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

Feedback Challenge - Are You Up For It?

I have been thinking a lot lately about personal responsibility and how it seems that many people don’t take responsibility for where they are in their lives, what their financial situation is, how their relationships are working or not … well, you get the idea. I believe that it is only when we take 100% responsibility for our lives that we can take 100% responsibility for our lives. Does that make sense at all?

It is sometimes really, really hard to admit that you are responsible in some way for every aspect of your life and situation (okay – I will give you the fact that certain cancers and illnesses, especially genetic ones of course are in no way your “fault”). It is also really, really hard once you do take 100% responsibility for your life because then you know that whatever you do if you aren’t where you want to be that it is because of you and you alone. This can be a bitter pill to swallow especially if you see your “months” (see previous post) passing by like a hamster laps on a twirly wheel (sorry, we were at Petco today).

But that isn’t really what I wanted to talk about. I wanted to talk about feedback. Not any feedback mind you but personal feedback. I have been thinking about one of my clients lately and that got me to thinking about the people currently in the astronaut selection. There are some people who you just know won’t make it even if they have been called for an interview. To be completely cliché: They don’t have “the right stuff”. I am sure that you know friends, co-workers, and family that if they just got a little gentle feedback or, perhaps, some in your face feedback that it might make all the difference to them. They might (BIG emphasis on might) not know that they (fill in the blank) and if they did and if they chose to change that thing they might be happier, more socially acceptable, wealthier, get promoted …

Do you think that you could tell someone the truth if they asked you? Do you think that you could give that person feedback? Do you think that you could ask for feedback for yourself?

That is my challenge to you – Ask 10 people (or more if you want) to give you some honest and direct feedback. You might want to say “If there were one thing that you thought that I could do better or would make me a better person what do you think that would be?” or “If you could improve 1 thing about me what would you improve?” or “Name 1 thing that you would change about me if you had a magic wand?”

As I am the blog author I would request that anyone reading this blog that knows me or has met me or even if you only know me from the blog please answer one of the above questions (directly and honestly even if you think that it is harsh) so that I can get some most excellent feedback. If you are worried that I “won’t like you anymore” (could NEVER happen!) or if you are just worried about being open with your name attached please comment anonymously (create a new user name if it won’t allow you to be anonymous).

Thank you!! I really appreciate it and I am very, very interested to hear your feedback.

Have a super terrific day!

Ella

The Search for The Lost Blog Topic

I’m sorry dear readers today you were to have read the best blog with the best blog topic ever conceived in the Blogging World. Unfortunately, I have forgotten the topic and, thus, the world has forever lost the opportunity for this most wonderful blog.

I didn’t blog yesterday because I was cooking all day. I was cooking soooo much yesterday because I was too busy to cook some the day before and so I had to cram all my cooking into one day. I am not exaggerating when I say that I only sat down for 15 minutes (except for when I was in my car driving to get last minute groceries) from the time that I got up until the time that I sat down for dinner. I was completely wiped by the end of the day. As dinner time approached and Family Night diners started to arrive I became more and more convinced that the entire meal would be crap and that the food would taste terrible; the roast over done, the vegetables bland, the salad dressing too vinegary, the chocolate icing too grainy, and the sorbet too soft. Luckily, culinary disaster was averted and everyone loved the meal. It is the mental and emotional crazies that I go through (and put my friends and family through) when I am cooking for people that helped me decide that I couldn’t continue as a caterer. It is just not worth it. But, Family Night is definitely worth it. I just have to remember to always spread the cooking over multiple days!

An update on my pound weight loss commitment that I made here a week or so ago … I have gained a pound. And, yes, this is a pound that isn’t just a fluctuation pound but one that has endured for 3 whole days! It just pisses me off so much!! And, it makes me want to eat chocolate and butter and chocolate because WHAT THE HELL! Which is what I did yesterday – I just didn’t give a SH*T. And, now that I have had this rant I am going to get back on the good girl bandwagon and go and eat a salad for lunch. I have been exercising and so I am not going to beat myself up about it but I am entitled to be just a little pissed off (mini mini pity party too).

I did my step class today and worked out with Little John and now I am just exhausted. I think that I am going to indulge myself this afternoon and do absolutely nothing except watch some TV and perhaps have a nap. That sounds really good!

Have a super terrific Friday!

Ella

I Had To Read It ... It Was Written on The Bathroom Wall!

Who says that writing on the bathroom walls has to all be trashy? Today it was downright inspirational. Okay, I admit it, it was a classier restroom than normal and the quote was written on a poster but it somehow seems much cooler to just say that it was written on a bathroom wall.

Anyway … long introduction for a short quote. “How you think about yourself is a direct reflection on how you think about life”. Wow, I like that. Do you find it true? Think about it for a second. Does life seem so much better when you like yourself? Do people, circumstances, the future, etc. look better or worse depending on how our thighs, face, personality, etc. looks on any given day? Just something to ponder.

