Discipline is a True Virtue

I don't even remember the last time I blogged.  I wanted to be so disciplined with this journaling and once again, I started with a roar and now you can barely hear a "peep."  Today was an overwhelming day of two consecutive dr. appts. in the morning, then driving across town for an ultra-sound, and then at 2:00, a lovely hour in the dentist's chair get my teeth cleaned or should I say "my mouth poked with metal instruments."  Ugh!  Oh and did I mention before I left the dr.s, I got my annual flu shot and had lab work all on the same arm.  "Ouch!"  I am pooped and need to do some things around the house before heading off to bed.  The good news is, with my weigh in today at the doctor's office, I found out I had lost 5 lbs.  Yeah!  Hopefully all my lab results come back normal.  Always a worry after having all the tests done.  Can't say I would want to go through another medical day like this one anytime soon.  Working for the next 5 days.  Already feeling tired.  I really need to do some soul searching about whether I want to work this much.  I am finding that I am having difficulty getting my errands and jobs around the house done having only 2 or 3 days off.  Going to go tuck myself into bed and get a good night's sleep!

Been Away Too Long!

So much for getting on my blog every day.  I have been so bad at not keeping up with a daily ritual.  I enjoyed a day off from work and was able to get my hair trimmed.  Been having the munchies lately and having a hard time staying away from the pantry and fridge for nibbling sessions.  Not good.  I know that when I do it I am taking just small pieces here and there but it all adds up.  It is a good thing that I am working and not home all the time.  Miss my fellow blogger.  Hope you are feeling better my friend.  Been praying for our little grandbaby yet to be born that his or her little feet will be just pigeon-toed and not clubbed as suspected by the doctor.  Either way, the situation can be easily treated with casts or splints.  I am trying to not worry and just leave things in God's hands, the perfect place for my thoughts and concerns.  Can't believe that it is almost the middle of November and the holiday season will be upon us in no time.  I pray that I will not get caught up in all the commercialism and materialism that seems to characterize the season especially in this country.  I love giving gifts, but to go into so much debt in order to give is not what we should do.  I hope this Christmas to focus on the true meaning of Christmas and spending time with family.

Heading Back to Work!

Here it is Tuesday night and I just finished balancing the checkbook and need to straighten up a bit before heading off to bed.  Took a bunch of stuff over to "Purple Heart" and "Women's Shelter."  I absolutely love de-cluttering my house.  I didn't get as much done over these few days off as I wanted to.  Cleaning and re-organizing takes a lot of hours.  I really want to go through my entire house before the new year sets in so I can clean my house without having to move so much junk around.  The good thing about keeping busy like this is, I DON'T THINK ABOUT FOOD!  Therefore, I don't eat as much either.  Wayne is flying home tomorrow and will be so exhausted after being overseas and traveling so long.  It will be great to have him home again.  I am stressing because I want everything to look so cleaned up and yet, I have dealt with those type of feelings so much, especially when we are about to go on vacation.  I always want to have everything perfect before I leave.  I watched Julie/Julia last night and realized that even in a cluttered small apartment over a pizzeria, Julie was happy inviting friends over to share a nice dinner and by all means her home wasn't perfect.  Why is it that I feel that I need to have everything so perfect in order to entertain?  It drives me insane......I have to work on that!  Wow, I am skipping all over the place with this blog tonight.  Have to head back to work tomorrow and for the next 4 days.  Night! Night!

My feet are tired!

Worked today from 10-5:30 and I'm exhausted.  Had all these little things planned to get accomplished after fixing myself some dinner.  Oh back up, so today, one of my co-workers ordered a hot dog and fries from a burger joint a few doors down from the store, and walking into the breakroom, the aroma smelled glorious.  I hadn't had a hot dog in a long time and thought, great I'll be a bit bad and order a chili dog...........NOT FOR ME....the hot dog was rubbery and the chili, canned I presumed, was way too salty.  Yuck.....The good news.....I won't be ordering a hot dog again!  That to me is such a plus and movement in the right direction to be able to check things off the list of appealing foods and for me to pay attention to: if it doesn't taste good, don't eat it.

I'm so blessed to know a caring and loving God, that when there is trouble bringing worry and concern, I know that He is in control and won't bring anything into our lives that we cannot handle.  Family is so important and it is such a blessing to be able to encourage and pray for one another.  Thank you, God, for giving Grant safe travel to California and for upholding Ryan and Allison as they deal with a possible medical condition of their sweet baby.  Give them peace and comfort.....

Peaceful Quiet

It is 1:00 in the morning and I'm will soon be heading to bed.  Grant left today after we had lunch during my break at work.  I was feeling pretty sad last night so I was happy when we said goodbye that I was able to just give him a big hug and kiss and not feel teary like I am now as I write this.  He is going to have such a long drive by himself to California and I pray for his safety and well-being on the trip.  After getting home from work, leftovers became my dinner.  To my surprise, I really listened to my body when it told me I was feeling full and I stopped and fed our garbage disposal, instead of giving in to the puppy eyes of Ellie just desperate to have me share.  The entire evening was spent working on things around the house that I've been neglecting to do.  A productive night with no t.v., music.  Just me and my thoughts while my hands kept busy.  Looking forward to having dinner with Debra tomorrow at one of our favorite restaurants.  Oh, the blessing of friendship.  Goodnight.

Already Missing Him....

