My husband got the long Memorial Day weekend off. We met the kids in
In the mid 90s when I was putting the weight on rapidly, I could barely get in the seats for the rides at King’s
On the drive back my husband wanted to stop at the
We ended up hiking a little over two miles. By the time we were nearly to the bottom of the mountain, the muscles in my poor legs were quivering. Those muscles hadn’t done that kind of work in a very long time. They are still protesting.
I was surprised that I could even do the hike. I wouldn’t have been able to do it a year ago. Losing this weight has been one of the best things I’ve ever done for myself.
I’m down to 203 pounds. I had to get new jeans, bras, and underwear.
I got the jeans at Lane Bryant, size 14 and they were on sale for $9.99. I picked up three pairs. They should get me through the summer, I hope. Size 14 is the smallest size Lane Bryant carries, so I won’t be shopping there any more. Now, I’m going to have to find jeans I like in another store. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that I’ll find something I like.
The bras, I got from Kohl’s, made by
No excitement with the underwear. I got the Hanes tagless ones at Wal-mart. They are a size 7 and that is definitely nice after wearing a size 13 last year. They look so tiny! <g>
I haven’t been able to sit down and cross my legs in eons, but I can now. I’ve also been wearing high heels. They are wedgies, but I’ve always preferred them over the tiny little heels that I can’t ever seem to balance on. I even wore a knee-length skirt and dressy little sweater set when we went to the mall. I think the last time I wore a dress, it was long and it was for my daughter’s wedding.
My hair loss has slowed down. I’ve taken to wearing it up on my head, held in place with a French clip. It looks nice, not fancy or any thing, but better than a pony tail, which has always been my preference.
Yesterday, I had to return some light bulbs to Wal-mart (I’ve been trying to get the right ones for a gift I was given). Anyway, I stopped at a clearance rack full of pajamas. I found a set that looked like the bottoms might fit, but the top seemed a bit small. It was a large and both pieces fit me! Yes!
My husband bought me a new computer the weekend before Mother’s Day. It’s an HP desktop and it is super fast. I feel so spoiled with this computer and the DSL we have here in
I got a postcard back from my nonfiction proposal I sent out back in January. I mailed it before the postal rates went up, so I wasn’t sure I’d ever see it, but the agency added a stamp and sent it to me. That was so nice of them, especially after reading how many agents and editors just toss them if they don’t have postage on them. I was truly biting my nails thinking the agent just tossed my stuff in the trash bin because my postage wasn’t right. Well, I guess that gives you a clue as to why I queried this agent, huh?
Okay, that’s all for today. I don’t know why I don’t post every day, then I want to ramble forever when I do post. Shame on me!
My computer crashed and I've been trying to get all of my stuff set up on my husband's computer while mine went to the shop.
Before I could get my computer back, my husband got a call to go back to his regular job. We had two days to pack up our travel trailer and head to eastern
When we arrived, we could only find two campgrounds in the area, one federal and one state. The state campground said we could get a phone line. They suggested that we take a spot by their maintenance shed and the phone company could drop a line from the phone line at there to our travel trailer.
I contacted the phone company, paid the deposit and a week later the phone company showed up but couldn't put the phone line in. They said they would need us to dig a ditch so they could bury the cable and pull it through. Well, I knew without even asking the Rangers at the park that we wouldn't be able to do that.
So, I started a serious search for mobile home parks. We missed a spot at one where some of the men my husband is working with are staying.
I finally found one during the second week. We reserved our spot. I called the electric company and paid my deposit over the phone, went to the garbage company and paid for three months of garbage service, and paid for one month in advance for my internet through the cable company on Good Friday. I cancelled the phone line and refunded my deposit.
We moved on Saturday before Easter. When my husband was doing a quick set up some of the neighbors came over to check out his Quad. It's a Suzuki King Quad which he is very proud of (I think it's a man thing--you wouldn't believe how many people checked it out at the rest areas and gas stations during the drive from Pennsylvania to Kentucky). He asked about nearby trails and they told him that some great ones were right across the road.
So, Sunday morning he went riding while I judged contest entries. When he got back, he got our satellite set up and finished leveling our trailer.
The only bad part? The cable company didn't hook me up to the internet until Friday April 21! I have been without any internet action since Monday, April 3 when we pulled into the Super 8 and spent the night in the hotel because it was too late to enter either one of the campgrounds. I've been in serious internet withdrawal!
So, please forgive me for not getting my prize out for signing my guest book. I didn't get to take care of it before we left because we were so busy. However, once I get an address from the winner, I'll be sending out the $25 gift card for Home Depot.
The next thing on my agenda? I have to buy another computer. The computer fix it place said my laptop is shot. It's 4.5 years old and it's a goner. Now, I'm debating whether I should get another laptop or go back to a desktop. Decisions, decisions.
I'm down to 210 pounds and counting. I'm getting a bit desperate in the summer clothing department. I'm tired of wearing the few clothes I have that are too big. I've always preferred clothing to fit me properly. Yet, the thought of going out and spending money on new clothes that won't fit me in a few months doesn't appeal either. I guess I'm a bit weird because I've never liked to buy used clothes, but I think maybe I'm going to have to bite the bullet and watch the yard sales for a few summer tops and maybe, for the first time in years, some shorts.
