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**Remember this is De-Lurking Week So, please say hello!**

Today will be another day on the slopes! I bet I’ll be feeling energetic as I glide down the mountain. After over a week of daily exercise, I am feeling stronger and my endurance is starting to build. I must, however, note that I was really in terrible shape from a December of cookie and chocolate eating, but such is life when you are saving your diabetic husband from a certain coma!
It’s funny, I don’t feel terribly traumatized going back onto The South Beach Diet. Probably because I am starting to accept the fact that South Beach isn’t necessarily a “diet”, but more a way of life.
I do have to admit to hoping that I could lose weight faster. You know? I’ve been on this diet for a week and all I’ve lost is 4 pounds! Certainly with all my goodness, I’d have transformed my chubby middle aged body into that of a slender starlet! Or maybe, at least I could fit into my jeans without salad oil! Oh well, I guess that will come in time.
Until then, can someone pass the oil?

As seen on Zoot

So help me celebrate De-Lurking Week. Leave me a comment. If you don’t know what to say? Just say “Hey Maribeth. Happy De-Lurking Week.” And we’ll leave it at that. Whatever feels good to you. It’ll just be nice to know that you are here!

Leave me a comment, Please?

This is an invitation to all of my family members that stop by periodically as well.

This morning after sitting down at the computer I discovered that I had no mail. I normally have a lot of correspondence waiting for me. I first suspected a problem with my ISP, but after talking to a technician there, they informed me that the problem had been created by a Norton Anti Virus Automatic Update, and that I should contact Norton for a fix (so to speak). How nice! A fix for a fix! What won’t they think of next!
Here is a heads up if any of you find this problem. Norton Anti Virus put out a “new fix” for their e-mail scanning program. Basically it shuts off your e-mail, all e-mail!, until you do their fix.

Continue reading “You’ve Got “No Mail””

The first week of dieting pain is now behind me. I’m starting to feel less deprived and I’m settling into my good eating habits. I stepped on the scale, really expecting it to scream bloody murder, but it smiled up at me and announced proudly that I was four pounds lighter! I almost jumped for joy, but I’m still too heavy for that!
I’ve not only been good with my eating, but I have exercised every day, and been consuming, what is for me, large amounts of water.
Have I ever mentioned my aversion to water? I love to swim in it, bathe in it, and cook in it, but to drink it, plain, no coffee or tea mixed in, yuck! I just get no pleasure out of it.
My plans for the next week of “the program” is to continue with my diet and exercise, and to continue to drown my sorrows in water!

Yesterday was the most beautiful of days. We’d have 4-5 inches of snow the day before and yesterday we had light powdered sugar snow all day long. The result was a frosting of snow on all the trees, houses and cars. It looked like God had taken the most fluffy almond creme white frosting, (see what dieting does? It makes you think of everything in terms of yummy food!) and carefully spread it around.

We did go skiing, and we met up with some friends we have skied with for many years. As beautiful as it was to drive around, it was not so beautiful or easy to ski yesterday, as the clouds were sitting quite literally, on the mountain! I kept hoping it would burn off, but that was not the case.
We skied until 11:30 and then stopped. My eyes were tired from straining to see through the fog. However, I got my exercise in, and there were no falls either!

I did have a scare though, as my cell phone rang and my mother told me that my sister was in the Emergency Room with chest pains! I was worried because my sister has a heart murmur and I wondered if this was the problem. One thing about skiing, it gives your brain plenty of time to mull these things over while you are skiing.
As soon as I got off the slopes I called my niece and asked if she had heard anything, but unfortunately she hadn’t. It wasn’t until mid afternoon that I got through to my sister and discovered that it is either acid reflux or a pulled muscle in her chest. It scared the heck out of me. She is my only sibling and we lost our brother 27 years ago from cancer. We have grown very, very close and I just do not know what I would do without her.
So, “Mel, get well and feel better fast!”

Have any of you watched a new show called “Close To Home“? It’s about an assistant DA named Annabeth. She is not only beautiful and compassionate, but a real smart cookie as well! Both Hubby and I love the show. It’s on Friday nights at 9 on CBS, and I am adding it to my sidebar as a must see!

Yesterday was an interesting day. We headed to the grocery store in the middle of the snow storm. Of course, doesn’t everyone? However, we found the stores empty! So, apparently we are part of a select few who enjoy going through the isles of the grocery store while the snow falls and rapidly accumulates. The roads were horrible and I was grateful that Hubby was with me, as he did all the driving. We saw a few cars that had gone off the road, but we arrived back safe and sound!
While Hubby went out to use the snow blower and clear the drive, I got out my new vacuum and cleaned the family room and kitchen. Yes, I am still on cloud nine using that machine! It is so much better than my old one.
Then, I sat down and wrote a letter to my little friend, Matina. She is the 7 year old granddaughter of my neighbor. When she visits during the summers she loves to come down and visit and play with the dogs, and at Christmas she wrote me a cute letter and asked me to write back. So, I wrote a letter and then made a collage of pictures of the dogs for her.
Dinner was late, and after, I packed a picnic breakfast so we are all ready to go off skiing this morning. I sure hope I don’t fall today. I really hate it when that happens!

