I don't know why, but people keep telling me things like:
"you are such an inspiration"
"you inspire others"
"you inspire me"
"I'm inspired by what you have done"
People---
I AM NOT INSPIRING!
I JUST GOT MY ASS IN GEAR!!!!!!!!!!!
Anyone, ANYONE can do what I have done. It is hard work but it is not hard to do.
You just have to say "yes" and "no".
"yes" to excersise and "no" to bad food choices
Really, it is easy...for the excersise, you just have to MOVE. You don't have to hire a hottie as your trainer (but it sure helps if the fitness nazi who is growling at you is cute and sweet...or maybe you need someone to "mommy" you...or maybe you need a trainer who is more therapist...figure out what works for YOU). You don't even have to join a gym.
Walk your neighborhood---you will be amazed at what you observe...but go fast!
Go to the park and walk around and take a mat and do push-ups, etc. between walking---that is where Coach Dimples met me and worked me out...FUN!!!
play tennis---ok, that only works if you aren't me and can actually PLAY tennis...
play with your kids---and by play I mean get out there and shoot hoops, or play soccer, or just play!
Ride a bike...more fun than you remember...
Walk the dog...until the dog is tired...labs are better at this than purse dogs...
walk around the field while your kid is at soccer practice...the whole time...
Go to the Galleria...head to Nordstrom but park at Neiman Marcus and walk as fast as you can...your reward will be the shoe department! Bonus points: you get to race past the tourist...double points if you ALMOST manage to knock one down...
And as far as food goes:
say no to cupcakes and yes to fruit
say no to cheese and yes to yogurt
say no to hamburger and yes to grilled chicken
say no to pasta but yes to whole wheat pasta (that comes from Coach...)
say no to fried and yes to grilled
say no to fries and yes to veggies (steamed, grilled, or sauteed)
say no to ribs and yes to lean brisket at Goode Company
say no to potato salad and yes to cole slaw
say no to a margarita and yes to a mojito
say no to a cosmo and yes to red wine
I will never tell you to say "no" to wine because I only say "no" when I have been overserved...
See...it's easy...anyone can do it.
And heaven knows I should have done it a long, long time ago before I got so far gone with myself.
This can apply if you are losing 5, 15, or 50 pounds. It's about choices...it is not about anything else...just making choices...making good choices.
I use some "tools" to do this. They help me to say "yes" and "no" to the right things:
"Lose it" app on my iphone...or any app or program that serves as a food and excersise log...
"Eat this Not That" website: http://eatthis.menshealth.com/home
the nutritional webpages for any restaurant that has them...google them...
Women's Health magazine and its website: http://www.womenshealthmag.com/
iTunes---'cause music moves me...
So you see, I am NOT an inspiration...I'm just making better choices.
Now for inspiration, I look to my friends...these are REALLY INSPIRING PEOPLE:
My children---because just looking at them inspires me to be better...at everything!
My friend Katherine who wins medals at Special Olympics is inspiring not just for being an athlete but she inspires me all the time in excersise class and spin because she constantly encourages me to keep pushing on. She is my favorite trainer. LOVE LOVE LOVE her! And yes, she picked up some more medals this past weekend...for tennis, which I will only be her ball girl as and never her partner!
My friend Carolee and my friend Patrick. Patrick is still in a coma with his brain injury (pray for him) but Carolee is always by his side, always putting faith in him and Him (God)that he will be well and whole. Her faith and love inspire me...
My friend W, who lost her husband to cancer when he was far to young. I served cake at their wedding. You could FEEL their love. She is raising their 2 precious children and her faith in the Lord is inspiring to me and her great love surrounds me even though she is in OK and I am in TX.
My friend V, who made me write this blog...because she is a teacher and I know she pours her love out with her lessons. She has always been an artist, but she shares her gift in the most amazing way...I've never seen her teach, but I know her too well to not know how great she is...
My friends GOTT and TTG who are just flat out amazing and inspiring and who inspire me to do more, push my creativity, and we put on a show together...sometimes it is only us backstage at GOTT's desk talking...but it can be a show!
My teacher friends...Precious and Adorable and Bacchus, Musical Muse, and so many more...because they are angels...and they inspire the kids...I could write blogs and blogs about what a gift they are to their students...
Coach Dimples, Spinderella, JayVee, J'taime Jamie---because they inspire me to do more with myself and my workouts and push me to my limits...and they look GOOD while they do it...
My Women Warrior friends who have survived cancer...can you get more inspiring than that? No, not really...because they have beaten cancer...I've just beaten "fat"...they are an inspiration to any who know and love them...
My friend T and his husband R and their boys---because they are a proud family...and I am proud of them for showing the world that they are not any different from any other family...except maybe that they better looking than most of us (gorgeous family...just gorgeous)...
My gay friends who are "out" inspire me...because they are able to be who they are...and hopefully will inspire others to be as brave...and someday I hope no one is called "brave" for being "out"...
Julia Child---ok, so I am a little obsessed with her...it's the cooking thing...but dang the woman could make a roast chicken look like a work of art...
My friend AthenaGal and her mother---style and grace icons...especially her mother...when I grow up I want to be just like her...
My sister-in-law...she knows why...and how lucky am I to have a sister-in-law that I love so much?
My aunt Jane...the best person in the world...because she is the best person in the world and her heart is ALWAYS in the right place and she always puts others first. She has my 91 year old grandma living with her...Grandma has Alzheimers...Jane is, well there is no other word for it but "grace" with her. And so much more...she is so much more...
My Aunt Gayle inspires me...she is a single mom with a kick-ass job---she works for the Jimmy Kimmel show (how fun is that?) and is working on her 3rd (I think it is 3rd) degree black belt...she can literally kick your ass...and she has an amazing boy who makes me smile every time I just look at him...
My drama kids...all you have to do is watch them on the stage and you will see why...
Now, my friends...THOSE are inspring people...I'm just a fat chick who decided to let her inner skinny girl out...nothing inspiring about that...
Tell me I am inspriring for the work I do with my drama kids...or the costumes I find...the way I support the school...or the fact I never met a volunteer job I didn't like...but don't think that I am inspiring for losing weight...because every one of us is capable of improving our minds and health...
we just have to say "yes" and "no"....
Inspiration Song: what else could it be but "You're the Inspiration" by Chicago...
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Monday, November 8, 2010
Shake it Up
Well, it was time to try something different...because the weight loss has slowed down and I gave in to cheese the other night.
Not just any cheese...it was some amazing cheese...white cheddar with bits of apple and sage. If that cheese had been a man I would have made out with it. It was that good. I also had some really great chipotle cheddar and a fig goat cheese. Again, I would have made out with the cheese if they had been men...maybe I just have deprived myself of cheese for too long but that cheese was worth every calorie and every bite. And wow was it good with the wine...
I was hosting a jewelry show with a friend when I succumbed to the lure of the cheese and the wine. It was jewelry made by Spinderella. She is multi-talented...she can train you AND decorate you! If you want a truly amazing necklace or cuff, call or email me and I can hook you up with Spinderella.
I feared the scale over the weekend but was surprised to find I was down 3 pounds. But today I got on and I was up again. Back to where I was...
What gives?
Damn...
I did Body Pump on Saturday and gave myself a spin class on Sunday. Today I did spin again and then a training session.
So I am glad I decided to shake things up...and I am glad I asked Coach Dimples to help me and be my trainer. And train me he did...
