule in the mix and add an addendum “Speak unto or around others as you would have others speak unto and around you”.

Would that have covered our commenter? I don’t know that it would have. The commenter was speaking an opinion, their opinion. They just didn’t realize how offensive their opinion was to the person that overheard it. Could the commenter even realize that their opinion in this instance might be offensive? Well, maybe.

Perhaps if we followed a rule that said “Speak unto others only as you would have those words broadcast to the world”. Yes, I think that this might just cover it. If you couldn’t say it to the world at large perhaps you better either keep those words to yourself or be prepared to live with the consequences of those words.

Note: I am not talking about private, in private, discussions with best friends, spouses, your children, siblings, or anyone else that you trust implicitly. I believe that we all need an outlet for unfettered and uncensored opinions. Although, it is also good to still remember the power of those words.

Here’s hoping that your words bring you nothing but joy,

Ella

Nice is Nice

Okay so Megara, my sister-in-law, is writing a bunch of smack talk about our 2lb challenge. Little does she know that all that smack is more likely to give me way more resolve. I’m already down 1lb so right on track … how about you Megara?

Oh oh! Now that I have written that I just know that I will instantly GAIN 2lbs maybe even more. It hasn’t been that long since the Step Class Hi-Five Ankle disaster which resulted in me wearing a brace (see below). Forget everything that I said and, hopefully, I won’t get the sudden and irresistible urge to scarf down gallons of ice cream.

I have been thinking a lot about religion lately, well, to be fair, more about Christianity and Christian-based religions. And, I suppose, to be fair again it isn’t the religions or Christianity that I object to it is the way that it has been practiced, the hypocrisy that I see amongst the practitioners and their leaders. No, that seems too much of a brush stroke. It isn’t everyone, it may not even be the majority, it just seems that way especially when you live in Texas.

I guess that I am tired of people acting all high and mighty wrapped up in their “Christianity” yet not acting in a “Christian” way. Perhaps what I expect is that people who profess to be Christians or be “religious” in whatever is their way be nice, be accepting of others, be accepting of others’ opinions, be tolerant … BE NICE!

This leads me to think about what I always thought that was a Commandment but I think is a Golden Rule instead: “Do unto others as you would have others do unto you”. I think that this is a biggie, if not the most important of all the biggies. A Golden Rule in fact. A tiny addition to this Golden Rule that might make it even more golden is if we changed it just a bit to read "Do unto others as you would like others to do unto you". How does this change everything? It makes it even nicer I think. If we all, no matter what religion, lived by either of these I think that the entire world would be a much, much, much better place.

So, if we can’t expect to change anyone but ourselves. We can’t expect to be able to control the behavior of anyone but ourselves. If these statements are true (which I believe they are) then how about each of us try to live by this “rule”. Let this guide our behavior, our actions, our words and then let’s see if it makes our world (even if it is just our immediate world) a better place.

This seems nice to me and I like nice.

Have a very nice day!

Ella

PS To any people actually truly practicing the good tenets of your religion I apologize for lumping you in with the rest. Keep up the good work! You are a rarity.

Project 365 – Ankles Away
This is the new ankle splint that I got today at the doctor’s. Note the sexy pedicure!

Career Change Anyone?

Did you realize that if you want to be a stripper that you have to pay the bar to strip there? Yes, you actually have to pay for the privilege to strip and have guys hoot and holler and drool all over you. You get to pay for the privilege to give some greasy loser with a hard on a lap dance. Boy, there’s the life!

Based on club fees from $40 to $400 per night sometimes you actually owe more money at the end of the night than you took in! And, according to my extensive research (I checked out a couple of websites) fellow strippers can be fairly vicious too – not teaching the newbies, stealing money, stealing lap dances, etc. Apparently, if you can make men think that they have a chance with you then you will probably make money. Pumpkin tells me that of the 60 cases of HIV in Princess Town 18 are strippers. Sounds like it’s a job where you pay and pay.

According to MSN.com more women are getting into stripping as the jobless rates increase. And, while the adult entertainment may not be recession-proof it is recession resistant. So, next time you are considering a career move …

Lotsa love,

Ella

Pick a Plan Any Plan

I have been a very neglectful blogger these past couple of weeks and I do apologize!

