Happy Easter

I hope that everyone who celebrates is having a wonderful Easter. And for those of you who don't, a terrific Sunday. :D

It is sunny and warm, here. We are expecting the high to be in the mid seventies. Just a perfect Spring day. We don't really have any plans, a quiet, relaxing day sounds nice.

I have had my morning coffee, patched a cracked nail, repainted my accent nails and did a little simple nail art in Spring colours in celebration of the day and I am contemplating a late brekkie. Oatmeal? I don't know... I need to eat but I am not all that hungry.

My allergies and sinuses are driving me insane. Urgh! I had a migraine, yesterday. I took Imitrex, it helped a little but it just mostly made me feel weird. I get this odd, slightly floaty feeling and a tightening in my neck and chest. I am still not sure about that stuff. *shrug*

It's a beautiful day to be good to myself. Something I have done precious little of, lately.

ETA: Yay!!! My favicon is finally showing up! The one I attached to my nail blog finally popped up, yesterday and this one just popped up. So, it just needs a day or so then it works. Good to know. :D

Happy Easter!

To everyone who celebrates.

I hope that you and yours are having a lovely, happy day.

I just want to thank you, my friends for the lovely, heartfelt and caring comments you wrote to me, the other day. You made me cry, feel a little better and gave me something to grab on to and hug close to me. And I appreciate you all more than I could ever adequately express. *hugs*

I am doing a little better, today. Things have sunk in a bit, I am processing and coming around to a mindset of being positive and hopeful. I am not allowing myself to consider anything else, at this point. When or if I must, I will go there, at that time. For now, I refuse to entertain any possibility but the best one.

I didn't weigh in this week. I am still in a weird head space and can't deal with certain things. I want to. But I just can't make myself do it. lol It is so weird. I'll weigh in next Saturday or Sunday, as usual. Kindly, Allen gave me a bye for the Challenge weigh in, this week. Thank you, dude! :D

It is cooler, today. Sunny and pretty but insanely windy. I am talking nearly gale force winds. It has been windy for so. Frakking. Long! My allergies are out of control and I think that this constant wind is beginning to drive me off over the edge. I have read about people being adversely affected by wind. I may be one of them, as I am definitely cranky. lol

I am not eating Easter eggs (we didn't do eggs, this year) I am not eating Cadbury Eggs *sniff* I am not glomming on Peeps or Jelly Bellys or anything else full of sugar. We are going to have ham for dinner (MIL is doing one) and I am going to roast some sweet potatoes to go with it. And bake some biscuits. I will have a little ham, (weighed and calories counted, of course!) and a sweet potato. I am debating a biscuit. I might, I might not. It is nice to not care, one way or the other whether I eat a biscuit or not. And it is funny to honestly not give a shit. Not be in a lather of "OMG! Do I eat one? Don't I? Do I eat one? Don't I?" Isn't it insane how we can turn ourselves inside out over something like food?

William is on vacation. Of course, he didn't tell me he was going to be until he announced on Thursday that he doesn't go back to work until May 2nd. Gee, Asshole... Thank you soooooo much for telling me that you had put in for and gotten a week at this time. I mean, I am only your fucking wife. I thought, (mistakenly, it seems) that I was entitled to know some of the things you have decided to do and when. Guess not.

I am a mushroom. Keep me in the dark and feed me bullshit.

I get to have him around the house 24/7 for an entire week. Aren't I the lucky girl?

My. Aren't I just a lovely little ray of sunshine? lol

I think that I will go now. I want to read and catch up with everyone and see what you are all up to.

Later, gators. <3

The Last BYOC of the Year!

Drazzmatazz came up with some good questions for this final BYOC of 2010.

1. Do you make a New Year’s resolution list every year? Do you meet those resolutions, forget about them or never meet them?

I don't make resolutions. I see something that needs attention and get on it or not, at the time.  For me, making resolutions is pointless and doesn't accomplish anything. 

 2. If you could delete all the songs from existence from a certain singer, who would it be?

I know that I am going to get my ass flamed for this one. lol Actually, I have two. Both irritate me equally and I feel that both are some of the most overrated hacks to ever step up to a microphone. Elvis Presley and The Beatles. I don't get them. I really don't. I hear them, I see the blind devotion paid to them by so many millions and I just ask, "Why?"


