tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-62653629408380964832024-03-12T22:21:07.741-07:00A Work In Progress...djdjd04http://www.blogger.com/profile/11505371470238707568noreply@blogger.comBlogger58125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6265362940838096483.post-47077201714649991842013-04-03T08:06:00.000-07:002013-04-03T08:40:17.889-07:0015 Years...<br />
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It's been well over a year… and I haven't been compelled to blog. Not sure why… I guess it's just life happening. It's not like I haven't had PLENTY on my mind... plenty of new and wonderful things going on in my life... a few extra craptacular things happened as well... but I figured at some point something would happen to inspire me to mosey on over to this here blog and post something.<br />
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Today is April 3. 2013. Fifteen years ago, my big sister, Deanna, became a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Those who knew Deanna, know that after her family and close friends? ...there was nothing she loved more than her beloved sorority. I'm not gonna lie… I didn't get it. I didn't get it when Kimberly pledged in 1992, and I still didn't get it when Deanna pledged in 1998. My connection to sororities and pledging was largely wrapped up in the memories of seeing Kimberly pledge at Tuskegee. She was tired a lot. I would fill late night requests for panty hose and peanut butter & jelly sandwiches to be left at her house for her when she finally got home from long days and late nights. But the night I got the call that her line was "crossing"… she was so incredibly happy that I forgot about all the pain I <u>perceived</u> her to be in during that time. Deanna's pledging experience was different than Kimberly's. But I was there on April 3, 1998, when she officially crossed over into Delta-Land. I remembered that same happy, tear-stained face that I had witnessed 6 years earlier on Kimberly.<br />
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Delta was their thing… Deanna & Kimberly's thing… sometimes I thought maybe I was missing out on some sisterly bonding by not being a Delta as well, but we had our own little sorority… DKD: Deanna Kimberly Darlene. LOL! Very exclusive!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"It's a DKD thang... you wouldn't understand!"</td></tr>
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Whenever the Inglewood Alumnae chapter of DST would have a line, Deanna would call me…<br />
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Riiiing!<br />
Me: Hey, Skleeanna! (that's what I called her)<br />
Dee: Guess whaaaaat? Inglewood Alumnae is having a line!<br />
Me: Oh girl… I told you the day I decide to pledge, you will be the FIRST to know. Hell, you might know before I do! Haaaaa!<br />
Dee: Awww Pookie… Delta <b>NEEDS</b> you!<br />
Me: Guuuuurl, Delta doesn't need me… because Delta has YOU!<br />
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Seriously… we had this conversation ALL THE TIME. But I didn't get it. And at that point, my idea of a Delta was Deanna (aka "Super Delta"… aka "Delta on Fire"), and I figured I'd need to love Delta like that to pledge. And I didn't… because I really didn't get it.<br />
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You want to know when I "got it" for the first time? <br />
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When I walked into New Mercies Christian Church on December 8, 2012… for Deanna's Omega Omega memorial service... When I saw the ocean of Deltas dressed in black to formally say goodbye to their soror… their sister. Easily 400+ women there for my sister… their sister. Something clicked in my head… "Hmmm... this is more than just a club… these women really, really love my sister." I sat on the front row of chairs with my dad to the left of me and an empty chair to the right of me that held a box of Kleenex. My mom was next to my dad, and I believe Kimberly was next to her. On the row behind us? Kimberly's line sisters… many of whom had just spent time and money coming to homecoming for their line's 20th anniversary. Falona flew in from Denver. Kimberly's "Big Girls" were there… there to support their line sister… there to say goodbye to their soror… their sister. It was all so eye-opening to me… the one thing that would make me start to understand Deanna & Kimberly's love for Delta was losing the most incredible Delta I knew. Stacey flew in from Cleveland… Jackie Brown came from Philly… Kim Barnette came from DC… Deanna's best friend, Deborah, came from California. These Deltas… Deanna's friends… Deanna's sorors... Deanna's sisters, came from near and far to say goodbye. <br />
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At one point, someone was singing… and my dad and I kinda lost it. Before I could even reach for a new piece of tissue, Kimberly's line sister, Marrakesha, was by my side with her arm around me. And she never left. You see… MY sisters have all of these "sisters"… who are kind of like my big sisters as well. Since we lost Deanna, I have been in contact with so many of her sorority sisters all across the country. Wow… these women LOVE my sister. And that makes me feel good.<br />
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So today… April 3, 2013… I'm a bit melancholy. Sad that my sister isn't here to celebrate her 15 year anniversary with her beloved Deltas. Sad that I can't call & wish her well today. Sad that I can't ask her what kind of trouble she and her line sister, Kimberley, are getting into tonight. Sad that she isn't here to celebrate the centennial all year with her beloved Deltas… she was so looking forward to all of this. I'm sad right now… but I will celebrate for her… and I will smile, laugh & be happy. I will celebrate my sister-- line name: Set it Off (how perfect is that name? LOL!) and I will celebrate her line sisters (The 13 Stages of Evolution) as I wish them a happy 15 year Deltaversary.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The 13 Stages of Evolution</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9QnOW2UnesontLLtG2_txucd5aDMs8QmGVhN6I64PobGRdMYgM5WxjIRM3F65m-729yWSZ8FSfefLhYmnuDGa2yK48BtgMOvG8UTJVrvA-XItIDIouTgPPxPkdAtMhA_X_VYB5vAkxYKE/s1600/KandD.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9QnOW2UnesontLLtG2_txucd5aDMs8QmGVhN6I64PobGRdMYgM5WxjIRM3F65m-729yWSZ8FSfefLhYmnuDGa2yK48BtgMOvG8UTJVrvA-XItIDIouTgPPxPkdAtMhA_X_VYB5vAkxYKE/s320/KandD.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#7 Jagged Edge (Kimberley) and #3 Set It Off (Deanna)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEYmlYDpKOkElx1hkGGkxYdQqN-F0428Loklpm13ZKhrFqfhyphenhyphenfAgGbHDyn4KLwnZZriM5FpPvJ3T-MdvrVUvfeoABcMCxAFo1nEnBvD0NdidPHpCNSwmzxWiZljezhgC-jzxHpY6a1FWTT/s1600/linesisters.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEYmlYDpKOkElx1hkGGkxYdQqN-F0428Loklpm13ZKhrFqfhyphenhyphenfAgGbHDyn4KLwnZZriM5FpPvJ3T-MdvrVUvfeoABcMCxAFo1nEnBvD0NdidPHpCNSwmzxWiZljezhgC-jzxHpY6a1FWTT/s320/linesisters.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Line Sisters: Deanna, Erica & Kimberley</td></tr>
