Finding Sheila

January's Randomness

2012-01-16T19:32:00.002-06:00

I'm not only interested in Weight Watchers and exercising. My latest obsession is - GASP - a TV show. I love British TV shows, but holy cow, I adore Downton Abbey. The storyline is riveting, the actors are all amazing (and good-looking), the costuming makes me want to be transported back in time. Well, except for the corset thing. And Dame Maggie Smith makes every scene perfect.

I watched season 1 on PBS the first time it ran, then in anticipation of season 2, I re-watched S1 on Netflix. I think I am actually going to buy the DVD's. I don't think I can stand to watch S2 play out over all these weeks, so my impatience is getting the best of me and I will be ordering the UK version on DVD.

The show makes me want to run away to England even more.

It's the little things

2012-01-05T18:49:00.003-06:00

So last week when I weighed in, I had gained .8 pound from before. Considering that included the feasting we did on Christmas Day, I was not upset by that at all. I had a nice low-key NYE, just the way I wanted it. I have noticed another thing as I have lost this weight- my thinking I 'should' be doing things like going out on NYE because 'that's what cool people do' - well I have started caring so much less about what others' think and know I am doing what's best for me. If that makes me a square old fogey, then whatever. I think it makes me smart.

But I digress. Some observations I have made after losing 53 pounds -

When I drive my parents' van and have to release the emergency brake, I no longer have to do it with my foot, I can actually bend over and do it the right way with my hand, because there's a lot less stomach in the way.

I no longer need Wide Calf boots, 'regular' boots fit now.

I can go up the flight of stairs at the gym without hesitation.

I don't mind not getting the closest parking spot anymore.

I have to do a double take when I catch a view of myself in the mirror.

I get a big thrill and still have some amount of disbelief when I fit into a 1X.

I'm sure there are more, but I can't think of them off the top of my head at the moment. Next blog topic: The connection between clutter and fat.

Not just a number - Merry Christmas to Me

2011-12-24T15:55:00.003-06:00

So last week at Weight Watchers, I weighed in at 200.4. I have not seen the other side of 200 in about 25 years, back sometime in college. I could tell by my scale at home this morning that I was pretty sure I would go below that when I officially weighed in.

Well guess what, I did and not just the .6 I needed to get below, but I lost 3.4 this week. The week from hell, food-wise, right before Christmas. I was 197 and I couldn't contain my emotions and I started crying. The WW receptionist gave me a hug and was so happy for me. She even wrote a note to the WW leader, so when the other awards were handed out this morning, Candace mentioned my important milestone.

It's not just a number on a scale, it represents my entire adult life being over 200 pounds. I have let my weight interfere and influence so much of my life, from being shy and quiet and afraid to do things, not take enough risks, etc.

I also realized that having lost 54.2 pounds since March, I am about halfway to my goal. The weight charts say I should weigh below 145, so we will see how it goes the closer I get to that. I want to be in at least a size 10 and off my diabetes medicine, but I also want to be below 150.

I've had a couple of pictures taken lately and compared those to when I was 74 pounds heavier - that's right, my highest weight was 274 pounds. I used to would never dream of publicly divulging my weight, but I have found that by doing so, it loses its negative power over me, and in that way it IS just a number. The core of who I am is that I am a good person, no matter the size.

I couldn't have dreamed up a better gift to myself this Christmas. I feel so much better, I look better, I am buying new clothes several sizes smaller, I enjoy exercising and the list goes on. Merry Christmas indeed.

Here I go again

2011-11-12T21:37:00.003-06:00

I am not the most regular blogger, I keep forgetting to post, or when I do remember, I am in the middle of something else.

My life update; Weight Watchers is still continuing, have lost 46.2. I am now at 205, just 3.8 away from 50 pounds and 5.2 away from being below 200 for the 1st time in at least 25 years. The weight loss is slower, but I feel it to my bones - I am in it for the long haul, if it takes another year. Now the impatient me sure as heck doesn't want it to last that long, but whatever it takes is what I will do.

I have been walking now for 10 weeks I think? I've lost track. I still have trouble walking much more than about 25 minutes. I am doing a mile most times when I walk and hope to kick that up soon. I am going to have to adjust my exercise schedule the next 2 weeks. This week, I have UMW, AAUW dining out group, AAUW book club and AAUW MahJong. So I am thinking seriously about getting up 30 minutes earlier and working out at home. I ordered the Sweatin' to the Oldies DVD set, so I can do something besides walk in a circle.

The gym I go to is part of a church and they close at 5 on Wednesdays & Fridays, so I don't exercise those nights anyway. By getting up in the mornings, I can finally increase my workouts to at least 5 days a week, too. Because of the time change, it gets dark too early for me to walk in the neighborhood after work. My office is located in a good place to walk, if I go at lunch. So I have options. The week of Thanksgiving, the gym is closed all week, to refinish the gym floor, so I will need to find alternatives anyway.

Even though I haven't worked up to this distance yet, I have registered for 2 5Ks. One is a Turkey Trot Thanksgiving morning and one is the YMCA Reindeer Run on December 3rd. I am confident I can finish both. I of course will be festive and wear a turkey hat for the first and reindeer antlers that light up for the second, cause that's just how I roll. :)

The upcoming holidays are always a challenge when it comes to food, but I plan on focusing on the other joyful things about the season and I feel confident I can maneuver my way through and get below 200 by Christmas. I can't think of a better present to myself.

Weighing in on 6 Months

2011-09-28T13:07:00.002-05:00

So I've been at this Weight Watchers for 6 months. Thought that was a good spot to make some observations. I had hoped to be down 50 pounds by now, but I am at -39.8. That is definitely nothing to sneeze at. I am also walking for exercise a few times a week, and actually enjoying it. Most of my clothes are too big, and the ones in good shape, I am packing up to take to the plus size consignment shop. I am not keeping them around, because I do NOT plan on regaining this weight.

Some things I've noticed -
* I can reach my toes! - Discovered while re-painting my toenails
* Shaving my legs is much easier
* I fit in the seat at the movie theater MUCH better
* Reaching for healthier food has become a habit
* Cravings for fried and really sweet food, while not disappearing, has reduced dramatically
* Stress at work - not reaching for crappy food to feel better
* I look men in the eye more, hehe, instead of not even making eye contact
* Not minding when I have to park & walk further (farther?)
* While sitting at a table at a nightclub recently, I didn't scoot up and lean on the table, I sat
back more, not trying to hide my tummy behind the table

I know this is a process and a lifestyle change and I'm doing great with it. The plateaus are really frustrating, and if I hear one more person say"Well, you didn't gain this overnight, so you won't lose it overnight", I may have to punch them, lol.

Dining Out & Losing Weight and Note to Restaurants - Get Real

2011-08-28T15:08:00.004-05:00

Food is a huge part of life. It's necessary to live on, it's a part of your social life, your work life, your home life, it's just inevitable and inescapable. Unless you want to be a hermit, dining out is also inevitable. One of the many things I like about Weight Watchers - they teach you how to navigate restaurants.

Now some people might say that you don't have to eat out if you don't want to but that's just not practical for me. Just in the last 2 weeks, I have attended one UMW meeting at a restaurant and one office birthday luncheon. The choice of restaurant was not my decision, and skipping the meeting/luncheon was not really an option. Now if I had wanted to appear anti-social or stuck up, I could have skipped them. I also could have eaten before I went to the UMW meeting, but being the only person not eating while 20 others are, does nothing to help with my isolationist issues.

The UMW meeting was at Johnny Carino's, an Italian place I really enjoy. I did my research ahead of time, looked over their online menu to make healthy choices before I went. Got excited when I found their Nutritional information also now online. My excitement soon turned to disappointment, disgust and then a little outrage. I figured up the WW points for several dishes on their menu, thinking a salad would be a good choice. HOLY CRAP. All of their meal-sized salads have more calories than their PIZZA. Every.Single.One. One has almost 1000 calories. They offer no low-cal or low-fat options for salad dressings. I could go on and on but it makes me nauseous. I ended up with a bowl of minestrone for 4 points, it wasn't filling and wasn't all that tasty, either.

Now I don't expect all restaurants to cater to healthier eaters, and I am not becoming a food "Nazi" , but can't they at least try lighter options? Clearly Carinos doesn't even bother. The office luncheon I went to was at Cheddar's and hooray for them, they do have some lighter options.

One bit of great and educational not to mention eye-opening reading, comes from the articles by the Eat This, Not That guy. One of the biggest offenders of chain restaurants, who makes his worst list consistently, is The Cheesecake Factory. They are notorious for their monster sized proportions loaded with fat and sodium. Finally, about 10 days ago, they came out with a "Skinnylicious" line of lighter menu options. I thought to myself, "It's About Time." BUT, just this week, on their Facebook page, they were talking about new menu items and gleefully talking about their new hamburger topped with FRIED MACARONI & CHEESE BALLS and THEN topped with a CHEESE SAUCE. Are they &@#%^*^ kidding me? If ever it was time to say SERIOUSLY? it was then. There just are no words for that. Just this morning, I saw a billboard for Jack in the Box's new Jumbo Breakfast. Again, seriously? I just looked up the nutritional information for that and it has a whopping 747 calories and 47 grams of fat. Holy cholesterol Batman.

Now I've heard restaurant spokesmen just say they are giving people what they want with the bigger portions and new menu options. I personally think that's a load of crap. Even before I was on Weight Watchers, I would have gladly paid less for a reasonably sized plate of food instead of a platter loaded down. Lots of places have Kid's menu items which are the right portion sizes for adults, but they don't allow adults to order from them.