Last June I declared that I didn't want the cute young thing to train me but wanted Fitness Goddess who could relate to my age and situation. She is still a remarkable trainer. And so positive. So helpful. So supportive.
But I needed to shake it up...and Coach took me out to a park and shake, and lunge, and run, and push up I did!
Does it help you to understand if I tell you that I am sore just a mere 3 hours later?
The weather was great and it was fun getting out of the gym and doing something completely different. I only said "no" to jumping jacks.
I have birth to 2 babies over 8 lbs...I don't jump...and I'm sure you women understand why...
I did worry a bit about bugs...I consider ants to be bugs too...but the bugs (and ants) didn't bother us until the mosquitos decided we were a banquet as we went to our cars.
There is a small hill in the middle of the park. He made me lunge up to the top. If not for the fact that he did it with me I would have said "heck no" but I kept thinking "Heidi Klum legs" and kept going...and the dimples didn't hurt either...did I mention that he is really cute?
Yeah...
That doesn't hurt one bit...
but now my glutes do hurt...but it's a good hurt...
We are going to do it all again on Wednesday. And I will share him with you if you want to join our bootcamp class...but during my personal training sessions he and those dimples are all mine...and he is really good with the training...and the dimples. I wasn't bored or restless during the workout at all...and he even got me to jog...now that is a miracle...
I bought boots yesterday. I haven't purchased a pair of boots in over 10 years. I bought 2 pair...black and brown. I feel a little sexy and dangerous in them...high heels, tall boots to my (very short) knees. But Ke$ha Barbie convinced me that I can still rock them and that I have a few dresses to pair them up with. She wants me to throw out 90% of my wardrobe and feel better about how I look and not look like such a soccer mom. But I am a soccer mom...but I will be a rock-n-roll soccer mom and rock those boots.
Why am I sharing this with you...if not just to make you jealous that I have a hottie trainer? And some really good looking boots?
Because we ALL need to shake things up every once in a while.
Be it our diet, our workout routine, our meals we serve our families...change it...try something new and different.
Gonna shake it up with the wardrobe...
Gonna shake it up with the workout...
And usually I only like to shake things up in a cocktail shaker...it's called a martini...Vodka, please...or maybe a Cosmo...
Inspiration Song: "Shake it Up" by the Cars...when was the last time you had a little fun with them? Shake it up...shake it up...
bye darlings...shake it up!
Not just any cheese...it was some amazing cheese...white cheddar with bits of apple and sage. If that cheese had been a man I would have made out with it. It was that good. I also had some really great chipotle cheddar and a fig goat cheese. Again, I would have made out with the cheese if they had been men...maybe I just have deprived myself of cheese for too long but that cheese was worth every calorie and every bite. And wow was it good with the wine...
I was hosting a jewelry show with a friend when I succumbed to the lure of the cheese and the wine. It was jewelry made by Spinderella. She is multi-talented...she can train you AND decorate you! If you want a truly amazing necklace or cuff, call or email me and I can hook you up with Spinderella.
I feared the scale over the weekend but was surprised to find I was down 3 pounds. But today I got on and I was up again. Back to where I was...
What gives?
Damn...
I did Body Pump on Saturday and gave myself a spin class on Sunday. Today I did spin again and then a training session.
So I am glad I decided to shake things up...and I am glad I asked Coach Dimples to help me and be my trainer. And train me he did...
Last June I declared that I didn't want the cute young thing to train me but wanted Fitness Goddess who could relate to my age and situation. She is still a remarkable trainer. And so positive. So helpful. So supportive.
But I needed to shake it up...and Coach took me out to a park and shake, and lunge, and run, and push up I did!
Does it help you to understand if I tell you that I am sore just a mere 3 hours later?
The weather was great and it was fun getting out of the gym and doing something completely different. I only said "no" to jumping jacks.
I have birth to 2 babies over 8 lbs...I don't jump...and I'm sure you women understand why...
I did worry a bit about bugs...I consider ants to be bugs too...but the bugs (and ants) didn't bother us until the mosquitos decided we were a banquet as we went to our cars.
There is a small hill in the middle of the park. He made me lunge up to the top. If not for the fact that he did it with me I would have said "heck no" but I kept thinking "Heidi Klum legs" and kept going...and the dimples didn't hurt either...did I mention that he is really cute?
Yeah...
That doesn't hurt one bit...
but now my glutes do hurt...but it's a good hurt...
We are going to do it all again on Wednesday. And I will share him with you if you want to join our bootcamp class...but during my personal training sessions he and those dimples are all mine...and he is really good with the training...and the dimples. I wasn't bored or restless during the workout at all...and he even got me to jog...now that is a miracle...
I bought boots yesterday. I haven't purchased a pair of boots in over 10 years. I bought 2 pair...black and brown. I feel a little sexy and dangerous in them...high heels, tall boots to my (very short) knees. But Ke$ha Barbie convinced me that I can still rock them and that I have a few dresses to pair them up with. She wants me to throw out 90% of my wardrobe and feel better about how I look and not look like such a soccer mom. But I am a soccer mom...but I will be a rock-n-roll soccer mom and rock those boots.
Why am I sharing this with you...if not just to make you jealous that I have a hottie trainer? And some really good looking boots?
Because we ALL need to shake things up every once in a while.
Be it our diet, our workout routine, our meals we serve our families...change it...try something new and different.
Gonna shake it up with the wardrobe...
Gonna shake it up with the workout...
And usually I only like to shake things up in a cocktail shaker...it's called a martini...Vodka, please...or maybe a Cosmo...
Inspiration Song: "Shake it Up" by the Cars...when was the last time you had a little fun with them? Shake it up...shake it up...
bye darlings...shake it up!
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Isn't She Lovely
Friday was the 17th anniversary of the best day of my life...
November 5, 1993
11:55 PM
The exact moment I had my greatest wish fulfilled...I became a mother...
Into the world came Ke$ha Barbie...wide blue eyes open...quiet and then screaming...totally alert...short and fat...like a little pink butterball turkey.
8 lbs 2 ounces...but only 19 inches long...
She was, and remains, the most beautiful creature I have ever seen.
Although these days she could fix herself up a little better...most days I see her in a ratty t-shirt, jeans or shorts, messy make-up, and hair that looks like it needs brushing (but is clean).
But when she fixes up...she is breathtaking...
Actually, I always think she is beautiful, even when she is a big mess...
So Friday she turned 17...and I can't believe 17 years have gone by.
She had to be forced from my body with a large amount of Pitocin to induce labor. She took all day to decide to come forth. My family got tired of waiting for her but managed to hang on until she made her appearance.
Once she was born she became, and remains (along with her brother), the center of my world.
I couldn't get enough of her when she was a baby. I loved dressing her up. I loved holding her, kissing her, cuddling her, and watching every move with marvel and wonder that she was MY child...MY baby.
She was a beautiful baby...big huge blue eyes that often caused strangers to stop me in the store, the mall, the parking lot to remark about her beauty and her big blue eyes.
She had no hair...
and it remained that way until around her 4th birthday when suddenly she seemed to stop growing (in size) and just grew hair...lots and lots of hair. Now she has enough hair to easily pass for "Cousin It"...It is so much hair that if you divide her hair into 2 sections and braid it, she still has more hair in one section than I do on my whole head. God blessed her with that head of hair...it is not only thick and holds a curl or style, but it also is naturally highlighted...beautiful light blonde streaks throughout that she is constantly accused of highlighting it yet no chemical has touched it.
