Well, I've been wanting to blog for 3 days but I have been having moderate to severe network problems. I brought my computer with me to the job site in Gillham and am able to connect here. However, Dad is out shoveling dirt and sweating and I'm sitting on my butt so....

Just letting everyone know what is going on. 

Waiting for inspiration

I realized yesterday that I have neglected my blog but I am finding myself without inspiration to write. Usually when I sit down to blog, I am bursting with so many words that it must be expressed lest I die. I read a quote by Mark Twain just recently that states "The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightening and the lightening bug." Well, that really made me reel with anxiety about the words I use. When writing, my thesaurus and dictionary get used frequently until I find that right word...the perfect word. 

So, when my inspiration is triggered, when that creative button gets pushed...I will be pouring it out into the ozone to be digested by any and all who will receive it. 

Catching the Train

About 4 years ago, I lost 40 pounds. It took me a whole year to do it and it was one of the hardest but most rewarding things I've ever done. I kept off the weight for a couple of years but over the past year I've gained about 20 of it back. When I was at my lowest weight, I swore I would NEVER go back to where I was, it felt way too good to be healthy. 

During my initial weight-loss, there was an overwhelming sense of urgency to "just do it". I have been trying to get that mind-set back and have been reflecting on what helped me to be so successful the first time around. One thing I remember was this feeling of momentum. I'll explain. The analogy is that of a train. Ok, when a train is sitting still on the tracks, it must use a tremendous amount of energy to get itself moving. It begins to move but it is slow, very slow. As it moves along it starts to gain speed, faster and faster. After a time, it uses much less energy and is being pushed along by it's own momentum. Once it gets going this fast, it takes a whole lot more energy to stop the train too. 

The hardest part is getting going! The hardest thing I've found about exercise is putting on my shoes and walking out the door. Once I'm out there, I'm ready to go...I don't ever get half way and wish I had stayed home. The daily exercise will create the momentum I need to keep going and keep doing it daily. Does that make sense?? I feel like I'm on my way but I am in that very delicate period where if I put on the brakes it won't take much to be sitting idle. I did weigh myself this morning and I've lost 2 pounds. If I keep this up I should be to my goal in about 10 weeks. Summer won't even be over! 

If you're following along with me I hope that you can push through the hard part and keep going. I know how it feels to want to work for a few days and expect to be able to fit into your skinny jeans already. The goal is a life-long commitment to health. Remember...loosing weight won't make you happy, getting healthy and happy will help you loose weight. 

Watch Cat

Remember this guy? If you ever watched Looney Tunes much I'm sure you do. I think his name is Sam. Remember how he would sit and watch his herd of sheep?

Remember how he would clock in every morning along with his nemesis, the coyote? I loved how he would cleverly and stealthily protect his herd. He never got overly excited or upset, he just simply did his job.

Well, I have a sheepdog too! Only they come in the form of cats. Two of the weirdest, most eccentric little calico cats I've ever known. (I hope Rain doesn't read my blog because I might get a good head butting for posting this picture of her underside)

So, these kitties hang with the goat herd. I've never seen them clock-in in the morning but they are diligent and consistent none-the-less. Sometimes I wonder if they just think they are, in fact, a goat, or if they actually have a sense of responsibility and are doing their job.

One thing is for sure, they like their job.

Or they are just really confused about their inherit nature. They are mice catchers and, unfortunately, bird catchers. So I figure the goats are safe from any rabid mice lurking about or a goat-eating bird of some sort. It just warms my ol' heart to witness little things like this and even warmer still to get to share them with my friends.

Distractions

Ok, so imagine your busy doing household chores. Your actually getting a few things done, a little laundry, some dusting, even some organization. Then imagine you are casually strolling through your living room, you glance over at your couch and see this..

And now, your heart is welling up, your knees grow weak, you feel flutters in your tummy and are of no use to anybody anymore.

For a person with a raging case of A.D.D., a puppy can do more than just interrupt your life, it can bring it to a screeching halt. 

The roll of skin under his neck is enough to make me melt into a puddle. And now I must get back to what I was doing, what was it anyway?

I went and did it again

Well, after about 6 weeks of thinking I was just going to be content with my Schnauzers and forget about having a big-outside-guard-walking-dog...I went and got me another one. The thought of doing this was frightening and I just about talked myself out of it, wanting to keep my life simple and secure. Simple and secure turned out to be boring and so I started researching possibilities for a new recruit to the farm staff. Let me introduce to everyone my newest critter, Eddie. Eddie is  Boxer and I'll explain why I decided to go this route. 

First of all, look how cute! This picture makes my heart hurt. I researched the boxer breed quite a bit and this is what convinced me to get one. The first word in the description I read about them was HAPPY. Well, I don't know many dogs that aren't happy, except maybe the homeless ones, but lets not go there. They are highly intelligent, high spirited, playful, curious, energetic, loyal and affectionate. What else could you possibly want in a dog??

Here is a good example of that high-spiritedness. But wait, it gets better. They are excellent watch dogs and noted for their courage and are very athletic. Their smooth, short coat is easy to groom and they are very clean and groom themselves like cats!! I was very excited about the cleanliness aspect. 

And, again...look how CUTE!

Eddie and Charlotte are already becoming exceptional playmates...and I love this photo! When I uploaded this batch of pictures to the computer, this one made me make an "awww, gasping" kind of noise, that is always a good reaction. 

The only reason I added this picture is so I could pick it apart in a public platform. Ok, I look at this and think, I need to mow my lawn, I am still sporting nail polish on my toes from the pedicure I got in January, the goats are still IN MY YARD and I'm sitting in the grass with my camera playing with my puppies. Eh, Oh well. 

Journey Update 4-23-09

I was sitting here trying to figure out how to make you all think I am really progressing but so far this week has been very challenging as far as the weight loss goes. Monday was my only day so far this week to walk. Tuesday I was in Texarkana ALL day with Mom and Dad and the last two days I've been working with Dad at the construction site in Gillham. I thought I could get up early enough to walk before we left for work...I figured it up and, with the time it takes me to walk, I would have to leave my house at 6:00 am. 

Gosh I sound like I'm making excuses. The exercise program I'm on this week is called "work in the heat like a dog and sweat your butt off". I don't know if it's working yet because I have resolved not to weigh myself for at least a couple of weeks. The evenings are slowly changing into more active ones but I forgot about how the longer days make it hard to eat before 7:30. So, I've switched my cut-off time to 8:00. The goal is not to punish myself but to set reasonable limits and attainable goals. I have a quote I want to share that has given me much encouragement. This is from Kim who is a contestant on "The Biggest Looser" and she said..."losing weight didn't make me happy — getting healthy and happy helped me lose weight."