I’ve been under huge stress at work, and I’ve been leaning on everyone too much. I was working on a project only to find that someone threw away what I printed (even though I left them a message that I was printing it, and please don’t throw it away).
I’m stuck at work until at least eleven, if not midnight, as a result.
I made a political comment on a blog and got flamed. It hurts. All I wanted to do was start a discussion about viewpoints and it came out wrong. I even got flamed after I said I was sorry. I am a very sensitive person and I can’t take when people lash out at me.
I have barely seen my little girl this week, and next week will be worse. I’ve barely seen my husband and we miss each other.
So I went to the convenience store and bought a big jar of queso sauce. I ate the whole jar using tortilla chips, but mostly queso. Emotional eating, anyone?
My mom and I have a tradition of seeing each other on each of my birthdays. We only missed one year, where she and my dad came to see me but had to leave a day before my birthday because I was working as a third-shift chemist in the worst city in the Union.
So my mom drove an hour, picked up my daughter, and three generations of women had lunch at my workplace. My mom couldn’t possibly know how much this means to me. The tradition is wonderful, but the neat part to me is all of the effort to pick up Ainsley and to drive to a place she’s never driven. Mom doesn’t like to be lost but she braved the trip so I could see her and have a wonderful lunch. She even stood at the fundraising table for Light the Night with us and drummed up donations.
Mom fancies herself to be a simple person with not much to offer. What I see is a vibrant, intelligent, compassionate person who gives so much of herself to people she loves and to strangers too. She volunteers to help teach children to read and it’s not just an hour a week for her. She carries these children in her prayers all week. She’s also intelligent and insightful. I am very good at pattern recognition, but I’m only half as smart as she is at it- she can play bridge like no one else.
As I sat with Ainsley and Mom, I had one of those moments where everything else falls away. I was totally in the moment, laughing with my mom and my daughter and enjoying a meal. It was a simple lunch with no fanfare but it was perfect.
So thanks, Mom, for teaching me by your example, and giving me your compassion and giving me my life. I love you!
(I know I’m no star, just trying to paraphrase a quote. Work with me here).
Now that I’m on Facebook, I have ignored blogging. Blogging takes thought and creativity. Facebook asks me for one-sentence updates. Blogging demands long-winded strolls through my mind. Facebook lets me upload a picture and no story. Blogging says, pour yourself a cup of something and add your own thousand words to the picture.
So I’m attempting to resist the lazy urge to Facebook this pic. Instead I’ll sum up the evening: fun family fest frolic. Mexican food followed by local apple goodies at an orchard.
If you’re interested, my kid is the littlest one on the far left. Children’s ages are 1, 3, 1, 9, 3.
Me blog. Me forget how write good. Me too busy.
Please pardon the blurry mobile phone picture. Just thought you’d like to see that little impish look. It means, “may I have that phone please?”
Usually, when a blogger disappears, it’s not a good thing. We’re usually off gaining weight, feeling depressed, or not wanting to proclaim to the world how bad things are.
I’ve been so busy that I can’t think. I’m either working, spending time with Ainsley, or logging on to work more after her bedtime. Nothing is glaringly wrong. I’m just so busy that all of the fun blog posts swirling in my head are never written.
So this post is just to say I’m not in any trouble; I’m just in high gear.
I’ve been using this for years. Amy and I were messing with dry ice and we colored the water blue for amusement. I always laugh at fake chemists with brightly colored solutions. Even in a wet chem lab, most solutions are colorless other than indicators.
Anyway, is my avatar my “brand” or should I update it? I mean “brand” as in Kellogg’s, not a hot iron.
As McCain chooses a female running mate, Sarah Palin, and the Democratic nominee is African-American, we are about to see history.
It is virtually guaranteed that there will be a minority elected to the White House, assuming that a third political party doesn’t suddenly gain rampant popularity by November.
Finally. A minority in the White House. Our melting pot has finally melted all the way to the top.
To me, the most refreshing part is that I won’t vote for the Democratic candidate because of his race, or for the McCain ticket because there’s a woman on it. I’ll vote for the ticket that I think most closely upholds what I believe to be valuable.
I wanted McCain to win the primary eight years ago, along with Bradley as the democratic candidate. At the time I got neither. I’ll be closely watching the race to ensure I’m making the right choice, of course, but for now, I’ll just relish that yes, Virginia, there will be a minority in our highest offices.
From Amy.