3. If you could have sex with any Superhero – who would it be?

Mmmm... It would have to be Batman. Dark, broody, tortured, cultured, compassionate, angry, sad, intelligent, witty, slightly wicked. Quite a pot full of something I'd like to stir. ^^

 4. If it was free AND unlimited – would you choose to have a cook, chauffeur, or masseuse?

Duh! 

5. Repeat question: Summarize your week – in real life and blogland.

I have had a halfway decent week. Eating has been better... I am getting solidly back on track and sliding into a hardcore target range for Allan's Phase Four. I got some treatment for my back and am in less pain. It snowed like a sonofabitch and I am trapped like a rat in this condo. And about ready to burn it down. I have gained some real inspiration from some terrific bloggers whom I follow and met some new ones whom I look forward to getting to know better.


So, there you have it folks. My BYOC.


In other news, if one could call it that, today is going well. I did a New Year's mani, (pics on my nail blog) did a little housework, ran far too much heat and didn't get a whole lot accomplished, otherwise. It was just one of those days. lol


We are going to celebrate New Year's Eve like we always do, in our jammies, munching on stuff while watching Kathy Griffin make Anderson Cooper blush and sputter. Then watch the ball drop in New York. Say, I have a question for anyone who has done the ball drop in Times Square; if you have to get a place in the crowd so early and you aren't allowed to leave for any reason (even to use the bathroom) or give up your spot, do you like... wear Depends, or something? Have a Foley and a bag? Just piss all down your legs and enjoy the temporary warmth until the numbing cold freezes it? I saw on TV people were getting their spots in the late morning, New York time and I wondered how these people cope with that particular situation.


I will probably eat soup and toast, my traditional New Year's Eve munch. I don't know how that tradition got started. I really don't. But the fact remains that I eat chicken noodle soup and toast every New Year's Eve. lol This year it will be a toasted sandwich thin sprayed with buttery spray, not a pile of white toast soaked in melted butter, but the spirit will be the same. :D


I hope that you all have a very happy New Year. Those of you partying with boozy substances, be sure to call a cab or have a designated driver or crash at a friend's house, mmmkay? I want to see all of you, in the New Year. <3

It was colder than a witch's lunch bucket today. It never got up past the mid twenties. At one this afternoon, it was 19 degrees, with a windchill of 8. Frakking brrr! It is too cold, folks. Waaay too cold.

Okay, I must run along. I need to pee. Damned water, anyway. lol

Merry Christmas

I hope that all of you who celebrate are having a beautiful and happy holiday. For those of you who don't, I hope that you are having a great day.

My little family is having a quiet day. Willy Dog (husband person) is on the sofa chomping potato chips and sharing them with the dog, I am on my puter, slugging water and having just had my morning oatmeal, Pookey (son person) is sleeping in and recovering from yesterday's intestinal distress. He was eating like a horse by evening, so I imagine he is going to be just fine. lol Ah, the cast iron stomach of youth... :P

It is sunny and crisp this morning but it is supposed to warm up later and feel downright Spring-like. A high around 60 or 61.

I am making a roast beast for Christmas dinner, complete with potatoes and carrots and gravy all cooked together in the same pan. I am eating light today and saving my calories for dinner. Yes, I know that is not a good thing to do, but I don't do it often. So... I think I am allowed, today. :D

Okay, I have some housework to do and I need to run my dishwasher and start my laundry. Even on Christmas the housework doesn't stop. :P

Have a fabulous day,  and remember, " A moment on the lips, forever on the hips".

One Pound?

That's it? Down one to 308.4 this morning.

Pfffft!

Not pleased with myself.

Oh well. As Willy Dog says, a one pound loss is better than gaining a pound. He is right. This time, last year I certainly wasn't losing a pound. I was chowing down on fudge, cookies, rich foods, boxes of chocolates. Did you know that a box of chocolates has like 11,000 calories? Horrifying, isn't it? No wonder I weighed 400+ pounds. Again. Damn. If I hadn't lost a nice pile of weight in 2008, I would have been closer to 500 pounds. Looking back, I can't believe it. Actually, I can. It is simple facts. But it freaks me out.

It is clear and cold. My realm was all covered in frost and my breath puffed out in clouds of steam when I put Sabryna out this morning.  Our storm is moving east and there are a lot of people getting all of our snow. Enjoy your white Christmas, you storm thieves. *sniff*

Speaking of Christmas...

