Today was a busy day. First appointment at 9 am, followed by errands, feeding Missy the Grandcat, picking up Sam and Lynnette at the airport and having lunch with them, a run by Starbucks, a chat with Rebekah, then dinner with Puffy Emily. No walking, no Curves (letting the body rest after yesterday afternoon's activity), no golf, no writing.
So where have my goals gone? One would think at this stage of the game, the eight would be my sole focus. It appears that one would be wrong.
The fact is that for the past several days, I haven't been working on my goals. Today I was busy. Yesterday I was sick. What will I be tomorrow? I don't know - I can just assure myself that the eight aren't missing, nor have I abandoned them.
My goals are still ever present - I have eight days left. One week from tomorrow I will be 50 years old. This will be an interesting week.
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Day Fifty-Seven Tosses Its Cookies; Nine Sipping on Ginger Ale
Ah... Best laid plans, and all that. Today started out on a good note. Although I slept in a bit, I got up, dropped off some old towels to the Humane Society, worked out at Curves, and recycled my paper and plastic. I had time to clean myself up and stop by to feed Missy The Grandcat before picking up Steve at the airport. All was going well, until Molly and Scout showed up.
The three of us made a decision to have lunch at our favorite Mexican food restaurant. This is when the day went awry. I have eaten at this particular establishment many times. I have also become deathly gastronomically ill on the same days. Coincidence? I thought perhaps, except there were times when I partook of said food and did not become ill. However, today was not to be one of those days.
After eating and a brief shopping spree at the Dollar Store, I returned home, took a sinus pill (thanks to 103 degree heat), and decided to take a nap. I woke later, feeling like a huge mountain had been placed on my body. This was a much-preferred feeling to the feeling that was about to happen. The next feeling was that of my stomach and all its attached organs deciding to protest my chosen lunch. It became quite a violent protest. I tried all my usual remedies. I ran cold water on my hands and on a washcloth to put on my head and neck. I lay on my bed. I lay on the floor. I prayed - a lot. I changed clothes to the loosest ones I could find. I turned on the shower, got in, then started running a bath. I got out of the bath, dressed, and went to the couch in the den. Finally, I just put my finger down my throat - I figured it really couldn't be any worse. BINGO!!! Without any graphic details, let's just say in thirty minutes, the protest was cancelled, as there was nothing left to protest about.
Needless to say, this took all of my afternoon. Once I was no longer writhing in agony, the most activity I could muster was to get my tonic of choice, ginger ale, and some crackers and lay on the couch to munch and sip. As of now, I am recovered. I have eaten waffles, a banana, and a bowl of Cheerios with no ill effects. I believe I have learned my lesson, and must say adios to former-favorite Mexican place!!
Was this a good day? Yes - I survived. But this is certainly not the way I envisioned spending the last ten days of this project.
The three of us made a decision to have lunch at our favorite Mexican food restaurant. This is when the day went awry. I have eaten at this particular establishment many times. I have also become deathly gastronomically ill on the same days. Coincidence? I thought perhaps, except there were times when I partook of said food and did not become ill. However, today was not to be one of those days.
After eating and a brief shopping spree at the Dollar Store, I returned home, took a sinus pill (thanks to 103 degree heat), and decided to take a nap. I woke later, feeling like a huge mountain had been placed on my body. This was a much-preferred feeling to the feeling that was about to happen. The next feeling was that of my stomach and all its attached organs deciding to protest my chosen lunch. It became quite a violent protest. I tried all my usual remedies. I ran cold water on my hands and on a washcloth to put on my head and neck. I lay on my bed. I lay on the floor. I prayed - a lot. I changed clothes to the loosest ones I could find. I turned on the shower, got in, then started running a bath. I got out of the bath, dressed, and went to the couch in the den. Finally, I just put my finger down my throat - I figured it really couldn't be any worse. BINGO!!! Without any graphic details, let's just say in thirty minutes, the protest was cancelled, as there was nothing left to protest about.
Needless to say, this took all of my afternoon. Once I was no longer writhing in agony, the most activity I could muster was to get my tonic of choice, ginger ale, and some crackers and lay on the couch to munch and sip. As of now, I am recovered. I have eaten waffles, a banana, and a bowl of Cheerios with no ill effects. I believe I have learned my lesson, and must say adios to former-favorite Mexican place!!
Was this a good day? Yes - I survived. But this is certainly not the way I envisioned spending the last ten days of this project.
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Day Fifty-Six Goes Thisaway; 10 Go Thataway
What does today's title mean? It means that I am busy doing things, but nothing to pursue my goals. It means I am getting a lot done, but none of it has to do with the eight. It means time is running out, and I'm beginning to get a little antsy. Either I want it to hurry up and be done, or I am just ignoring the situation.
That being said, I realize I have ten days left. Ten days to do something, to put more goals to bed, to achieve that which I set out to do 56 days ago. I have ten more days to put everything I've got into this. Let's just see what I can do in ten days.
