Friday Photos

Lots of pictures of the garden - and there are more to come in the future.  And, of course, Boomer.

 These are two rose bushes that I transplanted when we had the driveway done.  They are surviving and blooming.  Yay!

 I'm not sure what this is, but I liked the orange blossom.

 I could do a whole study on this plant.  It's an ecinachea, aka coneflower - and the colors are great.

 A new garden area we created.  We got rid of some Rose of Sharon bushes.  The middle plant is a lamb's ear.  I love it!  Soft and pretty.

 Another addition last summer - decorative grass - that "bloomed" for the first time this summer.

 I love the changing colors on my hydrangea.

And - who else rounding up the photos but the Boom Doggie!

Happiness is....

....the solitude of the early morning.  It's going to be pretty hot today, so rather than wait until after work to get my exercise (usually a 30 minute walk) I decided to do it this morning.  It was lovely being out there in the early morning, with only a few other walkers and joggers and the requisite animal life.  It's such a peaceful time of day.  I plan to do the same thing tomorrow - going to be even hotter - and may keep it up through the summer.  It also has the added benefit of allowing me to come home from work and jump right in the neighbor's pool, with no guilt since I've already exercised!

As expected, I'm up

I expected to be up a couple of pounds after my week away, and I am.  Weird thing though, when I weighed myself on Sunday, I was only up a pound.  Could I really have added a pound since Sunday morning?  I suppose it could be the weirdness of water weight.  Anyway, I did indulge while away.  My biggest indulgence was alcohol.  If I drink more than 1 glass of anything a week, that's unusual for me.  Last week, I was drinking every night.  I did limit myself one night - because the line for the bathroom was so long!  I did get some exercise in.  Instead of cabbing it from the airport to the hotel, I took the L, then walked.  I got more exercise going in than I planned, as I turned the wrong way twice and walked probably 24 extra blocks in the hot Chicago sun.  I also hit the gym one day and walked a good mile one night with colleagues to see someone back to their hotel safely.  I had larger meals than normal, but did not eat in-between meals, which helped keep the gain to a minimum.  So, after all that, I do not regret what led to my gain this week.  I know I will get it back off, I'm back on the wagon.

Happiness is....

.....sleeping in my own bed.   I was in Chicago for almost a week at a conference.  While the hotel was lovely, it's not the same as sleeping in my own bed. 
Later today, happiness will be "welcome home" doggy kisses from Boomer.    Boomer has been on a doggy vacation while we were away.  Luckily, he loves the place he goes to for his vacation.  He recognizes what's happening when we bag up his food.  Amazingly smart that animal.  Of course, then he gets kind of hyper because he knows what's going on.  I pick him up this afternoon.  He'll be freshly bathed and happy to see me! 

Happiness is....

...trying new things - and liking them.  I am a creature of habit.  I find things I like and I stick to them.  I will occasionally venture out, but I do like the tried and true.  The town that we live in has a lot of restaurants and A & I always say that we want to try new ones. This past Sunday was our chance.  There was a fund raiser where you bought a ticket and then got to go to all sorts of restaurants in town and try samples.  YUM!  I'm not sure which was my favorite - maybe the barbecue place.  But we found a great place to go for breakfast, a great pizza place, the barbecue place we had wanted to try, a new Italian eatery, an awesome ice cream parlor - so many.  So yummy!  Dangerous to the diet, I know - but I think that once I get past my conference, I'll hit my goal not long after and then maybe a night out every other week will be manageable financially and diet wise.

Still the Same

I'm not sure if that's good or bad!  No scale movement this week.  Okay - maybe there was like a tenth of a pound - but that's as good as no movement.  So, reflecting on the week - it's probably not bad.  I certainly didn't get in the exercise this weekend that I normally do.  During the week I mostly got my exercise in.  I did cheat.  There were three birthday celebrations and one retirement party.  I wasn't bad, but I wasn't good either.  And then there are the lifesavers.  The gummy version can be addictive.  I need to stay away from them because I can eat a whole bag by myself in one day.  Not so good for the diet.  Sometimes I feel like I need something little to get me through from one meal to the next - and that's ridiculous - especially because I have planned snacks between meals.  I also slacked off on drinking water this week.  What I need to do is drink some water whenever I feel that urge for a little something between planned meals or snacks. 
Now, I'm really wishing I had lost the last two weeks, because I expect to gain this week.  I will be away from home with multiple awesome eating opportunities.  There will also be drinking opportunities.  So, my plan is to limit my alcohol intake.  That's not just for the diet, it's also so I don't get stupid and so I'm not hungover in the morning.  At the meals, I think maybe the best thing to do is to try to leave something on my plate.  I'll also try not to eat too many carbs and to avoid snacking between meals.  The snacking thing I should be able to do for two reasons - one, the snacks won't be that available and two, when I'm occupied - as I will be in seminars - I don't have the urge to snack. 
So, there you have it.  A plan.  I expect to gain a pound or so, but I hope to limit it to that.