I heard something in a book the other day (I love audio books!) that said “Sometimes a plan can stop us from seeing all other options” and it got me to thinking. While this might be a true statement does it then imply that it is a worse solution than not planning?

Perhaps it is just reminding us that while we have made a plan it is a good idea to keep our minds open to options that might come up while we are implementing our plan. I think that it is a very good reminder actually because sometimes we really get locked into an idea that, as it becomes a worse and worse one, we sometimes get more and more stubborn about sticking to “the plan”. Our ownership of the plan gets all wrapped up with our pride and then our minds close down to options.

I admit that I am a consummate planner. Where I differ from many planners is that I come up with plans upon plans upon plans based on all the different contingencies that I can think of. Then I pick my favorite plan or the one that I think makes the most sense and I go with that one. If, even before I get to pick anything, things change I quickly revise all plans and then pick again. Normally, I do that all the way along the course of a plan so that I think that I do end up seeing other options or at least being very open to adapting to changes but sometimes I get ground in for sure. So, definitely, it is nice to have the reminder.

It might be a function of how open or resistant to change that we are. Some people are incredibly resistant to change and so I can see them getting quite stuck on a plan once that plan is in place. Others rejoice in change, sometimes too much, and so then options are all they see and plans never actually solidify into plans which has its own drawbacks for sure.

Whatever way that you are, I think that it is worth taking a few minutes to think about it.

Have a terrific day!

Ella

Project 365 Photo
I don’t even know why I took this picture. I think that it was the juxtaposition of these “animals” and vase that struck me as photo worthy. I love my Frog Prince and the little silly stuffed dog sitting there made me smile (again, don’t know why).

It Was A Dark and Restless Night ...

I love getting my hair washed at the hair dressers (Why does this word not have a possessive apostrophe?). I can almost fall asleep in a pleasant swoon when the hair washer does her job. It is heaven. If I were really, really rich I think that I would create a hair washing “station” somewhere in my humungo house and have someone come and wash my hair at least once a week (wouldn’t want it too often because it might not make it as special although that doesn’t seem to be the case with back rubs which I could get several times a day and they would still be special).

My scale didn’t budge an inch today (not that I really expected it to). I have been a good little eater (although last night I did have a few beers and a few lattes resulting in no sleep for me last night between the caffeine and having to pee every hour). I was incredibly good today and feel quite self-satisfied (although I still haven’t passed the dinner temptations). This week’s step routine is an absolute bitch and I am flailing around in class like I have never taken a class before. Big bummer especially after last week’s Hi Five (premature I guess).

I am a little down in the dumps about the house and dealing with the insurance people again. I will have to put my thinking cap on again to see how I can make it all better or at least better for me.

I am bone tired once again. I am not sure whether it is just that I didn’t get enough sleep last night or what but if this continues I am going to get some further blood work done to see it there is anything sillier happening that I should be aware of.

It is a glorious, albeit windy, day and I think that I need to be outside. I hope that you are also experiencing a glorious day!

Ella

Project 365 plus Challenge

Okay folks here is my weigh-in from yesterday the first day of the challenge. The proof will be in the puddin'.

It's A Brand New Week With A Brand New Attitude

I hate to start off a blog saying how tired I am but OMG I am soooo tired!

Prince Charming and I just watched last week’s Battlestar Galactica and are wondering how the heck they are going to be able to resolve everything in the 2 hour series ender on Friday. I still can’t believe that they canceled that show! When there are shows called Rock of Love Bus and I Love Money that are getting renewed. Sheesh!

I was a much better eater and exerciser today and I spent the better part of the afternoon cutting up veggies so that they would be ready for a quick snack or salad. I even cooked and cut up a package of chicken breast so that I would have some available for lunch this week. I have decided that having good food handy for those times when I just want to grab something will help.

I exercised 2 hours today: 1 hour of cardio and 1 hour of strength. I also walked a few miles in the park with Boop-a-do. Yea! Back on track! Although I was sooooo tired for the rest of the day. I guess that I must not have licked this anemia thing because it just wasn’t that much for how tired I ended up.

I ate great today too: Oatmeal for breakfast, a hearty salad for lunch and a nice sandwich for dinner.

All-in-all a good day! I hope that yours was also.

Ella

PS Megara, I have been taking pictures I just haven’t posted them yet. I will get them uploaded tomorrow.

