Picture






















This blog entry is dedicated to all the sweet angels who will go to sleep tonight hurt, or afraid, or hungry, or cold.  May you remember when life was clear just close your eyes..........

Remember
Long ago, far away
Life was clear, close your eyes

Remember is a place from long ago
Remember FILLED WITH EVERYTHING YOU KNOW
Remember when you're sad and feelin' down
REMEMBER TURN AROUND

Remember life is just a memory
Remember close your eyes and you can see
Remember think of all that life can be
Remember-

Dream, love is only in a dream, remember -
Remember life is never as it seems. Dream

Long ago, far away
Life was clear, close your eyes


 
Picture




































I was praising Spicer for doing so well and making 90% yesterday in the Spicer Stuff Blog and it occured to me.  Tommy and I have come a long way too.   There are alos several people I know who are also making a life journey to better themselves.   So this blog is dedicated to those efforts.   Your Moutain is Waiting....SO GET OUT ON YOUR WAY!!!!!!!!

Oh! The Places You’ll Go!
by the incomparable Dr. Seuss


Congratulations!
Today is your day.
You’re off to Great Places!
You’re off and away!

You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself any direction you choose.
You’re on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the guy who’ll decide where to go.

You’ll look up and down streets. Look’em over with care. About some you will say, “I don’t choose to go there.” With your head full of brains and your shoes full of feet, you’re too smart to go down a not-so-good street.

And you may not find any you’ll want to go down. In that case, of course, you’ll head straight out of town. It’s opener there in the wide open air.

Out there things can happen and frequently do to people as brainy and footsy as you.

And when things start to happen, don’t worry. Don’t stew. Just go right along. You’ll start happening too.

Oh! The Places You’ll Go!

You’ll be on your way up!
You’ll be seeing great sights!
You’ll join the high fliers who soar to high heights.

You won’t lag behind, because you’ll have the speed. You’ll pass the whole gang and you’ll soon take the lead. Wherever you fly, you’ll be best of the best. Wherever you go, you will top all the rest.

Except when you don’t.
Because, sometimes, you won’t.

I’m sorry to say so but, sadly, it’s true that Bang-ups and Hang-ups can happen to you.

You can get all hung up in a prickle-ly perch. And your gang will fly on. You’ll be left in a Lurch.

You’ll come down from the Lurch with an unpleasant bump. And the chances are, then, that you’ll be in a Slump.

And when you’re in a Slump, you’re not in for much fun. Un-slumping yourself is not easily done.

You will come to a place where the streets are not marked. Some windows are lighted. But mostly they’re darked. A place you could sprain both your elbow and chin! Do you dare to stay out? Do you dare to go in? How much can you lose? How much can you win?

And if you go in, should you turn left or right…or right-and-three-quarters? Or, maybe, not quite? Or go around back and sneak in from behind? Simple it’s not, I’m afraid you will find, for a mind-maker-upper to make up his mind.

You can get so confused that you’ll start in to race down long wiggled roads at a break-necking pace and grind on for miles across weirdish wild space, headed, I fear, toward a most useless place.

The Waiting Place…for people just waiting.

Waiting for a train to go or a bus to come, or a plane to go or the mail to come, or the rain to go or the phone to ring, or the snow to snow or waiting around for a Yes or No or waiting for their hair to grow. Everyone is just waiting.

Waiting for the fish to bite or waiting for wind to fly a kite or waiting around for Friday night or waiting, perhaps, for their Uncle Jake or a pot to boil, or a Better Break or a string of pearls, or a pair of pants or a wig with curls, or Another Chance. Everyone is just waiting.

No! That’s not for you!
Somehow you’ll escape all that waiting and staying. You’ll find the bright places where Boom Bands are playing. With banner flip-flapping, once more you’ll ride high! Ready for anything under the sky. Ready because you’re that kind of a guy!

Oh, the places you’ll go! There is fun to be done! There are points to be scored. There are games to be won. And the magical things you can do with that ball will make you the winning-est winner of all. Fame! You’ll be famous as famous can be, with the whole wide world watching you win on TV.

Except when they don’t. Because, sometimes, they won’t.

I’m afraid that some times you’ll play lonely games too. Games you can’t win ‘cause you’ll play against you.

All Alone!
Whether you like it or not, Alone will be something you’ll be quite a lot.