Same bat time, Same bat channel

Same weight. Some of you may be too young to remember the sign off for Batman. At the end of each show, you would get previews of the next and they would remind you it would be on next week "same bat time, same bat channel." And that's where I am today. Could have been worse - right? Right! After a day of yard work in the hot sun on Saturday, I kicked back with the husband, a few beers and some pizza. Sunday's lovely weather invited some wine. So, I wasn't following the plan exactly. Part of the plan has been alcohol avoidance. Too many empty calories. I also may be dealing with a little water retention. Anyway, this week the plan is....stick to the plan. It will be a challenge at times, but it's kind of key. I have a retirement party on Saturday, A's birthday is Sunday and our neighbor turns 21 Wednesday, which I'm sure we'll celebrate at some point. (She's celebrating every night starting Wednesday.) I'm hoping to get more exercise in than I did this week, which could offset a little cheating, but I really must keep the cheating to a minimum. I would truly love to be at my goal before I head off to my conference.

Boomer is....

....not at all a pittie! We had a DNA test done to see just what he is. We always thought he was a mix of American Bulldog and Pit Bull and maybe something else. So, now we know. He is 50% American Bulldog, 25% Whippet and 25% Redbone Coonhound. Wow! The whippet part makes some things make sense, like his deep chest and his tendency to sleep on his back. I don't see the coonhound much though.

Yarn Dilemma

It's a shopping dilemma too.  There's a yarn store about 30 minutes from me that is closing.  They are selling everything at 60% off at this point.  I went up there earlier this week, when they were at 40% off.  I had promised myself that unless I found something for a project that was planned, I shouldn't buy.  But now it's 60% off.  So tempting!  My stash is good sized right now and anything I bought would be simply adding to the stash with nothing in mind.  Part of me says "60% off - too good to pass up" and the other part says "Buying something on sale that you might not use is not saving money."   What to do, what to do. ETA: decided not to go shopping at the sale.

Happiness is...

a nice cold beer after a day of yard work.  On Sunday, I did a lot of planting.  Then I followed that up with mowing the lawn and trimming.  I did the trimming by hand - I'm not comfortable using A's gas powered trimmer.  When I was done, I was hot, sweaty and tired.  I had a beer.  Sometimes a cold beer just really hits the spot like nothing else can.

Almost there

I'm down another 1.5 lbs, so now just 2.5 lbs from my goal.  Yay me!  I think I have a good chance of making my goal before I head to my confence in two weeks - where I will surely gain.  So, then I'll hope back on the wagon and get back down.  After that, I need to work on how I stay down.  One thing I'm thinking about is to plan to diet on a regular basis - like one month on, one month off.  Keeping up the exercise will clearly be key.  I really don't want to creep back up - so I've got to keep an eye on the weight and never let it get more than a pound or two out of line.

back in the right direction

The scale is moving my way again.  Yay!  I expected it.  I think last week was an aberration.  Truth is, I was down a little more mid-week, but I cheated on Sunday.  As you might expect, Mother's Day is not the easiest of days for women like me, who went through so much trying to be a mother, but not ending up there.  So, on Sunday, I had what I wanted.  A bagel with cream cheese for breakfast.  Another one as a snack.  I do love bagels!  They are not a regular part of my diet, usually a treat, but I hadn't even done that in ages.  And I had cupcakes.  Those little mini ones.  At one point, I was doing pretty good and thought "I don't need any more of those cupcakes" - there were 8 left at that point - but then, well, something set me off and those 8 cupcakes went down.  And now?  They didn't really make me feel better, in fact I felt a bit guilty eating them, knowing they were doing nothing positive for me.  I didn't feel guilty about the bagels at all though!  So next time I need a little comfort food, it will be bagels.  Anyway, the upcoming week does not look to have any challenges.  I wasn't able to exercise last night and won't be able to tonight - but the rest of the week looks good for that.  I am trying to get some weight work in for my arms and I'm doing stomach exercises too.  I'm even - GULP - giving some thought to maybe buying a bikini again. 

