FINALLY, we are past those horrible 95+ degree days. We have been having some fantastic, coolish days. I love it!
This past weekend, a friend who owns a farm with a couple of grass strips, had a fly-in. We went and what a fabulous day! There were easily over a dozen planes there. We all brought food so there was an enormous amount of food. Jamie's place is heaven on earth -- truly. It was a glorious day to fly and I can't remember when we've had a better aviation day.
Jay decided he's done trying to deal with the Ocean City Airport manager. He's just plain mean and we're tired of asking permission to enjoy the airport we are based at. So he's not been hanging out at the airport at all for a couple of months now. Instead, he's started working on the LeMans again! I'm so excited to see that. He has literally torn everything off of the rear end and is now starting the process of replacing what he removed. It won't be ready for the fall cruising weekend in Ocean City, but that doesn't matter. Eventually, it will be road ready again and we'll have fun driving around in it. AND, even better, because Jay isn't constantly dealing with that asshole, he has been in a much better frame of mind.
And no posting is complete without an update on my weight and general health. I am still holding at 160 lbs. I bought a few more pair of slacks for work in size 12. I was tempted to get a size 10 in one of them, but opted for the 12 instead figuring that I might not be as active in the winter months. I'll try to be, but it is more difficult when we aren't riding bikes every night after work. :-( I've actually been wearing the slacks, even though the weather is still ok for capri's, but I really like wearing my size 12's. And now that I'm wearing clothes that actually fit, people are really noticing the weight loss. :-)
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Let's hear it for HGTV!
I have been an avid HGTV viewer for years and it paid off! I've been so bored with my kitchen since we moved into this house. Cream walls. Cream appliances. Cream floor. Cream counter. It's like a sensory deprivation tank. So I decided to spiff it up by doing something to the back splash.
I put tile behind the stove and the sink and then painted the rest a deep red. We liked the tile so much that we took it up and around the kitchen window too. I've been watching the folks on HGTV lay tile a million times, so I decided to give it a try. And, you know what? It IS easy. It really turned out great and my kitchen is no longer blah.
I also went shopping for clothes and, it's official, I'm a size 12! I couldn't stop smiling. I even found a couple of pair of shorts in a size 10, but I know that's not real. They were cut a little large. I am a 12 not a 10, but that's soooooo much better than an 18 or a 16 that's cut large. My only worry is that I achieved this as a result of a lot of physical activity which is easy to do in the summer. It's hard to maintain that activity level in the winter. So I need to not let my snacking bad habits return. Just because I can get away with it now, doesn't mean that I'll be able to that this winter.
I put tile behind the stove and the sink and then painted the rest a deep red. We liked the tile so much that we took it up and around the kitchen window too. I've been watching the folks on HGTV lay tile a million times, so I decided to give it a try. And, you know what? It IS easy. It really turned out great and my kitchen is no longer blah.
I also went shopping for clothes and, it's official, I'm a size 12! I couldn't stop smiling. I even found a couple of pair of shorts in a size 10, but I know that's not real. They were cut a little large. I am a 12 not a 10, but that's soooooo much better than an 18 or a 16 that's cut large. My only worry is that I achieved this as a result of a lot of physical activity which is easy to do in the summer. It's hard to maintain that activity level in the winter. So I need to not let my snacking bad habits return. Just because I can get away with it now, doesn't mean that I'll be able to that this winter.
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Ahhhh Football Season begins
Well, last night was the first pre-season game and we decided to stay home and watch it rather than go out. We haven't gotten the pre-season games since we moved out to the eastern shore -- something that has bothered us both enormously. But every year we try and this year, lo and behold, we're able to watch the game at home! Yay!
We were very curious to watch our Redskins to see if all the changes (AGAIN) paid off THIS TIME. I know pre-season games aren't really much more than exhibitions for the coaches to pick the starting line-up, but you know, we haven't had a fun football game in a LONG time, pre-season or otherwise, and last night was fun! They were actually playing football! They were passing and catching and tackling and blocking! It was awesome! It gives me hope for the regular season. I know you don't get to the Super Bowl in one season after changing things as much as the Redskins have, but I'm hopeful that I won't be embarrassed to be a Redskins fan this year. Just don't humiliate me boys. That's all I ask. For now, I'm actually looking forward to next week's game.