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If you're a member of a sorority or a fraternity… or any group/club… spend some time today thinking of how you can recommit yourself to your organization. Deanna would like that.<br />
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Happy Deltaversary, Sissy.<br />
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I love and miss you more than words can express...<br />
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Your baby sis,<br />
Pookiedjdjd04http://www.blogger.com/profile/11505371470238707568noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6265362940838096483.post-66451972551904690632011-11-13T11:45:00.000-08:002011-11-13T11:45:02.116-08:00Hair Chronicles...Hey Hey Hey... I'm back with a blog! Today's blog is prompted by my recent hair changes. My hair has always been about shoulder length... never much longer since I've been an adult. I have naturally curly hair. Every other week, I go to the hair salon & have my curly hair washed, blow dried, pressed & flat ironed.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnVqGOtVEEFpfVSpE8MjXNeAiXz8adZovTqBaEQShYbZh_nN1c-6p6X1amCAYNjE_hFVRsQdU30dlsc6wDD74VJZywL0FG8POA8c1vFHNZYNKAIQISkETm9uX34U4l1qquObQqF1KqDta_/s1600/224631_2057705405989_1345258006_2517129_737284_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnVqGOtVEEFpfVSpE8MjXNeAiXz8adZovTqBaEQShYbZh_nN1c-6p6X1amCAYNjE_hFVRsQdU30dlsc6wDD74VJZywL0FG8POA8c1vFHNZYNKAIQISkETm9uX34U4l1qquObQqF1KqDta_/s320/224631_2057705405989_1345258006_2517129_737284_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Straight hair look...</td></tr>
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For my 40th Birthday bash, I had my stylist of nearly 15 years, Desiree, put a little "extra" hair in just for fun... this look was just glued in tracks that lasted about a week...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHaKsV2HD49cC0PucABipJLiZjx_jo0Wu797CwyHhQ5c8HctZxo5P6bUNN4UuF363Lc0MN0ldyKVM_zzr2Aop10TkQKF5J59JFbRG4csyGFWcTWd7aEbKEpY7pMw7jxAtN3g5SAROIp4Kv/s1600/282583_2306975037574_1345258006_2816838_3057544_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHaKsV2HD49cC0PucABipJLiZjx_jo0Wu797CwyHhQ5c8HctZxo5P6bUNN4UuF363Lc0MN0ldyKVM_zzr2Aop10TkQKF5J59JFbRG4csyGFWcTWd7aEbKEpY7pMw7jxAtN3g5SAROIp4Kv/s320/282583_2306975037574_1345258006_2816838_3057544_n.jpg" width="295" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">40th Birthday Party, July 23, 2011</td></tr>
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Not to be confused with last summer's long hair... that look was a full head of sewn in weave... lasted about 3 months... Super easy, and I loved it!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDNY05ym-i0u0aGaaNcoAkQh_iJez97v6rkhMIIlCK4AQbByE1ZakzAXI40yHBrbagVkUuuwwEIPt-mhWydTYyGDbauD8zyCfXlh0g729eGvtVDdCgBuQAOx81pzrYd58BJkUbL8ndXH7D/s1600/37223_1549125691814_1345258006_1519945_2808463_n-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDNY05ym-i0u0aGaaNcoAkQh_iJez97v6rkhMIIlCK4AQbByE1ZakzAXI40yHBrbagVkUuuwwEIPt-mhWydTYyGDbauD8zyCfXlh0g729eGvtVDdCgBuQAOx81pzrYd58BJkUbL8ndXH7D/s320/37223_1549125691814_1345258006_1519945_2808463_n-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Summer 2010</td></tr>
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About a week or so after my 40th birthday party, I had the glued in tracks removed & went back to my normal straight one week, curly the next week cycle...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">August 2011</td></tr>
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I'm not sure what happened, but for some reason I decided to stop straightening my hair maybe at the end of August or so... perhaps it was my break up... or it could have been turning 40 & just refocusing what was really important. I decided that straightening my hair was not a priority anymore. I've never been one to not work out for a few days after I get my hair pressed. So I'd go to the salon on Thursday, and Friday or Saturday I'd be sweating in that $65 hairdo. Not only was it a waste of money, it was a waste of time for me AND for Desiree. I know she appreciates the money, but why have her slave away over a head I'm gonna sweat out the next day? <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwD3Xo3_-hEzsgQexEaEDwCbqnVPLMM7bsElzYB3hf1l9bn8nSMPAzlizgwahpJi6BJYVKBGnNi1tHWHzej-nP69-Nu8ec3cCrep-n8UoPZpw7OF0KJrkjV9pH_FynyKeQ42LyB_ywyHy6/s1600/328680_2437261374651_1345258006_2984931_930236043_o-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwD3Xo3_-hEzsgQexEaEDwCbqnVPLMM7bsElzYB3hf1l9bn8nSMPAzlizgwahpJi6BJYVKBGnNi1tHWHzej-nP69-Nu8ec3cCrep-n8UoPZpw7OF0KJrkjV9pH_FynyKeQ42LyB_ywyHy6/s320/328680_2437261374651_1345258006_2984931_930236043_o-1.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sept 11, 2011</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_hGLRMzs-KG0eLZXvltEFfpPS3b5fU72dDPM9gii_Op3pAyOpntgxUF3N3-3Xr5Ar_lDQlQsX6tiHVh3UJfEFThYSGZi0va1r2Hhmp_0J00ygQ0prFOuyLNKP7dssCWXDgjuR68OxYQzP/s1600/298877_2506047094251_1345258006_3040494_2009508997_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_hGLRMzs-KG0eLZXvltEFfpPS3b5fU72dDPM9gii_Op3pAyOpntgxUF3N3-3Xr5Ar_lDQlQsX6tiHVh3UJfEFThYSGZi0va1r2Hhmp_0J00ygQ0prFOuyLNKP7dssCWXDgjuR68OxYQzP/s320/298877_2506047094251_1345258006_3040494_2009508997_n.jpg" width="246" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sept 27, 2011</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div>I still went to the salon every two weeks for a good wash, condition & usually color for my gray hairline. But I would have Desiree braid it up all over, put a curler on the end, and I'd sit under the dryer. The result was the very cute, curly look above... Cute, but a lot of work. My hair doesn't naturally curl up like this. My hair curl is MUCH tighter.<div><br />
</div><div>In October, I decided that I didn't want to do the work required for that curly look above, so I needed to cut off the ends of my hair that have been getting straightened for over a decade. Those ends don't curl up quite right due to years of heat damage. </div><div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0DUVyehGm0cQxu1aIs5vFf769LfwxP2ytFCLIvyx8T4AU5wpI3YQ1UUl55lGZ64dSDWlFZ-W6FgnsDjPhgA1_pVIn04IW-i6Zi8IMjH9qb1ml11sgHa1rMCAPCLKcamo3AHfMfePttEgq/s1600/302342_2595388647734_1345258006_3109669_1578755384_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0DUVyehGm0cQxu1aIs5vFf769LfwxP2ytFCLIvyx8T4AU5wpI3YQ1UUl55lGZ64dSDWlFZ-W6FgnsDjPhgA1_pVIn04IW-i6Zi8IMjH9qb1ml11sgHa1rMCAPCLKcamo3AHfMfePttEgq/s320/302342_2595388647734_1345258006_3109669_1578755384_n.jpg" width="238" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oct 23, 2011<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">It wasn't a big stretch for me... I'm no stranger to short hair. When I was in law school back in 94-95, I cut my hair off (back when it wasn't so popular to have natural hair!) I loved it. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfvNdbpHtgczxHMizYzYwdMEB6pI4SQbzZ7pDwNbYztlIjVv4qmeUaRkeM6k4dABVStj-9oMJJCmS9RA7eszADgJLFojexmpOZXZA5ta_RRCetQeBXGEJKsBe79hpXdGPQOmVsKjFUo_cx/s1600/312788_2555933661384_1345258006_3075804_349236761_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfvNdbpHtgczxHMizYzYwdMEB6pI4SQbzZ7pDwNbYztlIjVv4qmeUaRkeM6k4dABVStj-9oMJJCmS9RA7eszADgJLFojexmpOZXZA5ta_RRCetQeBXGEJKsBe79hpXdGPQOmVsKjFUo_cx/s320/312788_2555933661384_1345258006_3075804_349236761_n.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">June 1996</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div><br />