Boomer in action

Last night, I was cooking my dinner on the grill, when I noticed Boomer nosing around in the garden.  I thought he was after the bunnies again, but it turned out to be a much more evil foe!  Our neighbor was watering his garden on the other side of the fence and Boomer heard the noise of the water when it hit the fence and he was trying to get it.  I started laughing - told the neighbor what was going on - he then amused us both by directing the water at different parts of the fence.  I happened to have my camera out - so I got some great action shots of Boomer chasing the noise.  What the pictures couldn't capture was the pathetic crying from my fierce doggie!

Blooms, Bunnies & Boomer

Some pictures of the bunnies, my flowers and, of course, my dog.

Happiness is...

...warming up by snuggling with my husband.  Last night, when I got into bed, it was a little chilly.  So, I just snuggled up to A to get warm.  It was nice, so nice.  Because of his job, I sleep alone a couple of nights a week.  Yeah, it can be nice to have the big bed to myself once in a while, but I always sleep better when he is there beside me. 

bummer weigh in

I gained.  It wasn't entirely unexpected, but still - bummer.  I cheated multiple times this week and I paid for it when I weighed in this morning.  So, back on the wagon, must do better.  I shouldn't be facing any major challenges this week, but if one does show up, I need to show restraint.  I also need to keep up the exercise.  I don't have that much further to go, which should be my incentive to stick to it, not a license to relax.

A dog's instincts

Boomer is a mixed breed.  We believe he's part American Bulldog and part Pit Bull.  Both breeds have hunting instincts.  Boomer has shown that in the past.  So, when we found a nest of baby bunnies in our yard, we tried to keep Boomer away from them.  He actually responded quite well to the corrections and stayed away from the nest.  So, on Sunday, when I called A out to come see that one of them was partly out of the nest, I thought Boomer would be okay on the porch.  I didn't expect that baby bunny to take off across the yard.  Then Boomer did what his instincts told him to do, he caught the bunny.  It will be a while before I forget hearing the bunny squeal.  I didn't know bunnies made noise.  I screamed no several times, I grabbed Boomer. He dropped the little baby bunny and it scampered off, wounded.  I was so upset with Boomer.  No matter how smart we think he is, how many wonderful, human-like characteristics we might ascribe to him, he is still a dog.  He did what his instincts told him to do.  So, we found little baby bunny hiding in the grass.  Boomer had been put under house arrest.  The bunny fled from the grass to the gardens.  In all the commotion, two other bunnies fled the nest and went under a rose bush and two more hung out by the nest.  When A started the lawn mower, those two fled to the garden as well.  We tried to put the injured bunny back in the nest.  He hopped right out.  We continued to worry about it all day, checking on him in his new hiding spot.  Then A decided we would create a safe haven for the bunnies until they grew up and left.  So, we now have fencing around the area of the yard where their nest is.  Mommy bunny can get in, big bad Boomer cannot.  The wounded bunny appears to be doing okay.  We watched last night as he moved out of his hiding spot when his mother came.  She cleaned him and tended to him, so we are hopeful that he's going to make it. 
Last thought - I wish I could communicate with the mother and ask her "WTF were you thinking, building a nest in the middle of a yard where you knew there was a dog?"  Strangely, according to the research we have done on wild bunnies, they don't consider dogs to be predators.  One little bunny knows differently now!

Highway Musings

I wish there was a way to let other drivers know when you see a problem with their car.  I was behind someone today who had only one brake light working.  I really would have loved to have been able to tell her - but unless I had the opportunity to pull up next to her at a light, how would I?  There needs to be a way.
I really get annoyed - said it many times before - by people who ignore stop signs.  The worst are those who don't even pretend to pause.  And the people who don't want to wait in the left turn only lane because it's too long - so they go in the center lane and try to cut over at the last minute.  I wish I had a sign that I could flash at them that said "ASSHOLE". 
I also don't understand how oblivious some people seem to be on the highway.  Driving in the left lane, not keeping up to speed, totally unaware of the line of cars building up behind them.
And lights on when wipers are on!  I'm not sure if it's a law in all states.  It's what I was taught.  I wish that my car would do it automatically - yes lazy, I know.  My car has an auto on thing for lights - it determines when it is dark enough outside that you need lights on.  If I turn them on when I turn my wipers on, I'm always afraid of forgetting to turn them off.  So, wouldn't it be nice if there was some way that when you turn your wipers on in the daylight, your lights went on as well? 

