Weight loss battle

My weight loss battle began in January of this year. I started with the Weight Watchers online program. At work they kept talking about a WW at work program but they were dragging their feet for some reason.

I didn't lose anything from January until the At Work program finally was started in March. I won't tell you how much I weighed but I was the heaviest I had ever been. I starting tracking everything I ate and stayed within my daily points. I didn't start to lose until the second meeting. My leader was encouraging when I stepped on the scale even if I didn't lose that week. I consistently lost until by June I had lost 20 lbs.

I am so happy that I started looking after myself. I have been walking and making sure that I attend my meetings. The program works for me. I make myself weigh in every week. I have lost another 5 lbs.

My goal weight is still pretty far away but I don't concentrate on that. I take it week by week and if I don't lose I try to do better the next week. It is a challenge for me. I still crave sweets and I tend to overeat at times. But I want this and I am going to get it. My leader had a great thought for us a few weeks ago. She was telling us about when we make a mistake we don't have to keep making the mistake. She said, "When you trip and fall down a few stairs you don't get up and throw yourself down the rest of them because you misstepped. You get up and continue down the stairs to the bottom." So if you overeat at a meal, don't feel that you have to keep overeating because you blew it. Pick yourself up and at the next meal and the next... get back on your eating plan!

Another story was told about another woman's struggle. This woman said that she had to "pick her hard." She said that being overweight was hard. Losing weight was hard and maintaining her weight was hard. She picked maintaining her weight as her hard thing to do. That made me think about being overweight. I would rather lose weight and then have to maintain that weight. I am going to choose to maintain my weight when I get to that point. That will be my hard thing to do.

Disney World Trip with Lauren, Carrie and Brian

Disney World is one of my favorite places to visit. I have two other places. Jerry's Uncle Raymond's house in Talcott, WV and Donn Stoutenburg's Lakeside, Ohio house. We happened to go to Disney World because Katie is working there this summer. She has made many friends from all over the real world.

The day we arrived Katie introduced us to some of the people that she works with at Innoventions at Epcot. I met Wael from Syria. He is retired from his regular job and works at Disney now. He told me that he knows when a young person comes from a good family. He thought that Katie's family was a good family because of how Katie behaves. That was really nice to hear. I guess our "Don't embarrass the family!" motto worked somehow. Katie is a great girl. I know I'm her mother but I know others who are not family feel the same way about her.

We ate dinner at Germany. Some ducks were swimming in the fountain. I wonder if Disney trains them to be so cute. Lauren loved them. We ended the day with the fireworks. They are spectacular!

The next day we went to Hollywood Studios. It was Star Wars weekend. There were storm troopers on the top of the entrance. They were funny. Their voices were just like the ones in the movie. They were confused about our funny tradition of raising a little box and pushing a button on it. Cute! They were patrolling around the park. It was fun to try to block their way and see their reaction. Brian tried it and the stormtrooper stepped aside and told Brian to get out of the way with his thumb. I'll post a picture.

I have a secret way to get to Mickey Mouse with no lines. If you want to know how you will have to buy the secret from me. We did it last fall and I did it again this trip. Here's the pictures to prove it. We spent about 10 minutes playing with him.

Lauren, Katie and I had a reservation at the Storybook Princess Luncheon. It was fun to see all of the pretty princesses and eat great food.

The next day we went to the Animal Kingdom. We rode the safari ride and the roller coaster Everest. Then we went over to the Magic Kingdom. It was 2009 Gay Day. So the park was pretty full with all kinds of families. We had a pretty exciting ride on Big Thunder Mt. In our car were two women with rainbow colored angel wings who shouted "Gay Pride" and "Disney was not ready for us! as we rode. They also furled a hand-held Gay Pride flag above our car.

We ate at the Crystal Palace for dinner. It was delicious. Our friends Winne, Tigger, Piglet and Eeyore were there with us.

