Sunday Stealing: One to Ten

One song that describes my life.

Two things I wish I had more of in my life.  Time and pain-free days.

Three ways I relax.  Reading a good book, hanging out with friends and family, and cruising around online.

Four of my best accomplishments.  My marriage, my children, my job and the ways I can help those in my care, and learning to forgive those who don't deserve it.

Five things I am looking forward to.  Getting through the super strict portion of the diet/health plan I've started, summer and swimming with the grandkids, getting a few debts paid off, lunch with friends, seeing my clients all dressed up for the special needs prom in April.

Six things I am grateful for.  My home, my grandchildren, my faith, my church, and my job.

Seven facts about me.  I'm an introvert and tend to be a bit of a loner. My hair is super curly but I straighten it every single day. I don't like any of the reality shows everyone else is so enamored with. I'm no domestic goddess...I don't enjoy cleaning, laundry, etc. I'm a pretty good cook. I am a procrastinator. I am a follower of Jesus Christ.

Eight things I can see from where I am sitting.  The dog, the TV, Tim's commemorative Henry rifle, a pile of magazines, a basket of dog toys, the kitchen table, family photos, and a basket of the kids' books.

Nine words I would use to describe myself.  Content, happy, compassionate, driven (about some things, anyway), easy-going, strong, brave, unorganized, and a lil' bit lazy.

Ten little things that make me happy.  My grandkids' hugs and kisses, snuggling up with my dog, the smell of good food cooking in the kitchen, Yankee candles, a new release from a favorite author, a sunny day, learning something new, studying the Bible, squirrels, and being the first person to put knife to the peanut butter.

 

Saturday 9: The Rocky Road to Dublin

Saturday 9: The Rocky Road to Dublin (2008)

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) This song is about a young man who leaves home to seek his fortune. How old were you when you first moved out on your own?  Not counting college, I was 20 and newly married.

2) He leaps onto a ship but the captain makes him sleep in the hold with pigs. Have you ever taken a cruise? (If so, we hope you had better accommodations.)  I resisted cruises for years, but finally went on one in 2019. We spent 10 days along the New England coast. It was an older, smaller ship, not one of the new ones that are virtual floating cities. There were kids, but not tons of them. It was very peaceful and relaxing. I would like to do another of the same ilk. I don't think I'd like those huge ships at all.

 
3) This recording of the song is by The High Kings. Well established in Ireland, their career reached new heights in March 2012. Right after playing for the Lord Mayor of London's St. Patrick's Day celebration, they flew to Washington to perform for President Obama at the White House St. Patrick's Day concert. Tell us about a time when you were so happy, you had to pinch yourself to make sure you weren't dreaming.  I don't think I've ever had to pinch myself as a reality check. I'm happy and I know it.

 

4) This song was chosen because Friday was St. Patrick's Day. Do you celebrate this holiday?  We had a party at work and everyone wore fun green outfits and accessories. On Thursday I cooked corned beef, cabbage, and potatoes as well as a lime green Jell-O poke cake for my whole department. On Friday we had dinner at my mom's...she made the corned beef.

 

5) Leprechauns are a symbol of St. Patrick's Day. These small Irish fairies are said to live in the forest, guarding their gold. Do you often wear gold?  Nope. I'm a silver/white gold girl.

6) McDonald's has made Shamrock Shakes a St. Patrick's Day tradition. McDonald's began adding the drive-thru window to their restaurants in the 1970s. Would you rather order from the restaurant counter or the drive-thru?  The drive-thru. Our local McDonalds has kiosks inside to do your ordering, no one at the counter to take your order. By the way, work supplied a Shamrock shake to everyone today.

7) A four-leaf clover is considered good luck. Do you have a lucky charm?  No. I don't really believe in luck.

 

8) Thinking of Lucky Charms, they are magically delicious. What breakfast cereal is in your kitchen right now?  Blueberry Special K, instant oatmeal (maple-brown sugar), and plain old Quaker Oats.

  
9) Random question: Think of your upcoming week. Which day will be the busiest?  Tuesday, just because it is the most physically demanding and I'm always in pain by about halfway through it. Working in the shredding department is a non-stop day.

DIET UPDATE:

By Thursday morning I was down 6 pounds since Monday! Today I was up one pound (darn St. Patrick's Day). I'm not too worried. I will get myself back on track tomorrow.

I did have one little "moment" during the wee hours of Thursday morning. I woke up in the night with a horrible leg cramp. I've always been prone to muscle cramps. That said, this one was particularly bad. It left me in a cold sweat and feeling nauseous. Anyway, on the way back to bed I apparently passed out right before reaching it because the next thing I knew I was on the floor with Tim hovering and asking if I was okay. Since then I've talked to my coach and got the okay to drink sugar free Gatorade to replace electrolytes.

Diet: Day 1

The Diet

Not gonna lie, today was rough. I picked the worst week at work to start a diet and today was probably the worst of it.

My department sold chocolate covered pretzel rods as a fundraiser and today was the day a few people were making them. One of my coworkers held one out to me and I nearly reached out and took it. I remembered at the last second that "I can't." I told him so and he continued to torment me saying "It's only half a pretzel." I resisted.

