Caution.. Driving Causes Weight Gain!

The results are in..  I gained 0.8 pounds!  Somehow I managed to gain a pound on the ride up..  So with that little piece of news, I signed up for the "Pound for Pound" challenge!  Hop on over to Linda's site to learn more about it!  Thanks Amanda for the head's up!

I did get my "workout" in today, and what a gorgeous morning it was!  You would have loved this..  The GrandAngel and I spent a few hours out in the yard this morning "golfing"!  I would hit golf balls up toward the back of the yard then he and I would run and gather them all up - and lots of others things on the way too!  We picked up sticks, leaves, pine branches and of course golf balls.  He would "hit" them back toward the house and we would run to gather them again!  We then chased the geese, the dogs, and old crunchy leaves that were blowing.  We explored the yard from one end to the next.. "The yard" is about a five acre clearing around the house, and I think we covered every blade of grass..  My suggestion?  Rather then paying enormous amounts of money on expensive gym memberships, find yourself a two year old with energy to burn!  I'm absolutely whooped!!

So, now I'm going to do what ALL Grammy's do while their little bundles of energy are napping - bathe!

Enjoy your over the hump day!!

Until next time!

*PSA* - What NOT to do..

So, we're all bloated from all the chicken soup we've consumed during the latest "germ-fest" we endured, but we're all coming around nicely.  Hopefully when the little germ bag (our GrandAngel) comes today he isn't bringing a fresh round of microbes to replace the ones we've worked so diligently to be rid of!

Now for the PSA..  **ALERT** (play annoying buzz from the emergency broadcast system)..  This is an alert - if you or a loved one wears a malicious CPAP device (in other words, "CRAP"), please remember that it will strike when you're most vulnerable!  Do NOT let your guard down!  Two nights ago, Hannible (my malicious CRAP device) once again made his devious presence known while I was down and out with the germs.  He waited ever so patiently while I slept..  My nose stuffed and my head feeling like a bowling ball, he hunted..  On the prowl like a lioness choosing her weak victim from the herd of wildebeest, Hannibal waited, waited for that precise moment, the exact moment my nose exploded in "productive" sneeze..  At that very second, he puffed and blew the "production" of my sneeze back into my face..  What as awful and unpleasant way to be jarred awake in the dark of the night...  Oh, the Hubs enjoyed the "excitement" - and did nothing to help in my distress..  Men. 

I have a new mask on order, and am using the old one for now.

Anyway, all's quiet here while I wait for the arrival of the little germ bag who caused all the excitment in the first place..  As soon as he gets here we'll be leaving for the Bariatric Doc - so keep your fingers crossed!!  I may be down two pounds since last month (the scale is saying 1.8 pounds, but who knows...)  Speaking of scales..  Yeah..  I'm as much of a scale fiend as some of you!  I was bored the other afternoon and decided to weigh myself before my shower and then again after.  I noticied that I am .5 pounds less after a shower - consistently, too...   It's not that I'm a coal miner who has pounds of soot and coal dust that washes off me when I shower - and yes, I shower every day!  Even with wet hair I've been .5 pounds less after a shower...  Hmmmmm, something to ponder I suppose...     Yeah....  I was bored.

Here's to a good week!!

Until Next Time!

Happy Friday to YOU!

Thank you so much for the advice about my scheduling screw up!  I wasn't quite sure what to do.  So, I decided to call the Rheumatologists office to see how soon I could get an appointment if I were to reschedule.. Terrific news!  They gave me an appointment the following week - WHEW!  So now I can have my (literal) cake and eat it too..  I still can't believe I did this - me!  I am sitting here writing to you looking at not one, but two calendars on my walls.  One is my beloved calendar of famous golf holes, and the other is from my church.  AND, to my left is my Ipad with the calendar right on the front page - AND my phone with a calendar on the front.  Not to mention the seven post-it notes on my laptop and the "to do" list under my phone..  Did I mention anything about my need to live an organized life???  I know, a little OCD, but it makes me happy...

So the little germ bag did it..  In spite of all the vitamin C, hand sanitizers, disinfectant spray, and all of our other war efforts, the Hubs and I are sniffling and hacking.  How does that work??  Dear Son brings us an absolutely pathetic, sick and sniveling baby and takes home a smiling, healthy, happy little one - a little one who manages to leave every filthy little microbe that was in his tiny little body here in my home - to fester an grow in us!  How does that work??  My word...