On Sunday we went back to the Animal Kingdom. Carrie and Brian had to leave for home but Lauren, Katie and I stayed. We saw the It's a Bugs life 3D show, the Lion King Festival Show, Finding Nemo the Musical, Beauty and the Beast stage show and the American Idol Experience that day. When we got back to the room we turned on the TV and the Tony Awards were on!

The next day Lauren and I went home. :( We had a good flight but we were sad to leave Katie and Disney World.

Me and my shadows

Last weekend was Mother's Day weekend. Dale invited Jerry and I up to Joe's Dad's place in Lakeside, Ohio near Marblehead. I accepted the invitation and Jerry declined. I left Friday straight from work. It was a nice evening for a drive. I got turned around as I left downtown Cleveland. I was trying to get on to 90 west/Route 2. Since the entrance to the bridge is closed at E. 9th Street I got on to 490 and made the mistake of getting on to 71 south.

I finally got onto 90W by going down Clark Avenue to (I think) W. 41st Street. I needed to be able to speak spanish just to drive through that neighborhood. I decided to get off at the Cedar Point exit for dinner. I ate at BW3's and then shopped at Kohls until about 8:00 pm. I left my phone in the car while I was shopping. I guess I really didn't want to be bothered by anyone. I was enjoying a night out by myself.

When I got back to my car and checked my messages. Jerry had called me. I called him back and he said that he was scared because he couldn't reach me. I didn't like that I scared him but I did like the fact that he was worried about me. It's nice to know someone cares where you are and how you are doing.

I got to Donn's and helped put the kids to bed. Before we went to bed I tried to explain what an island is to Lauren. It is hard to explain what land is to a 4 year old.

We talked for while and then went to bed. During the night I woke up and the moon was so bright and beautiful. It was shining on me and I could see the outline of the tree outside. I turned over and went back to sleep.

The next morning was fun. Dale made breakfast and then I took the kids to the park at Lakeside. There are some swings in the main park that have the best view in Ohio. You can swing and look out at Lake Erie. Across the Lake is Put-in-Bay and Kelly's Island. Lauren was mad at me because I made her wait until Jacob had played on the new playground before she could go swing. She got over it quickly.

I took the kids back home and Dale decided that they needed a break. It was Lakeside Daisy Day. There is a flower that only grows in 4 places on the earth and one of them is Lakeside, Ohio. They are little scrubby looking flowers and there are thousands of them in a field. They like the limestone in the area. Jacob liked them so much that he pulled one up roots and all. I gently replanted it.

Then we went to the lighthouse in Marblehead. It had gotten quite gusty outside. We bought tickets for the tour of the lighthouse. Dale and Joe went up first. I stayed with the kids. I took them over to see the water. When we got there I saw one of those pesky, slithering snakes. The Lake Erie Water Snake is protected. Believe me I would kill everyone I see. I would have my picture in the post office. WANTED: For killing Lake Erie Water Snakes with a picture of me underneath.

I never did get to go up into the lighthouse. The wind was getting too strong so they closed it to tours. Oh well, maybe next time.

We then went back home for lunch. Jacob went down for his nap and Lauren and I layed down and watched a movie on the couch. I think I fell asleep.

Dale decided to go into Lakeside for ice cream. The Johnson girls were across the street so we went with them. The gelato store was open. We ended up there via the golf cart. It was a fun ride. Cold and windy but fun.

The next day was Mother's Day. Dale put together some favorite memories of me being a mother from all my kids and their spouses. I tried to get through them without crying but I didn't make it. I will treasure them always.

When I got to Medina, Jerry was waiting for me. He made me a salad because I am on weight watchers (13 lbs down as of today) It was a good weekend. I loved it!

Next weekend I'll be with Carrie and Brian. I'm sure that will be fun too!