Now her teeth...they were another matter. She had to wear braces...TWICE...she was born with an extra tooth...even an extra permanent tooth...she had the most snaggly tooth smile for years. Now, thanks to a very good orthodontist, she has a gorgeous smile!
She is a very unusual person. I have told you stories here before. She is equally right- and left-brained. Here standardized test scores in math are always at the top of her group. With little to no effort on her part she scores in the top percentiles consistantly. She is amazing at science as well. Her Honors Physics teacher (yes, I am bragging here...) says she writes papers like a Stanford grad student---and he should know because he taught there.
Now here is her weird little flip...she is also an amazing photographer and she can draw like nobodies business. She and I can take a photo of the same thing. Mine will look like a postcard or calendar shot. Hers will look like art...like something to hang on the wall. She has understood linear perspective since she was in primary school. She has had the ability to draw and shade (so it looks more realistic) since she was in elementary school. She has drawn things on napkins at restaurants and we come back to find that they have hung it on the wall...
She hates English---too many adjectives and flowery writing. History is a bore to her. She still makes good grades...she just doesn't enjoy the classes.
The Perfect Child?
Far from it...she argues with me like a $500 an hour lawyer. I have told her she has my blessing to go to law school if she can get in because then someone will pay her to argue like that!
She is a teenager...no teenager is perfect.
But she is bright and beautiful.
The gene pool was kind to her: my mother's body, my father's hair, my creativity, and her father's brain for math and science. All tied up in a pretty little package.
And she is mine...but there are days that I will gladly pay you to take her off my hands...
I thank God every day for giving her to me...because she made me who I am...a Mommy...
Inspiration Song: well, I could have gone all cliche and used "At 17" by Janice Ian but that song is sooooo depressing and sad. And there were some other songs about 17 but they were sexist and frankly nasty. But when I think of my daughter, I am always reminded of Stevie Wonder's beautiful song he wrote for his daughter---"Isn't She Lovely?". One of the best and sweetest songs ever written. Here are the words to inspire you to wonder and marvel at the lovliness of your own children if you have them...
Isn't she lovely
Isn't she wonderfull
Isn't she precious
Less than one minute old
I never thought through love we'd be
Making one as lovely as she
But isn't she lovely made from love
Isn't she pretty
Truly the angel's best
Boy, I'm so happy
We have been heaven blessed
I can't believe what God has done
through us he's given life to one
But isn't she lovely made from love
Isn't she lovely
Life and love are the same
Life is Aisha
The meaning of her name
Londie, it could have not been done
Without you who conceived the one
That's so very lovely made from love
November 5, 1993
11:55 PM
The exact moment I had my greatest wish fulfilled...I became a mother...
Into the world came Ke$ha Barbie...wide blue eyes open...quiet and then screaming...totally alert...short and fat...like a little pink butterball turkey.
8 lbs 2 ounces...but only 19 inches long...
She was, and remains, the most beautiful creature I have ever seen.
Although these days she could fix herself up a little better...most days I see her in a ratty t-shirt, jeans or shorts, messy make-up, and hair that looks like it needs brushing (but is clean).
But when she fixes up...she is breathtaking...
Actually, I always think she is beautiful, even when she is a big mess...
So Friday she turned 17...and I can't believe 17 years have gone by.
She had to be forced from my body with a large amount of Pitocin to induce labor. She took all day to decide to come forth. My family got tired of waiting for her but managed to hang on until she made her appearance.
Once she was born she became, and remains (along with her brother), the center of my world.
I couldn't get enough of her when she was a baby. I loved dressing her up. I loved holding her, kissing her, cuddling her, and watching every move with marvel and wonder that she was MY child...MY baby.
She was a beautiful baby...big huge blue eyes that often caused strangers to stop me in the store, the mall, the parking lot to remark about her beauty and her big blue eyes.
She had no hair...
and it remained that way until around her 4th birthday when suddenly she seemed to stop growing (in size) and just grew hair...lots and lots of hair. Now she has enough hair to easily pass for "Cousin It"...It is so much hair that if you divide her hair into 2 sections and braid it, she still has more hair in one section than I do on my whole head. God blessed her with that head of hair...it is not only thick and holds a curl or style, but it also is naturally highlighted...beautiful light blonde streaks throughout that she is constantly accused of highlighting it yet no chemical has touched it.
Now her teeth...they were another matter. She had to wear braces...TWICE...she was born with an extra tooth...even an extra permanent tooth...she had the most snaggly tooth smile for years. Now, thanks to a very good orthodontist, she has a gorgeous smile!
She is a very unusual person. I have told you stories here before. She is equally right- and left-brained. Here standardized test scores in math are always at the top of her group. With little to no effort on her part she scores in the top percentiles consistantly. She is amazing at science as well. Her Honors Physics teacher (yes, I am bragging here...) says she writes papers like a Stanford grad student---and he should know because he taught there.
Now here is her weird little flip...she is also an amazing photographer and she can draw like nobodies business. She and I can take a photo of the same thing. Mine will look like a postcard or calendar shot. Hers will look like art...like something to hang on the wall. She has understood linear perspective since she was in primary school. She has had the ability to draw and shade (so it looks more realistic) since she was in elementary school. She has drawn things on napkins at restaurants and we come back to find that they have hung it on the wall...
She hates English---too many adjectives and flowery writing. History is a bore to her. She still makes good grades...she just doesn't enjoy the classes.
The Perfect Child?
Far from it...she argues with me like a $500 an hour lawyer. I have told her she has my blessing to go to law school if she can get in because then someone will pay her to argue like that!
She is a teenager...no teenager is perfect.
But she is bright and beautiful.
The gene pool was kind to her: my mother's body, my father's hair, my creativity, and her father's brain for math and science. All tied up in a pretty little package.
And she is mine...but there are days that I will gladly pay you to take her off my hands...
I thank God every day for giving her to me...because she made me who I am...a Mommy...
Inspiration Song: well, I could have gone all cliche and used "At 17" by Janice Ian but that song is sooooo depressing and sad. And there were some other songs about 17 but they were sexist and frankly nasty. But when I think of my daughter, I am always reminded of Stevie Wonder's beautiful song he wrote for his daughter---"Isn't She Lovely?". One of the best and sweetest songs ever written. Here are the words to inspire you to wonder and marvel at the lovliness of your own children if you have them...
Isn't she lovely
Isn't she wonderfull
Isn't she precious
Less than one minute old
I never thought through love we'd be
Making one as lovely as she
But isn't she lovely made from love
Isn't she pretty
Truly the angel's best
Boy, I'm so happy
We have been heaven blessed
I can't believe what God has done
through us he's given life to one
But isn't she lovely made from love
Isn't she lovely
Life and love are the same
Life is Aisha
The meaning of her name
Londie, it could have not been done
Without you who conceived the one
That's so very lovely made from love
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Time Warp
I spent the last week re-living a teenage obsession of mine---The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
I love love love Rocky Horror.
I love love love Tim Curry in that corset and the way he says "lab" and "slab".
antici..........
............
...........
...........
.........pation
Oh, that is the best part of that song...
Now if you haven't ever seen Rocky Horror, you totally won't get this blog.
"Glee" did an homage to Rocky Horror last week. The music was amazing. They put a fresh spin on it all. GOTT and I have been listening to it non-stop backstage as we settle and put away things from the show. And Fox Movies ran it non-stop all day on Halloween. I watched it 3 times...