I'm still sticking to my new routine and it's great. I'm feeling really good. Even my golf game has improved -- probably because my belly isn't in the way. Like I've said before. I'll never be tiny, but I'm smaller and it feels good. And my blood pressure has been awesome. My doctor had added a third medication to control it this past winter and my asthma caused us to drop one of them, but it doesn't matter now because my numbers are better than they were before on just 2 meds, so I'm good! And, my weight is still trickling down. I'm almost down to 160 lbs. I haven't gone shopping for clothes, but I might be close to a size 12 which would be wonderful. I will definitely need slacks for work this winter. I think I only have 3 pair of pants that fit right now. It's so much fun to get back into clothes that I haven't been able to get into for years. I don't even know why I kept them, but I did, and it's just plain fun to put them on. It makes me smile every time.
And, for me, it's all about exercise. No one can really loose weight with just diet. And I definitely can't. First of all, it's boring to eat the way you have to eat when you do it via food alone. But it's also about the metabolism, and the only way to rev up your metabolism is to build more muscle -- can't do that through diet alone. I am way more toned than I've been in a really long time, maybe ever, actually. As a runner, I burned a lot of calories, but running doesn't tone you. I think the exercise videos that I have that combine light weights with exercise, have been incredibly effective for me. And, as a result, I don't have to eat like I live in a refugee camp. I really do eat. My body is just using it.
Who knows. Maybe I could be a size 6 if I also ate less, but I'm not that interested in being a size 6. I just didn't want to feel like a blob -- and I don't anymore. :-)
We were very curious to watch our Redskins to see if all the changes (AGAIN) paid off THIS TIME. I know pre-season games aren't really much more than exhibitions for the coaches to pick the starting line-up, but you know, we haven't had a fun football game in a LONG time, pre-season or otherwise, and last night was fun! They were actually playing football! They were passing and catching and tackling and blocking! It was awesome! It gives me hope for the regular season. I know you don't get to the Super Bowl in one season after changing things as much as the Redskins have, but I'm hopeful that I won't be embarrassed to be a Redskins fan this year. Just don't humiliate me boys. That's all I ask. For now, I'm actually looking forward to next week's game.
I'm still sticking to my new routine and it's great. I'm feeling really good. Even my golf game has improved -- probably because my belly isn't in the way. Like I've said before. I'll never be tiny, but I'm smaller and it feels good. And my blood pressure has been awesome. My doctor had added a third medication to control it this past winter and my asthma caused us to drop one of them, but it doesn't matter now because my numbers are better than they were before on just 2 meds, so I'm good! And, my weight is still trickling down. I'm almost down to 160 lbs. I haven't gone shopping for clothes, but I might be close to a size 12 which would be wonderful. I will definitely need slacks for work this winter. I think I only have 3 pair of pants that fit right now. It's so much fun to get back into clothes that I haven't been able to get into for years. I don't even know why I kept them, but I did, and it's just plain fun to put them on. It makes me smile every time.
And, for me, it's all about exercise. No one can really loose weight with just diet. And I definitely can't. First of all, it's boring to eat the way you have to eat when you do it via food alone. But it's also about the metabolism, and the only way to rev up your metabolism is to build more muscle -- can't do that through diet alone. I am way more toned than I've been in a really long time, maybe ever, actually. As a runner, I burned a lot of calories, but running doesn't tone you. I think the exercise videos that I have that combine light weights with exercise, have been incredibly effective for me. And, as a result, I don't have to eat like I live in a refugee camp. I really do eat. My body is just using it.
Who knows. Maybe I could be a size 6 if I also ate less, but I'm not that interested in being a size 6. I just didn't want to feel like a blob -- and I don't anymore. :-)
Saturday, July 24, 2010
How hot can it get?
Well, according to the thermometer at the kitchen window, it got to 110 degrees in the back yard today. Now, we get FULL sun in the back yard in the summer, so I now that that's probably not a true temperature, but it was true enough for me!