<div>Back to present time, I've cut off a little more in the back, and it's just about to where I like it. I haven't decided if I'm going to let it grow crazy big, because I like it how it is right now. I'll see how it goes... I've kept my every other week appointment with Desiree. I'm loyal to her, and I love her like family. She is 100% on board with my new natural 'do. Sure, I've gone from paying her $70 every other week to $20, but I enjoy her company & she keeps my gray at bay :-)</div><div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD3TmKS6mB4GUBpbMigIIDlCvQQuIdIuye43EVJyFjy-sp67KYkXXhMFfWkyohbz-LDJPk-nTxXYIzKcnhl3LjUHC4Md9Kh1g2BVdmetR3kzCvCc2dVWccj5nTmbHPnCFDpX69dfEIqszy/s1600/377246_2680294250321_1345258006_3169595_1305655045_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD3TmKS6mB4GUBpbMigIIDlCvQQuIdIuye43EVJyFjy-sp67KYkXXhMFfWkyohbz-LDJPk-nTxXYIzKcnhl3LjUHC4Md9Kh1g2BVdmetR3kzCvCc2dVWccj5nTmbHPnCFDpX69dfEIqszy/s320/377246_2680294250321_1345258006_3169595_1305655045_n.jpg" width="244" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me on 11/11/11</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div><br />
</div><div>I say ALL that to say this... not having to think much about my hair is such a relief. Being fit & healthy, which means working out hard, which means SWEATING... is my priority. I didn't go natural because I think perms and presses are bad. I did it, because straight hair was not working with my lifestyle. Do what works for YOUR hair and YOUR lifestyle! </div><div><br />
</div><div>Okay, back to my football game... GO TITANS!</div><div><br />
</div><div>Toodles!</div><div><br />
<div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div></div></div></div>djdjd04http://www.blogger.com/profile/11505371470238707568noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6265362940838096483.post-19127243450535053342011-10-02T19:25:00.000-07:002011-10-02T19:25:24.735-07:00Juice Master...Well, I would start this by saying how I'm going to do better about blogging, blah blah blah... but, I won't even front. I'll blog when I think about it. LOL.<br />
<br />
So much has gone on since my last post nearly 2 months ago. Work is good... been keeping busy with my friends... my relationship ended a month ago, which I'm a lot more okay with than I thought I'd be when it was in the process of ending... And, of course, my workouts are great. I started this "30 Days of Workouts" thing with some friends back on July 30th. The 30 days has now extended to 65 days for me... I guess that's what inspired me to blog today. Every day I have to do at least 30 minutes of DELIBERATE exercise. Not accidental... not 30 minutes of dancing at a party... deliberate exercise. It might be a power walk at lunch, or it might be a workout at the gym -- but it's at least 30 minutes of intentionally getting my heart rate up & sweating!<br />
<br />
I only weighed in twice since June... I was 138.6 on June 4th and 141.2 on August 13.... I'll take it. 2.6 pounds gained over two summer months... which included my 40th birthday? I can live with that.<br />
<br />
For the past week I've replaced one meal a day with juice.... actually, Naked Juice Green Machine. Depending on how the day is going, I either replace lunch or dinner with juicing. Nothing else changed. I eat my nonfat Greek yogurt for breakfast, a decent lunch (I don't even run from carbs, but I do choose whole wheat stuff if I do have carbs), and then I drink juice the rest of the day. So far, it's only been Naked Juice, but actual "juiced" juice would also be fine. My dad has become the Juice Master with his new Breville juicer, so I may get some juice from him.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUqyKe5ZOh3_OWqCFhTTz5DA5osgTUqdg_5JipmGNFIE6ZaqQA4cJvrc4rKGKn3L6mVVKC6HikR3iaylaPtbdYBjn_IshKXxUCDXvJOdEQcpvWpHwqHewQ6w61CxlLI5DYKlaXxFB1AnDq/s1600/photo+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUqyKe5ZOh3_OWqCFhTTz5DA5osgTUqdg_5JipmGNFIE6ZaqQA4cJvrc4rKGKn3L6mVVKC6HikR3iaylaPtbdYBjn_IshKXxUCDXvJOdEQcpvWpHwqHewQ6w61CxlLI5DYKlaXxFB1AnDq/s320/photo+4.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yummy! And I really mean that!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXgapotZt6LobTzgdqGcNcwTqnoG7Y91SlClvDXQlO1R85nCB1eUDjuoFz_kMfegFap7cy2uHHo8W5wM8Q9w3RSnLMJsDHjfApU8w2_zO_HRqXEHTz-_k6tqwO3Wg4teMm6Ycbn5FZi2kR/s1600/%2528null%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXgapotZt6LobTzgdqGcNcwTqnoG7Y91SlClvDXQlO1R85nCB1eUDjuoFz_kMfegFap7cy2uHHo8W5wM8Q9w3RSnLMJsDHjfApU8w2_zO_HRqXEHTz-_k6tqwO3Wg4teMm6Ycbn5FZi2kR/s320/%2528null%2529.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My latest Costco run... Naked Juice, marina sauce & FAGE Greek Yogurt...</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsJYb4zoL9PP_I6VRzW17TmbKBhCH4gq6QJh14S_7UMpzd9255LlMglckDENcFEYckkvyeIyzhEL_V1-Xzj1FMtyLkfo2irvJPxzh1w2ol0TjZvmko3sM5GpHwYKQt6h0TYNHikzADvvqM/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsJYb4zoL9PP_I6VRzW17TmbKBhCH4gq6QJh14S_7UMpzd9255LlMglckDENcFEYckkvyeIyzhEL_V1-Xzj1FMtyLkfo2irvJPxzh1w2ol0TjZvmko3sM5GpHwYKQt6h0TYNHikzADvvqM/s320/photo+1.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Whole wheat pasta with chicken sausage, marinara & broccoli... a typical lunch or dinner.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
I weighed myself at home on the trusty Wi scale last Saturday, Sept 24. My weight was 142.5 lbs.<br />
<br />
When I weighed myself Saturday morning I weighed.... drumroll please....... 138.3. Down 4.2 pounds in one week. <br />
<br />
I did go to Weight Watchers & weigh in... my official WW weight is 138.4... lowest I've ever been on WW... :-)<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv1lIrAKBfmPCYL5MrnaE-UYGELqnH8Rd7wwyvhokrshneMxjKuko6c8dtRRWsGKdUQEAmdoaBHQ3qh4zD2CJxCt83NiMJDzMUkmY6puIEhDPt6Zd7f3A5ZhOlAKp43_4oEDCSPZJi1EHr/s1600/photo+3.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv1lIrAKBfmPCYL5MrnaE-UYGELqnH8Rd7wwyvhokrshneMxjKuko6c8dtRRWsGKdUQEAmdoaBHQ3qh4zD2CJxCt83NiMJDzMUkmY6puIEhDPt6Zd7f3A5ZhOlAKp43_4oEDCSPZJi1EHr/s320/photo+3.PNG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sept. 27, 2011</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Everything is going well... we'll see what happens next! Think I'll go get some juice...<br />
<br />
