lw76

Yesterday I recieved a message on my Facebook page that brought me back to the realization that some people are just down right cruel.  The message read “D**n, your fat cuz!”  I don’t recognize the name of the sender nor were they brave enough to put a picture on the profile from which it was sent.  On Facebook, you can’t actually view the full profile unless you are friends with that person so whoever it was only saw one picture of me and my husband.  I have never recieved a message like that before on any of the social networking sites that I have been on.  I mainly am a member of some of them because I manage pages and profiles for the Humane Society.  But, why would you pick a random person to insult like that?  I found it very rude, crude, and insulting.  I was mad for several hours until I finally convinced myself that a person that would do something of that nature is not worth my time and to move on.  I just wish that people would not be so quick to judge based on appearances.

Well, I am under my mini-goal!  I guess it is time to set a new one.  Although I am excited about that part of it, I had a bad couple of weeks this month.  Stress at work, excitement and anxiety about plans for our new Humane Society building gettng under way, and the whole body image got to me this month.  I believe that I was down right depressed for several days a couple of weekends ago.  I got really moody, I didn’t want any of my neighbors to even look at me while I was walking my dogs, I didn’t want to go anywhere,  and I certainly didn’t want to put forth the effort that it would have taken to stop myself from eating everything that I saw.  So, this month’s loss probably could have been a whole lot better.  That is probably why I also haven’t wanted to blog in forever.

On top of everything else, it has gotten hotter than heck here in Missouri and walking my dogs has been very painstaking.  It is even to the point were I can’t walk my 6 year old English Bulldog at all because of his breathing.  The humidity gets him every time.  I still have the sixth month old in Wed. night Obedience training that is outdoors.  Tomorrow it is suppose to cool off a little, so hopefully walks will be better for a short time anyway.

Sorry, I am not in the best of moods currently.  It has been one heck of a Monday for me and it isn’t over yet. 

Well, doesn’t it?  You ever notice how money is one of the main reasons couples fight, some people contribute it to some suicides, and stressing over not having enough money can make you emotionally eat.  So, the more I can do to make my money go further, the more at ease I am and therefor I have one less reason to eat.  Logical, I think!  So, I want to blog about money tonight.

Everyone says use coupons, carpool, combine all of your errands to do at one, and cut down on trips to the convenient store for a fountain diet soda.  Bahumbug!  On at least the cutting out my diet fountain soda anyway.  I try to do all of these things and more to make my dollar go further so that I can enjoy having that 85 cent soda from time to time.  So, I will let my readers know what I do to make it go further in todays hard times if you share with me also. 

First, I do use coupons.  There aren’t a lot in the sunday’s papers these days though.  I have to use Coupons.com and the direct websites of some products to get good coupons that are worth clipping these days.  The stuff that I will actually use.  This helps save several dollars a month.

Second, to make my money go further I am a member of Upromise!  This program helps me pay back my expensive student loans.  Some of the things that I would have normally bought online give me back a percentage to my upromise account that goes directly to pay on my student loans.  You can also get your family and friends to help with this, but all of my friends signed up for themselves and my family decided that it sounded like ID theft when I sent them an invite to the site.  I have been a member since 2000 and have not had any negative results from this program.  My family is nuts anyway.

Third, in order to still be able to donate money to the humane society that I am a board member at, I check out their website often to see what I can do to raise money for them.  I use their online ambassador program to contribute small monthly amounts.  I use Goodsearch.com as a free service that gives them a penny every time I do a websearch using this browser.  I also use GoodShop.com occassionally.  The store that I buy from will give them a percentage of my purchase if I go through their link.   I also help find funraisers for them to make their money go further.  I also have the option of using their very own Your Way donation on their site.  This would allow me to buy, for example, 5 bags of dogfood without having to spend my gas picking it up and delivering it to them.  There are several other methods to it, but you get the point.  Check out the websites of your favorite charities to make sure that there isn’t something free that you can do that will raise money for them automatically.  This is making other people’s money work for you!  I guarantee that if you check  out GoodSearch.com and see if something like St. Jude’s is on the list to raise pennies for, it will be.  Make yahoo give your charity money everytime you search the web.

Fourth, my friends and I have an exchange program that we do with purses, borrowing cake decorating supplies, etc.  You know, things that can be shared and exchanged.  The stuff that isn’t necessarily rumage sale items.

