I Must Confess
I am not Catholic nor do I play one on TeeVee, but . . .
As you know I have stepped up my health consciousness and exercise routines. Last year it was walking, this year it’s running. Today I finished Week 5, Day 3 of the C25K training and I’m pleased with my progress. But that’s not the confession, oh nooooo.
CONFESSION: I am not a habitual snacker. I see treats on the table and take ’em or leave ‘em. I usually leave ‘em.
CONFESSION: I am not a nibbler. I take (big) bites, enjoy the treat and move on.
Well, Dr./Mr., in his thoughtfulness, bought me an 8 ounce package of Fig Newtons and a 12.60 ounce bag of m&m’s for work. That was very sweet (no pun intended). I forgot to bring them in on Tuesday. With a reminder on Wednesday, they made it to work.
I had eaten my breakfast and I was not really hungry when I opened my desk drawer and looked smack dab in the face of the unopened Fig Newtons. I figured I’d take a morning break and eat one or two.
CONFESSION: I eat cookies, candy, treats in sets of three.
CONFESSION: This is how I eat Newtons: bite into the center, chew a little bit and put the other half in my mouth. But I do that twice so I have a mouthful of Fig Newton goodness. I did the tongue-sweep across my top teeth and then repeat that same action across my bottom teeth. I chew enough for about half of those two newtons to be gone, then I do the same with a third newton.
With pocket cheeks resembling a squirrel, I’m shaking my head to the music, bouncing in my chair ever so slightly and I know there’s a big ol’ smile on my face.
Well, I am in the process of closing the box when I figure I’ve exercised enough to have another one . . . or two. But remember I eat Newtons in sets of three. So I repeat the steps listed above again. Then I remembered I had done the Daniel Fast and gave up sweets/desserts for 21 days. So I repeat the steps listed above again. And again. And again until there was not a Fig Newton in sight. Alllllll gone!
If you have 'em, you eat 'em!
That is correct. I ate the whole box of Newtons in one sitting. I could feel my stomach expanding with each swallow. My chair had mysteriously produced more padding in an instant. And I was very giddy — from the sugar, maybe?
As I confess to you, I am encouraging you to take everything in moderation. Exercise self-control. Finish chewing before you stuff more in your mouth. That way your exercising, dieting, self-denial will not be in vain.
BTW: The m&m’s? I took them home to be evenly divided into snack bags to be brought in over a lonnng period of time.
Have you ever started with just one little bite or taste and before it was over you had lost all semblances of control? Do tell.
Restless Black Sleep
I do not usually have dreams when I sleep. As my head is approaching the pillow, I’m already 3/4 sleep. However, from time to time I’ll have a dream and for the life of me, I’m not able to remember it or its details. So I was surprised when I had a dream and then actually remembered it.
I had finished with a presentation at an auditorium and was loading my materials in my car on the passenger side. A young lady gets in my car on the driver’s side, tells me to get in on the passenger side and I do. She said she liked my shiny black car and she just needed a ride for a couple of blocks. I agreed because I was still trying to figure out how I was riding and not driving. I could not figure out why I was not “uncomfortable” with this arrangement. But just as quickly, I became uncomfortable because we wer far from our starting point and far from the couple of blocks for her drop off point.
She had been driving cautiously and very carefully. Suddenly she made an erratic left turn into a gas station parking lot, pulled out again, almost hit a semi head on and took me to a half abandoned strip mall parking lot.
She told me to come on to the driver’s side, get in and go on my way. Without hesitation I was following her instructions. When it was time to close my door, she stooped down and grabbed by left hand. I thought she wanted to take my rings or cut off my wrist and take my jade bracelets. Then she did the Ray Charles-type feel up and down my arm, admired my nail polish and asked for spare change.
Until now she had not asked for or demanded anything. Now I’m reeeeeeaaalllll uncomfortable. I told her I had no spare change and I was ready to go. She did not release my arm without a forceful tug-of-war. I won out and sped away with sparks flying from under my car like I was driving on rims. I peeled out of there. The night sky turned a bright orange and I was sucked into an indescribable vortex and gently placed in my garage.
Did she want my spare change? Was she after the car? Are my nails that irresistible? In any case, here is the POTW:
Shiny Black Polish of the Week (POTW)
Snap, CRACKLE, Pop
Couldn’t end the week without sharing the crackle polish I did this week. Each finger looks different and took on a life of its own. Each had its own interpretation of the look. I had to get accustomed to the look. I like it now that it’s the end of the week. There will be more crackle to come.
The good news: One of my co-workers fell in love with this effect. So I am giving her the bottle of crackle polish that I used. Now I only have 95 bottles of polish — Woo Hoo!
See you next week *waving my hands in the air like . . . *
Mama Sez It Twice To The Tag
I have tagged:
Rules
You must post 11 random things about yourself.
Answer the questions the tagger set for you in their post.
Create 11 new questions for the people you tag to answer.
Go to their blog and tell them that you’ve tagged them.
