Do I MIss Blogging?

 Hello again, it has not been as long as last time but still a few months.  My title, do I miss blogging. Yes and No.  Yes, when I have something to share but no not as much as I thought I would. I mean I blog straight, every day for 5 + years.  Now, it is every once in a while. I may start a new blog but this time it will be something totally different. Will it be spiritual, religious, fitness, weight loss, family oriented, tv, movies, music? Who knows, not me but once I figure it out I will share my new blog. Until then, stay tuned to this one too. Although this is really just for me because no one is reading it but that's okay. Have a great night and I will catch you later.

I Have Returned...but for how long?

 Hello any faithful followers! It's been three years since I have posted anything on this blog. Let me tell you a LOT has happened in three years both personally, job related and family wise too. With that said I will keep this a bit short because I wasn't prepared to do this today but yet here I am. So, I bought a brand new car in early 2023 but I was involved in an accident in early 2025 and totaled my car. My FOREVER car too. Now I am carless with a leftover car loan to pay off and also looking for a car. I have been very blessed with friends and family who have loaned my their cars to use while I am trying to figure something out. Thank you Jason and Doc. A huge thank you to Jenny and Nate for being here for me along with my Pam, Brian, Ford and Mary. Love you all! I will keep you updated on the progress of a car. Until next time; have a good night!

Easter Fun and Getting Back On Track!

 Happy Easter; a day late!  I had a very nice Easter with two church services in the morning followed by a great lunch and afternoon in St. Augustine, FL.  My choir sang at both the Easter services yesterday along with bells and orchestra.  It was a great way to celebrate Easter.  After the services, I drove down to St. Augustine to meet my family for an afternoon of boating.  Well, it was suppose to be but the weather had a different idea.  So after a wonderful Easter lunch at the River & Fort restaurant, it is new and really good, we walked around St. George street then headed to the beach to drive it for a bit waiting for the rain to stop.  It did and we returned to St. George street for some ice cream.  It looked delicious but I decided to for go it.  Afterwards the rain hit hard so we headed home, through pouring rain, for a quiet evening of family games. It was a great day and weekend too.

I did well getting back on track this past week.  I had stated I was at a plateau and I broke it this week losing 1.2 pounds.  I started walking again and averaged 2 miles a day and drank 96 0z. of water everyday.  See chart to the right.  This week I have introduced intermittent fasting and have been successful so far.  I know keeping track has helped me so I will continue for the next couple of weeks so it will become habits for me again.  Check back next week and see how I did.

Kind Of Stuck!

 So I have hit a terrible plateau.  I cannot not seem to break my current weight but I do have to admit I have not stuck to my ordinary routine either.  For some reason I have become a bit lazy and have not done my daily walks and have not kept to my no snacking between meals, drinking enough water and not following my intermittent fast.  Reading what I just wrote I now realize my problem is me.  I have lost some motivation.  So, to get me going again I am challenging myself, through this blog, in getting back on track.  So, next Friday I will update you in my progress.  The first step is to commit to walking 5 times a week.  I will pledge to do 2 -4 miles on each walk.  I will also get my water intake back on track.  I pledge to drink at least 96 ounces of water a day.  Okay, next week I will update how I do and will keep a chart on my progress.  Come back next Friday and see how I do.  I can do this!

Boat Day!

 Last Sunday we spent the entire day on the boat.  We started off around 9:00 in the morning and did not get off the boat until 7:00 in the evening.  We knew we were going to be out all day but we went a bit longer because as the day went along it got warmer and warmer.  It was a chilly 62 degrees in the morning with winds at 6 to 10 mph and gusts at 15 mph.  It was chilly but it did get warmer and by 2:00 the jackets came off and yes, a couple did try to swim but not very long.  My adoptive kids and grandkids joined us so we had a full boat but we also had a lot of fun.  Rory is a natural in a boat and jumps on and off at the dock like she has been boating her whole life.  This has only been the second boat trip.  Rory and Nate went fishing and never even got a nibble.  It was a full Sunday and yes, I stupidly did not put sunscreen on until it was too late.  

It Has Been Awhile!

