Ordinary Miracle

I have been watching some of the Olympics and I didn't get to see this song performed but I just watched it on YouTube and think it is beautiful. There are those days when it takes so much energy just to get myself up out of bed and motivated but once I do, I thank God for the day he has given me.
On the way to work this morning, as the sun was beginning to rise, it gave off such a pretty rose color in the clouds that it was magical. Just a ordinary miracle. I have so much to be thankful for that it's these little moments that make me stop and realize that God is good.

Cherish

I got a letter from my sister yesterday and it was (and always is) filled with such positive thoughts and feelings that I have to say she is my insipiration.  If God brings you to it, He'll bring you through it.
She finds everyday things that bring her inspiration and find Tyler is talking to her through this things.  I agree as I find myself hearing Tyler talking to me every now.  It usually over something that makes me stop and then laugh.  His spirit has also been my motivator to get up in the early hours and go work out.  If that kid could sacrafice his life for me, and go through all that training himself...than I can pull my fat butt out of bed and go walk.  I will someday be able to do a push up and when I do, it will be with him doing them with me.
Her letter ended with the saying to Cherish every moment.  I have to keep reminding myself that life it so precious and to stop and cherish people, places and things around me.

Customer Survey's

It paid off!  We went to eat at Longhorn Steakhouse, using a gift card Mom gave us for Christmas.  On the bottom of your reciept is a way to log on and take a customer survey.  I always do these because you never know...
Well I got a check in the mail yesterday for $50 for taking the survey! Woo Hoo!!  I was thinking it was going to be a gift card, which was fine by me, but a check is even better!
So morale of the story....."You might just win if you take those survey's"

RRR

Reedy River Run is coming up next month.  I signed up to be a volunteer since this is the new me!  "NO DAY BUT TODAY!" (FALLINOFF in SP)
I am kinda looking forward to it for two reasons.  1) similiar to New Bedford Road Race which I know Friendly Sons of St. Patrick/brothers now help with and 2) Springtime is great time to get active and get to know other healthy-minded people. 
That doesn't mind that I am not friends anymore with folks who eat fried chicken....Oh Nah Nah I say..
It just means that I need more healthy people in my life to keep me motivated (for now).  I work in "sporting goods industry" so you would think I would want to get healthy just for my job.
(don't forget to log in and out 5 times a day BTW)

Tracking

I have begun tracking things.  I track my food/nutrition and my fitness that I do.  I am also tracking my blood pressure.  My concern is that this Harbor Freight 25dollar wrist cuff doesn't work right.  I wish Mom could take my BP with her fat arm cuff.  I have my yearly Dr. appt in May so I will show him my BP tracking page and see if it matchs to what his BP shows.  I am trying to get off my BP medicine, even though it is only 4bucks a month....it still can be prevented.

My inner coach

I have voices in my head.  Often times my voice does the John Pinette routine, "Get out line".



But this morning I clearly heard my inner coach.  I was lying bed awake thinking of stupid things when it was 5:58am. My alarm was set to go off at 6am so I could get up, wash face/brush teeth, get dressed, make a lunch and leave to go exercise before work.  I clicked on the alarm time and pushed it out to 7:00 thinking I would go back to sleep for an hour.  My inner coach voice said to me, "Why do you think you will fall back asleep after you have been awake thinking of stupid stuff for about the last 15 mins...get up an go work out". Not sure if those were the exact words but my inner coach's voice (which is male by the way--see I told  you I was wacky) demanded me to get up and get moving.  I obeyed his command.
I ended up reaching my 40 minute goal for this week and walked on the treadmill 1.65 miles burning 285 calories.  It is sad to think that I already ate that many calories today.  I know it is suppose to be calories in-calories out but I am not up to running yet.  Rick actually said I should wait to drop more weight before I try to run so it doesn't damage my joints.  Smart guy!  I would really love to swim but am still afraid of the kids at the YMCA yelling out "Look a beached whale!"  I will swim at the Y again someday (goal).

Energy and persistence conquer all things.

Energy and persistence conquer all things.

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Joined Spark Community

my.sparkpeople.com/GIGGLEGURL7

I just joined The Spark Community with trying to help my daily calorie log and looks good so far....

Help Count backyard birds

http://www.birdcount.org/

I found this website through The Women's Outdoor Wire, that they are looking for volunteers to count backyard birds.