Happiness is....

....a doggie playmate.  Boomer has one now!  Last summer our neighbors adopted a rescue dog.  She was very skittish when she arrived.  She didn't seem to like other dogs and growled at Boomer at their first meeting.  We've tried to slowly get them to know each other.  It's been funny to watch.  They'll bring her over (our back yard is fenced in, theirs is not) and she would sit there.  Boomer would try to entice her to play, but nothing.  With treats, corrections, encouragement, at first we just got them to be in the yard together with no growling or anything.  Then a couple of weeks ago, Boomer was running with one of Jessie's owners and she started to join in - but would then stop.  And she would only join if her owner was running too.  Last weekend, Boomer tried to get her to chase him - and she did!  It was awesome.  He went up to her, made a move, ran off - and she followed.  Two doggies slept very well that night.  It's been awesome to watch Jessie come out of her shell.  She's a sweet girl and it's fun to watch the dogs play together.

Even Steven

No gain, no loss this week, it's just even steven.  I'm not complaining.  Having been down the weight loss path many times before, I know that if I weigh myself again tomorrow, I'll probably see movement.  I wasn't perfect on the diet.  In fact, on Sunday, I was just jonesing for something sweet - so I went and got it.  I also didn't get in as much exercise as I normally would.  I hope that isn't the case this week - though I know I likely won't get exercise today as it is pouring.  Well, I could do an exercise video after work - so maybe I will.  On the other hand, my left achilles has been a little cranky, so maybe I should rest it.
Now, another challenge I'm facing is getting A on the weight loss bandwagon.  He will do really well, watching what he eats and working out for a while, then something derails him and he stops and just goes back to bad habits.  I have to say that I don't think his eating is that bad right now - at least not what I'm seeing.  It may be portion size more than content, but he's not working out at all and he's gained back the weight he lost when he started cross fit last year.  I don't get it because when he's working out and getting in shape, he feels so good about himself.  I encourage him, things go well - then something gets in the way of his workout schedule and that's it - he's done.  It's hard not to nag.  It's hard to find a way to encourage him to lose weight without making him feel bad about himself.  But I've got to find a way.  I see the FDNY Lt who died in a fire recently and the man was overweight.  More so than A is, but A's weight scares me with his job. The Lt didn't die from burns or crush injuries or smoke inhalation, they say it was a heart attack.  I look at him, then I look at A and I'm scared that it could happen to him.  And I don't know how to get him to be more fit.  I may have to go on a sex strike again.  It's worked before - get right down to what drives a man!

Knitting Trials & Tribulations

Currently, the big project on my needles is an afghan for my future sister-in-law.  It's sort of my own design, but the layout and some of the cabling elements come from the Burridge Lake Afghan (link is for Ravelry if you are a knitter).  I wanted something a little less busy than the Burridge Lake Afghan and I didn't like all of the cables in it and definitely not the Trinity Stitch.  So, I did some research and picked some cables I liked, figured out which would work well together in terms of repeats, decided on the cables, figured out the spacing I wanted and came up with my pattern.  Like the Burridge Lake Afghan, I am knitting this in panels.  I'm nearly done with the first panel - just trying to decide if it is long enough.  Should it be just a lap afghan or should it be long enough that FSIL and cover herself head - well shoulder - to toe with it?  If I want the latter - do I have enough yarn.  So last night I was doing math.  One ball of yarn is getting me about 118 rows.  At that rate, I will need just over 3 balls to complete the first panel.  Since the third panel is the same series of cables - just left to right instead of right to left - the third panel should take the same amount of yarn.  The center panel is double the width of the others - in stitches anyway - so theoretically it should be double in terms of yarn usage.  So, if basically I need a total of 7 balls of yarn to do panels 1 & 3, then panel 2 should take 7 balls of yarn.  I have 16, so I should be good.  While I was doing this math last night and pondering the yarn issue - I took a quick look at panel 1 and saw one cable where I failed to cross it.  Had I crossed it the wrong way, I would have just let it be - let it be a design element.  But I didn't cross it at all.  I didn't like the way it looked.  So, I sucked it up, took those 8 stitches down to the error and have been reknitting.  Notice I didn't tink the whole thing back - just those 8 stitches.  This is the first time I've tried something like that and I am so damn proud of myself!   It's not easy, I'm actually doing a little continental knitting here, only problem is I'm twisting my purl stitches.
So, back to the yarn issue.  I decided this morning that what I would do is stop knitting on panel 1 where I am, put the stitches on some waste yarn.  Then I will knit panel 3 to the same point and put it on waste yarn.  Then I'll do the center panel and see where I stand when that gets to the same point.  And for anyone who is curious, the reason I'm knitting panel 3 before the center panel is that 1 & 3 are identical - just mirror images.  If I find that the I'm not happy with the projected width of the afghan after doing 1 & 3, then I can enlarge the center panel and continue to have the project be symmetrical.