 Hello, I guess I have missed a few weeks.  Let's just chalk it up to being very busy.  I have had so much going on these past few weeks that I have barely had a chance to do much of anything.  However, when I did have some spare time I did discover a new show, for me, on Netflix.  Have you seen "Call the Midwife"?  OMG, it is good and addicting.  Last year, around this time, I found "Outlander" and have thoroughly enjoyed it.  I am very happy that Season 6 has started and so far it has been excellent.  I have also read the first book of the Outlander series and am on the second one and I am also enjoying them.  But I stray, back to the midwife show, there are 10 seasons and the 11th season is starting on PBS soon.  I am only on season 7 so I will not be watching the new season just yet.  I will not give any spoilers just if you have Netflix and are looking for something different check it out!  

My lifestyle journey is going well but I have hit a plateau and am working on getting off it.  Hopefully, I can get a jumpstart soon.  I am only 6 pounds away from reaching 100 pounds and I knew it would be tough but I will do it.  I will share when I do too!  This weekend is a busy one with a Rory & Gamma day today, followed by memorial service for a dear friend tomorrow, then on Sunday we will be spending the day on a boat in the St. John's river or maybe the Atlantic Ocean.  We will see what the weather lets us do.  Check out the pictures to the right and see some of the things I have been doing these past few weeks.  I will try to get better with updates as I am hoping to have things settle down a bit.

Another Busy Week, Again!

 It seems since 2022 has started that I have been busier than usual but I am okay with that because to me it means that life is getting back to normal...pre Covid.  I am busy at home, at work, at play and more.  This past week I was only home one night that I had absolutely nothing to do but that was because Rory's Soccer practice was cancelled.  I am in three musical groups at church that takes three nights to fulfill my commitment to them.  That, with a soccer practice thrown in (I only do one but there are three a week) and then trying to be social my life stays pretty busy.  Jenny and I went and saw "Rent" the traveling Broadway show, this past week and it was excellent.  Then there are the Olympics.  Right now if anyone asks me what am I watching on TV it is always the Olympics.  After reviewing what I have just written I realize how blessed I am to be so busy.  I have my work life, my home life, my family life, my church life and my social life.  That is something to be blessed with.  I am thankful!

Getting Over A Plateau

 I did not get a chance to get on last weekend because I was busy making Door Prizes for my sister's class she is hosting this weekend.  She lives in California so I have to ship everything to her.  I needed to get it out so she will receive it on time...she did!  Anyway, for the past 6 weeks I have been stuck in a rut with my weight loss.  I did not gain any weight but I also did not lose any.  Basically I had hit a plateau which happens with weight loss.   With that said I knew I needed to do something that would jumpstart my losing again.  I have joined a 75 Days Over Medium Challenge.  This is being held by a Facebook/Instagram friend and it is very similar to the 75 Day challenges that are out there except this one has some different rules.  We have about 10 items we have to complete daily until April 16.  All the items are obtainable as long as you put your mind to it.  I have and in just a few days I think it has made a difference.  I will keep you updated.  Also, I am only 6 pounds away of making 100 pounds loss.  I know I can do it!

Year Picture

 Have you been on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter and seen the pictures of people 10 years difference?  Well after seeing so many I decided to go ahead and post one of myself.  Well, of myself and my daughter.  We have lots of pictures together but the ones I chose were showing us in our worst shape and now in our best shape.  Looking at pictures of me even from a year ago I now know how badly I was out of shape and it is a miracle I did not have any medical conditions.  Now that I am in better shape I feel at least 20 to 25  years longer and I am pretty sure I act like it too!  I have so much more energy and I cannot believe how good I feel.  Anyway, the picture to the right of this post is one of Jenny and I in Hawaii (left) and Jenny and I at a Jacksonville Jaguars game.  Two great fun events, 10 years apart and yes we look older but we both feel so much better.  My 10 year picture.

Way Better

 Have you heard of the app Way Better?  It is an interesting app that helps you with several different areas.  I joined it for an exercise app but I have discovered that it offers so much more.  There are Fitness Challenges, Nutrition challenges & Mindfulness challenges. I just finished a reading challenge and I am currently in a fitness challenge "Winter walking to 5K".  I am in my first week of it.  I have three more challenges I begin on Monday.  There are some tough challenges but there is also some easier ones.  My next few challenges coming up I have two nutrition challenges and one mindfulness challenge.  It keeps me busy but it also holds me accountable and I need that.  I am not pushing the app for my own gain.  I am just a user of the app and I have been enjoying the different challenges they offer.  The good thing is it is not really that expensive.  Most challenges are only $10 to $15 dollars that you can bet and if you finish the challenge you get a portion of the pot.  It is not much but hey, I just earned a few dollars reading.