Toodles!djdjd04http://www.blogger.com/profile/11505371470238707568noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6265362940838096483.post-50320271756550593342011-08-03T23:51:00.000-07:002011-08-04T12:03:23.436-07:0010 Years Ago...I know I was supposed to report on my weigh in, but interestingly enough, I didn't weigh in on Saturday... couldn't get up on time. I did weigh myself, and I'll tell you, it wasn't good. BUT, this week I have been ON FIRE with my eating and workouts. From Saturday morning to now, I've lost 4 pounds. Go figure. When I'm on it, I'm on it.<br />
<br />
But that's not really what I want to talk about in this post. The title of the post is "10 Years Ago..."<br />
<br />
Ten Years Ago at this very time, I was recovering from major surgery. MAJOR surgery... on August 3, 2001, I had my colon removed. I've mentioned before that I had ulcerative colitis (technically, I still do have it.. more on that later.) Let me give you a little bit of background...<br />
<br />
When I was in my last semester of law school (Spring 1996), I started losing weight. I thought it was stress, not eating, exercising a lot. I got downright skinny. Of course, I was thrilled. I graduated and moved back home to start my first "real job" at Hughes on July 22. I went to work on that Monday & Tuesday... and I actually took a sick day on Wednesday (yes, my 3rd day on my real job!) I worked on Thursday & Friday... that Friday, July 26, 1996, just so happened to be my 25th birthday... the day I was conveniently booted off my parents' medical insurance. I hadn't gotten around to picking my own plan, because I figured I had some time to figure it out. That weekend, I was a wreck. I remember my dad asking me, "Do you want me to take you to the ER?" I said, "Yeeeeesssssss!" He took me to Daniel Freeman Hospital (which is now closed)... I was admitted.... and I stayed there for about 7 or 8 weeks. They figured out that I had <a href="http://www.ccfa.org/info/about/ucp">ulcerative colitis</a>, but they couldn't figure out how to fix it. My main symptom was bloody stool (aka, blood in my poop.) The first course of action is to give the patient prednisone, a steroid. Not only was I on steroids, I couldn't eat. ANYTHING. Have you ever gone 8 weeks with no food? I was sometimes permitted to suck on ice chips, but every time they tried to upgrade me to broth or a creamy soup, my diseased colon couldn't take it. So I'm in the hospital... on steroids, lipids, and your basic <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banana_bag">banana bag</a> of nutrients all through a central line in my chest... and I'm GAINING WEIGHT! If I'm gonna gain weight, at least give me some pizza, bread, rice... something! I was miserable...<br />
<br />
The short version of the 1996 hospital stay is that after a series of setbacks, blood transfusions, tears, and frustration, my sister, Dr. Kimberly Manning (aka <a href="http://www.gradydoctor.com/">The Grady Doctor</a>) got on the phone and told our dad to raise hell until they sent me to UCLA. She said the only way I'd get better was to move to a teaching hospital. Well, our dad happens to be a professional hell raiser... he did it, and I was moved to UCLA. Interesting side story is that I had eye surgery at UCLA as a toddler... I was STILL in the system at 25 years old... same patient number and everything. That's what I call record keeping! LOL!<br />
<br />
I was at UCLA for about 8 days. My new UCLA gastroenterologist, Dr. Kevin Horgan, put me on an experimental drug, it started working, and they sent me home. I was taking about 24 pills a day, but I was home.<br />
<br />
Over the next 5 years, I would randomly have flare ups with my colitis. Surgery was discussed here and there, but I had NO INTEREST whatsoever in letting someone open my belly & remove my colon. No way. I was good popping pills. However, in 2001, it got much worse... I'd spend a week in the hospital, two weeks back at work... a week in the hospital, a week at work... it got to the point where it was miserable for me. I hated missing work. I hated being sick. I talked to my parents & my sister, and I decided it was time to meet with a surgeon to discuss my options.<br />
<br />
Enter: Dr. Jonathan Sack. One of the best surgeons in the business. Highly recommended. Basically, The Man. We scheduled a consultation with him on a Friday afternoon. I think the appointment was around 2 or 3pm... I remember it was May or June, because the Lakers had a playoff game that day. My parents and I went to UCLA Medical Center for our consultation with Dr. Sack... he was late. In fact, he never showed up. He got stuck in the hospital with a surgery emergency. I was not happy. My dad was downright pissed. I think the combination of Dr. Sack not showing up & the fact that we would be on the 405 South at 5pm on a Friday was more than he could handle. On the way home he told me there was no way in hell he'd let that guy perform my surgery. NO WAY.<br />
<br />
The next morning, I'm at home. It's Saturday... my phone rings. It's Dr. Sack. Not Dr. Sack's nurse. Not someone from his office. Him. THEE Dr. Sack. He apologized for missing our appointment. He explained why he wasn't there. He told me about the surgery & answered any questions I asked. I knew right then and there that I wanted him to perform my surgery. I called my dad & told him about the phone call. Boy, was he impressed! Dr. Sack was our guy! We eventually had the face to face meeting (on June 25th -- I know, because I was writing in a journal at the time), and scheduled the surgery for August 3rd.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJWdVvIytbjMQU5TA86v07fCAFjU7_ClQ7HdBNv_mzGNoW3aRGd6gwKseJe7HN6Ur_xS47jCMJJjwd86-_TdZpuE4qWE-GXCiA7z3xYRpEiahPfHHOkVlgKK44ZOkGsg9cT4Zk_7MNCACe/s1600/Before2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJWdVvIytbjMQU5TA86v07fCAFjU7_ClQ7HdBNv_mzGNoW3aRGd6gwKseJe7HN6Ur_xS47jCMJJjwd86-_TdZpuE4qWE-GXCiA7z3xYRpEiahPfHHOkVlgKK44ZOkGsg9cT4Zk_7MNCACe/s320/Before2.jpg" width="285" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me... on HEAVY steroids... preparing for my surgery... 30 and not a happy camper!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Between that time, I celebrated my 30th birthday... and my mom moved to Atlanta a couple of days later (with my blessing, of course! She did not want to leave before my surgery!) Lord knows a girl needs her mommy in tough times, but she left me in good hands with Daddy & my T'Renee. <br />
<br />
My journal entry for August 3rd at 12:30am: "I'm nervous about the surgery, but I'm ready to get it over with and get to the next phase."<br />
<br />