I am sure that I will think of a few more, but I cut out a few things so that I can still be charitable and still be able to afford to put gas in my car.  Making it go further and using other companies money to help myself and charities is a good start.  Doesn’t saving money help you not eat?  It does me.  Less stress and I still get to feel good about giving.  This doesn’t mean that I am not angry at the high oil prices by no means!

If anyone has any ideas they’d like to share, feel free to do so.  That way we all save money and lose weight.  By the way, if you have read some of my blogs before, this one is perfectly normally weird for me…..lol.  Have a great one!

Well, I’m back again.  I can’t say that I am at square one, but I still haven’t resolved any of my food addiction issues.  I lost 24 pounds, gained 7 back, then got stuck, and then through in the towel and decided that I would talk to my doctor.  She put me on a new plan that includes a metabolism booster.  I do think that I need to find some support for the food addiction part though, or I may never keep my weight off or even somewhat under control.  The doctor didn’t have any advice for me about whether or not there were any therapist or groups in the area with the exception of Overeaters Ananymous.  I read the twelve steps and it leaves me wondering if it really is as religious as it sounds.  I don’t know that I can deal with the religious aspect if that is the case.  I am thinking about calling the contact for my area and asking about the group.  Has anyone else gone to Overeaters Ananymous from buddyslim?  I could use some advice on this part of it.  I know all the reasons why I eat.  After all, I have spent the past six years of my life analyzing that part of it.  I just don’t know how to begin recovery from it.  I mean really start recovering, not just loosing weight.  That part is not recovery for me.  So, I am checking in again and slowly getting back to blogging. 

After struggling for the greater part of the last month, I was pleased to see that I had not gained anymore weight back this morning at my weigh in.  My co-worker said to me on Monday ‘We are going to get back on our diet today and stick with it!’  Well, it sounded good until today when her and another co-worker begged me to make a Choc. Cream Cheese Pound Cake to bring in tomorrow.  I made it because I have never made this particular recipe before and wanted to test it.  But, it is going to work with me tomorrow and will be eaten by my co-workers.  That is what I have resorted to with my desire for baking.  I bake and my co-workers eat….lol.  Hey, maybe if I can’t beat them, then I will make them join me…lol. 

So, being stuck at only 21 lbs of weight lose is getting old.  I am trying to analyze my food affair that has become full blown again in hopes that I can get it under control again.  I did good for two months, what happened?  I mean, I know what happened, but I don’t really know how it happens so fast and how it is so hard to get back on track.  It started again the week my father passed away.  I have had a few really bad days since then that have led to emotional eating.  I think that it is just now at the point where it can be a little more controlable.

I am also going to go to see a podiatrist next Tuesday to have my left foot seen about.  Other than it feeling like I have arthritis in it in the place where it got broken several years ago, I am having pain between my big toe and the ball of my foot on occassion and I also get a buring sensation in the ball of my foot.  It isn’t warm to the touch, but it burns for a bit on the inside and then disipates.  It is really weird.  I am hoping that the appointment will help and he can get me back into my walking routine.  I know that is part of my problem also.  Even when I am not feeling the pain in it, I am afraid to aggravate it too much until I have it seen about.    I am really trying not to use it as an excuse for not exercising.  I am still trying to take the stairs at work when I can and walk further in parking lots, etc.

Well, I am not exciting tonight….lol.  I have been trying to get some more things squared away with the upcoming Humane Society events and some more things with my family.  I have been staying really busy.  It takes me a bit to catch up on all the blogs, but I am trying.  I hope everyone has a good week!  Keep pushing forward! 

Hi there, Buddies!  Just stoppin in for a quick Hello before I start on my house work again.  I am not on call this weekend and I don’t have cakes to make, so I am playing by ear today.  Finished the living room dusting and vacuuming and I need to start the kitchen next.

I mentioned in my last message that I got an email from Duff Goldman’s staff.  Well, I have gotten another from Paula Deen’s staff!  I am hoping that I hear from a couple of others at the beginning of next week.  I am also hoping that I really do get the autographed photos in the mail soon.  Two of the things that I am very passionate about are finally working together, animals and cake decorating.  Who would have thought fur and food could work so well together?  I know, that sounded disgusting…lol.

I am going back home to help my sister pack and move next weekend.  I have heard from her a lot here lately and I think she and my mother are pretty excited about her getting the house from my father and step-mother.  She is making plans to paint and decorate.  When I was on the phone to her night before last, I could hear my nephew in the background.  He is twelve and I can’t believe that his voice has deepened so soon.  He doesn’t sound the same as a year ago.  Our baby has grown up and he is a tall as me.  He is taller than his mother and grand-mother already.  My sister is only 4 foot 9 inches, though, and my mother is 5 foot 1 inch.  I am only 5 foot 6 inches, but I feel like a giant around them.  I am just glad that my nephew didn’t get my sister’s heigth…lol.  She is too and she is able to joke about it.

