My Life – Page 40 – The Dackel Princess

TBT: Memories Of Old Cape Cod

Summer Memories

I grew in Falmouth on Cape Cod and my summers were always full of sun, sea and soft, cool, cotton sheets after a long day at the beach. My sister Melodie is in the back on the left. I’m the bold one in the blue bikini!

I swam almost before I could walk, dreamed of magical kingdoms, built in the sand, and lay on my towel watching the clouds drift by in the afternoon. I remember thinking that time went so slowly as I lay there, that things would always be like that.

I ran barefoot all summer long through the sweet grass, and the scent of lilacs and roses and the ocean were always there. (Or so it seemed)

The feel of salt on my skin, the taste of it on my lips, and the laughter in the air, as I climbed the jetties along the Surf Drive Beach.

Melodie on the left and me at home on Clipper Lane. When I didn’t walk to the beach, I rode my trusty Schwinn Bike all over town.

Fireflies, cookouts on the grill at Goodwill Park, with marshmallows too. My Uncle George, cousin, Janet and Aunt Betty with Grandma Honey.

Telling stories in the dark, movies at the drive-in and ice cream cones at Dairy Queen!

Pop cycles and root beer floats, fried clams and frozen Milkyway bars. Lobster and butter, and strawberry shortcakes at the church festival.

At the Clam Shack in Falmouth.

Sunshine and happiness, visiting with relatives who flocked to our house and the beach. Summers are full of some of the best memories in my life!

Answers

The Rheumatologist I have been seeing has diagnosed me as having PMR, (Polymyalgia Rheumatica), with GCA, (Giant Cell Arteritis). Forms of Arthritis. Although it has been painful and somewhat debilitating for me, a month ago I started a new medication to reduce the inflammation, and I am feeling a lot better.

I am also working hard back at Weight Watchers, as losing the extra weight will also alleviate the chronic pain I am in. Before the new medication, the body pain was (on a scale of 1 being bad and 10 being childbirth) a 7-8 almost all the time. I just couldn’t escape it. With the medication, I am down to a 3 or 4 and when the doctor asked if I could handle that, I told him that would be a piece of cake compared to what I have been going through.

So now we work at getting me on exactly the right dosage and I continue to lose the weight, sensibly.

Finally. Finally I have some answers!

Cell Phones & Photographs

Hi Everyone. I feel quite guilty for not writing until now. However, I finally became the owner of a Smart Phone, a Galaxy S5, and since I have never had a Smart Phone, I have had to spend a lot of time learning about it, and programming it to my needs.

In fact I took these pictures today of a Christmas Cactus that was given to me years ago by a very special friend, Carol. The cactus loves my bedroom window, and just keep blooming, over and over again!

The camera is easy to use and takes such nice pictures!

Anyway, I did get the sheets washed and the bed made, and cooked three nice meals, and in between, I worked on learning the new phone.

Weekend Round-Up

The garden is planted, Savannah turned three, and laundry was done, rounding out the rather full weekend! I actually got out my swim suit yesterday and got into Mandy’s pool.

I’m currently not thrilled with how my body looks in a swim suit, but I am doing all I can to bring my weight down and under control.

The gift I wanted to purchase for Savannah, a child’s easel, was finally purchased at ToysRus. They had a really cute one and I was very happy with it. More importantly, Savi liked it.

But the real stroke of pure genius goes to Hubby, who picked out an alphabet dachshund, that sings the ABC Song, and then barks. Savi loved that. I think because she loves animals.

It was absolutely perfect timing to have her party yesterday, in the bright sun and heat! Sunday was cold and rainy. It would not have made a good pool party weather day.

Welcome to June first, and have a great week everyone!

A Crazy Thursday

Thursday was a crazy day. I got an email from Walmart announcing that they could not deliver Savannah’s birthday gift today because of an out of their control delay! What!!!

Since we really needed to start planting the garden, we directly planted the seeds for the peas and beans and beets. We’d hoped to do more today, but it was so crazy hot, and we knew we had to be off to the big city!

I cancelled the order for Savi’s gift with Walmart, and then Hubby and I took a road trip. We stopped at a Chinese Buffet, and he ate normally and I, bringing my Weight Watchers books with me, planned what I would eat. I had Hot & Sour Soup, millions of steamed vegetables, vegetable egg foo yung, with no gravy (not a big gravy fan anyway), and then some melon. Oh yes, and I drank two tall grasses of water and 6 cups of green tea! (My teeth are still floating!)

We stopped for gasoline at Sam’s Club, and also found some great lamb chops, chickens, and ground beef. Since I try to always plan ahead, I had a cooler and ice packs with me. It was so necessary as we had another 90+ degree day.

We stopped briefly at one other store, before heading back home. Hubby wanted leftovers for his dinner, but I made some salmon, boiled potatoes and beets for my dinner.

I sure am tired tonight, and I know tomorrow I must get the rest of the garden planted. After that, I need to go out and buy all the fresh vegetables to make an awesome salad for Savannah’s Birthday Party!