That being said, I realize I have ten days left. Ten days to do something, to put more goals to bed, to achieve that which I set out to do 56 days ago. I have ten more days to put everything I've got into this. Let's just see what I can do in ten days.
Monday, August 13, 2007
Day Fifty-Five Goes the Speed Limit; 11 Speeding Up
Today started with a list that got longer. Some things got checked off, and the rest will go on tomorrow's list. All in all, it was a pretty productive Monday.
As far as my goals go, there is nothing significant to report. I ate recklessly, but I did Curve and walk. I thought about writing, but didn't take the time to do it. I looked at my golf clubs, but hung shelves instead.
Now it is late at night, and I am ready to sleep. Tomorrow will begin soon enough, and looks like it will be a full day. Today's post is short, but today wasn't a day for words. It was just a day to live and appreciate and experience. It was a good day.
As far as my goals go, there is nothing significant to report. I ate recklessly, but I did Curve and walk. I thought about writing, but didn't take the time to do it. I looked at my golf clubs, but hung shelves instead.
Now it is late at night, and I am ready to sleep. Tomorrow will begin soon enough, and looks like it will be a full day. Today's post is short, but today wasn't a day for words. It was just a day to live and appreciate and experience. It was a good day.
Sunday, August 12, 2007
Day Fifty-Four Eats Too Much; 12 Researching Diets
Today turned out to be "Eat A Bunch of Food" day. Molly, Scout, and I went to the Cheesecake Factory and ate. And ate and ate and ate. It was delicious, and I can't say I regret anything I ordered. However, I do question the idea of ordering so much food for one meal. There was only one thing to do after gorging ourselves - that would be to nap.
Unfortunately, I did not get to partake in the napping process, as I had a few tasks to complete. I also wanted to watch Tiger win the PGA Championship , hoping his skills would somehow transcend the television and soak into my being. While I don't think that happened, I did enjoy watching him play.
Now it is the end of the day, and I must say I am fairly satisfied with the way today turned out. I didn't get everything done I wanted to do, but I completed several projects that were meaningful to me. I didn't get a nap, but I should sleep well tonight (provided Shaggy the Cat decides to stay out all night). I didn't make any significant progress towards my goals, but I enjoyed a day free from focusing about them.
Tomorrow is Monday, and I have a lot of tasks planned, both related to my goals and to my life in general. I want to decide which of the eight are going to be life-long pursuits, and spend the remaining twelve days finding ways to incorporate these ideas into my daily life. I am seeing that these sixty-six days have developed many meanings, and it's time I started examining what those meanings are.
Today I did some things I enjoy and wanted to do. What a good way to spend the day.
Unfortunately, I did not get to partake in the napping process, as I had a few tasks to complete. I also wanted to watch Tiger win the PGA Championship , hoping his skills would somehow transcend the television and soak into my being. While I don't think that happened, I did enjoy watching him play.
Now it is the end of the day, and I must say I am fairly satisfied with the way today turned out. I didn't get everything done I wanted to do, but I completed several projects that were meaningful to me. I didn't get a nap, but I should sleep well tonight (provided Shaggy the Cat decides to stay out all night). I didn't make any significant progress towards my goals, but I enjoyed a day free from focusing about them.
Tomorrow is Monday, and I have a lot of tasks planned, both related to my goals and to my life in general. I want to decide which of the eight are going to be life-long pursuits, and spend the remaining twelve days finding ways to incorporate these ideas into my daily life. I am seeing that these sixty-six days have developed many meanings, and it's time I started examining what those meanings are.
Today I did some things I enjoy and wanted to do. What a good way to spend the day.
Saturday, August 11, 2007
Day Fifty-Three Catches Up; 13 Still Dilly-Dallying
Today started early. Lynnette and I had planned to start walking at 5:00 a.m., so when I awoke and saw the time was 4:00 a.m., I decided to go ahead, get up, and get ready. An hour later, we headed out. Neither of us really wanted to walk, but wouldn't say so. We just kept walking mile after mile. It was not pretty. At our Circle K stop, Lynnette got chocolate milk, and I got a 32 oz fountain drink. This certainly was not the snack of champions, but it refreshed us enough after nine miles to continue walking the remaining eight. Needless to say, we were thrilled when we finished, and even more thrilled when Molly and Scout brought lunch. The best news is that we've both made our goals, and today was the last long training walk!!
After lunch, the gang left, and I got busy doing all the paperwork tasks that have been piling up. I also got a few sewing projects completed. As of this moment, I am pretty much caught up, which is a good thing, since tomorrow is "Take It Easy Day." I'm still not sure what that means, but I think having no plan IS the plan.
Today was a day of accomplishments. Some were more difficult than others, some had been on the books longer than others, and some were quickly completed and checked off the list. But each one was important, because it had a part in making today the good day that it turned out to be.
After lunch, the gang left, and I got busy doing all the paperwork tasks that have been piling up. I also got a few sewing projects completed. As of this moment, I am pretty much caught up, which is a good thing, since tomorrow is "Take It Easy Day." I'm still not sure what that means, but I think having no plan IS the plan.