My Confession

I have a confession to make. I have been eating like an idiot. I don’t think that I have eaten a salad in days. Vegetables? What are they?

Here I am telling Megara to get back on track and I am right down in the mud with her. What a hypocrite!

It is time to start food and exercise journaling again.

So, tomorrow, I will begin and I will post it too for the entire blogging world to see (or at least those of you that read it).

That’s all. I am going to go and clean the junk out of my fridge now.

Have a terrific day!

Ella

A Laugh A Day Makes The Ankle Pain Go Away?

OMG! Pumpkin just told me about the funniest site and I have to share it with you. It is called “F*** My Life” (www.fmylife.com) and is a series of two or three line vignettes where someone is telling you why their life is F***ed up right now. Be warned – this site is a time sink.

Here are a few examples from the site:

Today, I called up the boy I like to ask him on a date. He said “HaHa, that’s a pretty good impression Chris. Next time pick someone less ugly and maybe I’d think this is real.” He thought I was his friend prank calling him. FML

Today, my brother had his fiancé over to meet the whole family. We were having a great time with her, and my mother gushed to her that she was like the daughter she never had. I’m here daughter. FML

Today, I opened my birthday present from my grandfather. It was a map of the USA color coded by regional percentage of available men. FML

Today, I was writing an email to our entire company regarding a fundraiser we are taking part in for children and adults with disabilities. I was rushing to get the email out and hit send before I realized that instead of “Best Regards” I had typed “Best Retards” as the closing line. FML

Okay, you get the idea and hopefully a few laughs. I know that I did.

Today I am nursing my ankle. Karma is still after me. I can’t even Wii on it. Bummer!!

I hope that you have the type of day that doesn’t prompt you to place an entry on the FMYLIFE website,

Ella

Karma's a Bitch!

Okay Blog Readers here’s a funny karma story. Yesterday you might recall that I was bragging on myself just a little bit. Today I fell off the step during the Step class warm-up. At first I thought that I had done some real damage to my ankle but, luckily, it is only a bit hurt and I ended up being able to complete the class after all. It does make me think twice about any future blog bragging though.

“There’s Probably No God. Now Stop Worrying and Enjoy Your Life”. This is the content of a banner ad that a group promoting atheism has purchased to put on the sides of buses in Calgary. There is a response ad from someone that says “Heathens Walk Among You. Beware Calgary. God is Not Happy”.

I don’t know which ad makes me more irritated.

The atheists (The Free Thought Association of Canada … I have trouble with the name) say that they don’t want to insinuate that other people’s beliefs are wrong. They just want to make a case for their own beliefs. Why do they have to be so confrontational though? Where is their case? Why not a case for niceness? Why not a banner that reads “We Have One Life to Live. Let’s Live in Peace” or “Let’s Make Our One Life The Best it Can Be. Be Happy “ or “We Are All One People With One Life. Let’s Enjoy It and Each Other”?

And then there is the response ad which shows the petty meanness inherent in some “God”-based religions. Heathens? It sounds so middle ages. Does it show God’s love and care for all mankind? No it is some Old Testament- style warning crap about God’s potential wrath on Calgary. For a bus ad? Puleease! So GOD is going to rain locusts on Calgary because of an ad on the side of a bus? Wouldn’t it have been a little more Christian to have a bus ad that reads “God Agrees. Enjoy your Life!” or “God Begs to Differ. He is Here and Watching Over You” or “God Loves Everyone Regardless of Whether They Believe or Not … Yes That Means You Too Free Thought Association” or something else Nice (and a little tongue in cheek).

I am on the fence about religion mostly because I find that most organized religions have strayed so far from the original good message of whatever God or Prophet or Holy Teachings that that religion started from. Most religions have such an elitist and exclusionary attitude. It becomes such a “My Belief is Better Than Your Belief” nasty thing. It puts a very bad taste in my mouth about religion.

I would rather take the belief that we have one life to live and, therefore, it behooves us to live that life as best we can. I also believe that we should try to live a good life, a nice life, being nice to people, and respecting their thoughts about religion (whatever those thoughts are). Then, if when we die we find out that there is a Heaven, or reincarnation, or 58 virgins (I don’t know what I would do with mine) then all the better! I look at it as a win-win situation … and I’m all for that.

Have a win-win kind of day!