When I woke up this morning the first thing that hit me was a stinging pain in my left eye. I got up and rinsed it out and then got Hubby up and we got ready to go skiing. It was cloudy and cold, but we thought what the heck, might as well go. So, I threw in a pack of cold cuts and cheese for me and off we went. We stopped briefly at McDonald’s so Hubby could get a breakfast, and then headed to Waterville Valley.
Usually on a Monday morning it is pretty quiet, but because it was a holiday, the parking lots were full! We found a spot to park and headed into the lodge to get ready.
Today was the first day I wore my ski helmet. It’s comfortable, but there is this odd thing. The wind whistles around the ear openings on the helmet making a strange noise. It was sort of funny.
Now here is my great news of the day. First I really detest impolite skiers. You know, the ones who ski way too close to you and nearly knock you down? There were plenty of them there today. I observed these three snow boarders nearly knock someone over then they skied up to a closed trail and skied under the rope. Just then a ski cat came up, a man jumped out of the drivers seat and apprehended them. HA! Finally Divine Justice!
We skied over to one of the most challenging slopes called Gema and I was about half way down when I started sweating, shaking and not thinking straight. I knew immediately it was low blood sugar from me not eating a correct breakfast. I got down and met up with Hubby and told him how I was feeling. We skied down to the lodge where he got me a regular hot chocolate and peanut butter crackers to stabilize the blood sugar. Then as I lamented about feeling shaky on the slopes he joked, “So what else is new?”
We skied a little more after that, but I was feeling tired and the slopes were so crowded that we gave up after 7 runs and came home.
My eye is still sore, and I’ve put some gel into it to coat the surface. I made myself a nice chef salad and so that is helping to make me feel more like myself.
Now it’s time to take down the Christmas decorations and get the boxes packed again for another year.

Off to Waterville Valley to ski. I’ll report in this afternoon!

Our celebration last night was a good one. Filled with lots of food, drink and chatting. It started with chips and dips and proceeded to a Lobster dinner.

We had sparkling cider, champagne and apple crisp for dessert!
We saw Dick Clark and though it saddened us to see how severe his stroke had been, we all were proud of his courage and all the work he has done in the last year to return to his viewing audiance.
This morning it’s some German Stollen bread, and eggs and sausages, with lots and lots of coffee!!

Tuesday I went shopping. I was enjoying the after Christmas sales. I found a great selection of Christmas cards at 40% off their list price, and proceeded to buy what I will need for next year! I think the best thing is that I was able to get cards I really liked. As I have mentioned before, I just LOVE a good sale!
After filling my car with cards I headed over to JC Penney’s for their sales. I looked at pocketbooks, as I really have a pocketbook fetish that hasn’t been fed in a while. After walking around and around I understood why. I simply don’t care for the current styles. Hmmm.
Then I went into the sleep wear section. I always get a new robe and new flannel pajamas after Christmas when everything is on sale. This year was no different. I got a pair of leopard print flannel pajamas, and a mint green fleece robe. Both were 50% off. I was feeling good about the money I was saving as I slid my credit card through the machine!
Then I went to Sears and stood looking longingly at the vacuums. I really hate my current vacuum. It’s fine for someone with no animals, but after a few years I find that each time I was taking it out to use I felt like I was simply putting dust in the air and on my furniture and that the stupid machine did nothing to really clean my house. So there I was standing, looking, nearly crying with the longing of a thirsty woman for a tall glass of ice water, when my cell phone rang and Hubby asked what I was up to. I told him what I was doing and then explained all the reasons I simply had to get that vacuum! He listened and then said, quite casually, mind you, “So get it” and I did!
When I got home and unpacked it from the box, my hands shook as they caressed the sleek body of the white canister machine. I plugged it in, and heard the soft whir of the engine as it came to life. My heart skipped a beat!
So what did I do all day on Wednesday? I think you know. Yes, I cleaned and vacuumed until the happiness was almost more then I could stand!
Okay, I admit it. I’m getting old. Old is when you get a major appliance like a vacuum and you find it’s making your entire year. I remember 20 years ago I wanted new clothes, books to read, games to play, stereo equipment, etc. Now, I don’t want all that crap. It just sits around taking up space. I good appliance that will be used several times a week is worth it’s weight in gold!