*** Merry Christmas! ***
 Pookey is sick, this morning, He overdosed on tacos in the break room yesterday at work, ate Taco Bell for a late dinner last night and he is spending all of his time on the toilet, this morning, Poor thing. A few Pepto tablets and he should be fine. I doubt it will teach him, tho. lol

I have proof that there are lovely people in the world. Yesterday, while Pookey was out gathering carts at work, a man in a very nice pickup pulled up next to him, rolled down his window and called him over. Pookey, thinking he needed directions or other help went up to his vehicle and asked how he could help him. The man just smiled, said "Merry Christmas" and handed Pookey a fifty dollar Target gift card, rolled up his window and pulled away. What a sweet, generous random act of kindness.

I am going to drink my second cup of coffee and get started glugging water. Have a beautiful day, everyone.

A New 'Do, A warm Day and an Almost Exploding Can

Hello everyone. How's life treating all of you, today? All is well, here. I am calm, serene, even and nicely on track. That is a good thing. :)

I decided, after a great deal of thought to do a little more work on my hair, today. I cut a few very subtle layers a while back. I was happy with the result. But After living with it for a time and thinking carefully about what I want and watching so much of my hair just fall, fall, fall I decided to add a little more layering in the back, then more layers in the front and some soft, long, wispy fringe. I have so much thinning at my hairline that the layers and fringe help to disguise it and the long layers overall give the appearance of volume at my ends and also give my hair lovely swing and movement. I may trim my fringe just a tad shorter... I'll live with it for a bit and see if I want it up out of my eyes, or not. I half like/dislike it this long. We'll see. I am in no hurry to make a decision.

I am not a layer girl. I prefer my hair all one length but the layers really do help disguise the thinning a little so I will probably keep it layered for a while. At least until the hair fall slows down and my new hair grows in. I also got rid of more of the peroxided ends that are, quite frankly, bugging me. They remind me of my greatest hair disaster, ever. And I would like that constant reminder, every time I look in my mirror to be gone.

We have the weirdest freaking weather, right now. It is in the mid sixties, today. Overcast but not cloudy. The other day, I was running the furnace to keep from freezing into a solid block of ice and today a couple of windows are wide open. Weirdness, I tell you. Days this warm aren't typical for this time of year.

So, I ran out of my antiperspirant and was sharing my husband's. Well, this morning, he managed to break the tube that goes down into the can. How he managed that trick, I know not... Anyway, after I got out of the shower, I had to try to use the busted sprayer because I can't go without my pit goo. If I try it, it is Stinky City, around here. And that, my friends, is something no one needs or wants to be anywhere near. lol So, I, creative, resourceful thinker I am, decided to just shove the busted tube into the hole, press the button and see what happened. The test was a success! Woo-hoo! I sprayed the first pit and feeling very big headed and all that, I went for the second pit. Got it sprayed, then it happened.

The mechanism in the can that makes the stuff come up jammed open and all of a sudden I had a handful of frost and antiperspirant. And it was spraying all over the place, all down my side and all over my wall. Brrr! and yuk! I had my terry robe lying on my bed and I wrapped the can in it and set the hissing bundle out on my washer until the can released the rest of it's pressure. I then tossed the can and got my robe into the wash. I hope all the antiperspirant washes out. To be safe, I am going to run it through a second cycle, with the rest of the whites.

So, a new hairdo and a little excitement.

I need to grab a little lunch then I am going to see if hubby would like to wake the fuck up (how he can nap the way he does is beyond me... I never nap unless I am dead dog sick or have a migraine from hell) and help me get the outside lights up. I need to get a move on. December is flying by.


Okay, later, gators. :D

Happy December :D

Good morning, all. I hope that you awoke to this new month full of purpose and with a smile.

I am full of purpose. But not smiling. I slept like shit. Had to get up and pee at least three times (stupid sodium bloat bidding me bye-bye) my cat hacked up under my bed (gross!) and my dog barfed all over my laundry room floor (super gross!). I had my son get the dog barf, this morning. I couldn't bear the thought of it. Bleargh!