Right before my surgery, Dr. Sack told me: "I have to tell you... if I get in there & you don't have enough small intestine to make the pouch, when you wake up I'll tell you that your colostomy bag is permanent." <i>SAY WHAAAAAAAT??? Awww helllll naw!</i> LOL! ..... Everything worked out fine. But I sure did hate that bag for the two months I had to wear it! I was allergic to the adhesive that kept the bag connected to my body over my stoma... it was not fun. FYI, the stoma is the opening in my abdomen where my small intestine was dumping out my waste. I know... gross. The weirdest part was that I didn't poop between the surgeries, because everything I ate came out in the bag. Yes, it's as strange as you're imagining it right now.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih6CMcm3_x91GdDx6SwSam-0TOOZ1bAbutHdqztsmAVaDBKnCbBZY63pXkuoFw0tKEQlB6x9ONvEwfVdjhUp050F55E706-dw2XR07HFr1g85HeJdZYmdSnXh2tAn7NEawGW4yVQflb-iU/s1600/ileoanalpouch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih6CMcm3_x91GdDx6SwSam-0TOOZ1bAbutHdqztsmAVaDBKnCbBZY63pXkuoFw0tKEQlB6x9ONvEwfVdjhUp050F55E706-dw2XR07HFr1g85HeJdZYmdSnXh2tAn7NEawGW4yVQflb-iU/s320/ileoanalpouch.jpg" width="258" /></a></div><br />
<br />
I had the second surgery (the take-down) on October 5, 2001. Other than a flare up here & there on the tiny bit of colon they left at my rectum or a bout of <a href="http://www.mayoclinic.org/pouchitis/">pouchitis</a>, all has been well. I am still susceptible to colon cancer, because I do have that little bit of colon left, but so far, so good! <br />
<br />
The surgery was the best decision I ever made. It changed my life. It changed the quality of my life. Ten years later... I am happier & healthier than ever.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTuZMPorYhluOKZ8kA1gMQ0eljSXMh8ZXXTp94Mh-Tx6ZrPtOmgF2EWek8Vm8epsiPOM39QHrN5e6dmni1dk-iPSdXdIBCZxrR0kyuRG6kUHKl7L29nwWCUKov5yImxieFCsFJzO2IHGgR/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTuZMPorYhluOKZ8kA1gMQ0eljSXMh8ZXXTp94Mh-Tx6ZrPtOmgF2EWek8Vm8epsiPOM39QHrN5e6dmni1dk-iPSdXdIBCZxrR0kyuRG6kUHKl7L29nwWCUKov5yImxieFCsFJzO2IHGgR/s320/photo.JPG" width="296" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me... 10 years later.... at 40! Happy & Healthy!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
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<br />
Thanks for letting me reflect....djdjd04http://www.blogger.com/profile/11505371470238707568noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6265362940838096483.post-25419494932195880002011-07-29T08:09:00.000-07:002011-07-29T09:40:22.501-07:00No Excuses.... (okay, maybe one or two...)CLEARLY I haven't blogged in nearly two months... I could give you a rundown of excuses like... I was busy getting ready for my best friend's wedding... I have a new boyfriend.... or I was prepping for my big 40th birthday bash... but those would just be excuses. The real reason is that I haven't gone to weigh in since the beginning of June, and I just didn't have any great (or bad) weight news to share....<br />
<br />
But that will all change tomorrow morning when I go weigh in for the first time since June 4th... Yes, June 4th. I KNOW the scale will register an increase, and I'm mentally preparing myself for it. I'm trying not to kick myself about the looming 14X number that will show up... I was so happy to get out of those darn 140's, but I am surely back there now. Part of it is serious weight training the past couple of months & really hitting my workouts HARD at the Santa Monica Stairs & with my trainer. My body has gotten smaller & I've gained some muscle mass.... and let's face it... part of it is drinking and eating good food the past two weeks in honor of my 40th birthday! LOL! All I can do is start from where I am now and work my way down towards my goal of eventually weighing about 130.<br />
<br />
I have the tools, and more importantly, I have the desire to do it... so I'll be back on track in no time!<br />
<br />
I'll post more about my big party soon... in the meantime, here's a sneak peek:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg21LGDPPYT71PHlY-eDLpaoxIR7VeEoey_zrKO_PertHzpK8XyRmKUbEOXgTphVafy5DotauYPm6IfK4iCrF4hI6otyus08Ze2RzVF0Lzoun2Q_pniRhOK7tH5sKxsXbsepoSkS2-elak/s1600/40thbdayParty3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg21LGDPPYT71PHlY-eDLpaoxIR7VeEoey_zrKO_PertHzpK8XyRmKUbEOXgTphVafy5DotauYPm6IfK4iCrF4hI6otyus08Ze2RzVF0Lzoun2Q_pniRhOK7tH5sKxsXbsepoSkS2-elak/s320/40thbdayParty3.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
I'll let you know how it goes at Weight Watchers tomorrow....<br />
<br />
Toodles!djdjd04http://www.blogger.com/profile/11505371470238707568noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6265362940838096483.post-51394879232346219202011-06-07T09:30:00.001-07:002011-06-07T09:30:56.129-07:00Roll With the Punches...<img width='640' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig274lwP07Za_idmU_d6U1qLELo1t1ukc8IcVRoWMuiGVPVv9TAWI41ed3laNscnxjXz9lJuyouDcejyd7NJt_-l591jsAeMKANKOaseu9y8V_QBLPYa-f_XRoJvoqmo81uQ6wqiB3wAe2/'><br>Haven't posted in a while.... life has been pretty crazy, but I'm hanging in there. I DID weigh in for the last two weeks, and here are my results:<br />May 28th: 139.2 (which was no gain/no loss)<br />June 4th: 138.6 (down .6)<br />Not great, but it's better than a gain. Yes, I have been a bit lax on my eating habits, but luckily I have kept up with my workout regimen. Right now I'm pretty steady on 3 days with Claudine, 3 days on my own, and one day to rest.<br /><br />I've set a goal for myself to get steady under 135 by the end of the month. After that, I will probably try to get to 130 by my 40th birthday. That would be awesome. We'll see how it goes. I don't want to do any kind of crash, high protein/no carb diet just to get to where I want to be.... but I do need to make a few changes in terms of my snacking. I am a cracker/chips snacker... so as long as I keep that stuff out of my house I'll be fine. I have a pair of bright blue skinny jeans that I want to wear to my birthday party... they fit, but I want virtually no muffin top... So I'm working on it!<br /><br />I'm actually kinda proud of myself for not gaining weight this past month. I've had some intense changes happen in my life that would have totally stressed me out 4-5 years ago. I'm in a better place now in my life to deal with the changes, and I realize everything happens for a reason & in it's own time. I got hit with a whammy, but God had already put some things/people in place to help me absorb the blows. He's pretty good about that kinda stuff! :-)<br /><br />Have a great Tuesday & I'll post again soon!<br /><br />Toodles!djdjd04http://www.blogger.com/profile/11505371470238707568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6265362940838096483.post-12363526832070242002011-05-22T08:30:00.000-07:002011-05-22T08:30:19.308-07:00Fat & Happy??? Try FIT & HAPPY!Riddle: Who has two thumbs and didn't weigh in again this Saturday morning??? <br />
Answer: This girl right here! LOL!<br />
<br />
Okay, in my defense, I have had a VERY good reason to not weigh in... I am in a new relationship, and I have been spending the past few weekends with my guy. Which is actually a good topic for this blog post! I honestly didn't know what I was going to write about this morning, but weight gain during relationships sounds like a good idea.<br />