At lunch the department was rewarded for tending the flowers in the town center last summer. By rewarded, I mean they brought in hoagies and pasta salad for everyone. I resisted.

Being able to resist today gives me confidence for the rest of the week. I'm going to need it as we will be having special lunches Thursday and Friday for St. Patrick's Day.

It was a good day in other ways. I ate all of my fuelings and my lean & green meal for supper (7 oz. of lean beef and a big helping of broccoli). I drank about 50 oz. of water. I'm not a water drinker so it's okay to work up to that. Most of the fuelings were actually pretty tasty and really did fill me up.

After work I went to Sam's Club and shopped for lean meats and veggies. I got some good deals and found some yummy stuff. Now to look for some simple, but flavorful ways to cook everything to maximize my enjoyment.

I am really excited. I weighed myself this morning at the start and I weighed 240.2 and tonight when I showered I weighed myself out of curiosity and I weighed 238.8....and no, the difference wasn't the clothes. I had the same few items on both times. This is just proof to me that the plan works. I will do this strict diet for 12 weeks and weight should come off rapidly during this time. After that the plan begins to start reintroducing "real" food, teaching you how to make healthy choices.

Other Good Things

I went to a basket bash with Mom and a friend of hers yesterday. We got to support a library and I won a Longhorn Steakhouse gift card and two mountain pie irons.

I've found several people I know who are doing this program. It's awesome to know I'll have a group of real life friends to go through this with. 

I was able to contact the woman I'm going to buy a dining room hutch from (Facebook marketplace) and change the pick up date to Wednesday. Today was cold, rainy, and at times snowy. This evening was definitely snowy and we ended up with a dusting of half an inch or so that stayed. Tomorrow is more of the same plus wind. Anyway, excited we could work it out. The piece is a beautiful Pennsylvania House hutch that will replace my great-grandmother's lovely, but falling apart china cupboard and a bookcase along one wall in the kitchen.

'Twas the Night Before the First Day of the Rest of My Life

So, that title doesn't sound cliche or anything. Oh well, trite or not, it is the truth. I am about to begin, not a diet, but a lifestyle change, tomorrow. The diet is simply one component of it.

I've signed up for and begin my first day of the OPTAVIA program tomorrow. I'm excited. I'm not going to lie, the food portion is going to be rough for a while, but the program as a whole is set up to help you succeed. I have a coach, who happens to be someone I know personally...and who has lost nearly 150 pounds herself. She and I will be in contact every day. There is an app and a Facebook community to help with resources, questions, and recovery. I also have two very large books that will walk me through every step. One is more of a textbook and the other is a life journal.

Tonight in a Zoom call with coaches and others new to the plan the speaker challenged us to "Live Loud." By that he meant we should be open, honest, and transparent about the journey we are on. I know my mindset is different this time because I am already doing that. I've told everyone about starting this. 

Even my mom and that is HUGE. She tends to be judgemental and not supportive so I have never told her about any other efforts. I've told her everything about this. I have to tell you, not letting her see me fail is some pretty big motivation.

I've decided that from now on the blog is going to be a chronical of my journey. The title already fits. I'm going to be making a lot of changes in my life and this is just one of the first. I'm not saying I'll never do a meme, but the main focus is going to be how I am doing with the program. I'm hoping that "putting it all out there" will be even more incentive to succeed...and it would be cool if you guys keep me accountable or give me a little pat on the back now and then.

Now I'm going to turn off the computer and the television and not look at my phone. I'm going to read for a little bit before bed. Sleep is vital to success and lately I've been struggling with some insomnia. The screens need to go dark earlier than they have been.

That's it for now. I hope you'll all be cheering me on.

Saturday 9: Pass Me By

Saturday 9: Pass Me By (1965)

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

 

1) In this song, Peggy Lee tells us she wiggles her toes in the sand. Have you been to the beach yet in 2023? Do you expect to wiggle your toes in the sand when you're on vacation this year?  No, I haven't been anywhere near a beach yet. As for expecting, I don't have vacation time until after November 1 so the only thing I'm hoping for this year is a weekend at the beach on Lake Erie with the grandchildren.

 

2) She also sings that contemplating nature can be fascinating. What flora and fauna can you see from your window as you answer these questions?  Nothing, because it's dark. Even if it was light out there wouldn't be anything to see. It's mid-March so everything is gray and dormant.

3) With this song, she's telling everyone to take her as she is or leave her be. Does that reflect your attitude? Or are you a "people pleaser" who worries what others think of you?  I used to be such a people pleaser, but my attitude has shifted in the last few years and I really don't care much what others think of me. I've finally realized that what people think of me usually has a lot more to do with them than it does with how I live my life.

4) These lyrics were written by Carolyn Leigh. She began her career as an advertising copywriter but, since she showed a flair for poetry and rhymes, she was urged by a music publisher to write lyrics. Have you ever tried your hand at poetry?  Years and years and years ago.