I need a vacation. Somewhere warm and isolated. A beach... A white sugar sand beach... The ocean softly gliding up and tickling my toes... A big, huge umbrella... A lounger piled with cushions... A little side table... A good book and a cabana boy to bring me tall, frosty, fruity, exotic drinks and caramels and cater to my every whim and give me pedicures. No... Make that an entire flock of cabana boys to bring me tall, frosty, fruity, exotic drinks and caramels and cater to my every whim and give me pedicures. (Do cabana boys run in flocks???) No husband, no son, no dog, no cat, no housework, no frakking cooking, no puke. The jet leaves at five. Anyone who wants to come with, be packed and at the private airport at four. :D (In my fantasies, I always fly private! ;))

*sigh*

I love that Tassimo Brew Bot commercial. That adorable little bot makes me want one of those coffee makers.

Woah! I just realised that Hanukkah begins tonight. For everyone who celebrates,

*** Happy Hanukkah! ***

 For the record, I celebrate Christmas. All month long. (Duh! :D) And I say Merry Christmas. If you celebrate another holiday, just tell me so and I will cheerfully wish you a Happy *insert your choice of holiday, here*. I am easy. I love holidays and I love to celebrate and I am perfectly happy to jump all over all kinds of holidays. :D

Okay. Time for another cup of wake up juice. And some brekkie. And maybe a search for some cutsie animated Christmas images to add to my blog. 'Cause I don't have it decorated enough, yet. :P

My Last Entry

For November, that is. ^^

I did better, today. I came in just over 1400 calories and no whirling and scrabbling in the noggin. It wasn't a struggle. I didn't have to fight or white knuckle it. Maybe I will be going into some smoother sailing, again. Looking back over my daily calorie log for the month, it has been a rough go. I have had good days and bad. More good, but not enough to count this month as a fist pumping victory. More like I dragged myself, kicking and screaming the whole way. :P

I baked a butternut squash for dinner, tonight. Yum! Easy to do and so tasty. I should have let it go a little longer, tho. It was still a tad stringy and undercooked in spots. But boy was it ever tasty. I had it with some salt (a little salt... :P) pepper and some buttery spray. I am going to stock up on more squash when I go shopping. I have developed a real taste for the stuff.

Turns out that I am going to have to alter my outdoor lighting plan. We are not going to be able to hang my icicle lights all the way across our condo at the roof line as I had wanted to. It is too high up and an extension ladder won't work. So, I am going to just hang them above my front balcony and across the railing. I'll do something with my pearl lights, too. And the tree I put up out there has coloured lights on it but I am going to string clear lights on it and use them, instead. I think that should do the trick. I should pick up one of those cheesy plastic star toppers with lights and reflectors all over it to top the outdoor tree. I like a nice mix of kitschy and classy in my Christmas decorations. :D

I think I will make a cup of herb tea. I just need to choose peppermint or country peach. Those are my two faves from the Celestial Seasonings line.

Okay. Brain dead, now. So I am going to go. :)

Warm

Good morning, lovebugs. I hope that you are all keeping warm on this crisp morning. It is a brisk 19 degrees, in my neck of the woods. I am sitting here, under my heating vent soaking up the soft, warm breeze blowing down upon me. Feels so good.

Okay, I just have to say, extra coarse sea salt is baaad. Bad for me, anyway. I am, as I think I have mentioned before a bit of a salt freak. And lately I have been over indulging in gourmet extra coarse sea salt. Well, that extra coarse salt is like little nuggets of crack for me. I was putting them on everything. Even eating them right out of the jar. I know... Bad. And boy did it ever catch up with me. Yesterday, I woke up and I was so puffy I couldn't make a fist. My hands were that swollen. So, the crack extra coarse salt has been stashed away and I am punishing myself with just regular old table salt. And a lot, lot less of it. I like being able to use my hands.

Will I ever learn? :P

I am still having good days and not so good days. More good days than not but still... It is slowing me down and I know that I am not going to make my end of the year goal and that pisses me off. I am responsible. And I am perfectly capable of doing what I need to do. Why I am choosing to sink myself some days is what I seem to be struggling with. And it is stupid, when I sit and really think about it. I really don't have an excuse. I just need to keep my shit together and keep looking forward. I am not going backward. I can't and I won't.

I finally talked the males in my life into bringing up my tub of icicle lights. I am going to get them out, look them over and test them. I'll mark any bulbs that must be replaced then run to Wally World and pick up replacement bulbs and some gutter clips (I have shingle clips...) and then Husband can get them up on the roof line. (I don't do ladders.) I am going to hang some in the back, too. And leave them up all the time. I can use them as extra light when I am grilling after dark. I need more light out there. Cooking by the light of one lower watt yellow bulb sucks big ones.