With all the news and statistics about the growing obesity epidemic in this country, restaurants need to wake up and get with the program.

P.S. Current WW status - down 33.4 pounds, joined a gym this week and walked 4 times. Hope to make it 5-6 times this next week.

More good news & my latest project

2011-08-03T20:26:00.006-05:00

My intentions for this blog are to write about things I am passionate about, things I enjoy, various random things I come up with, etc. It is not just a blog about my weight loss, that just happens to be a major topic in my life right now.

So I went to the doctor today, for my 3 month checkup. He likes to see me that often because I am diabetic and he likes to keep an eye on things. Well today, I was actually looking FORWARD to it because of the weight I've lost. He was tickled pink, I had him check my records, and this is the lowest weight I've ever been since I've been seeing him the last 11 years. I haven't just lost 30 pounds since March, I've lost 50 in all over the last 4 or so years. I checked my blood sugar this morning and it has come down FIFTY points. 50 seems to be a magic number for me today.

One of my passions involves arts & crafts and my favorite thing at the moment is crochet. And no, I am not a 70 year old grandmother. My grandmother, Mama Cecil, taught me how to crochet when I was a kid, and out of 7 granddaughters, I am the only one who does it. I thoroughly enjoy finding a pattern I love, choosing my colors and creating something beautiful from balls of yarn. It's also a very relaxing thing to do in front of the TV.

I mostly make afghans, from full size ones to baby afghans. Right now I am working on a project to enter in the East Texas State Fair. I have had this pattern a few years and I have wanted to make it for a very long time, so I am trying hard to finish by the Sept. 6th deadline. It's a rose trellis afghan and since Tyler is the Rose Capital, it's perfect.

The strips are made out of Hobby Lobby's I Love This Yarn in Antique White. I'm using dark red, a soft orange and a yellow for my 3 colors of roses. I'm still working on the strips, assembling the thing may drive me to drink but I think this will be a showpiece kind of afghan.

Little Succeses

2011-08-02T21:02:00.002-05:00

Well today I went clothes shopping for the first time since I started this journey. I have gone from a 3X to a 2X. Woohoo! I had my co-worker Carol take pictures of me today. I could really see the change in my face, but the shirt I was wearing just looked sloppy and ugh. Well it looked sloppy because it's too BIG. HA.

A couple of other things I've noticed, I was painting my toenails and all of a sudden it dawned on me, I CAN REACH THEM. I also shaved my legs the other day and could reach without darn near killing myself, lol.

And now regarding Blog names, I just can NOT think of a decent one. The Sheila Chronicles is taken. I like the word Ponder, since I tend to ponder lots of things. Maybe I'll eventually think of something.

Trying Again

2011-07-31T19:36:00.002-05:00

So yesterday I felt compelled to start writing this blog again and make it a regular part of my day. I felt it so strongly that I went out in 100 degree heat to 2 bookstores just to find the book, "Blogging for Bliss" by Tara Frey. The book looked really promising on Amazon, and luckily I found it at B & N. Then I came home to read some of her blog and it's either down or no longer exists. Oh well.

So in mid-March I did something that has the potential to change my life. I joined Weight Watchers AGAIN. Yes, again. Only this time it stuck. I'm still on the program, going to meetings and I've lost 30 pounds so far.

What got me started was my competitive nature and my issue with being left out. A small group of women at work decided to start their own little weight loss group, meeting every Friday morning. I was too busy to meet that first Friday, but I was ready to join WW again and finally make some changes. I didn't want to be left out, so I joined WW and then the next Friday, I joined the group at work. Well my competitive nature worked in my favor and I've lost more than anyone else. More importantly, I have stuck with this longer than I have in years, I plan on keeping at it until I reach my goal of below 150.

I have much more to talk about and I'm still tinkering with the blog name. I just can't seem to find the right one yet.

Day One

2011-02-23T21:09:00.002-06:00

So, Day One of the 17 Day Diet is almost over and as I feared, I have a huge bigass headache. I did great sticking to the program all day until this evening. My head is pounding, my stomach is empty and I feel like crap. I fixed some toast and that helped a little.

Rather than giving this diet up, I am going to incorporate/combine the 17DD with Weight Watchers and still keep trucking along. I understand the reasonings behind some of the 17 day things, but it's too extreme for me. Green tea 3 times a day is too much caffeine and since I already have an irregular heartbeat, that's not a good mix. I may keep it once a day. The lists of vegetables and fruits are way more restrictive than WW and of course no bread is allowed at all. I need a few carbs to keep going. I just am staying with low carbs and whole grains.

Can't write anymore, my brain hurts.

New Diet Eve

2011-02-22T21:41:00.002-06:00

So I'm not going to try WW again for the moment. I know it's a good program, but I've decided to go with something new.

My dad saw a doctor on the Dr. Phil show talking about the 17 Day Diet that he created. I read up on it on the net (where else), and decided to order the book and the video. It's designed to get your diet off at an accelerated pace by using 17-day cycles. What I've read so far makes sense, so I am giving it a shot.

I went by the grocery store to buy some fresh vegetables, fruit, eggs and green tea. So tomorrow's the big day and I have my mind made up, which is 75% of the battle for me. I just hope I don't the headaches I often get when I am trying to lose weight.

I am going to start the 17 minute workout program the next day, instead of starting it all at once. Don't want to overload with the drastic changes, lol.

I'm going to try and post every day or almost every day during this experience. Don't know how I will go without chocolate for this long, but here goes.

Cruising By

2011-02-01T21:51:00.000-06:00

I can't believe it's February 1st already. I better get going on my New Year's plans.

So, I'm a little behind

2011-01-10T13:42:00.002-06:00

I sometimes think I should be crowned Queen of the Procrastinators. Hard to believe I last blogged in March, but here I try again. I have lots of ideas to write about, but I'm not always a good writer.

The New Year - so it's already the 10th and my resolutions, for lack of a better word - maybe I should say goals, or to-do list, something like that - anyway, they are still evolving. It's the usual, eat healthier, move more, yada yada yada.

I am working today on a de-cluttering project. It actually snowed in Texas yesterday, and while schools and work is/are open, I wasn't feeling so hot today, so I called in sick to work. I've been curled up under my favorite quilt, made by my grandmother, with 2 sleeping cats, and 300 channels of mindless TV. I've been working my way through huge stacks of magazines. And I do mean huge. I am a self-acknowledged pack rat with good intentions. I have a ton of magazines, intending to read them all and tear out pages/pictures I want to use to make a vision board and fill up recipe books. It's embarrassing to see how old some of these are. But highly gratifying to get rid of them.

Tired of writing for the moment, I may add more later.

Random Musings for March

2010-03-24T22:00:00.002-05:00

Haven't written in a few weeks and don't have a specific topic in mind, so I will just make some random musings, since one of my better character traits is being random.

We ate dinner at Clear Springs. It was very good, I am full full full.

Earl Campbell is getting a street named after him. He deserves that and more, he was a superb athlete and has always been such a nice man.

I love my new red Dell sooooo much.

Had a job interview today and really hope I get the job. Won't know until near the end of April. The job would start June 1st. That seems like forever when you're working at the most unpleasant place I have ever worked in my life. Yes, I'm grateful to have a job yada yada, but seriously - I've never worked with so many screwed up people in my 25+ years in the workforce.

I have a great picture to submit to LOL Catz but can't think of a caption.

Silver cleaner dripped on a towel will cause spots like you had dripped bleach on the towel.

I love Reese's peanut butter eggs soooooo much.

I wish my Brookshire's would hurry up and finish the remodeling already.

Speaking of Brookshire's, the red velvet Yums cupcakes are the best thing ever.

I want to redecorate my bedroom in French Country style. I don't speak French and have never even been to Paris, Texas, but that's what I want.

My family reunion is at Lake Palestine in June. Looking forward to it, I actually enjoy all my cousins and aunts and uncles. Very grateful for that.

Can't figure out how to get all my stuff from the Ipod to the new Dell.

Hate that I couldn't go to Jackson yet again.

Guess that's it for tonight's randomness.

Bazinga!

Getting Back on Track

2010-02-01T09:22:00.002-06:00

So I had good intentions when the New Year started, but we all know what the road to hell is paved with. And so what if I just ended a sentence with a proposition. I am a rebel.

I wanted to start the new year off with eating healthier, trying to add some exercise, reading something inspirational every day, even remembering to wash my face every night. You know, the things that are good for you. And not just things I "should" do, but things that actually make me feel better mentally & physically & emotionally.

The first 3 days of January started off great, I was feeling good, and then BOOM. On the afternoon of the 4th, my mom called me at the office, said my dad was being admitted to the hospital to have tests run for "unexplained angina". I was like, "WHAT?" And then she told me he had been having some chest pain and pain in his left arm for the past few evenings. I live in the same house and they didn't even tell me.

So, to keep a long story short, two days later my dad had a double bypass operation. The 2 that were fixed were bypasses that were repaired in his first heart surgery, over 30 YEARS AGO. At that time he was given 5 years to live possibly, but no, those bypasses lasted 30 years. Not bad, not bad at all. By the time we got used to the idea of him having heart surgery again, the surgery was over and he was in CICU in recovery. He was in the hospital for 8 days, then moved to a rehab hospital for 2 weeks.

He's now been home almost a week, including his 81st birthday, the 2nd day he was home and he's doing pretty well. Needless to say, my January was not how I had envisioned it. The daily hospital visits and eating on the run and taking care of Mama, pretty much threw my schedule completely off.

