TGIF

2 days in a row - it'll probably rain. Not much to say. I've been stitching on gifts for my sister to bring to her when I go in September. Can't wait. Have to walk 6.5 miles this weekend - hope to do it in 1:50 minutes. Will let you know.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

My birthday was Tuesday and I was 56. OK, I said it out loud. I cannot believe that I am 56 - when did this happen?
For my birthday I flew to Chicago to spend some time with my sisters (and my Dad and Jean came in also). We had a great weekend. Sarah was also in Chicago, her and her cousin Colleen ran the Rock & Roll Chicago half marathon. Meghan (her other cousin) was also supposed to run it with them, but hurt her knee. All us girls went to mall Friday afternoon - of course we had to shop! And then had dinner Friday at PF Changs. Very good, I had never been before and LOTS of food. Saturday I got up and walked my 2 miles and then I saw my extended family. Aunts, Uncles, cousins, 2nd cousins. My Aunt Lorriane had a party her lake house. We had a great time and it was great seeing all my cousins and their kids.
Sunday I got up and 4:15 AM (I love my daughter) and was picked up at 5:30 to go down and watch my daughter run her half marathon - it was fun. Then in the afternoon we all went to my niece Colleen's and her husband Ryan, new house for a birthday party just for me!! Don't laugh - it's a big deal that if was just for me - my sister Sue's birthday is August 22 and I don't think I ever had just a birthday party just for me growing up. We always shared the party. It was a good day. I got presents and cake and cupcakes!
My actual birthday day wasn't any big deal. Worked, went to the gym and went the grocery store. Wasn't that special.

TUESDAY

We had a stitching Sunday this past weekend. It is always so much fun to have these. You get to see people you haven't seen in awhile, see what they are stitching on or what they've finished and best of all you just get to sit and stitch for HOURS.
I'm working on a blackbird design pincushion. I'm making 2 of them, one for my sister and one for my friend Laurie. I'm taking it to them when I go to Texas over Labor Day weekend.
Made a blackbird 'freebie' design for Tracey. It was of the Eiffel tower. Filled it with crushed walnut shells. Don't think if filled it full enough. I ran out of walnut shells and should have used the plastic pellets I had, but didn't think of that until after I finished it. She liked it and I totally forgot to take a picture of it. Will have to take one the next time I'm at her place.

IMAGE

How long do you think it takes to change the image of yourself in your head? I still think of myself as short and fat. I look in the mirror and to me it doesn't look like I've lost any weight. I can tell I have because pants are getting loose. I finally brought a scale - but now I'm scared to get on it. What if I haven't lost anything since I was at the doctors in May? I go to the doctors in August - so I just might wait until then. Then I could weigh myself at home - and see if there is a difference. Not all scales weigh alike.
But I continue to work out, going to the gym 4 times a week. Walking, using the weights. I continue to watch what I eat. Feel guilty when I eat something I shouldn't have.
But when does the picture in my head change? The good news is I'm wearing a blouse that I couldn't button the last time I had it on...

40 years

I can't believe it's been 40 years today since they landed on the moon. I can remember it so well. And the 4 days later on July 20, I remember watching when they walked on the moon on TV. I watched it with Brian Ansberry. We had a date and went to one of his friends house to watch. None of us could believe it, it seemed so unreal. I remember when he took me home, standing on the porch looking at the moon and thinking - there a men up there right now! How cool is that.
Thinking back on that summer brings back happy memories. Brian was my first boyfriend. He was sooooo cute and we had such a good time that summer. You know, summer love, first love. Then at the end of summer we moved to Reading PA. I wonder what he's doing these days....
Also, 10 years ago today JFK, Jr. died.

How long

I got my new car and I love it. It is definitely smaller than my old one (I've only banged my head once getting in). But it so much fun to drive.
One thing that is different, in my old car, I could program a button to open the garage door. I don't have that now - but no big deal. I just put the garage door opener in the car. But how long will it take me to remember that the opener is sitting on the console? Every time I go to close the garage door - I reach for the button that was by my rear view mirror!! LOL
I don't think I'll remember anytime soon - I still reach for the light switch that was on the right hand side of the powder room door in my old house - it's on the left now. Only lived in the house 2 years!

24

Think that might be my new lucky number. Well, I can't really say new because I don't think I really had a lucky number before. But, I brought my house on 8/24, now I brought my car on 6/24. Good things happen on the 24th day.
I love my new car. It is smaller than my old one, a GM Bravada and doesn't have all the bells and whistles the other one had - but hey, I hardly used any of those bells and whistles. One thing I will have to get use to is turning on my headlights again. Now you're thinking to yourself 'explains alot - pat drove around in the dark'...LOL But my old car had automatic lights - it got dark - they came one. I haven't turned on headlights in 7+ years. But I will adjust.
I love my new car.