I can't wait to get seriously into my Christmas decorating. I am so ready for some twinkle, sparkle and colour, around here. :D

It is colder here than in Chicago. Imagine that. :P

Okay, I want another cup of coffee. Then I suppose I should have my brekkie and get some stuff done around here.

Dusted

I woke this morning, looked outside and it was as if someone had held a giant shaker of powdered sugar over town and given it a good shake. The ground is dusted with a fine sprinkling of sugary snow. The tattered remnants of the clouds that gifted us with our first snow of the season are being chased away by a brisk, cold wind.

Hello Winter.

Methinks it is time to start hanging Christmas decorations. I feel the need for sparkle. Lots of sparkle. I do think I am going to edit what I put up this year, tho. When I put out everything I own, it all overwhelms this little place. And I think that this year, I am going to do all clear lights. I did a mix of clear and coloured, last year.

I promised to cook a nice brekkie for the boys, this morning. I have had my first cup of coffee and can begin to function so I suppose I should get to it.

Thanksgiving is My Bitch

I ended the day at 1850 calories. Considering it was Thanksgiving, that I had an extra roll with dinner and an avocado for lunch... Not too shabby. Not too shabby at all. Still in weight loss territory for me. Comfortably so. I not only had an enjoyable day and a delicious dinner, I learned that I can chow down, fill my tummy to complete happiness, have flavour and fun and not blow myself out of the water.

I expect a bit of puff action... I was kind of a bad girl with the salt. (Gets me, every time, dangit!) But a few days of downing fluids will take care of that.

I made a yummy green bean dish that Son and I both went over the moon for. I will most likely make it to go with Christmas dinner, too. I think I have found a very nice substitute for my much beloved green bean casserole. I'll post the recipe-ish if anyone is interested. I say recipe-ish because I don't measure when I cook. I just close my eyes, throw stuff in the pan, give it all a stir and see what comes out. :P In this case, it was something kinda tasty.

Yeah. That extra roll. Rhodes Warm and Serve rolls. The bestest frozen, ready to bake rolls, evah! Seriously delicious. Soft, but not too squishy, ever so slightly sweet, yeasty and rich. Lovely little goblins, they. And at 160 calories a piece, definitely workable into my diet, from time to time as a treat. I know better than to have two. I really do. But they were so. good. And I just... Wanted one more. So I had it. It wasn't mindless, I made the conscious decision to go for it and I logged the calories. Kind of like that damned avocado I ate with my turkey sandwich for lunch.

Yes, I had a turkey sandwich for lunch.

Before I had turkey for dinner. :P

I made the easiest turkey on the planet, today. Jennie O Oven Ready boneless, skinless turkey breast. Freezer to oven, after preheating, one minute flat. Line a small baking dish with foil (to catch drips and make for easy cleanup of pan :D) Open outer bag, place turkey breast in the oven cooking bag in the pan, poke a few holes in the bag and toss it into the oven. 2 1/2 hours later, perfect, moist, juicy white meat turkey. Fast, easy and fool proof. Exactly my kind of cooking. Or roasting, in this case. :D I did a full sized Oven Ready turkey, one year. It was also lovely and delish. And easy-peasy.

I even got some exercise, today. We did some running around, went to Safeway and WalMart for some stuff.Came home and put everything away, then I had some foundation to return to CVS and since they were open, I went in, returned the makeup and concealer (why is drugstore makeup so dark? Ivory, my ass!) picked out lighter shades of foundation and concealer, searched frantically for Revlon Purplex. Didn't find it, Begged the gal working there to see if they had it in the back. She refused. Bought a couple of Milani polishes instead, then went to several more stores, searching frantically for the polish I wanted. And still want. I couldn't find it, anywhere.

Prescott sucks. Seriously. If we get something new in stores, it is so much later than other places. I hate that. Now I am going to be a bundle of nerves until I find and get a bottle of that frakking polish. Why can't stores around here just get them in when everyone else does?

So, with all of my shopping, running up and down and up and down my stairs several times and in and out of store after store, I got a pretty nice little walk.

I gave Sabryna her Ultimate Busy Bone just as we sat down to eat dinner. Now, small Busy Bones are gone in less than five minutes. They are a mere chew for that mutt. Full Sized Busy Bones can last fifteen, if we get the Ultimate. The one she got, today was for big dogs and it was huge. That sucker cost five-fifty. And it was worth every penny. It took Sabryna an hour and ten minutes to eat that thing. And we got to eat in peace. No begging, no obnoxious barking and speaking (serves me right, using food to teach her to speak and whisper :P) or breathing on us while we chowed down on our turkey and trimmings. Marley got a saucer of bits and pieces of turkey, which he happily ate and licked the saucer clean.