Grant and I packed up his car today for his travel back to California to play golf until mid December.  We went out to get him a pair of sunglasses and had a wonderful meal at Cheesecake Factory.  I ordered a chicken dish with a Vietnamese flair and rice.  Ate 1/2 and saved the rest for dinner for me tomorrow night after working all day.  To top dinner off I couldn't resist and ordered a amazing slice of their pecan/pumpkin cheesecake to go.  Ate a couple of bites tonight after coming home, and will savor it the next two days as mini desserts.  I am working tomorrow when Grant leaves and I am sure the house will feel very empty when I come home.  Thank goodness for my wonderful dogs that I will be able to cuddle and have a little cry with. It is so surprising to me that I am feeling so teary eyed with him leaving but I have kind of gotten used to him being around.  I know that playing tournaments is where he should be and I just pray for his safety, protection, and success.  You're loved and will be missed more that you know, Granty.  Enough for tonight!

Tuesday Night...Where Was I?

Here it is Wednesday afternoon and I'm going to catch up on my missed Tuesday night blogging session.  See that is a definite problem I have in not being disciplined, whether it comes to eating, exercising, reading my bible,  doing chores around the house, AND NOW BLOGGING!!!! Ugh!  I get so mad at myself.  Nothing that a pint of coffee flavored marble slab couldn't cure!!!!!! But I am going to be disciplined and go drink a nice bottle of refreshing H2O and be happy that is going to nurture my body not put on fat.  I am sad today because Alyssa and I aren't communicating like we usually do.....and my son is leaving tomorrow for a long drive by himself to California.....and Wayne is on the other side of the world....but solitude will be good for me this next week.  I am going to busy myself with doing projects around the house that I have put off.  So far today, a breakfast/lunch combo---a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.  Ate only 1 cheeto and gave the other one to Ellie and decided I didn't like the taste....too salty.  Yeah, I'm making progress.

Talk to you tonight!

Hunger pangs on Monday night!

So I was really good today, got up (way too late, but it sure felt good having the option), and ate a grill cheese sandwich made with olive oil, instead of butter and a cup of soup.  Went to work and for my dinner break, finished another cup of soup and a snack size of tapioca pudding for a treat.  Feeling pretty good and staying really busy with things I needed to get done with all the new holiday merchandise and sale items, I thought I would come home and just go to bed after writing in my blog.  Before I even got to the computer, I opened the fridge and some leftover green beans and boiled red potatoes were SCREAMING at me to put them in the microwave.  That's all I needed to hear.  I followed their direction, began smelling a flavorable aroma and, well, the rest is all history.  The bad thing is I am getting all that food energy to go to sleep.  Yuck!  Tommorrow and Wednesday I have off and I want to CLEAN, CLEAN, CLEAN my house and start getting Grant ready for his driving trip to California.  As my fellow blogger says, my "attitude of gratitude" is for the joy pets can bring into your life......They love you no matter what and are always happy to see you!  Here's to you Ellie, Nellie, and Duke and (almost forgot) Annabelle and Megan.
Talk to you tomorrow..........

Up To Me

Sunday evening and I just got home from work and I have a handful of almonds in front of me, but I would really love the leftover 1/4 bag of Cheetos sitting on the kitchen counter.  I did succumb to two of those crunchy, orange puffs, but then I said no more.  Ellie looked up at me kind of sad because with me only eating a couple she only had one piece thrown to her.  She looked at me as if to say, "Come back, come back, I know you want more!"  "Sorry Ellie, a woman's got to do what a woman's got to do, and if I looked as slender as you I could eat an entire bag and not have it appear around my belly by the next morning!"  One of my best friends is blogging too and I am so happy that we are here to encourage each other.  I am so blessed with her long distance friendship.  Work was a big hectic tonight with learning a new process in the world of retail, but it keeps you on your toes learning new things.  Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks?  Off to bed thinking how much I love my family and how fun it will be to see them again over the Thanksgiving holidays. Goodnight!

Saturday Night and Another Blog

It's Saturday night, and the 2nd night after starting this blog.  I have to say I started out right last night going to bed earlier, but that didn't seem to help me to not sleep in until 11:00.  I started off well by eating a lean cuisine before going to work at 1:00, having 2 fish tacos and a couple of chips for dinner (guess giving up bread for today was not meant to be), and then some tomato soup after getting off work at 10:00.  Oh I forgot, 4 bites of low fat ice cream followed.  It could have been worse, I was dying to stop off at marble slab and get a coffee ice cream mixed with almonds and heath bar pieces in a waffle cone!  Oh I would have hated myself for that.  I wanted to add a part to this blog about something that I do well and feel accomplished for each day and also a blessing in life.  I really enjoyed wardrobing my customers today at the store and being pleasant and kind.  My blessing today is that I was given the chance a year ago from my manager to be hired and work in retail.  It's just a part-time position and I don't know how long it will last but I feel much more confident learning an entirely new job.  Off to bed to get some much needed rest.  Be back tomorrow!

Up To Me

Well, this is a first.  I am going to start a blog to help me accomplish all the things I want to do in my life, whether it be exercise more, lose weight, be a better friend, manage money, become more organized, etc, etc., etc.  The list could go on and on............. But today at 12:03 in the morning I am going to commit to this blog each and every day for a year to help me be a better me.  Starting out by going to bed before 1:00 in the morning, like usual, because I need to get on a better sleep schedule and I don't want to sleep till 11! Here I go..........