You know what that means???  I need to go back to the pharmacy for the body pat-down, mug shot, full body x-ray, background check, and frisking just to get my box of sudafed.  Don't think of actually getting two after all that - you might just find your face in the locked box at the post office - "wanted".. 

With that thought, I am going take my boxa-tissues and enjoy a piping hot bowl of chicken soup - without the chicken (it is Friday during lent!) - enjoy your weekend!!

Until Next Time!

Over The Hump Day...

Hey, hey all!  We've had the GrandAngel these past few days, and he's been one sick cookie..  Poor guy.  He's coming around today thanks to a couple of doses of Amoxicillin, but he's still not his old self yet.  I am just counting the days.  I know that the little germ bag is spreading his wealth throughout this entire household - It's coming, I know....  We're stocking up as though we're going to war.  Juice, vitamins, tissues and LOTS of oranges. 

The weekend with Gina and friends went really well - I think she (and a few others) really needed this girls day together.  We topped it off - with several bottles of wine - back at Gina's house.  That, and our toes look really special, too!

I have a dilemma.  Somehow, in all the craziness around here these past few weeks, I managed to schedule two appointments on the same day - at completely different areas in Western Pa!  I can just kick myself - I'm usually so good about this kind of stuff - and I whiffed it, completely!  What should I do??  I know I need to reschedule one of them, but I'm not sure which one to reschedule..  I have the Bariatric Doc at 10am on Tuesday, and the Rheumatologis at 2pm - they're about one hundred twenty miles apart which pretty much makes it impossible to be at both.  Sigghhhhhhh...  Do I reschedule the Bariatric or the Rheumatologist??  I'm thinking the Rheumatologist - I have only two weight checks left, and I really don't want to screw around with the insurance thing at this point with the Bariatric check...  What do you think???

One more thing!  Stephanie - if you're out there (and I hope you are!) please email me at therestofmylife61@gmail.com  I tried to leave a comment but couldn't find your blog...  I'm sorry I hadn't gotten back to you sooner!

Have a GREAT day!
Until Next Time!

The Luck O' The Irish to YOU!

Today is St. Patrick's Day!  I am not Irish, but giving birth on this day twenty five years ago affords me the honor and benefits of wearing green and participating in all the festivities!  Today is my Oldest Baby's twenty fifth birthday!  It is amazing that I can't remember what I did thirteen minutes ago, but I can relive that day twenty five years ago minute by minute, second by second.  It is etched into my heart, into my very soul..  

I spent the morning with our GrandAngel looking through old photo albums, taking him for a walk through cherished memories.  He, being twenty months old, really didn't have a clue but sat mesmerized by the wonderful photos.  My heart melted as he placed his little head on my chest while we poured through volumes of photo albums - what an awesome (not taking that word lightly) experience..  Sitting there feeling the warm sunshine through the windows, I held son's son as I once held his father so many years ago...  Did I cry?  You betcha!

Even though it is my son's birthday, I always felt that this day belongs to "us".  A moment in time that returns year after year is our very first "meeting" in the hospital room.  It was about two in the morning and the nite nurse brought him to me for the first time since seeing him in the birthing room.  We were alone, the little light over the hospital bed was turned down low and the hospital was amazingly quiet.  He opened his eyes and looked at me and I looked at him.  We stayed this way cuddled up in the blankets for what seemed like an eternity.  Just looking at each other.  I whispered to him that I loved him, then he went peacefully to sleep.  That was the very moment I feel deeply, completely, and totally in love - heart, mind and soul...

Happy Birthday, Angel!

With that thought, I wish you a Blessed and Happy St. Patrick's Day! 

Until Next Time!



Which End Is Up??

Ok, I will try my hardest not to make this a BMWC  (bitch, moan, whine and complain) post but, it's been like what..  just about forever since I've blogged..  I know, a slight exaggeration, but it feels that way!  To say that it's been a little (ok, a lot) insane around here would be an understatement..  Like the road sign, I don't know if I'm coming or going.. 