I had planned to make this post a quickie, tonight.

You know what they say about best laid plans.

He he. Get it? Quickie? Laid?

Har. Har.

I kill myself, sometimes.I'm just so freaking fonny.

Oh, and did I mention is was cold, today? It got down to 14 degrees, last night. Our high was 42. Brrr! And it is cold again, tonight. We are supposed to get to a low of 19. I do believe that cooler weather has finally settled into the area.

I Got This

Hello chickens. :D How's everyone?

I am well and I am feeling pretty good about things. Another good day is in the books. If I choose to have my before bed sugar free cocoa, I will end the day just under 1400 calories. Right on target. :D I came in at 1150, yesterday.

Seems that a good, hard shake was exactly what I needed. And, knowing that my "fatter" clothes are now gone has served to make the fire under my ass a little hotter. lol Which isn't a bad thing. I need a little hotter ass, don'tcha think?

I could definitely stand to have it smaller.

Brrr... It is cold, here. It was all frosty and icy, this morning and I am sitting here, all cold and wanting to turn on my fireplace. But my husband would scream bloody murder if I do. He runs hot. And he hates it when I have any heat on. That nut job likes to run the A/C in his work truck when it is snowing. Insane. Maybe I'll go put on a fleece. I need to run and pee... I could grab a warmie, at the same time.

Stupid overheated husband, anyway...

I need to finish shopping for Thanksgiving, tomorrow. Just have a little more stuff to grab and get a few other things to just eat. After all, Thanksgiving dinner is only one meal, and since I am not cooking to have a bunch of leftovers, it is just one meal. Not The Once and Future Meal.

Oh, golly, am I not clever? :P

Geeze! I'm cold. My little choppers are actually chattering.

That's better. I am a little warmer, now.

Stupid, overheated husband, anyway...

Happy Hallowe'en!

BOO!!

Just say no to candy. 

It is a chilly morning and I finally dragged my arse out of the sack, made coffee and fired up my fireplace. I lay in that bed, shivering for far too long. I could have been up and warm long before this. I also don't need to shiver, if I would haul out my quilt, run it through the wash and put it on my bed. Duh! 

No plans for today. Just to stay on track. I imagine it will be a quiet day. Son has to work and Husband is in lie on the sofa and veg mode, this weekend. We have stuff stashed on the DVR that we need to watch and clear from the memory. Woooopie!!!!!! Too much excitement for this girl. *sarcasm*

Okay, I need another cup of coffee. Then I want to cruise my blogroll and see what you are all up to, this fine morning. 

:D 

An Orange Stalker

My cat did indeed attach himself to me, tonight. I baked some fish for my dinner and Marley was soooo happy. And excited. He devoured every bit I decided to share with him. And came around, looking for more.

I decided to make butternut squash fries to go with dinner, tonight. Okay, I have never, in my born days worked with butternut squash, before. Dayum! That shit is hard as a rock. I actually had to use a kitchen towel on top of my knife blade to protect my hand from the back of the blade as I pushed it through the squash. It took a lot of time to halve, cut the ends off of, seed, cut into eighths, peel and cut into strips that squash. But, after tossing them in some Pam and seasoned salt, laying them out on their foil lined and sprayed cookie sheets and baking them off, the work was worth it. Yum! So tasty. I made the fries too thin and they had to be eaten with a fork, but I don't care, they still tasted wonderful. Next time I will cut them thicker. :D

Husband and Son had Icky Willy Chili with macaroni for dinner. *shudders* I don't know how they can eat that shit. Seriously, it is bad. Really bad. Want the recipe? Just brown hamburger with some diced onion. Then add a can of tomato soup (condensed, no water) and a can of kidney beans with the slimy, gooey, barf inducing juice into the pot and stir it all up. You can add some chili powder to turn it into "real" chili. Simmer for a while and chow down.