Easter weekend

Easter weekend was fun. Jerry and I went to Columbus. We stayed at Dale and Joe's home. We went to an Easter Egg Hunt that was sponsored by a local church. The church collected 5,000 plastic eggs. Some of them were empty, some had candy and some had prizes inside of them. Lauren and Jacob didn't win any prizes but they did get some candy. We had fun watching them pick up all the eggs.

After getting home we waited for Carrie to come over and we helped Lauren die some eggs. Then Brian came over and we ate dinner and played WII Mario Cart. I love that game. I am really bad at it but I love to try to play.

Last week, Dale kept asking Lauren what she wanted for Easter. She said that she wanted a bunny. A real bunny. On Thursday, Dale and the children were outside and Lauren spotted some baby bunnies in a nest. The nest was located about 15 feel from the back of the house. It is visible from their family room windows.

The babies were just born when they found them. The mommy was at the edge of the woods watching Dale and the kids look at her babies. When Jerry and I got there on Saturday the babies were furry and cute. The mommy was taking good care of them.

Lauren has been thrilled that she has her own little bunnies. I think she understands that they won't be around forever. But what a great surprise for her!

We had a nice Easter Sunday. Church was nice and we had a great dinner together. We missed Katie and the rest of our family.

Katie and Disney

Katie is in Florida. She called me today to tell me that she would be working at Epcot at Innoventions. When I wrote an email this morning I mistakenly wrote Interventions instead of Innoventions - I hope she is not doing interventions... I don't think she has the education for that! I don't know which Innovations East or West. I guess that information will be coming to me soon. At least it's airconditioned.

She starts her training on Saturday at the park. She said that she will be working with the public and playing games with people all day. I don't remember much about that attraction. I know that I went in there. I am more interested in the food when I go to Epcot. I eat the whole world when I'm there. It's so fun!

One of her roommates is an OSU student and a theatre major also. I think that they will have a great time together! Each time she calls me she gives me a weather report just to make me jealous.

Driving Miss Katie

Jerry and I had another big adventure! We rented a uhaul trailer and picked up Katie's belongings. Katie is leaving for Florida this week. She is going to do the Disney College program. She will be working at an attraction in one of the parks at Disney World. She won't be back until the middle of August. Jerry and I are so exicted for her. The trip went well and she is back in Medina with us for a couple of days.

The other big news.... Carrie's husband Brian graduated from OSU with a bachelors in Accounting! Jerry and I attended commencement yesterday and Brian was so excited to have that part of his life over. He will continue working at The Limited Brands until he and Carrie move to Virginia (DC area) in December.

Dale came up for a short visit last week. I had to work so I didn't get to see very much to her and the children. She came home to visit her cousin Jef and his family. Also Jackie's daughter Sarah came into town for two days. It's always nice to see my family! We had a nice visit.

Keep Jerry and I in your prayers... these financial times are weighing heavy on Jerry's business. I know things are rough all over but a little pick up here and there will make all the difference in his business. Things are very slow. We need the economy to pick up a little... I hope it does soon or we will be looking for a place to live in Hooverville!

American Idol

I always wanted to be a singer. Doesn't everyone? I remember singing in the garage of a girlfriend when I was about 11 years old. They loved me... I sang every chance I got. I would go out into the woods behind our house and sit on this big rock and sing. I would sing to the sky, clouds and mostly just for my enjoyment. I am and never will be a great singer but I love it and I will probably sing until I can't sing any more.

Danny really impresses me. I love his voice and at this point he is my favorite for the top Idol seat. He reminds me of Steven Page from Bare Naked Ladies. He even looks like him.

Scott amazes me. I hope he does really well!

I don't know about Adam. I think that he is definitely talented but I don't know how he will do in the competition.

Today at work a grown woman exposed her crack to me and another girl. I was really offended. She said that she was pulling her pants up but they went way down before they came up. It was gross. She does have some nice tats back there too. I hope I never see that again.

Then there's Nic. He is our security guard. He is from Romania and I love to talk to him. He has a great sense of humor and he gives me chocolate every week. Thanks, Nic!