a present to myself

So, what do you think? I went looking for a handmade sushi set on Etsy... and, of course, I was lost in the search for days...until I found mudpuppy. And now I just have to wait for the mail to come. I almost hope they don't get here for New Years so that I have an excuse to get sashimi twice in one week! mmmmmmmmm tuna...

High sugar = low me

Four days of high sugar, high fat gorging at the kitchen troff has reminded me of why I choose not to eat this way anymore. Boy, does it make me feel shitty. I have no energy. I'm kind of saddish, not for any particular reason, just kind of not smiling. Couchy. Bla.
Not doing that again. Next holiday, I will not allow this to happen. I will encourage my sister to host all holidays from now on, so that it is her refrigerator and not mine that bursts with this killer feast. That's not very nice. But, what else do I do? My mother brought an entire grocery isle with her. I don't know if she thought we were having more people than usual or if she thought that I wouldn't know to purchase food for our gathering. Gee, mom, thanks... I never would have thought of crackers. Good thing you brought 4 boxes!!!
The pie, the cookies, the trifle...geezum crow, fat was just in the damn air! I had to dump it all yesterday in an effort to save myself. I thought the boys would eat it up, but, as it turns out, depriving them of this junk has made them not crave it so much. So, against all of my urges to conserve and not waste, I had to throw it all into the trash. And, now I am free.
Last night I had a glass of red and broth for dinner. I am literally still full from Sunday and it's Tuesday! I could live off of my own reserves for weeks! GROSS.

Survival

Made it though the holidays without so much as a scratch. It was easy. The shopping was quick and easy. The cooking was a breeze. The family gathering was fun and jovial. This holiday was nothing but a pleasure. My waistline surely shows that, too.
oh.... the gin and the red red wine, the french meat pie and the cookies of all kinds and the scallops and bacon, chicken wings, dip and the sashimi and the maki and oh god the trifle and pie... and my belly is hurting now because I have been completly overfilling full for the last 4 days in a row.
The spirit was great! Even the boys had such moments of love and giving that I nearly cried. N & D wrapped up some of their own beongings to give to us all and each other. I got the tape measure that I had lost months ago. Thanks, D. Of course N gave it to him and said "you should give this to mom". Very funny, guys. They played games that didnt plug in and laughed until coke came out of nostrils and joy was spread all over the house. Literally, ALL OVER THE HOUSE.
Bring on january with nothing on the horizon except snow, cleaning, and rebirth. What to become in 2010? hmmm

The weather outside is frightful

Yet, life is so delightful!
The back is on the mend. I finally got a doc to listen and do some tests. I am now in my third week or PT and feeling better every day. I have way too much to do this month to be stuck in bed in pain.
Lots going on here on the hillside... we've had snow more than once and it is the most beautiful place to witness the flakes falling. When it snows, I head outside and it's tough to bring myself to go back in at all. I'll be cold and wet and smiling as long as the snow falls. Now, it's just freezing cold and no fun at all. Everything is ice this morning and the weeks weather is cold cold cold with no sign of snow. Boooooo.
The mountain is open now and on the first night the boys went, D fell backwards and smashed his helmet. Cracked the thing open and a broke a chunk right off! Yes, but it wasn't his head. Thank you, helmet! I would much rather have a broken helmet then a broken boy. Helmets save lives!
Ice hockey has also begun, and the driving and craziness of it all has already started. If I ever win the lottery, I am building an ice rink in the district! (preferably right down the street from my house!)
And, if we didn't already have enough going on, I signed on to American Bulldog Rescue to volunteer and be a foster home for needy AB's. The thought of just one of those giant sweethearts being put to death because there's no room in the shelter and the family they once knew can no longer care for them... well, it was just too much for me to handle without doing something.
It's December and I'm feeling good. I'm not stressed out over the upcoming holiday. I'm not stressed about money. Granted, I could always use more, but, we have a roof over our head and food in our bellies. We have love and warmth and a damn good life. Anything more is just a bonus.

paranoid

My back hurts. A lot. More and more each time, in intervals of monthly to twice monthly. 14 days out of 30 last month. What the hell is it? Four...is it five? years ago, the new PCP listens and says "sounds like sciatica, here's some muscle relaxer." No x-ray. No follow up. Here's some pills, see ya, goodbye. It's all these years later and it's not going away and I don't want to take any more muscle relaxers, they don't work, except to knock me out so that I don't feel ANYTHING for a couple hours. I am hunched over and it hurts to sit and stand. The only thing that feels good is to be on my back with one knee bent. This is not an option.
Calling doc tomorrow.

The lady with the little hat

Or the little lady with the hat... it's been forgotten!
My little man invited me to the Halloween Parade at his school yesterday. I love seeing his face, seeing him with his friends. He was strutting around the field like an almost 10 year old boy does. Parents are happily clicking away to keep building that scrapbook. Princesses, devils, Darth, Stromtroopers, Luigi (my personal fave), cheerleaders... No candy. No party games. Just a double around the school track and a photo op at the end. Sign em out, bring em home.
This is Halloween? This is what you guys will do with an hour to celebrate a long standing tradition? Why bother to do anything at all?
I feel bad, because I thought the whole thing was stupid. Am I a party pooper or was this no party at all?

Gentle leader

http://www.buygentleleader.com/View.aspx?page=dogs/products/behavior/gentleleader/description

Best product ever to stop a dog from pulling on the leash without digging spikes into their neck.

I will let you know, however, that this product only works if you use it. Don't be swayed by sad eyes and head shaking at first. This ingenius invention makes walks with my muscle machine dog a joy. It is a strap over the snout and it is tethered so that if the dog pulls, their chin is pulled gently down to their chest. Sounds crazy? Works like a charm.

I did not get paid to say this, I bought mine on the advice of my vet when I had Ginger and it was 25 bucks well spent.