It's like Christmas and my birthday up in here!

Whoopieeeee!

Ugh to no school again today. And Ugh-Ugh to this:

7:30 a.m. and -28*; 61* in the house (hey, we just getting up around here.) The high for the day was 6* and the low -29. I don't remember any time as an adult that it was colder than this.

Upon rising I donned these:

"Das pink boots" of the legendary boots my kids at school all dig.

We had some excitement around here this a.m. Mr. Hugh received a Chevy Silverado remote control truck for Xmas. He loves it. I'm not sure exactly how the dog feels about it - he yaps and yaps and yaps at the thing and runs from it, but then he chases it and yaps some more:

I know it's in Murphy's genetics to catch things that are straying, and here he actually manged to grab the truck by a wheel to tip it over and corral it. He's good!

So, why is it like my birthday? Two reasons: blog friends and Facebook.

1. I was approached by a reader/fellow WW/fellow blogger about doing a clothing exchange of sorts. Well, I don't have anything I've "outgrown" as yet that I'm willing to part with, but Sheila from WA does. She sent me a big-big box of stuff to wear at my new size. Holy Schnikeys!

This picture doesn't even begin to reveal the depth of treasures found in this box. I've been blessed by the clothes fairy. I mean that - B.L.E.S.S.E.D. I can't wait to try stuff on and look all spiffy. I am honored. I also need to pay it forward, so when the time comes for me to deliver myself of my size 26 clothes, I'll be looking for a recipient.

2. I woke up to find a friend request from a young man I worked with 20 years ago when I directed a musical production of Guys and Dolls at his high school. He is a very successful photogorapher now with a modelling agency in MPLS and currently doing photog work for fashion mags out in NYC. I also was able to connect with a couple of other kids who were in that show. I am so thrilled. I adored every single kid in that production, and it was "da bomb" considering it was a HS show and my first effort. Those were some of the best days of my former life as a theatre person. I miss doing theatre stuff. When I lose some of this weight, I am going to audition for a play and act again. It is my first love, and something I am good at.

So, it's light hearts around here today, in spite of the cold. Gonna have pancakes for lunch or a very late breakfast. Might have to lug that Hugh to meet up w/his father this p.m. Hugh is going to WWE in Oshkosh - a little rednecks dream event.

Make it a great day, people. I will here.

TTFN

Sunday Check in

Yesterday was a whirlwind of shopping for bargain groceries. I've taken to going to "bent and dent" places to score veggies and meat. Many items are past their "sell by" date, but so far I've not run across anything that's spoiled. I got a box of fish for $15 - I'm talking $50+ of fish here, people. There is nothing wrong with it either. After shopping we ran to visit my mother and eat some Subway. Ive resigned myself to eating the veggie sub because the meat is so full of sodium. It was good and filling. No chips. I can dig it.

We came home, put stuff away, geared up, and then went sledding. Picked up Hugh's buddy on the way out. I get a really good workout from the adrenalin rush of potentially crashing into trees, laughing so hard it hurts, and hiking as fast as I can back up the hill. My dogs get a workout. Hugh has fun. Can't beat it for all-around fun.

Made some comfort food last night. Used lots of veggies and leftover turkey then made dumplings - some flour, 1 egg, some butter. Very filling and comfort food for after sledding. Not something I'd do often, for sure. Today I'll be putting together my lunches for the week. It worked great for me to plan ahead, grab and go. And the calories are very well controlled. In fact, I may pack meat and veggies for my breakfasts this week. As much as I like my oatmeal and PB, yesterday i had turkey and steamed veggies instead. It was 4 points instead of 7, so it makes sense since I'm making good progress on the scale. I stocked up on bagged salad for quick salads, so I am ready. Gotta load that dishwasher so all my containers get cleaned up prior to "mission lunch."

Workouts this week were good. Friday I didn't do anything...well, that's not true - I shovelled some snow. No mojo, but most people take a rest day. Every other day this week I got in my 2 walks and some Wii Fit. I guess the weak spot for me is water. So my goal for this week is to drink plenty of it.

I've noticed that since I'm more committed to eating right and getting activity in I feel better in general. I have a lot more energy now than I did two weeks ago when I was struggling with stress, holiday food, stress, no activity, stress, and food.

Looking ahead: right now it's 2* here. We are supposed to get an arctic blast that will last all week. I think the high on Monday is to be 25; the high Tuesday is 3*; the high Thursday is 0*. I don't mind the snow. It's the bitter cold I hate hate hate. But I love living in Wisconsin, so I have to suck it up.

Well, people, make it a great day. If I can find the cable to download, I'll take a picture of my pretty pink boots. If not, you're gonna have to wait until tomorrow.

Ta ta for now!