SNOWY WEDNESDAY

It's snowing again. This our 3rd major storm in 3 months. Now you're probably thinking that's not to bad..but we are getting 20+ inches of snow each time. We just had 26" on Saturday and now we are getting another 20+. We never, ever get snow like this. In fact, we broke the all time record for the most snow in a season, which had been at 65.2".
I did get my hair dyed - it looks really nice, but no one will see me today.
I am getting some stitching done.
I did take a nap....you know stitching can tire you out.
I am sick and tired of watching about the snow. All 3 major channels had it on all day. No soaps!! At least if I get a day off of work during the week, I should be able to watch my soaps.

LUCKY

You know sometimes you are just lucky? I had to walk over to the bank for work today. A whole 1/2 block away. Walk over, make deposit, walk back. Take off my coat, go to reach in my pocket for my glasses...and they are not there. Look on desk, look on floor - search all pockets in coat. Put coat back on, walk back to bank looking on the ground to make sure I didn't drop them, go into bank, no glasses there. On my way back, I'm thinking 'where the hell did they go' and I look down and right there in front of the door next to ours, lay my glasses. I swear they were not there when I walked by the firs time. How lucky am I that someone didn't step on them?

More Snow

We've gone years with hardly any snow. In December we got 26 inches or so. We've had some snows that were just a couple of inches. This past weekend we had another 28+ inches. And now they are calling for another 12+ inches for Tuesday night/Wednesday. All other 2 big snows came on the weekend - this one is coming in the middle of the week. Can you say nightmare? Where I park my car is already a disaster - I have no idea where they will put another 12+ inches of snow.

SNOW

You would think I could have remembered to blog yesterday - all I did was stay home and watch it snow. And snow it did. We got 28" plus yesterday. There is snow EVERYWHERE. Now, I stayed all day yesterday which made me really want to go out today....but I didn't. We were supposed to have a get together with my knitting group but we moved that to March 7th. I mostly was afraid we'd get up to Pottstown and the parking lot would be a mess. I'm sure street parking is a mess.

Then I could have gone to the super bowl sale at my cross stitch shop, but I really don't need anything. I'm trying to watch what I spend since I'm going to London at the end of April. And trust me, if you saw the size of my stash - I could not shop all year and be fine.

Then I thought, 'I could go to the grocery store' but I really didn't need anything since I went Friday night.

So, I just stayed home. Changed my sheets, vacuumed some, finally finished putting all the Xmas stuff away and cross stitched. I am almost finished the piece I'm working on. It by My Big Toe and it says - 'Stitching is cheaper than therapy...but not if you do it right'. So true.

Snow

Snow is coming, snow is coming. Everyone is rushing to the grocery store because you know we won't get out for days!!!!!!! LOL
I actually hope they are right, and I get up tomorrow morning and look at and just know to stay home. Love days like that.

checking

How many times do you go back and re-check something? The last thing I try to do in the morning before I go downstairs to leave for work is to check that I unplugged my curling iron. And then before I leave to get in the car to go to work - I try to check that the coffee pot is unplugged. I can't tell you how many times I am sitting in the car and thought 'did I unplug the coffee pot' and get out of the car, unlock the door to check again. Most of the time it is unplugged - but in the rush to get out the door I don't remember checking it.
I always feel it is better to take another 2 minutes to check - than to burn my house down.

LOST

The TV show LOST premiered last night. It's finally season. And in true LOST fashion had more questions than answers. But it was riveting and held my interest. Can't wait to see how they sum up all the story lines that are out there.
Some observations - Desmond was on the flight - since they 'sunk' the island in 1977 - it wasn't there for his boat to crash into in 2000 and something.
Sayid dies - but then comes back to life and doesn't know what is going on.
Juliet - dies in Sawyers arms. He forces Miles to communicate with her (he can talk to the dead) and he says she was trying to tell him 'it worked'
Kate is still on the run.
Can't wait for next week.

February

My friend Susan is going to try and do a blog post every day in February. I don't know if I have that much to say - but it is a goal to try and do it.

Today I did a load of laundry before I left for work and hung the t-shirts up on the drying rack. Guess what else I washed? A tissue!! Now I'm sure everyone has washed a tissue or 2 - I think there might have been 2 or 3 in the pocket of my sweatshirt. As I was hanging the shirts - as I was shaking them out - pieces of tissue where flying everywhere. Now I have little pieces of tissue all over the rug in my bedroom.

I guess I'm vacuuming tonite.

It's done

I can't believe I didn't post at all in December. Was a busy month with getting ready for Christmas and the marathon.

