Category: My Life

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!

Today is my 49th birthday. So I thought I’d put together this short video. I hope you enjoy it.

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Sunday we worked tirelessly, packing, cleaning and rechecking our packing. Finally about 4 PM I was happy with what we’d accomplished and I actually sat down and had a cup of tea. Even Hubby was busy today getting his carry on bag packed, and changing the oil in the car.

The dogs have sensed that something is up and have been a little strange all day. A little clingy, a little fussy, just like a little child.

I managed to get a simple dinner made of a hodge podge of leftovers, which helped to clean out the fridge. Once I got that cleaned up, I finally was able to sit down, put up my feet and sip a cup of my favorite tea.

We’ll probably watch a little mindless TV tonight, like Desperate Housewives, before going to bed. I’m just so tired and I need a good night’s sleep before we begin the traveling to Boston and then San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Monday we will drive to Boston and meet up with our friends, George and Carol. We will be traveling on the cruise with them! We plan a dinner at Durgin Park, and then an early bedtime at a motel near the airport.

Our flight leaves on Tuesday at the ungodly hour of 6 AM! Factoring in time to shower and dress and go through security, I figure we will be getting up in the middle of the night!

Then we fly off directly to Puerto Rico, where we will get on board the ship. We’ll be getting there around noontime, but the ship doesn’t sail until 11 PM, so we thought we might tour around the island a little. George, Carol, and Hubby have all been there before, but this will be my first trip to the island.

Well, I’ve printed up some new pictures of my doggies and have them tucked into my bag. All I need to do in the morning is shower and dress and kiss the babies goodbye.

That’ll be the hardest part about leaving on our trip.