I went up to Greenwood to help Dan move Jen's HomeSweet studio to the basement. Fortunately, they also had friends who live nearby there too and the husband is young and strong. So the guys did the really heavy things before I got there. But there was still plenty of things to move down the 2 flights of stairs. It was a good workout and it felt good to help. And Eli gave me a hug when I arrived! That alone was worth the trip. :-) This was step 1 in getting ready for the new baby. Move the studio down to the basement, so they can move their bedroom back into the bigger room upstairs. Then Eli moves into the room they are vacating and the smallest room stays the nursery for the new baby.
I am surprised to find my weight still trickling down. And trickling is the right word. But it's better than going in the other direction. Last year, I longed for a metabolism that actually burns the food I eat rather than storing it. And now I think I have one!! No one would ever call how I eat a diet, but weight is still declining gradually. I read that when someone with a healthy metabolism eats, they burn the calories. A person with a sluggish metabolism would gain weight. I've been really focusing on my workouts more this year. And I don't just work out in the morning. And it's paid off. I guess the whole metabolism thing still works for us old farts too. Thank goodness something still works!
So I'm now down about 37 pounds! Amazing. Jay keeps calling me "skinny minnie" which is funny because I'm still over 160 lbs and about a size 14 ... getting closer to a 12 though! That's a far cry from skinny. But it makes me smile, so I'm sure he'll keep saying it and I'm ok with that. I've never been skinny, so I have no delusions that I will be now. I am more than happy to be thinner than I was and feeling as good as I do again. This side of the hill is no picnic, but I guess it's up to each of us as to how miserable it is. Attitude is key. I just hope I can keep mine positive even when things get tougher because I want to feel as good as possible as I continue my slide down the hill.
I went up to Greenwood to help Dan move Jen's HomeSweet studio to the basement. Fortunately, they also had friends who live nearby there too and the husband is young and strong. So the guys did the really heavy things before I got there. But there was still plenty of things to move down the 2 flights of stairs. It was a good workout and it felt good to help. And Eli gave me a hug when I arrived! That alone was worth the trip. :-) This was step 1 in getting ready for the new baby. Move the studio down to the basement, so they can move their bedroom back into the bigger room upstairs. Then Eli moves into the room they are vacating and the smallest room stays the nursery for the new baby.
I am surprised to find my weight still trickling down. And trickling is the right word. But it's better than going in the other direction. Last year, I longed for a metabolism that actually burns the food I eat rather than storing it. And now I think I have one!! No one would ever call how I eat a diet, but weight is still declining gradually. I read that when someone with a healthy metabolism eats, they burn the calories. A person with a sluggish metabolism would gain weight. I've been really focusing on my workouts more this year. And I don't just work out in the morning. And it's paid off. I guess the whole metabolism thing still works for us old farts too. Thank goodness something still works!
So I'm now down about 37 pounds! Amazing. Jay keeps calling me "skinny minnie" which is funny because I'm still over 160 lbs and about a size 14 ... getting closer to a 12 though! That's a far cry from skinny. But it makes me smile, so I'm sure he'll keep saying it and I'm ok with that. I've never been skinny, so I have no delusions that I will be now. I am more than happy to be thinner than I was and feeling as good as I do again. This side of the hill is no picnic, but I guess it's up to each of us as to how miserable it is. Attitude is key. I just hope I can keep mine positive even when things get tougher because I want to feel as good as possible as I continue my slide down the hill.
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Long HOT Summer
I took off Friday and Monday for a long 4th of July weekend. We didn't go anywhere. We just relaxed and did fun things. It was such a pleasant weekend.
It's been brutally hot this summer. We didn't have a June. We're having 2 July's. Yuck. But we're still riding our bikes after work every day. I haven't lost any more weight, but I am still shrinking out of clothes, so I guess things are just firming up. When I say shrinking, I'm not talking 2 more sizes or anything. But I'm easily into a 14 (closing in on a 12) now and a plain old large t-shirt fits me just fine -- no more XL unless I just want a baggy fit. So I'm pretty happy. I was exploding out of my 16's, so 2 sizes is good in my book.