Now it is February 1st and I am ready to get back to how I had started the new year. Things I want to start doing - reading Simple Abundance every day. This is a book I enjoy reading, and I am about 2 weeks behind, but tonight I plan to get back on track. My friend Vanessa has started a new business, Thrive Coaching, http://www.thrive-coaching.com/, and I plan on finally starting that program, too.

So instead of January 1st being my new fresh start, this year it will be February 1st. Better late than never.

So, six months, wow.

2009-10-05T22:05:00.002-05:00

What to write, what to write. For most of the last six months I just have felt like I had nothing interesting to share. Not that what I am writing tonight is interesting to anyone but me, but who knows.

I've been in a serious funk for months. After starting a new job in March, and being excited about that, well that tapered off in a hurry. I like the work I do, most of the time, but I work with a lot of drama queens, which is a new experience for me. It's also mind numbing at times and has just sucked out every ounce of energy I had. That's not saying much, since living with the parents takes care of any other energy I might have had.

Most of the time they're not too bad to deal with, but watching them deteriorate can be tough. Mama had neck surgery in July, came way too close to having a severed spinal column, but the surgery caught the problem in time and she has recovered nicely. She seems to be adjusting better to her being legally blind. Daddy on the other hand is every day of his 80 years. His reasoning abilities are decreasing tremendously, his short term memory is rotten and he's down in the dumps most of the time. To save my sanity, I had to realize I can not be responsible for his moods. Only he is. Staying in a good mood all the time and trying to cheer him up was wearing me out and still not making him cheer up.

I decided a few weeks ago it was time to get out of my funk and get a life again. So I re-joined AAUW, started to going to church again and boy have I been busy. Besides being tired from being so busy, I have been, dare I say it, happier. I've gone to UMW, book club, worked the AAUW book sale, went to a Mensa meeting, started going to a Wednesday Bible study, entertained my cousin Traci on her weekend visit to Tyler, got appointed treasurer of the chili pod, and for 4 weeks in a row, I've gone to SUnday School and church. Now it's become a habit again and I plan to keep it up.

Hopefully I will keep this blog up, too.

Boy am I a slacker

2009-04-01T22:09:00.002-05:00

So a lot has happened since my last blog. I got a job and I've already been there a month. I like my co-workers, I like my job duties and it's only 4 minutes from the house.

Today I got my first full paycheck for 2 weeks' time. And I'm already getting a raise. How sweet is that.

Tonight I took my parents out to dinner, just trying to return the favor. We went to the Texas Roadhouse and boy howdy, you could not tell there is a recession going on. The place was packed and this is only Wednesday. I saw some people I knew, the parents saw people they knew and the food was good. Noisy as all get out, too.

Amazing how being gainfully employed again can boost your spirits and make you feel better as a person.

Martinis for Everyone or a Note About Parenting

2009-02-18T20:06:00.002-06:00

When asked what I wanted to be when I grew up, my answer was always a wife and mother. Well at 44, the motherhood issue is a moot point. Part of me feels very sad about this, part of me is relieved. BUT, due to my new living situation, I sort of have become a parent anyway, only my kids are 76 and 80 and named Mama and Daddy.

Things have actually been going pretty well, but occasionally the frustration sets in and tonight I opened my well stocked liquor cabinet and made a red apple martini. Let's just say I am not feeling as frustrated anymore. First off, I am lucky to still have both parents and also lucky to have pretty good relationships with each of them.

One frustration is the thermostat. My dad has bad circulation and he likes the house WARM, while my mom and I sweat to death. No amount of talk can convince him it's easier for him to wear more clothes than for my mother or me to wear less.

Another frustration is cooking. My dad is the type of eater who thinks that Hamburger Helper is gourmet food. Now I do admit I occasionally like something cooked with cream of crap soup, I loathe Hamburger Helper. Tonight my mom wanted us to cook Bisquick Impossible Cheeseburger Pie, so I cooked it. To me, it's about on the same level as HH. I have tried several new recipes, including a very tasty Mexican lasagna, but Daddy didn't like it. It was "too spicy". I thought it was perfect and my mom really liked it too. *Insert head-banging-against-the-wall smiley here.*

So tonight, I opened up my liquor cabinet that was previously untouched, and mixed up a red apple martini. I feel better now.

Long Time, No Blog

2009-01-29T21:21:00.002-06:00

It has been almost 2 months since my last blog. For awhile there, I was too depressed to write and there were things going on in life I wasn't ready to talk about. I still have not found a job and ended up moving back in with my parents the weekend after Christmas. Being 44 years old and moving back in with the folks just seemed like the ultimate failure to me. However, it has not been as bad as I expected and it was getting close to being necessary for their sake due to their rapid aging. Our family has been rapidly approaching the issue of assisted living for my parents. My moving in has solved that problem for the time being. I hope to be back on my own in a few months, but we'll cross that bridge later.

I hadn't shared a house with anyone since 1990 and there's been lots of adjustments, but mostly good ones. It's nice to have someone in the same house to talk to. I'm having to pick up after myself, which is a good habit to get back in to. I've had a monster of a cold this week, and it's been nice to have someone nearby who cares how I feel. I have people to cook for, which my parents love. I am trying to get them away from their meat and potatoes, and salt and pepper existence.

The cats made the move with me and my parents are pleasantly surprised at how much they like the cats. The cats have new big windows in which to watch all the birds and squirrels on all the feeders my dad has in the backyard. My parents laugh at how my tabby cat follows me everywhere and can't stand it when I go outside without him. He waits by the door until I get home.

Just having an extra person around to wash the dishes or clothes, take out the trash, or go outside to get the newspaper, has helped ease the workload a little. My mother has serious vision issues and uses a walker. My father has to use a cane. Both of them have bad memory problems, him more than her.

Last weekend our family threw my dad an 80th birthday party. It was a huge success and he has been smiling all week.

Even though I am still job hunting, I am no longer seriously depressed. It's amazing how more human contact has lifted me back up. I've been kind of reclusive too and now I feeling the need to get out more, just be more involved in life. Here's to hoping I keep up with that.

Games games and more games

2008-12-02T08:59:00.002-06:00

For as far back as I can remember, I have always loved playing games. Getting a new Operation game one year was the highlight of my Christmas, even more than the brand new Ken doll. I loved playing Battleship with my brothers, Go Fish with my dad. I still remember a weekend when my grandmother and cousins Ben & Betty babysat me one night, and they taught me to play Mexican dominoes. I also remember scoring a Clue game at a garage sale for 5 cents, I was ecstatic.

Some of my favorites now are Phase 10 card game, Gin rummy, Shanghai gin rummy, Spades, any form of dominoes, especially Mexican Train; Trivial Pursuit. .I also love watching game shows on the Game Show Network. I was on Jeopardy in 1996, coming in 2nd.

As far as computer games, I can play all day. Some of my favorites - Jewel Quest, Snood, Yahoo Mahjongg, Strike a Match, Texas Hold Em on Poker Stars or Full Tilt poker. I only play those with fake money. A friend of mine has now introduced me to games on Full Tilt, where if you finish in the top, you get real money from FT. It's not a lot, but it's free to play.

Now some other friends have introduced me to some highly addictive games on Facebook - Scavenger Hunt, Mob Wars, Fashion Wars, Prison Wars and Vampire Wars.

In regards to Fashion Wars, I woke up with over 8 million in cash earned overnight. If only that were real, LOL.

Random thoughts

2008-11-21T13:07:00.002-06:00

Job hunting is a stressful pain in the butt, but necessary.

Christmas is coming too soon.

Last night's Survivor was the best episode EVER.

I am lucky to have the family I have with this being the time of year when so many people are not near as lucky.

Can't wait for that Greenberg turkey and spiral cut ham on T-day.

The Twilight books were ok to me, not awesome, and I am in no hurry to see the movie.

Love the True Blood series though, sad there's only one episode left.

I am in the mood to bake something, just typical of this time of year.

Love colder weather, especially when one or both cats want to curl up with me on the couch.

I love naps.

Chocolate milk is fabulous.

I love Buzztime trivia.

Tried to give up Diet Dr. Pepper, but can't.

Don't understand the point of stuffing.

Notes on an Election

2008-11-09T10:55:00.002-06:00

Well the Election is over, and as an American and as a worker at the county Elections office, I have a few observations.

I don't talk politics much, mainly because politically, I am in the minority in my family and in my county. But I am very happy with the outcome of Tuesday's Presidential election. I like Barack Obama, firmly believe we need a fresh change. I just hope he is up to the challenge, and I think he is. Our country needs a lot of work, and it won't happen overnight, but we still have the best country there is.

Until I worked at the E.O., I had no idea, and never gave much thought to, what all was involved in putting on an election. Never again will I think I can just show up and vote and it's that easy. The mail-in ballots alone take hours and hours of preparation by several people, and more hours and hours of work, as they are received back in the office.

Living in a smaller city, you kind of don't think of international connections, but just about your own small world at times. My county has almost 200,000 people in it now, more than I realized. Through working with the mail-in ballots, I realized we have a lot of people from this county serving in the military, all over the country and the world.

We also have a lot of residents who are living abroad, whether for work, pleasure, temporary or long-term. I saw addresses from China, Japan, Turkey, Jordan, Austria, England, Brazil, Bahamas, Scotland, Myanmar, Australia and many others. I saw an address for a Peace Corps worker in Kenya and someone else working on Mercy Ships.

