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

Back to the Future

I stopped going to the gym. I gave up on it for a week. I felt bad about that, but it wasn't my fault. I was outta town. I was too busy. I was just to dang lazy to get there.

Today I went back. And I went back when the trainer wouldn't see me. Boy did I work up a sweat. I go back there after a "break" knowing that I've lost a lot of what I've built up. It was only a week away, but that was a week of doing NOTHING! Thinking about going to the gym doesn't count, right?

So I went back there today, and I did what the trainer last told me to do: I jacked up my weights on almost every machine. I added 25 pounds to each one and tried for at least 12 and 15 if I was not feeling spent. I suspect that tomorrow's wake up is going to feel pretty stiff and sore. I deserve stiff and sore as the consequence for not keeping up with my committment.

But August 1 is day one, and remember I am doing ONE day at a TIME.

Food is a killer. I've fallen into the convenience trap. After the gym we got Subway. Not that there is anything wrong with Subway, if I choose healthy. I didn't. Not exactly. And I am in the habit of eating a footlong sub - Hey! they are only five bucks, but I notice that the healthiest choice is NOT $5. Oh well. I just plain need to stop going to Subway. That's a good goal. No Subway or other fast food this month. (OMG -what will I do? )

My son is slightly overweight. I blame him for the fast food trap. He's addicted, and I"m a pushover. Okay. That was sarcasm. I am the adult and give in too easily, but sometimes it's just easier to do that than to listen to the whining and drama. In case you are not aware, 10 year old boys can be drama queens. Lord, the drama I endure. He just asked me what is for supper.

Mwahahahahahahahaaaaa. I just made a committment to no fast food didn't I? he heeee. I have to take him to meet with his father for a scheduled week-long visit. (That's another topic I could write and write about, but I'll spare you that.) I am going to let father feed the dear boy. Since I am frequently reminded that I feed the dear boy too much fast food, I'll let the father of the year feed him. I'm sure they will have something perfectly healthy - like cheeseburgers at the convenience store. BUT, I won't have to wear the hat of guilt on that one.

When I get home, I solemnly swear (a la Harry Potter) that I will hitch up the dogs and take them for a walk. So my exercise for the day will have included 45 minutes at the gym, 40 minutes of mowing the lawn at a very perky pace, and 30 minutes of walking dogs and swatting various evil summer insects along the way. That's what I call a great start to August.

I always feel good when I go to the gym. Maybe I can get addicted to that instead of food? I'm sure anything is possible. For now the future is 31 days of fitness.

FAT DON"T WRINKLE!