11 Random Things About Me
1. I can finally use the word “organized” when speaking of my nail polishes. YAY!!
2. I am more torn than ever about retiring.
3. I am walking (around the parking lot) with a co-worker who needs a boost in starting her walking/exercise program. This is my compassionate side showing 
4. I thought I waited until the last-minute to do stuff. Now I think I am a way-in-advance planner and implementor. I am basically packed for my trip to South Africa coming up in March/April!
5. I wish I lived closer to my grands — kinda, sometimes – so I could be a part of their day-to-day activities.
6. I am content with doing “nothing” on the weekend and still say it was a good weekend. I’m satisfied.
7. I do not know when or why I started losing my mind and my hair. I can fake being sane and having good sense I cannot fake having hair 
8. I may be a latent hoarder. I need to make a commitment to buying no more tea until my stash is half of what it is now. I’ll show you my tea cabinet sometime.
9. I want a six-pack — abs not beer. Exercise and diet are not getting it for me. I think this is middle age spread. It’s just that I am well past middle age unless I live to be 142 or so.
10. I’ve learned that money CANNOT buy happiness. But if you look closely, you’ll find that money and happiness often shop in the same stores.
11. I think I have documentable AACDS – Adult Attention Creative Deficit Syndrome. I start projects with more enthusiasm than a first grader with new shoes and almost finish most of the projects sometimes. Then I move on to something else closely related or totally new. I need to reel myself in!
- Meal, not so much. I always get compliments on my cheese cake and on my poppy seed cake.
- I would love to live in Bangkok. The cost of living is low enough for money not to be an issue. The issue would be the language barrier, but … The people are some of the friendliest, most helpful, aware and involved people I have met anywhere on the 7 continents.
- We have 4
wonderful,appreciative,loving,sharing,model,focused,mature,successful,God-fearing,contentchildren. OK, that’s the list I would hope for for all 4. However, at any given time the number on this list ranges from 1 to 4 of them. So the lesson that I hope i taught and that they learned is: this is your life to make of it what you will with the preparation that you have.
- Nope. Well maybe I would have invited a couple more of my friends and 10 to 20 less friends of my mother’s
- Mmmm — Adventurous, Informed, No-nonsensical
- Traveling — for sports, school activities, visiting family and friends and to say I’ve been there and seen that with my own eyes! That has carried over nicely into my adult life with Dr./Mr. For this I am thankful!
- Dr./Mr. — my husband of 40 years. Of course, he is not always trying to make me laugh. He’s just
some kinda crazy differentfunny.
- I’ll eat cottage cheese now. I had to acquire the taste for it.
- I have 3 first things: 1) tithe; 2) hire Grambling’s marching band to parade me around campus to announce my retirement (that has been my lottery-winning dream for a lonnnnnng time); 3) take all my children on an all expense paid long vacation.
- !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!BUTTER PECAN ICE CREAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
- Blogging. It offers me more space for expression. I’ve “met” new and wonderful people. I can express myself without be judged. I do not have to worry explaining to those I know because I am anonymous!
My 11 Questions from Nerd Girl
1. Is there anything you’ll eat one way, but not another? (Like I can’t stand raw tomatoes, but love them cooked. Vice versa for carrots.)
- I will eat boiled eggs, scrambled eggs, poached eggs, even potato salad with egg garnish. I will not each FRIED eggs no matter if the sunny side is up or down!
2. Where’s your favorite vacation spot?
- SpotS — Costa Rica and Thailand
3. What 5 things would you grab if your home were about to be destroyed?
- That mutton fat jade and other precious stones necklace that I paid waaaaaay too much for 25 years or so ago. It was worth every cent! I still get compliments on it every time I wear it.
4, What are you listening to right now?
- Quincy Jones — Juke Joint – Is It Love That We’re Missing
5. What’s the most you’d spend on a purse?
- Under duress – $100
6. Do you think we’d get a long in real life?
- This is as real as it gets — YEP!
7. Do you have a monthly clothing budget?
- Nope.
8. What do you do when you’re bored?
- Read and Sleep (not necessarily in that order). Add eat has been added to the list as of late.
9. What surprises you most about being an adult?
- I think “they” think I have more answers than I do. Life is trial and error. Each trial should eliminate more of the errors.
10. Do you love your hairstyle?
- No! I miss my locs more than I ever thought I would *dragging sweater sleeve across my nose*
11. Who’s your favorite Golden Girl?
- Dorothy–straight shooter, direct, saving everyone a lot of time
My 11 Questions To You
- If you could rename yourself, what would your new name be?
- Did you prefer your teen years or your 21 and over years? Why?
- What non-family member has influenced your life and some of your choices?
- Coffee or tea or juice?
- What does the color orange remind you of? Is that a good memory for you?
- How old is too old to ____________ ?
- What is the one thing you keep promising yourself you will do that you have not done yet?
- Do you prefer the mountains or the beach? Why?
- What’s the last book you finished? Did you like it? Why?
