Monday Monday

Kids will be home any minute. I am waiting for the big giant snow to get here. Got some water, greens and fruits to hunker down and enjoy the snow! I also got some more posters out for the St. Baldrick's event.

I was down this morning on the scale. I haven't done anything differently than before, just down. I'm still in the middle of the 4 lb yo-yo I've been riding.

I had a dream the other night that the pain I am experiencing between my shoulders is my developing hump.

Ha! It's NOT Simple Math!

I have been exercising a LOT! I have been eating sensibly. I have been getting my fruits and veggies. I have been the same weight (or within the same four pounds) since September. I am going to keep on keeping on. I know when my body gets out of hibernation mode, things will come around again.

I went around town yesterday and hung up posters for the St. Baldrick's event. I think I will hit another town each day next week. Then I will go to all of the businesses who have agreed to hang posters and ask them for donations. I really need to get some funds raised!

I am off to get myself together for the day. I plan to do three miles today, bringing this week's total to 14.

I Love Fridays!

More than Mondays! Why? I know you didn't ask, but I'm gonna tell you! Because I have no classes on Fridays. WOOT! Because I do my best to really enjoy the day as I know I have my kiddos all day tomorrow, with no help from Hubby (his guaranteed full day of work). I jumped out of bed this morning, took a shower and got dressed just so that I could enjoy this day to its fullest!

We got a bunch of snow again yesterday and last night, but there were no school delays or cancellations! I just had a yummy breakfast of cornmeal mush, caught up on all of my blog reading and am off to enjoy my day!

The Good Choices

So far this week, I have walk/ran over 8.5 miles in three hours, and done 16 minutes on the elliptical. On Tuesday night, after my workout, and watching Biggest Loser (...to be continued ... BIG DISAPPOINTMENT!) I went to the grocery store. The same grocery store that has the really yummy wraps with cream cheese, cojack and ham. Anyway, I went to the grocery, and my tummy was hurting just enough to make me not even go over to where they have those wraps. I got the groceries I needed and was on my way.

Yesterday, I did homework, went to class and did the treadmill. I started out at 15 incline at 2 miles per hour. I decreased the incline .5 every minute while increasing my speed .1. I also watched part of the Coal Miner's Daughter. I never got to see any singing, though. Anyway, I got home and the kids were at Awana. Hubby was home and playing Just Dance 2. I was on the phone with my muddah and told her, "I need to go dance with hubby!" She prolly thinks I meant something else, but oh well. So we did a few duets and a few singles. So after a half hour of dancing preceded by a half hour of walking/running, I decided to read.

I started the book Remember Me? by Sophie Kinsella on Tuesday night. I LOVED it! But, I also love her other books, the Shopahollic books. I finished it this morning and I REALLY need to get my math homework done. I don't know what I'm waiting for, and open invitation?

Dearest Auntie Mandy,

You are cordially invited to do your math homework at 1:45 p.m. EST. I hope to see it finish by 2:45 EST.

Lovingly yours,

Auntie Mandy


THERE! Now I must go finish my math homework. I have two minutes before it starts!

Last Post Was LAME!

Indeed! I was distracted and just wanted to get done. I am very easily distracted. I know this and I embrace it...Ooh! Look! AIR!

I had my five servings of fruits and vegetables in Suzi's challenge. I prolly had more! Way more! For breakfast, I had a banana with walnuts. When I went to in-laws yesterday, I decided I was totally craving soup! When I got home I was starving! So I had one of those bags of steam fresh veggies while I waited for soup to get done. I don't even remember everything I added to the soup. It was so yummy though! I started with a little olive oil, onions, garlic and celery. Then I added a bag of frozen mix veggies that had green beans, peas, corn and carrots. I added two cans of tomato sauce, six yukon gold potatoes, and a box of vegetable broth. I also added a can of black beans, black eyed peas, and kidney beans. I cooked it for a couple of hours and YUM!

Then I started getting a headache. I don't know what it was from, but it was a doozie. I ended up in bed at 7:00 and lights off by 7:10. I slept great and woke up feeling fine. I took the kiddos to school and cleaned out Yankee's locker. Talk about appetite control! NASTY!

I have classes tonight and lots of homework due for them. I am going to head to the college to get ahead of the game and get tomorrow's work done as well.

Izz All Good!

Workouts have been good, eating has been great (since Friday night's sabotage buffet). I will be working out after class tonight while watching Biggest Loser. Hopefully I will get out soon enough to watch the show before the State of the Union Address. Sinkin' presidents.

End of a Beautiful Monday

The first one is due home in about 15 minutes. Then I will go pick up the other two. I thought I would use this quiet time to reflect on my day so far.

This morning, I went to the in-laws to use their equipment. This is the first time I had done that. The rule is that you let out animals and let them back in while you are there. So I got there and let out Molly girl. Molly is a 14 1/2 year old Brittany Spaniel. She was Grandpa's dog before he died almost two years ago. Molly is both deaf and blind. She still has her sense of smell and she uses it. Then there is Lucy. Lucy is a mischievous black lab. She is about 30 lbs overweight (like me) and is always binging on something she shouldn't be (she's the one that ate the Thanksgiving turkey). Then there is Tim. Tim is a big black and white tom cat. He is always bringing special treats that he found in the woods. Biscuit is a black cat that used to get beaten up by all of the other cats that Grammy and Poppy used to have. She's now the oldest, but the smallest. There are two small tabby cats named Max and Erma. They are usually hiding. Then there is Sparky. Sparky is a 16 lb tabby cat. All of these cats followed my in-laws home while they were out walking, usually training for some 1/2 marathon.

So after everyone went out and came back in, I went to use the elliptical. SIX minutes straight! That is twice my high score. Then I went to the treadmill. I ran for 4 minutes, walked for two when Sparky and Tim saw something in the snow that they needed to get to. So I stopped the run/walk to let them out. I accidentally turned off the machine finding it necessary to restart and lose all of my data. So I got back on the machine and ran for about two minutes when Sparky decided it was too snowy for him. So I got off the machine again, accidentally reset the machine AGAIN and let him in. So I started again and figured out how to pause it without resetting (and NO! There is NO pause button). So I ran walked (mostly walked from this point forward) for 3 miles. If I was going 3.5, I was at a 1.5 incline. The slower I went the steeper the incline. I sweated a lot!

So, for breakfast I had a banana with walnuts, for lunch, I had some steamed veggies and for dinner, I will be having vegetable soup that I made when I got home. I am back to the basics to get Friday night out of my system.

I will be hearing the thud thud thud of giant feet in a few minutes.

Ugh!

