Time flies

Can't believe that it has been a week since I posted a note. Last Friday, Sarah and Sean came up for the weekend. I must say that I have one of the cutest, smartest, grandsons of them all. I never tire of just watching him and wondering what he's thinking. Sarah and Brian have an anniversary this month and I'm hoping that they will be coming up this way to celebrate. Maybe I'll get to see them for a little bit. I got fired from my housekeeping job. No explanation really. Just that they had discussed it and felt they needed someone with experience to work more hours. I was employed for three hours. I still haven't seen my check for that. May have to call them on Monday to see where it is. It's not that much, but every little bit helps. Ma is finally starting to feel a little better. She said this morning that she thought she was rounding the corner. She is impatient to get back to her normal level of activity. Don't think we'll be doing anything for 4th. It's too far for either of us to walk from where you have to park to where we stand to watch the parade, and just about everyone is gone, so there won't be a cookout. Last year, Ma and I went to the fireworks because Bill was playing, but this year, he's out on Tommy's Island. I don't swim well. Looks like a quiet week coming up. I have an appointment on Wednesday and have to clean at the Red Cross on Saturday, and that's it.

Diet Note: The lack of posting does not mean that I gave up on my diet. I'm still fasting two days a week and eating cautiously for the other five. Portion control, no junk, no desserts, lots of water, etc. Wednesday I fasted until 8:30 PM and then had some leftover rice and two egg rolls. On Thursday, I had cereal and OJ for breakfast, cheeses and broccoli soup with 1/2 a grilled cheese sandwich, and for dinner, about 4 oz. of steak and two ears of corn. I had a rice cake and PB before I went to bed. That's the bad thing about this diet, I tend to wake up hungry in the night if I don't have an evening snack. Today I had cereal and OJ again this morning. For lunch I had a cucumber sandwich and a small piece of watermelon. For dinner we are having dried fish and potatoes. Though I could eat three servings of that, I'll only have one and some kind of vegetable. I don't eat enough of those, or fruit either. My clothes are already looser. I'm looking forward to getting weighed on August 5 at the doctor's office. I think I must have lost some anyway. Guess this does it for today. Hi to the Reader's Club if you're still out there. I love you Tilly.

Let's try that again

Can't believe I haven't posted since Tuesday. Ma came home from the hospital on Wednesday. She is better, but still has some lingering dizziness. She is not a patient patient! I have been out straight with the housework, and caring for her. Today I shampooed all the downstairs rugs, cleaned the bathroom, washed the kitchen floor, and put a new seat on the toilet. Wednesday I fasted until 8:30 PM, then had some warmed up mac and cheese and a diet jello. Thursday for breakfast, I had two frozen pancakes and two strawberries. later in the morning I had a rice cake with peanut butter. For lunch, I again warmed up about 1 and 1/2 cups of mac and cheese. For dinner I had a pork chop, about a cup of rice, and some peas. Today, Sarah and Sean arrived to stay for about a week. I met them at Moody's for lunch and had a cheeseburger and fries. I also had a piece of coconut cream pie, my first real cheat since starting the diet, but at the outset, I said that I might have dessert once in a while. Tonight we had macaroni, tomatoes, and hamburg for supper and a sugarfree fudgicle. Tomorrow I have to eat carefully because I'll be fasting on Sunday.

Diet Note

Updates

Ma has been in the hospital since Sunday morning, so I haven't been able to post. She's coming home tomorrow to complete her recovery from a concussion. I have tried to stick with my diet but slipped a little.

Sunday I fasted and broke the fast with a cucmber sandwich and some yogurt. I spent the night in the hospital with Ma. On Monday morning I got a guest tray that contained 1/2 cream of wheat, and a cheese omelet. For lunch, I had some cottage cheese and 2 rice cakes with peanut butter. For dinner, David and I shared a frozen pizza. This morning breakfast consisted of two frozen pancakes and two strawberries. For lunch I again ate with Ma and had a salad with ranch dressing and fish and chips, and a fresh fruit cup from the cafeteria services. Tonight I had a small cottage cheese and fruit plate (off Ma's tray) and two English muffin pizzas that David had ready for me when I got home. Tomorrow will be another fast...a late break one...wish me luck.