I love my garage

So we did get a little bit of snow/ice mix. This picture is taken out of computer room window. (smudge on window that needs cleaning)  The good news is that we were able to put both the truck and the car in our garage. For those of you who have seen our garage at apt complex, know that it was chock full of Rick's stuff and there was no way to even fit our second kayak let alone a car.  Now in our new house with double garage, we got to put them both inside the garage and out of these elements.  It also helps that Lori, previous homeowner, left the keorsene heater in the garage so it is a heated garage.  Nice to keep your car warm, but down here it is only needed a couple really cold days. I told Rick that it will useful come the springtime when possible hail storms happen and now we have a place to safely put the vehicles.  It was also good to have the boat close by so we could clear the snow/ice off the cover.  It was weighing it down and could possible tear at the windshield.  The birds are going nuts on my birdfeeder. It was full this morning but now it is quite a bit down.  I love watching them and their chubby bodies pecking at the seed.  Brier is on the couch all snuggled up next to Daddy.  I just had a nice big bowl of beef stew with a couple drops of hot sauce. Delicous.

Right on the border to get ICE! Ice baby

Goal

It is a little goal and probably you are saying to yourself, "that is nothing" but to me, I reached a little goal this morning and I am so happy.
I made myself a realistic goal by week 3 I would be walking 30 minutes. Week 1 was 10-15 mins. Week 2 was 15-20 mins, and this week was 25-30 mins. I did it! I had the treadmill set for 25 mins this morning but as I got to 20, I still felt good so I advanced it to 27 mins. My heart rate was good and I felt so good. I kept mentally telling myself to go for 30 mins and then I found myself increasing the minutes up to 30. It seemed easier this morning maybe because no one was in there with me, (except Hank for five minutes) and I could relax and meditate on my goal.
Next week I wrote down 40-45 minutes. I CAN DO IT!

Happy 50th Birthday MPOM

I hope the Wicked Whoopie Pie will be worth it! I use to watch Phantom Gourmet back when I lived in MA and saw the Whoopie Pie on the show.  I remember anytime we needed to have something for Girl Scout or school bake sale, Mom would always make Whoopie Pies.  And now I am craving one!
Leave a comment if you love Whoopie Pies too.

Our Friend Art and Rick looking dapper in their suits.

Posting this because Art was visiting here for two weeks and he left today.  He came down to SC to escape the harsh New England weather, but needless to say we also had cold temperatures here last week.  Today was up in the 60's but of course it is the day he is going home. He did help out with cropping my blinds and by helping Rick replace bulbs for out back door light.  I am thankful that he visits.

Birds

I got a bird feeder for Christmas. It was the type of present where we are walking through Lowe's and I said to Rick, I would like a bird feeder for Christmas. I picked out the one I wanted, he paid for it and it is now hanging up on our iron pole out in front of the house. (I will have to take a picture of it)
I love watching the birds. Yesterday we had color! Two red cardinals, along with their females (not much red color, and two blue jays were all in the front yard. I think I must of been a bird in another life because they mesmerize me. I now want a bird bath and another bird feeder to hold different seeds. One of my future woodworking projects would be to make a bird house!

Hurting Enviroment

I don't mind using plastic bags at grocery stores because they serve another purpose when I get them home and have to pick up after Brier in the yard. That has changed with the new house. I find I can take one bag, pick up the poo, and then throw it up in the woods where no of us goes walking. But then the bag has poo smell so I end up throwing the bag in the garbage. I need a new way to pick up poo, and not use a plastic bag.
I do use my green cloth grocery bags, but I often forget them back home. The trick is to put them in my car for when I do go shopping. I love those bags since they hold so much more than plastic and the handles are studier.
*footnote- I just saw idea in this months Handyman Magazine to stuff your grocery bags inside of empty tissue box instead of throwing it out. That is double reusing!