I slept LOUSY last night. I was awake a lot of the night. I am now tired and feeling blah because of it. I am thinking the only way to turn this around is to work out. I am thinking I will go to my in-laws and use the treadmill and elliptical. That should get me out of this funk, and will probably make me sleep better tonight!

My Epiphany and My Grandfather

First, I had read a couple of blogs last Sunday morning before I went to work, had an epiphany, put it someone's comments and then couldn't remember what it was. Very Auntie Mandy of me! Anyway, here it is: It's hard to remember that as we lose, we need less fuel. Ah ha moment! Right this minute! Ack! that is why I have been fighting with the same 5 pounds for over 2 months! When I get down to my lowest, the same workouts are not doing the same for me! They are actually doing LESS! HAHA! Thank you! So, now that I found it, I am going to change my workouts a little. I'll get back to you on that.

Now, I'm going to tell you a story about a man that would be the worst food role model, ever. I mean really, ever. My grandfather was #8 of 9 kids. He saw my grandmother eating a chocolate bar, asked her for a bite, she said, yes and the rest is history. My grandfather was a big man. He really wasn't overweight. He was 6' 2" and weighed in the 240s. He had a big barrel chest, and I used to love to lay my head on it and listen to him sing. I remember him having a beautiful voice.

I mostly remember my grandfather being sick. He had quadruple bi-pass surgery when I was 8. He was, shortly after, diagnosed with leukemia. Then he was in a really bad accident driving a delivery truck, which they did exploratory surgery, found a mass of cancer, and it spread. He also, at some point during this time, was diagnosed with "sugar diabetes." He was raised in Kentucky, so you have to say "sugar" diabetes.

My grandfather also loved to eat. He would make all kinds of appreciative moans and other noises whenever he ate. When he was diagnosed with sugar diabetes, he had to change his diet. Well, my Italian grandmother was a nurse. She loves to help people (run their lives). She fed him only what he was allowed to eat. He didn't change because he decided that was what was best for him, he did it because she made him. Everytime we went to see them, my grandfather would see us eat a cookie and say, "You keep eaten' them cookies, you gonna get sugar diabetes! *whisper* Now give Poppa a bite." Then I'd hear my grandmother yell, "POPS! You stop eating those cookies! I can hear you enjoying them in here!" And she was always so curious as to why his blood sugar was so high!

Around this time, my grandfather also spent a lot of time in the garage "shining his shoes." My grandma was in the garage, doing laundry one day while he was at work and she noticed a spoon hanging in the garage. She didn't think much about it, so she grabbed it so it could be washed. When he got home from work, he went out to the garage to shine his shoes. He came right back into the house and said, "Mother! Where is my ice cream spoon?!" BUSTED! No matter what she did, she could never change him. She thought she was changing his diet, she thought she was helping him, but really, he hadn't changed at all.

My grandfather died in 1994 at the age of 68. It was the cancer that got him. At the time of his final diagnosis he had pancreatic, prostate, liver, leukemia, and lung cancer. He treated all of his grandkids like each and every one was his favorite. I miss him. But I will always remember him, and his spoon.

Childhood Cancer Awareness

I am a member of a group called Conquer Childhood Cancer Now. Every month, there is a meeting, and usually it is on a night that I have classes. So, last night was the meeting. There were only 11 people there, which was a little disappointing as the last meeting I was at, there were over 50 people there. I was hoping to get some more volunteers for the St. Baldrick's event happening in March. I have a couple of people willing to hang posters, but that is as far as it has gone so far.

Well, there was enough food for 50 people, that's for sure. I decided to just have some fresh veggies. But then, the other stuff looked so yummy! Self-control? Have none! I just stuck to the stuff that had just a little of the stuff I couldn't have, like the spinach artichoke dip. Then I moved on to the salami (WHY CAN'T I FIGHT THE POWER OF SALAMI?). Then, as we were cleaning up, I had like 6 chocolate covered Boston Cream Pie puff thingies. WHY DO I DO THIS TO MYSELF? My tummy is not happy right now. I'm sure I'll be ridding my body of these poisons for days to come and it's my own stinking fault.

I have got to get my body moving today. I feel better after I move. So I will.

Friday Afternoon Brrrr!

FREEZING!

Enough of that! Last night, after class, I did 3 minutes on the elliptical machine and 30 minutes on the treadmill running and walking. When I got out to my van, it was covered with snow and ice. I went looking for my handy dandy ice scraper and found bean bags and a sled. So, I turned on my van, opened my laptop and waited for the ice to melt on the windshield. I approved a few posts, read a few more and then took off.

I got home and I was so mad about hubby taking my ice scraper out of the van! I didn't know how I was going to let him have it, I just knew I was going to let him have it. So, as I'm gathering all my stuff from school and workout, I try to lock the doors. It won't work. GREAT! He prolly broke the lock thing, too. So I get into the house and go after him about the ice scraper.

As a way to make it up to me, Hubby tells me I can sleep in this morning. Ahhh! How lovely! When it's time for Yankee to go to school, Hubby can't find van key! I get up and look around everywhere...can't find it. I look out the window and Hubby is backing out of the driveway. I was furious! He could have at least told me he found it, right? So he gets back home and says, "I found the key, in the ignition of the van, with it running." DOH! At least the van was nice and warm! UGH!

So while I was at school last night, I signed up for the treadmill for today. What was I thinking? So I went to work out today. I didn't want to run. I didn't want to do anything really, so I put the incline at 5.5, the speed at 3.0 mph and worked out for 30 minutes. My legs were burning, but it felt good.

Kids Say the Darndest Things!

I had mentioned on Carb Tripper's blog, that I, too, was on Romper Room when I was little. We were living in Lincoln, Nebraska and I was four years old. I was adORable! I don't know all of the details of why I was on the show, or how I was chosen, but I remember some of the details, like sitting right next to Miss Linda, holding the flag, Miss Linda holding up a mirror like thing that she could not see through, and exchanging it with one that she could see through in the desk, and cameramen laughing. My mom did fill in some of the details, like WHY the cameramen were laughing.

The year was 1976. I remember my parents arguing back and forth, one night in particular. What they said made me giggle, so I remembered it. The next day, while sitting at Miss Linda's table, I said, "Miss Linda! Miss Linda! Do you know what my mommy said to my daddy?" Miss Linda, clueless lady that she was, said, "What did your mommy say to your daddy?" Well, my daddy was sitting in his office with his black and white TV watching this, trying not to poo his pants wondering why Miss Linda would ask me such a stupid question! So I said, "My mommy said to my daddy 'Up your nose with a rubber hose!' and them my daddy said, 'in your ear with a can a beer!' Isn't that the silliest thing you've ever heard?" Everyone was ROARING!

