Thirty-seven Pounds Gone!!!!!

This weekend we are going to visit my daughter and her family in Tennessee. My husband and I are really excited to spend time with our granddaughter. It's hard to believe she'll be a year old in June.

My husband had his physical this month and his lab work came back better than it ever has. He's always had high triglycerides, high blood sugar, high cholesterol, etc. Now that he's lost 48 pounds, he's got all normal test results. This is with eating things like bacon, creamy salad dressings, cheese, butter, cream, etc and cutting out starches and sugars. Just the opposite of what you'd think, right?

I just noticed today that it looks like almost every townhome on our street is for sale. Not ours. I'm not planning to go anywhere. When I bought this back in 2000, my mom said townhomes are hard to sell. I told her I loved it and didn't intend to ever sell it. I still feel the same way. To me, it has character. I can think of things I'd like to improve, but I love it anyway. When I married in 2003, I told him he'd have to be willing to sell his house and move here, because I didn't want to leave. He liked the idea of no grass to mow (homeowner's association takes care of the yard) so he was all for it.

I'm so glad Hillary won Pennsylvania. I hope she wins the nomination.
I finished reading Love in the Time of Cholera. I don't recommend it. I'd give it three stars. I was very glad when it was over. I kept thinking it would get better, but no such luck. I'm not sure what I'm going to read next.
I weighed this morning and have now lost 37 pounds. I'm so happy! 37 down, and a billion to go.

On the View, they said it has been reported in a study done on happiness, that the older people are, the happier they tend to be. I think that's probably true. You give up some of that freaking out over what everyone is thinking, you get to know yourself, and you begin to forgive yourself for not being perfect. And you begin to really appreciate your family and friends. They said the number one criteria for happiness was close bonds with family and friends. Not winning the lottery? Wow.

Drunk NutJob Again and a Shopping Addiction

The only thing worse than my kids moving away is when one of them calls and tells me they've had a car accident over two thousand miles away. My heart was in my throat until he assured me he was ok. Evidentally, with all the rain in Seattle (he said every day for at least part of the day) the traffic on the freeway flows then stops for no reason and causes lots of accidents. He was rear-ended while sitting in traffic. He has a new Toyota truck. The girl that hit him totaled her car, and she did about $2000 damage to his truck. While he was on the phone with 911, another three car pile-up happened right in front of him in the other lane. He said it was bad, and he was pretty sure people were hurt in that one. They were still trying to get the people from those cars when he finally could leave.

My youngest son says he's trying to get a radio gig in Seattle, so he could be moving there, too. They tried to get him before, last year, but he was under contract and couldn't take the offer. Now his contract is about to be up.

Passover starts tomorrow. I think all Christians should celebrate Passover, and not just Jews. I don't understand why it's not a Christian holiday. I'm still so confused on the Jewish thing. My husband is, too. On one hand, we love going to temple better than anywhere we've ever been. There are so many of the beliefs we totally accept as truth. Then there are others we just can't seem to get past.

I am officially on every other week therapy now. I'm making progress. I even am beginning to see it. It's much easier for me to take up for myself. I always could stand up for my kids, but not for myself.

I wrote awhile back about the drunk nutjob guy who kept calling my cellphone, trying to get in touch with his ex, Brenda. He called again today and left me a ten minute message on my voice mail, this time X-rated. He thinks he can "get her off better than anyone," and then he tells her how. But what killed me was the way he began his conversation with the ex he is supposedly trying to get back, saying, "You son-of-a-B*tch, I love you." Now would that make her want to run back to his drunk ass or not?

I have officially lost 34.5 pounds now. I've gone from a 22 to an 18 and they are loose now. I have a long way to go, but I love this low carb thing. It's easy once you get used to it.

I watched QVC for thirty minutes today and almost had to tie myself up to keep from ordering two purses I saw on there I loved. The woman had me convinced my life would never be the same unless I called in for them. And they were on easy pay! I finally turned the channel. They are such addicting shows. My youngest son once said, "Hey I was watching that QVC thing, and this woman had me convinced I needed these diamond earrings, and I don't wear earrings." See? I think it's hidden subliminal messaging. You know what they say, "Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they aren't out to get you." ha.

Kindle, Fireplace, Being Broke

My husband was off Friday, so we had a long weekend. We didn't go anywhere, but spent most of our time catching up on old Survivor seasons we rented from Netflix. So we had a TV marathon. I also caught up on some napping, which was great.
I'm planning a trip to see my middle son in Seattle on May 6th. I'm going for two weeks, which was his idea. He's not going to be taking off work (new job), so I will spend my days with my Kindle, reading, or looking at the view. He has a great view of the lake from his balcony. Then we can go do a little sightseeing on the weekends.

It's cold here today, and is not suppose to get above the 40's. We had a guy from the classified come out and clean and adjust our gas logs in the fireplace, and so I used it this morning. It sure looks a lot more realistic since he worked on it. We even have some glowing rocks under the logs. I don't think they did that before.