<br />
We all know people who start dating or get married... and slowly start gaining weight, right? They're looking at their wedding pictures 2 years later thinking, "What happened to that couple???" It happens. Wives cook for their husbands... they're all in love... they both have the wife/husband they wanted, so they get lazy. The weight creeps on. It happens!<br />
<br />
I like to work out... obviously. I am all about getting/staying fit & healthy. Man or no man, this is all about ME. As I've really gotten into health & fitness I knew that I would not be able to date a man who wasn't interested in his health. Okay, he doesn't have to be a crazy 5-6 day a week workout fiend, but he has to do SOMETHING. One: no guy who isn't into keeping in shape will ever understand me. We would clash. I'd end up saying some off-handed remark about him being lazy & the relationship would end. Two: people who want to eat all the time & not workout are not the kind of people I like to hang with. I can't date someone where every date revolves around food. That's how new couples gain weight together.<br />
<br />
Early on, The Guy (as I'll refer to him) and I established that we both like fitness & care about how we look physically. Maybe it's kinda vain, but it works for us. When we were "set up" by a mutual friend, one of the selling points she gave me was that he had an "athletic build"... I read that as, "he has a nice body." LOL! Once we started talking, we immediately clicked on the health & fitness thing. One thing about him is that he's from Louisiana & he likes to cook. Oh boy, can he cook! So we do have some meals here and there that I would not normally eat, but that's the exception rather than the rule. His job keeps him in great shape & I have no complaints. He loves that I work out a lot. He even trained me through a session once... and it was INTENSE! No joke. I didn't want to get all sweaty and busted-looking around him, but he didn't mind. LOL. We have a joke between us that if either one gains a lot of weight (for no medical reason) then the other can leave the relationship with no argument. I say it's a joke, but I kinda think we both are serious about it. I know... it's a mess, but it keeps us on our toes.<br />
<br />
Our motto: "Fat & Happy??? Hell no! FIT & HAPPY!"<br />
<br />
Here are a few shots from my 4 mile walk/jog when I was visiting The Guy recently...<br />
<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8gaMyyr0YkFNRZ1f5jRzESUGSckd-SZZX8IKNtLbtSXG-lq9FX1686MSpLBwT6dtUJ6N6-1BCUIHF73esgZb2bOkieJFMsCDn7b5Wfq9WcY5Z3-ZBsRUxUb8WWshpRqf0jktzOOm2ztNW/s1600/photo+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8gaMyyr0YkFNRZ1f5jRzESUGSckd-SZZX8IKNtLbtSXG-lq9FX1686MSpLBwT6dtUJ6N6-1BCUIHF73esgZb2bOkieJFMsCDn7b5Wfq9WcY5Z3-ZBsRUxUb8WWshpRqf0jktzOOm2ztNW/s320/photo+1.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The weather was PERFECT!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiRVQUh0eV_sgrZ-OrO3ePVVlmGwUGuEH8BTjylQAXAFOyfgWrnJ9SjuSNkwtzDrbOUBDcmtrItM-U_GGaVtSRJNtlSiHKmYaKpczGwRqCURjqgOH6nAR0mk4PlhJ1n4OI73ZBnVaH6OT8/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiRVQUh0eV_sgrZ-OrO3ePVVlmGwUGuEH8BTjylQAXAFOyfgWrnJ9SjuSNkwtzDrbOUBDcmtrItM-U_GGaVtSRJNtlSiHKmYaKpczGwRqCURjqgOH6nAR0mk4PlhJ1n4OI73ZBnVaH6OT8/s320/photo+2.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crossing the bridge at sunset...</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYgNHJKHWZ4MtNDkCgwqESwtr-nIGfQc8vmgexkvEa5zpeH-TK8-5CdjpHjjnYzRJ5e6Zd08KSQXi9weULaR4upf1_IQ4lN9SoLwgpFjDn1trXQQCLNKEnrk8QbQjwwgrcX-XwCthl4LQD/s1600/photo+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYgNHJKHWZ4MtNDkCgwqESwtr-nIGfQc8vmgexkvEa5zpeH-TK8-5CdjpHjjnYzRJ5e6Zd08KSQXi9weULaR4upf1_IQ4lN9SoLwgpFjDn1trXQQCLNKEnrk8QbQjwwgrcX-XwCthl4LQD/s320/photo+3.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A little bunny I met at the park...</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Oh, one more thing... Friday night, two friends (Claudine & Nicole) threw a "Bootcamp & Martinis" party. We all met at Nicole's house... Claudine led us in a workout... and we went over to a steep street nearby (Valley Ridge) and climbed it 3 times. After the workout, we went back to Nicole's house & had healthy salads, veggies & low cal cocktails. It was SO MUCH FUN!!!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjueBUQmZip5-rbZtFWpDARZkwai6svwEyudowj7CcZ1FmzzPpUjuplxxg_oTTaCgEgvW-K1IG2-iemp6Esj-hrYRr9adidX-KdkZDHljfH-q8oLqeNM9tj43ZuRIt_KZrpJ4Ldcv1UWfkY/s1600/241139_10150192937469295_700694294_6746054_5065033_o.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjueBUQmZip5-rbZtFWpDARZkwai6svwEyudowj7CcZ1FmzzPpUjuplxxg_oTTaCgEgvW-K1IG2-iemp6Esj-hrYRr9adidX-KdkZDHljfH-q8oLqeNM9tj43ZuRIt_KZrpJ4Ldcv1UWfkY/s320/241139_10150192937469295_700694294_6746054_5065033_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our "Bootcamp & Martinis" group! Go Girls!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>djdjd04http://www.blogger.com/profile/11505371470238707568noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6265362940838096483.post-45991511682866182102011-05-08T13:51:00.000-07:002011-05-08T13:51:12.331-07:00Three Weeks Off...I didn't weigh in for 3 weeks!!! But when I weighed in yesterday, I had lost a pound. For 3 weeks, that's not really super good, but it's better than gaining, that's for sure.<br />
<br />
Nothing monumental to report... This has been a tough week for me, but things are looking better. I'm getting back on track & excited about the next couple of months! I'm planning a party at the house for my 40th birthday... nothing too crazy, but with my friends and maybe some of my family (if they can swing it).<br />
<br />
Here I am.... 80 days before my 40th birthday...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvxd0F3ada5nq3L5ULbhfRE6cQrhj4JKHnZcZVkV62U3MtCgDaXCwK7Ipunok-0shuDBnOCn-Tyj3b_zbWUPV7HKXepHDHq-n8Is3ho3NMWkb46-w3aBRJMzd4Rd7IWv12l9hzHUeC1vnc/s1600/DSCN5119.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvxd0F3ada5nq3L5ULbhfRE6cQrhj4JKHnZcZVkV62U3MtCgDaXCwK7Ipunok-0shuDBnOCn-Tyj3b_zbWUPV7HKXepHDHq-n8Is3ho3NMWkb46-w3aBRJMzd4Rd7IWv12l9hzHUeC1vnc/s320/DSCN5119.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Toodles!djdjd04http://www.blogger.com/profile/11505371470238707568noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6265362940838096483.post-88431444555387619762011-04-26T20:48:00.000-07:002011-04-26T20:48:30.077-07:00Hoppin' Down the Bunny Trail...<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2nnfAMLGFxs0PKcbJD0_4c8fubGJfVRPVZagye44FNII-7K0P5SBB59dcJmwHmL_Zl7E0MTDol-s-6dlea5LnINCSJzbBpUosW4DOOp1BC0Mbyl_lNDVjtCP9JkwRAMRfo-5-QTMd4GBJ/s1600/DSCN5068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2nnfAMLGFxs0PKcbJD0_4c8fubGJfVRPVZagye44FNII-7K0P5SBB59dcJmwHmL_Zl7E0MTDol-s-6dlea5LnINCSJzbBpUosW4DOOp1BC0Mbyl_lNDVjtCP9JkwRAMRfo-5-QTMd4GBJ/s320/DSCN5068.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">TFP = Team Fanny Pack!</td></tr>