The first time I saw Rocky Horror was here in Houston at the Alabama Theater. My aunt Jane took me (remember her? The best person in the world?). She took me and a few of my friends to see it.
We were totally unprepared for the experience.
The costumed freaks (who were freaks and happy to be called so), the toast throwing, the newspapers on the head, and all the shouting at the characters on the screen.
And then getting up to dance the Time Warp.
I LOVED it...it was a midnight movie and it was full of awesome people who weren't afraid to be different.
Because at that age all I wanted to do is conform but it was freeing to see others who were ok with being different. It wasn't until years later that I could really appreciate it and embrace it myself.
Because being able to be who you are is really amazing.
Some of us can be who we are because we aren't all that different. But I have friends who can't openly show love to their partners (yes...the gay thing again...sorry, it bugs me that my gay friends have to worry that they won't be accepted if they are open about it to everyone). Others have things in their pasts that they are ashamed of.
I myself had a pretty screwed up childhood.
My dad had affairs. My mother was a bi-polar alcoholic.
My dad left us for my stepmonster. My mother took pills, but wasn't very good about taking the pills that would have helped her...she just liked the ones that helped her not feel...
is it any wonder that I was as big as I was?
I have come to discover that I am an extremely co-dependent person who needs a lot of love, affection and positive feedback to feel worthy. I have to fix things. I have to solve things. I have to save people. I have to be the hero...
Is it any wonder that I compare myself to Tinkerbell?
But..........
I can use all of that for good.
I ENJOY helping people.
I love being surrounded by people I love...especially my theater kids and GOTT and TTG...
I love getting to be creative with our shows and surprising GOTT and TTG with the fun things I come up with.
I look on the stage and get all the fulfillment I need when I see the kids having fun and putting on a great show. And when they run off the stage into my arms and tell me "that was a blast" I am happy to share it with them.
I've watched those kids grow and change and discover themselves. I have been supportive when a few have "come out" (a brave thing to do in high school) because I am proud of them for knowing who they are. I have watched some use the theater experience to grow and change (the boy I love so who is student body president). I've watched some take the lead in their shows in high school and continue to move forward with their acting/singing.
High school is hard...you do a lot of things to fit in...
I was so into appearing to be just like everyone else in high school that I compromised myself and my values. Who didn't? (hopefully some of you) My compromise was drinking. I was afraid to drink and had a dad that would have killed me if I came home drunk. I lived in the hill country. Deer. Curves. Low water crossings. I had a friend who paralyzed himself after driving drunk.
My compromise...not what you might expect.
I didn't drink. But I LOOKED like I was. My friend and I took some empty beer cans, washed them, and then filled them with soda. The ruse worked pretty well at most of the parties we went to. Our version of "paryting" many times in high school was to go somewhere and pull up all the trucks and get a keg or steal your parents beer and stand around drinking. Once we did it at the rest stop on I-10...that was safe...not...
So the "not really beer" in the beer can thing worked until some football player took a swig and realized that we had soda in there. And then he declared us the uncoolest cheerleaders ever.
But I didn't drive drunk....at least not in high school. Scares me when I think about college so I won't revist that or go back...
My dad sent me to college with the following "rules" about drinking:
1) nothing out of a trash can---it just can't be good
2) nothing blue or purple---because those are scary colors for drinks
3) nothing that you drink down in one gulp (shots)
4) just drink beer
I broke all 3 of the "do not" rules within my first 2 months of college. May have been my first 2 weeks...may have been my first 2 days...
And why did I do all of that? To conform. To be like the others. Did I like the blue/purple drink? Heck no...
And trash can punch? Can you say "disgusting"?
The 7 shots of tequila followed by beer chasers (I was 110 pounds dripping wet) deserves it's own blog. I think I will call it "Jose Cuervo". It was a bad, bad night...I did tell my father to sue a certain fraternity because I was convinced I was given poison...no one told me tequila is poison...
But I digress...
So back to Rocky Horror...and Tim Curry in his corset...
As strange, and weird, and freaky as that movie is, it is a fun thing to watch. And it was more fun to GO to the movie and see all the crazy around you and have fun with it.
The lesson here? Wear a corset and high heels? Maybe...
Because if the corset and high heels make you feel pretty and sexy...why not? Even if you are not a size 4...
And if my male friend wants to kiss his boyfriend or my female friend wants to hold hands with her girlfriend---GO FOR IT...
And if you want to dance for absolutely no reason...DANCE! I do it backstage all the time...
And if you want to drink something blue or purple...well, there I might have to tell you that it is not a good idea...unless it is wine...and then purple can be GOOD...
Inspiration Music: "Time Warp"...Rocky Horror Glee Show...a really amazing version...or the original...you'll be into a time slip...
bye darlings
I love love love Rocky Horror.
I love love love Tim Curry in that corset and the way he says "lab" and "slab".
antici..........
............
...........
...........
.........pation
Oh, that is the best part of that song...
Now if you haven't ever seen Rocky Horror, you totally won't get this blog.
"Glee" did an homage to Rocky Horror last week. The music was amazing. They put a fresh spin on it all. GOTT and I have been listening to it non-stop backstage as we settle and put away things from the show. And Fox Movies ran it non-stop all day on Halloween. I watched it 3 times...
The first time I saw Rocky Horror was here in Houston at the Alabama Theater. My aunt Jane took me (remember her? The best person in the world?). She took me and a few of my friends to see it.
We were totally unprepared for the experience.
The costumed freaks (who were freaks and happy to be called so), the toast throwing, the newspapers on the head, and all the shouting at the characters on the screen.
And then getting up to dance the Time Warp.
I LOVED it...it was a midnight movie and it was full of awesome people who weren't afraid to be different.
Because at that age all I wanted to do is conform but it was freeing to see others who were ok with being different. It wasn't until years later that I could really appreciate it and embrace it myself.
Because being able to be who you are is really amazing.
Some of us can be who we are because we aren't all that different. But I have friends who can't openly show love to their partners (yes...the gay thing again...sorry, it bugs me that my gay friends have to worry that they won't be accepted if they are open about it to everyone). Others have things in their pasts that they are ashamed of.
I myself had a pretty screwed up childhood.
My dad had affairs. My mother was a bi-polar alcoholic.
My dad left us for my stepmonster. My mother took pills, but wasn't very good about taking the pills that would have helped her...she just liked the ones that helped her not feel...
is it any wonder that I was as big as I was?
I have come to discover that I am an extremely co-dependent person who needs a lot of love, affection and positive feedback to feel worthy. I have to fix things. I have to solve things. I have to save people. I have to be the hero...
Is it any wonder that I compare myself to Tinkerbell?
But..........
I can use all of that for good.
I ENJOY helping people.
I love being surrounded by people I love...especially my theater kids and GOTT and TTG...
I love getting to be creative with our shows and surprising GOTT and TTG with the fun things I come up with.
I look on the stage and get all the fulfillment I need when I see the kids having fun and putting on a great show. And when they run off the stage into my arms and tell me "that was a blast" I am happy to share it with them.
I've watched those kids grow and change and discover themselves. I have been supportive when a few have "come out" (a brave thing to do in high school) because I am proud of them for knowing who they are. I have watched some use the theater experience to grow and change (the boy I love so who is student body president). I've watched some take the lead in their shows in high school and continue to move forward with their acting/singing.
High school is hard...you do a lot of things to fit in...