Ella

Hi Five's for Helga

WARNING! This post is going to be a big ol’ Wii testimonial.

When I ordered the Wii Fit I did it because I thought that just having it around and fun might encourage me to exercise just a little bit more, even if it was just 10 minutes extra a day. I thought that it might be fun but mostly it was just to squeeze out a little more exercise, a few more calories burned. Little did I know that it would help me with my brain – muscle coordination and help earn me a Hi-Five in step class.

Yes, you heard it here first I earned a Hi-Five from the instructor in Step Class! I actually have improved so much that I can make it through 1 segment of the routine without a mistake (maybe only once but it is once more than I used to)!

I think that I am the poster child for stick-to-it-ness at a step class. I have been floundering around in that class for over 6 months. When new folks come in and seem lost the instructor always points to me and basically says “look at her, she is still working at it after 6 months but she’s here”. Naturally, they all “get it” in a week or so and execute complicated routines like they were born to it.

Not I. Every new routine is like having to solve one of those math word problems we all hated in grade school. Every new sub-routine is like learning another language. Well, it was like that … Now, I have enough of the “steps” that I can do several in a row without completely being lost and, back to the testimonial, I thank the Wii Fit.

With Wii Fit you have all these “Balance” games that are really coordination games. I actually have graduated to the advanced level on one of them where just a few months ago my Mii hung her head in shame on every game.

My trainer, Little John, has also noticed a difference with my balance and core strength. I don’t know whether it is the Pilates, the Wii, Step Class or a combination. I’m just glad to say that it’s all working … and I am glad to get that Hi-Five! (Can you tell?)

Have a Wii Kind of Day,

Ella

Gimmie an "F"

I had a great discussion with one of my clients today. It was a discussion about fear. He lives with more fear than I think most people live with but we all have a certain level of fear that we deal with.

A super acronym that Tony Robbins and Jack Canfield use with fear is

False (or Fantasized)
Experiences
Appearing
Real

Think about that, and think about the last time you were fearful. What were the facts of the situation? If we look at the facts instead of the fear how does that change the situation? How does that change how you are able to cope with or handle the situation?

Some people, including my client, invent ways to scare themselves (even more) when they are scared to go for / ask for what they want. They scare themselves by imagining all sorts of “fantasized experiences that appear real” and then they don’t actually go for or ask for what they want. They don’t ask for a raise, they don’t leave a job they don’t like, they don’t delegate, they don’t ask someone out, they don’t, they don’t, they don’t.

How have they limited themselves? And why?

What could your life be like if, when you became fearful you acknowledged it and then looked at the facts instead? If you looked at the potential good outcomes and potential not so good outcomes from a less emotional point of view? How do you think that would feel? I can tell you ... it will be GREAT!!!!!

Have a terrific day!

Ella

PS Dorian update: I hired Little John to take me to our regular vet today. She actually laughed at the Cushing’s Diagnosis. It is a bacterial infection like I found online with my original research.

PPS For the life of me I can't get the formatting right today!

We Have Dorian Grey Living In OUR House! Really!

An interesting and productive few days!

Recently Dorian (our impossibly old, old dog) started losing his hair and his skin started turning black. I didn’t think much of it at first because he is fricking OLD, I mean really, really old! I just thought that this might be one of those things that happens to old dogs. It wasn’t until he started to lose a bunch of hair on his back that I thought that it might be something else.

Now you have to understand that Dorian can’t really get into the car by himself anymore and I can’t lift him (even though he is thin as a rail he still weighs 75lbs) so getting him to the vet is a bit of a challenge. So last night we took him to an after-hours vet clinic (they are open from 6pm until 8am) and spent 4 hours there getting Dorian prodded, checked, shaved, and other various indignities performed on him. We came away from that with a potential diagnosis of Cushing’s Disease. Which is pretty good considering. Considering the fact that at 14 1/3 and somehow his body has decided to “get” a disease that produces extra cortisone that is exactly what he needs to fight his arthritis pain.

And this isn’t the first time that Dorian has pulled off some sort of weird healing thing. This summer he had multiple strokes, he couldn’t walk, he was rarely aware of things, we were ready to put him out of his misery and he RECOVERED. He waited until the last day … but he recovered. And he didn’t just recover, he was better than before! And this wasn’t the first time for him. Every time we think that “this is the end” he proves us wrong.

