Can You Believe This???

Good Afternoon,
I am sitting here in my living room, resting after having finished a big cleaning job.  Whew....that was a fun one.
I was just thinking about how my weekend end went, re-enjoying the time I had with my kids, etc..
When I remembered something that took place that was hard to believe.
I went into my kitchen to turn on a little lamp.  It would not turn on. I think,  "You know, this is weird.... just the other day I threw away my pancake electric griddle because it had finally died; a few days before that I threw away my waffle maker, thinking 'it was getting old anyway'...figured it's time had finally come".  But when I went to turn on the lamp and it wouldn't work and a new light bulb made no difference - I knew something is wrong!  I then remembered about the fuse box and how sometimes they trip.  So, I go to the fuse box and try a few things and then, walla! Everything works.
Now, I am sort of bummed! I threw away a perfectly good skillet and waffle iron. Good thing I figured things out before I tossed the lamp and radio!

The Weight Issue............

Hello everyone,
Today I would like to announce that since the beginning of my weight loss commitment, I have lost 11 lbs.
It is leaving me slowly, but it is leaving me.
I have been exercising daily, with a couple days off here and there.  I remain a fairly active woman anyways. But I have been using an elliptical, weights, bicycle, and treadmill.
I have been doing at least 30 minutes of sweat a day.
So far the stack of jeans still sits waiting patiently, I try, I cry, I fold them back up and continue on.
I do not have the money nor will I give in anyways to going and buying 'Big girl' clothes.
I will just wait.
Diet changes include a lot of juicing in my juice machine; no chips, cookies, candies, cake, etc...
I have one big meal daily, the others are small, but satisfying.
I drink a lot of water.
Now, I realize the areas that need to change: Beer... I do like the taste and a good cold one is always nice after a long day - but I think they may need to go now as well.
Candy: Ohhhhh, sometimes I just CRAVE milk chocolate.  I had my fill on Easter. Done for now, until my next PMS.
But other than that.... I think I'll be ok.  I will continue to run on the treadmill despite my aching foot and ankle.  And will report back when I have lost another 10 lbs.
See ya.
Tina

Oh Single life is SOOO Funny!

Well, Good Morning..........It is Easter Sunday today as I write.
Oh my, Tina... on the computer on Easter??? But why?
Here is why...
Last night my married young daughter and her hubby came by to eat and play video games.
I realized that my daughter would not be here Easter morning so I put together a big basket of yummies and gave it to all three of them to munch on while they hang out.  They loved it.
This morning, I slept in, went for a run and my son is out with his sister for awhile, so... Why not, enjoy some quiet computer time.
So, this is what I want to write about today.  Being Single.
You see, I never really expected to be single.  So, once I became single I suddenly realized how available I was.
Like, OMG - I can date now.  Wierd.
So, my first suitor was a real nice man, quite a bit older than me (lets just say he graduated high school the year I was born).  But he was handsome, had a real smooth demeanor and his eyes were sexy and he had dimples.  Not to mention he was a real neat Father to his sons and I admired that.  We were never an 'item', but we enjoyed each others company for along time.  We remain good freinds to this day but choose to keep that way.  Then came the musician: WOW, he was wild, fun, free, and he sang songs on his guitar to me.  How romantic is that?  He was pretty sexy to me, BUT.... yes, the big BUT, he liked drugs!  So... out he went.
Next was the Biker! Woo Hoo..Wild, loved to cook out, drink beer.  We went on great long rides on his Harley! However, he accidentally slipped in his coolness one day and showed me his abusive side.  All it took was one shake of the shoulders and it was 'bye bye'.  So, after a couple of months and by suggestion of a friend, I signed up for a dating site.  I had three dates on that before I cancelled.  Lets see: Date #1.  A little older, took me to a neat place out in the Hill Country with birds, and turtles, food, beer.  Than he wanted to cook me dinner at his house, I show up, he is in his P.J.'s, scratching his belly!  That was the last of that one.  Date #2.  A fairly handsome man, met me at a local eatery, than began to bash all his previous online dates and then sent me a letter telling me that I should dress different and get braces.  Done! Date #3.  Lets just say, I felt as though I were having dinner with my Dad.  So...after a  breath of fresh air and and readiness to head forward alone,  I was introduced to "the big guy".  Yup, this next one was a little heavier than he would have liked to have been.  He had great aspirations of making changes to be a healthier person.  He was a nice guy, cooked real good, very generous, but some of our life style choices clashed and were the kind of clashes that were (in a term I have come to learn).. deal breakers.
So, here I sit, enjoying a nice Easter morning alone.  Not for long... it's almost time to make Easter Breakfast. So... your married girls, enjoy your day with hubby.  Single friends, watch out - there are alot of interesting people out there (I say a little sarcastically).  Fellow aloners.... enjoy your time while you have it!
Love to all.
Tina

Aloneness is not the same as lonliness

As I lay in bed last night drifting off to sleep I thought about my sisters.  You see, one of them recently had a birthday and wrote about the wonderful present her hubby gave her.  I can't tell you how happy it makes me to know my sister is happy.