I was so into appearing to be just like everyone else in high school that I compromised myself and my values. Who didn't? (hopefully some of you) My compromise was drinking. I was afraid to drink and had a dad that would have killed me if I came home drunk. I lived in the hill country. Deer. Curves. Low water crossings. I had a friend who paralyzed himself after driving drunk.
My compromise...not what you might expect.
I didn't drink. But I LOOKED like I was. My friend and I took some empty beer cans, washed them, and then filled them with soda. The ruse worked pretty well at most of the parties we went to. Our version of "paryting" many times in high school was to go somewhere and pull up all the trucks and get a keg or steal your parents beer and stand around drinking. Once we did it at the rest stop on I-10...that was safe...not...
So the "not really beer" in the beer can thing worked until some football player took a swig and realized that we had soda in there. And then he declared us the uncoolest cheerleaders ever.
But I didn't drive drunk....at least not in high school. Scares me when I think about college so I won't revist that or go back...
My dad sent me to college with the following "rules" about drinking:
1) nothing out of a trash can---it just can't be good
2) nothing blue or purple---because those are scary colors for drinks
3) nothing that you drink down in one gulp (shots)
4) just drink beer
I broke all 3 of the "do not" rules within my first 2 months of college. May have been my first 2 weeks...may have been my first 2 days...
And why did I do all of that? To conform. To be like the others. Did I like the blue/purple drink? Heck no...
And trash can punch? Can you say "disgusting"?
The 7 shots of tequila followed by beer chasers (I was 110 pounds dripping wet) deserves it's own blog. I think I will call it "Jose Cuervo". It was a bad, bad night...I did tell my father to sue a certain fraternity because I was convinced I was given poison...no one told me tequila is poison...
But I digress...
So back to Rocky Horror...and Tim Curry in his corset...
As strange, and weird, and freaky as that movie is, it is a fun thing to watch. And it was more fun to GO to the movie and see all the crazy around you and have fun with it.
The lesson here? Wear a corset and high heels? Maybe...
Because if the corset and high heels make you feel pretty and sexy...why not? Even if you are not a size 4...
And if my male friend wants to kiss his boyfriend or my female friend wants to hold hands with her girlfriend---GO FOR IT...
And if you want to dance for absolutely no reason...DANCE! I do it backstage all the time...
And if you want to drink something blue or purple...well, there I might have to tell you that it is not a good idea...unless it is wine...and then purple can be GOOD...
Inspiration Music: "Time Warp"...Rocky Horror Glee Show...a really amazing version...or the original...you'll be into a time slip...
bye darlings
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Take it Off
Uh-oh...
The scale is NOT sliding down...
which makes my anxiety go up!
Hmmmmmmmmmmmm....
I complained about it to the new trainer (Coach Dimples the football coach) and he told me to "quit getting on the scale".
Good advice...
if you aren't OCD like me about numbers.
I haven't started working out with him yet but it better be soon because I need something to shake up this rut I am in. I haven't lost a pound...not ONE pound...in over a week.
(I know that right now those of you who would like to drop 5 pounds are rolling your eyes, but when you are as heavy as I am, you NEED to lose at least a pound a week if you are working your @$$ off like I am)
I know he is not a genie in a bottle that can make my wishes come true but I do think he can do something to get me off this plateau because this is not where I want to live...I want to be further down that weight loss mountain.
I told him that I have a goal dress to wear and that he is basically going to work to get me to fit into a tiny little bit of black fabric.
He's a man...he won't get it...but I know that when I can wear that dress, I can pretty much wear what I want. Someday I will post a photo of the dress...right now it lives in a secret place in my closet and I just stare at it...
I'm not doing anything different than I have been for the last 8 months...I still spin with Spinderella and J'taime Jamie all the time and I do body pump ALL THE TIME and I eat right ALL THE TIME (I am growing gills from all the fish).
So what gives?
I don't know...but I will admit that I did indulge in a few gingersnaps. Just a few...
Last week, after The Cutest Boy in the World's football team won their last game (sealing the deal for an undefeated season) we had a party at a gourmet hamburger place. I ate with the coaches (because no one else was and I wanted them to feel wanted...especially Coach L's fiancee) and Coach Dimples looks at my plate---which just had a very rare hamburger patty on it (go ahead--say UGH! but I love my burgers rare)---and says "you can eat the bun!". Nope...too many carbs. The fiancee and I declared we were using our "bun" calories on our wine. I watched him (Dimples) down 2 burgers. So not fair...
Then I spent the weekend watching GOTT and TTG basically eat Mexican food garbage. TTG had burritos for heaven sake and GOTT ate enough queso with his nachos to put a Taco Bell out of business. I ate grilled chicken in corn tortillas. Salsa only. No queso. No chips. So not fair...
I also did 2 classes on Saturday and rode a spin bike for an hour and 5 minutes on Sunday along with running my tail off during our shows.
What did the scale say?
Not one pound lost. So not fair...
Bacchus tells me he feels fat. The man once weighed 300 pounds. He is gorgeous now...really gorgeous and he looks great. But he and I can commiserate about how hard it is since we have to really work at it (he rides bikes long distances and is a vegetarian) and that we constantly have kryptonite thrown in our faces (cupcakes = kryptonite and sugar = kryptonite for us). I complain to him a lot. He just tells me to buy more wine. That's a plan I can get behind...but I don't think Dimples is going to agree.
I'm sorry that I am whining...I really shouldn't...today I fit into a top I thought for sure would not fit and Musical Muse told me I looked positively "skinny" (everything is relative...I know I am not skinny). I was wearing all black so it was an optical illusion. Leggings and a top...with a BELT (haven't worn one of those in over 5 years).
I have no cold weather clothes. I'm not really in the mood to shop but I may be forced to buy some pants and a pair of jeans. THAT will be intersting and frustrating. I'm giving away all of my "fat" clothes because I never want to see or wear them again.
Because this weight loss is not just about fitting into a little black dress...it is about changing my life. My eating habits. My lifestyle. My activity level.
It's not just about taking it off...
It is about saving my life...
Inspiration song: "Take it Off" by Ke$ha...I love her music...and she looks like my pretty daughter Ke$ha Barbie
The scale is NOT sliding down...
which makes my anxiety go up!
Hmmmmmmmmmmmm....
I complained about it to the new trainer (Coach Dimples the football coach) and he told me to "quit getting on the scale".
Good advice...
if you aren't OCD like me about numbers.
I haven't started working out with him yet but it better be soon because I need something to shake up this rut I am in. I haven't lost a pound...not ONE pound...in over a week.
(I know that right now those of you who would like to drop 5 pounds are rolling your eyes, but when you are as heavy as I am, you NEED to lose at least a pound a week if you are working your @$$ off like I am)
I know he is not a genie in a bottle that can make my wishes come true but I do think he can do something to get me off this plateau because this is not where I want to live...I want to be further down that weight loss mountain.
I told him that I have a goal dress to wear and that he is basically going to work to get me to fit into a tiny little bit of black fabric.
He's a man...he won't get it...but I know that when I can wear that dress, I can pretty much wear what I want. Someday I will post a photo of the dress...right now it lives in a secret place in my closet and I just stare at it...
I'm not doing anything different than I have been for the last 8 months...I still spin with Spinderella and J'taime Jamie all the time and I do body pump ALL THE TIME and I eat right ALL THE TIME (I am growing gills from all the fish).
So what gives?
I don't know...but I will admit that I did indulge in a few gingersnaps. Just a few...