The phone calls - holy cow did we get phone calls. On Election day, all I did was answer phone calls. We had a special room set up with extra phones and computers, and all we did all day long was answer the phone. About 50% were people calling to see where they were supposed to go vote. The other half were poll/precinct workers calling for people who had just showed up at a precinct, thinking they could vote anywhere they want. Well, in Texas, you have to vote in your particular precinct on Election Day. It also amazed me at the number of people who think they can vote without being registered.

We got a few complaint calls, overall not too bad. Texas has a law where any political signs and party workers, must stay a minimum of 100 feet from the polling location. This law also extends to t-shirts and hats with particular candidates on them. During early voting, a couple of people showed up to vote with a t shirt showing a candidate, were told by security to turn the shirt inside out before they went to to vote. One guy got pretty upset about it, going on and on about freedom of speech, which I understand where he is coming from, but when it comes to voting, there's still the 100 foot rule.

I got to be on the Ballot Board, which is the group that opens up the mailed in ballots, checks to see if the little circles are filled in correctly by the voter, and counts up any write in votes. One voter wrote, by the McCain circle, "voting while holding his nose", and drew fumes rising from McCain's name. Someone else wrote in Mickey Mouse in several local spots. We have a sheriff who has been in office for about 30 years, can not be defeated by any opponent, someone wrote NO WAY by his name.

All in all, it was very educational, I was on TV a couple of times, because it seems, every 2 days a local camera crew was at the office.

I even got a ticket for the Democrat victory party but was too exhausted to go.

First Timers

2008-10-30T20:28:00.002-05:00

Working at the Elections Office during the past 2 weeks, has been pretty dadgum interesting. I never really thought about how much work by so many people, went into holding an election. I don't think I will ever take voting for granted.

The early voting has been abundant with people voting for the first time in their lives. Today I met two of those people, with quite opposite personal stories.

The first - I was filling in at the entrance - reminding people to get out their voter's registration cards or driver's licenses, and to turn their cell phones off. Two women came in, probably a mother and daughter. As the mother exited the voting room, she stopped and told me, this was the first time she ever voted in her life. She was almost in tears, telling me she was 55 years old and she felt ashamed because she had never voted in her life. She told me she was scared, but now she knew how easy and fast the voting process is, she would never miss another election.

The second - I was leaving work, rode down the elevator with a girl, looked about college age. She was grinning from ear to ear, looking about to burst, when she told me, she was 18, and this was the first time she ever voted. She was almost bouncing and she told me about her almost 40 year old father, who wasn't planning on voting. But he couldn't let his little girl outdo him, so now he was going to make sure he voted.

Other interesting tidbits - I came across names of those we have mailed absentee ballots to - saw names of my first piano teacher, my 2nd grade teacher, fellow church members, and a very successful country music star from a little town north of here.

And by the way, GO VOTE.

Drive by posting

2008-10-26T10:57:00.002-05:00

I haven't blogged in a month, because frankly, my life has been boring. Until I called the county elections office this past Monday, inquiring about a job on election day working at the polls. She told me she could put me to work that day, due to the fact Texas has early voting for 2 weeks prior to election day.

So on Tuesday, I started working in the Elections office. I will write more about it later, as I am getting ready to go in and work today.

And by the way, GO VOTE!

In Praise of Color

2008-09-24T15:38:00.004-05:00

I was tinkering with my blog recently and ended up changing the name of it once again. I had never been truly satisfied with it and I got to thinking and looking around my house, just what is it I like? Well I love beautiful colors, in the literal sense. I also think life is better if it has color, not blandness.

When it comes to decorating I tend to favor cottage style and blues, greens, and roses. I abhor certain earth tones, our house growing up was very typical 70's. Paneled walls, orange, yes orange shag carpet, an olive green couch, a harvest gold arm chair, and 2 Lazy Boy rockers in a rust/burnt orange color. *blech*

Here's my couch - full of the colors I like - and don't mind the wrestling cats -

Usually when asked what my favorite color is, I answer blue. Other times I might say red. I love red and when I bought a car almost 2 years ago, that's just what color I got. Now I want a red blackberry. I am also a big fan of purple and various shades of pink. I am ambivalent about yellow - I want no yellow of any kind in my bedroom, it's not a restful color to me. However I love the combination of yellow and blue in a kitchen. I have the soft yellow color as one of the several colors I own of Fiestaware.

Here are some blogs I've discovered lately, all colorful and a visual feast. Sorry if that's a cliche, but I'm a numbers person , not a writer.

Tara Frey - http://www.nu-era.com/Flip-Fold-Shirt-Folder.asp

All Over Print http://www.alloverprint.blogspot.com/

Hello My Name is Heather http://heatherbailey.typepad.com/heather_bailey/

Present Past Collection http://heatherbullard.typepad.com/heather_bullard_collectio/

Raised in Cotton - http://www.raisedincotton.typepad.com/

Enjoy!

Amateur Movie Reviews

2008-09-21T12:03:00.004-05:00

One of the things I love about the net and a wireless laptop is the ability to be watching TV and instantly look up something or someone on IMDB.com or Wikipedia. And yes I know the drawbacks of Wiki, but it's usually good as a starting point. I am a lover of trivia and uncovered a few known bits of trivia with the movies I watched. I've added a few more movies to my crossed off list of AFI nominees. Here's my 2 cents worth:

Pride & Prejudice (1940) - with Greer Garson & Laurence Olivier as the 2 principal characters Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy. First I must say that the BBC 6 hour version with Colin Firth has forever spoiled me to any other version of this novel. Olivier makes a good Darcy, Greer Garson was beautiful, but not really Elizabeth to me. The flighty Mrs. Bennett was played by the same actress who played the Countess in The Women, that I just saw a few days ago, Mary Boland. I was annoyed that some plot points were changed and also the costuming was not the right era. I read the Wiki (yes, I said Wiki) article claiming these two things were two of the primary criticisms of the movie at the time of its release. But overall, not a bad movie. AFI nominee for 100 Years 100 Laughs, and 100 Years..100 Passions.

A Face in the Crowd with Andy Griffith and Patricia Neal. One of those serious movies, good overall. Very strange to watch Andy Griffith as a bad guy though. AFI nominee for 100 Years...100 Movies, 10th anniversary.

Topper starring Cary Grant and Constance Bennett. Constance is a sister to Joan. The elevator operator looked familiar and sure enough, he was also Dagwood in the Blondie movies. He also turned out to be the son in law of William Randolph Hearst by his marriage to the illegitimate daughter of Hearst and Marion Davies. The movie was pretty good. As big a fan as I am of Cary Grant, I don't know how this one slipped by me. I do so love movies from the 30's - the sets, the clothes. As much as I hate colorization of movies, I'd like to see these just once, that way.

Witness for the Prosecution with Charles Laughton, Marlene Dietrich and Tyrone Power. Based on a short story by Agatha Christie, and evidently a very successful stage play - this movie is excellent with a surprise ending. So much a surprise that an announcement is voiced over the closing credits, asking theater-goers not to divulge any plot information. Good cast, good script, I highly recommend this one. AFI nominee for 100 Years...100 Thrills and Top Ten Courtroom dramas. Startling to read that this was Tyrone Power's next to last movie and he died of a heart attack at 44. MY AGE.

Scent of a Woman with Al Pacino and Chris O'Donnell. HOOO-ahh, how has it taken me so long to see this movie.? Excellent film and I can definitely see why Pacino won the Oscar. Very well deserved, in my opinion. AFI nominee for 100 Years....100 Cheers.

A couple more that aren't on the AFI list -

The Painted Veil - with Ed Norton and Naomi Watts, recommended by a friend and author Deanna Raybourn. (Check out her blog http://deannaraybourn.typepad.com/blog_a_gogo/ )A movie I had never heard of, but enjoyed quite a bit. Set and shot in China, a very lush, beautifully filmed kind of movie, with clothes from the 20's and 30's that I love so much.

Mary Queen of Scots with Vanessa Redgrave and Glenda Jackson. I saw this years ago because I love love love Tudor and Elizabethan history. I couldn't stop watching it again. I was curious as to who played Lord Bothwell, a rather atractive and unfamiliar British actor. So Wiki and IMDB to the rescue. Nigel Davenport, who as it turns out, is father to Jack Davenport, star of BBC's Coupling and CBS' Swingtown.

I just love those interesting trivial facts. I am sure keeping my DVR busy.

In Praise of Movies

2008-09-19T19:30:00.002-05:00

I love watching movies. Love the experience of going to a theater, buying buttered popcorn and a Dr. Pepper, and sitting in thos semi-comfy chairs in a dark theater. Or curling up on the couch in a pair of comfy PJ's with a favorite snack and a Dr. Pepper.

I also love lists. You know, those Top Ten lists that come out every year about all kinds of topics. Or those recommended reading lists you get from your English teacher in high school. I still have the one from my jr. and sr. year somewhere in a box.

A few years back, I was watching the Oscars and they showed a segment with a few seconds of all 70 (at the time) Best Picture winners. I thought I'd rewind the tape and make my own list of these, and see just how many I had seen. Well, not as many as I thought. So I thought it would be cool to work my way through the list and see all of them.

Shortly after, AFI came out with their list of the top 100 movies of all time. Oh goody! Another list! So I ended up on AFI's website to get the list. Only I discovered ANOTHER list. The 400, yes 400 movies, from which the top 100 were chosen and ranked. I was ecstatic, more movies to add to my list to see. So over the past 10 years or so, I've been slowly working my way through the list of 400.

