I'm Famous

I'm famous - at least in my head I am. I do some finishing. Mostly for myself but I hooked up with a designer a couple of years ago and I finish her ornaments. I finish the ones that she submits to the magazine Just Cross Stitch. This year she asked me to also finish one for the Halloween issue. She was late in getting it to me, so I had to send straight to the magazine. On the slip of paper I put her name and I put my name as the finisher. I just did that so maybe my name would get to someone at the magazine. Well, they put my name in as the finisher under the directions for her ornament!! Can you believe it. I'm famous. At least for 15 minutes.

thirtysomething

thirtysomething - remember that show? They - the actors - were all on the Good Morning America today. The show went off the air 18 years ago. And 18 years ago I was a thirtysomething. So strange. Didn't we think when we were in our 30's that being 50 seemed OLD!! LOL I don't think it so old any more. Don't know why they were on TV this morning. I think the DVD set of the show is coming out.

I started a new cross stitch project. I always buy a kit/chart that donates a portion of the proceeds to breast cancer research. That is my cause so I try to help. So right now I started stitching the Lizzie Kate chart - Peace Love and a Cure. I think I'm going to put them in my bathroom. I have a couple, pink house by little house needlework, support the girls, not sure who did that one. The L*K one should stitch up quick.

I also going to start to finish the pin cushions I made for my sister Mary and friend Laurie. They are a blackbird design pattern. I stopped this weekend to buy crushed walnut shells. It's call 'lizard litter' and it comes in a 10 lb bag!! I asked the young man if they had small sized bags and he took me over and was showing other things to put in the bottom of a cage...LOL The look on his face when I said - 'I don't have an animal - I'm using it to fill pin cushions' priceless. So, with a 10 lb bag - I should set up a stand and sell some!! Have to stop at Joanne's and pick up some iron on interfacing. I keep buying it and use it and put it away - never to be seen again. I have to get in my craft room and get it organized!!

Only 8

Well, I only lost 8 lbs when I got weighed yesterday. I was pretty bummed about it but the doctor wasn't. She said 8 lost is 8 lbs I don't have any more. So I'm down a total of 35 lbs since the first of the year. The doctor said - slow and steady wins the race. If I take it off to fast - I might put it back on again.
If I'm going to be honest with myself - and isn't that the hardest thing to do - I haven't been that good this month. I could use the excuse that it is my birthday month. I've been a little lax in what I've been eating and I need to get back into the groove again. Part of the problem is I come home from the gym and I'm so hungry. I kinda pick while I'm eating dinner.
But my clothes fit me better and I have to just realize I didn't put the weight on in 6 months - it'll take more than that to take it off.

WEIGH IN -

I get weighed on Wednesday. I'm a little nervous since I haven't weighed myself since the last time I was at the doctors - which was May. I didn't have a scale at the time and by the time I got one...I was scared.
I think I've lost weight - My clothes are fitting better. I put on a pair of jeans last weekend that I could just pull up the zipper - without sucking in my gut. A month ago I could get them on, but after I pulled up the zipper I felt if I bent over - the zipper would pop open - LOL.
People tell me I look good, that I've lost weight. But when I look in the mirror I still see that fat girl.

Rainy Thursday

It is a rainy Thursday. Woke up to the rain. On the upside, I don't have to water my flowers. In fact, I think they are starting to drown. The thing about the rain in, I now park about 3 blocks from work. On most days it's a nice walk and I don't mind it. But in the rain....between carrying the umbrella, my purse, my work bag, lunch bag...to much stuff. Plus my travel mug, today I splashed coffee on my shirt and off course my shirt is white today. I did tide stick it so we'll see.
Didn't get any stitching done last night. Drama with my daughter. Her roommate has decided she wants a dog and has basically said - let me have a dog or I'm moving out. They are only 3.5 months into a 2 year lease. These girls work 8 to 10 hour days and it's not like she wants to get a tiny dog - she wants a golden retrieve/cocker spaniel mix. At 6 weeks it already weighs 20 lbs. I told her to call her bluff and tell her to move out. Or the other option is to draw up a legal paper saying the dog only stays in her room, any damage to the apt comes out of her security...etc. We'll see what happens.

Monday

Had an uneventful weekend. I brought myself a new bedspread. Kinda feel guilty because the one I have is fine but I'm just tired of it.
Also brought a sliding 2 basket unit for under my sink - of course I couldn't get it to work right. I'm taking it back to Lowe's and asking them for help. It doesn't work at like the picture. I can't get the baskets to pull out more than 3 inches. Don't know what I'm doing wrong. Hopefully they can tell me.

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.