I had did have a very nice morning yesterday.  My good friend Debbie and I met half way between where we both live (90 miles apart) to have brunch.  We are long time friends and even though we do not live near each other we still talk or text several days a week and try to get together at least once a month if possible.  When I was traveling in my RV for 5 years around the country we were always in contact.  She is a true friend that I am very blessed to have.  We spent about three hours at a Bob Evans restaurant catching up and sharing stories and the goings on in our lives.  The restaurant was not busy and we tipped our server very well.  It was a really great way to start my four day weekend.

3,358,577

 What is 3,358,577?  It is the number of steps that I have walked in the last 10 months.  When I divide it by my average number of steps per mile it works out that I have walked 1, 460 miles in 2021.  That is an average of 146 miles a month or 33 miles a week or roughly 5 miles a day 6 days a week.  Now I know that there were some days where I actually walked over 10 miles and some days I only walked a couple of miles.  Either way, when I saw the number of steps I took I was very surprised since I have not really kept track.  So, I have a goal to beat for next year which is to take more than 3 million steps and I think I can do it.  I have 8 more pounds to lose to hit 100 pounds then I am going to go for another 20 pounds.  After that, I will maintain.  I will not hit 100 pounds by Jan 21st which is when I started my new lifestyle last year and I am okay with that because I never thought I would be able to do it in a year anyway.  I will celebrate when I do hit 100 pounds but it won't be with food or drink.  I have to think of something special because for me it will be.  I have gone through two pairs of shoes and am on my third which, so far, have been my favorite.  They are Brooks, which before I got them I had never heard of them, and they are the greatest shoes I have worn so far.  Comfortable, supportive, nice looking and the combination just keeps me going.  My feet have never hurt in these shoes no matter how long I have walked or worn them.  They are expensive, and were a birthday gift from my sister, but they are worth every penny.  3,358,377 steps.

Happy New Year!!!

 Happy New Year!  I hope this will be a good year for all!  As I look back on 2021 I have to say it has been probably one of my happiest years yet.  I started getting healthy in late January last year and after 11 months I have lost 92 pounds, walk 3 to 5 miles daily and I don’t feel nearly as old as I am.  My healthy lifestyle has taken at least 25 years off me.  I feel great, I am looking better and I am only 8 pounds to my first goal, 11 pounds from my second goal and 30 pounds to my third goal.  All achievable in time and time I have.  This past year I invested in myself and I am going to continue in 2022 to do the same! 

Along with my healthy lifestyle I am also going to get financial healthy too.  I need to start being a lot more responsible.  My third item for 2022 is to continue my role in helping to raise Rory and helping out where I can.  She truly is a huge joy in my life and we need to go back to Rory and Gamma adventures.

My hope for all is that this new year will be a good one for all.  Here’s to yall’s health, welfare, thriving and being a kinder group of people.  2022…good for me and you!

WOW! Christmas Is Over?!?!

 I don't know about you but I am having a hard time with Christmas already being over.  I don't know if it was how extra busy I was from Thanksgiving to Christmas or the fact that there were only 4 weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas.  Either way, it went quickly for me and I never did get to half of the things I was going to do.  I didn't get a chance to check out the Christmas lights this year or go down to St. Augustine for the Night of Lights festival. I didn't get to make half the crafts I was going to make or get a chance to finish my Christmas baking.  I did, however, manage to stay so busy and that is why I did not get all those things done.  What I did finish was my Christmas shopping early and had everything wrapped and under the tree with a week to spare before Christmas.  I have never done that in my entire life and I kind of missed the last minute rush of getting that last present in the last few minutes.  Oh well, there is always next year.  Anyway, we had a wonderful Christmas and I was spoiled by my sister and my kids once again.  I am a very lucky lady!  I also got to give some wonderful presents this year and I was more excited about what I was giving then what I was receiving.  I hope you all had a great Christmas and I hope you have a wonderful New Year!  Let's hope 2022 is better than 2021.  For me, 2021 was a year of  a lifestyle change and I could not be happier about it.  2022 will continue to be also.  Check back see how I did for 2021 and how I am doing in 2022!  Happy Holidays!

A Very Busy Week!

 This has been a very busy week.  A week from yesterday was my birthday and I got one of the best presents yet.  I get to check something off my bucket list...I am going skydiving!!!  I am so excited and this is something I have wanted to do for a long time.  There was a while where I knew I could not because of my weight issue but now that I have lost 92 pounds I have a new outlook on life and I am also living it again.  I still have about 28 pounds to go and I know I can do it with time.