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Quick update:<br />
<br />
I didn't weigh in on Saturday morning, because I couldn't make it at 7am... weighed myself at home & things are looking good. But I did NOT have good eating days Monday & Tuesday (today), so I'm going to have to be extra diligent for the rest of the week. I'm working out, so I'm not going to worry much about it. <br />
<br />
On Easter Sunday, Pop Dukes & I walked 10 miles on The Strand... it was a lot of fun... here are a few pictures:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjseaiPy22uMC5fM7ET9KAEHbdoOHTO5PdoqFki1dtTpF3sdF5SLrpm7uBnqn3zqVr-VndexvdUjavPmGaLY7oWa7RdEWsZJIs4lyC6XYb16a_jtC0gMAVY4Kqgcgi2LZf_n8oP9FZsEOO2/s1600/a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjseaiPy22uMC5fM7ET9KAEHbdoOHTO5PdoqFki1dtTpF3sdF5SLrpm7uBnqn3zqVr-VndexvdUjavPmGaLY7oWa7RdEWsZJIs4lyC6XYb16a_jtC0gMAVY4Kqgcgi2LZf_n8oP9FZsEOO2/s320/a.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Daddy, before our walk...</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHAeTfQcsUTJSwBITmL9EoPXHHvUuYMgMrK1Z8Y3MG2HQigd1kByi1qkDpxEq5qTfgOQQ2yGMLLG_YcyTSLQYCGNYoaLRp82atpG92GE3t-qCo5ZPdXcetXMQjhbhyFG-ArAsEWKDLa1oW/s1600/b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHAeTfQcsUTJSwBITmL9EoPXHHvUuYMgMrK1Z8Y3MG2HQigd1kByi1qkDpxEq5qTfgOQQ2yGMLLG_YcyTSLQYCGNYoaLRp82atpG92GE3t-qCo5ZPdXcetXMQjhbhyFG-ArAsEWKDLa1oW/s320/b.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me, before the walk... and with a tractor.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_E6A06comvIIsPAndubWO8SMSw8eY5OCZ2Y-RA4HiL5AFjv2md9Q2chroqzEiHz85iTIh7fylU3gKpRlgb7HGfvYq36kXZ_bSy9_O87JNxaV_M1aAs_BqCrQ-fslRI_-bUKrYtDuF4A1N/s1600/DSCN5066.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_E6A06comvIIsPAndubWO8SMSw8eY5OCZ2Y-RA4HiL5AFjv2md9Q2chroqzEiHz85iTIh7fylU3gKpRlgb7HGfvYq36kXZ_bSy9_O87JNxaV_M1aAs_BqCrQ-fslRI_-bUKrYtDuF4A1N/s320/DSCN5066.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">5 mile mark... Daddy takes a bathroom break...</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJw_X9w0hSPWU4ZpPTON7JNLXj7Tpo028yS0ACSROsoqIpMlpCV_lgs8bSzf1LtInXp37AyQTzkaiWaQ8Em01lLQEeqhvcP4LL0SsIr_SN3N8_mC7Iyh-6hbAcn6cioYP_jJ9Lmve0uG3B/s1600/D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJw_X9w0hSPWU4ZpPTON7JNLXj7Tpo028yS0ACSROsoqIpMlpCV_lgs8bSzf1LtInXp37AyQTzkaiWaQ8Em01lLQEeqhvcP4LL0SsIr_SN3N8_mC7Iyh-6hbAcn6cioYP_jJ9Lmve0uG3B/s320/D.JPG" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me, happy because the 5 miles back is<br />
always easier than the first 5 miles...</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4begHdW3gS26-CO4DSydTWbpUocHkUToozUK3qUKoIU0sqloMU0HO-S6gsNjN5UgGgvBjMY6kBS7OqUnu0aSwZLO30Q9AiyNIithUe5XpLN6YkEt1la8_JJySFd_MefQQTznqkXlzxl0H/s1600/DSCN5072.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4begHdW3gS26-CO4DSydTWbpUocHkUToozUK3qUKoIU0sqloMU0HO-S6gsNjN5UgGgvBjMY6kBS7OqUnu0aSwZLO30Q9AiyNIithUe5XpLN6YkEt1la8_JJySFd_MefQQTznqkXlzxl0H/s320/DSCN5072.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sharing space with the bike riders... we didn't run into<br />
any rude ones today (sometimes they don't like to share the road...)</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDqLK_Fy8Jpg7PFAuHZvIj7jFG0q3SOIhnI43Rluv5F_YIlv6lljxYKdOJcQ30lo-SaVzzQP_jjvBLQsSZSgrOmWDUtOvWVc0QuW5eedBgNjjZL_NtnS1Qh9Is2tI3rXGoyMbMrcF300wD/s1600/DSCN5076.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDqLK_Fy8Jpg7PFAuHZvIj7jFG0q3SOIhnI43Rluv5F_YIlv6lljxYKdOJcQ30lo-SaVzzQP_jjvBLQsSZSgrOmWDUtOvWVc0QuW5eedBgNjjZL_NtnS1Qh9Is2tI3rXGoyMbMrcF300wD/s320/DSCN5076.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love my Ray-Ban Aviators...</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5QimkYK9ujVAIXCmv4Rf1W1lji4zl6Xl-mspDTg0PMEkqPSTjdx4BKxUDjvXMXRfeS1Qs4zq_LJ8B5jmRLfHCOfNeWiZZfG_adNgs96lZNKafZnU462S-uWEuyIwoHuEJzSCENmHHNmWW/s1600/c.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5QimkYK9ujVAIXCmv4Rf1W1lji4zl6Xl-mspDTg0PMEkqPSTjdx4BKxUDjvXMXRfeS1Qs4zq_LJ8B5jmRLfHCOfNeWiZZfG_adNgs96lZNKafZnU462S-uWEuyIwoHuEJzSCENmHHNmWW/s320/c.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We hit some drizzle, but it didn't rain...</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgodosZGg2yGwtu7VOBDTf76it_jM801_VOueDcVNBwZJcYV1aZqXxgoWYX1mbcRRPtKnKh42fCcUVehmY5-hQDnMqU0IEFLCcTfVkYW2_9N7tKouaWwj7A1xoh6iH0uNgZQGXBCfTCWnav/s1600/photo+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgodosZGg2yGwtu7VOBDTf76it_jM801_VOueDcVNBwZJcYV1aZqXxgoWYX1mbcRRPtKnKh42fCcUVehmY5-hQDnMqU0IEFLCcTfVkYW2_9N7tKouaWwj7A1xoh6iH0uNgZQGXBCfTCWnav/s320/photo+4.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All done! Team Fanny Pack! I went with the Asics,<br />
and Pop went with the Nikes...</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAGkhRXlo7hZWSFBwdr5VRe0xXVIfgbhUsJxmLKUL5Omu53aY2FdG3wpXq7HL76M4-bL1SaAbuZRQSR8S-XSnDC6v4emigxu9JfgoEtvt-7925ls7B7lT5wAzl8e0SarGDcr1Cz3gaTQ6B/s1600/photo+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAGkhRXlo7hZWSFBwdr5VRe0xXVIfgbhUsJxmLKUL5Omu53aY2FdG3wpXq7HL76M4-bL1SaAbuZRQSR8S-XSnDC6v4emigxu9JfgoEtvt-7925ls7B7lT5wAzl8e0SarGDcr1Cz3gaTQ6B/s320/photo+6.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dad wore his Village Vets gear!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Hope you had a great Easter/Passover!<br />
<br />
Talk to you soon!<br />
<br />
Toodles!<br />
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</div>djdjd04http://www.blogger.com/profile/11505371470238707568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6265362940838096483.post-24436432329604277432011-04-17T14:29:00.000-07:002011-04-17T14:29:47.102-07:00100 Days...I'll admit... I'm not the best blogger in the world. Sometimes I really don't have anything to say. So I don't! LOL. Today, I do have something to say... and I'm gonna say it!<br />
<br />
In 100 days, Tony & Cheryl's 'baby daughter' will be 40 years old. I suppose that day, July 26th, will be just as much a rite of passage for them as it will be for me. After all, I am pretty much a miracle baby (which I might blog about at some point), so the fact that I'm here, thriving 40 years later is a pretty awesome thing. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQHWIbUeSu75juLM-9OiC90PBZHAOWJENHecU5UQzv-OPCdNOXFuAHhZVMAee9phDzsqb3HK1wlgqZbB4wN6kHefXgyjSX7UlxDrWVxWNw9jO9IntsISgrb0stIT_dOn2dXRr0b0eVxMD3/s1600/preemie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQHWIbUeSu75juLM-9OiC90PBZHAOWJENHecU5UQzv-OPCdNOXFuAHhZVMAee9phDzsqb3HK1wlgqZbB4wN6kHefXgyjSX7UlxDrWVxWNw9jO9IntsISgrb0stIT_dOn2dXRr0b0eVxMD3/s320/preemie.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">JoLai the Preemie, 1 month, 3 days old. (8/29/71)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>I could write a whole blog just about my parents. How much I love them... how much I need them... how much they have done for me & my siblings... how they are the best parents in the world...<br />
<br />