In the viewing room, all the mothers were asking, "Whose little girl is that? She is so cute!" My mother said, "I have never seen her before in my life."

So when Dimples, age 9 says things like, "There needs to be some disciplinary repercussions for my brother's antagonistic behavior!" I can say, "I have never seen you before in my life!"

Ahhhh!

I know I've used that title before, but ahhhhh! All of the kiddos went back to school today. I went and did a quick grocery run with the mother. I went to Aldi. I haven't been to Aldi for probably a year. It's a bit of a trek, and then there is the whole buy the cart thing, buy the bag, bag my own groceries, and so on. Anyyummers, they now have pita chips, and veggie chips! And I got a really nice enameled dutch oven for $20! Usually, those are minimum $50! So, I'm making soup. I'm also making collards. I have been really digging the collards lately! Dimples said to me yesterday, "I would like you to make some potato soup like Grammy makes and some collards to go with it." Well, you don't have to ask me twice!

Funny Story Time:

In 1999, I was married with a baby. He was the CUTEST baby, EVER! We also had an Old English Sheepdog named Jack. We were living in some apartments that allowed dogs, had a pool that I didn't take advantage of, DARN IT! Anypuppy, I digress. So I was going into the building and it stinks really bad in the hall. I mean like someone's dog ate something, pooped it out, and then died. It was rancid! So I carried my MOST ADORABLE HUGE baby (he was born 9 lbs 10 oz and was 20 lbs at six months) up the stairs and called the property manager. So they sent out the maintenance guy to see where the pile of poo was. When he couldn't find it, he knocked on doors. Come to find out, Gladys, on the first floor, was cooking collards. So they called me to tell me that she was cooking collards. I said, "Oh GAG! Can you make her stop? The smell is putrid!" Well they couldn't and I vowed that day to NEVER eat something that tasted like dead dog poo.

So, 11 years later, I'm cooking collards and my puppy is laying on the floor while I'm cooking. All the sudden he gets up and leaves. I say, "Brutus! Did you just toot and leave me to smell the mess while I'm cooking?" He said...okay, he didn't say anything, but then I smelled something coming from under the lid of the pan. You guessed it! COLLARDS! ugh. I'm Gladys.

Well, I know one thing for sure, Gladys had regular bowels!

Wednesday Night...

In spite of the fact that I am getting really anxious for the kids to go to school, I had an okay day. My oldest had a follow-up on his wrist today and a first time well check-up with our doctor. Well, Yankee is in the 95th percentile for height, and 97th percentile for weight. It has actually been a couple of years since he was in for a well check. The last time he was in, he was 75% height and 104% weight. That seems to be leveling out. The doctor told him that he wants him to be careful with what he eats and eat more vegetables. I asked him, "How many vegetable servings do you eat in a week?" He said, "2?" That has got to change! Anyway, he is going to do it because he knows what's good for him.

I had class tonight. I had some major computer malfunctions that angered me, but I got through it. After class, I had the treadmill reserved. So I got my happy arse down there and walked a mile and a half. I did run for one tenth of a mile, but I am still recovering from that EAAT2 workout! Then after my 30 minutes on the treadmill, I went over to the exercise bike for 15 minutes and rode 2.5 miles. I feel really good! I always like my hubby a little more after I work out. He doesn't get on my nerves quite as much.

Way Behind!

Monday was MLK day, so the kiddos were home. Yesterday, I watched my niece and nephew and Dimples had the day off because of bad roads and weather. Today, all three have the day off because of inclement weather. I am not getting nearly as much stuff done as I need! I have been neglecting the blog world, but I will promise you, I have not been neglecting my health!

Monday night, hubby and I worked out with the EAAT2. We were exhausted afterward! Yesterday, I did a cardio workout on EAAT2 went to school, and then after class last night at 8:30, did 25 minutes (1.6 mi) on the treadmill and 2 minutes on the elliptical while watching a half hour of Biggest Loser. FYI 2 minutes is my all time high!

8:30 pm on campus is a quiet time in the fitness center! There was one other person working out while I was there. He was lifting weights and using the bike. I asked him if he needed the treadmill, and he just wanted the bike. I think he was also secretly enjoying BL as well since when I offered to change the channel, he said all cool like, "Nah, it doesn't matter." After going into the locker room and getting ready to leave, I walked by the fitness center, and he was watching BL intently! HAHA! Who's the biggest loser now!?!

Another Trip to the ER

Yankee decided to sled down the 50 foot 45 degree sled hill standing on his sled. He made it all of the way to the bottom before he fell on an outstretched hand (FOOSH) and sprained his wrist.

Today, I am feeling lousy, but I am getting ready to do my EA Active Trainer 2 session.



So I have been given this award by FOUR bloggers!

Thank you to:

Lanie
Boo
Stacy
Rejecting 300

Now what to do:

Link back to the givers.

Share 7 things about yourself:

1. I am always having some sort of an epiphany and then forgetting what it was.
2. I am allergic to everything (not TOO much of an exaggeration).
3. I didn't used to be allergic to everything.
4. I LOVE to be the center of attention.
5. I am shaving my head 8 weeks.
6. I am the lead organizer of the head shaving event in 8 weeks.
7. I am really bad at time management, always have been.


Pay it forward: I'll get to that in a little while and then contact y'all.

Fun Day

Eating has been "right on" sistah. I went to get my haircut and thought to myself, "Self, why not do something drastic, something different? I mean, if you hate it, it will be shaved off 8 weeks from Monday and you can start over." So I went to see my sister-in-law. She gave me a cute hair cut and a COLOR! I can't believe how much I like it! Lanie will see me in the morning and will prolly turn her nose up at it, but I like it, and it will be back to "normal" in 8 weeks. I will post pictures later, but for now you'll just have to imagine. It is a honey brown with some blond highlights and a lot of my gray still shows through. It looks tons softer!


Okay, I went back and added a pic.

Happy Saturday!

Well, this morning, the boys are getting themselves registered on the EA Active Trainer 2. After they are done, I plan on figuring out how to play games on the thing, and not necessarily training so much.

This semester is not going to be like last semester, either. I will not let it get away from me! I have started going through my syllabuses (I really can't believe that is a word!) and recording them in them in my planner so that I can stay abreast (I said breast). *teehee* It really helps that this semester, all of my classes are TWR at night. It gives me my days, while the kiddos are at school, to get my reading done, and work on my projects. It also gives me the days so that if I get a call from Dimples Teacher, I can focus without wondering how I am going to get out of class to go get him, or get out of class to take the phone call, or whatever. Less stress=happier family.