There were some gems I discovered, had never heard of them before, but now can't imagine not watching them every time they came on. The main one of these is "The Awful Truth" with Cary Grant and Irene Dunne. Oh my, what a FABULOUS example of screwball comedy. Another goody is "Run Silent, Run Deep", with Clark Gable and Burt Lancaster. This is a WWII submarine movie and an excellent story and great performances. There's been some that I shake my head and wonder how the heck they ever made it on a list like this. The main one that comes to mind is "Local Hero". Ugh.

Every year, AFI seems to come out with a new list of some kind. For example, 100 Years...100 Cheers, Passions, Thrills, Laughs, Songs, Musicals, Film Scores, Top 100 of 10 genres, etc. An updated list of the top 100 came out in 2007. So, geek that I am, created an Excel spreadsheet, combining every movie from almost every list AFI has done, and including all Best Picture winners. I didn't include the Heroes & Villains or the Top Quotes, but all the other lists are coombined. For a grand total of 1800+ movies, and I estimate I've seen only about a third of those. I thought the total I've viewed would have been bigger but afraid not. So I am now spending spare time watching movies.

Recently I have seen Marnie, Gladiator, Midway, Fury, The Women, The Defiant Ones and some others. I currently have A Face in The Crowd on the TV, with The Hurricane, The Misfits and The Night of the Hunter recorded on the DVR. I also have it set to record several the next week.

My own personal Top 10 - (series grouped together)

1. The Sound of Music
2. Out of Africa
3. Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid
4. The Thin Man series (all 6)
5. Blazing Saddles
6. Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back & Return of the Jedi
7. Lord of the Rings trilogy
8. It Happened One Night
9. The Awful Truth
10.The Philadelphia Story

Several others come close to making my top list, I have a hard timr narrowing it down sometimes. There are some movies that I seem to watch every time I see them on - War Games, Apollo 13, The Hunt for Red October, and Die Hard.

And I must say, I freakin' love TCM's 30 days of Oscar in February.

The Sky is Falling, the Sky is Falling

2008-09-12T16:35:00.002-05:00

Well at least not yet, but if you believe the Weather Channel, the next couple of days are going to be hell.

Hurricane Ike is almost to Texas, and even though I am still over 200 miles from the coast, the trajectory is taking Ike right up through my part of East Texas. This means tropical storm winds and rain. Oh yippy. Oh joy.

My thoughts and prayers are with all those people on the coast who are going to get all the damage, and looking at the images on TV, you just know it's going to be bad. The water's been lapping over Galveston's seawall for hours and it's going to get worse. I hope the Flagship Hotel, one of my favorite places, is still there once it's over with. I've always had a fondness for Galveston over Corpus. Love the old homes, walking on the seawall, and Guidos.

Everyone take care and be careful.

Checking In

2008-09-10T16:40:00.003-05:00

Today marks one week since I had some minor surgery and what a week it has been. The saga actually began the day before surgery when I developed a migraine. Since Advil was on the list of things not to take before surgery, and I didn't know if Maxalt was ok or not, I was up a creek. Tried to take it easy, but the pain got worse. Made a 10 p.m. emergency call to my buddy John, to see if he had any Tylenol, which is one thing I don't keep in the medicine chest. Sweetheart that he is, bought me a bottle at CVS and brought them right to me. Between that and the ice bag on my head, I got some relief and was able to sleep.

My fantastic sister in law Teri, took me and my mom (my mom and me?) to the hospital Wednesday morning. The nurse who was getting me prepped was wonderful, she gave me Fentanyl, since the migraine was still with me. Then she gave me more when the first dose didn't work. Everyone was helpful in keeping the lights off in the room or helping me shade my eyes when the lights had to be on. We watched TV, Teri changed it to whichever channel I wanted. Our friend Melissa, from church, came and stayed with us. I was worried about who would stay with Mama, because of her vision issue, and her left hearing aid was out too.

Versed was next and I remember looking upside down at the anesthesiologist's face, saying hello and next thing I knew, I was waking up in recovery. Bryan was my nurse there, I was asking all kinds of questions and noticing I was in pain at the same time. Bryan gave me ice chips and morphine (twice). If I had been more coherent, I would have asked him to marry me.

Next thing I knew, I was in another recovery room, Mama and Teri were there. John was there and I could see Monica out talking to the nurse's station nurse. Mama told me the Dr. said everything went fine; my brother Keith had brought her some lunch in the waiting room. My brother Glenn was on call to take us home from the hospital, but Teri ended up staying with us all day.

Teri stopped by Grandy's on the way home, for some reason, chicken nuggets and mashed potatoes sounded appetizing when nothing else did. Then we picked up my pain meds from CVS and I came home. I was insistent that I didn't need anyone to stay with me overnight, in retrospect, maybe not. But really, I don't know what anyone could have done for me.

Thursday was an excruciatingly painful day. I had to go to the Dr's office for post op and I am not going into details, I just wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy.

Friday and Saturday I had to get my Daddy to get me a few items at the store. By Sunday, I drove myself to McDonalds for what seemed to be the best tasting Egg McMuffin ever. SUnday night I had an episode of fever and chills that kind of concerned me, but Monday evening I seemed to turn a corner, suddenly, and started feeling better. Each day has gotten better, I have felt stronger and the pain has receded.

I have a lot of people to thank for helping me through this -
Mama - for being there, and always listening, and for being a nurse - you know, once a nurse, always a nurse.
Teri - for staying with me and then with Mama and taking good care of both of us.
Melissa - for being such a person filled with light, and always being there for my family.
Keith & Glenn - for pesky older brothers, they turned out OK.
Daddy - for making little runs to the grocery store.
Monica - for checking on me and being there when I woke up and the offer to stay with me.
John - for the emergency Tylenol run and checking on me and Mama
Jen - for reminding John, lol and always being there to listen and encourage me.

And last but certainly not least, to God for putting all these people in my life and reminding me I am not alone. Amen.

It's about time

2008-08-29T16:28:00.002-05:00

This is going to be the weekend to take care of a number of items on my own HoneyDo list. Since I have no Honey, it's all up to me. I guess I am my own Honey for now, so it's all about the new and improved me. I don't really like the term the 'new me' cause that implies there's something wrong with the old one. I just want to improve on me and live up to my potential.

I have too much "stuff", it's disorganized and I'm sick and tired of it. Going to put what I can in my upcoming garage sale. I also am going to re-do my resume and put it out on every job website, and every suitable opening I can find. Trying to become the better me that I CAN be if I just get off my ass and do it.

I've been in this house for almost 3 years, and there are still some pictures I have never hung on the wall. There are still curtain rods and drapes that aren't up. That seems to be a pattern with me, every apartment I have lived in, I seem to never finish completely "unpacking" and finishing up the decorating. Maybe if I do, I can relax and not worry. I also have that "CHAOS" syndrome - can't have anyone over syndrome.

Trying to adopt the positive thinking principles, also going to make a vision board, or "treasure map" as I think Sarah Ban Breathnach refers to it in Simple Abundance. I can't be sure, it's been a long time since I read that. There are some books I am reading now, The Secret and Eat, Pray Love, among others. Trying to crawl out of this depression I have been in for months.

I did learn something last weekend, or at least was reminded of something I forgot. Whenever I am feeling the ultimate in loneliness and being unloved, all I have to do is go see Mama & Daddy. They were both really down in the dumps last Saturday because of all their health issues, and my visit was exactly what they both needed. They were genuinely happy to see me and I made them laugh and smile so we all 3 ended up feeling better.

I am having minor surgery next week and at first I was freaked out, then I moved to annoyed and pissed, now I'm like, whatever. I hate that I have to rely on my parents to get me home from the hospital because some days they are barely making it themselves.

So this Labor Day weekend, going to use my own labors to shape up and get my you know what together.

The rest of the trip

2008-07-31T09:35:00.004-05:00

I forgot to finish writing about the rest of the Colorado trip. On Wednesday, the 2nd day, I went to the Molly Brown House & Museum. That's the Unsinkable Molly Brown, although her name was Margaret and no one ever called her Molly in her lifetime. Here's a picture -

That afternoon I went to the Brown Palace Hotel for afternoon tea. Even though I'm not the biggest fan of tea, I like the experience with the scones and the clotted cream and the little tea size sandwiches.

I ended up going to a couple of speaker sessions, competed in the Sudoku tournament, played in a trivia contest and hung out in hospitality with friends.

On Friday the 4th, I took off north to Estes Park. The Rocky Mountains are incredibly beautiful.
The town of Estes Park is somewhere I wish I had more time to explore on a less crowded holiday. Saw some gorgeous mountain cabins, I do believe I could live there. I headed into Rocky Mountain National Park, intending to drive as far west on Trail Ridge Road as I could. This was the scene, not long after I drove into the park -

My favorite part of the drive, was once I got to a certain elevation, the snow from above was melting and creating waterfalls along the sides near the road. I stopped at one point and made a snowball. It's been a long time since I've been able to do that. I kept rising higher and higher until I stopped at Rainbow Curve. At this stop, there was a beautiful valley down below and it was a little disconcerting, because there was just a low stone wall along the edge, not much protection to keep from tumbling down 10,000+ feet. Not long after driving past this curve, my fear of heights kicked in, I could no longer seem to block out my right side periphery of the sheer drop off the side of the road. Then I could see coming up, a sheer drop off the left side as well. Well not only was my fear of heights working overtome at this point, but the memory of dreams I have had of driving off a mountain curve were coming back to haunt me. So a mini panic attack began and I found the nearest spot to pull over, made a U turn and came back down. On the one hand, the panic was a surprise, on the other, it made perfect sense.