1. My uncle once: had Thanksgiving dinner wearing only his swimsuit
2. Never in my life: have I been to Africa
3. When I was five: I was shy
4. High school was: not my most mature (ugh)
5. I will never forget: getting stalked
6. Once I met: a celebrity at the height of his fifteen minutes
7. There’s this girl I know: who hates me and I don’t know why. It hurts
8. Once, at a bar: I danced until 6AM
9. By noon, I’m usually: over half done with work
10. Last night: I tried to put a shelf together only to find it was damaged in shipping…grr
11. If only I had: studied more in college
12. Next time I go to church: will be Saturday with Ainsley
13. What worries me most: is when people demean me or others because they have faith
14. When I turn my head left I see: the other upstairs laptop
15. When I turn my head to the right I see: a bunch of boxes of junk that need to be eBayed
16. You know I’m lying when: you’re psychic
17. What I miss most about the Eighties is: enough time to listen to every pop song I wanted
18. If I were a character in Shakespeare I’d be: English
19. By this time next year: I’ll be tired again from Gen Con
20. A better name for me would be: shorter. I have four names
21. I have a hard time understanding: people who think their way is the only way
22. If I ever go back to school, I’ll: poke my eye out. No way
23. You know I like you if: I ask you to live near me
24. If I ever won an award, the first person I would thank would be: Carlton
25. Take my advice, never: let a relationship define you
26. My ideal breakfast is: black coffee and a jalapeno bagel, preferably on Saturday morning
27. A song I love but do not have is: Anything newer than 2006. I just haven’t gotten around to purchasing much
28. If you visit my hometown, I suggest you: see the gorgeous Chihuly chandelier
29. Why won’t people: be nice to each other
30. If you spend a night at my house: I’ll make you a nice meal the night before
31. I’d stop my wedding for: not having my parents there
32. The world could do without: hate
33. I’d rather lick the belly of a cockroach than: ew.
34. My favorite blonde(s) is/are: my sister
35. Paper clips are more useful than: nothing. Binder clips rule
36. If I do anything well it’s: host
37. I can’t help but: give dirty looks to people who annoy me
38. I usually cry: when I have a migraine
39. My advice to my child/nephew/niece: please be nice to each other
40. And by the way: will you move in with me?
I did it! It doesn’t hurt that Gen Con made me walk about four miles so far.
This is an update on the last weight loss post, Four in Three. I’m still eight pounds from goal, but three pounds from my short-term goal. It’s time for pictures.
Me at about 218 pounds. Seriously, this is obviously not all weight gained for pregnancy. I remember that day was the best I’d felt in a month. I’m wearing lipstick and standing up! We were going to dinner with friends. My self-esteem was terrible. My arms look like sausages. I bought this dress at a regular, non-maternity store because most maternity clothes are very cheaply made and I wanted one or two things that didn’t fall apart. Why did I buy a cap-sleeve dress? Who knows. The pattern did do a good job of hiding everything else.
Me two days ago. I think the biggest difference, other than the obvious BABY that’s missing, is my neck. Oh, and my watch now fits. I also stopped wearing makeup, but that’s not so much about my weight, is it?
I noticed that my bicep muscles are more toned. Most moms can attest to the toning that happens from picking up a kid over and over.
The dress was purchased to hide my growing rear, so it’s hard to tell that it’s smaller, but trust me, it is. I can fit into my pre-baby pants. The waistband are still a bit tight but I don’t know if my stomach muscles will ever be that toned again.
Having been thin most of my life made me less appreciative of the struggles of losing weight. I battled 10 pounds that kept wanting to creep onto my frame, but that was it. Now I know that it takes a lot of discipline to stay on plan. My “diet” wasn’t really a “diet” so much as a permanent change to my eating habits. I knew that if I purchased pre-made meals, I’d just go back to old habits after the diet ended. I used to eat, as a snack on a Saturday night:
- 1/2 to one package of chocolate chip cookie dough- with a spoon
- An entire bag of sour cream and cheddar potato chips
- An entire container of sour cream for dipping the chips
A new snack is:
- A piece of fruit or cheese
A typical old dinner was:
- A ten- to fourteen- ounce steak or pork roast
- Homemade macaroni and cheese with extra cheese
- A dessert of sour cream or icing on a spoon (at least ten spoonsful)
A new dinner is:
- Beans or lentils
- Whole grain rice
- Some sort of green vegetable cooked in canola/olive/flaxseed oil
So there you go. If I can change my diet, anyone can.