Last week, after The Cutest Boy in the World's football team won their last game (sealing the deal for an undefeated season) we had a party at a gourmet hamburger place. I ate with the coaches (because no one else was and I wanted them to feel wanted...especially Coach L's fiancee) and Coach Dimples looks at my plate---which just had a very rare hamburger patty on it (go ahead--say UGH! but I love my burgers rare)---and says "you can eat the bun!". Nope...too many carbs. The fiancee and I declared we were using our "bun" calories on our wine. I watched him (Dimples) down 2 burgers. So not fair...
Then I spent the weekend watching GOTT and TTG basically eat Mexican food garbage. TTG had burritos for heaven sake and GOTT ate enough queso with his nachos to put a Taco Bell out of business. I ate grilled chicken in corn tortillas. Salsa only. No queso. No chips. So not fair...
I also did 2 classes on Saturday and rode a spin bike for an hour and 5 minutes on Sunday along with running my tail off during our shows.
What did the scale say?
Not one pound lost. So not fair...
Bacchus tells me he feels fat. The man once weighed 300 pounds. He is gorgeous now...really gorgeous and he looks great. But he and I can commiserate about how hard it is since we have to really work at it (he rides bikes long distances and is a vegetarian) and that we constantly have kryptonite thrown in our faces (cupcakes = kryptonite and sugar = kryptonite for us). I complain to him a lot. He just tells me to buy more wine. That's a plan I can get behind...but I don't think Dimples is going to agree.
I'm sorry that I am whining...I really shouldn't...today I fit into a top I thought for sure would not fit and Musical Muse told me I looked positively "skinny" (everything is relative...I know I am not skinny). I was wearing all black so it was an optical illusion. Leggings and a top...with a BELT (haven't worn one of those in over 5 years).
I have no cold weather clothes. I'm not really in the mood to shop but I may be forced to buy some pants and a pair of jeans. THAT will be intersting and frustrating. I'm giving away all of my "fat" clothes because I never want to see or wear them again.
Because this weight loss is not just about fitting into a little black dress...it is about changing my life. My eating habits. My lifestyle. My activity level.
It's not just about taking it off...
It is about saving my life...
Inspiration song: "Take it Off" by Ke$ha...I love her music...and she looks like my pretty daughter Ke$ha Barbie
Sunday, October 31, 2010
All For You
Wow...it has been a while since I blogged...still haven't summed up my awesome camp reunion and I wish I had more/better news on my friend Patrick (he is still in a coma but he is ALIVE and he still needs your prayers).
I've been busy.
Very busy.
But I have still made time to make good food choices and work out. But now the bulk of my "busy" is done and I am realizing that I have time on my hands and that is not good either. Because time on my hands gets me into trouble...
What has kept me from my computer and blogging?
Kids...
and not just my kids...
I've blogged before about my non-job that is costuming the shows at my The Cutest Boy in the World's school. I say it is a non-job because I don't get paid $$$ for it but, as I shared before, my amazing salary is hugs and kisses and a lot of love from 14 year old kids that I grow to love like they are my own. And then they leave the school but they always remain in my heart.
In fact one of them, who is now a senior in high school, came backstage (per my request to his younger brother that was in the show we were doing)and I think I hugged him 50 times and we both laughed as we reminsced about how he still holds the (boys) record for most costume changes in a show and how he stripped down to his boxers and a t-shirt while I dressed him. And how doing that show gave him confidence and how he has turned into an awesome (and handsome) young man who is now student body president at his school. Like I said, I had to hug him 50 times and told him that I could't be proudeer of him if he was my own.
So, like I said...it is a great non-job.
And not only do I get to have the love from these kids but I get to work with 2 of my favorite men in the world---GOTT and TTG. How do you not love working with some of your best friends? And then there is Musical Muse...we get to laugh at the men...it is so fun. A salary would be nice but I'll do it free because I love it so (ssshhh...don't tell anyone...)
Working with them and the kids is really not work...it is joy...I get a lot more out of it then the kids will ever know...they just know I am taking care of them but they are really taking care of me with their talents and love...
So we did Seussical...and the kids were, in a word, AMAZING...
I cried with pride watching them.
And the costumes...oh, they were fun! If you haven't seen the show, you need to know that it is based on the Dr. Seuss books and that you have "Whos" and "jungle" creatures but the costumes are not literal...they were real people clothes but it should give you an IDEA of the character.
So Horton the elephant I dressed in baggy grey clothing...with a bow tie...
And Mayzie La Bird (who is the showy bird) wore my old Victor Costa cocktail dress with ruching and a dropped waist, a showgirl headress, long satin gloves and a tail made from boas and a huge glittery bow...I loved that costume the most...
Gertrude (the awkward bird) wore a blue dress that was almost a tutu and she had a tail that literally ran the length of the stage...again, made of boas (if you have boas to donate, I will use them)
The Sour Kangaroo (who is the boss of the jungle)usually wears African dress but I reimagined her as a 50's housewife complete with pearls, a shirt dress, and an apron (her pouch!). She looked good...
I won't bore you with the rest but I will tell you that when I looked on the stage and saw my darlings singing and dancing that my heart, as the Grinch's did, grew 3 sizes...
I love those kids...
They decided to call me "Mama D" last night...I cried...
because when you have 20 girls surround you in a dressing room for a group hug, you feel pretty damn good...
We did 2 shows yesterday so I stared my day with a body pump class and an hour (special) halloween spin class. My quads are still screaming...
Football is now over and my son has moved on to wrestling. I will miss football and watching my son hit people...oh wait, he will still be doing that just without padding while wearing a leotard...wrestling is ROUGH...and it looks stupid....
But football ended well. The boys went undefeated for the year. Never lost a game. Only gave up like maybe 4 touchdowns. They were pretty amazing on the field.
Coach Dimples and the other coaches did an incredible job...
So now Coach Dimples and I are embarking on a new adventure together. He is going to be my trainer. I don't know who is more scared of it...him or me...
He promises to talk "woman" and not "coach" to me and I have promised not to cry (unless he makes me do the thing he calls the "persuit drill").
I have warned him not to throw things at me and expect me to catch them so excersises with balls are not allowed.
I also told him if he told me to run laps that I was going to run up to him, hug him goodbye and get in my car.
But I do need to shake things up for myself because I'm not losing much these days and I am working too hard not to and I don't want to get frustrated.
So maybe him yelling at me to do things will help...and the dimples don't hurt either...
I asked him Friday if he wanted "out" and he said no...poor man is clueless...he will learn...after our first training session I have a feeling he will be the one who is crying...
I cried the other day (I'm crying a lot these days but it is all good) because I got to wear another size "L" t-shirt. GOTT ordered Seussical shirts for the teachers and as I passed them out to the teachers, Precious and Adorable History Teacher had requested a "L". So I hand his skinny butt the shirt but then he says "can I have an XL please"? Bacchus and I ask him why his skinny butt needs an XL and he says he wants it for the length. And then he dazzles me with a precious and adorable smile and says since I am his friend can I make it happen?...
So I go back to GOTT who does not have a spare XL...
And I ask GOTT what he ordered me...and he sheepisly tells me an "XL" since it was ordered before my whole "I can wear a size L t-shirt" thing after Bacchus gave me a shirt.
So I tell GOTT "hand me the XL" and I march over to Precious and Adorable and hand it to him and inform him that he will now wear my shirt...he was happy...so was I...