Even though I saw some of the most beautiful scenery ever, it was a little uncomfortable doing that driving. Next time I go to the mountains, somebody else will have to do the driving.

Other highlights of the trip, meeting up with one of SPQ messageboard buddies at Casa Bonita in Denver. And yes, they really do have a gorilla diving off a cliff into a pool of water, inside the restaurant. Overall I was impressed with the city of Denver, enjoyed meeting new friends, catching up with old ones and experiencing some new things.

Oh and another highlight, having breakfast from a street cart that makes Belgian waffles.

All my other pictures are here - http://tinyurl.com/5sfgz8

Slacking Again

2008-07-16T13:26:00.003-05:00

I've been back from Denver over a week and already slacking in my writing. The AG was fun and tiring. The altitude kicked my butt far more than I thought. I realized it when I got back to the DFW airport, and when I got a little winded from dealing with my luggage, I got my breath back much sooner than I did when I was in Denver.

I stayed exhausted in Denver and didn't do as many activities as I wished to do because I simply ran out of steam. Of course, starting the trip out on 4 hours of bad sleep didn't help. The hotel layout was not the most conducive, it was simply too big and spread out. Hospitality was tucked away and it just seemed like I didn't see or run into people I knew nearly as much as last year's. I also noticed the first day I was there, places in CO don't run the A/C all the time like they do in TX, and I suffered until I adjusted.

My initial impression of Denver is that of a beautiful city, mountains in the background, nice old and modern architecture and very clean. The shuttle ride to the hotel passed right by the Brown Palace and Trinity UMC, both beautiful old historic buildings. The hotel was right on the 16th Street Mall and was chock full of restaurants and stores and good people-watching.

I met more people from GenX than I did last year, and this year, thanks to hanging out in the chat room, I knew people before the AG, and seeing them finally in person was great. I got a chance to catch up with Karen and that was nice.

I wish I had attended more activities and spent more time in the GenX suite, but oh well, will have to make up for it next year.

Tuesday night we went to a Geeks who Drink Pub Quiz at a place called the Irish Snug. I would have loved to spend some time in the little drinking "snugs" but we headed straight downstairs to the first place of the trip I noticed with the AC issue. We divided up into teams and I liked my team of Rimas, Leann, Paul and Melissa and I will not name the other one who annoyed the crap out of me. The evening had me really wishing there was a Pub Quiz in Tyler. Oh yeah, and I should bone up on Gangsta Rap before the next one.

Next post: More AG fun

So much to do, so little time

2008-06-29T09:33:00.003-05:00

Well here it is, 2 days before I head off to Denver for the Mensa AG. I'd be head over heels with excitement if I didn't have a to-do list as long as my arm.

Today is all about cleaning house and doing laundry. Tomorrow is the last trip to Wal Mart hell, coloring my hair, painting my fingernails and toenails and packing. I have to print out my airplane info, shuttle info, all the maps and info I need for my side trip to Rocky Mountain National Park and the list goes on and on and on.........

I am hoping to do a daily AG blog diary of sorts and take lots and lots of pictures. Tata for now.

My Favorite Things

2008-06-10T19:03:00.002-05:00

After spending time at a family reunion this weekend, and then celebrating my birthday yesterday with family and friends, I am feeling in a good mood. Here are some of my favorite things.

1. Getting a temporary tattoo from my adorable little shy cousin and having a couple of cute conversations with him.

2. Chatting with the other little cousins.

3. Hearing the funny wedding stories from all the married people in the family.

4. A meal of fajitas, just-right-cooked pinto beans, and Velveeta queso and chips.

5. All the e-mails, instants messages, MySpace comments. Facebook comments and messageboard posts wishing me a Happy Birthday.

6. Making my mother giggle when we saw 10000 small children getting out of a bus at the movie theater to see the same movie we were going to see, and saying HELL no, we'll go somewhere else.

7. Being taken to a new restaurant by my friends and having them offer to buy me whatever I want. And said restaurant being DELICIOUS.

What's in a Name?

2008-05-28T11:01:00.003-05:00

Have you ever googled yourself? I tried that last night and found 2 obituaries for other Sheilas with my same last name. I also found lots of Sheilas in a certain city that happens to also be my last name.

When I was born, my dad picked the name Sheila because he liked it. Sheila is a Gaelic name and believed to be a form of Julia/Cecilia/Cecil. Which is very ironic, because my mother's mother and father were both named Cecil, so while Daddy named me because he liked the name, I'm actually named after my grandparents, which is pretty cool. My middle name is Jane, after my mother. Jane was also my great grandmother's middle name. I like the continuity of that.

Being named Sheila is a blessing and a curse. A blessing because it's not very common, and so there's not a lot of Sheilas running around. A curse, because people so frequently misspell it. Also a mixed bag when it comes to those little souvenirs you buy with people's names, in that sometimes there was a Sheila, sometimes not.

One of my Jaycee friends dubbed me Sheila E way back when I first joined, and it stuck. I like it as a nickname. I also use Tequila Sheila as a nickname on my favorite messageboard . I got that name from a song.

Speaking of songs, there are 3 I know of - "Sheila" by Tommy Roe, "Tequila Sheila" by Bobby Bare and "Oh Sheila" by Ready for the World. When I was 16 and taking my driving test on my birthday, the DPS trooper who was riding shotgun was singing Tequila Sheila. 28 years later and I have never forgotten that.

I think my favorite use of the name is a book by Judy Blume, "Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great". To which I say, but of course.

Having smart fun

2008-05-27T10:30:00.003-05:00

I just returned from a weekend in Houston at what we in Mensa call an RG, or Regional Gathering. These are little conventions, usually with a theme - there are a wide range of speakers, hospitality & games rooms open at all hours, a dance, and a bunch of cool people. Now I know Mensa peopple get stereotyped as a bunch of nerds, and we have our share of those. But we're regular people too, who just happened to outscore 98% of the population on a standardized test.

I played Phase 10, spades, Texas Hold 'EM, Carnelli, Palabra, worked on a jigsaw puzzle, competed on a team in a Movie trivia game. I swear if it involves a game I like, I could play all day long. Evidently I have a competitive streak a mile wide. Participated in a chocolate tasting, and I still prefer milk chocolate, and 100% cacao is VILE. Attended a little session on Mixers & Ellixirs and tried several types of alcohol I have never tried. Now I know what ouzo tastes like, and I can't stand it. It's no wonder, since I don't like licorice at all and it's like a liquid form of that. I think I'm adding a bottle of Frangelico to my next shopping list.

Hung out with some people I already knew a little, and got to know them even better; Met new people and just had a great all around good time. On the way home, I stopped and got a Gatti's pizza, my absolute favorite and one we don't have in Tyler anymore. I swear if I was a smoker, I would have needed a cigarette, it was that good.

Gulf Coast Mensa throws a good RG. Today is all about recuperating.

When is it going to end?

2008-05-10T11:10:00.002-05:00

I started this blog with the intention of being upbeat and trying to be slightly humorous, but today I'm ranting a little.

I spent my morning at the local Komen Race for the Cure. I didn't run or walk in it, but helped out some with some fellow Jaycees at the food booth.

My rant is against cancer and why oh why haven't we found a cure yet? I hear the numbers of how much money has been raised in the fight, and I wonder, when is it going to end? Especially after spending a day in our beautiful city park, with nice but humid weather and seeing the pink shirts of the survivors, and seeing survivors younger than me. It's just not fair, this cancer crap. The survivor's faces seem to be getting younger.

You see participants wearing their signs "In Memory of" - children who've lost a grandmother, men who have lost wives, even mothers who have lost their own daughters while fighting their own personal battle. I try to focus on the number of people who wear the "In Celebration of" signs and just pray and hope that the celebration signs will one day be the only signs you see, and eventually we won't even need this race, because cancer will be eradicated.

One can only hope.

Studying is driving me batty

2008-04-18T22:34:00.003-05:00

I am under the gun to get this CPA exam studying done so I can take 2 parts of the exam by May 30th. Some days I feel cross-eyed and incapable of learning. Other days it all clicks. Today was a little harder because my cat Cupcake was damned insistent on being in my lap and it's hard to tell her no.

If real life would stop getting in the way, I would have more time to study. First up is this weekend's trip to Fort Worth for my cousin's wedding. I may need valium by the end of the weekend after chauffeuring my parents. At least I enjoy my cousins and aunts and uncles, so it should be a good time, but just no time for studying. I think I will pack my books and PC anyway, just in case.

I'm having a garage sale on the 3rd, and I need to get ready for that. Timing wise it's not great, but it needs to get done before it gets too hot. I also need to clean house before my family is traipsing in and out of my house that day.

My nephew is graduating from Rice University on the 10th and we were going to go, but I just cannot sacrifice 2 days of studying. I hope he will understand.

I'm going to Houston on Memorial Day weekend for a Mensa RG and maybe the Texas JCI Senate convention. I don't know if the Senate one will be worth going to. I'll have to pack my books for the section of the exam I'm hoping to take on the 30th.

My Meetup group for knitters and crocheters is going well. We've met twice and are talking about upping the meetings to twice a month. Found a better location than Starbucks at our local grocery store. They built a little cafe area called Java Jams and it's perfect for us.

Recent addictions include watching Big Brother, General Hospital, Hershey bars with Andes peppermint chips.

Well onto FW and a winery manana.