What a good dog!

Have a terrific day and I will see you tomorrow ... promise :)

Ella

I Choose A Ripe Old Age!

Prince Charming and I stopped at Frye’s (Super humumgo electronics shop that I refuse to go into because it is way too ridiculously big and, more importantly, it has a restaurant inside (come on!!!) so they won’t take pets in the store (makes it way easy for me to choose Best Buy which does allow Boop-a-doo in the store)) on our way home from the beach (Wonderful!). I just read that sentence over and it is soooo packed with brackets it is hard to follow … hope that you’re up to the challenge.

Anyway, while I was sitting in the parking log waiting with Boop-a-doo in the convertible (not hardship duty as I had a crossword to tie my brain up around) I saw a couple and their twin toddler girls and it gave me pause. The dad was huge (at least over 300 lbs) and the mom was even bigger (probably upper 300s). The little toddler girls couldn’t be more than 15 months old and were just cute buttons in their little matching outfits. It broke my heart to think that these little girls, so full of promise for the future, are probably going to end up as fat little girls probably sooner rather than later. What made me sadder was that their parents were so big that they probably won’t be around or around and healthy when the girls are teens. It wouldn’t surprise me to learn that the parents had all sorts of weight-related medical conditions (dare I use the term “Metabolic Syndrome”?) and are probably spending a ton every month on medications.

If we imagine the best that this couple are (is the correct grammar here to say is?) terrific, loving parents that provide a wonderful home for their little girls will they be around to actually see them grow up? And if we imagine that they are currently feeding their toddlers healthy food how long will it be before that changes? Before they are getting too big portions and not enough exercise? Before their diet isn’t all peas and carrots and squash? Where will their good diet and exercise example come from? What will stop them from just gaining and gaining? How hard will it be for them to learn healthy eating habits later? How hard will it be for them to lose their weight before they have their own children? How many medications will they be taking by the time they are in college? It's really scary!!

When I watch the show Biggest Loser and see the young 19 year old who has already lost 120 lbs (YES – 120 LBS of FAT) in 9 weeks and still has at least 100 lbs to go!! (That's him in the picture) When I watch You: Staying Younger and see a couple with 68% body fat, a 49” waist, and blood test levels through the roof. When I go to the mall or a store or a restaurant and see that over 50% of the people that I run into aren’t just overweight but outright fat it just depresses me especially when I see so many young boys and girls, teens, and pre-teens with rolls of fat and obvious weight issues. And it depresses me even more that in Texas people are somehow proud of their obesity. It is somehow validating of themselves as Texans (BIGGER is BETTER) and a way to "weigh-in" with their prosperity. This is a totally fraked (can you tell that I have been watching Battlestar Galactica for 3 days!) up attitude!!!

I know that I have my own body image issues and weight issues. I know that I don’t eat the way that I “should” eat for my best health. I know that I don’t exercise enough for my best health. I know that I don’t take my vitamins regularly and I know that it is damn hard to shed pounds. I know how hard it can be to change habits. I know how challenging it can be to exercise or eat healthy when it is so much easier and “funner” to eat ice cream or chocolates or fried chicken or pizza and sit around with a good book.

It IS challenging! It does take work! But I also know that I work on it! I work on it! And I work on it some more! Every day!

The question that we each have to ask ourselves is “What is our life worth?” Is eating a salad every day worth 5 years of productive life? Is the prospect of being a healthy active 85 year old worth exercising every day? If you knew ABSOLUTELY that eating that fried chicken today would directly result in a heart attack in 5 years would you still eat it? What if you didn’t know which fried chicken (name your poison … it doesn’t have to be fried chicken) would do it?

The biggest challenge is that it all doesn’t seem real, at least to me. I “know” the facts but I can’t necessarily grasp the “reality” of my old age and what that might look like if I eat ice cream today over spinach salad. I guess it all comes down to faith. Do I have faith (backed up by a lot of medical science) that it is going to make the difference? I guess that I do, sorta, kinda … I wish that it was more believable (NO that doesn’t mean that I hope that I get some sort of personal medical issue to “prove” it to me) because it would make it all a little easier.