Was I crying for her or for me?

The woman I wrote about in yesterday's post called me at work yesterday.  We talked some, mostly she talked, I listened.  I tried to affirm her feelings, tried to give her some advice.  After I got off the phone with her, I cried.  I really didn't expect that.  Some of it was sadness for her, but mostly I think it was dredging up old sorrows of mine.  Her situation was very similar, where they told her at one visit that the heartbeat was slowing, to expect a loss and then it happened.  So, I had a good cry.  I was drained by it.  I got home last night and just wanted hugs from A and Boomer.  I sat outside with A while he cooked and I drank a glass of wine.  I looked at him, at Boomer, at our yard and I know how very lucky I am, how very much I have.  It's hard though, to not be sometimes sad at what we don't have.

Sharing experience, trying to help

The wife of someone I know recently suffered a miscarriage.  When the husband first announced her pregnancy and I found out she was only 6 weeks along, I did an inner cringe and thought that he shouldn't be sharing the news so soon.  Sadly I was right.  We talked yesterday, she's having a hard time.  Well, who wouldn't be having a hard time.  Sadly, her closest female relatives don't get it and are bumbling with being supportive and falling into age old traps - like thinking it would be good to be around babies.  Oy.  So, he came to me to see what I had done, to whom had I turned for help.  I gave him the name of the therapist I saw.  I offered to be available to his wife.  I was honest about the general suckiness of their reality.  The sad thing, for me, is that I can offer support, I can offer advice, I can listen, but I can't make their pain go away any faster.  And I really wish I could. 

Another step closer

I'm down another pound!  Yay!  I was kind of worried Sunday when I weighed myself and was up a little.  But I kept in mind that weight can fluctuate weirdly sometimes, it could just be water weight.  And it looks like I was right.  I didn't really do anything different this week, but I was only out to dinner once.  I had one beer that night and that was it.  It wasn't because of the diet, it was because I was looking at a 1 hour ride home, including going up and over a mountain.  Okay, a big hill - but it's a really, really big hill with windy, twisty roads.  I also added a little bit of weights to my working out.  I'm serious about the little part.  I'm only working on my arms right now, because I'm doing this at home.  My arms are my worst part - that double goodbye is really bad.  I'm considering changing gyms to one that will be closer to home and that offers more - like classes and a pool.  It will be more expensive, not a lot more but enough that I will feel guilt if I don't go.  So, I need to think about it, since during the summer, it's so much easier to get my exercise by walking in the neighborhood.

Friday Photos

Some photos for a beautiful Friday.  We have some knitting - some finished, some WIPS - some flowers and some Boomer.

Happiness is....

.....beautiful new yarn!  I received some yarn in the mail this week that I ordered in March.  It is a beautiful green, with some subtle variegation.  I love, love, love the color.  I plan to make a shawl or stole with it and I plan to wear that shawl or stole to a big dinner we are going to in September.  Nothing like planning in advance!  It will be one of the choices to make the trip to Italy for the wedding in October as well. I haven't quite decided on the pattern yet.  I'm leaning towards one that is kind of Irish in design. 
I've got a lot of knitting plans this year - don't know if I'll get to do them all.  I need to prioritize.  I'm currently working on the afghan for FSinL.  I also want to do a baby surprise jacket for my niece for her 1st birthday.  That should be relatively easy to knock out.  I have multiple shawls I would like to knit for myself.  I would like to knit my husband a pair of nice socks - dress ones, unlike the ones I knit for him to wear under his scuba gear.  I want to knit an afghan for BinL.  I want to knit a baby blanket for friends who are expecting their first and then there's a guy in A's firehouse who is expecting his first that I should put on the knit list - but those unfortunately will be low priorities considering what else I want to do.
Priority #1 is the afghan for FSinL.  That's my evening project.  Realistically, I think I can have it done by mid-July.  Then the shawl for myself that is currently my work-lunchtime project.  I only get about 30-45 minutes a day with it, but it should be done in a week or so at that rate.   I think I will next do the BSJ for my niece.  That can be a luncthime project.  That won't take too long, even at only 30 minutes a day.  I may try to squeeze in another quick shawl for me before the BSJ.  I think that then I'll devote my lunch hours to turning my lovely green yarn into a lovely shwal.  When the afghan for FSinL is done, I may start right in on the one for BinL as my at-home in the evenings project.  His will be a simpler pattern and should go much faster.  
Wow - so much.