- Who is your favorite female vocalist? Male vocalist?
- What did you have for breakfast to start you this morning?
I hope all of you have a GREAT weekend!
What is Happening to my Comments on BlogSpot?
I’m sure some of you think I’m not reading and wanting to comment. That is not the case at all. I’m not a computer tech or whiz, nor do I play one on TV. But to all my BlogSpot friends, I cannot get my comments to post. I have signed in, typed in the secret password (more than once), tried cutting and pasting the comment. NOTHING!! FAILURE!!
I can’t get any of these things to work. !!UGH!! I am frustrated. Have WP users managed to successfully post a comment on BlogSpot? Is anyone else having this problem or is it just me?
HELP!!!!!
Clyburn Park
We have gone to quite a few performances of late and almost back-to-back. But sometimes a performance touches a raw nerve and you keep pondering more and more of its meanings and intentions. Such is the case with the play “Clyburn Park” by Bruce Norris.
I think of it as a sequel, if you will, to “A Raisin in the Sun (ARITS)” by Lorraine Hansberry. In actuality it is a starting point for examining attitudes and “truths” we hold dear. The connecting character in Clyburn Park is the grand-niece of Lena, the matriarch who originally purchased the new home.
The play forces, yes forces, you to re-examine your race consciousness, your neighbors and neighborhood, and the labels we use when we are uncomfortable with differences.
Act I focuses on our past while Act II examines the reality of our present. The writing/performance presents topics that can make you titter from being uncomfortable with a line. It can make you cringe because you come face to face with biases that you thought were resolved. You can gasp when the dialogue becomes a stinging prick below the surface of your beliefs. Those beliefs do not look good on the stage for review.
We do not know what happened to the Youngers from “ARITS” but we can see the impact that the purchase of a home for a better life for the family had on the characters in this play 50 years later.
I do not know if it will come to your area but know that I strongly recommend it for your theatre outing. It entertains(?) and awakens a deeper meaning to life.
All Together (Part II)
I could not get my nail photo to show up in the first part of this post. So here is the end of the previous post
Polish of the Week
All Together Now
Here is the before in my trusted, tried and true basket
- Who knows what’s in here?
Now, let’s see my organizing tools come into play. I got 2 different ones because the plastic will eventually be a container in my craft room. The bamboo will be re-purposed for decorative purposes.
Perfect see-through tray!
More decorative and to be reused
Geez, I need a little more room . . .
Finished! I was soooo excited. I could not decide which color to use, so here it is. Polish Of The Week (POTW) -- Color Unknown by Sally Girl from Sally's
More Stuff About My Life
One of my students came in to tell me that one his professors, a co-worker of mine, is doing the C25K this year. I just checked with the professor and we will be looking from some mutually convenient 5K to run together. Who knew?
I’m doing the Daniel Fast along with all the members of my church. As far as my diet, I am not eating any desserts nor am I drinking anything but water. In case you were wondering, I really miss my tea, especially this time of the year and I have a new chai recipe to try. Anyhow I have found that warm water can be almost, not quite but almost as relaxing. Try it. The thing/stuff I’ve given up is TV for 3 nights a week. I needed something to fill these 2 gaps. So I’m deep cleaning throughout the house instead of watching TV. And this is what I found to eat:
and
I find myself getting nostalgic after the Christmas holidays. The routineness of life can settle in for another year. But memories keep rushing in and bringing inner joy and peace. I found this quote today: “Don’t you wish the friends you haven’t seen in a while could be aware of all the moments you think of them and smile?” — B. Jensen Why not call a friend today or this week and share a positive word with them?
And my nails this week look like this. Can you see that I waited a day too long to post this picture? Please ignore the slight imperfection toward the tips. Nice color though, huh?
Week One of 2012 — Done!
Everything is off to a good start. Feeling healthy, eating well, Daniel fasting, light work load, paying bills on time – Woo Hoo!
- I started the c25K training and I’m seeing this as a great way to stay in shape. I only have to run 3 days a week! I have already seen a (positive) difference in my physique. I’ve run and been on the Daniel Fast since Sunday. I’ve lost 3 pounds! Oh yeah, this is good.
- I have chosen my recipe for the weekend/month. I’m making spanakopita. I’ll report on that later.
- This whole work thing is getting in the way of my
likes,hobbies, web browsing. I have so many ideas and potential projects lined up I can hardly keep my seat. My major one is an organization system for my nail polish. Found some interesting possibilitiesyesterday,today, all this week while at work. I’ll be checking into those over the weekend. - My nails looked like this all week. Dr./Mr. is even offering suggestions on combinations for me to try. Did I mention that he hates the smell of nail polish? But he loves the results. Go figger.
- Going to see Fela this weekend. Should be good.
- Bought a book for my Droid phone. I’ll have to see if I like this reading as well as my eReader.
- Temperatures have been in the mid 70′s to mid 80′s — NIIIIICE!
Only 51 weeks left in 2012. Make ‘em count!