This past weekend was the Deacon Reserves, then the Hubs presided over Lenten Vespers Sunday evening.  Just what I needed to get my Lenten promises kick-started..  Monday was my afternoon tea with Sr. M - always a real treat!  She received more of that incredible African tea as a gift from our friend in Tanzania - so yummy!  I brought blueberry scones and we had a terrific afternoon together!  Yesterday, the mounds of paperwork in the office were calling me, the GrandAngel arrived to stay for a few days, and the Hubs has been home this week.  I've put off so much work from the office these past few weeks that my file drawer was literally exploding!  The GrandAngel is sick, and the Hubs is (lovingly...) driving me absolutely and completely nutso!  I love the man with every fiber of my being, but ya know...  Finding his beach shoes - in March (our vacation is TWO months away..) - while I'm trying to put a sick baby to sleep, so that I can at least get to some of my work, has really pushed me to the brink..  He tore our entire coat closet apart yesterday afternoon looking for these shoes..  why???  I dunno..  Today was more of the same, and add in choir practice and Stations to the insanity that is Lisa-Land...  Although the Hubs found his beach shoes yesterday, today he pretty much stayed in his office and worked.  All is right in the world though, he has his beach shoes.....  If you arrived at the end of this paragraph without scratching your head because it is so scrambled and jumbled, I applaud YOU - now you know what the inside of my brain is like right now!

Friday, Gina and I are going out for our mani and pedi. I am sooo looking forward to that! After dinner, we're having a girl's night out.. With all she's gone through these past few weeks, she really could use a girl's night out. Nothing crazy, a quiet dinner after having our nails done then an evening of wine and finger foods with friends.. Should be good for all of us..

Although I haven't posted as much as I should have, I have been trying really hard (and thoroughly enjoying) keeping up with my blog reading - and commenting too!  My eating has been really good these past few days and it seems that I'm holding steady on a four pound loss.  I guess not fitting the "Y" into Lisa-Land has kept me from losing anything - but I'm not gaining, and that is a terrific thing!  My Rheumatologist appointment is next week, and my weight check is coming as well..  So, I guess I can say things are moving along.  Not as fast as I would like, but they're moving. 

So, now we're all caught up!  It's time for me to do some serious blog reading before I head off to bed!  I hope your week has been well!!

Until next time!!

A Whole Lotta Nuttin...

What day is it today??  Ahh yes, Thursday..  It's been that kind of couple of weeks - I don't know if I'm coming or going..  Our Baby has gone back to school (making a sad face here)..  Because he is on the trimester system his spring breaks are different than the schools that use semesters.  Anyway, he is going back and becoming an RA.  Great.  I asked him "why?????" - he did get the spring internship he applied for (the two and a half hour drive through one of the most hellacious snow storms Lake Erie could spew), he's got spring-ball, conditioning, 6am runs, oh - and a full load of courses and labs...  Why in the name of all that's holy would he even consider being an RA to babysit an apartment building full of young people away from home for the first time - WHY???  His response?  "Cause I get free food and a single apartment."  Hey..  I guess that's as good a reason as any, right?  I sometimes wish I could take some of the oomph from my youngest baby and inject it into my oldest..  He's so laid back that there are times I feel the need to put a mirror under his nose to see if he's still "with us"..

My nails are a mess.. Between all that's been happening around here and Father Nature (a fellow sister wouldn't do this to me), I haven't had the chance to get out and do much of anything!  My friend Gina (who lost her husband last week) also does my hair - I think maybe a day together might just be in order.  You know?  I like that idea - we could get out, get mani's and pedi's then do lunch - I think it would do both of us a world of good..

Other than that, things seemed to have calmed down here a bit.  I think I can in confidence say that I'm officially caught up on all my beloved blogs and I am really thrilled about that!  Now if only the "Spring tease" will just move along everything will be as it should be.

The "Spring Tease"??  Oh, that just means that everything is beginning to get "Spring-y" except the weather!  Our geese are back - Fred and Ethel came back about three days ago.  The red winged black birds are back, and my hedges are beginning to get tiny, little, itty, bitty buds on them - BUT - the pond is still frozen (the geese are sliding around.. it's pretty funny), and it is snowing today confusing the heck out of the two ducks that came in yesterday.  So yes, Father Nature is still up to his old tricks - Spring Tease.