It's been 2 weeks since my 1/2 marathon. And I still can't believe I did it. I still can't think about it without getting all choked up.

We arrived in Florida on January 8th, me from Philly and Sarah, Jenny and her mom Karen coming in from Newark NJ. We meet at Disney's magical express - the we were off and running. We deposited our suitcases in the room and headed over to get our timing chips and our packets. We went to the expo where I purchased a shirt that said ' I did the 1/2 marathon'. Now, I was worried I was jinxing myself - to be honest I was scared to death. We had a dinner - the most delicious pasta at our hotel and were in bed by 9 pm. Since we had to get up at 3 am....

We got up on Saturday morning and were out to catch the bus to the race start at 4 am. It's odd when there are thousands of people milling around at that time in the morning. It was about 30 degrees and sleeting - which turned into rain. We walked to the start line where Sarah and Jenny left Karen and I and the went to their place to start - further up than us. You're standing around with a bunch of strangers - making small talk. FINALLY - our group got ready to go. Karen decided she was going run at the start - so off she went and I was by myself. My the time I crossed the start line - 52 minutes had elapsed since the first person went over.

Now, I was use to walking by myself - I just listened to my music - looked around. I was cold and it was sleeting and I'm thinking to myself - what the hell am I doing out here!! I am never going to finish. I kept going - 1 mile down....we are walking to the magic kingdom. We walk thru the park and as I'm coming out of the castle, it's mile 6 and there is a guy there saying, pick up the pace - you have to get to mile 8. That's the first cut off. Now, I'm thinking...what? As I go my mile 7 and I ask someone and I'm informed that you have to get to mile 8 by 2 hrs and 15 minutes or your done. You're put on a bus and taken back to the start/finish line. What - did I know that? I push myself because I have 16 minutes to get to mile 8 - running more than walking and I make it to mile 8 - barely. I'm thinking to myself - I'm never going to be able to do this and I start crying. That's when I met Renee - I say to her 'I can't do this' and she says yes you can - we'll walk together. She reminds me to keep my arms up and to pump them and off we go. She is from Medford NJ and I walked with her for 2 miles - I honestly don't think I would have done it if I hadn't walked with her. She kept up the pace and when we passed mile 10 we had 40 seconds to spare. I got a little ahead of her because she was talking to someone else and about at 10.5 miles I hear - 'hey Mom' and I look up and there is my daughter Sarah. She had finished and walked back to find me! Do I not have the best daughter in the world. Of course, I start crying and she is afraid I am hurt but no, I tell her I'm just cold, wet, tired and scared that I can't finish this. She says ' Mom, you are more than half way done - you can do this'. She always had confidence in me that I could do this.

Sarah keeps me going. Mile 11. She has me run some, then walk, then run again. Always keeping it positive. Mile 12 - the pace people are there and say keep going. Honestly people - do you think we can sweep someone off the course at 12 miles - we've worked so hard to get here. I had never walked more that 11.5 miles. We can see Epcot up ahead. I start crying again - I can't believe I'm actually doing this. Mile 13 is coming up and Sarah is like - we are almost done. Mile 13 now we just have .1 to go. The finish line is right ahead and everyone is starting to cry. I cross the finish line with my daughter at my side - I'm crying, she's crying and saying how proud she is of me. I can't not believe I've done it. They wrap you in a Mylar blanket and then you go and get your medal. Sarah directs me towards a lady who is putting it around your neck as opposed to just handing to you. The lady puts the medal around my neck, puts her hands and my cheeks and says' Patricia (your name is on your number) I am so proud of you and then gives me a hug. Of course, I'm crying. We go and get our pictures taken and Sarah wants me to go alone - she already had her picture taken - but I say no, I want you in it with me. So we have out picture taken - soaking wet, wrapped in a Mylar blanket but with the biggest grins on our faces. She tells me again how proud she is of me. She calls her brother and hands the phone to me so I can talk to him. He tells me he is proud of me too!! I know I'm their mom - but I have the greatest kids. And all this takes place before 10 in the morning.

We then got in line for the bus and got back to the hotel and warmed up. We had a great 3 more days in Disney. I still can't believe I did it - I keep thinking I'm going to wake up and realize that I still have to do it - that I dreamed it. But I did it.

Birthday

Today would have been my Mom's 79th birthday. Next month will be 13 years since I've lost my Mom. And I miss her as much today as I did 13 years ago. She would have LOVED being a Great Grandmother! I know she is up in heaven, probably playing bridge watching over all of us.