I'm also noticing more definition in my arms which is pretty cool. Now all this involves a lot of working out. Well, a lot for me. A real workout every morning, 5 days a week. Then every day at lunch I do a serious walk. In this heat, I'm doing an inside walk where I walk a back hall and then do a flight of stairs -- I started out doing 2 laps and then a flight of stairs. So I'm doing more stairs now ... like 12 flights of stairs! And then our bike rides after work. So, at 58, I think I'm getting a lot of exercise. And it seems to take all of that to replace my old jogging routine. I wish I could still jog, but I can't. My knees (especially my right knee), say no.
So, all in all, not bad for an old broad sliding down the back side of the hill.
It's been brutally hot this summer. We didn't have a June. We're having 2 July's. Yuck. But we're still riding our bikes after work every day. I haven't lost any more weight, but I am still shrinking out of clothes, so I guess things are just firming up. When I say shrinking, I'm not talking 2 more sizes or anything. But I'm easily into a 14 (closing in on a 12) now and a plain old large t-shirt fits me just fine -- no more XL unless I just want a baggy fit. So I'm pretty happy. I was exploding out of my 16's, so 2 sizes is good in my book.
I'm also noticing more definition in my arms which is pretty cool. Now all this involves a lot of working out. Well, a lot for me. A real workout every morning, 5 days a week. Then every day at lunch I do a serious walk. In this heat, I'm doing an inside walk where I walk a back hall and then do a flight of stairs -- I started out doing 2 laps and then a flight of stairs. So I'm doing more stairs now ... like 12 flights of stairs! And then our bike rides after work. So, at 58, I think I'm getting a lot of exercise. And it seems to take all of that to replace my old jogging routine. I wish I could still jog, but I can't. My knees (especially my right knee), say no.
So, all in all, not bad for an old broad sliding down the back side of the hill.
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Happy Fathers' Day
It was a pretty good weekend. We had dinner at our favorite place Friday night -- Adolfo's in Ocean City. We love that place.
Jay flew on Saturday. I went to the Bass outlet to spend the gift certificate that my mother-in-law gave me for my birthday. It's been quite a while since I just went shopping for myself. It was fun and it was even more fun because I was buying smaller sizes. Not a tiny size, but smaller than I was. I'm happy.
I called Jay and met him for lunch and then we visited with friends at the airport for a bit. Then we headed home to get ready to head up to Greenwood for our grandson's birthday. It was a pleasant gathering and Eli was certainly having fun. He was more than a little aware that he was the star. :-)
Today is Fathers' Day. We started the day with a light rain (which we need DESPERATELY). I told Jay that I gave him rain for Father's Day. :-) I did make him bacon and eggs for breakfast ... of course, I had some too. Having a nice breakfast together is always a nice way to start the day. Then he headed to the airport and I did my usual chores. Plus I made an amazing (no kidding) dinner. I made fresh bread in the bread maker -- I just used it to make the dough while I did chores. Then I shaped the loaves into baguettes and baked them in the oven. They turned our yummy. And I made his favorite ... chicken cutlets. I also make baked plum tomatoes -- those things are the bomb. Add a little salad and you have a kick ass dinner, if I do say so myself.
So Jay had a nice Father's Day. Jen called this evening when she finally had time. He was thinking she forgot, but she didn't. A good weekend. It's a shame that tomorrow is Monday, but oh well. Gotta make the donuts.
Jay flew on Saturday. I went to the Bass outlet to spend the gift certificate that my mother-in-law gave me for my birthday. It's been quite a while since I just went shopping for myself. It was fun and it was even more fun because I was buying smaller sizes. Not a tiny size, but smaller than I was. I'm happy.