*gag*

Oh! Allen wanted to know just how cold it could get in Arizona. Actually, Allen, Arizona has a lot of different climates. It isn't all flat, low desert, sand, cacti and Gila monsters. I think that the impression that most people have of this state is that it is all like that. But it isn't. Arizona has varied topography and many climates ranging from low desert to high mountains. There is high desert, high valleys, foothills, mountains and magnificent tall pine forest. Elevations range from below sea level to over eight thousand feet. Climates and temperatures from mild to searing hot to bone freezing cold. We have endlessly sunny days and snow. Killer humidity and winds so cold that they will freeze a bucket or bowl of water left outside solid in less than an hour. Prescott, in north central Arizona is in forested foothill country. We sit at 5000 feet, our climate is pretty much temperate, tho we have more than the average of sunny days. We get spectacular thunderstorms in the Summer (we call them Monsoons) and in the Winter, snow is a frequent visitor to the area. Temps can drop into the teens, even single digits, during cold snaps at night. But it usually warms up a little during the day. Snow can get deep but melts away swiftly. In the Summer, 90s is normal, tho we get into the hundreds, too.

My biggest gripe with this state is the unrelenting sunshine. We see blue sky, sunshine every day. A 24 hour period without at least some blue sky/sunshine is rare. And I love dark, grey, windy days filled with rain and gloom. All this sunshine is fucking depressing. lol

Tomorrow is Hallowe'en.

Just say NO!!!! To candy!

Speaking of candy... Hubbs brought home a bag just in case we get any little costumed bandits ringing our doorbell. He bought fun sized Skittles. Made me think of Draz when I saw it. :D

Let's see... Food is really good, today. I am solidly on track. I should have, could have gone for a walk but I flaked. I'll have to get out there, tomorrow, provided I feel up to it.

Okay I guess that is all I have to babble about, tonight.

Monday, Monday

Good morning, Peeps! I hope that everyone had a fab Fourth and that you aren't hung over or too sunburnt. :D

Yesterday was good. I had a fairly busy day... I was under the impression that holidays are for loafing and relaxing. Yeah. Riiiight. They are for scrubbing the bathroom, doing four loads of laundry, cleaning, cleaning the kitchen, loading, running and unloading the dishwasher... Twice. (How the hell do three people generate enough dirty dishes to run the dishwasher twice in one day? lol) But there was also fun. Grilling lunch and dinner, slurping on sugar free fudge pops while sitting on our deckony in the deepening twilight, enjoying the cool breeze, chatting and looking at the stars. Then fireworks. For a piece of crap town, Prescott shoots off a pretty nice fireworks display. Last night was gorgeous; low to mid 70's, a lovely breeze. A picture perfect Summer night.

Food wise, I had a great day. I did holiday munching smart style and came in just under 1500 calories for the day. Yepper, I am patting myself on the back a little. For dinner, I grilled regular burgers and dogs for the guys. Husband ate a burger and a dog, Son ate two burgers and two dogs. I had a turkey burger with a little shredded fat free cheddar melted on it, on a whole grain bagel thin with a little light mayo, lots of lettuce, tomato and onion. Boy was it good. I haven't had a burger in a long time and I really enjoyed it. I also grilled some marinated shrimp and mushrooms on skewers. Yum. Grilled shrimp. Just one little problem. I forgot that the shrimp were already cooked. And they turned out a little chewy. But they weren't shoe leather and they tasted good, so, no harm. Son was so excited to see shrimp. So was my cat. I sat down to eat and the little orange beast was all over me like a cheap suit. lol I shared with him, of course. That cat loves him some shrimp!

Husband doesn't. I was getting all the goodies ready for the grill and he came along, saw the shrimp skewers and pointed and asked that I not allow the shrimp to touch his burger while on the grill. I assured him that I wouldn't allow my shrimp to contaminate his precious burger. ***snort***  I should have rubbed shrimp all over it while I was out, cooking. He was in the living room, lying down after his exhausting day, (poor baby worked sooo hard, yesterday, he dusted and ran the vacuum for me) watching baseball. He would have never known. ^^ Why, yes. I am evil. Why do you ask?

Out on the deck last night, I slurped three sugar free fudge pops. Hey, it was a holiday. lol and I had popcorn, later, too. I was craving crunchies and air popped popcorn with a little buttery spray is better for me than say... Lays Carolina BBQ potato chips. (Which, BTW, taste of awesome. Sometimes I really have to fight myself to stay out of the bag of those things.) So yeah... Did well with the food. And I don't have that day after a big feed food hangover.

My rest day from walking was just what my bod and feet needed. I feel a lot better, today and am looking forward to hitting the trails, later this evening.

