Category: My Life

I’ve just returned from my meeting at Weight Watchers. I got there early because I was so nervous and I just wanted to get weighed in. I entered the room and removed my coat and shoes and went over to the check in area. Slowly I stepped up on the scales and winced.

“Well? What did I do?” I asked, my voice cracking.

“Six pounds and two ounces!” she responded.

“Lost or gained?” I asked.

She just laughed and I knew that I had done it. I had made it through the first week and actually lost the weight. I know it won’t be like this every week, but I’m in this for the long haul!

Continue reading “Six Pounds and Two Ounces Lighter!”

Today after I got done having my blood taken for tests at the hospital, I treated myself to a morning at the beauty shop. Nails were done, hair was (ahem) given a second youth, and my bangs were trimmed.

While I was getting my hair washed I closed my eyes and thought how glorious it felt to get pampered this way. It made me feel warm inside and made me smile. I really look forward to these monthly trips to see Margarita. She just makes my whole day. I feel so spoiled and relaxed and wonderful.

Once I came home, looking like one of “Charlie’s Angels”, I got to work packing away our Christmas decorations. Emily helped and in short order, we had it packed and put away in our attic.

With my laptop gone I am spending time in the office. We have left the gate open and the puppies are having a great time running up and down the hallway!

Oh what fun!

Continue reading “Bee-Yew-Tee-Full!!”

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This is my own Baked French Onion Soup. Hubby says it is one of the best things I make and he loves it. So needless to say, I make it often!
Delicious!

PhotoHunt

Continue reading “Saturday Scavenger Photo”

I got into my car after dinner tonight and drove 8 miles to my first Weight Watchers meeting. I was nervous and scared at what the scale would show, but I was also determined to actually get there.

I had the address of the church where the meeting was being held, and I got there thinking that certainly I would be the plumpest woman there. I was relieved to find that not only was I not the plumpest, but I wasn’t the only first timer either.

I sat through the meeting and listened to the other women and men speak about their weight problems. Several people have done really well and lost a lot of weight. It gave me strength to think about conquering this myself.

Yes, at one point after the meeting I was speaking with the Counselor and I said, “Hello, my name is Maribeth, and I am an over eater!” We both laughed!

I won’t be writing a lot about this in my entries, but I may put things in the extended entry for anyone who is interested.

I have a LOT of weight to lose. A LOT! But I am in no hurry and I can take my time and do this right.

So it begins, this life of controlled eating.

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By the way, today my laptop was sent back to the factory for repair. I cried at the UPS office at I bid it farewell. Meanwhile I actually have to get myself down the hall and into the office to use a (*gasp*) desktop model!

I’m already missing my laptop.

Yesterday I wrote about New Years Resolutions. I have made them for almost every year that I have conscious memories, and I have kept a few (such as quitting smoking 8 years ago) and learning to cook (that is now my biggest problem).

You see, somewhere between age 20 and today my body has given me up. In my 20’s and even my 30’s I could eat what I wanted and not gain weight, and my muscles had remained strong enough and flexible enough for me to perform the daily challenges in life.

Now, as I prepare to go into my 50th year, I find that although I LOVE to cook and eat, my body has stopped it’s ability to metabolize the food as efficiently as it once did. And my muscles? Well, let’s just say that I moan and groan a whole lot more these days than I ever thought was possible.

You see, I feel young in my head. Unfortunately the body, the keeper of my spirit is not helping me out any and thus, my dilemma.

So this New Year as I am sitting planning what my “Resolutions” or “Goals” should be I have kept in my mind the thought that I simply am not willing to go into middle age without a fight.

Thus my two Resolutions are this:

1. I will start Weight Watchers on Thursday evening. I have decided that I need the help and support of other people who are metabolically challenged to achieve my goal of losing the weight that has crept upon these soon to be, middle aged bones. I will go and sit there and announce “Hello, my name is Maribeth and I’m an overeater!”

2. I will exercise. I plan to set my initial goal at exercising two days a week and go from there. I still have a gym membership, and let’s face it, with all this snow, I should get out my skis, pack my back pack and get my lazy bottom out of bed in the morning and go skiing. I will not let my fear of last years fall make me crazy and keep me off the ski slopes.