No movement to speak of

I kind of expected it just before I got on the scale - no change.  I wasn't really bad during the week, but I wasn't perfect either.  And exercise suffered.  But, the budget is done, so it's back to only one night meeting a month.  That means I should be able to get some more exercising done.  I've got about 5 pounds to go to get to my goal.  Honestly, I would like to go a little bit further, and I will try.  But 5 more pounds is a must.  It's a good feeling as I'm fitting into clothes I couldn't wear last summer - or at least could not wear comfortably.  I've never been one to be able to wear pants that are tight around my waist.  Whenever I see someone who clearly had to lay down and suck it in to button their pants, I wonder how they can stand it - but that's them, not me.  Anyway, I'm not thrilled to see no movement this week, but I'm not worried or giving up.  I'll be doing my best to stick to the diet and get lots of exercise in this week.

I'm having a moment - a good one

If you've read my blog for a while, you know that I tried, but couldn't have children.  That was devastating to me.  There are a lot of people who don't get how painful it is.  How could they - they've never experienced anything like it.  There are people who don't understand when you stop trying.  For some, it's because they are afraid of what you represent - that it may be their fate as well.  There are, of course, people who do get it, even if they have had children - with or without medical assistance or adoption.  And there are people who try to get it, maybe they don't - but they try.  There are some wonderful women on a board I used to belong to who fall into those last two categories and the support I got from them, I'll always appreciate. 
So - to the moment I'm having.  I made a commitment a while back to find happiness in my life despite not being able to have children.  I was determined that I would have a happy and fulfilling life.  I did not want to wallow.  Not too much anyway.  I think I have done a good job of finding things in life that make me happy.  I've learned - for the most part - to stop longing for the life I planned and to love the life I have.  But with all that, I've never looked on myself as having succeeded in the world of infertility.  After all, I'm still infertile.  But today, I read a post in a blog I follow that has made me look at it differently.  I have succeeded.  Infertility did not defeat me.  I may not have defeated infertility, but infertility did not defeat me.  I am living happily.  I am living a good fulfilling life.  I went through the dregs of artificial reproduction treatment and miscarriage and came out the other end.  I may not have come out where I hoped, but I did come through.  Thank you Mali for helping me see that.  For a good read - go to http://nokiddinginnz.blogspot.com/2012/04/real-success-stories.html

A pleasant surprise!

After discovering that Easter could be a real eating holiday, I was surprised not to have gained weight this week.  Indeed, I lost a little.  Not much of a loss - but I guess sticking to the diet the rest of the week really paid off.  This is the last week of my budget meetings, so I'll be able to kick the exercise back up by the end of the week.  Yay!  I've really been enjoying my walks and now will get to adding some weights.  I have only one eating challenge that I'm aware of this week - a lunch tomorrow, which is pretty manageable.  So, I'm creeping ever closer to my goal.  After that will come another test - maintaining.

Happiness is....

.....the end being in sight.  Three more budget meetings - one this week, two next week.  They've been longer this year than in the past few years, but back then we were doing two a week always, so I'll take fewer but longer. 
Another thing to be happy about - got the news on our taxes last night.  Looks like we'll be able to redo the electric service to the house and put some money in savings.  Yay!  In fact, enough left to put in savings to cover the trip to Italy if we can't use frequent flyer miles. 

Back on track

I did a good job sticking to the diet this week.  I still had some cheats in there, but nothing excessive.  And it paid off.  I'm down about 2 pounds from last week.  I figure that it wasn't all in this week, maybe some of what showed on the scale last Tuesday was just temporary.  I've kept up the exercise, but I want to add some weights in.  This week will be tough for exercise as I've got two night meetings - same next week - but then I'll be back to once a month.  I think I'll start slowly getting back into weight work - just maybe a few arm exercises after my walk.  The arms are my worst spot, so a good place to start.