Perhaps my issue is really that I often look at the food issues as “sacrifices”. Just as with the couple I was trashing earlier I find it a challenge to give up some of the “goodies”. I know, I know! I don’t have to give them all up. I know all those things but it still seems like sacrifices sometimes. I definitely also know that this is an extremely limiting belief. However, sometimes "knowing" something doesn't make you actually choose it or want to.

I will plug away at it all though. I recognize that I have made huge strides towards health and a healthy lifestyle. I recognize that I am making lifestyle changes and little-by-little the small changes that I make every day will gradually make huge changes later. I recognize that ANYTHING that I do to improve my health and fitness is infinitely better than doing nothing. I recognize that this is the only course that I have available to me if I want a long, healthy and productive old age. And that folks makes it ALL worthwhile after all!

Thanks for indulging my rambling today! I’d love to hear your thoughts on it all.

Have a succulent salad-filled day!

Ella

Kicking Wii Ass!

I have decided that Prince Charming and I must be the most boring couple on the planet or is it all middle-aged, long-married people?

Here it is – Friday night! Are we going dancing? Are we going to the theatre? Are we going somewhere to trip the light fantastic?

No.

We are going to get take-out sushi and watch episodes of Battlestar Galactica. Yes, you heard it here first. You might not have suspected it before now but Prince Charming and I are geeks of the 1st degree. Our idea of a good time is to watch TV Sci-Fi (albeit really, really good Sci-Fi).
Prince Charming is taking a nap right now to prepare for the night’s “action”.

OMG!!! What have we become???

I kind of like it though. I don’t really want to go out dancing. I don’t really want to go to the theatre. I don’t really want to go somewhere to trip the light fantastic. What I want to do is just what we’re doing. So I guess that I should thank the universe once again … we are very well matched!

Another reason that I should thank the universe is that in my absence from Wii activity I have somehow improved immensely. I don’t know what the deal is today but I have broken records and kicked Wii ass on the Balance games all day today. I have also done great on the dreaded Hula Hoop (basic not advanced) but struggled with the Rhythmic step (not that I am complaining!). I did so well with the Table Tilt game that I have advanced to Advanced! Me! Uncoordinated little ol’ me!

It is a TGIF for sure!

Have a wonderful TGIF also!

Ella

Happy Drink Anyone?

I can’t believe that I have missed 2 entire days of blogging and that the last post that I wrote contained several rants and poo talk. I apologize to everyone for both. I promise to try not to do that again!

On a brighter note, I have found the “secret” to a successful dinner party (Baptists this may not apply to you)! It is the “Happy Drink”. Yes, the “Happy Drink” or some other cocktail substitute is just the social lubricant to help out one’s dinner party.

So, here are my tips for a successful dinner party –

• Serve a “Happy Drink” when your guests first arrive. Not wine, not beer but some sort of sweet, tasty, easy-down-the-gullet but fairly loaded with alcohol cocktail. Keep pitchers of this “Happy Drink” concoction on hand for further guest lubrication (Naturally, one must also be aware of Drinking and Driving issues so please factor this in to your lubrication efforts).


• Invite a fun and interesting mix of guests and don’t invite more than you have chairs for. The best number is the number that you can sit around your dining room / kitchen / whatever table. You want to be able to sit, sit, sit for ages in one spot and laugh and chat and laugh and chat. When people leave the table to go into another room you risk them leaving … and you don’t want that!! (You can always get them to leave when you as the hostess stand up and move around. Your guests will realize the hour and probably leave).


• Serve terrific and wonderful food and lots of it! If you aren’t a great cook then you have 2 options. The first is to order take out from a good restaurant and then put it all in your own bowls, plates, or platters to look like you did make it (you can admit that you bought it but you don’t have to if you don’t want to). The other option is to delay dinner a long, long time serving Happy Drinks and letting their hunger grow to immense proportions. Believe me, when your guests are hungry enough they will love WHATEVER you put in front of them!

That is my success formula – do you have one? Or do you have a tip to add? I’m all ears! Or is it eyes when it comes in the form of a blog comment?

Have a wonderful day!

Ella

Poo, Spam, and Guilt - Did I Really Have That Many Negatives In This Blog Post?

I was reading today about the woman who swallowed her engagement ring. Her fiancé hopeful put the ring in her Wendy’s Frosty. Instead of her finding the ring, she swallowed it.

This story is hilarious and sad on so many levels.