Happy Birthday Mom - I love you.

Creative People

I just visited a blog. I just followed the link in another blog and I'm glad I did. She is so talented. Her stitching looks great. He blog is: www.hookedonstitches.blogspot.com Right now she is having a giving away and if I post her blog on mine, I get extra chances to win the beautiful stitchers box. Every little bit helps. Anyone would be lucky to win this box.
I wish I had more time to stitch but with working it's hard. Plus with going to the gym 2 or 3 nights a week, but the time I get home, eat dinner, clean up and I'm exhausted! Starting to work on some xmas stuff. We'll see how that goes. I do have a bunch of ornaments stitched, I just have to finish them. I was going to try and do one a month, so I'd have 10 by this time - that didn't happen. Maybe I'll try to do that again next month.
Less than 2 months the the 1/2 marathon and some days I think I can do it, no problem. And then other, I think I must have been nuts to sign up. My daughter has enough faith in me for both of us, so we'll see. I just keep doing what she tells me to do. I do wish I had someone here to train with but.... I think after the 1/2 marathon I am going to pay for a couple of sessions with the trainer at the gym to work get a work out to help me. I'm afraid once the marathon passes I won't feel the incentive to go to the gym like I am now. Maybe I should find another 1/2 marathon to do - maybe in june to keep me motivated.
Go to the doctors next week, main reason is to get weighed. Plus I had blood work done. I don't weigh myself at home. I'm afraid if I do and I don't lose I'll be tempted to eat what I shouldn't. Though, I'm finding what I use to crave and sometimes still do, doesn't taste like it use too. I end up only taking a couple of bites and then not finishing it.

Thursday

I had a topic to talk about, but I forgot! The mind is a horrible thing to lose. Got my hair cut last night. It's ok, but every time I get it cut she just does something I don't like. This time it's a little too short - but then it's better to be to short and not have enough taken off. I don't go to the person I had gone to for year, I mean like 15+ years. I just can't afford a $55 plus tip hair cut right now. I do miss going to her. But that is life.

Did you know

Did you know when you lose weight your pants get longer? I'm finding that out. None of my pants were ever this long! LOL I actually had to 'cuff' the pants I'm wearing today - about 2 inches because they dragged so much. I'm debating whether I want to spend the money and get them hemmed because honestly - if I lose another 10 lbs - they are going to be too big. They are border line too big now. A good thing.

Starting to work on xmas gifts. Have to get some ornaments done and I want to make something for Doris. I think I might stitch something for Beth and Pru too. They are going to be with us for xmas this year. Hope I have enough time for all I want to stitch.

Tried starting a scarf last night and didn't like the way the pattern was going. For one thing, I was 1 stitch off - 1 too many. Will have to count my stitches and start over. :(

Sunny Monday

I can't believe it's 10/26 and in 4 days my granddaughter will be 1 year old. Where does the time go.
Had a busy weekend - first off I was supposed to walk 7 miles but only ended up doing 3.5 miles because it was raining and windy and even though it was 68 - I got a chill. Plus, do you know how heavy a t-shirt and sweatshirt are when they get wet? But the 3.5 miles I did do - I did great. I ended up doing at 17 minute mile!! And I'm sure I would have done the second lap even faster. I was very happy with myself.
Then I went out and ran some errands. I decided to stop at Kmart to get a case of water and a curtain rod. I decided to look at jeans and they had Riders by Lee, which I like. Since most of my jeans are too big - a nice dilemma. When you are overweight, the last thing you want to do is try on pants. So, I grab an 18 and head for the fitting rooms. I was hoping an 18 would fit and they did. I can't tell you the last time I brought size 18. It feels weird having on jeans that fit - most of my jeans I have I can take off without even undoing the zipper/snap. My daughter says you look worse in clothes that are too big for you. I am very happy the 18's fit. I love to get back down into size 12's but I'll be happy with 14's.

Just another Thursday

I love to cross stitch. I just finished my granddaughters birth sampler. I know, I know she's going to be one at the end of the month but it's done and she's going to get it for a birthday present. But I have some issues when I stitch. For one thing, my edges have to be finished. I either whip stitch around them or zig zag if I want to drag out the sewing machine. I always afraid that the fabric is going to unravel - I know silly. But I always do it.
I have had a couple of other finishes this month besides the birth sampler. I finished a Lizzie Kate 'PEACE LOVE AND A CURE'. It was her breast cancer piece from last year. Also finished LK's 'Put your big girl panties on and deal with it' - very cute. Also working on (and almost finished) I support the girls - another breast cancer piece. Since October is breast cancer awareness month, thought I'd work on those.
Going to start 2 Halloween pieces tonite - scissor fobs. One of these days I'll post some pics.