It's a corner fireplace that blows into the hallway where our thermostat is, so if you run it, the heat never comes on, and the bedrooms get freezing. But it's great if you're planning on being in the living room and no one else is home, like today.
I'm reading Love in the Time of Cholera and The Bell Jar on my Kindle. I have read the Bell Jar before, but it's been so long, I'm reading it over. Love in the Time of Cholera sure starts slow, but I am hopeful it will pick up.

My husband handles our bills. He gave me the "money talk" this weekend. He said he's had to consistently withdraw from savings the last three pay periods to cover things, partly because of the gas prices, and partly because of some unexpected expenses. Another thing we've been doing is going to the grocery every other week when he gets paid, buying two weeks worth of groceries, and then eating out a lot instead of cooking what we bought. So I told him I'd cut back on spending on food, and he's going to see about getting a security sticker for my car so he can drive it to work sometimes. I have a Civic and it's really good on gas. I told him I'd go without food as long as I have books. ha. He said I don't have to give up my books, just watch other stuff more closely.

I'm sure we're not the only ones having financial mess right now. Everything is getting so expensive. The therapist mentioned me going to every two weeks, so I think I'll take her up on that. That would save $30 in co-pays a month, not to mention the gas to drive over there. It's about a sixty mile round trip. We're just going to have to stop driving so much. I did get a great deal from Travelocity on my plane ticket. $169 round trip to Seattle, with taxes and all still around $200. Of course, it's flying on a couple of MD-80's from American Airlines that are undergoing the safety inspections and are grounded right now, so there could be a reason for the good pricing. ha.

As of today, I've lost 34 pounds. I'm so excited. I'm sold on this low-carb thing.
I'm teaching the twins today, so I better get off here. My husband is teaching them a history lesson every other Friday when he has his day off. He's great. I love his stories. He has taken us from Columbus's voyages through Ponce de Leon and the Fountain of Youth. He's great in history. I'm great in Math and Literature. Together we have almost a whole brain. ha.

Still Low Carbing

Spring Forward

Saturday, we took my friend, Dawn's, son and his friend to my daughter's to help with their moving. Between her hubby, my hubby, the two boys, and a man who works with my son-in-law, they unpacked three PODS, unpacked part of the kitchen, and put up the beds. It's a beautiful house with a nice yard and I know they will be happy there. We noticed a many backyards with swing sets, so it looks like our granddaughter will have lots of playmates when she's older.

She's crawling all over the place now, and pulling up. I stole all her sugar while I was there, and watched her bounce in her bouncer and swing in her swing. She was happy to have a new room.

Today, I did a couple of secret shops, and then tutored the twins. My friend came by and we all watched an animal planet show about lizards that squirt blood out of their eyes to deter predators. The kids thought nothing could be cooler than that.
I had ordered the twins a book each from Amazon awhile back, and had them delivered to their house.

My friend has one boy, age 9, still at home (and six girls!) and he followed me around, looking pitiful, until I finally asked him, "Isaiah, what's up?" He shifted from foot to foot looking at the ground and said finally said, "Miss Kathy, I want that big truck to bring me a book, too. I don't have a book of my own." He looked so precious. I asked him what kind of book he wanted. He said, "Well, uh...it's gotta be cooolllll, you know? And not now, but BACK THEN. And have a good guy and a bad guy and swords and a war and stuff." This book is now on the UPS truck on it's way to his house.

I hope he likes it. When I was his age, there were no readers in our family. My sixth grade teacher taught me to love reading, but I always wished I had books in my house like there were at school. Of course, in adulthood, I've made up for that in a big way.

When I was coming home this afternoon, I spotted these birds in my back courtyard and snapped some pictures. They were very patient with my camera skills. They are a great reminder that spring has sprung. Does anyone know what kind of birds they are?

Have to Get Back Up

I'm so tired. I saw the counselor yesterday and she said she thinks I need a change in meds. My house is a mess. I decided I just had to make an effort to clean it today. I get going, get tired, and find myself sitting back down. So in spurts, I'm making a little progress. I've cleaned off the entertainment center, cleaned off the coffee table and end tables, and dusted all of those. I have a sink full of dishes, three bathrooms to clean, carpets to vacuum, floors to mop. I haven't made my bed from this morning. The only reason I am dressed is that I heard the yard people out front and had to go out and open the back gate for them.
All I want to do is go to bed and pull the covers over my head. Then I feel guilty because there is so much I need to do. My daughter is sick, in the middle of moving. My son is transitioning from his big move. I feel like people need me. My husband needs me. I have cooked one meal this week.
Yesterday, I was determined I was going to get up, shower, put on makeup, get dressed and show up at the therapist's without looking like something the dog drug into her office. I did all that and then almost canceled going because I felt so tired.
I just don't know what's wrong. I usually at least keep my house clean. Now it's just piling up, and as much as it drives me crazy, I just don't care enough to get it all done.
I've got to get it together here.