I thought about a time in my past when I was a young mother, still married, and determined to honor God to the best of my ability in my marriage.  My three sisters where all, at that time, single.  I envied them so much, I wondered what it must be like to be so 'free'.  

Funny how life changes things.  Here we are nearly two decades later and they are all very happilly married and I am divorced.  

So, as I lay in bed thinking about all this, I thought about the fact that they all have someone to snuggle with tonight as they go to sleep.  

Then, I thought, "Hmmm, I don't know if I am sad that I don't have a snuggle buddy or not".  You see my ex was a big sweater and I hated touching him when he slept, not to mention he preferred a big pillow over me.  

I thought about the commitment that comes with snuggling and realized I am not ready to give up part of myself in a committed relationship just so I can snuggle.  So.... I sleep alone.  No worries, I have a nice big dog that sleeps on the floor next to me and the sound of her snoring reminds me that I am not alone.  

So, back to the subject at hand - "Aloneness is not the same as lonliness".  Yesterday I did feel a bit alone, because I have a lot on my shoulders in life and sometimes it is a bit overwhelming.  I thought about how nice it might be to have someone I could rely on to help me in my life and be my 'partner'.  However, so far I have not found anyone that I have felt would make a good life partner for me.  So... I plug on alone.  But.... not lonely.  Nope, first of all I have God.  I can talk to Him and ask for his help.  Second I have a teenage son at home that I still need to cook for and tend to.  Third, I have friends and from time to time I get together with them.  But when I am alone, I garden, practice neat recipies, play my guitar, write letters, etc.... and when evening comes around I don't have to have a hot meal on the table.  When bedtime comes around I don't have to 'feel' sexy.  I just pass out in bed.  When I am writing in a journal I don't have to give explanation as to what I am writing about or is every thing ok?  I just write. Alone life can be quite fulfilling most of the time.  Call me strange, but it's true for me.  I eat what I want most of the time.  I wear what I want.  I decorate how I want.  

Now, some may say "But what about growing old, don't you want someone to grow old with?".  Well, I have given that thought, and maybe I will have someone to grow old with one day.  But today I am not old.  I have not yet found anyone that I truly look forward to spending my 'old' years with.  I don't want to be a caretaker, I don't want be held back by someone's lack of enthusiasm for life, and up to this point my options have not proven to be very promising.  Now, don't get me wrong, I know there are many very nice men out there.  But I am a little bit too much for most of them, when it comes to personality.  But I am not enough when it comes to looking like a playboy bunny.  What can I say, I am a naturalist and to some men, thats a turn off.  Oh well.  Like I said, I continue on living my life the way I want to.  Now don't get me wrong, I am not one of those women that doesn't shave.  I like to be WOMAN.  But, I don't want to have to compromise anything about myself just to keep a man happy.  And likewise I would not expect a man to feel the need to compromise himself. So, for now I live.... alone. But, not lonely!

Well, it looks like she's staying!

Delilah is a lovely, beautiful but very clumsy, and slightly 'off' Golden Lab.  I got her when she was only 14 weeks old.  She has grown up with me for the last 2 1/2 years.  However, due to the fact that I had to move into an apartment about a year ago, I have bounced back and forth with the idea that maybe she would be happier elsewhere.  I put out a notice, but no takers.  Then she spent a month or so out in the country.  She was living as a dog; outside, running around, making friends with the goat next door, et...
Well, I picked her up last week with the plan of taking her out to meet with a lady who places dogs in good homes.  Sunday was the day that we were planning to meet.
Sunday came; it was almost time to go; I called my son downstairs.... I ask him "What do you think? Should we, shouldn't we? I just don't know."  Well, he says "Let's ask Delilah".... He takes her head in his hands, and says "Delilah, do you want to go find a new home"?  Well, she looks at him with this face that seemed to say "Huh? New home, what are you talking about? I am home silly, now if you don't mind, I'd like to get back to my nap".
So, we decided that Delilah was happy to be home with us and as much as a lumux as she can be, I think she just needs me and really loves me. So.... She's stayin!  By the photos I've posted, I think you will see that she is quite happy about my decision.

Hey, if you enjoyed the story, let me know... leave a comment, better yet - join as a follower.
Be blessed, have a great day!

Tina