And on Friday, when Precious was not wearing his shirt (as he should have), I asked him where his shirt was and he said "I forgot it"
I said:
"NO, PRECIOUS, IT IS RIGHT HERE ON MY BODY AND I AM ROCKING IT...you have MY shirt"...
THAT felt great...and next show I will be a "M" so he will have to order his shirt in the right size...because I am not switching with him if he has an L or XL...there are limits to what I will do for him...even if he is precious and adorable...
Smaller shirts are a big victory...
because last spring it was a 2XL and it was tight...and that was after losing 25 pounds...
And buying clothes in the "regular" not "plus" department the other day was also pretty awesome...so last night I wore "regular" (ok, they were XL's, but not plus sized) leggings and a dress that was basically a tutu and I danced a lot backstage while the kids sang...when I wasn't crying with pride.
And maybe by next spring I can jump back into that Victor Costa dress that I put on my beautiful showgirl bird and I will sing "Amazing Anice" (the showgirl bird sings a song called "Amazing Mayzie") to GOTT, TTG and Musical Muse but I think I will skip wearing the boa and bow tail...
or maybe I will keep the tail just so I have something to shake because Coach Dimples is charged with making things not so jiggly on me...so if he does his job like I think he can I can shake a tail feather and the only thing shaking will be that big bow...
And GOTT and TTG and Musical Muse will be distracted by the bow and not my bad singing...
Inspiration Song:
"All for You" from the Seussical soundtrack...silly little song...I re-wrote the words for GOTT for his birthday because it is all about what a girl goes through to help her friend...
bye darlings!
I've been busy.
Very busy.
But I have still made time to make good food choices and work out. But now the bulk of my "busy" is done and I am realizing that I have time on my hands and that is not good either. Because time on my hands gets me into trouble...
What has kept me from my computer and blogging?
Kids...
and not just my kids...
I've blogged before about my non-job that is costuming the shows at my The Cutest Boy in the World's school. I say it is a non-job because I don't get paid $$$ for it but, as I shared before, my amazing salary is hugs and kisses and a lot of love from 14 year old kids that I grow to love like they are my own. And then they leave the school but they always remain in my heart.
In fact one of them, who is now a senior in high school, came backstage (per my request to his younger brother that was in the show we were doing)and I think I hugged him 50 times and we both laughed as we reminsced about how he still holds the (boys) record for most costume changes in a show and how he stripped down to his boxers and a t-shirt while I dressed him. And how doing that show gave him confidence and how he has turned into an awesome (and handsome) young man who is now student body president at his school. Like I said, I had to hug him 50 times and told him that I could't be proudeer of him if he was my own.
So, like I said...it is a great non-job.
And not only do I get to have the love from these kids but I get to work with 2 of my favorite men in the world---GOTT and TTG. How do you not love working with some of your best friends? And then there is Musical Muse...we get to laugh at the men...it is so fun. A salary would be nice but I'll do it free because I love it so (ssshhh...don't tell anyone...)
Working with them and the kids is really not work...it is joy...I get a lot more out of it then the kids will ever know...they just know I am taking care of them but they are really taking care of me with their talents and love...
So we did Seussical...and the kids were, in a word, AMAZING...
I cried with pride watching them.
And the costumes...oh, they were fun! If you haven't seen the show, you need to know that it is based on the Dr. Seuss books and that you have "Whos" and "jungle" creatures but the costumes are not literal...they were real people clothes but it should give you an IDEA of the character.
So Horton the elephant I dressed in baggy grey clothing...with a bow tie...
And Mayzie La Bird (who is the showy bird) wore my old Victor Costa cocktail dress with ruching and a dropped waist, a showgirl headress, long satin gloves and a tail made from boas and a huge glittery bow...I loved that costume the most...
Gertrude (the awkward bird) wore a blue dress that was almost a tutu and she had a tail that literally ran the length of the stage...again, made of boas (if you have boas to donate, I will use them)
The Sour Kangaroo (who is the boss of the jungle)usually wears African dress but I reimagined her as a 50's housewife complete with pearls, a shirt dress, and an apron (her pouch!). She looked good...
I won't bore you with the rest but I will tell you that when I looked on the stage and saw my darlings singing and dancing that my heart, as the Grinch's did, grew 3 sizes...
I love those kids...
They decided to call me "Mama D" last night...I cried...
because when you have 20 girls surround you in a dressing room for a group hug, you feel pretty damn good...
We did 2 shows yesterday so I stared my day with a body pump class and an hour (special) halloween spin class. My quads are still screaming...
Football is now over and my son has moved on to wrestling. I will miss football and watching my son hit people...oh wait, he will still be doing that just without padding while wearing a leotard...wrestling is ROUGH...and it looks stupid....
But football ended well. The boys went undefeated for the year. Never lost a game. Only gave up like maybe 4 touchdowns. They were pretty amazing on the field.
Coach Dimples and the other coaches did an incredible job...
So now Coach Dimples and I are embarking on a new adventure together. He is going to be my trainer. I don't know who is more scared of it...him or me...
He promises to talk "woman" and not "coach" to me and I have promised not to cry (unless he makes me do the thing he calls the "persuit drill").
I have warned him not to throw things at me and expect me to catch them so excersises with balls are not allowed.
I also told him if he told me to run laps that I was going to run up to him, hug him goodbye and get in my car.
But I do need to shake things up for myself because I'm not losing much these days and I am working too hard not to and I don't want to get frustrated.
So maybe him yelling at me to do things will help...and the dimples don't hurt either...
I asked him Friday if he wanted "out" and he said no...poor man is clueless...he will learn...after our first training session I have a feeling he will be the one who is crying...
I cried the other day (I'm crying a lot these days but it is all good) because I got to wear another size "L" t-shirt. GOTT ordered Seussical shirts for the teachers and as I passed them out to the teachers, Precious and Adorable History Teacher had requested a "L". So I hand his skinny butt the shirt but then he says "can I have an XL please"? Bacchus and I ask him why his skinny butt needs an XL and he says he wants it for the length. And then he dazzles me with a precious and adorable smile and says since I am his friend can I make it happen?...
So I go back to GOTT who does not have a spare XL...
And I ask GOTT what he ordered me...and he sheepisly tells me an "XL" since it was ordered before my whole "I can wear a size L t-shirt" thing after Bacchus gave me a shirt.
So I tell GOTT "hand me the XL" and I march over to Precious and Adorable and hand it to him and inform him that he will now wear my shirt...he was happy...so was I...
And on Friday, when Precious was not wearing his shirt (as he should have), I asked him where his shirt was and he said "I forgot it"
I said:
"NO, PRECIOUS, IT IS RIGHT HERE ON MY BODY AND I AM ROCKING IT...you have MY shirt"...
THAT felt great...and next show I will be a "M" so he will have to order his shirt in the right size...because I am not switching with him if he has an L or XL...there are limits to what I will do for him...even if he is precious and adorable...
Smaller shirts are a big victory...
because last spring it was a 2XL and it was tight...and that was after losing 25 pounds...
And buying clothes in the "regular" not "plus" department the other day was also pretty awesome...so last night I wore "regular" (ok, they were XL's, but not plus sized) leggings and a dress that was basically a tutu and I danced a lot backstage while the kids sang...when I wasn't crying with pride.
And maybe by next spring I can jump back into that Victor Costa dress that I put on my beautiful showgirl bird and I will sing "Amazing Anice" (the showgirl bird sings a song called "Amazing Mayzie") to GOTT, TTG and Musical Muse but I think I will skip wearing the boa and bow tail...
or maybe I will keep the tail just so I have something to shake because Coach Dimples is charged with making things not so jiggly on me...so if he does his job like I think he can I can shake a tail feather and the only thing shaking will be that big bow...