5) This song was composed for the 1964 movie Father Goose, starring Cary Grant. Are you a fan? Do you just vaguely know the name? Or are you wondering what a Cary Grant is?  I have seen Cary Grant movies and enjoyed them, but I wouldn't say I'm a "fan."

6) This was a top-20 hit for Peggy Lee. As a girl in North Dakota during the 1930s, Peggy lived above the train station where her father was depot agent. Today that depot is home to a museum which features a Peggy Lee Exhibit. Have you recently visited a museum?  No. The last one I visited was the Night of the Living Dead museum with one of my former clients. Not my thing at all, but he loved it.

 

7) Designer Bonnie Erickson was also grew up in North Dakota and used her girlhood idol as the inspiration for her most famous creation: Miss Piggy. A diva with flowing blonde hair and jewelry, the puppet was originally called Miss Piggy Lee. As the character gained in fame with The Muppets, the name was shortened to Miss Piggy because Bonnie didn't want to offend Peggy Lee, whom she genuinely admired. Tell us something you have done recently to spare someone's feelings.  I kept my mouth shut.

8) While Peggy Lee often changed her hairstyle with the times, she was always a blonde. She considered those lustrous locks her trademark. Are you having a good hair day today?  

9) Random question: What's the perfect way to spend a lazy afternoon?  Alone and reading a good book.

Thankful Thursday

There's lots to be thankful for this week!

** No major damage in last Friday night's big wind storm.

** Taking the plunge and signing on with a weight loss program.

** Reconnecting with my elementary school bestie through a Facebook group.

** Not quite as much pain on Tuesday...thanks to using my custom inserts, wearing an ankle stabilizer, and not lacing my shoe all the way. Oh, and making sure I took the maximum allowable amount of Aleve.

** The podiatrist confirmed the pain in my ankle isn't anything too serious. It's tendonitis caused by overuse. Not much I can do about that given my Tuesday work schedule, but he gave me a steroid prescription to clear up the inflammation. After that there are some tips to help reduce it so it doesn't get this bad again.

** Continued mild weather and a decent amount of sunshine.

** I'm sleeping a little bit better than I have in quite a while.

** My husband, my family, my friends, and all of you.

I am blessed!

Currently...

52*/Sunny

Watching...some show about earthquakes on Netflix. I could have watched anything all day because Tim worked and the kids went away for the weekend, but something was up with the Roku connection and I had to wait for our daughter and son-in-law to get back and come fix it. Now Tim is due at any minute so there's no point in getting involved in something.

Listening...to nothing. The house and the neighborhood are quiet today.

Feeling...great, excited, purposeful, accomplished, inspired...take your pick. It's been a great day. 

At church, rather than a normal service, the elders had one of their question and answer sessions. People can submit questions at any time by dropping them in the offering box and then once a quarter the elders will do their best to answer. I love those sessions and learn a lot during them. 

I've been wanting to get more involved at church and today I got started with a ministry to send cards to shut-ins and those who may just need a pick-me-up at any time. I also got a list of area businesses to call about donations to A Very Special Prom, the "prom" for adults with special needs in our community (physical and intellectual disabilities). This is the first time the prom is being held since Covid changed the world. My church has always stepped up and done the majority of the organizing and preparation. I'm excited to participate.

Finally, I took a huge step this afternoon. I met a woman from the next town over, a friend of a friend and a pastor's wife. She is a health coach for a weight loss program whose name is still a mystery to me. Her personal success is what first attracted me. She has lost over 100 pounds since 2020. Also impressive is all the people she has coached who have also had great success on the program. And these are local people not anonymous people from Kalamazoo or some such place. The program is pricey but the success of all those verifiable people can't be denied and it's designed to wean you from the program back into choosing normal foods in the right way. Plus, the woman is your personal coach. She is in contact with you every single day and you can contact her at any time. All of her clients meet online for a weekly meeting to share stories and there's a private Facebook page for them, too. Anyway, I'm really excited to get started on this and I'll be posting about it once my starter package arrives and I get started on it.

Looking forward to...going to a huge basket bash next Sunday with Mom, my daughter, and a friend of mom's. Those are always a fun time. This one is a fundraiser for a small town library that is totally funded by donations and fundraising and staffed entirely by volunteers! As a former librarian it is one of Mom's pet charities and we both make the drive to it a few times a year to support them via their used book sales.

Loving...the sunny weather after Friday's nonsense.

Thankful...that when the sun came up yesterday and we got out to take a good look around, our damage from the wind was slight. Once stuff was cleaned up out of the yard, the worst we had was a couple of small scratches on Tim's truck and a few shingles to replace. The kids had more damage with shingles blown off, gutters bent or blown off, the shed destroyed, and the smashed trampoline that also caused extensive damage to our sil's father's truck that was in their driveway. But the kid's bikes and toys that were in the shed are okay, the houses are still standing, no trees fell on anything, and most importantly, no one was hurt.

Tonight's menu...tacos.

This week...

• Calling businesses about donations.
• Seeing the podiatrist on Wednesday about this business with my ankle.