ONE MORE THING

I brought a car ~ a brand new Honda CR-V. I can't believe it. My current car is 7.5 years old and is starting to have stuff go wrong. I had to fix something in May that was $850. About 10 days ago, it started acting funny and it would have been another $925 - except I said - you know, make it work. I'm trading it in.
My son thought I'd like the CR-V and I did. It drives nice - smaller than what I'm driving now - but not to small. And I've never brought a car by myself. My dad helped me pick out my first car - a white VW bug. I loved that car but my Dad, made the offer and did the paper work. Every other car since then - my ex picked out. I hardly had a say in the color. But this one - I picked out the color, went to the dealer by myself. My girlfriend Charlene's husband helped me - he use to sell Honda's - so he guided me - but I went by myself. I'm so excited. Honestly, I think the hardest part was picking out a color. I love the blue one but thought I'd go a little out of my comfort zone and pick the green tea one. But then I saw it in the rain and it looked like puke. Then they have this one called 'urban titanium' and it kinda looks like milk chocolate brown. Really pretty - but I was afraid it would look dirty all the time - plus I think it looks like a 'boy' color.
Picking it up tonite - I try and post a picture.

Learned

OK, you know how they say you learn something new everyday? Well, I did learn something today -you have to put WATER in the coffee pot to make it perk!! LOL Made coffee this morning and couldn't understand why it was perking. Then the light went on saying it was 'done'. I take the lid off to make sure I put the insides in right....and low and behold, no water. Added water, plug back in - welllla - coffee perks!!

Thursday

Not much going on this week. Have had some HORRIBLE thunderstorms and rain. Lots of rain. Kinda feeling like a duck.

On the note of thunderstorms, when I went to the gym Tuesday night, it was closed! They had lost their power - though it was on when I was there - all the TV's were on. But it was closed. And since it was rumbling, I didn't want to take a chance and take a walk. I actually missed going to the gym - who would have thought. I also didn't sleep well Tuesday night - guess I didn't use up enough energy!

Finished my birth sampler I was working on for my friends grandson. My friend Connie is coming over Saturday to help me frame it. I'll take a picture and post. Next I have to start on Josephine's - I know she's 7 months old but just haven't gotten to it. Also want to start on something for my sister and friend Laurie - a cute blackbird design pin cushion.

I'm trying

OK, I went to the gym on Saturday. I've been going at least 4 times a week. On Saturday, I wasn't in a good mood - don't know why just a little blue. Well, one of the reasons was my nephew (Robert) graduated from high school and my sister, 2 brothers and dad were going. I would have loved to go - but it wasn't in the budget. So I get blue - I miss my family. I so wish we all lived closer. I have no family close by - except my son and family. Daughter lives in NYC and is busy living her life - as it should be but sometimes I just wish I we all lived near each other.
But at the gym, I'm walking on the treadmill - and why is it I always look like I'm almost running?? Well, some young, blond, skinny girl gets on the treadmill next to me and just starts walking at 3.5!! It took me 12 minutes to get up to 3.5!! And she's just strolling along looking all cute and skinny - and I'm dripping in sweat and not looking so cute! I could have smack her. I know I've made progress, when I started at the gym it took me 30 minutes to walk a mile, now I can walk 2 miles in 35 minutes. Hold the applause to the end. I'm trying so hard but I feel like I'm not making progress. I know it took me years to put on the weight - but just wish it would come off faster.
OK - I'm done complaining - I feel better now.

time

I walked 4 miles this morning in 68 minutes! My daughter is very proud of me right now. Have to get it down to 4 miles in 60 mintues but considering 3 months ago it took me 30 minutes to just walk 1 mile - I'm making progress.

TGIF

Thank goodness it Friday. And May 29th to boot. I can't believe how fast the time is going.

Well, I went to the doctors last week - and all this excising is paying off. She scared the crap out of me in December and finally decided I needed to take control of my life again. Plus, I'm doing the 1/2 marathon next January. My numbers were 13/26 - 13 lbs in the past 3 months - a total of 26 since the beginning of the year. I was hoping for more - but the doctor said 1 lb a week is good. Plus she pointed out muscle weighs more that fat.
Blood pressure - 100/70, so she took me off my blood pressure medicine - yeah. My A1C number came down from 6.3 (borderline diabetic) to 5.8 - normal. My cholesterol and tricycerides came down too. She was very happy for me. My BMI can down 3 points too. She wants me to loose 80 lbs more!! OH MY GOODNESS! But she says i can do it. the UPSIDE is, I'm in pants I haven't worn in 2 years. I know to look at me - I don't look like I've lost weight - It's not like a skinny minnie now, but I feel good. And better yet, I feel good about myself. I feel like I have control of my life that I lost 2.5 years ago. Even though I never thought this would be my life right now - I'm happy.

Floss Away Bags

I love floss away bags. I don't know why, but usually when I'm in AC Moores or Joanne's and have a coupon - I buy a bag. With they coupon they are less than $3 a bag - you can't let a coupon go to waste, can you?
Well, I just found a box that I hadn't unpacked - ok, let's not go there. But in it I found 3 bags of floss away bags - 3 bags of 100 each. That's a total of 300!! That's not including all the ones I have in other places. So, I confess - I'm addicted to floss away bags!! What else could it be?
When a natural disaster strikes - I'm set. I have the floss away bags.