And GOTT and TTG and Musical Muse will be distracted by the bow and not my bad singing...
Inspiration Song:
"All for You" from the Seussical soundtrack...silly little song...I re-wrote the words for GOTT for his birthday because it is all about what a girl goes through to help her friend...
bye darlings!
Monday, October 18, 2010
Losing My Religion
I really want to get back to my fun stuff and blogging about my weight loss and the reunion but things have happened lately so those things are taking a back burner...and again I will say "my blog/my opinion" so if you don't want to read about the power and Glory I believe God has, skip this blog...
So here is what is going on with me...after my last post I found out that my dear friend Patrick was in a very serious car accident on October 11. It was a devastating wreck and he almost lost his life. He is battling on as I type this and we still do not know his prognosis.
He suffered a very serious head trauma. His brain swells. They keep him sedated but there are times he moves. He had to have a procedure yesterday to reduce the pressure in his brain. They keep him on medicines to keep the pressure down but yesterday they had to do a procedure to drain fluid.
His beautiful wife, Carol, has great faith. She actually lifts ALL OF US up who love him. When I saw her the other day and we had a long, long hug I told her that I knew in my heart that Patrick would dance with their gorgeous daughter Annie (who is just a little girl) at her wedding, that he would hold his grandchildren, and that he will be Carol's husband, love, partner, and friend until they are old and gray...
I believe that with everything I have...
I know God will make it true...
I know God will heal him...
I've known Patrick since he was a young boy...my sister kept her horse at his house. He was just a little thing back then...he is a marvelous man now.
I'm keeping the faith...I am trusting God...I know that Patrick is in His hands. I know that God will show us His glory when Patrick comes back to Carol, Annie and all of us who love and adore him.
All of this got me thinking about faith...and loving God and trusting in Him.
Because I have questioned Him a lot...especially when I lost my parents.
But I know that it is normal to be mad at God and wonder if He really cares for us at those deep, dark times in our lives. I know He knows we will do it.
And I know that He has never abandoned me...and that he didn't take my parents home to Heaven to punish or hurt me.
But at the time I lost them I sure felt like it...and when I heard about Patrick I hit my knees...but this time I thanked God for getting Patrick into the hands of some of the best doctors in the world and this time I knew that God was going to be with us all on this journey with Patrick.
I don't mean to get preachy here, but I am feeling that I need to lean on Him a little more these days and I want to share it.
I've had some good events to remind me that He is so good...
My reunion with my camp friends was such a miracle...imagine that 26 years after the camp closed that so many of us would yearn to return. Many camps have reunions, but they are camps that are still going...our camp has been defunct since 1984. And yet over 30 of us showed up to share memories and hold hands again. Facebook may have been the tool, but God brought us together...and I felt so happy that weekend...
Last weekend I had the honor of watching my friend's son Bar Mitzvah. It was truly beautiful and this Episcopalian cried like a baby watching that boy (who I have known since he was 4 or so) stand up and chant his Torah portion...it was amazing...and beautiful...and God was there...
So, despite the title of my blog today, I have NOT lost my religion...I just liked the irony of it when I picked my title...and because that song has been on heavy play on my iPod since it was on "Glee".
I'm not going to write about any weight loss stuff today...it would be wrong. Because although God is helping me through, I can't mention my little struggle when I have someone I love who is fighting so mightily...
Please pray for my friend and his family. His sister-in-law is one of my best and dearest friends and their whole family is like family to me...they are all in pain over this and they are all keeping their faith in God to return Patrick whole and healthy to us.
I believe in the power of prayer...let's show the world what it can do...let's show Patrick that even those who don't know him personally can be a prayer warrior for him and help him in this fight...
I'm not losing my religion...I'm just becoming more and more convicted...and Patrick's recovery will be full of His Glory...
Inspiration Song: "Losing my Religion" by R.E.M. or the Glee cast version (the orchestration is gorgeous in that version)...
Bye Darlings...
So here is what is going on with me...after my last post I found out that my dear friend Patrick was in a very serious car accident on October 11. It was a devastating wreck and he almost lost his life. He is battling on as I type this and we still do not know his prognosis.
He suffered a very serious head trauma. His brain swells. They keep him sedated but there are times he moves. He had to have a procedure yesterday to reduce the pressure in his brain. They keep him on medicines to keep the pressure down but yesterday they had to do a procedure to drain fluid.
His beautiful wife, Carol, has great faith. She actually lifts ALL OF US up who love him. When I saw her the other day and we had a long, long hug I told her that I knew in my heart that Patrick would dance with their gorgeous daughter Annie (who is just a little girl) at her wedding, that he would hold his grandchildren, and that he will be Carol's husband, love, partner, and friend until they are old and gray...
I believe that with everything I have...
I know God will make it true...
I know God will heal him...
I've known Patrick since he was a young boy...my sister kept her horse at his house. He was just a little thing back then...he is a marvelous man now.
I'm keeping the faith...I am trusting God...I know that Patrick is in His hands. I know that God will show us His glory when Patrick comes back to Carol, Annie and all of us who love and adore him.
All of this got me thinking about faith...and loving God and trusting in Him.
Because I have questioned Him a lot...especially when I lost my parents.
But I know that it is normal to be mad at God and wonder if He really cares for us at those deep, dark times in our lives. I know He knows we will do it.
And I know that He has never abandoned me...and that he didn't take my parents home to Heaven to punish or hurt me.
But at the time I lost them I sure felt like it...and when I heard about Patrick I hit my knees...but this time I thanked God for getting Patrick into the hands of some of the best doctors in the world and this time I knew that God was going to be with us all on this journey with Patrick.
I don't mean to get preachy here, but I am feeling that I need to lean on Him a little more these days and I want to share it.
I've had some good events to remind me that He is so good...
My reunion with my camp friends was such a miracle...imagine that 26 years after the camp closed that so many of us would yearn to return. Many camps have reunions, but they are camps that are still going...our camp has been defunct since 1984. And yet over 30 of us showed up to share memories and hold hands again. Facebook may have been the tool, but God brought us together...and I felt so happy that weekend...
Last weekend I had the honor of watching my friend's son Bar Mitzvah. It was truly beautiful and this Episcopalian cried like a baby watching that boy (who I have known since he was 4 or so) stand up and chant his Torah portion...it was amazing...and beautiful...and God was there...
So, despite the title of my blog today, I have NOT lost my religion...I just liked the irony of it when I picked my title...and because that song has been on heavy play on my iPod since it was on "Glee".
I'm not going to write about any weight loss stuff today...it would be wrong. Because although God is helping me through, I can't mention my little struggle when I have someone I love who is fighting so mightily...
Please pray for my friend and his family. His sister-in-law is one of my best and dearest friends and their whole family is like family to me...they are all in pain over this and they are all keeping their faith in God to return Patrick whole and healthy to us.
I believe in the power of prayer...let's show the world what it can do...let's show Patrick that even those who don't know him personally can be a prayer warrior for him and help him in this fight...
I'm not losing my religion...I'm just becoming more and more convicted...and Patrick's recovery will be full of His Glory...
Inspiration Song: "Losing my Religion" by R.E.M. or the Glee cast version (the orchestration is gorgeous in that version)...
Bye Darlings...
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