Saturday

Ma is feeling a little better tonight. Having black eyes and stitches didn't stop her from going to the Sea Store for lunch today, but other than that, she's pretty much laid around on the couch. Here neck and arms are sore today. Surprisingly, she hasn't had a headache. She allowed me to do the housework chores today, taking the day off. I have been busy with those and of course addicted to facebook, and waiting for a response to an email that I sent. I'm going back to Sarah's on Tuesday until Friday. Gotta change my schedule around if I can.

Diet Update: This morning I had two frozen pancakes with two strawberries (no syrup) and 4 oz. of OJ. For lunch, I weakened a little and had two small pieces of thin crust pizza, so I just had a waldorf salad and a piece of steak for dinner. I'll probably have some cottage cheese with pineapple before going to bed. Tomorrow is Sunday, so I will be fasting again. I think I'm going to break it tomorrow night with a cucumber sandwich.

A stitch in time, saves nine...

We had a little excitement today. Ma tripped over the dog gate and fell face first into the dining room table leg. She's okay, but she looks like she got hit by a bus! Three stitches in her head, 2 black eyes, a goose egg on her forehead, a scrape on her forehead, and two very black and blue elbows. Dr. says she can't be left alone for 24 hours. Talk about something scary! I thought for sure that she had broken her back or hip or neck.

diet update: For breakfast this morning I had two frozen pancakes with sliced bananas (no Syrup), and some orange juice. Lunch was left over macaroni and tomatoes. Ma wanted French toast for supper, so I had that too , 2 slices with two pieces of bacon. For my evening snack, I had three cups of popcorn (no butter). The exercise aerobics last night made my knees a little lame today, but not as bad as I feared. I only did 1 mile. Next week, I'm going to try for two.

What's going on with the MI-5?

When I answer the questions, the words just go in one long line instead of word wrapping. I runs under my archive even. How do I fix it?

BR's Vacation 5

I'm going on vacation next week. Yea! I'm really thinking I need some time
away, and I think this vacation will really do me some good. Here are 5
vacation inspired questions.

1) Tell us a memorable vacation story you have from your childhood.

We never took a vacation when I was a child because Dad seemed to always be working, and there wasn
't a lot of money.  We did take a few day trips.

2) Tell us a memorable vacation tale from your adulthood.

In 2003, Sarah and I drove to Florida to do the parks.  On the trip, we spent one night with her aunt Jane, a week with her grandmother and David, then drove on to Florida.  I had a wonderful time.

3) Assume you and your mate/significant other/best friend are going on a
dream vacation. You don't have to pay for any of it. Where do you go? Why?

It would either be Rome, Ireland, or Texas.  Rome because I love history, Ireland for the scenery, and Texas to visit family.

4) Now, come back down to Earth, and tell us about a "dream" vacation that
you think might actually happen some day. Where is that? How long until
you think it becomes reality?

I don't really see a vacation in the future.  Finances would be tough.

5) There are some missionary students on "working vacation" coming to my
house for dinner tonight. If someone came to stay with you for vacation,
what would you feed them that was really considered a "local delicacy"?
What regional food would be a "must have"?

Thursday

Well, I got the job. I think it is going to be a lot of fun, pays pretty well, and has very flexible hours. Don't laugh, but I'm going to be a housekeeper/girl Friday for a well-to-do couple right here in Spruce Head. It's not a lot of hours, which is what I wanted and I can pretty much work the hours that I want. It is a huge newly renovated house with only the best. It will be like cleaning a museum. Now and then, I'll be helping them clean up in the evenings as they do a lot of entertaining, and once in a great while might be asked to puppy sit. The man is high strung and fastidious so that might be a challenge. She is very laid back and pleasant. I have a feeling that if they like me, there could be a few more hours in it. They have an apartment in NYC, but are really from Texas where he ran for Congress (lost). Now he wears a dozen hats working from home, and he is a writer. As I enjoy writing so much, maybe he'll give me some pointers! This is going to be so different from the Red Cross with all its stress and responsibility. For those who are doubtful about this, yes, I do know how to clean, especially a brand new house. There are two rooms that they haven't decided what to do with yet and I was told I could arrange them and decide on the theme. If I need anything, they'll buy it. So BR, there you have it.