The Cantata I was in went well and I am glad it is over.  Did I mention I had to dye my hair gray?  I mean I have some gray already but I needed my full head to be gray.  A friend found gray hair paint and so I was completely gray for two days then I washed it away.  Some people loved my gray hair however I did not at least not yet; I know it is coming.

I finally got to work on some Christmas crafts and Friday night I made bath bombs with Rory and Emmy.  They loved it and did really well.  We made 24 bath bombs in three different scents: Peppermint, Lemon and Lavender.  Emmy took some home and Rory gave some to her teachers.  I will also be using them for gifts.  It was fun, easy and didn't make too much of a mess.

Saturday I finally got the majority of my Christmas shopping done.  I only have a few more gifts to get and some more things to make and I will be done.  I should be able to get it completed this weekend.  

Today I have taken the day off from work to play catch up around the house.  I have some cleaning to do and some more crafting.  Hope you are all doing well!

It Has Been A Very Busy Few Weeks!

You may have guessed that it has been busy for me.  I was doing so well posting every Friday until November hit and it became a bimonthly post.  If has been crazy busy for me and I have had some interesting situations happen too.  First of all, I have now lost 90 pounds and am just 12 pounds to go until I reach my goal of losing 100 pounds.  After I hit that goal I am planning to lose at least another 20 to 25 pounds to reach where I would like to maintain my weight.  I have to say a big "thank you" to all who have supported me along this journey.  It really does help, thank you!

We had some excitement last Saturday: we were on lock down in our homes while the police were searching for a suicidal man that was armed and wandering around our neighborhood.  We live in a suburban subdivision that is normally very quiet and has always been safe.  Our kids play outside, ride their bikes, go to the park, etc. so for this to happen it was kind of a shock.  Rory had a friend over who happen to get to our house as soon as the police were driving around the neighborhood ordering us indoors.  She stayed and played but after 3 1/2 hours she wanted to go home because it was getting scary with the SWAT team in the neighborhood and a police helicopter flying over head.  That is real excitement around here.  Finally after 4 1/2 hours of lockdown the person of interest was found and we could go on with our normal lives.  Rory was a bit scared so I took her to Chuck E Cheese's to have some fun and she did.  It was the perfect distraction and she forgot about the whole incident.
This weekend is a busy one for a couple of reasons.  I have a lead role in my church's Cantata and have been working on my lines since I got the script a couple of weeks ago.  I have a lot to learn but I think they are finally in my head.  We are doing two services tomorrow.  It is also my birthday tomorrow so I have a double duty day!  Learning the script I have a huge appreciation to actors and all the lines they have to learn.  Wow, it is a bit overwhelming.

How was your Thanksgiving?  We had a big family gathering, we do live in Florida where we CAN do it, and it was fun and delicious.  It was good to have a "normal" Thanksgiving again where we could enjoy food and drink and being together.  We all had our COVID shots and our booster shots. 

Finally, have you seen the movie "Belfast"?  If not, go see it!  Wow, it is fantastic.  I have seen it twice in the movie theaters and I have now only seen 5 movies twice in the theaters.  It is now available to rent through Apple, Prime, YouTube, Spectrum, Direct TV and Dish TV.  So, if you still are not ready to go back to the theater rent it.  You will not be disappointed.  It stars Caitriona Balfe, Jamie Doran, Judy Dench, Ciaran Hinds and introduces Jude Hill.  The movie was written and directed by Kenneth Branagh. It is said it will be one of the Academy Award front runner for several nominations.  I hope so, it has been a long time a movie has been made that you can take the whole family too.  Go see it.  

Check back next week and see how the Cantata went!

Back To Reality!

 I flew back from San Diego, CA last Sunday and I am back to reality with a week of work under my belt and ready for another busy weekend.  I think this will be reality through the holiday season.  I did have a great vacation visiting my sister and having a girls weekend in Temecula, CA (wine country).  We rented a house that was located in a  vineyard.  It was in a beautiful area and we could even walk to some of the wineries in the area.  I have known "my girls" for over 20 years so we had a great time catching up with each other and just enjoying being together.  We did some wineries and even got a chance to see the new movie "Belfast".  Of course, I also had a great time during my stay with my sister and seeing even more friends.  Thanks Pam for a great couple of weeks!  

If you have not seen "Belfast" go see it.  It is a wonderful film that is predicted to have several Oscar nominations.  I am planning on seeing it again next weekend when it comes to the theaters near me.  I am just so glad I got to see it on opening day.  