Today I had a great talk with one of my clients about the Demon Monster inside us. Inside everyone lives a Demon Monster; it’s the little self-depreciating voice in our head that says things like “You’re not good enough to (name that action)”, “You’re fat”, “You’re silly”, ‘You will never amount to anything” and blah, blah, blahs like that that make us doubt ourselves and steal our power. Once we start listening to that voice we actually start feeding the Demon Monster our power and it grows stronger and more forceful just as we grow weaker and more insecure. We each have the monster it is just that some of us don’t feed theirs as often (good thing). In the spirit of weight loss I would like to declare that it is time to put our Demon Monsters on a starvation diet! The next time you hear those voices or start feeling that self-doubt take his / her plate away and feed your Power God / Goddess instead. Then check your overall energy level and productivity. Did you notice a difference? I don’t know whether I have explained it well enough or if I am making any sense at all. If not, just indulge me and give it a shot … can’t hurt!

I am about to start cooking for Family Night tomorrow night. Family Night is something that I started a few years ago as an excuse to get together with friends and force me to go and play in the kitchen. I don’t have them often and the cast of characters changes (based on who’s in town) but it is such a delight to have everyone over for great food and terrific conversation. I call it Family Night because we are all far from our families and so it makes sense that we all become each other’s Houston Family and plus it is nicer than calling it just a plain old get together. No, that’s not quite right. These people are really my family in all ways but blood. I know that I could call on any one of them at any time and they would help me if I needed it. I know that I would do the same for them. There is a real comfort in that.

So it is off to make the Mango Sorbet!

Have a demon free day!

Ella

And Months to Go Before I Sleep

Today Pumpkin reminded me of something really important … death is just around the corner. Yes, this is the type of uplifting conversations that often occur between a mother and daughter.

She had a point though. Death is somewhere right around the corner, psychologically at least. She was talking to me about a depressing calculation that she had just done. She calculated the number of months that she still had to live based on her current age and the average mortality age for women (around 78). Now when you think “I have 55 years to live”, 55 YEARS seems like quite a long time because we think of a year being quite a long time. Now when you then say "I have 660 months to live" it just doesn’t seem like that much. I mean, a month isn’t a “long” time and 660 just isn’t that big a number. I mean, February is almost over so that would make it 659. Akkk!

I told her that she wasn’t allowed to do my calculation on 78 because I just don’t believe that 78 is my limit. I asked her to calculate my “months left” on 101. So for me, 101 – 48 * 12 (we are not being super accurate here although I am sure that there is a website somewhere out there that does this calculation for you … accurately) makes 636 months left.

And for my mom we used my Grandmother’s age when she died (84) so she has 84 – 67 * 12 = 204. 204 is nothing! At least it feels like nothing.

What this conversation did for me (besides giving me a blog topic) is to make me more aware of life passing by. Time is short; I only have about 636 months left. Time for me to make the most of it!

Calculate your potential months left and see if it makes you look at time passing any differently. Might change your life … at least what’s left.

Have a super terrific rest of the month,

Ella

Celebrating Happiness

My apologies for not posting yesterday, I have SpongeBob here with The Terminator visiting and baby trumps blog every time.

I have felt “behind” all day long. This is the first I have been home since I left for Step Class this morning and I am heading out again soon. I am so used to having very quiet yet filled days that when I have a guest and visit-filled weekend it throws me off a little even though I love the guests and the visits. I think that what I really need is a nap … perhaps tomorrow :)

Pumpkin gave me a very special gift at Christmas. She made little strips of paper that she wrote really, really nice things about me on and rolled each one up stuck with tape and waiting to be opened. They say things like “You deserve to have everything that you want” and “You can do anything that you set your mind to” and “You have a gorgeous smile” and “You are delightful” and … well, you get the idea. There are 365 of them that she made up and placed in an antique jewelry box. The idea is that I open and read one every day. Instead of doing this I save them for days that I might need a little boost or if I am sick and then I might open 2 or more. It always works. So if you are ever looking for a special gift for a special someone I highly recommend that you take some time and create one of these magic feel-good boxes! It will probably be the hit gift of their year. Thank you Pumpkin!

Prince Charming gets back from traveling tomorrow night. He had the opportunity to fly an F-86 Sabre. The first time he flew it he called me and, with a little boy super excited and pleased voice (and if you know him you know that this outpouring of exuberant emotion is not like him), told me about his flight. I can’t tell you how happy he sounded; how tickled with life. It made me sooooo happy to hear him so happy. Isn’t it terrific when the people that we love are happy? Doesn’t it make your world better? I know it does for me. So here’s to happiness!

And maybe to naps!

Have a happy, nappy day!

Ella