This morning Ma had to go for bloodwork, so we went out to breakfast and ran into Walmart. Sarah says that Brian has to go to London next week. I don't know if she'll come up here or not. I bought a new toy for Sean. If she's coming up, I don't need to mail it as it would arrive while she is up here. If I go down there to stay with her and Sean, I can take it with me. If she decides to stay alone or go somewhere else, then I should mail it. Oh me, Oh my! What shall I do? I tried mowing the lawn in the back of the house, but I can't keep the mower running. Maybe the points need to be adjusted or replaced. I'll ask Jake to take a look at them to see if he can tell.

Diet update: last night I had some fruit salad mixed with vanilla low-fat yogurt when my fast was up. Before bed I had a rice cake with peanut butter. Boy, I love those things! This morning I had a dish of cantelope, an egg, and a toasted biscuit and for lunch I had one of Sarah's famous Waldorf salads. I think we're having macaroni and tomatoes for dinner. Then I'm going to aerobics at church and see if my knees will stand up to it. Hi to the Reader's Club. I love you Tilly.

Wednesday

Today I have been busy. I drove David to Rockland twice, had a doctor's appointment in Camden, walked the dog three times, did some ironing this morning, went to the store with Ma for coffee, went grocery shopping for some diet supplies, went to Walmart and bought a surprise for my grandson which I will mail tomorrow. Ma needs to have bloodwork done tomorrow morning, and I need to make an appointment for a bone density test. Sophie has barked almost literally all day. I'm going to look into getting her a barking collar to see if I can break her from barking. It was warm today and I can't tolerate much heat. I hope it is cooler tomorrow. I just ended my fast for today. I had a good sized fruit salad with vanilla yogurt. So far, so good. On Sunday I had cereal and found it much too heavy. For the next three days, I will be eating small portions of regular foods, though I did buy some sugarfree Fudgcicles, yogurts, and fresh vegetables. Sarah makes the best Waldorf salad! I bought the stuff to make that, and I bought a cucumber as I have been craving cucumber sandwiches! Then on Sunday, I will be fasting again. The fast really has nothing to do with the diet, though I may lose some weight because of it. I have a personal reason for doing this and it is very important to me. Maybe I should buy some multi-vitamins to offset the fasting. I can't explain it more. What I need is more encouragement, and less criticism. I am switching to decaf beverages (except for my morning coffee, as I can't take the headache) because I just learned that too much caffeine is dehydrating. Tomorrow I need to buy a new bottle of soda and some decaffinated iced tea mix. What I'm doing isn't right for everybody, but it something that I have to do. Before I go to bed, I'll probably have a rice cake with peanut butter and some OJ with calcium. Have a good evening everybody. I love you Tilly.

Is it hot or cold?

Ma's cold and has the heat on...I'm sweating like a pig. Just got back from walking Sophie, but the house is hot anyway. Sophie loves her walks, but she barks and pulls and jumps the whole time that we're walking. I wish I knew how to train her to walk properly on a leash. She is about 90% housebroken and I'm working hard at the remaining 10%. Hoping to hear from the job interview that I went to yesterday. It is perfect for me, not too many hours, and would be kind of fun. Please keep this on your prayer list until I hear something. If I get it, I start next week. Have a doctor's appointment in Camden at noon today, but other than that, no plans unless I decide to mow a little in the back yard. Mikey T. mowed it with his big rider, but it needs some trimming to keep it so that our push mower will handle it. I've got a little ironing to do this morning and I really should clean off this desk. Between me and David, we've really messed it up. Hoping to get into Walmart today if I time. There's a toy there that I want to get for my grandson, Sean. He's almost eight months old and really getting into toys. Boy, toys are expensive!

Diet update:

Last night instead of having yogurt after Bible Study, I had 2 rice cakes with peanut butter. I love those and the peanut butter is at least some protein. Today I will be fasting again, but I will be drinking a lot, coffee, tea (hot and iced), diet soda, and lots of plain water. This evening I will break the fast with a fruit salad and cup of tea. The fasting will probably be temporary. two days a week, but we'll see how it goes. I'd like to lose twenty pounds by August 5. I know, it's a lofty goal, but I'm shooting for the stars. The Sunday fast is a prayer fast so I'll stick to that better I think. Wednesday fast is more for the diet. Have a good day everyone. Hi to the Reader's Club. I love you Tilly.