And when you’re alone, there’s a very good chance you’ll meet things that scare you right out of your pants. There are some, down the road between hither and yon, that can scare you so much you won’t want to go on.

But on you will go though the weather be foul. On you will go though your enemies prowl. On you will go though the Hakken-Kraks howl. Onward up many a frightening creek, though your arms may get sore and your sneakers may leak. On and on you will hike. And I know you’ll hike far and face up to your problems whatever they are.

You’ll get mixed up, of course, as you already know. You’ll get mixed up with many strange birds as you go. So be sure when you step. Step with care and great tact and remember that Life’s a Great Balancing Act. Just never forget to be dexterous and deft. And never mix up your right foot with your left.

And will you succeed?
Yes! You will, indeed!
(98 and ¾ percent guaranteed.)

Kid, you’ll move mountains!
So…be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray or Mordecai Ale Van Allen O’Shea, you’re off to Great Places!
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting.
So…get on your way!


 
Picture
















Yesterday Tommy and I came up with an amazing lunch.  We split a personal pan veggie and added ham then split a half-salad from Wendys.  Now most of you may be saying..."That doesn't sound like a lot of food."  But I assure you... IT WAS.   It was quite yummy and made me very full.  There were tons of yummy veggies and cheese and a little bread, so so so yummy.  And the grand total of calories for my lunch........... drum roll........  .......  ........ 481 !!!!!!!!  Talk about a great meal.  Last night we had stirfry and I was so stuffed I couldnt even eat all of mine.  Tommy started adding my calories and said.... "Hun you are in trouble, you only had 1200 calories tonight.  You are going to have to eat a little snack."  It is funny how before my weight loss journey me being in trouble with my food intake meant I had eaten way too much.  But eating enough is just as important.   So today I am going to try to stay above my 1300 calorie line.  I don't want my body to think it is starving or cause muscle loss.   I leave you with a great quote I found today.  "One should eat to live, not live to eat."  ~Cicero, Rhetoricorum LV

 
Picture
































Two of the most important women in my life LOVED Kentucky basket ball.  My Mamaw and my Nannie loved to watch Kentucky ball.  My Mamaw used to ask our pastor to have a short sermon on Sundays that Kentucky was playing.  Nannie and Papa Joe went to Rup Arena several times.   I haven't been a big sports person but Tommy really loves sports.  I have found myself paying attention durring March Madness.  All of this Blue has made me think of these two amazing women.   There are so many times I think about how wonderful it would have been for them to have known Spicer.  I was close to both of them but Very close to my Mamaw.   I miss her so much sometimes.  There are so many times I wish she was there for me to talk to or to cry on her shoulder or to share in my joy.   I try to tink about what she would think of the person I have become.  I hope she would be proud of me.  I hope she would think I have made good choices.   I love her so much.   Even now I feel so close to her these many years after she had passed away.   She is the reason I went into a social service field.  Even thought she was a teacher she was more of a social worker to her students.   Mamaw loved Kentucky.  She loved Kentucky Sports, Kentucky history, kentucky authors, and the land.   This blog is in honor my dear Mamaw, Mary Sue McKendree and her love for Kentucky.   I love you Mamaw!!!


The sun shines bright in My Old Kentucky home,
'Tis summer, and people are gay;
The corn-top's ripe and the meadow's in the bloom
While the birds make music all the day.

The young folks roll on the little cabin floor
All merry, all happy and bright;
By 'n' by hard times comes a knocking at the door
Then My Old Kentucky Home, good night!

Weep no more my lady
Oh! weep no more today!
We will sing one song
For My Old Kentucky Home
For My Old Kentucky Home, far away.






 
Picture


















I weighed in today and I wasn't shocked.  I lost one pound.  It sounds so small, it sounds so tiny.  But it is one pound less than I weighed before.  I am working out and walking so I am going to see things slow down a little.  Not to worry since the real change is what I see.  I see the changes in my body, in my face, my tummy, my legs,my arms, and my clothes!!! So it's ok.  I was kind of bummy last night and Tommy said something so simple but so helpful.  "Honey you aren't eating what you were before.  You can't stay at your current size.  You are going to get smaller you have to it's just science."  Tommy's right....SHHHHHHHHH dont tell him that.  But he is.  It is just the way it is.  I am eating so much less I am just going to keep getting smaller.  I have a lot less calories going in and a lot more calories being burned.   Weight is out the window and what I see is much more important.  So I am going to jump for joy about my one pound because I am proud of loosing my one pound for a grand total of 22lbs!!!