If I can get a good photo of Dozer, he doesn’t like to look at the camera to have his pic taken, I am going to enter him into the Humane Society’s Poster Pet contest this year.  It is more for helping the Humane Society out, but it would be cool if he won.

There isn’t much else going on here lately.  I have been trying to repair relations with my long lost family on my dad’s side while trying to figure out how to put everything to peace with him.  I believe in spirits and I have felt his presence twice since he passed.  Once was at the funneral home and the other was here at my house when I was sick with my sinuses a couple of weeks ago.  I discussed this with my aunt and she feels that he will be with me more than the others because he was worried about me.  Everything has been peaceful though. 

Well, gotta clean the kitchen now.  Everyone have a great weekend!

I know to people that have had to have their jaw wired shut for medical reasons won’t find my comment too funny.  Sometimes I wish it was just that simple.  My struggle from being off track is continuing.  I thought I had more of a handle on it that I did, but I have slipped several times this week.  The dust from the wagon is clouding my vision and making it hard to find see the edge to jump back on.  It was my birthday on Monday and my husband surprised me Saturday night with a birthday party.  He had taken me out for dinner at Outback Steakhouse and then it was off to the party.  I can’t believe that no one let it slip, I was truly surprised.  And of course I had to eat birthday cake!  And of course there was alcohol involved Sat. night.  I woke up Sunday morning and couldn’t hardly get my ring off I was so swollen.  I think I have retained a lot of water here lately, mostly from salt and cycling.  I took a big three steps back last week.  I have got to do better this week.  Even the littlest slip ups are causing the rutt to just get deeper. 

Like everyone else seems to be, I have gotten extremely busy here lately also.  The cakes turned out beautiful last weekend and my aunt’s grand-daughter and her neighbor were very pleased with them.  I had planned on getting to spend a little time on here on Sunday to catch up and that didn’t happen.  I was recovering from Sat. night and I have been trying to get photos and my house organized.  I have several things coming up over the next few months with the Humane Society that will be keeping me busy also.  I got good news yesterday, though, and I hope that they follow through.  I recieved an email response from one of Duff Goldman’s cake decorators and she is going to send me an autographed photo of Duff for the Humane Society’s Dessert Auction.  I was so excited to hear from them!  Duff is my hero!  (Yes, I already know that I am a big dork….lol!)

Another piece of good news is that my sister is definitely getting the house that my father promised her before he passed.  The wicked step-mother decided, after telling peole that she wanted to sell it for the money, that she would follow through with his wishes and sign the house over to my sister.  I am going down there in a couple of weeks to help her move.  I am very excited for her.  This will be the first house that she has ever owned and it will be good for my nephew.  I know it will take a lot of worry off of my mother’s mind also.  

Well, I am going to try to get caught up on blogs.  I hope everyone has been having a great week so far! 

I weighed in today and found that I have lost another pound.  That puts me back to where I was on the 16th of August.  It has been a slow process.  It amazes me how a few days of being off track can turn you back to your old habits again.  I hate that too!  I felt like I was doing so well and then it all went south.  Anyway, I am back on track and trying to stay positive.  I am smelling the wonderful aroma of chocolate cake baking right now.  I have to do another birthday cake for this coming Sat. and last night my Aunt’s good friend and neighbor called me to see if I would do one for her son also.  Why not?  I am a glutton for punishment.  As if working 50 hours a week weren’t enough, I go and become Mrs. Betty Crocker…lol.  One tonight and another started tomorrow night, then the cake decorating part starts and it gets fun.

I watched the Fat March Monday night on television.  I had seen it for the first time a few weeks ago.  I am amazed at how far the people on that show have come.  I would love to do that!  My hubby teases me and says that I would never be able to do it cause I wouldn’t weigh in front of anyone let alone the entire nation.  He is just jealous that I won’t tell him how much I weigh.  I am embarrassed enough about my weight.  Despite the fact that I can share it with my buddies on here, I can not share that with him.  Sometimes his sense of humor can be hurtful without meaning to and I just as soon leave that part out of it.  He is big himself and being a man, it does not hurt his feelings like it does mine.  He doesn’t understand these things.  When he sees me on this site he runs into the room to see if he can see my weight ticker.  I am paranoid that one of these days I am going to leave the computer logged into this site….lol.  Isn’t that aweful?