Well, if you made it through this rather pointless post, I am so proud of YOU!!  :)  Have a terrific day today and remember to smile - makes folks wonder what you're up to!

Until Next Time!

Ashes, Ashes...

So I spent a wonderful morning with a pot of Starbucks reading loads and loads of wonderful blogs - what a glorious way to spend a dark, icy/rain, morning.  I managed to make comments on some, but not on all - just know that I thoroughly enjoyed catching up on all that I've missed this past week!

Today is Ash Wednesday.  The official beginning of the Lenten season.  We've been rather busy getting things ready at Church with the hopes that we have a full house this evening.  The Famous Fish Fry's are officially planned and ready to begin - they make the most amazing fish...  I think tonight the Hubs is going to make his famous talapia dish.  As a Deacon Aspirant he will be wearing his Alb and distributing ashes tonight at Mass -

he had better not smear ashes all over it!! 

So, I've been thinking of what to "give up" for Lent.  I've been doing this since I've been a little girl - Catholic schools ingrain that kind of stuff into you!  I've been thinking of my nemesis - snacking - snacking when I shouldn't be.  With that thought in mind, I've given up snacking.  Pray for me..  this is a tough one!  The mindless snacking of anything that I shouldn't be snacking on -  and at times when I shouldn't be snacking.  Chips, pretzels, cookies, candy, all of it.  Fruit can be a healthy snack when the pangs of hunger are so overwhelming that I am about to pass out from starvation (note of sarcasm here..).  On a more internal note, I think I need to strive to be a better person.  A better friend.  A less judgemental person.  A nicer person.  I think I need to start looking deeper at those around me and seeing the good in them.  Oh, it is not as though I tear folks apart or look down at people - at least I don't try to - I just find that my tolerance level of some folks could stand to be a little higher, and I would like to work on that.  I have my luncheon with my dear and beautiful friend Sr. M. on Monday - we're also going to talk about deepening my prayer life - I could always use work in that department.

On the weight loss front..  I did manage to lose six pounds last month - which is always a good thing - but, we all know that a good case of stomach flu will do that.  At the risk of a "TMI" moment, we'll just leave it at that.  I have gained back two of the six pounds that were lost to the ceramic fountain in my bathroom - but that is about it.  So, we'll technically call it a four pound loss and leave it at that.  I have my Rheumatologist appointment later this month, and have to get my derriere to the lab to have blood work done - maybe I should have made "procrastination" a Lenten thing as well...

With that, I'll wish you a Wonderful Day today!! 
Until next time!

The Week That Was.... Awful.

It has been a week from hell - literally - a heart wrenching week from hell.  But before I go into that, I first need to thank everyone of you who wrote and sent emails..  Thank you so much for your caring and concern..  You have no idea how much YOU are loved and appreciated..

So, here is the week in review... I have a friend from Church, Gina.  A dear friend..  loved - a true sister.  She's a bit younger than I, but that never made a difference.  Anyway..  I woke up last Tuesday and my phone was lit up like a Christmas tree.  I forgot to take the mute off from the evening before at Bible Study.  I had emails, texts, messages..  The first text was from our friend J - "Did you hear about Mike"  Mike is Gina's husband.   Mike was off work that day, took their nine year old daughter to school, came home, spent some alone time with Gina then had a "seizure".  Gina called the paramedics, but by the time they arrived he was dead.  He was thirty nine years old and died of a Thoracic Aortic aneurysm.  No symptoms, no illnesses, no indication that such a serious threat was building in his body.  Gina was and is devastated - their daughter (my BFF) is beyond consolation.  It has been a terrible week.  I pretty much spent the week with Gina, her family, and with their little one helping her through this terrible ordeal.  Now, the shock has turned into a numb-ness and the questions are beginning to creep in.  Questions I can't answer.  Questions that no one can really answer....

I'm spending today catching up on a weeks worth of work.  I plan to see Gina tomorrow.  She and I are going to go to the cemetery together - she said she's not ready to go alone yet.  We will also plan his memorial Mass.  Tough stuff.  My heart breaks for her and her little one... 

I will try to catch up on my beloved blog reading in the meantime because I am so woefully behind - Please bear with me..

Love you bunches!

Until Next time...