Drive-by posting

2008-04-08T23:40:00.003-05:00

I am already doing what I swore I wouldn't do on my old blog, and that is be a slacker about posting. It's been a little over a month since the last one. Several times I've thought I needed to post and then for various reasons I forgot. Now I need to try to remember what I've done the past month. And in no certain order -

Celebrated Mama's 75th birthday with a nice little birthday dinner with the family.

Rode the Texas State Railroad with the parents on a beautiful spring day. Took loads of pictures which makes me love a digital camera more.

I love how you can edit the photos and how that picture of the Palestine depot looks like a vintage picture.

Went to a disc clinic with my nieve and her husband. This could be a sport I am very capable of doing, it's good light exercise and not too expensive. Plus there are few women players. Can you say bonus?

Went to the Rose City Chili Pod cookoff, got to judge the 2nd round of chilis. I think I now know what to do ti tinker with my recipe.

It's that time of year again where I need to start mowing the yard. Yippy. I am thrilled. Haha.

Went to the county Democratic convention. It was a big ole cluster getting people signed in. I understand they have never worked with large crowd before but there has to be a more efficient way of operating.

That's all for the time being.

God Bless Democracy

2008-03-05T14:25:00.002-06:00

Being born and growing up in the USA, sometimes we take for granted all the liberties and freedoms we have. Yesterday I voted in the Democratic primary. I normally do not get into politics much. I read up some on the candidates, then I vote.

Yesterday I decided I would go to the caucus/precinct meetings held after the polls closed at 7. As I sat there and watched everyone there, and waited for my chance to sign in, I realized how truly lucky we are to be voting for who we want. No guns to our head, no riots and violence in the streets. And to have a CHOICE on who we want elected.

So I cast my vote for Barack Obama after waffling back and forth between him and Hillary Clinton. I just could not make up my mind for the longest time. I even took some of those online quizzes about Which Presidential Candidate Should I Choose. All of them came up virtually even steven between Clinton-Obama. Then I heard them both on the Kidd Kraddick show, my favorite radio morning show. I liked the way they BOTH came across.

Then I heard Obama talking about e-mails circulating that he was Muslim and he said on the radio that is not true. I have to admit I had some reservations about a Muslim president, at the same time wondering if that would make a difference in our relations with the Middle East. So I looked up some info on him, and turns out he's Church of Christ.

So when I started thinking about who to choose, and since they both were so even on the issues to me, I went with who I think I can trust more. And bottom line, there's just something I don't trust about Mrs. Clinton.

So last night I cast my vote, and volunteered, and now I'm an Obama delegate to the county Democratic convention.

Random Thoughts

2008-02-23T21:58:00.002-06:00

I've been reading some new blogs lately. There's one called Chicken Fried Therapy and she's been writing about what she calls Leaps of Faith. Since this is Leap Year, she has decided to try one new thing every week, that requires a Leap of Faith. You could also call these Comfort Zone Busters.

I did one of these Friday night, even though the LOF concept was not my original intent. One of my little addictions is trivia, more specifically Buzztime Trivia. I was playing it last week at one of my favorite restaurants and noticed the Friday night games consisted of the topic of Best Pictures. I am also a movie list geek, and have been working my way through watching past Best Picture winners and the big AFI list. So how could I possibly resist.

Well, my friends had other plans last night, so if I was going to do this, I was going to have to go out on Friday night. Alone. And praying nobody paid attention to me and thought oh who is that big dork by herself. Of course, I shouldn't be worried about what other people think, but easier said than done. So I decided Buffalo Wild Wings might be the best place, and I might be the least inconspicuous there.

I went early to get a booth, ended up playing for almost 4 hours. Won 5 out of the 6 games, including the Best Pictures one.

My first and maybe only LOF for this month.

Ash Wednesday/Fresh Start

2008-02-06T10:30:00.000-06:00

So I feel like here we go again, but I know that lots of fat people go through this, and it used to be hard for me to say fat, but taking ownership of the word, diminishes its negative power. I had lost almost 40 pounds, and have gained around 14 of that back in the last few months. This is unacceptable to me, so today I am re-joining Weight Watchers. WW is to me, the best and most realistic program out there.

I dug out my old list of reasons to lose weight - these are a good reminder to me. I'm sure I'll think if more.

So as for Ash Wednesday and Lent, I am giving up my unhealthy way of eating, and by the end of Lent, it will be a habit and lifestyle. Please excuse my overuse of the word "So".. Good Lord it makes me sound like Oprah.

So……………Reason #1 – My health. Tired of being tired, want to reverse the diabetes, protect my heart and not end up in bad shape when I’m older.

Reason #2 – My looks. Don’t care how much I’ve tried to accept myself as I am, or how much some people say fat is beautiful, I’m not buying it. I look better thinner, period.

Reason #3 – No more diabetes medication. According to the Dr., and from past experience of losing a little weight, if I get the weight off, my blood sugar will go down, and I most likely will not need the medicine anymore, if I watch what I eat. The next reasons are not in any particular order.

#4 Clothes – while the Plus Size market has expanded a lot in recent years (no pun intended), there are still way few choices in plus sized clothes. Especially in pretty lingerie, dressy clothes and chic and cute stuff. I’d rather be caught dead than in a muumuu. As a thin person, I will have more shopping choices and will get more for my money since plus sized clothes cost more. (That irritates the snot out of me, by the way).

#5 Men – let’s face it, your choice of eligible men goes down drastically as your weight goes up. It’s that old double standard, men are visual and looks matter more to them. While to women, we are more interested in personality. Not saying that looks aren’t important, cause who really wants to end up with a cretin.

#6 I have forgotten what it’s like to wear heels. It just hurts too damn much now. Don’t think it’s me getting older, I think it’s putting my bulk on little pointed toed shoes with little heels.

#7 Wearing a bathing suit in public will be no biggie. I don’t want to even think about wearing one right now.

# 8 I can buy stuff from Victoria’s Secret. Not that I will, cause it pisses me off, they don’t sell plus sizes. I mean hey – even Fredericks sells plus.

#9 Sex will be more fun. It’s fun now, but not near as easy as it would be, being lighter.

#10 Energy – God I can’t remember what it’s like to have energy. I am sick and tired of being sick and tired.

#11 I can reach my legs easier to shave.

#12 - No more Jabba the Hut. I am pear shaped and when I sit down, my body just condenses down to this Jabba the Hut shape and I hate it.

#13 - Can fit better in airplane seats. I can't believe that as short as I am that even I don't have enough leg room on a plane, but at my size I sure as hell don't have enough room width-wise in a seat.

#14 - Can fit on a roller coaster again. Not that I want to ride one again, but any and all types of amusement park rides, go carts, bumper boats, whatever - just not possible at the moment.

#15 - Can fit better in seats at arenas and theaters.

#16 - No more snoring, or I hope so. So I've been told I snore. Yeah, that's attractive in a woman. And snoring is worse the more weight you have on you, so maybe I won't anymore.

#17 - Will fit into a restaurant booth. I hate how some restaurants have the table attached to the wall and you can't move it.

#18 - Will no longer feel the need to use a handicapped bathroom stall in a public bathroom, because the "regular" size are too narrow.

Random thoughts

2008-02-05T12:07:00.000-06:00

Today is one of those days where it's hard to get in the studying mode. Due to this approaching one of my least favorite times in the month, my brain has gone all foggy while my cravings for sweet and gooey desserts has gone up. It's also been cloudy and overcast, not to mention warm and humid for 3 days running, which doesn't help.

But I'm treating myself today. Getting a manicure this afternoon, then tonight getting a little dolled up for the Carinos wine dinner with my friends Jen and John. How appropriately is it that today is Fat Tuesday, once we eat what Carinos has in store for us. Not to mention drink 4 different wines including that awesome Banfi Rosa Regale dessert wine.

Cupcake is curled next to me with one paw almost on the keyboard. She has me wanting a nap, too. I think this may just be a nap kind of day. Then later, go back to studying Auditing.

Cuteness Personified (Or Kittified)

2008-02-03T14:27:00.000-06:00

Here are some pictures of my kids, the 4-legged furry kind. They are almost 5, I adopted them at 12 weeks, from the East Texas Animal Rescue Fund. They are great company and if I'm sitting still, one or both or either in my lap, or curled up next to me. Cupcake is solid black and the softest, sweetest cat I have ever met. Her brother Morelli is a grey tabby with perfectly symmetrical markings, he is a rascal but extremely loveable. They are named after characters in Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series of books.

Today, they have been hanging out on the barstool by the screen door in the kitchen, at least while they're awake. When the weather is just right, I open the door and let the fresh air in. They can be at the opposite end of the house, but when they hear that door open, they are there before I can even move the barstool into position. I'd let them sleep with me at night, but I'm without a doubt that Morelli has ADD and at 4 in the morning, he's up wanting to play, and I need my sleep.

I'd probably have dogs too, but I am at the limit for my landlord, and I'm not sure the back fence is sturdy enough for the kind of dog I want. I entered their picture in a cat calendar contest, hopefully they will win.

How quickly things can change

2008-01-31T18:34:00.000-06:00

So I'm working at Jackson Hewitt. I thought it would be a nice temporary thing to do and educational as far as the CPA exam goes. Oh it was educational all right, but not how I expected.

And yes I am now talking in the past tense. What was going to be a 3 month gig only lasted 3 weeks, for a myriad of reasons, some being how management runs the place, and others being ethical/moral issues thatdid not sit well with me. I'm not going into it here.

