Lists of five

I am a few short minutes from walking out the door and heading to "historic downtown Enterprise" for their fall festival. But I wanted to leave some lists behind before I go.

5 books I recently read (or am reading)

1. Ink Death by Cornelia Funke (great stuff, I've been waiting for this last entry of the trilogy for over a year)

2. Dangerous Games by Keri Arthur (fantasy about Riley Jensen, a werewolf/guardian living in Australia)

3. Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency by Douglas Adams (a re-read for me, but I just love Adams sense of humor)

4. Haunted History Atlanta and North Georgia by Corinna Underwood (ghost stories, the story, the history and the author's personal experiences)

5. The Great Tree of Avalon by T.A. Barron (a triology, a very good read, fantasy story of the world set inside the tree)

5

Clarification

I just wanted to clarify a comment I made in yesterday's blog. "Paul doens't live here anymore" is my passive-aggressive way of dealing with this particularly long TDY. Paul left right after Labor Day and because of delays in some of the testing won't be back until Thanksgiving.

I thought this assignment would keep him home for awhile... you know... that 9 to 5 kind of existence that civilian families experience. Well... it isn't. He's been gone far more than he's been home.. or at least it feels like that to me. He doesn't like being gone so much either, but he does love the job..... and he's really good at it.

I just didn't want anyone to think there was anything wrong over here. Nothing that retirement won't cure anyway. Or even, a change in assignment.. but we've made promises to the two littles that they can graduate from this high school... so I guess there will be no change before 2011.

sigh.

Random Friday Thoughts

At the end of weeks like this one.. I can't help but think "I don't get paid enough for this job!"

The kids ran late this morning and I had to drive them to school. Normally I wouldn't, but this time it was my fault they were late.. I forgot to put all their jeans in the dryer first thing this morning... at 6:30 I suddenly remembered that no one had clean DRY jeans for the day.

For the last two days I've been back on my eating plan (which doesn't include chicken fingers, or mountain dew). I've also walked both days. I'm feeling pretty proud of myself at the moment. Mac is inspiring.

Got a call from my sister-in-law today while I was out of the house. The message said "I'm calling for a chat with Paul. Justin is thinking about going into the Army and I am PANICKED!"
I called Gail back and let her know that Paul doesn't live here anymore, but that I would pass the message along and he'd call tomorrow.

I had a moment of panic myself earlier when I was checking out at the commissary. I opened my purse to pull out my debit card.... and couldn't find it... I searched other spots, checked my pockets... I was concerned that I might have left it at the Post Office (my prior stop), so I figured I'd just use the credit card and run back by the P.O. to pick up my debit. I opened up my wallet to pull out the CC and there was my debit card! I can't believe I actually had put it back where it belonged, as opposed to the quick and convenient front pouch of my purse where I usually have it. I laughed.

I had to pick up Kim after school yesterday. She had a French Club meeting. I was late. She was wet. AND to add insult to injury, she had to pick fall leaves for today for her interior design class. So on the way home, I pulled off near a bunch of trees and we picked leaves in the rain. I'm hoping that action doesn't become a family tradition!

Mac has that male weight loss gene thing going on!

Normally, this sort of thing would piss me off if it were my husband losing so easily. But I have to admit I am just so darn proud of what Mac has accomplished thus far this fall.

Over the summer, our very sendentary life style got the better of all of us. In spite of concerted efforts to get us up and moving.. humidity and inertia kept us sitting still..

Well.. once the kids started school in early August... Mac suddenly became Mr. Motivation Man. Suddenly, he was asking for my help and assistance with making better food choices and exercising. He had to take a slight break in late Aug/early Sept when he had what we thought were shin splints, but turned out to be some other syndrome instead (common in adolescent boys). At any rate... at his first visit to the doctor he weighed in at 195 and for him.. that was IT! As soon as the doctor allowed him to go back to exercising, Mac really has kept at it.

He has faithfully walked 2 miles a day, including weekends. He is eating less. Without giving up any of his favorites. He still eats chicken fingers, he still eats dessert (though not as much), he still drinks Mountain Dew. We (Mac and I) have been going to the gym twice a week to strength train and play basketball. He has increased his milk consumption and his water consumption.

Yesterday was his weigh-in. He is now down to 182 pounds. He wants to lose a bit more and he's doing it in such a sensible way. The perfect example of "eat less and exercise more".

He's inspiring ME to step things up a bit.

Research, Research, and oh, yeah, Research

I have spent a few days doing some basic research with respect to the uterine fibroids and ovarian cysts. Not such a drastic concern. Apparently plenty of women have these things just hanging out. If there is no secondary reason for removing them, a "watch and see" attitude is taken.

Apparently the low iron is enough of a secondary reason to at least carry this further. I think my appointment with the gyn will be more productive now. Not so much a need for surgery.. .but one of many options. I'm good. Thanks for the support and I will keep you posted.