Simple Things, Random Thoughts, and Don't Light a Match for the Love of All the Gods

My dad died 3 years ago, and this is the first Thanksgiving at home since then (his birthday is the 28th). Last year my brother took my 90 year-old mother to NYC for the parade--and her little sister died, so that cut everything short. The year Dad died the CEO of Chesapeake Oil and his wife let us have their Santa Fe complex for the week. This week, we just had about 7 family members--7.5, since I'll be a grandmother again in April--for a traditional supper.

I thought it would be simple. One 15 pound bird, 3 types of stuffing, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, pureed parsnips with roasted garlic, carrots, green bean casserole, fresh rolls, fresh cranberry salad, tossed saad with champagne dressing and 4 freakin' pies later...sigh. BUT, I took less than a 1/4 cup serving of any given item, except salad, which was already plated.

Mother and I did the bird, one sressing, the cranberries, and 3 pies. My sister-in-law, brilliant woman that she is, had the caterer do the rest.

My 4 year-old grandson got to jump and bulldoze through the largest leaf pile in Oklahoma City and play on a homemade minature golf course designed and constructed by 9 year old Ivan from NY City who was visiting his grandmother next door. Ivan was so patient with Tag! My brother, "Unca Doug", played too. (Boy, is he ready to be a grandpa!).

As for the mini-challenge

I buy organic when I can. but it is so much simpler to buy Amy's frozen dinners for lunch at school because we have about 25 minutes to eat--if we're lucky. One organic apple a day, usually, or blueberries on my oatbran.  I love fresh corn on the cob with a salad for lunch on weekends. I could eat oven roasted veggies every night (except when I teach a night class, then it's soup).

I am a carboholic. I don't think there's a 12 step program for that.

I have indulged too much in the sweets. It's a good thing I live alone. Toxic fumes emanating from my person have driven the cats out of my room--and I don't blame them; if I didn't have to, I wouldn't sleep with me, either..

Good Intentions Pave the Road

Good intentions are paving stones
Within the path I tread.
But then they turned to stumbling blocks--
And  they're all inside my head.

Intent is scattered like falling leaves,
Shattered will and focus fled.
I've fallen; bruised and scraped my knees;
On mental blocks I've bled.

Good intentions pave the way,
I cannot tarry here,
Nor sit and moan or bewail my fate,
Nor flounder in my fear.

This is my path, I laid the stones
And I must walk the way,
Knowing I'll falter and fall again,
And continue, come what may.

Which Way Did It Go?

the Domestic Pagan changed its URL
http://www.thedomesticpagan.net/


Which is why the .com gave me a domestic services directory.

Peeking Out of the Broom Closet and Getting Off the Broom

Bust: 40.5
Waist: 36
Hips: 38.5
Half an inch each off the bust and the hips, waist is the same.

Diet was shot to heck this week. I was submarined by chocolate and candy corn. I have gotten it out of the house, so this week will be better. 

I have a mandatory luncheon with state legislators at work this week and will be bringing red velvet and cream cheese brownies and blondies, but I intend to use stevia in place of sugar. I'll let everyone know how they turn out. The menu is chicken spaghetti, so once again, I'll have to bring a microwave dinner (Amy's). We have these luncheons once a month, and they have yet to select a menu that everyone can eat. Why not a baked potato bar?

The mini challenge for the week was to examine the reason(s) for participating in this challenge. Self examination. OK.

A year ago I weighed over 200 pounds (15 + stone for friends across the pond).

I'm 5" 1". I looked like a refrigerator with a head. I wore a size 2X.  I wheezed when I walked. My doctor wanted to remove my gallbladder, my liver functions were bad, my cholesterol was too high, my blood pressure was too high, my arthritis was spreading, and I was bordering on type two diabetes. I was "4F"--Fair, Female, Fat & Fifty-something. I couldn't see my feet. I hated shopping for clothes.

Then I flew to Phoenix to see my little sister.  She showed me the little gizmo that had helped her take off her post surgery weight gain: a device from http://www.bodymedia.com/

I decided that my goal in 2011 would be to get to a size 10.  I invested in the program and equipment.  I knew what I needed to eat and began walking. The computer program keeps me honest.  I started an herbal supplement routine to deal with the liver-gallstones-cholesterol-boodsugar issues. (The doc said they wouldn't work. I said I'd retake the tests in 3 months).

 I am at a 10/12 trouser. I still need a Large size in shirts, usually. I still need to tone the upper body and whittle down the waist. I still wear the body sensor and try to eat well. And I find that I like walking. I don't mind getting up before dawn and walking.

Sometimes I wonder about hereditary insanity.

Holidays (for the poor) are about food. We can't afford a lot of "things", but if you can feed the family and guests, then psychologically, you improve your self-image ("at least we have a good meal"); in short, you feed the body and the ego. The traditional foods during the holiday tend to boost serotonin (that "feel-good" hormone). Being "working poor" (living from paycheck to paycheck), I tend to cook way too much with cream gravy, desserts, and home-made candies, cookies, etc. for friends and family. I think being poor equates a full belly to love in some fashion. And I have been poor or working poor most of my adult life.

The government classification still places me in the "working poor" catagory. I will still cook a big meal and feed a lot of the elderly in my neighborhood (with enough for a take-home meal).  I will have a second family meal with relatives later in the weekend. But I will try to cut back on high fat ingredients and make sensible substitutions where I can. I will bundle up and keep walking.

None of my winter clothes fit, so I will have to go shopping, which I still hate to do. My mindset hasn't changed there. i don't care for the colors or styles right now. maybe I should "do a Steve Jobs" and get a signature shirt and trousers. Unfortunately, I have Champagne taste and a Kool-Aid budget.

Oh, my blood sugar is fine. Ditto the liver function, cholesterol, and I still take one prescription for hypertension. I still have my gallbladder. The arthritis is mostly in my hands and shoulders. I still take my herbal supplements. My doctor shut up about them.

And I joined the challenge because I thought it was a good idea. I wanted more motivation. I wanted to find new friends with similar backgrounds. I wanted to help, if possible.

Now, I think I'll take my 90 year old mother out to breakfast and then go shopping with her..

2nd Law of Thermodynamics.

All things descend into chaos. 

Think of it. Everything in the Universe degrades from an ordered state to a state of chaos without the input of additional energy. This is known as entropy.

Boy howdy, did I embrace the law this week.

I still have laundry to do from last weekend's trip to New Orleans.

I have managed to grade all the folders turned in by my high school students (486 points each) while I was gone, graded this week's work (188 points each), written 1 powerpoint for my college class, graded the 11 page test my colleges class took, had my teacher's evaluation observation done during a burn lab, learned that the high school will go from a four period block schedule to a 7 period day, read 2 books, and battled an intestinal virus. OSU beat Kansas, LSU beat Alabama, and OU beat TX A & M. (These are actually good things in sports).

And we had a 5.2 to 5.6 earthquake last night.

Today was my first to go to the walking trail since last Tuesday. I did my 2 miles with a smile on my face and a song in my heart. Got home and spent 45 minutes in the bathroom.

I think the virus is winning.

I had a tarot reading done in New Orleans. I'm going through a healing process this month. Good to know, isn't it?

Oh, right. My Dad came by for a quick hug Friday morning about 4 a.m. I really miss him.