Category: My Life

Well folks, I went back to Weight Watchers and after 10 days being strict with myself, I have lost two and a half pounds! Okay, this is great, and the first step. Now I have to follow up again this week and be just as strict and hopefully fall into a routine that will help me to change the way I view food.

I feel very good about these developments. My ultimate goal right now, is to lose 25 pounds by my birthday in November. It’s possible, but I will have to stick to the plan, and increase my exercise.

I cannot believe how perfect the weather has been the past week. Usually “Motorcycle Week” brings lots and lots of rain, but we have had pleasant temperatures and blue skies!

I’ve spent time in the garden, time walking Lili and time making things in the kitchen like salads. I’m quite determined to get back 100% on Weight Watchers.

I know I have a way to go to get to my goal, but I also know that Weight Watchers is a good program. Every day at  lunch I have a beautiful salad. And I really enjoy that. I keep telling myself that once I reach my goal, occasionally I can have something special. But I will be very careful, unlike my previous loss. I seemed to think that my metabolism had changed and I could eat anything.

Nope! I gained it back. Since I am not a defeatist, I am back in the saddle again and I will do it!

Lately I’ve been going through a dry spot. It’s kinda that time of year, I’m feeling the loss of my daughter, and so much has changed in the perception I have in viewing myself.

All my life I saw myself looking the same as I always have. I may have gotten gray over the years, but a good dye job took care of that.

Then last year I had the facial cancer, gained quite a bit of weight and found I no longer knew this stranger in the mirror. I really have felt lost.

Add to this the fact that I spent most of last winter sick with high fevers, chills and desperately ill. That didn’t help at all.

Anyway, Last week I went back to Weight Watchers, and I am trying to get myself together. Lose the weight, get my face looking as good as I can.

I also think that I need to concentrate on the positive. All the good things in my life. I also need to stop thinking about the personal vanities that bother me. Hubby, Mandy and Savannah love me, no matter how my face looks. (And really, my face looks okay, just not the same as it did).

I made it through day one of my diet healthy lifestyle eating plan. Oh goodness, I did fine until about 7 o’clock, in the evening and then all I wanted to do was eat! Thankfully it was Monday, and I watch “Dancing With The Stars” in bed (Hubby dislikes this show) and I actually had trouble staying awake until the end!

Excitement continues in our house hold, but I still cannot share this news. And for those of you that already know, please don’t say anything just yet. Just know it is wonderful and happy!

I’ll be seeing my daughter this weekend as she is having a Thirty-one Party. I shall report in. I’ve never been to one before, but it is a bag/pocketbook/tote party. Like the days of Tupperware!

Yesterday I stopped in at the shoe store and bought myself a new pair of walking shoes. They are cute slip-ons, with great support, and my orthotics actually slip right on in. They are also blue jeans color.

Happy Tuesday!

Today I was more energetic than I have been in well over a year. I think depression will do that to you. After my cancer surgery and then the plastic surgery, I fell into a deep depression. Worst of all, my doctor had decided to decrease the medication I take for depression.

So I kept falling, deeper, and deeper into depression. It’s sort of like trying to swim in molasses. You just don’t get anywhere, and before you know it, you feel like you are sinking.

Well about 10 days ago my medication was adjusted and I woke up today and I met myself again. I made breakfast, (with gusto), I planted all my garden seeds in their little pots, I washed the floor in the kitchen (twice) and made a nice dinner.

And at the very end of the day I took a hot shower and got ready for “Dancing With The Stars”! And best of all, I feel good. Peaceful. Finally, like I can take a deep breath and relax. Life is good.

This morning was bath morning for all three dackels. Hubby was playing with them this morning and they didn’t pass the smell test, so into the sink they went! They’re all pretty good, with the exception of Greta who let me know she wasn’t happy, by talking to me all through her bath!

This actually is a good thing because they are due for their next flea and tick application on May first and they tell you not to bath them a few days before or after. So I am all set!

We will be bringing up the potting soil that we got yesterday and despite the cold weather I will plant the seeds today for the garden. I think I may very well put the seed containers on trays that I can move inside until it warms up. Right now, even my green house is cold!

I made a ham steak last night for dinner. I love ham, but with just two of us, it doesn’t make sense to buy a whole ham. Anyway, it was so good, served with spicy German mustard, and Bratkartoffeln (German fried potatoes like homefries).

After a long, cold, and dreary winter, I am starting to feel better, brighter. This despite the fact that I had an interesting encounter last week.

I was out to lunch with a friend of mine named Laurie. We spotted a woman we both know quite well, as we were leaving the restaurant. We stopped to say hello and Ann acted like she didn’t know me. Finally Laurie said, “You remember, Maribeth?” and Ann said “Oh my gosh, I would never have recognized you!” I smiled, trying to be gracious, and said “Oh, it’s probably the longer hair.” Now that gave her an easy out. “No” she said, “That’s not it!” Okay I thought, what do I do? “Well I had a lot of plastic surgery last year”.

Then she gave me a little bit of a smirk, like I had been caught having a face lift. “I had facial cancer, and after they removed the cancer I had to have reconstructive surgery. My Boston doctor is so gifted and I am grateful”. And at that, we left.

I felt a little bad at first, but then I thought of her rudeness. I know she knew who I was. We were on the same committee here in town for three years. We met twice a month and in a town of 6000 people you see each other all the time.

The I remembered the song from “Frozen”. “Let it Go!” and that is what I have done. (At least now that I have shared it all with you.)

For the last three weeks the Physical Therapist has been treating me with a drug called Dexamethasone topically. At first he applied in on a pad and hooked it up to a machine that sent pules of electricity into the affected areas in my hand. Little by little it became even more painful. Last time I told him I couldn’t use the zapping machine any longer.

So on Thursday he just applied it using an ultra sound wand. It felt terrible and my skin felt like it was on fire.

Friday night I started to develop a rash and Saturday I broke out in hives. The hives started out at the wrist and continued right up my arm to just below my elbow. So no more of this crappy medicine for me!

I’m not sure what they will do. The doctor mentioned she might want to inject me with this stuff and after breaking out in hives, I can safely say, that is not going to happen.

Perhaps I need to just plain stop using that hand for a good week. I do not know. Tuesday will be my next appointment. We will see what the Therapist says.

I have been waking at night lately for two reasons. I am a snorer and my hand/wrist/thumb on my right hand continues to wake me.

I simply cannot get back to sleep and lie there feeling awful. So, last week I made up our guest room, and when I wake in the night, I grab my pillow and go down the hall and get into bed there, all by myself.

At first I felt sort of lonely. You know, no husband, no dogs, but now I find I quickly fall back asleep and wake in the morning feeling rested.

Yesterday I felt an odd hot feeling on  my wrist. I took off the brace and noted that the area where my Physical Therapist puts on Dexamethasone liquid to ease the pain there, was all broken out and bright, flaming red! I guess I need to add this to my allergy list! One thing is for sure, I won’t let him use that again.

So that’s the wrap up from New Hampshire. Hope you all have a great Sunday!