Today I am spending the day cleaning out my closet and getting rid of all the clothes that are now really too big for me.  Wow, what a great feeling.  I have to get them all to Goodwill now.  I have reduced the the three racks of clothes in my massive closet, it really is, to one rack that is not even full.  Eventually I know I will fill up the racks again but for the time being I am celebrating my new weight and the new clothes I have.  

Have a great weekend!

On Vacation in California!

 I missed posting last Friday due to the fact that I am on vacation and visiting my sister and brother in California.  It has been a busy and fun one so far and I still have a week to go!  I flew in on Tuesday night and got busy getting ready for my sister’s Christmas SAS.  She had three sessions this year: two on Friday and one on Saturday.  On Sunday we shopped and my brother and sister-in-law came down from Orange County for the day.  It has been great!  This week we will be touring some vineyards in Temecula while staying on the grounds at one of the wineries.  Girls weekend with my sister and few more friends.  Check out my pictures and see the fun I have had thus far.  Now, on with my vacation!

Trunk Or Treat & A Year Apart

 This past Wednesday we had a Trunk or Treat at my church.  In case you do not know what a Trunk or Treat is I will explain.  We used a portion of our parking lot and cars were parked in the spaces with their trunks or hatch backs opened and decorated for Halloween with a theme.  We had over 30 vehicles that participated in it and every trunk was decorated to the max.  Costumes were also warn by the trunk owners.  Then children came, dressed up in their costumes and went from trunk to trunk trick or treating.  Candy and little toys were passed out and the kids had a great and safe trick or treating.  We had a church dinner first then the kids trick or treated.  We had over 125 kids that attended and everyone really enjoyed themselves.  This was our 4th Trunk or Treat and it was another great success.  I wore the same Halloween shirt last year and this year and when I did a side by side I could really see what I have been working on for the past 9 months; a weight loss journey.  I have lost 82 pounds since January and I feel wonderful.  I have to say I am sorry I was so lazy and it took so long to get into shape.  I still have a ways to go but I am on the right track and I know I can make my goal.  Check out the pictures on the right from the Trunk or Treat and my side by side weight loss. 

A Busy Saturday

This past Saturday was a very busy one.  It started with my morning walk, I did 5 miles, then we headed to Rory’s Soccer game.  She played really well!  After the game Rory and I went to Target and did a bit of shopping where she got new PJs and a couple of toys and treats.  After Target we went to the Library where she returned her books and picked out some new ones.  I think she is really enjoying going to Library for books.  Since Dairy Queen is right next store to the library we decided to go.  She got a vanilla cone with a spoon.  She likes to get it in the cone but dislikes the cone so she uses the spoon to get all the ice cream.  We then headed over the the pumpkin patch at my church where I volunteered to work the patch.  The Fall festival in our town was going on across the street from the church so once it closed we were pretty busy.  Rory was great at making sure every kid visiting the patch got a sticker.  We then headed home for a late dinner, a shower and some relaxing watching Disney+.  It was a busy Saturday but it was a fun one too!

Amazing Grace!

 Over the weekend my family and me went to the Amazing Grace Family Farms Fall Festival.  This was our 4th year and it was so much fun once again.  As Rory grows up this will be something we will eventually quit coming too because there will not be much for her but right now it is the perfect kid friendly place.  There is a great corn maze that you can get lost in because there is so many turns and with everything looking the same it can get confusing especially at dusk.  There are bins of dried corn for the kids to jump around and bury themselves in.  There is a cow train ride, bounce pits, play grounds, tug of war ropes, horseshoe pits, games, food and lots of pumpkins and sunflowers.  Best of all it is family friendly and every one just has a great time.  Rory had a blast.  She played so hard and go so dirty but seeing her sheer joy in everything she was doing just made it special to all of us.  I did get a little lost in the corn maze but could not panic because I had Rory and Harper (a 3 year friend of ours) with me.  We kept going but I have to admit I may have created a path out of the maze that wasn't suppose to be there.  When the girls were ready to do other things we do other things.  It was a great night.  

A couple of days ago I was out in the front yard with Rory who was riding her bike and she yells, "Gamma watch!"  I looked up from what I was doing and she is riding without using her hands.  She just learned to ride a two wheeler and now she is riding no handed.  I must admit that watching her reminded me that at the same age I was doing that same thing.  Every once in a while see me in Rory...the fun stuff!