Today was a day of accomplishments. Some were more difficult than others, some had been on the books longer than others, and some were quickly completed and checked off the list. But each one was important, because it had a part in making today the good day that it turned out to be.
Friday, August 10, 2007
Day Fifty-Two Gets The Wrong Order; 14 Still Looking At The Menu
Today started out as an "Oh crap" day. What do I mean? Let me explain:
Oh Crap #1: Fairly soon after I get out of bed, I decided to weigh, and saw that I had GAINED half a pound. Not the best way to start the day. (However, later at noon I weighed again and found that I lost the half-pound. Go figure.)
Oh Crap #2: On my way to take my car in to be serviced, I stopped at the drive-through at Starbucks for a mocha LIGHT and a fat-free muffin. When I pull up to pay, I get my muffin, and a frap that is obviously NOT light, evidenced by the mountain of whipped cream oozing out of the lid. When I mention this to the barrista, she confirms that it is indeed NOT a light, and did I want a light one instead? Since it was rush hour, and there were about a million cars behind me, I decided to take that which I was served and move on. I looked at the bill, and the order person did put in a regular frap. So, here is my dilemma for today: should I have inconvenienced everyone in line and asked for what I ordered, or should I have done as I did and take what was put in the computer? This has happened to me twice at this particular Starbucks. Both times I took the non-light one. I think this is a test, and I'm not sure I'm passing.
Oh Crap #3: After catching a ride with the dealer's courtesy van, I arrived at home. I pulled up the race pictures from Sunday, and saw that I looked like a heifer, a cow, a huge lumbering massive bulk of a person. In other words, I think I looked HUGE (fat, chubby, ginormous)! This was extremely depressing, coming after the morning weigh-in and Starbucks issues.
A few months ago, after three such Oh-Crap moments in such a short period of time and so early in the day, I would have just written off the whole day and gone after a Big Mac. What did I do today? The only thing I could - I just had to laugh. It occurred to me that these were just things that started off my day. I could let them influence the rest of my day and have a bad day, or not. So I laughed and moved on.
Earlier on the ride home from the dealership, I had already decided that today was going to be an "in service day." When I taught, these were the days when the students stayed home, and teachers spent planning, grading, and completing the piles of paperwork so vital in education. Today was going to be that day for me. I didn't walk or Curve; instead I cleaned up my house a bit. It looks better and I feel better. I still have a mountain of paperwork to catch up on, but at least my workplace has a better atmosphere.
Today was a day I could have thrown away before it had barely gotten started. Instead I decided to acknowledge the sour parts but not let them ruin today. In the end, I was very happy with the way the day turned out. Today was a oh-crap day turned good.
Oh Crap #1: Fairly soon after I get out of bed, I decided to weigh, and saw that I had GAINED half a pound. Not the best way to start the day. (However, later at noon I weighed again and found that I lost the half-pound. Go figure.)
Oh Crap #2: On my way to take my car in to be serviced, I stopped at the drive-through at Starbucks for a mocha LIGHT and a fat-free muffin. When I pull up to pay, I get my muffin, and a frap that is obviously NOT light, evidenced by the mountain of whipped cream oozing out of the lid. When I mention this to the barrista, she confirms that it is indeed NOT a light, and did I want a light one instead? Since it was rush hour, and there were about a million cars behind me, I decided to take that which I was served and move on. I looked at the bill, and the order person did put in a regular frap. So, here is my dilemma for today: should I have inconvenienced everyone in line and asked for what I ordered, or should I have done as I did and take what was put in the computer? This has happened to me twice at this particular Starbucks. Both times I took the non-light one. I think this is a test, and I'm not sure I'm passing.
Oh Crap #3: After catching a ride with the dealer's courtesy van, I arrived at home. I pulled up the race pictures from Sunday, and saw that I looked like a heifer, a cow, a huge lumbering massive bulk of a person. In other words, I think I looked HUGE (fat, chubby, ginormous)! This was extremely depressing, coming after the morning weigh-in and Starbucks issues.
A few months ago, after three such Oh-Crap moments in such a short period of time and so early in the day, I would have just written off the whole day and gone after a Big Mac. What did I do today? The only thing I could - I just had to laugh. It occurred to me that these were just things that started off my day. I could let them influence the rest of my day and have a bad day, or not. So I laughed and moved on.
Earlier on the ride home from the dealership, I had already decided that today was going to be an "in service day." When I taught, these were the days when the students stayed home, and teachers spent planning, grading, and completing the piles of paperwork so vital in education. Today was going to be that day for me. I didn't walk or Curve; instead I cleaned up my house a bit. It looks better and I feel better. I still have a mountain of paperwork to catch up on, but at least my workplace has a better atmosphere.
Today was a day I could have thrown away before it had barely gotten started. Instead I decided to acknowledge the sour parts but not let them ruin today. In the end, I was very happy with the way the day turned out. Today was a oh-crap day turned good.
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