Whew! It is already getting warm. It is supposed to be hotter, today.

Day of Rest

Please, don't hate me but I need a day of rest. I got up this morning with every intention of getting out to the lake and going my two miles and my body just said,"No. Frakking. Way!" I feel beat to shit, my feet are hurting me and I am just bone tired. A part of me is relieved; I honestly believe that I need a rest day but the other part of me is telling me that I am a slacker and to get my lazy ass out there. I actually still want to go.

For once, I am listening to the first part. lol

I know that I could most likely power through this and do it but hey, even elite athletes take a rest day, now and then. Why shouldn't a fat old broad who just walks on trails? lol

Sherry, I do think that the burning is from friction. My socks are cheap and thin and my walking shoes are very old and pretty well worn out. The combination doesn't make for good support and proper fit. When I have the funds, new shoes and socks for walking are on my list, for sure. :D

I just want ot take a moment and just tell all of you how much I appreciate this community of bloggers, your insights, humour, honesty, determination, support and random natterings fill me with hope, optimism, lift me up and lend me strength when I feel as if my own has fled. Being able to read your daily thoughts and comments is a privilege that I don't take lightly.

I might be back later to yap. I might not. If not, to all my fellow American bloggerific buddies, Happy Fourth of July! Have a fantabulous holiday! Eat, (as properly as possible ;)) drink and be merry and gawp in wonder as the fireworks shoot into the dark, warm Summer night.

I love you, guys.

Feeling a Bit Beat to Shit

Hello everyone. I hope that this finds you all well and keeping cool. :D

We went for our walk tonight and thankfully, Husband's roids weren't raging, so we were able to do the full two miles. It felt good, but now I am sore and my poor widdle feet hurt. Miss a walk and I get all stove up. lol  I am glad that I got out there and got it done. I feel better and I am not feeling guilty and as if I am neglecting myself.

It was ninety degrees when we hit the trails, tonight. Whew! Thankfully, there was a bit of wind that helped to cool us a little so it wasn't too bad. But it was still warm. I drank plenty of water while out there and slowed or stopped to get my breath, when I needed to. I want to keep moving as much as I can, but I am not willing to hurt myself because I am not listening to my bod. Husband and Son always walk quite a ways ahead of me and I trail along behind, just going at my own pace. Every now and then, they stop and wait for me to chug up and reach them and then off we go, again. It's kinda sad and kinda funny.

I am not ashamed or worried about it, tho. I don't give a dang what other people think. I am out there for me. And when I start to get down on myself because I am slower and have to rest occasionally, I remember that considering how bad shape I have been in and how much I still weigh, I am not doing too badly. In fact, I am damned lucky. I am not debilitated, I can walk and move, shop, clean my house and so forth.

My hips are bugging me a lot, tonight and the top of my left foot, too. Some Advil and a good night's sleep should set me right.

Can you believe that tomorrow begins Fourth of July Weekend? I am looking forward to fireworks on Sunday night. We live not too far from Pioneer Park where the fireworks get shot off. We just go outside on our front deckony (I call it a deckony, since it is a cross between a deck and a balcony) and have a front row view. No driving around looking for a spot to watch from, no scrambling for a parking spot, walking a long way from that spot, No crowds, noise, overtired melting down babies and toddlers screaming. (I don't hate babies and toddlers... I just don't like to listen to them scream. lol) And when the fireworks are over, no getting stuck in the rush of traffic to get home. We just sit and watch the bumper to bumper fun.

I am planning healthy and yummy Fourth of July munchies. The others will have the usual and I am going to have a turkey burger, with lo fat cheese on a whole grain thin bun, light mayo, lots of lettuce and so forth. I am going to prepare fruit and I would also like to grill some veggies. I would also like to grill some shrimp. I love shrimp and haven't had any in a long while. If company comes over, I'll make dip and cracker spread with light sour cream and cream cheese. They will be healthier and still taste good. I think that this will be a delicious and on track holiday. :D

Weight in day for the Summer Challenge, tomorrow. I was eyeing my sea salt grinder while putting my dinner together, earlier. But I left it sitting where it was. What I ate had plenty of salt, it didn't need more. And laying off extra salt can't hurt. lol

Okay, this is turning into a dissertation. Probably time to STFU.

Later, lovebugs!

Valentine's Day

I don't like this "holiday".

It hurts too much.