Pictures! OMG!

It's been a while since I've posted pictures - so here are some knitting ones.  And Boomer too.  The first few are of my latest finished object.  I have fallen in love with a new yarn - plucky knitter primo fingering.  So soft, beautiful colors.

 Next up is a baby blanket - easy pattern, simple cables, pick up stitches around the edges and do a broken rib pattern.  I love the color combination.  I may have posted these before.

 Emmy's sweater - just so cute - even if posted before, it deserves another showin.

 And Boomer - doing what he does best, sleeping.  Can you believe the position he will get in sometimes!  Obviously the dog has no modesty.

backsliding

Oh well - pay back for cheating on the diet has to happen sometime and it did this week.  It's not so bad really - about 1/2 a pound.  I'm not too worried about it.  I don't anticipate any benefits or parades where I'm indulging - wholeheartedly indulging! - this week, so I should be right back on track next week.  I'm keeping up with being active too.  I do want to add in some strength training, not sure what I want to do there though.

and it's still good

Scale is still headed the right way.  It could have gone further - but I had some fun this weekend.  Being Irish, I couldn't pass up celebrating St Patrick's Day!  A marched in the NY parade, he carried one of the 343 flags that headed up the FDNY contingent.  I got teary - as always - when they turned the corner and there's the 343 banner and then all the flags.  Just in case someone doesn't get it - the 343 flags are in memory of the 343 firefighters killed in the 9/11 attacks.  After the parade, we went to a couple of bars with friends.  We saw Shilelagh Law - well, we heard them, couldn't actually see the stage - and it was so much fun!  Totally worth not losing as much as I could have this week!  I'm keeping up the exercise too.  Walked a lot on St Patrick's Day and I've walked pretty much every day in the neighborhood.  I'll be taking today off from walking though, as I've got a board meeting tonight, so I don't want to get all sweaty and mess up the hair.  I'll be on local TV you know, must look my best!  hahahah

Moving in the right direction

Second week in a row!  YAY!  The stricter diet is paying off and it's really not that bad.  I've had my cheating moments - like a week ago Sunday when I had almost a whole pizza from the Colony.  I think the difference so far is that I'm not constantly pushing it with a cheat here and there.  I realized how much my peanut butter habit was costing me in terms of calories!  And I've upped the exercise - recommitted to that.  It's a bit easier to exercise with the warmer weather we've been having.  It's no longer a choice of go to the gym and work out or get home to let the dog out.  Now, I can get home, let the dog out, go for a walk - sometimes even take him with me.  On the weekends, it's not "I don't feel like driving to the gym to exercise."  It's just a matter of putting on the sneakers and heading out the door.  So, I'm moving slowly but surely towards my goal.  But, I am cheating this weekend.  After all - it's St. Patrick's Day Saturday!

It's Friday!

This has actually been a rather good week!  Considering the settling of whether or not I had a medical issue was the best, there was other good stuff.  My more rigid diet plan is working.  YAY!  I had a good ratings presentation (work thing) in the City on Wednesday.  Then I went to the Big East tourney and UCONN won.  They lost yesterday to Syracuse, but played well and they are sure to get into the NCAAs.  And the weather has been lovely.  I haven't made it to the gym, but I did a lot - I mean A LOT! of walking on Wednesday.  I went again yesterday with my puppy dog.  On the train home Wednesday, I kept walking looking for a seat where I could both face forward and have a little space - that resulted in me seeing a friend that I haven't seen in a couple of years and spending the train ride home catching up with her.  The weather has been so nice, all in all, a good week.

Really exhaling now

So, after the whole issue with is it a cyst or breast tissue last week, my GYN wanted me to go to a breast specialist.  I'm good.  It's breast just normal tissue.  Apparently how you hold the ultrasound wand can make a big difference.  Seriously folks.  This was just freaking ridiculous.  And one of the offenders was a doctor!  And this all just gave me a little insight into ways our medical costs get increased.  Overkill on testing and incompetence on several levels don't help keep costs down.  And now, I think I am the subject of patientnapping.  Where do you think I'm going for my next breast ultrasound in 6 months?  Not that I want to go back to the other place, but the breast surgeon I saw today kind of lassoed me as a patient and I'll be going back there for my ultrasound.  I feel more comfortable with her though.  She's a specialist and with family history, that's where I want to be if something ever turns up.  She explained more to me than anyone else had and asked more questions than anyone else had.  Whew.  I'm having a drink tonight - after my meeting of course - but I deserve it!