Hubby is working his first full day today at the P.O. I will miss our fun Saturday afternoons, but we will adjust. We will be seeing a lot of hubby's family tonight and I'm looking forward to it!

EA Active Trainer 2

I know! I am such a sucker! I was so disappointed and I really wanted to find something that I would have fun doing. So I went to the Wal-Marts and got the EA Active Trainer 2. A couple of weeks ago, I was at a Wal-Mart about 30 miles from the ones I normally go to. I took a little trip through the electronics department and saw that their EA AT2 was $100! I about freaked out! I started panicking (huh, I didn't realize that panic added a "k" when you added an ing) thinking that I would end up spending $20 more when the time came to get the game. So I took a little trip to the Wal-Marts to the south of me today. I got the game and it was marked $80. WHEW! Well, when I checked out, it rang up $60! Can I get a "HOLLAH!"

So I tried the game tonight. It has three settings, easy, medium and hard. I thought, "I've won Walk It Out! I can do hard! No, that's stupid, I'll do medium." So I chose medium. It was HARD! I chose the 9 week training program and did the first workout that lasted about 25 minutes. I was sweating! BIG TIME! Hubby's playing it now and really sweating. :D I LOVE IT! I never would have dreamed when we met and got married that we would be one of those athletic couples. He has always been an athlete, but me, not so much.

What A HUGE Disappointment!

I finished the Walk It Out game. I bought every single event capsule, every single route, song, constellation, vehicle, you name it. The game is complete. So I was waiting for something awesome to happen. You know what happened? A big fat NUTTIN! I am not very happy about that. I feel a huge let down. Now what? I loved that game. It was so much fun until it ended. *sigh*

Epiphany

I have had some moments of clarity in the last 24 hours. My Reiki lady and good friend Lynne just reinforced what I have been thinking today on her blog. Specifically this post.

Feeling So Much Better!

That short run last night, and the water, and getting that garbage out of my system is really making me feel so much better. My tummy is getting back to normal. I have no headache this morning. It has got to be from straightening up and living right. I don't have to do THAT again!

I just finished the book This Is Not The Story You Think It Is. From the very beginning to the end, I found this book to be encouraging and to remind myself that happiness comes from within. Yankee has been very upset since our most recent move. He really liked where we were living and has had a difficult time finding his groove at the "new" school where his grandparents graduated. My mom, whom I love and also makes me crazy told Yankee the other day, which is so simple, "Grow where you're planted, Buddy." We can't always control where we live, or our environment, but we can make the best of it!

Hubby asked me if I wanted pancakes this morning (meaning he would make them egg free). I thought about it and I remembered how I felt over the last few days. I said, "Go ahead and make them with eggs." That way I wouldn't be tempted to make myself feel like garbage. I may be vegan, but I try to get my carbs from fruits and vegetables. I am back to making good choices!

Squats today along with sit-ups and finishing Walk It Out.

I've Turned It Around!

Wow! I think I just needed to confess and move on! I went to class tonight and sat there holding in my gas. Then I went to the fitness center at the college and calibrated my Nike+ so that it is accurate now. I only went one mile, but I was SWEATING! It felt great! I ran and walked. I almost fell off the treadmill once. It was quite humorous. I was talking to the girl next to me about the Nike+ thingy and she was showing me her iPhone. I looked over and was almost a gonner!

I am planning to work out tomorrow night after class again. This time it will be a good 45 minute work out that will include making the elliptical my bee-och. I have got get all of this garbage out of my system, so I may as well sweat it out!

Changing the Name of My Blog

To Auntie Mandy's Bad Choices That Make Her Feel Like She Has Eaten Rocks And That She Later Has To Poo Boulders!

Okay, so my choices have been really bad lately! REALLY bad! Ever since I had all that salami last week. So, Monday, I ran to the store real quick to get the boys lunch meat. While I was waiting at the deli counter FOREVER, I walked over to see if they had any hummus or fruit containers that I could eat on the way home. They did not. BUT, they had these ham wraps with cream cheese and cojack. I decided to get them for my husband. I can't even type what without laughing! Anyway, I got to the checkout and there was the Puerto Rican kid from my Spanish class who knows I don't eat meat because he brought in awesome tamales that I didn't even try because I read that chapter of 50 Ways To Sooth Yourself Without Food. So I said, "Hey! I'm buying meat! But it's not for me. No, not for me. I don't eat meat, remember?" He just looked at me really strange with those dreamy brown eyes. What is wrong with me? He is like 18! Anyfatty, I got out to my van and inhaled the wrap. It was on a whole wheat wrap. It was probably only half of one cut into 5 slices. OMG it was SOOOOOO yummy! They had all kinds of yummy herbs on it too, and a dark green leafy lettuce.

So I get home and everyone is happy about the meat that I brought them. About 15 minutes later, I feel like I'm gonna hurl. We were supposed to go to the nursing home for a church service and I thought I had the flu. I don't know why I didn't make the connection. I thought I even had a fever! So, we don't go. I go to bed and I was hurting really bad. I had these jagged rocks moving all through my torso. I tooted a few times and still didn't feel better.

The next morning, I got up and had actually lost weight. HA! That is a huge joke, too, because I know I had rocks in my bowels. I tried doing Walk-It-Out which usually does the trick. Nope. So my mom calls and says, "Let's do breadsticks!" Oh yeah! That will do it! Especially if I get nacho cheese (it's my cheese). It worked! So then I go to class last night. I know it's going to be a long night, so I go to the bookstore and get a bag of fresh veggies (good choice) and a Pepsi (bad choice). I eat and drink both in less than 5 minutes. Class gets out early because of the roads, even though I have another class after that lasts 2:45. So I go to the snack bar before they close for the night. This is afterall, my last chance to eat, and I could starve to death! So I get a soft pretzel, lightly salted. She says, "Cheese? Oh that's right, you are vegan." I said rather loudly, "So! What of it?" She just laughed in my face, which I thought was rather rude.

Then I crashed at my mom's last night. I felt miserable. This morning, I woke up at 3:00 with a headache. I had a really hard time falling back to sleep, especially after the dream I had, but that's a whole nother blog post. My tummy was hurting really bad again, like I was full of gas and water and air. Then I got up, did my Wii Fit and am down .8. WHAT? I'm still feeling lousy mind you.