So now I am back on the couch, I have a plan that will enable me to take 1, maybe 2 parts of the CPA exam by Feb. 29th, Passing the exam is my ultimate goal and JH was starting to get in the way of that.

And let me just say this, after my brief interlude, I am for abolishing the tax code and going to a flat tax, for EVERYBODY. No more $6000 refunds just because you're poor. If that makes me a cold bitch, then so be it.

Self esteem and all that rot

2008-01-15T19:53:00.000-06:00

Funny how being employed can be tied into your self esteem. After losing my job last summer and made to feel like I was a dumbass, I am now employed again.

I feel like Sally Field, you like me, you really like me. The new boss likes me, she made me the assistant manager. She has been gone a lot the past few days, getting our other offices set up, so that leaves me in charge. Other new people are looking to me for answers and it's amazing how it gives me a boost and restores my sense of yes, I DO know what I'm doing.

Then the other day, the boss told me she was proud of me, and I'm doing great, so that also made me feel good. I know you're supposed to look within for that sense of self, but I can't help it, I need validation or whatever the hell you want to call it from others.

Ups and Downs of the Holidays

2007-12-27T17:23:00.000-06:00

I normally love the Christmas season and go all out with the decorations. This year I did very little inside decorating, just never had the energy or desire to do it. Studying for the CPA exam and Jackson Hewitt courses, took up my time, and if I did have downtime, I just wanted to veg out.

My family Christmas was quite enjoyable. The clan gathered at my oldest brother's house on Christmas Eve, ate till we were stuffed and then played a rousing game of Trivial Pursuit. I was just so excited to play, because no one in my family wants to play this game with me usually. Could be because I have a knack for trivia, including an appearance on Jeopardy! I am so lucky, fortunate, thankful, etc., that I have a family that gets along and actually enjoys each other's company. Many people do not.

I did not manage to escape the depression that comes with Christmas, though. I thought I could just glide right through, but it hit me when I got home from my brother's house and then again, on Christmas Day, after I got home from spending a few hours at my parents' house. The younger of my 2 older brothers, was set to propose to his girlfriend on Christmas Eve and I just had those thoughts going through my head, here I am, yet another year without having a special man in my life. When is it going to be my turn. Don't get me wrong, I'm very happy for my brother, she is a great lady and we all like her a lot. But how come some people can find love twice in a lifetime and others don't.

Then on Christmas Day, I go to my parents' house, and yes, I know, I am very lucky to have both parents still alive and still married to each other. I don't mean this next part to seem greedy at all, but I got one present this year. One. I admit, I get envious when I see other people with a list, a LIST of all the stuff they got. So I go home and get into a Christmas blue funk, tears included.

Luckily, I had made plans with friends to go to the movies later that evening. We had fun, and I am thankful to have them, even if everyone else is paired off but me.

Thank God it's over and we're back to regular programming. Oh wait, there's still New Year's Eve, and guess who doesn't have a date.

In the Wee Small Hours

2007-12-14T12:11:00.000-06:00

Insomnia can be a curse in more ways than one sometimes. Not only making you physically sleep deprived, and all the bad things that go with that - but having your brain in overdrive and not in a good way.

Two nights ago, I was having a lot of trouble sleeping, possibly because of drinking caffeinated Diet DP too late in the evening, possibly because of worrying too much. I had been studying a tax course for 3 days, studying my CPA review course, my brain was fried, and I started worrying about things like - what if I can't pass the CPA exam, what if it's the wrong choice for me, then what the hell will I do for a job, OMG I'll have to move back in with my parents. Let's just say, Wednesday evening was filled with unpleasant thoughts. Then when it was time to shut down the computer for the night, it started acting all wonky and was frozen with the Compac screen I have only seen on startup before. It wouldn't shut down. I was on edge. So finally, I held down the power button and thankfully it shut off. So back to the worrying and of course, I just knew the computer had just crashed, and I was doomed. I ended up digging out the Ambien and breaking off a little piece and taking it about 1:45 am. Trying to tell myself things would be better when I woke up and hoping to God they would be.

So yesterday - I get up, start studying and in the afternoon, go into the JH office to work some practice returns. Turns out the studying has paid off, and I do a good job on the practice returns. Then I treat myself to a late lunch and trivia at Fridays.

I go home, get a call from Jen about where the Jaycees are going after the meeting and I meet them at Carinos. I was so tired, I almost didn't go, but thank God I did. Everyone acted thrilled to see me and we ate, we drank, we laughed. I was reminded that I shouldn''t keep myself so disconnected from everyone, no matter how much studying there is to be done, and that despite my negative worrying, I have friends that really do care about me.

It's amazing how one day can feel so rotten and the next is the total opposite. When I got home from Carinos last night, I had great things waiting one me. The recorder I ordered had arrived and my Tudors book was here. The cats looked at me funny when I tried playing the recorder. Then I went throught my email and found this from my e-mail from The Universe:

Doesn't it happen like that, Sheila? I mean, isn't your entire life proof? One day you're scrimping, the next you're in the money.

One day you're lonely, the next you have friends.

Lost, then found. Ill, then well. Low, then high.

Yet with hindsight, it becomes ever so clear that the only thing that ever really changed was your thinking. Even though you were free to think as you pleased the whole time.

History need not repeat itself - The Universe

Comfort Zone Breakthroughs

2007-12-10T14:26:00.000-06:00

People who know me well, may not know that I can be extremely shy and slightly agoraphobic. It's almost physically painful for me to get out and meet new people. But I have reached a crossroads in my life as far as friends are concerned. As far as 3-d world friends are concerned, I'm feeling a shortage right now. Good friends I've made in the Jaycees over the years all have their own lives and relationships. Now that I've aged out and am not involved, I feel adrift. I have very few people I can just pick up the phone and say hey, why don't we go out to dinner or a movie. Most people are paired off and forget, not intentionally, about their lone single friends. I have this thing where I will only call so many times to be the initiator, because it crosses over into being too needy, if you're always the one making the phone call, or doing the asking.

So back to the crossroads and the comfort zone. I am trying to find new people and interests, which in this very married town can be difficult. The first place I'm trying, is the good ole standby of church and the Singles group. I don't consider myself a Holy roller by any means, but I do enjoy going to church, seeing people I know and leaving with a good feeling inside, to start the week. My church is a beautiful building, over 100 years old, the red brick Gothic style. Part of the church experience for me, is the physical surroundings and type of service. As modern as I may be about some things, I can't stand contemporary worship services. For me, it's traditional, in the big sanctuary, with the choir and preachers in robes. We got a new Singles minisiter a few months ago and she has made great strides in getting this group re-energized. So last Sunday, I went to Sunday School and Church and it was great. Then Friday night I went to the Singles Christmas party and had a very good time. Broke through one comfort zone there, and plan to continue being involved.

Comfort zone #2 - I joined the SCA, which has a pretty active group around here. I had bought my Irish country dress and chemise, so I was definitely in period dress, and I went to their Yule Revel Saturday night. I came so close to chickening out so many times, but I went for it in the end. The people were very welcoming, they love to explain how things work in the Society. They even taught me a little about how to knit, since if I want to do period crafts, I'll have to knit, since crochet didn't come along until the 1800's.

Now, I want to make me more Renaissance dresses, learn about the cooking, the music, the crafts. I love the Tudor period, but the dresses are so elaborate, I'm not sure if I'm ready for that.

I spent some time on Amazon last night (they love me), and ended up ordering me a recorder and sheet music, some Tudor costuming books and some Antonia Fraser books about the Tudors. I can't wait to get them all.

Funny, how I wasn't sure what my next blog entry would be, but now I can't shut up.

Random musings

2007-12-04T17:07:00.000-06:00

I have tried blogging before, and haven't kept up, but I'm turning over a new leaf. I hope. Just thought I'd try again, post about my latest 137 crochet projects, my current studying for the CPA exam (yawn), and any other old thing I can come up with. And I sometimes end sentenes with a preposition, see above. Like I care.

Anyway, it's now the 4th, still no Christmas tree up. It's laying in the middle of my kitchen floor, where I dragged it in from the outside storage closet. Not sure I can get all 3 pieces assembled and upright without hurting myself, but I will try. I thought getting a pre-lit tree last year was going to make things SO easy. HA.

I'm not working now, I'm studying for the CPA exam, also studying the Jackson Hewitt tax course so I can get hired for tax season. Because of the not working, you would think I would have a lot of free time. HA.

Since I have aged out of the Jaycees, I am trying to find new friends, which can be harder than you think. I finally got up early enough Sunday to go back to Sunday school and church this weekend. I felt pulled back, and I also want to finally get involved in the Singles group. I have been some before, but never very active. Advent season always makes me want to reconnect.

I've also joined SCA and this weekend is the first event I'm going to in my period costume. Should be fun. Just call me Johanna, that's my society name.

This week promises to be busy -- took Mama to the outlet mall yesterday, trying to study today, with a little crochet thrown in. Wednesday I take both parents to the dr. for Mama's biopsy report, we are optimistic. Trying not to even go the other direction in my thoughts.

One thing that is nice about not working, is that my church has noontime Christmas music every Wednesday in December. I have always wanted to go, but couldn't because of work, so tomorrow I am finally getting to go. Then there's a meeting at Jackson Hewitt later for people interested in employment, so I will be going to that and missing my final Jaycees board meeting which includes a free meal.

Friday is the church Singles Christmas party, Saturday I have the Mensa Christmas Party, the SCA CP and the Jaycees CP. I picked one and the SCA won out. Maybe I can get the tree up Thursday.