Kat, how Royally proud you made me! What a loss! Savor that extra time and do try to put "you" things higher. ( I know, I know, I didn't but you're supposed to learn from your elders.)

I'm in the "I could have done worse" mode too AND the good days, bad days mode. Did get to Fitness Center today, that's a point. Going tomorrow too.

Ok, so much for plans When painters came today, they said there's too much work yet to be done to keep coming after their day jobs. They need a weekend. Well, guess what, folks? The next weekend I'd be able to do this is the last weekend in July. But I want a GOOD job and they want to do one. So they're painting my closets so I can put stuff back in them and the rest of the next five weeks, the walls will be a nice shade of old white and drywall gunk. What was that I said about my post vacation plans?

But a Royal deals with stresses and, truth be told, there was so much going on in my life right now that it will be a relief in a way to have some extra time to get things together.

Now I'm off to read Royal Arabella's piece.

Oh, just loved the article, Arabella. What a delightful, resourceful little DGS you have. How that little brain clicks! Just delightful!!

Hello all!

Do you remember me?? Do I remember me?

I hope everyone is well! I am excited to read your article Wood Nymph!

I need to quickly water the garden but I will be back!
Now that I've gotten past this first post back, I know I am in the right place!~

There's no place like home!

Well, watering the garden turned out to be unnecessary as thunderstorms rolled through unexpectedly. For a couple hours which meant I never got back to turn the computer back on.

I am ready for the great adventure this morning!
I really am motivated to feel better and get beyond the SUGAR cravings.

Even watering the garden last night gave me some extra energy I really havent been feeling much lately.

Here's today's thought:

***

Thought of the day:

"I still find each day too short for all the thoughts I want to think, all the walks I want to take, all the books I want to read, and all the friends I want to see."

- John Burroughs, essayist and naturalist


Question of the day:

"Who is your favorite comedian?"

****


Here's to a productive day!

Hi there, Kaylets. Good to see you. Missed your inspiration. And what a lovely thought.

Favorite comedian; mmm, requires thought. Used to like Alan King a lot. Love Steve Carell but I guess he's a funny guy not really a comedian.

What a mess I'm in here. Yikes - even getting two closets back together is going to take all day and that's not even doing them the way I'd like to be. It's just "dust and shove", sort of. Started out taking all the shelves out and doing the "other sides" which hand't been done. It was do that or take all the stuff out later (like in a couple of years . So that paint is drying, I have the few odd pieces of furniture bravely back in place and trying to make the place look "normal". So now I'm taking a break on the PoP&C and giving it a REAL challenge. Lots of deep cleaning going to be needed but not going to worry about that until the job is totally done, W A Y down the road.

And I have an appt. w/trainer at three. I'll tell ya - it's enuf to test a s composure. But nothijng really to be gained by fussing about it so I will slog on and might not get it all done today. Breaking the day up with other (also necessary) chores might help a bit.

Had the rain as well, Kaylets, but not much. More wind than rain, I expect, because a two chairs and a potted plant were blown over. So the patio, blown off yesterday, will need it again once the remaining soil dries enough to be blown.

Good news is that it is still only about 10:00 so I have time for a lot yet today even with very frequent rests and breaks.

And IT IS A BEAUTIFUL SUMMER DAY

I just had one of those *forehead to palm* DOH! moments as I tried to figure out why I haven't wanted to post here lately. It has nothing to do with all you lovely royals, but it has a lot to do with my lack of feeling like I'm accomplishing anything worth reporting. I need to shift my ticker back up, and it is just about killing me thinking about it.

I've been kicking myself for not making this work, and I've been struggling with the "why" of my plan not working for me, but I've just come to the realization of what is going on. Since school let out I have been working out, and I have been walking. In fact, I've been doing more of both than I have in a very long time. This is a good thing, and I should expect to see the work reflected in scale numbers. The reason those numbers aren't showing is that I haven't been food planning like I did before. I decided at the first of the year that I wasn't going to journal my food because it often turns into an obsession with me instead of being a healthy tool. What I didn't realize until just now is that even though I wasn't writing down everything I was eating, I was still making a solid food plan and keeping to it every day of the week. I had my breaky foods all worked out and the same for my lunch. The only variable was dinner, and that was moderately easy to control with a larger portion of vegetables and a smaller portion of whatever carb we were offering that evening. My food planning was, in essence, working in the same manner as journaling does for so many others, and I don't have that right now. That should be easy enough to fix. I have no idea why it didn't occur to me earlier, though. Again with the DOH!

Arabella, I didn't get to read your article! Please send an attachment; I really don't want to miss it. Also, a 21 day challenge sounds about the right length to me. No chance to dilly-dally along the way.

Kaylets, it is so good to see you! I've been wondering if everything was well with you and hoping you would return to us soon. Comedians, huh... George Carlin was always a favorite of mine. I loved his irreverent style. And I hate that we now get to speak of him in the past tense.

Anagram, sounds like you have a good, solid attitude all the way around. I love your promise to take the summer off--it reminded me of what I'm supposed to be doing.

wsw, you've been working awfully hard lately, from the sounds of things. Congratulations on maintaining your dainty portions, as well as all the work you've been doing on your home front.

Kat, WOW! You seriously nailed the solstice challenge! I am so impressed! Seems like you've been busy doing for others, but you've also, obviously, been keeping time for you in there as well. Keep up the good work!

I've got to get moving before my morning 100% escapes me. First on my list is the gym, second is some hardcore deep cleaning because it turns out we might have a house guest this weekend. Yikes!

Andria

Hello all!


Thanks for the kind words... and Silver, you put into words much of what I have been feeling too.....not having anything to report is very much how I've been feeling....

But.... we really do have something....

We're still in it to WIN it....

We WANT to be a LOSER.....

And....

I had a fairly good food day yesterday.....

Hoping that today will be easier.....

So....

I'm off to avoid traffic.

Anagram, just read the article. It was lovely! Your grandson cracked me up as well.

Confession moment. I would start a new thread, except I have no idea what to call it.
I'm heading downstairs to make breaky, then it is off to the gym with me. I'm doing a really decent job getting back into shape there. My last workout showed me as having burned 626 calories. In January, the last time I was working out (ouch, hard to admit!), I was only burning 390-425 a workout. Progress, definitely.

Andria

Add me to the list of those slow to post when I'm not doing well. And calorie wise, I'm not. Certainly have been moving though in one way or another.

wsw, I'm still opening the closet doors and admiring the neatness of it all - almost every time I pass either one

Anyway, tomorrow morning I leave w/a friend for a weekend in Charles Town WV with horseracing and casinos. I'm sure we'll have a ball. Will be back Sunday.

And in the way of the Fates - DSs 25th high school reunion is this weekend so he'll be here while I'm there. However, he's treating himself to another pleasure tomorrow so will be coming in fairly late tonight so I'll get to give him a leetle hug anyway. I'll be spending LOTS of time with him on the next trip.

I'm almost ready to go which is amazing in itself. I don't know how that happened while I was whirling around doing all sorts of things. Even cleaned out the car!

Heat wave returning here. Last few days were SO nice - maybe that's how I managed to get so much accomplished.

Anyway, when I come back wholly broke, I hope I can find breadcrumbs.