I don't want to work, I want to bang on the drum all dy

A new start

hopefully this will get me motivated

I could fall asleep right now (3:53 pm)

I think after these short weeks we have had that I am losing steam mid week and feel like this week is dragging.
I vividly remember my dreams last night (which may mean that I never got my REM sleep). I was first in a Army tank getting ready to level my house but I remembered that I needed my drivers license and Social Security Card to prove who I am. Then I asked Rick how to work the tank and he said something about "turn it to ash". I mentally remember the word "ash" but can't remember word for word what he said. It was so weird that I asked him if he told me "ash" in the middle of the night. Of course I got a crazy look followed by a snide remark about "ash" and had to explain my dream to him.
My next dream involved deep snow and we were out camping but there was no camper there only a car and someone was in the car sleeping in my blue sleeping bag.
The final dream I can also vividly remember I was on a set of beautiful long marble stairs and there was a Spanish male dancer off in the distance dancing ballet alone in a dim lit hall. From the stairs I could look over the balconey and see him dancing. It was just the two of us at first and I was crying watching him because it was his last performance. He was sick and would die soon. I remember his family coming down the staircase next to me and they were all speaking Spanish so I could not understand them. The dancer from the hall floor said something up to them and they all turned to me smiling. It was if he just told them we were engaged or something.
No I am not having an affair with a Spanish guy but what vivid dreams.

Resolution continued

I was doing laundry last night and found my fortune cookie paper in my jeans. We went out to Mr. Fongs Chinese Restuarant on Saturday. It is no where near as good as Hunan K and is in a strip mall. All Chinese restaurants in this area are either in strip malls as take out or buffet style restaurants. We haven't found a good sit down meal one yet.

Anyway...
My fortune read, " Adjust finances- make budgets, to improve your financial standing." So it got me to think of what I wrote in this blog about my resolution. I really have to stick to this money/budget thing. I just need to get a handle of what comes in, and what goes out.

New Year's Resolution

Why should I make one when I never fulfill what I say anyway?
I could say that this is the year that I will lose the weight. Yeah right, or I could say my New Year's resolution is to get more financially on track but it is hard when R is still unemployed. The good news on that front is that there was an article in the local GoUpstate newspaper that said there is a shortage of welders and graduates of the welding program he is attending at SCC Development Center in Union, they can typically make between $17 to $20 an hour with one graduate earning $28.00.
Then I remembered what Robbie told R during the Christmas party. I am looking forwrd to the say that our financial future is more solid. My 95' Ford Taurus is still trudging along (Thank God) but I would really like a new car. Hopefully 2010 will be prosperous for everyone but my New Year's resolution is to try to use my checkbook more, instead of depending on online banking.

What do you keep your heat temp at?

I was talking to my cube mate Claudia about wearing my CPAP and how the other night I woke up with a wet chin. It was because the temperature in my bedroom was cool and the warm moist air from the CPAP formed condensation inside my mask. She asked what temp I keep my heat at and I told her 58 degrees. Neasha, my other cube mate, was in shock and said she keeps her heat at 74 degrees. I would die if it was 74 in my house. I think it is easier to breathe when it is cooler.
I am anticipating the arrival of our friend Art, who loves the warmer weather- which is why he is coming to visit us from New England. The only thing is we will have to turn up the heat when he comes for his health and well-being. He gets chilled very easy but it is just for two weeks so I can sit around in shorts & tshirt while he is here.
When it got cold in our house and we would say to Mom, "Maaah, it's cold in here", and she would reply, "well go put a sweat-aaah on". I miss the thick accent from home. "What are you retaaaaaarded"?

Boom De ah Dah

I was reading someone else's blog and came across this commerical which I find awesome. I love Stephen Hawking saying in his synthesied voice, "Boom De ah Dah"
What is your favorite commercial? You either love her or hate her. I love Flo from the Progressive commercials. "I like cashmere socks"

Road Rage

Gotta love this classic

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFx4Ff3aNFc&feature=player_embedded

quoting Beth from work

Beth is talking to Neasha who sits on other side of me (Claudia on right, Neasha on left) telling her how dry her Christmas tree is and how she has to fill the water and spray it to keep it moist. She said, "it is drier than a powderhouse". I have never heard that before.
I wrote some of these down after hearing someone say it here in SC:
Done did it
drunk as a cricket in a hubcap
Don't you fret none
How's your Mom-an-em?