I called Jay and met him for lunch and then we visited with friends at the airport for a bit. Then we headed home to get ready to head up to Greenwood for our grandson's birthday. It was a pleasant gathering and Eli was certainly having fun. He was more than a little aware that he was the star. :-)
Today is Fathers' Day. We started the day with a light rain (which we need DESPERATELY). I told Jay that I gave him rain for Father's Day. :-) I did make him bacon and eggs for breakfast ... of course, I had some too. Having a nice breakfast together is always a nice way to start the day. Then he headed to the airport and I did my usual chores. Plus I made an amazing (no kidding) dinner. I made fresh bread in the bread maker -- I just used it to make the dough while I did chores. Then I shaped the loaves into baguettes and baked them in the oven. They turned our yummy. And I made his favorite ... chicken cutlets. I also make baked plum tomatoes -- those things are the bomb. Add a little salad and you have a kick ass dinner, if I do say so myself.
So Jay had a nice Father's Day. Jen called this evening when she finally had time. He was thinking she forgot, but she didn't. A good weekend. It's a shame that tomorrow is Monday, but oh well. Gotta make the donuts.
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Happy Birthday To Me
So, last Friday I was turning 59. I really have no desire to "celebrate" my birthday anymore. I'm not loving how I look anymore or all the changes that are going on in and on my body. But here I am, so deal with it.
When I got to my desk on Friday, there was a little vase with some hydrangea cuttings on my desk with a cute/funny card. What a nice treat! Then there are a few of us who go to the cafeteria at the hospital for coffee every morning. Different ones of us make it each day depending on what's going on. But on Friday, EVERYONE seemed to be able to come to breakfast. And one of the girls stopped at Panera's a picked up a coffee cake. mmmmm. Another nice treat!
Then I got an e-card from my daughter. It was pretty funny. But the card mentioned that I was 58. But I'm 59, right? Nope. Do the math. I'm 58! Somehow, I lost track of my own age (probably not a good sign), but I actually ended up being a year younger! I'm 58, not 59!
Then Jay took me out for dinner at one of our favorite places ... Adolfo's in Ocean City. Yum. It ended up being a really nice birthday. We babysat our grandson Saturday night and Sunday. There was a big air show in Ocean City, so we took Eli on Saturday. We watched it from the beach in front of our condo with some friends and Jay's mom. It was perfect!
Today, our daughter, Jen, and her husband came to pick up Eli. We watch the 2nd day of air show and visited. She brought me my birthday present which was a fat quarter of her hand, block printed fabric (http://www.homesweet.com/). I had wanted some of her fabric to match some pillows that I got from her last year. So she gave it to me for my birthday! Lovely. I LOVE her stuff.
Tonight, Jay took me and his mom to Captains Galley so I could get one of the best crab cakes on the planet. And we even got dessert ... so bad, but so good. All-in-all, one of the best birthday weekends ever. A little family. Good things. And I'm a year younger! It just doesn't get any better than that!
When I got to my desk on Friday, there was a little vase with some hydrangea cuttings on my desk with a cute/funny card. What a nice treat! Then there are a few of us who go to the cafeteria at the hospital for coffee every morning. Different ones of us make it each day depending on what's going on. But on Friday, EVERYONE seemed to be able to come to breakfast. And one of the girls stopped at Panera's a picked up a coffee cake. mmmmm. Another nice treat!
Then I got an e-card from my daughter. It was pretty funny. But the card mentioned that I was 58. But I'm 59, right? Nope. Do the math. I'm 58! Somehow, I lost track of my own age (probably not a good sign), but I actually ended up being a year younger! I'm 58, not 59!
Then Jay took me out for dinner at one of our favorite places ... Adolfo's in Ocean City. Yum. It ended up being a really nice birthday. We babysat our grandson Saturday night and Sunday. There was a big air show in Ocean City, so we took Eli on Saturday. We watched it from the beach in front of our condo with some friends and Jay's mom. It was perfect!
Today, our daughter, Jen, and her husband came to pick up Eli. We watch the 2nd day of air show and visited. She brought me my birthday present which was a fat quarter of her hand, block printed fabric (http://www.homesweet.com/). I had wanted some of her fabric to match some pillows that I got from her last year. So she gave it to me for my birthday! Lovely. I LOVE her stuff.
Tonight, Jay took me and his mom to Captains Galley so I could get one of the best crab cakes on the planet. And we even got dessert ... so bad, but so good. All-in-all, one of the best birthday weekends ever. A little family. Good things. And I'm a year younger! It just doesn't get any better than that!
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