I had a meeting this morning about the St. Baldrick's event. On the way, I figured I would get myself a soda. While I was in the gas station, I got a Pepsi and some ibuprofen. I also decided to get an apple fritter. I am obviously way out of control. I get to the meeting at a cute little cafe and get home fries and ...wait for it... BACON! I also had ANOTHER Pepsi! Then I came home and had a clementine and a piece of kiwi fruit. Hubby says, "I'm kinda hungry. Should we get the $2 breadstick and pop deal?" I say, "You betcha!" So I go, have breadsticks, with nacho cheese (my cheese) and ANOTHER soda!

So, SURPRISE! I feel like garbage! If I don't snap out of this eating frenzy, I'm going to have to change the name of my blog for SURE. I'm off to class!

SNOW!

It has been snowing here non-stop since about 8:00 this morning. We have gotten quite a few inches of snow and NOTHING was canceled that I had to go to. I went to school and had my math class and my creative arts tonight. I did get out early because of the horrible roads. I am nice and toasty warm snuggled up at my mommy's watching the Biggest Loser. Yankee came over here to shovel her driveway and stayed. We're going to have a big slumber party!

Enjoy the snow!

My First Blog Post EVAH!

Since this is my 200th blog post (on this blog), I thought I would post my first blog post ever. This was back before I was so concerned with my weight and more concerned about what the heck I was going to do with these kids! So here it is!

Here's the story...Feel free to laugh! We were having problems with our cable internet, so I call Comcast to come to the house and check it out. The guy informs me that he has to go into the crawl space. The opening to the crawlspace is in the office room closet floor. There's a "door" that covers the hole, and a dresser on top of that with a box of stuff on top of that and another rolling cart in there with more boxes. So I move everything out of there. I run over my toe with the dresser and removed some of the skin. I was in pain, but because I'm tough, I didn't complain. Then the guy goes under the house and comes back out after he's done what he needs to do. In the meantime, I'm trying to clean my house because the in-laws are coming on Saturday (yesterday). I sign all the paperwork, and finish a few more things in the kitchen. I go into the office and the hole is still not covered. I really wanted to get that room put back together so I start by putting the door back over the hole. I push on it with my hands, and it seemed secure. Just to be sure, I put my foot in the middle of the door and with all of my weight, I push.

Let's just say that half of the door was secure. Two corners of the door (the top left and the lower right) were secure. When my foot went through, the top right corner flipped up and caught my pajamas (yes, I was wearing my pajama pants with the cable guy there, but I was wearing a bra and a regular top on top). I'm pretty sure that's the only thing that stopped me from getting hurt more than I did. My left foot was firmly planted on the floor while my right leg was dangling under the house. When I fell in, I heard all kinds of popping and grinding right before my head slammed into the closet wall.

I was in so much pain and I had no idea how I was going to get out of the floor. I ask Wesley (who was in the room at the time on the computer) to bring me the phone. He says, "Just a minute, Mom; I'm in the middle of a game." You've got to be freaking kidding me! So he finally brings me the phone as I am using my arms to pull myself out of the floor. I look at my ankle (always a bad idea! Don't look down! That's what I say to someone who is going for a mammogram, and now for someone who falls through the floor). My ankle bone looks really weird and is sticking out funny. I finish pulling myself out of the floor and I lay down on my back. Wes brings me the phone and I call my husband at work. I say, "I need you to come home now. I have hurt myself. I fell through the crawl space door. Get home fast." He says he'll be right home. While still laying on my back, I start to look around. I realize I am kinda trapped between the closet doors, a desk, a dresser, a tub, a pile of boxes and a rolling cart thingy. I had Wes bring me a pillow and I balanced it on the plastic lawn mower and rest my foot on it. I then had Wes bring me the ice pack. Just then, the phone rings. It's my husband. "Is there anyone else you can call? I have to leave early tomorrow night for my doctor's appt, and I don't want to leave early two days in a row. I hate to ask them to do that for me." WHAT???? So I call my cousin, and she's on her way to her yearly OBGYN appt and her mom is watching her two kids. How do I ask my aunt to come over to a house that is a virtual booby trap and then take me to the doc with 5 kids ages 6 months, 2, 4, 6, 8 (of course we would have to wait another hour for the 8 yo to get off the bus since he had a half day.

I call dh's boss. I say, "Hi, it's Mandy. Oh, okay, I guess. Um, listen, I just fell through my floor, well half of me did, and I am in a lot of pain, and I really need Joel to come home and help me get to the doctor. He didn't want to ask you, but I thought if you knew, you wouldn't want him sitting there, selling steal while my ankle goes from having two swollen marks, one the size of a golf ball and the other the size of a tennis ball turning into a big giant medicine ball....You'll send him home? GREAT! I knew I could count on you!"

Two minutes later, the phone rings, "I'm on my way home." Now, what do I do with the kids. I started scooting myself across the floor with the mower under the bad ankle and doing a crab walk with my other three limbs. I decide I'm going to go to the front porch and yell for my neighbor across the street so she can take Wes and get Logan off the bus. I was halfway to the couch (remember, it's an obstacle course) when I remembered the little girl across the street invited Wes and Logan to her birthday party. So I send Wes to find the princess invitation. He comes back with it. I call the neighbor, she is glad to help. I call my aunt and ask her if she would mind just adding one more to her day care roster. She says fine. Just then DH pulls in. Debee (neighbor across the street) comes to the driveway and asks dh if I want Barry (neighbor's husband like figure) to look at my ankle since he's a paramedic. I didn't care, I really thought I needed X-Rays, though. So I say sure. I finally get myself up to the couch. DH says, "Come here! Barry wants to look at your ankle." WHAT???? So I tell dh, "You're gonna have to help me." DH walks in and looks at my ankle and says, "That doesn't look good." (He's a smart one! I didn't just marry him for his car).

So I finally get towards the door to the garage, and Barry says, "I'm not going to look at it. I'm an EMT, not an X-ray machine." *eye-roll* I look down at my foot again and realize there is a HUGE tear in my pajamas. All I see is the cellulite on my thighs and my orange and pink striped panties. I decided to change my pants before we leave. I turned the laundry basket over and sat on that. Bad idea, it crumpled under my weight. So DH gets Gavin in the car, Wes is at the neighbor's and Logan will go over there after school. Two and a half hours later, my x-rays come back that NOTHING is broken. They give me some good drugs, crutches and an ankle brace and send me home.

I tell one of my friends in Indiana what happened, she says, "How much weight HAVE you gained? How OLD is your house???" So we get home and Logan says, "Did you fall down there?" Wes says, "She was like this, let me show you!" DH and I yell in unison, "GET AWAY FROM THE HOLE!" So, dh puts the room back together.