My husband got a phone call today from his union hall. He has taken a job in
This job is only seven hours away from our home, so I'll be able to drive back for all of my doctor's appointments. He's excited because we'll be near some ATV trails and he just got a new ATV a few months ago, so as you can guess, he's very pleased.
Take the Which Sports Car Are You? quiz.
Nadia Cornier of Firebrand Literary Agency has a very interesting thing going on in her blog right now. She's posting sample query letters and the other bloggers there can pick their own adventure.
It is amazing how different the responses are from each person. It's rare to see two people have the same exact reaction to the query letters.
I have to say it is an eye opener. I realize that not every person will love my query letter, but this puts rejection into a whole new light.
Then Deidre Knight of The Knight Agency is taking questions from her bloggers right now. The questions and answers are enlightening.
If you are interested in writing you should take a look at what these agents are offering.
Karen Hawkins just did a guest spot at squawkradio. She is hysterical, at least to me. I found her description of the relationship between her parents funny and touching.
Prior to Karen, they had Kate Duffy an editor from Kensington do a guest spot. I found it fascinating to read her comments about writers and romance.
Have you found Mary Stella's blog yet? I love checkingin there. She has such interesting little tidbits each day.
I love losing weight, no doubt about it. I'm down to 214 pounds and it feels awesome.
I can now walk around the mall and not get winded or feel like I have to sit down and catch my breath. I can go to my basement, do laundry and walk to my second story bedroom without stopping in the dining room to cool down and catch my breath. I can actually do so many things now and not feel winded. I feel like I’m about ten years younger than I felt this time last year. I highly recommend losing weight.
My doctor told me that I’m not eating quite enough protein and I’ve been trying to up my intake. I’ve been trying those protein bars and I have to say that I have no clue how anybody with taste buds can eat those things. Some of them are so high in sugar that I got sick from them. Others taste like cardboard. YUCK!
I have, however, found a meal that I can tolerate that tastes great. It’s called Nantucket Cod at Eat n Park. I think the rest of my family is getting tired of eating there, but it’s great to eat something that tastes good and is good for me.
I’ve also found that beef jerky is great for my chewing needs. Seriously, who would think that I would want to spend time chewing on something? I’ve been eating soft type foods that go down easy and slip through my stoma (the opening to my stomach). It’s nice to spend time chewing on something that is low in fat and high in protein. I do wish the kind I liked was a bit lower in salt.
I want to mention that I used to take three different blood pressure medications and now I only take one. To make it easier on me and lower the amount of medications I have to ingest I now use a patch for my blood pressure.
If at any time you have questions for me, please feel free to ask and I’ll answer, I promise.
I went shopping at Lane Bryant. I had a gift card to use and decided to get a smaller pair of jeans. I have two size 20 pairs and they are getting a bit baggy.
After looking at them, my daughter encouraged me to get the size 16 pair. I wasn't as sure and I hate trying clothes on in the store, but Lane Bryant is decent about taking clothes back so I bought them.
I put them on as soon as I got home and I nearly screamed! I was ecstatic, they fit--they are snug, but I didn't even have to suck my stomach in to button, or zip, them up.
I now weigh 217 pounds and the inches are fading away. It looks like I won't be shopping at Lane Bryant much longer. Now, my daughter and I can start shopping at the same stores. Isn't that great?
Did you make a New Year's resolution to lose weight? How is it going? Or did you decide you wanted to slip into some cool summer clothes and have decided it's time to get in shape and lose a few of those extra pounds before summer gets here?
I'm down to 225 pounds. I haven't been at this weight since 1994 when we had a car accident. I steadily put on weight after the accident due to my limited mobility and pain that made it difficult to do much of anything.
It feels so awesome to be this thin. My husband told me that my butt looked great when we were shopping today. Doesn't he know how to make a girl feel special? <grin>
The only thing that bothers me is the hair loss. I'm still losing it and I thought it would be slowing down by now. Other than that I'm not having any of the problems I hear others having. I don't have constant nausea and vomiting, but then again I don't eat large amounts of sugar or push the limit on what my stomach can handle.
I remember eating a brownie about a month ago. It was delicious, but I sure paid for it when the dumping hit me. No more iced brownies for me! I never really had much of a craving for high sugar items, except pop, to begin with so I don't feel like I'm depriving myself.
I'm still working on my book about this surgery and hoping to hear from an agent.
Denise
I got an awesome critique by Stacey Lynn Riemer. She's my mentor in my online writing group, From the Heart Romance Writers.
She pointed out where I could do better and hit all the areas where I knew there was a problem but couldn't quite put my finger on it. And she did all that without trying to change my voice. Ahhh, it feels great to know she could tell where I was going and not try to make me head in another direction with her critique.
I've entered several contests and gotten both good and bad feedback, but I felt that I was losing my direction. My voice and my vision. Stacey didn't do that to me and for that I'm very grateful.
So, this post is a public thank you to Stacey for all of her awesome help.
Denise
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