I think that there are several of us on here that have gotten busy here at the end of the summer.  I haven’t seen some of my buddies in a while and some of them have been on but have not blogged.  It happens.  I have been busy myself.  Some of us are also struggling too and I understand that.  I wish I could just give everyone a big bear hug sometimes.   I haven’t had any bright ideas or read anything that might help anyone here lately.  I’m slacking….lol.

Anyway, I am going to try and be good by not sampling any of the icing while I am cake decorating over the next couple of days.  My co-worker gets onto me cause she says I don’t charge what the cakes that I decorate are worth.  “You put too much time into them”  she always says.  But, most of them are for family and I have a hard time taking money from my family for a cake.  Oh well, I don’t do it to get rich.

Everyone have a great weekend and I will try to catch up with everyone by Sunday!  Love ya, buddies! 

Hey, Lena, I have good news for you out of all the negative from the actions taken by Michael Vick!  You will enjoy this one.  A local woman had 22 NFL trading cards of Michael Vick which had been slightly chewed by her two dogs.  She put them on eBay with a promise that the money would be donated to the local shelters in our area.  The cards went for $7,400!  She split this money between two shelters, our local Humane Society and to Safe Harbor, a no-kill sanctuary.  Both recieved $3,700.  And, if I am reading the article right, the woman (also from this area) that won the cards in the bid handed them over to our humane society director.  The two woman had never met one another until they met at the Humane Society to write a check for half of the money and to exchange the cards.  The article also said that the woman that won the bid for the cards has challenged Michael Vick to donate $1 million to the U.S. Humane Society on his own accord.  See, there are some wonderful people still left in this world!

As for me today, this goes towards my positive thought process for the weekend.  This was very uplifting to read today!  I stayed home from work yesterday.  I am trying to shake this whole allergy sinus thing that I have going on.  Farmers are harvesting corn right now and I thing that is what is causing it.  I do have to work on Sunday and Monday, but, hey, it is all overtime!  Today was rough, but not as bad as yesterday.  I will get over it soon enough.  Positive thoughts are going to help!  LOL!  I am really trying, guys.

Dozer is doing wonderful still.  He is such an adorable brute.  He weighs almost 90 lbs and he isn’t overweight at all.  He is just in the large end of the English Bulldog breed. 

Well, you all have a happy weekend and keep those positive thoughts rolling!  I am going to go clean some of my house.

Hello, buddies, I am getting back on track.  My life is returning to it’s somewhat normal routine.  Things are calming down.  I am really glad too.  My aunt is going to come visit me in a couple of weeks and she is bringing me a bunch of pictures of my dad, sister, and myself.  I will be very glad to get them since I only have a few.  I have been trying to concentrate on the positive moments with my father and put the past behind us. 

That is what I need this weekend to be about, positive thoughts.  I am battling my sinuses and I really don’t have time to be sick.  Another good thing that happened today is that Dozer decided he would play nice and let the vet cut his nails!  They didn’t have to sedate him, which was really good.  The last time they tried to cut his nails he went into respiratory distress and stopped breathing, lost control of his bowels and bladder.  He really scared all of us.  But, today, he was good and decided to cooperate.  I was so relieved when I went to pick him up.  His paws should feel tons better without those long nails.  My poor baby is my problem child!  I wouldn’t trade him for anything though…lol.

This past weekend was really busy.  I made a Barbie doll cake for a friend’s daughter’s 10th birthday and we had to do the music for another friend’s 30th birthday party.  The party was a lot of fun despite the fact that in the beginning I really didn’t feel like partying much after the past few weeks.  This next weekend should be just as busy.  I have to work on Sunday and Monday (holiday) for a short time and I have to do a lot of house cleaning.

My husband had his second interview where I work and all he needs now is a call for him to go take his drug test and physical.  I hope he gets the call, and soon.  They are short handed at work.  He said that the interview went well.  They usually don’t have a problem with hiring relatives as long as they work in different areas.  I am on days in the lab and he would be on rotating shift in production.  Keep your fingers crossed just a bit longer!  Hopefully not too much longer though.

So, the assignment for this weekend, Buddies, is to think positive thoughts!  Positive thoughts do wonders for the mind, body and heart.  I am sending positive karma to all of my buddies and I hope you all have a good weekend!