I’m working from home today, just because I can. Isn’t that a wonderful thing? We were supposed to have a snow storm last night, and everyone on the team took their laptops home, with the idea that if the roads were too icy, we’d all telecommute. Turns out it was nothing more than icy rain, and the roads are not bad for those of us who live close by, of which I am one. My friend J. IM’d me this morning, interrogating me about why I was home. She didn’t realise that she was being presumptuous….although, she is a good friend, and I suppose good friends are allowed.

Ah, friends. I have had some dear ones over the years. Sadly though, quite a few of my friends have died. I don’t mean to be morbid, it’s just the truth. One of my oldest friends - we’ve been friends for 28 years, since we were both 19 - died on December 23rd. She had been ill, but no one expected her illness to result in an early death. She was mad at me - I wrote about it. At the time, I just felt ready to let go, but, looking back I realise I shouldn’t have let her stay mad and that it was only a bump in the road. My feelings for her ran deep, and they just don’t disappear.

Ag, I don’t think I can finish saying what I meant to say. It’s too hard to explain, so I’ll turn to the purpose of the blog - getting healthy and losing weight.

We all hit wobbly patches, and I hit mine over the last weeks. I was even looking forward to getting back to work just because of the routine it brings. Don’t get me wrong, I loved being at home and especially having all my daughters here, but I do find it easier to control my bad habits when there is a good routine in place. Somewhere in the in between moments, I will make one of my pots of soup today. I’ve bought all sorts of vegetables, and have in mind to do a robust, purely vegetarian soup. This is my all time favourite stand-by so that if I don’t have a lunch packed, I can always pull out a frozen container of soup, and if I arriving home feeling like I could wolf down well, anything, I can also rely on having at least something healthy on hand.

I walked yesterday and the day before during lunch time, so hopefully things are getting back on track.

Thank you dear blog friends for all your comments and for making me feel missed. I think of each of you at odd moments, when I see or hear something that reminds me of something that you’ve said, or see a news item pertaining to the regions where you live. I wish you all well. I wish you all a really good 2009 - me too. I’ll catch up with you over the next day or so.

Bye for now, RubyJean

I think I gained about five pounds, and I’m hoping to lose it over the next few weeks.