I cannot believe she will be 3 years old this weekend!

More This & That

Sunday was a good day. Busy, but good. I somehow managed to get a ton of laundry done, and that being said, I also managed to avoid ironing. That great pleasure will come tomorrow.

We watched the Indy 500 race on TV, a few games from the French Open, and a couple of movies. The most notable being, “Lost In Translation”. I’ve seen it a million times before, but I really love that movie.

I recall many years ago when I first went to Germany with Hubby. He had to go off to work and I was left to my own devices. I spoke no German and understood none either. I felt deaf and dumb, as I was unable to understand anything people said, or to speak with them.

Like Charlotte in “Lost In Translation”, I remember calling my mother and father, because I felt so totally lost in this new world. I didn’t know who I was anymore, or where I fit in.

Eventually I came to love Berlin, and explored the city. Although I never learned to speak German fluently, or even well, or let’s face it, most toddlers spoke better than I did, I did learn key words and I could follow along.

Ah sweet life. I would not have traded that time for anything. I learned so much.

Mostly I learned that no matter what, I could rely on myself.

Anneliese continues to do well, and I think she is on the right road. Thankfully! I’m not sure what I would do if she went down with a bad back and did not recover!

A Blessed Memorial Day to you all, and to the Veterans in your life.

And The Results Are…

I woke up on Wednesday morning and had a spring in my step! I felt as though I had accomplished a great deal and that my weigh in at Weight Watchers would certainly show some sort of loss.

I made my breakfast to take along, as well as my coffee and water. Then after waking Hubby to care for the animals, I headed off. It was cool, overcast, and windy, but in my mind I felt light and sunny.

I weighed in and imagine my shock when I stayed exactly the same! I’m glad I brought my journal with me because I was able to go over it with the leader. One thing she said stuck with me. She told me not to be disheartened. To keep going and journal every bite and we’d go over it all next week.

I can’t say I am thrilled about this, but at least I feel I am moving in the right direction.

Denial

OK, so after losing all the weight I wanted to back in 2008-2009, I have now slowly but surely gained it all back.

There I have said it. Not that you didn’t all notice, but I’m like the person who passes by a mirror 20 times a day and never looks at their reflection.

I was the Queen of Denial!

Then I had a moment when I could no longer lie to myself. I simply had to face what I’d done to myself. That was on Mother’s Day morning when none of my shorts and summer clothes fit.

I thought about it and then for whatever reason, I was looking back at blog entries and I reread back in 2008 when I first joined Weight Watchers. It was their old program and I was able to eat smaller portions and lose 2-3 pounds each week.

I still had all my books, and the magical Points Finder Slide. I have all I need to step back in time and do the old program.

I’m thinking I need a little reigning in. Weighing, measuring, and making better choices. The old plan accounts for the fact that there are certain vegetables that need to be counted, and also lets you know, you cannot eat unlimited fruits. Each fruit has a point!

So, I’ve decided to give myself a good month on the old plan. Hubby is all for this and he has told me he will be supportive.

I so hope by my birthday in November, I will be either back to or close to my goal weight.

Wish me luck!

Mother’s Day Recap

Today was such a wonderful Mother’s Day. We drove down to Mandy and Matt’s house, and Matt’s parents, Mandy’s grandmother, Grammie Alice, my former husband, Bob and Jack and I all celebrated.
All day long Bob and I played with our granddaughter. We played dress up, and wiffle ball, we dug in the dirt, watched ants outside and we chased after her. At one point Bob asked Savi if she wanted to play a game with him and grandma and Savi got all in a huff! She said, “No Bob, her name is Oma!” We both threw our heads back and laughed.

Savannah’s long curls.

An accidental natural light picture. I love it though.

Smiling Savannah.

My beautiful daughter, Mandy and her sweet daughter, Savannah.

What a lovely day it was. Mandy and Matt worked so hard to make it a very special Mother’s Day!

The Royal Baby Girl

I woke this morning to the news that Prince William and Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, have safely delivered a healthy baby girl! How wonderful for them and for England.

From the moment that it was announced that Kate was expecting, I just knew that it was a girl. Now we must wait to learn her name. I hope that they give her a beautiful, original name.

Looking back, I recall how wonderful it was when I gave birth to my daughter, Amanda. Back then we did not know before hand what the baby would be, but I had a good idea it was a girl. Call me clairvoyant, but I was just certain.

Then she came flying out, after just 8 hours of labor, and when they laid her on my abdomen and I saw her face, I felt like I had known her all my life and that I had loved her for all eternity.

I guess the thing is, for me, as soon as I knew I was pregnant, I loved that little baby growing inside me. And seeing her and holding her, cemented those feeling for a lifetime.

Now my daughter, has her daughter, Savannah, and the love that I have for my granddaughter is so deep. I never knew it could be like this! As Savannah grows and becomes her own little person, I find I am totally filled with love.