He cleaned all night Wednesday, Thursday and Friday to get the house looking the way he wanted it for his parents. I did my best to get the kids taken care of. Logan woke up Friday with a little cough and I kept him home so he could get Gavin and Wes on and off the bus. (Gavin gets on at 7:30, off at 10:50, Wes gets on at 11:05 and off at 2:20). Thank goodness the bus driver agreed to drop Wes at the house. She was already picking him up at the house.

I call my in-laws to tell them it's still okay to come out and my brother-in-law answers the phone (26). He says, "I'm tired. I just got done working all day." I say, "I'm tired, too. I know what you mean." He says, "Like you worked today." ****IDIOT**** I said, "I know you don't think I work because I don't get a paycheck, but I do work really hard. It doesn't seem that way since I'm so good at it!"

Anyway, I don't have a remote for the TV in my room (which is closest to the bathrooms since BOTH are at the furthest end of the house from everything else), I am watching CBS all day long. If anyone wants to know what's on the Price Is Right, Young and the Restless, Bold and the Beautiful, As the World Turns, Rachel Ray, Judge Judy, or Dr. Phil, let me know. That is, unless, my remote control doesn't go to school again.

Quick Walk

I took a quick walk today using my new Nike+. It needs some serious calibration! I walked .669 and it showed .35. I guess when there isn't snow on the track, I will have to calibrate it better when the track isn't covered with snow. It was pretty cool to try out though.

I don't have much inspiration for today. I haven't done my push-ups, sit-ups or squats yet today. I'm not looking forward to the squats, but I'm sure I'll be alright.

I start classes up again tomorrow. I am taking a math class (UGH), creative arts, educational technology, classroom guidance and management. I only have classes on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday evenings.

On Wednesday morning, I have a meeting with the other organizer of the St. Baldrick's event happening in March. I can't believe it is just over 2 months away! I will be shaving my head again this year. Last year, the family raised just around $1,000 and the event just under $7,000 with only 12 days of advertising! This year, we already have the venue shored up, entertainment and five shavees! I am really excited. Here's my site if anyone feels led to donate. I will be plugging this event for the next few months, so get used to it!

WHY!??

Why do the ones we choose to spend the rest of our lives with make us so angry and crazy? Maybe because we are all about "commitment" and "honoring vows" but ARGH!

Okay, that's all I can say about that! I drank plenty of water today and I have only 118 items left to get on Walk It Out. I wonder what happens after that! I have all of the time capsules and songs. I guess I have a few constellations to get, too. I think I'll be done in a week!

Oka

Enjoy The Out Of Doors!

We had a fun day today. I realized after I finished blogging this morning, that I was out of laundry soap. So, I went to the kitchen to start grating some ivory and cooking it to make laundry soap. I made two batches this time since we have two five gallon buckets. After we got done with that, we were off to the in-laws. I grabbed my outside gear so that I could go for a walk in the woods. I went to get my boots and I noticed that the insole was missing. I know what happened, too! That stinker, Dimples, left the door from the backyard going into the garage open which allowed Brutus to fill up his time by chewing the inside of my boot! GRRR! They were awesome, too. They were pink! So I stopped at the hardware store on the way to the in-laws and got new ones. They aren't pink, but they are lavender, so I guess it's okay.

After having a lunch full of nutrition, Hubby, Poppy and I got on all of our gear and went for a walk. We went down to the barn and down into the bog. It is so peaceful down there! We figured we probably walked about a mile and a half. We looked at all different trees and animal tracks. We climbed hills and walked on ice. It was so relaxing and invigorating at the same time! I really wish I had my camera because I can't even begin to describe how pretty it was.

When we got back, there was a fish fry going on. I opted for potatoes with more greens. We came home while Yankee stayed. I did Walk It Out and now I'm ready for bed. I'm going back to work tomorrow. WOOT!

Happy Saturday!

I weighed in this morning at 1.2 above my lowest! That is very exciting since my lowest was before the FOOSH (fall on an out stretched hand) and the pills that plugged my bowels. I have been working really hard these last few days and it is showing!

I am really excited because after having my iPod for over a year, I finally figured out how to make a playlist! AND I made a playlist! It is for running (or walking fast). I am really going to do this! I want to walk/run a half marathon this year, and my future self told me I was going to do it, so I guess I better not make myself a liar! I have over two hours of upbeat music to inspire me to move. I got the Nike+ thingy for my shoe yesterday, but I will use that only for serious training. Which means I have to get over the fact that I don't like being super cold. ugh. I'll figure sumpin out. Maybe I'll use it when I use the treadmill at my in-laws. I have to figure out how to ask for that!

Friday Night

I had a fun day, today. Well, not really fun, per say, but not un-fun. I walked 1.6 miles on Walk It Out and ran 1.378 on Free Run while watching Summer Magic, a 1961 Disney movie with Haley Mills and Burl Ives. After my 10 minute run, I did my squats (225) and my sit-ups (33). I am not rocking the sit-up challenge, but I'm doing it.

I am on my way to clean my younger boys' room so that I can move the oldest in with them. He has complained to me one too many times about my sewing stuff being in "his" room. It was part of the deal when we moved into this house. Now, he's outa there!

Have a good evening everyone! We are now watching Veggie Tales.

FRIDAY, FRIDay, Friday

I love Fridays! Well, for a few minutes, until I realize that the kids and hubby will be home all day Saturday and Sunday. Today is Brutus' birthday! He's ONE! Happy birthday buddy!

I am only down .7 which makes me 3 lbs above my highest. I am working today on more exercise, more water, less food. I will also be adding a few songs to my iPod along with the couch to 5K stuff. I have to do squats and sit ups.

Why can't I think of anything exciting to talk about?

You Learn Sumpin New Every Day!

My baby, who is 7 almost 8 didn't start talking until he was 4 1/2. He has a neurological condition called childhood apraxia of speech, or verbal apraxia or whatever it is called now. I have talked to other parents of children with this condition. I always ask, "How is their digestion? Do they have bowel issues?" Mostly because Brown Eyes was severely and perpetually constipated from birth. We tried a number of supplements to improve his motor planning and what not. What ultimately helped Brown Eyes was eliminating milk. That was the key to getting his digestion regulated. *I am not saying this will work for everyone, but this is what worked for my child* Anyway, in July of 2007, he went from having 3-6 words to having over 25 in a week, over 150 when school started in September, and over 600 by January of 2008. He still needs extensive speech therapy on a regular basis. He still takes many supplements. But he talks. All. The. Time.