I went out on the internet to look some of these up and this is what I found:

As tasty as a lard sandwich and a glass of ice water.
He’s all vine and no tomatoes.
If brains were gasoline he wouldn’t have enough to ride a motor scooter around the inside of a doughnut.
All his biscuits ain’t done.
So sick I’d have to get better to die.
Too thick to drink and too wet to plow.
That really chaps my gizzard.
If wishes were fishes we’d all have a fry.
So dry the trees were hunting dogs.
The devil owed him a debt and paid him in son-in-laws.
He got the fuzzy end of the lollipop.
Two days older than God.
Hidden in the basement like a crazy aunt.
Handy as hip pockets on a hog.
All hat and no cattle.
Dumber than dirt.
Older than two trees.
If ya’ cain’t run with the big dogs...stay on the porch.
Like a one-legged man at a butt-kicking contest.
Like a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs.
Tighter than bark on a tree.
Like ugly on an ape.
Dumb as a box of rocks.
Ugly as a mud fence.
Crooked as a dog’s hind leg.
Like a gnat in a hailstorm.
Dumb as a box of hammers.
Beat him like a rented mule.
She could talk the legs off a chair.
He’s all hat and no horse.
She said that he’s all cattle and no prod.
If that ain’t a fact, God’s a possum.
So dry the catfish are carrying canteens.
He’s so busy, you’d think he was twins.
He’ll squeeze a nickel till the buffalo craps.
It’s so dry, the trees are bribing the dogs.

Little hidden Peas in French

pois caché

That might not mean anything to you but it is what Mom would make in her large Corningware casserole pan. She would put the hamburg beef down first, followed by a layer of peas and then topped with mashed potatoes. It is "Shepard's Pie" when made with corn but Mom always called it s'pois caché.
She also taught us the wrong way to say "colander" To this day I am not sure if it is Co-lander or Coll-ender. I only wish I could hear her speak French again, or sing it like she use to.

MATH

Rick is in school going for his certification in welding. The class is being offered by the local community college but it is tied into Quick Stops, which is run by Unemployment. Supposedly it is also being funded by Nuclear Power Plant they are building up in NC so they can get qualified welders at $22 bucks an hour. I look forward to the day that I don't have to water down my laundry detergent to stretch it and can actually afford "TIDE".
In the meantime he is driving me crazy trying to figure out his math problems. How come math is so difficult? What do I care about X+Y=Z? Does that really make my Footlocker orders with new Reebok EasyTones ship any faster? NAH!
By the way, the shoes do make your butt firmer.

Men bashing at work

I probably will get sent to HR for this but I just posted this little sign in my cube:

Three Wise Men....seriously


I think it is funny so I put it up. If I lose my job over it, just means someone took offense to my sense of humor.

Christmas in New Bedford

I remember going to Clasky/Common Park when I was little to see all the Christmas Lights. I am glad they brought that back again. It's also great to see NB Voke help with the displays.
I remember going to see Mitch Miller downtown with the annual Mitch Miller Sing a long. I loved hearing Mom sing louder than everyone else. It was great to get the community together caroling. We still have the carol books in the piano seat. The Christmas tree in front of the library was always pretty. I think it even snowed one year. Downtown use to put lights up on the telephone poles it was never put up early (before Thanksgiving). I remember poinsetta plants in Dad's window, before the remodeled front.
I thought the fishing boats use to put lights up on their masts but now I remember it was probably for First Night. I did see play Scrooge one year at NBHS.

Post-Thanksgiving Praise

Sometimes there are things in this world that just make me have to stop and Thank God for who/what I am and all that I have. My procrastination on doing this just shows you who I am. Better late than never...I will be late to my own funeral.

I am a happy, healthy woman who has a wonderful husband, a new home to come home to everynight, two families (O'Malley/Doty) who care about me, a job that is challenging yet pays me for my hard work, and food in my fridge. I was listening to the Christian radio station here and how there are so many people who don't even know where their next meal is going to come from that it just made me pause and give thanks to God for the things I do have.
Even with Rick still being unemployed, we are covering our bills and we were able to buy a house. He started school and is getting happier that he has purpose to his life again. The holidays are here and even though money is tight, we have the ability to give our family gifts this year. I even might send out Christmas Cards this year! Not that anyone noticed I didn't send them last year. But that is just one of the little things that I have to be thankful for this year. Money might be tight, but we are able to buy food and stamps. (or we need foodstamps!)
Happy Post Thanksgiving Everyone and Love you all to pieces (or to the Moon and back)