So there we have it. Better, healthier eating and exercise. Fairly simple? I sure hope so. It sort of stinks that once you get to a point where you understand life, liberty and pursuit of happiness, your body gives out on you and you have to live on lettuce and a treadmill!

Ah well, it beats the heck out of the alternative!

What are your resolutions?

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LIGHT

Hubby took this picture 8 years ago. It is me with my Shubi sitting at the end of a long day on a bench overlooking our lake. I loved it then, and I love it now.

This is Hubby and me having breakfast on our Alaska cruise two years ago.

Today in my driveway.

Hubby took this while we were at sea on our Panama trip.

It’s snowing again. A lot.

Now I like snow, I really do, but we have had a lot of snow already this year, and right now I am getting a little sick of it!

If I could go out in it once or twice a day I could live with that, but the puppies want to be out running around, so they con me into believing that they need to wee-wee. So out we go and then they just take off, running like little wild ones around the back yard!

Good times!

I also have discovered that bringing them out is easier if I shovel the patio and then a little walk way, and I have also discovered that shoulders and lower backs ache after doing this.

It’s painful to realize that most of these feelings are due to the fact that I am getting old-(er). I can recall the days when I could shovel snow for hours and play with my doggies in the snow and not feel chilly and wet.

So while children in New England are happily singing about a “White Christmas” I am sitting here saying “Bah Humbug”!

I’m the Snow Queen. Yep, that’s me. You see every time the puppies have to go outside for, you know, I have to get on my boots, my down jacket, hat, and gloves and take them out on the leash. It’s not that I mind doing this, I don’t, really, but when it’s 9 degrees (F) and the wind is blowing up my bathrobe, I question my sanity, in having 4 dogs, two of which still need to be walked.

Arnie

Anneliese

Then the little ones come up and start snuggling and kissing me and I realized how much I am loved by these furry beasts, and it makes it all worth it.

We’ve got 12 inches of snow here, which can really do a lot to freeze up a little dachshund foot. In fact as much as they love to frolic in the snow, they also “freeze up”, refuse to move and then I have to traipse through the snow and rescue them! Then they really love me.

Yes, the Snow Queen to the rescue!

It’s the start of the ski season here in New Hampshire. Hubby went off this morning quite early, but I stayed behind as my stomach is still not 100%. Once he was out the door, I lay down on the sofa and little by little the dogs came to be with me.

First Greta climbed on my shoulders and nestled her head by my neck. (A few kisses were exchanged) Then Arnie jumped up and claimed his position behind my knees. He placed his snout on my knees. (He brought his bone with him to chew on.) Then Anneliese came up and snuggled by my stomach, resting her head under my chin. (She just brought herself and was happy to cuddle!) Then, last but not least, Fritz came and slept on the floor in front of me.

I wanted to move, I wanted to shift off of my right hip, but I dared not move, for fear of disturbing the dogs. Soon I just fell asleep, and remained like this for over an hour.

I finally rose and all the dogs stretched and yawned. I made lunch and just after noon Hubby arrived after his first day on skis. He says it was good, although his legs feel like jello tonight.

You know it was sort of nice to cuddle with all the dogs today. I really missed them and it was nice to see that they missed me too.

It’s so good to be home!

The suitcases are all unpacked, the laundry sorted, and the dogs have decided that everything is okay now and we are not going to leave them.

I got up today, after a full night’s sleep, with the intention of getting the laundry washed, folded and put away. Did I accomplish this?

No.

Why?

Well, it goes like this. You see, while we were on vacation we went places and did things and kept ourselves busy from early morning until late at night. The excitement of being on the ship, kept us going, but on the last day I could feel it coming on…”The Vacation Exhaustion”!

On the plane to Boston I felt my body crashing. There were no pillows on the plane, so while my head bobbled around like one of those dolls, I started to sleep. That half awake and half asleep feeling has been with me ever since.

I thought after last night’s long sleep I would have recovered. However, the two and a half hour nap I took today with three warm dachshunds, told me that I probably have a few days left until I am almost back to normal.

Maybe.

Yes, I need a vacation from my vacation!