PS - I walked 3.5 miles today in 63 minutes. I have to get down to 4 miles in 60 minutes. I'm getting there.

what to say

OK, so I've done something that I never thought I'd do. I signed up to walk/run a half marathon. I know, I freaking nuts!! Sarah and her friend Jenny do a half marathon every January in Disney World. And they told their Mothers, the only way we could come was to sign up and do the marathon. Which we did. What were we thinking. I think I had chest pains after I hit submit!!! LOL
Even though my daughter tells me you can train for a half marathon in 3 months, she's started my training now. Right now my goal is not to pass out at the gym - LOL. No, my goal is to walk a 15 minute mile - 4 miles in an hour. I'm not sure I can do it, but my daughter is confident that I can. Will keep you posted on my progress.

AH Ha moment

I had a ah-ha moment this past weekend. You know when something just clicks and you go - ohhh, that's it.
I was looking at my bathroom in my house, which I've only lived in 18 months. I LOVE MY BATHROOM. I love the color - the white tiles - everything. But I was thinking, 'I wonder how long you go before you have to paint again'.... In my other house, we did re-do the kitchen, family room, all bedrooms and baths - but didn't do it again. And we lived in the house 20+ years. But then I was thinking, when I was growing up - we moved alot. Approximately every 2 years. We'd move in a house, paint and then move. So growing up, I never experienced getting tired of the look of a room and re-doing it. Does that make sense? We just moved and then would paint our new bedrooms a different color and get new bedspreads, curtains etc. My house in Happy Creek - were I lived for 21 years - was the longest I ever lived ANYWHERE - by like 18 years. LOL

what a week

The week started out nice enough. Had some girlfriends over on Sunday afternoon to stitch and we watched the EAGLES win their football game.

Monday night I started my accounting class and believe it or not, I was kinda excited. Meet my friend at Wendy's for dinner and I had diet soda, 1/4 lb single and a side salad. I know, don't fall over - no fries I had a salad. We go out to leave for class and my car DOESN'T START!! Viv takes me to class and says after class we'll call her husband and he'll come jump my car. Class went well, there are about 7 of from last semester and it was kinda cool because the teacher told the class how well Viv and I did. Back to my car, her husband meet us there at 9 and decides it not my battery but my starter. Have to leave my car at Wendy's and then arrange to have it towed to Sears in the morning.
Long story short - it was the battery. Which was new in June 07, so I called where I brought it and they said they reimburse me the whole amount - which they did. Was very surprised about that but happy.

Then my shower has been leaking and since I know pay for water, needed to get it fixed. Called Mattaioni's in Downingtown and they came out. Very nice, fixed my shower and checked all my toilets and sinks for leaks - all is well. That only cost $180

And my garage door opener is acting strange. It wasn't working right - the only way I could close it was to hold the button in the garage. Then my brother Joe fixed it, and then Fred fixed it and it was working fine but this morning I could not get it to close from the car!!!!!!!! But then it is line 15 degrees out there. I'm hoping it's just the cold and not that I need a new garage door opener. I'll give it a couple of days. and see what happens when it warms up some.

Have a nice day.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

I can't believe it's 2009!! Where does the time go. So much has happened in the last couple of months.
I finished my first college class (in 35 years) with an A. I start my next class on January 12. Don't know how far I'm going to go with taking classes but for right now, I'm enjoying myself.
I hope to be more organized this year and blog more. Not a good start by not blogging until Jan 7!! LOL But we'll see how it goes.
I had bought a new computer in August and both my kids tried to talk me into getting a lap top, which I resisted and did do. Now I'm kinda regretting that decision - but I'll never tell my kids. It would be so easy to sit at night with the computer on my lap doing what I wanted to do instead of going downstairs to where the computer is.
Finished most of what I wanted to stitch for Christmas. Now I want to finish up some projects that I have started. That it what I'm going to work on this month.
Until next time -

First Thanksgiving

Here is Josephine on her first Thanksgiving. OK, I know I'm a little biased, but honestly, isn't she the most beautiful baby!! We had a great day until about 7:30 when she decided she'd had enough.

99

No, my post isn't about Agent 99, which is the only thing I could think of looking at the number 99. No, 99 is what I got on my first test in accounting class I am taking!! I worked very hard on it. It's been 35 years since I've taken any type of test. Class is going well. I really like accounting - the fact that everything has to balance. Next test is Nov. 3

Not much new on the cross stitching front. Too much I want to get done and not enough time. I'm working right now on my granddaughters Xmas stocking. She is due on Oct 28 and the cut off for getting something finished is Nov 1. We are cutting it close. But I guess she'll come when she decides too. If it's after Nov 1, she'll just get her stocking a little late.
I also have 4 other things I want to stitch. One is for my Dad and my sister Mary - it says FAMILY and underneath it says 'always, forever, no matter what'. Which is how my family is. Then I want to make this piece for Mary's mom and me - 'what happens at Grandma's house, stays at Grandma's!!'. Thought it was a good one to make this year.