Never done this

I've never done this before but I just visit a blog - Pumpkin Patch Primitive Quilt Shoppe and she has a giveaway and to qualify you have to talk about her blog on yours. So here it is. Go to this site: www.pumpkinpatchprimitivequiltshoppe.blogspot.com and look at the Oct. 18 blog. The fabrics are absolutely beautiful. Now, chances of my name being picked are next to nothing - I never get picked. But hey, it's fun.

Monday

Well, it's Monday morning - the first Monday in October. How did it get to be October? Don't know where the time is going.
I tried on a pair of pants on Friday to wear to work - but they were too big! Also tried on a pair of jeans (my good Talbot jeans) this morning and they were too big too. Good thing - right? But what do I do with them? I do have a pile of stuff to take to good will - but I'm scared. I've been down this road before. What if I gain weight back? I did put some jeans in a drawer - just in case. I still have lots of weight to go...and what if I don't lose any more?

Training this weekend didn't got well. It hasn't for the last 2 weekends. I was supposed to walk 8.5 miles on Saturday but only did about 3. Didn't really feel good and I'm having a problem that I have to figure out. Can't talk about it but I'm sure I'll find a solution. It's just over 3 months to the 1/2 marathon and I'm really having doubts if I can do it. I have no idea what I was thinking saying I'd do it. Not having alot of confidence in myself right now after the last 2 weeks. How do I get that back?

Does anyone know how hard it is

Does anyone know how hard it is? Everything! I've been trying to lose weight since the beginning of the year. I'm not blaming anyone in particular for my weight gain - I did it to myself. (I'm sure getting divorced, moving, feeling sorry for myself didn't help). But I have been trying. My goal - well, I have a couple of goals. One of my goals is to get into Gap jeans. When Sarah was home in July, we actually bought matching pj's from Gap - and mine fit. A little tight but it was a good moment. But I want to be able to go in, pick a size and not have to pray they will fit me.

My other goal is to do a half marathon. I didn't know this was a goal of mine but it turns out it is. Which I have been working on all year. Yes, that's right, since March I have been training. This past weekend I walked 7.5 miles in 2 hours 6 minutes and 56 seconds. My daughters goal for me was 2 hours 7 min. I did it. I always try to do my walks in the time she tells me - but I never do. I think she was proud of me that I did it. I know I was proud of myself. Honestly, I can't believe I'm doing it. In March I couldn't have walked 7.5 miles much less in 2 hours and 7 minutes.

The walking has helped my weight loss. I'm in pants I haven't worn in years. I can wear a pair of pants and be able to breath. But the scale isn't moving that fast. Don't you think God should know how hard I am working at this and let the weight come off? Every day I have to still talk myself out of eating something that's not good for me. The urge is still there to eat the wrong stuff. or too much stuff. Please when will it be easier?

Thursday

My son and his wife had the christening for my grand baby this past weekend. We had a beautiful day. It was fun to see my dad with his first GREAT grandchild. She went right to him and let him hold her. She was soooo good that day. I can't believe in 6 weeks we will be celebrating her first birthday - where does the time go.

I think I'm going to try and have her birth sampler done for her first birthday. Just too much other stuff going on to get it done. And now Christmas is coming....I have to get stitching for that.

I did finish a couple of things. I made my sister Mary and my BFF Laurie blackbird design pin cushions. They turned out cute. I even filled them with crushed walnut shells. I also made a scissor for for them with the liberty bell on it. I meant to have them for them when they came to visit me last year...but never got around to it. They turned out adorable!
Also finished Lizzie Kate's 'peace, love and a cure'. Just have to iron it and get it in the frame. Almost done with Lizzie Kate's 'put your big girl panties on and deal with it'. So cute.

4 months

Yesterday was 4 months until my 1/2 marathon. What was I thinking. LOL I am keeping up with my training and it does seem to be getting easier walking. I actually went walking on my vacation and it was nice. I still can't believe I'll be able to do it...but I'm going to try.

Just had vacation - went to Dallas, Texas to spend some time with my sister Mary. We love cross stitch and that's what we did. I've meet some of her friends over the years, so we just get together and stitch. It was enjoyable. Made 2 new friends on facebook.

Went to see the movie Post Grad. A very cute, enjoyable movie. If you want a good laugh - go see it. It's not going to win any awards, but it was a fun movie.