• I am trying to imagine under what circumstances a wedding proposal at Wendy’s would be romantic. I hope that they met there at least so it has some redeeming qualities.
• Even though she is a skinny little thing now I would be very, very wary. She scarfed that Frosty down so fast and was taking such big spoonfuls that she didn’t even feel the ring?
• Or, maybe I shouldn’t be putting the blame on her for taking too big mouthfuls, perhaps it is because the ring was really, really tiny. Is this mean? Some people don't like big rings. From my point of view though I have to put it as a sad anyway.
• And now for the most obvious one – No matter how cleaned up it is for the next 30, 40, 50 years she is going to know that there was poop all over that ring at one time. I don’t know that I would be able to get past the poop thoughts to love the ring. Maybe the romance of being proposed to in the hospital by an x-ray picture of a ring takes that away. You can think of it in the clean film of an x-ray not the filth of a colon.

IKK!

On a totally other topic I have to admit that I had a little (totally teeny) rant today (besides this one). I was reading Megara’s blog and noticed that she had a comment. I was so happy that someone had commented on her excellent post. Then I read the comment. AKK! (Lots of KK! noises in today’s blog) It was a spam comment. It was some “guy” posting about some other blog and trying to generate business to that other weight loss blog. It was soooo rude. He hadn’t read Megara’s post at all. He didn’t wish her good luck and encouragement (as he was spammily encouraging us to do to this other gal but really was just trying to generate traffic to her blog – she is up for an award which makes her more appealing to get sponsorship) instead he just used Megara. I was so mad. If I could have tracked this ass down I would have sent him a nasty email telling him just what a putz he is. I was thinking about commenting on the blog site that we were being directed to but then I would be giving this jerk just what he wants. Instead I will have to content myself to ranting here (and on Megara’s site of course). Thank you for indulging me.

Before I got all sidetracked with stories of poopy rings and poopy spammers I was going to write about the reproachful “looks” that my Wii Fit Board has been giving me lately. I haven’t been on it in almost a week and OMG it is sitting there in front of the TV looking very accusatory and quite lonely. I don’t know how much more pressure I can take from it. It is haunting! Do you think that all Exercise equipment is like that and that is why we put them in the basement or spare room or somewhere out of our sight? I think that it might be. I seem to remember some pretty strong and accusing vibes coming from an exercise bike that I used to have (shudder). I think that we might have a good horror movie script idea in the making: Revenge of The Abandoned Stair Master may be coming soon to a theatre near you.

Have a Guilt-Free Day!

Ella

PS I was reading this post over and thinking that I was pretty mean in it and fairly negative. This isn't normally like me (I hope). I thought about rewriting it and then I thought "Why"? Maybe I needed to purge a little negativity for some reason. So, there, purged :)

Martinis Anyone?

I am a bit embarrassed to admit that I am still sore from my workout on Friday! Yes, I haven’t wanted to do anything, no Wii, no gym, nothing! I am just happy to be watching Survivor episodes and “thinking” about walking the dog.

I used my “couch” time to plan a menu for a dinner party on Wednesday. I think that it is a good one but let me know what you think.

• Mandarin Martinis
• Angel Hair and Artichoke Frittata
• Micro Green Salad with Almond Vinaigrette Dressing
• Salmon & Rice Wrapped in Pastry w/ Dill Sauce served with Grilled Asparagus
• Skillet Apple Pie w/ Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream and Sharp Cheddar Cheese

This is a fun menu for me because they are all new recipes and I think that they go together pretty well. Another advantage of this menu is that a lot of it can be made ahead of time so I will be able to shop on Monday and cook on Tuesday and Wednesday so it will be quite relaxing. That is the best way to cook I think. I know that there are a lot of chefs that love and incredibly fast pace in the kitchen and love the intense pressure. I don’t like that at all. I like to mosey around and listen to my iPod and cook at a “civilized” pace. That is definitely one reason that I could NEVER be on Top Chef or any other speed-based cooking program like Iron Chef … well, that may not be the only reason but it would be a biggie! I don’t know how they manage to bang out some sort of intense appetizer or main course with several components looking and, I’m sure, tasting, as good as anything that you would get in a terrific gourmet restaurant in 20 minutes! Insane!

Anyway, hopefully my guests will enjoy it. I’ll let you know!

Have a wonderful rest of your Sunday!

Ella