Good Day--Weight Loss and Coffee

I've had a good day. I'm sitting at a new coffee shop that opened up. It's local. I like local coffee.

I had work this morning. Yay! I like my job, and I like money, so it was good. :-) I ate lunch in the break room. Then, I ran errands. I went to the store, went to the post office, did a little gift shopping (didn't get anything). Then, I came to coffee. I've got 23 handwritten pages (approx. 20 double spaced, typed pages). Oh, of my new story for workshop. I was going to work on it more, but I might wait until this evening or tomorrow.

Also, I've been steadily gaining weight over the last two years. My clothes were becoming too small, and I don't have the money for a new wardrobe right now. So, at the beginning of October, I started counting calories and trying to exercise more. Since then, I've lost 10 pounds, 2.5", and dropped a pants size. So, ironically, I might have to get a new wardrobe afterall. But I'm super excited. For the first time in my adult life, I'm within the healthy weight range for women my age and height. I'm small boned, so I've got more to lose, but it feels good. I walked approx. 3.1 miles this morning at approx. 3.5 mph. That feels good too.

Well, it's getting dark, and I ought to go by the library on my way home. Talk with you later!

Veteran's Day

I know it's late, but before I got to bed, I just wanted to thank everyone who has fought or is fighting for our country and our freedom.

Thank you to the veterans of WWI and WWII
Thank you to the veterans of the Korean War
Thank you to the veterans of Vietnam
Thank you to the veterans of Gulf Wars One and Two
Thank you to the veterans of the wars and skirmishes I know I'm forgetting. It's late, and I've always been bad at recent history.
And thank you to everyone else who has fought in wars and battles big and small, protecting the American people and our American values.

May God bless you.

Birthday and Cleaning the Garage

I've had a crazy but awesome week. Paul's birthday was last Wednesday, so I made him baked stuffed tomatoes and cherry crumble pie. Friday, some friends came into town. We had Polynesian chicken with rice and stir fry veggies followed by homemade, 3 layer German's chocolate cake (my great-grandmother's recipe). Mmmm--but full of calories.

Saturday, we went to a wedding reception. I got to meet some of Paul's friends and chat with some of my friends. Sunday, we were going to go to an airshow, but it was raining. Instead, we played a 3 hour game of Settlers of Catan. I won. :-D That's one game I do okay at. I'm not too bad at Spades either, even though I am still learning (that's a joke).

Last Thursday, I cleaned out our garage. Well, only one half of it. I went through the boxes my sister and I hadn't gone through since we moved. I found some interesting things. Por examplo:

A Burger King bag from when The Lion King had just come out. Their faces look kind of like mine did when I found that bag. . . .
Cups from the theme park 11 years ago . . .

Yes, it was about time I went through the garage. If I'm brave, I'll go through the stuff Paul and I have stored there in another week or so. But before then, I have some craft projects to work on.

Oh, and how could I forget? Another interesting thing I found in the garage was a half decayed, dead rat. He smelled awful, and I was not pleased that I had to deal with him. I hope I don't find any more out there . . . At least I was prepared with my handy-dandy ufilly belt! (if anybody knows that that's from, points to you! And Karen, you'd better know . . .)

Hope everybody has a good week!