 
Picture






















Spicer and I were at the Circus yesterday and there were a few magic acts durring the slower times to keep the kids smiling.  Spicer oooooooooed and ahhhhhhhhhed at the tricks.  Today I started lifting weights with Tommy in addition to my walking and calorie counting.  I am sore and a little ouchie.  This made me think, I wish there was some magic pill or trick to loosing my weight.  I wish I there was a magic bean, or fairy godmother, or lamp to rub for wishes but there isn't any of those things.   The other issue is that if it wasn't this hard and I could just snap my fingers I would likely resort back to my bad eating habbits.  Kind of like people who become rich by winning money.  They are often just as poor as they started out or worse just a few years later.  So no more wishing for a fairygodmother or a magic bean.  I will just have to do this the hard way but the right way. Cheryl Crow has a great song called No One Said It Would Be Easy.  This is the chorus. 

No one said it would be easy
No one said it'd be this hard
No one said it would be easy
No one thought we'd come this far
Oh, and look we've come this far


Picture
 
Picture















Tommy and I have started walking.  We started walking last Sunday.  It feels good to walk again.  We are walking 2 miles a day.  I have really missed walking.   It is a great way to start the day.   I have been checking on my weight before this Friday and it seems to have slowed down.   I know I am building muscle by walking and muscle weighs more than fat but it is still a little bit of a blow.  But I am not going to get discouraged.  Even one pound is one pound less than I weighed before.  I have 7 more months to loose the rest of this weight so I am not going to worry.  I am proud of what I have done and I am keeping up the good fight! :)   Are you ready boots? Start walkin'!




Nancy Sinatra
"These Boots Were Made For Walking"
You keep saying you've got something for me.
something you call love, but confess.
You've been messin' where you shouldn't have been a messin'
and now someone else is gettin' all your best.
These boots are made for walking, and that's just what they'll do
one of these days these boots are gonna walk all over you.
You keep lying, when you oughta be truthin'
and you keep losin' when you oughta not bet.
You keep samin' when you oughta be changin'.
Now what's right is right, but you ain't been right yet.
These boots are made for walking, and that's just what they'll do
one of these days these boots are gonna walk all over you.
You keep playin' where you shouldn't be playin
and you keep thinkin' that you´ll never get burnt.
Ha! I just found me a brand new box of matches yeah
and what he know you ain't HAD time to learn.
Are you ready boots? Start walkin'!



 
Picture






 








Tommy and I had a very busy Saturday.   We saw the King's Speech, attended the Ilist Birthday Party, and then enjoyed The Issues at Mother Duncans.   I loved The Kings Speech.  I tend to forget my words a lot.  I stammer.  I dont have as bad of a problem as the King but I understand.  It is hard and frustrating when you can't find your words.  Great Movie!!!  The Ilist party was very fun.  It was at Shandies and the Solid Rocket Boosters played.  I love that band.  They have a great folk and bluegrass sound.  The Issues was a great band too.  They are from Atlanta and played all orginals.  That is very refreshing for this area.  Covers can get old at times.  It was a nice and welcome change.   Sunday Tommy and I had a great walk.   The weather was perfect and I really felt the work-out.   I had dinner at my mom and dads.  They were at St George Island for thier birthdays.  We celebrated tonight and I brought them a yummy cake from Tommy.   Mom and dad also brought me a few extra copies of the SGI Collins Rental Guide.  The guide has a picture if Jordan and Spicer.  They asked to put it in thier rental guide last year when I posted some pictures I took when we vacationed there last October.  I am very excited.  I showed Tommy tonight when I got home.  He posted on his facebook how proud of me he is.  I gues it is kind of a big deal :)


 
Picture
fast   (fst) intr.v. fast·ed, fast·ing, fasts 1. To abstain from food. 2. To eat very little or abstain from certain foods, especially as a religious discipline. n. 1. The act or practice of abstaining from or eating very little food. 2. A period of such abstention or self-denial.