One of his famous quotes is, "I smell sumpin! Mmm! I smell sumpin good!" So, I learned sumpin today. I was playing on Walk It Out. I have almost all of the island built. Before today, I had only 420 buildings left to get, 20 songs, 7 constellations, and many time capsules. I learned that if I go to different times on the clock, I can unlock items that I can't unlock during the times I am on. There were 14 songs to get at 1:00 am. Anyway, I have only one song to get now! That's all. I have nothing else to share about Walk It Out.

I had kale for lunch and for dinner. I think that mighty green yummy goodness is working its magic! We shall see on the scale tomorrow! I have also done much better on drinking more water and MUCH less soda. I was up to 4 or more sodas a day again and now I am back down to one.

Hubby is working tonight and I am going to get these kiddos to bed early! I am wiped out!

Kale

I cannot help but sound like I am from the South when I say, "Kale." I don't know how else to say it than with two syllables. Anyway, I was telling BFF the other day that I was craving kale. She said, "Ew! I heard that was really bitter. We were talking at the gym and said that we would like to eat more of it, but it is hard to get past the flavor." Well I had bought some at the grocery on Tuesday morning before she got here. I cooked some up with some rice. When we sat down to have lunch, she with her packed sandwich, water, and walnuts, I asked her if she wanted to try some kale. She said, "Yes please, a little." So I gave her a small dish and what did she say? "Wow! That is really good! I'm surprised because it is so green!"

We did our normal BFF get together giggling, and on the way out the door, she asked me to email her the recipe. UGH! The recipe? I don't use recipes, I just do what sounds good! So I said I would put it on my blog.

Auntie Mandy's Kale

Melt 1 T of butter (I use Earth Balance Buttery Spread) with 1 T of olive oil (I am totally guessing on the measurements here, but enough to saute onion and garlic). Add 1/2 of a chopped onion and a clove of minced garlic. Cook on medium heat until the onions are clear. Add a big bag of kale. Pour 32 oz of vegetable broth over the top. As the kale shrinks, you can add the rest of the bag. Cook with the lid on for about 20 minutes. Take the lid off, and let the liquid cook away. when you have about 10 minutes left, drizzle some kind of sweet vinegar over the kale (white wine, red wine, apple cider whatever). Cook for the last 10 minutes and serve over rice or whatever.

I will be having some kale this morning for breakfast with some corn meal mush. It should help in the bathroom area. Anyway, I hope everyone has a splendid day. I will try to only post once more! Yesterday got a little insane!

Air

What is it about air that is so interesting? Look! There goes some now! Wow, there is a speck! Did that speck just say something? More air!

I feel like a total heel. I have not eaten without distractions for one meal! I was going to count today when my mom and I went out to lunch, but I was so engrossed in ESPN (not that I care, but I don't have cable) that I must count that TV as a distraction. BFF came over yesterday. I was up and down the whole meal! It's almost like I am saying, "You can't MAKE me sit and eat!" What is wrong with me?

I went to the doctor today. I really love my doctor. He is so laid back and really looks for natural ways to make his patients healthy. Anyway, he and I had a fun time hypothesizing about my sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system. He still wants me to continue to wean off of my meds. I am actually ahead of schedule. He wanted me off of them in 3 months (he was being generous) and I wanted six. I am at almost two months and down to the final cut back before being done completely. It helps that Dimples is medicated.

Today's exercise included 217 squats, 2.8 miles on Walk It Out, 3 miles walking the halls of the school, and I still have sit-ups to do.

I'm Back Again!

Did you miss me? I just now finished reading everything and found out that today is the day that I am supposed to check in for the power of 1 thingy. I am up today. I don't know how much from last week, because I didn't check that when I weighed in this morning. I am sure it is the nasty salami holding on to my intestines instead of leaving my body.

Here are my goals or whatever they are supposed to be called:

1. Ohio - Still in it!
2. Continue what I'm doing - make good choices. Those good choices do not include eating things I am allergic to, or make me feel sick. - DOH!
3. Remember to take my supplements. That is the best habit I have gotten into thanks to the Hot 100 Challenge. - That is what gets me through!
4. First mini goal- lose 15 lbs so that I can get EA Sports Active Trainer 2. I'm going in the wrong direction!
5. Get to goal. That requires losing just over 30 lbs. That is so doable! I have got to do this!

Good News!

My tenacity paid off and I am registered for all of my classes! I didn't have to take the nasty test that I was avoiding, and I was able to get all of my books. I was so happy that I didn't have to take that test, I just kept thanking everyone who might have and might have been able to help me! For the first time in a long time, everything went according to my hair brained plan!

Now if my appointment with the doctor can go just as well, I will be thrilled! I am almost caught up on everyone's blogs! When I'm done, you are free to update again! Just so you know.

Busy Day

I found my paperwork from my ACTs and testing out of my computer classes. I am hoping that paperwork will show that I don't have to take a stupid compass test. Anyway, I have to go to school to work my magic and then I have a doc appt. this afternoon about my arm.

I watched the Biggest Loser last night while I did free run on the Wii. I ended up going 1.345 miles in 10 minutes. All I can say is that I have determined the biggest whiners and I am glad one is gone. :D

Have a great day!

I Don't Eat Meat!

Then why did I eat 8 pieces of Genoa Salami yesterday? HMMM? It was really yummy, though. I had put it on a tortilla shell and wrapped it up for my nephew. He didn't want it and I said I would take a bite and save the rest for his mom. He said at one point, "There's gonna be nothing left for Mommy!" And I paid for it later with burning intestine. My theory is that because I hadn't been taking my iron supplement (the pain meds had me pretty constipated) that my body was craving any kind of animal flesh. OMGoodness was it delicious!

I am still 2 lbs up from my lowest of early last week. I have been exercising every day. Obviously my eating was off, but I was down .7 from yesterday. It has been one week since I broke my arm and it is feeling pretty good. I am noticing twinges of pain at different times, and throbbing at others, but all in all, I am pleased with the progress.

I get to see my BFF today! We have big plans! We are gonna go see my mama for a minute, then we are going to sit in my comfy chairs and knit! We know how to rock it!

Project Letter to Meself

Dear Auntie Mandy,

I am not usually so formal with you, but sometimes I feel like you worked so hard to be an aunt, that you deserve the title. Here I sit in January of 2012. I don't such a big dent in the candy cane chair as I now weigh 129 lbs. I have started running! I know! My joints! It feels really good! I participated in a 1/2 marathon in October and finished! Hubby and I did it together. We found someone to sponsor us so it didn't cost us anything! HOLLAH! You are happier than you have ever been because you don't depend on things out of your control to make you happy. You have come a long way baby!

