Category: Milestones

Every day I either climb on my exercise bike or I go skiing. I’ve been faithfully doing this since January 1st, part of my New Years Resolution for a healthier me. As those of you, who read me daily know, I have been back on South Beach to regain control of my eating, and to lose the weight I put on this fall.
I felt quite humbled when I could barely zip my jeans, and I have not gone out to buy jeans that fit better. There were days I spent a lot of time in sweat pants with a wonderful elastic waist band!
The first week I lost 4 pounds, the second week 3 pounds and this week another 4 pounds!
Needless to say, moral is high right now. I feel like the Super Woman of Dieting! Able to leap stationary bikes, carrying a carrot stick, in a single bound!
It has not always been like this for me. Weight loss and I are not old and dear friends. Usually it dribbles off. 1/4 pound here, a 1/10 of a pound there. I’m usually in the deepest of depressions when I am dieting.
So what’s different this time? I think two things. First I have learned that nothing puts weight on me faster than carbs. I should just take those cookies, breads and potatoes and rub them on my hips! So I know that cutting all of that out and eating a lot of protein and vegetables is the way to go. When I do that, the weight melts off.
Second, I am learning that “exercise” that dreaded four letter word, really does get the weight to move off a little faster. I also read something in a book, (don’t ask me which one!), that it’s better to exercise in the morning because it gets your metabolism cranking and you burn calories more efficiently for the rest of the day. Thus, after breakfast I do my thing, be it on the slopes or on the bike.
I’ve still got a long way to go, and I know there will be weeks when I don’t lose anything and I come crying to you all, but today, I’m feeling good about myself and about my change in eating habits.

There we were, my family and I, gathered to say goodbye to my Aunt. It’s a small family now, as we’ve said goodbye to too many of our loved ones. Yet, we sat side by side, sang some hymns and listened to the minister. My cousin Larry spoke about his mother. He did a great job, and he nearly had me in tears. Which was not too good, because I had to speak next. Somehow I cleared my throat, which felt very tight, climbed to the podium and told everyone about my special Aunt, “Uncle Betty“. My voice didn’t falter, and I got through okay, but right at the end, when I finished I suddenly felt like I was going to burst into tears. I couldn’t breath and I had a small sense of panic overcome me. I did not want to cry like that in front of so many strangers. So I held my breath until I sat down with my cousin Janet and I grabbed her hand and held on. I could feel her warmth and her love and slowly I could relax and breathe.
The service ended with the choir singing “Amazing Grace”. It was done as a spiritual, and I just loved it, (I usually cry buckets when I hear that song). This arrangement, however, was so uplifting and fun, that it really lightened the mood.

My cousin, Rikki, my sister, Mel, my cousin, Larry, my mother, me and my cousin, Janet.
After the service, we celebrated Uncle Betty with a buffet (she would have loved that, as she was always the first one there for a “food” event), and we all were telling our favorite stories of her. I got to meet many of our northeast Blogging friends, and at the end of the gathering, I brought in Shubi and Greta to meet everyone.
I’ll miss Uncle Betty so much. She was one of the best parts of this group of people that I call family.

Today is a special day for me. It’s five years ago today that I first met my best friend, Uschi.

It’s funny how we started out. I’d gone to a (German language) dog web site where there was a chat room. At the time I was trying to learn some German. (Unfortunately I am one of those people who is not linguistically gifted. )
While there I left a message that I was looking for a penpal. Uschi replied to the posting and we have been together ever since.
The first postings were formal. I learned she was born and raised in Schmölln, Germany. She was an Engineer, married with a daughter, and a yellow Labrador, named Gilli and currently living in Berlin. I wrote to her about me. I was 42, fighting my weight (even then), married, with one daughter, and two dogs. A White German Shepherd, Max and my beloved Shubi.
Over time we would write about what we were doing, what we were thinking, what we were cooking or where we were going. We set up our computers so we could chat online and each day at 3 pm my time and 9 pm her time we would meet to chat!
It was a year before we actually met each other. Then Uschi and her Hubby came to visit us here in the USA! We went on a road trip. Two dogs, and four people in a camper. What a blast!

A year later I went to visit them in Germany while Hubby stayed home. Our Max was ill and Hubby didn’t want to leave him. It was so great to be there with Uschi and to visit Berlin after being away from it since 1990.
When Shubi got sick, Uschi helped me find my Greta and she made most all of the arrangements for us to go over and pick her up. This time Hubby came with me and we enjoyed a week with Uschi and her Hubby!

Meeting Uschi is so special because she is now a sister to me. I know I can go to her anytime and pour out my heart and she will listen and love me anyway. She understands my heart and we share so many interests and concerns

We have been through life’s most difficult moments and been able to be there for each other in a way that many other friends simply cannot.
So today I am writing this to let you know how wonderful it is to have such a special person in my life. My best friend and sister.
Happy 5th Anniversary, Uschi, and thank you so much for your friendship and your love!

As this is the opening day of The Dackel Princess, I would like to welcome everyone to my site! As I write, spring is upon us here in the mountains of New Hampshire. With temperatures on the high 70’s my apple trees are starting to blossom and the trees on the hill are starting to leaf out. It is so beautiful! All three dogs have been running around in the yard this morning. Currently the two dachsies are taking their second nap of the day, (more like one long, long nap) and Fritz is outside asleep on the patio. His favorite spot to be. Me? I’m sitting in front of my computer trying to figure out a new bit of software. So here’s to the first entry! With many more to come!!!

This is Shubi!