As a person of faith I find myself most in line with Methodist teachings, ideas, and doctrine.  One thing that Methodists do is observe Lent.  I have always had trouble giving up things for Lent.  So instead of giving one thing up for 40 days I have decided to fast for 24 hours.  Although I do not consider myself a religious person I do consider myself a spiritual person.   I am nervous, excited, and hopeful about my fasting.  I have been reading up on fasting and it is healthy if only done for a 24 hour period.  From what I have read some spas and diet fads say it is ok to drink juice while you fast but there are limited health benifits other than some initial weight loss if you drink juice durring a fast.  I have decided to fast and drink water only.  If this is something I feel I can manage I plan to fast one day a month.  I think in a time of over indulgance in so many things fasting makes a statment.  I think self denial is not only an important part of my wieght-loss journey but also an important part of my journey of Faith.   Here is a story done on NPR about 24 hour fasting. 

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=16513299

On another note... I lost one more pound this week.  Am I frustrated?  A little....but...I lost three pounds last week so I expected I might just loose one pound this week.   I am still excited.  This puts me at 21 pounds total.  :)






 
Picture

lucky
adj. luck·i·er, luck·i·est 1. Having or attended by good luck. See Synonyms at happy. 2. Occurring by chance; fortuitous. 3. Believed to bring good luck: hoped to draw a lucky number.






Today is St. Patrick's Day.   Today made me think about being "lucky" and I realized how lucky I am.  How lucky I am to have an amazing son, how lucky I am to have a wonderful family, how lucky I am to have a great boyfriend, how lucky I am to have great friends, how lucky I am to have a great job, and how lucky I am to be on this weight loss journey.   I thought I would leave you with a little Irish tune and a lowfat Irish Stew.   May all your days be LUCKY!!!

MAY IT BE
May it be
An evening star
Shines down
Upon you

May it be
When darkness falls
Your heart
Will be true

You walk a lonely road
Oh how far you are from home

Mornié Utúlié [Quenyan: 'Darkness has come]
Believe and you
Will find your way

Mornié Alantié [Quenyan: 'Darkness has fallen']
A promise lives
Within you now

May it be
The shadow's call
Will fly away

May it be
You journey on
To light the day

When the night is overcome
You may rise
To find the sun

Mornié Utúlie [Quenyan: 'Darkness has come]
Believe and you
Will find your way

Mornié Alantié [Quenyan: 'Darkness has fallen']
A promise lives
Within you now

A promise lives
Within you now...





IRISH STEW (LOW-CAL)
Calories and fat are reduced for dieters in this  version of hearty Irish stew with lamb and potatoes. It is quite easy to make, and the 2 hours of cooking time is well-spent. Prep Time: 20 minutes Cook Time: 2 hours Total Time: 2 hours, 20 minutes Ingredients:
Prep Time: 20 minutes Cook Time: 2 hours Total Time: 2 hours, 20 minutes Ingredients:
  • 1 Tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 1-1/2 pounds lean boneless lamb, cut into 1-1/2-inch squares 1/2-inch thick (or boneless chuck)
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 3 cups low sodium chicken broth
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme, crumbled
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 6 whole new red potatoes (5 ounces each)
  • 15 ounces small onions, peeled
  • 1 cup Irish ale or beer
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 Tablespoon cornstarch
  • Chopped parsley
  • 6 slices Italian bread (1 ounce each), optional
Preparation: In a large heavy saucepan, heat 1/2 of the oil. Add 1/2 of the lamb or beef and cook until well browned on one side, 5-7 minutes. Stir and cook 1 minute longer; remove meat and set aside.

Add the remaining oil, the lamb (or beef), and the chopped onion to the pan and cook until browned, about 8 to 10 minutes. Return the first batch of meat to the pan.

Add broth and bring to a boil over medium heat. Add thyme and bay leaf; lower heat to low, and simmer for 1 hour.

Add potatoes, onions, ale, and salt. Cover and simmer until potatoes are tender, 30 to 40 minutes.

To thicken stew, add cornstarch to 1/4 cup cold water in a small bowl; stir until smooth. Add to simmering stew; stir gently until thickened. Garnish with parsley. Serve Irish stew with bread, if desired.

Yield: 6 servings

Serving (with 1 slice of bread) provides: 1/2 fat, 1 vegetable, 3 proteins, 2 breads (if served without bread, subtract 1 bread).

Per serving:
With bread: 409 calories, 29 g protein, 9 g fat, 644 mg sodium.
Without bread: 332 calories, 27 g protein, 8 g fat, 478 mg sodium.


Picture