Love,

Auntie Mandy

Squats and Sit-Ups

Squats have always been my nemesis! I had knee surgery in 1987 (WOW! I'm OLD!) to have a benign tumor removed from my knee cap. After the surgery, the physical therapist gave me some exercises to do and said, "Keep doing these for a while." Well, to a 14 year old girl, a while is 2 weeks. Until about 5 years ago, I did not have the strength in my quads to do squats. I have now just started week 4 of this challenge and I am amazed at what I can do! Now, the first week was holy hell, but since then, I am just getting stronger.

Sit-ups are Satan's way of sprinkling evil on our core. Okay, maybe that goes a little far, but I don't like 'em. I am starting this challenge today. I started it last week, but since I broke my arm on Tuesday, I decided to wait another week on this one. So I will be doing this in a few before the kiddos get home.

Ahhhh!

Hear that? It's the sound of NOTHING! Okay, in a few minutes, my nephew will be here, but otherwise, it's NOTHING right now! The kiddos are at school, Hubby is getting ready for work, and I am on my way to listening to the sound of silence.

I have Nephew watching Diego. I need to get my squats done, start on the sit-up challenge (again) and do some cardio. I had leftover potatoes for breakfast (YUM). I guess I have nothing else for today. My arm is feeling better, but obviously not 100% yet. Have a good one!

What is HIS Deal?

GRR! Dimples has got to be one of the cutest kids, ever! I mean really! He is really cute. This picture was taken of him when he was 17 months old. He has only gotten cuter as he has aged. Sometimes I think his cuteness is what helps me not to completely lose it!


Anyway, he was having a great day. He's had quite a few great days in a row! Well, when we went out to get some groceries today, we ran into one of his teachers. As we were saying good-bye, she said, "See you tomorrow!" He LOST it! "WHAT????????? There is NO way it's January! I am NOT going back to school TOMORROW! You CANNOT make me!" Since then, he has been acting like he is sick, and now he just threw the most horrible fit. I mean the screaming, the bellowing, the loud sobbing! I really am having a difficult time not thinking, "Well the drugs aren't helping! NOW what!?!"

Anyway, I walked 4.5 miles on Walk It Out. I decided that is as far as I can go without my arm becoming sore. Or maybe I should just try to play without talking on the phone. Not happenin'!

Run Run Run!

I woke up this morning pretty early. Since I couldn't work today, I was thrilled that I got to go to church with the family. Nothing I love more than seeing my little boys sitting in church with their ties on. LOVE IT! Anyway, I figured since I had so much time, I could play some wheel of fortune while I prepared for the day. Hubby got up and made some eggless pancakes for me (mostly because we were out of eggs). Then I noticed it was time for me to start getting ready. I am not used to getting the kids ready for church and didn't even think about what it would take to get them ready! So in 40 minutes, we got five people showered, dressed and in the pew! HOLLAH!

Today is promising to be somewhat of a lazy day. Hubby promised to help me clean the living room to my specifications, and we will work on the dining room tomorrow. I have purple, yukon gold, and red potatoes in the oven cooking with some garlic, onions, dill and olive oil right now. I'm getting HUNGRY!

I plan to do Walk It Out later, and maybe some Just Dance 2. Haven't done that one for a while.

Thankkful Start to the Year

I am thankful for so many things. I am thankful for family. We had a nice day spent with Hubby's family. Everyone got along and had a lot of fun. I am thankful for the use of my body. Today, I can tie my shoes, open my medicine bottles, get ice out of the tray and I can still walk.

And walk I did! I went 3.9 miles on Walk It Out. Every time I would decide that I was done, another fun song came on. I had a good time. Poppy decided to take a swim today in the pond (yes the same one I was ice skating on earlier this week). He couldn't get all the way in the water because there were blocks of ice stopping him under the surface. We got a good laugh out of it, though.

Have a great evening everyone!

Gorgeous Day!

Six motorcycles just passed my house! I feel better now that I got this morning's post off of my chest! I was able to tie my shoes and put my bra on today! How's that for progress! Take THAT you stupid broken arm! HAHA!

Having vegan chili with rice and cornbread in a bit. Looking forward to a nice day with family!

To My BFF

I have tried to stop thinking about the negative of last year, but I can't. I actually started blogging over 3 years ago. It was a simple blog called Mandy. I would post the crazy stuff that was happening. Shortly before my husband was laid off, I stopped blogging (January 2009). Lanie encouraged me to start blogging again. So I did. I forgot that I had given my dad my blog address years ago. Last year, my father decided to stop speaking to me again (he had done this before). I was a little relieved as he is a very unhappy, lonely and mean old man. I felt free. When I started blogging again, he was checking up on me, reading my blog to get information, and a little big of power just by knowing. I moved my blog over to WordPress. He went to Lanie's blog to find me. I only had four five followers at the time. Sad Old Man started commenting on my blog saying very unkind things. He tried signing in as all different users and nothing was working for him. I wouldn't approve his comments. He said some really hurtful things. I have worked my whole life to get past his digs, and I wouldn't let it get to me.

After a while, I decided to move back to Blogger. I find it easier to navigate. I felt like it was a good choice. From what I can tell, the man formerly known as my father has not been on this blog. He continues to get his digs in on me in other ways, but for some reason, hasn't bothered me here. I think the final straw for him was realizing that people aren't going to put up with his crap anymore in real life. Now he is completely alone with only his step-mother to commiserate with.

Why do I mention all of this? I don't know! I guess it's because I see people similar to him in the blog land. They take what they believe is truth and spread it around to hurt people when it is in fact, not the truth. It hurts the people I love, which ultimately hurts me.

Many times, Lanie has said that I saved her life. But in actuality, she saved mine. I was on the road to being exactly the same as my father. If I said it louder than anyone else, it must be true. My words were hurtful and unkind. Lanie showed me that people could have different views that weren't necessarily wrong. She also showed me that some of the things I was saying were just wrong! I am a better person because of her. We have known each other for almost 20 years. We were out of contact for a few years and were brought together by our pregnancies. We had our babies three days apart. She was a first time mother who leaned on me to help her through teething, fevers, etc. I leaned on her to help me be patient, understanding, and fair.

If Lanie has ever had a problem with me, or anything I do, she tells me. She doesn't hide behind some alias or do it anonymously. She lives by the same standards she holds others to. That is why she is my BFF. We don't always agree, but we are able to respect the views that the other holds. We do not live in the same town, or the same county, but we do live in the same state. It makes it convenient for us to go to birthday parties, have play dates, etc. If I am wrong, she will tell me. If you are wrong, she will tell you. If someone else is wrong, she will tell them, but she will not hide from her words.

I love you Lanie! You are the sister I always wanted!