Hunger pains

It's amazing what losing 6 pounds did for my happiness  It's been a sacrifice but not a struggle. Once I made up my mind, I was unwaivering. That made me feel strong. It was much easier than quitting smoking, but it did require always making the right decision. I eat a lot of big salads. With a protein in it. I have it for lunch every day and sometimes dinner too because it's easy and when I make a salad I make multiples. I roast vegetables for the week on Sundays, so I have roasted cauliflower, broccoli and green beans on hand. I make a delicious omelet every day with butter and cheese and roasted mushrooms and onions. I snack on turkey and cheese roll-ups, cheese sticks, almonds, etc... I cook a few night a week and it's usually chicken. Every night I have a Quest protein bar for dessert. 20 grams of protein! I do eat out but don't eat carbs or sugar.

I'm celebrating my loss tonight. Gregg and I are going out to dinner and I plan to eat everything in sight!

a little late...

I knew I was behind on posting, but how could so much time pass so quickly? Ugh! Time goes by way too fast! I went to Florida last week and pretty much stayed offline. I just didn't want to not be present. I loved being in Key West! I've done a bunch of traveling in Florida the past few years and really love to visit. Especially in the winter. It's paradise! KW reminds me of other southern cities. It was like New Orleans in that it caters to tourists who like to drink and there are a lot of open-air restaurants and bars and wrought iron balconies. Aspects of the architecture were similar to NO and to Beaufort. I expected to see Spanish moss but apparently it's not hot enough or humid. It was so clean and had more palm trees than I've ever seen. Gregg and I had fun! We always do. I especially loved kayaking in the clear blue water. And drinking on the sunset cocktail cruise. And eating ginger coconut chip cookies at the French bakery.

I really shouldn't have started this right before bed. No energy or inspiration. I shall return!

Sunday musings

Sitting in Starbucks, happy me. It's a gloomy rainy day but I don't care. Gregg is at my house doing hours of doctor work. I'm so thankful that I have a job that I completely finish at the end of the day. He spends an enormous amount of time continuing his work after hours. It actually works very well for our relationship. I need a lot of alone time. He's thankful that I'm not upset about how much time he spends doing work. I went to the gym and swam. Yay! I'm aiming to revamp my family room and I've been buying curtains from Marshall's and HomeGoods, so that was one of my stops today: to collect more. I have a zillion paint samples at home. Decisions, decisions. One more stop after this to the grocery store and then I'll go home. And put on my sweats. I never use my Crock-Pot, but I have something cooking in it now. Chicken thighs, taco seasoning and salsa. I'm not expecting delicious, but that's OK. You're supposed to shred it when it's done, for tacos, but I'm strictly low carb these days so I'll have it plain with a salad and veggies. 

Ramble done, fueled by my friend espresso.

I should take a walk

I should've known better than to go to the gym on a holiday. I think I've established that I don't like to exercise. I'm trying to firm up my body and stay in kayaking form during the winter so I'm making myself swim. Once I'm in the water and on lap 6 I actually begin to enjoy it. I got to the gym at around 1:00. I don't usually look in at the pool to see how many people are swimming, but today I did and there were 5 people swimming in 4 lanes. When I got to the locker room there were 2 women in suits ready to hit the pool. I walked over to the pool and there was an additional person waiting. So here I am in a very crowded Starbucks where everyone else is, not swimming. The good news is that 1. I cleaned my house before I left 2. I'm drinking my favorite drink and writing this

                     
I'd like to be here right now

I'll be going to Florida in February and in March. I'm so happy to have that to look forward to.

A part of my story

It's been so long since I've uploaded a picture to my blog. It wasn't easy to do on my iPad but I did it!
                                                 

This is my makeup table and chair. Both have a history and are very dear to me. I bought the Singer sewing table from Goodwill at least 35 years ago. It was in perfect condition. The sewing machine that's hidden inside is beautiful. I've always used this as my makeup table. The chair is the only remaining piece from a table with six 'regular' chairs that date back to  at least the early 1960's. It was our family table. At some point early in my brother's marriage, he took the set. I kept this 'ice cream parlor' type of chair for myself. I've always used it at my makeup table. I've also always used a lighted makeup mirror. Those, of course, have been replaced over the years. I plan to keep this little station of mine forever.

The jitters

I'm feeling more and more uneasy with each approaching day leading up to Trump's inauguration.  An underlying anxiety is always there. I can't believe that this president-elect who I consider to be a horrible, horrible man is going to be our next president. I can't believe that our nation would ever, ever consider electing this despectable human being. I believe the majority of the country is alarmed. Nothing horrible has ever happened in my life, except for my mother's stroke. Is the time approaching? I believe that our way of life is about to change for the worse. One of my biggest fears is that the United States will be involved in a terrible war. I feel very emotional, and I feel like the clock is ticking. How did this happen? I live in a state that is vastly Democrat. I have no problem with the fact that a Republican won the election. But this caricature of a human being is going to be the next President?

There was a time I wouldn't have written that. I would have cared too much what others thought. Not on this subject. Not this time.

Is it possible to segue to another subject? During the week I thought of all kinds of things to write about. I wish I'd gone with the flow then, and put it 'on paper'. Alas, this gloomy post will have to do for now.

PS... I did have a good day off. I had my car serviced in the morning. I went to the mall to run a few errands. The weather was incredible... in the 70's! I popped over to my Mom's to sit outside for a while. I went to the gym and swam. After the grocery store I came home, made dinner, prepared a bunch of salads for the next few days and here I am writing while my laundry is in the dryer. 

Week One

Oh my! Do I even remember how to blog? It doesn't matter. I'm going to pretend that I've never done it before. Only those who knew me as a regular blogger will know.

I received a 5-year journal before Christmas. There are only a few lines available for each day and I just couldn't wait till January 1 to start writing. With that limited amount of space, what I write has to be 'just right.' No erasing allowed. Most important, it has to be interesting enough to look back on. That's a tall order for a little book. Here, I can write whatever I want. I'm going to try to be like Jamie and write once a week. I spend/waste so much time on social media; surly I have time for this. A big thank you to Josie for writing and prompting me to check out her blog. My blogging friends mean the world to me.

Today was a day off. I spent most of the morning jittery from strong coffee. And cold! I spent hours looking for a vacation rental in N Myrtle beach for a trip with my sisters this summer. Coordinating our availability with my work schedule and cost restraints made it really difficult and its not solved yet. After all that, my GA sister and I spoke on the phone and she's going to get in touch with a friend who has a place in Hilton Head. We stayed there 2 years ago. There was a lot I loved about it, but I really missed being oceanfront. I know...small problem in the scheme of things. I just love a beach and palm trees.

My boyfriend Gregg thinks I'm so athletic. I'm not. I hate to work out. I'm amazed that I kayak. And proud. He's very, very athletic. He goes to the gym at least 3 times a week and exercises at home. He says he needs it for stress-reduction and he likes being strong. He runs, lifts weights, kayaks, etc. He's in great physical shape. My shape is soft but he loves me the way I am. Still... it's hard having a boyfriend with all those muscles and motivation. It really is true about age...if you don't fight what the body wants to do, it's all downhill. I wish I didn't have to do anything. Sometime before Christmas I went to the gym and swam 6 times in 2 weeks. I was on a roll. Then came lots of doctor appointments for my mom and then the holidays. Today I went to the gym and swam. I was almost ready to give up after 2 laps. By 6 laps I was getting into a rhythm. I completed 18 laps. It felt so good afterwards! I'm motivated, but will it last? I did say I don't like to exercise. I really just want a better body, truth be told.

OK...I've started.