Exhaling, a bit

I have dense breasts.  Lucky me.  This means that every year, in addition to a mammogram, I get sent for an ultrasound.  It's not painful, though it is a bit messy with that goop they use.  Last year, there was something the doctor wanted to keep an eye on.  This year, new radiology center, new viewpoint.  The new doctor took a look, compared this year's ultrasounds with last year's and decided that the something had increased significantly in size, so she wanted a needle biopsy.  I was doing okay with it, until I went in for the biopsy and read the paperwork - including the "increased significantly" part.  While waiting to be taken back, I'm worrying.  About the pain I might feel, the 1/8" to 1/4" incision they will make.  About bleeding, risk of infection.  About fainting.  I don't do well with certain sensations - like having stitches removed.  And of course, I'm worried about what they could find.  So, finally I go back, they explain things again, I warn them about the fainting.  Not to worry they say.  Go in, different tech this time, she takes a look from multiple angles, very nice explains this is the longest part of the whole thing.  The doctor comes in starts looking and sees nothing but normal breast tissue.  Yes, there is something that from certain angles will look rounded and separate, but if you move the wand, it is seen to be connected to other breast tissue.  Exhale.  It is now also evident that the ultrasound tech didn't think that there was anything but normal breast tissue there either.  This doctor didn't think a biopsy was in order, but based on my mother's history of breast cancer, recommended a breast MRI to be safe.   So, I haven't exhaled completely, as I haven't yet had the MRI, but I'm feeling much better than I did a few days ago. 
So, a few more comments - first, A is wonderful.  He was supportive, but not overbearing.  He was also quietly doing his own research, preparing to make sure I got the best treatment if there was a real something there.  Second - WTF first doctor?  How can it be so clear to a tech and a second doctor that there was nothing there, but to you, it wasn't.  I appreciate the caution, but personally would be leery of having that doctor read my exams again.

So.....

.....I didn't make my 5 pounds by Valentine's Day goal.  I'm pretty much where I was two weeks ago, down a little, but not much.  That's okay, but not where I wanted to be.  The problem is me.  I have little will power.  I'm also not getting much exercise in.  I should be able to change that starting next week, as my meeting schedule improves.  I would really like to lose my weight using weight watchers, because it's eating real food, making real choices day to day, a program that can work for life.  I don't want to resort to one of those pre-packaged deals, but I may, if only for the rigidness that it will require.

Happiness is....

.....making someone else happy. 

I refuse to accept it

I got on the scale this morning and I refuse to accept what I saw.  I didn't stay within my points everyday, but I did a good job of staying within my weekly total.  I even got some exercise in.  I do feel like I have stuff going on with my body that may be causing fluctuations - like I think I am sliding into menopause - but what that scale told me this morning is wrong.  So, two things.  One, I'm getting a new scale because this one has been acting funny.  Two, I will weigh myself again tomorrow, see how things are going.  I don't see that I'm facing any challenges this week eating wise.  I will try to get some exercise in - but based on my schedule, that won't happen until Thursday.

Happiness is my New York Football Giants winning the Super Bowl!

Again.  Yes!  How exciting was that!  I think that the Giants have been in 3 of the most exciting Super Bowls played.  That would be the wide-right Super Bowl, the David Tyree helmet catch Super Bowl and the Mario Manningham tiptoe catch Super Bowl.  Or should that last one be the Ahmad Bradshaw butt first touchdown Super Bowl?  The first win was great, but it was not heart pounding exciting -like we might lose this exciting - as the last 3.  I remember the lean years.  The really lean years.  The losing years.  The Joe Pisarcik years.  The Ray Handley years.  They make these years and the Parcells years all the sweeter.  Happy days!

Friday Photos

Just some quick ones - a baby blanket I just finished for friends, shots of yarn - plucky knitter primo fingering - that will become a new shawl and an oldie but a goodie shot of my favorite dog.



Happiness is...

....a beautiful unseasonal mid-winter day.  When I say unseasonal - I mean in a good day.  Yesterday was mild here - temps in the 50s.  It was a extraordinarily nice day for January.  This has been a generally mild winter so far, but days like yesterday are always welcome in the middle of winter.  It reminds you that there is nice weather out there, nice weather to come.  It's like little gift from God to help get you through the winter.