Everything I have done for the past 39 years, 265 days have been ultimately to make Tony & Cheryl proud... to not embarrass them... to be as good of a daughter to them as they have been parents to me. Obviously, I'm not perfect... I've made plenty of mistakes & bad decisions... but for the most part, I think I've done a pretty good job. I've always had an inner voice asking, "What would Mommy & Daddy think if they knew you did this?" And that voice has kept me from doing a lot of stupid stuff. LOL! It's the truth!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl5aQz5MCqQF9Smleu-RKqk9Sn7vh4QuSP_ja82UtsHrWsjn75tQ_RWy9tUSSAf6kMFwvVwVHCFvMeVTK6LDJ5HdIx8cgYSICzpU21JCuEULmOlMMDo1DNnpFEnboqQoYv0jodmrgAg_IY/s1600/toneshug.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl5aQz5MCqQF9Smleu-RKqk9Sn7vh4QuSP_ja82UtsHrWsjn75tQ_RWy9tUSSAf6kMFwvVwVHCFvMeVTK6LDJ5HdIx8cgYSICzpU21JCuEULmOlMMDo1DNnpFEnboqQoYv0jodmrgAg_IY/s320/toneshug.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Hero & Shero: Tony & Cheryl</td></tr>
</tbody></table>100 days from my 40th birthday, I'm in the best physical, mental & emotional shape that I have been in in 15 years. Easily. I'm healthy (for the most part)... I'm happy... really, REALLY happy! I have 3 amazing siblings... 6 nieces & nephews... wonderful friends... a great job... no complaints. I have lived the last 39 years, 265 days <u>wanting for nothing</u> -- thanks to Tony & Cheryl -- and I feel blessed for it! When I say "wanting for nothing", I don't mean I got everything I wanted. But in terms of necessities & general comforts? The Draper Kids were good to go! I never called us "spoiled"... I think we worked hard & were rewarded for doing what our parents asked & expected of us.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-HCiLIFqtieEVshH26wH18mjJ0-3Hv9lqaGPk1Ux_J86DxzG9MNpTsJ9D1fUoMJcWR_ggpN76S3pS3y54u-0vb8Ki2H93x6liIN84AUPwCGgmy6Z78JdLwD6SxRd59eYbKWaVfKsrrCd6/s1600/IMG_0004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-HCiLIFqtieEVshH26wH18mjJ0-3Hv9lqaGPk1Ux_J86DxzG9MNpTsJ9D1fUoMJcWR_ggpN76S3pS3y54u-0vb8Ki2H93x6liIN84AUPwCGgmy6Z78JdLwD6SxRd59eYbKWaVfKsrrCd6/s320/IMG_0004.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Draper Kids then...</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2pcVG1EGKjm3pIXrN7yc-zSdfg7EaO2j9Oa9xpQN5pji5Xb6XLX1dQaGEey5HMxkm11piUfMqSocy1nk_Ji-TUzKPGNmJjejVRspTKBe6I5bpe0adqE5ESlRnbhm0RgXbepcWdARErKZI/s1600/SV400108.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2pcVG1EGKjm3pIXrN7yc-zSdfg7EaO2j9Oa9xpQN5pji5Xb6XLX1dQaGEey5HMxkm11piUfMqSocy1nk_Ji-TUzKPGNmJjejVRspTKBe6I5bpe0adqE5ESlRnbhm0RgXbepcWdARErKZI/s320/SV400108.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Draper Kids now...</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
Finally, the good stuff... I weighed in yesterday, and I somehow managed to lose 2.4 more pounds. Amazing, because I ate rice last week (which is my favorite food in the whole wide world). This weigh in was significant, because I am now at 140.2 pounds. When I stopped going to Weight Watchers in 2008, I was at 140.6:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyaY_g_kGmys5ucbxv9sWxG0fiOrwAru69Thz462seXPTgiMzwzlXHWX2unnVaA2lDVzcbVl9-v8741LRW52H1RXIpqifG_xWZs1Al9VXSbyeDO0lfpMQaJ4tTS-ArImgS3QMooOI-izTA/s1600/d.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyaY_g_kGmys5ucbxv9sWxG0fiOrwAru69Thz462seXPTgiMzwzlXHWX2unnVaA2lDVzcbVl9-v8741LRW52H1RXIpqifG_xWZs1Al9VXSbyeDO0lfpMQaJ4tTS-ArImgS3QMooOI-izTA/s320/d.JPG" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2008...</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRNI_QVw2Niz9xKEKkm_hUEHdnn_2KX84rmFgFslPdJSPtSiODbtP5_SDMnJ6pOKhop67Tq3BSwy1C0uJBVx3RUOaKiilgq1L9NiCtkY369W23fAvhzGyVXTDpvTCdfr9WyQJM8nm4gbuh/s1600/h.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRNI_QVw2Niz9xKEKkm_hUEHdnn_2KX84rmFgFslPdJSPtSiODbtP5_SDMnJ6pOKhop67Tq3BSwy1C0uJBVx3RUOaKiilgq1L9NiCtkY369W23fAvhzGyVXTDpvTCdfr9WyQJM8nm4gbuh/s320/h.JPG" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yesterday... Yep, down 11.6 lbs total since March 6th!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
I'm below my last weigh-in weight, so that is very motivating for me! Another reason why this weigh-in is significant is because I'm about to move into the 130s... and I don't plan to see the 140s EVER AGAIN. Adios, 140s!!!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJY1LWhkPSDblDbE9E6LR-mRIZ1Q4dLYeZ6oka2QCSodzg2WLok0EhotioYYCZH1DBy1dZPb8Uq5jjcHUFPCDP6N0GHD2pLxWmBvQ_mK9KllzHa80_8NE-NWFEm3GYp2kv6syJyxLtrTf0/s1600/a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKoDAHel-PlDSayt8xQtfs_dafolZK4yBTbjBzqnYHk3lCkVwkP3fpYSVpAfdH0Z6ggtPuS7I-vyaRnSwX6KELroF0_0q2VDfKAfmVYmlKCBuyTVjqQ77f-NpnpzVMrFHOqxxTbpqRPXhk/s1600/b.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKoDAHel-PlDSayt8xQtfs_dafolZK4yBTbjBzqnYHk3lCkVwkP3fpYSVpAfdH0Z6ggtPuS7I-vyaRnSwX6KELroF0_0q2VDfKAfmVYmlKCBuyTVjqQ77f-NpnpzVMrFHOqxxTbpqRPXhk/s320/b.JPG" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me... 100 days until I turn 40!</td></tr>
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100 days and counting... Toodles!djdjd04http://www.blogger.com/profile/11505371470238707568noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6265362940838096483.post-34595950664897548442011-04-03T12:34:00.000-07:002011-04-03T12:34:41.991-07:00Good News!Oh brother... I let two weeks pass without blogging! I think it's because I didn't go weigh in last Sunday. I had a rough Saturday, and I just couldn't go in for the meeting on Sunday morning. When I was on Weight Watchers back in 2007, I was going to a Saturday morning meeting. It was perfect for me. This time I'm doing a Sunday morning meeting... PROBLEM! See, I do most of my damage for the week on Saturday... I know that if I do what I'm supposed to do Sunday through Friday, then a bad Saturday shouldn't make a difference for the Sunday morning weigh in. But for me it's a mental thing. I know I ate and drank whatever on Saturday night, so I don't want to go in on Sunday morning with that in my head... or my belly. LOL!<br />
<br />
<br />
So, I switched back to a Saturday weigh in, and I lost 2.2 pounds. And.... last night I got my GRUB ON at <a href="http://www.flemingssteakhouse.com/menu">Fleming's</a> where I had a wonderful gourmet cheeseburger for six bucks. Their Happy Hour is off the chain! I also had cocktails, but I chose the 99 calorie Tickled Pink Martini (also six bucks) instead of my normal drink.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe6Sxk_x1hkkt24q9avQuH89Mi85GN_12ZBHxLrh_hyphenhyphen7sVSCP2kAlkW4-aPqk0jaGHdN2mS_ft9lILFNQexv7NpkT6IVcSiiwYH5QlECX-ivdjC5bCWcr04yQjzd0uSA7sBQcFruqFT5_q/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe6Sxk_x1hkkt24q9avQuH89Mi85GN_12ZBHxLrh_hyphenhyphen7sVSCP2kAlkW4-aPqk0jaGHdN2mS_ft9lILFNQexv7NpkT6IVcSiiwYH5QlECX-ivdjC5bCWcr04yQjzd0uSA7sBQcFruqFT5_q/s320/photo+1.JPG" width="239" /></a></div><br />
That will be my one "bad" meal of the week. I will work hard all week, and weigh in on Saturday morning. I expect good things. Right now, I'm 143.6. Looking for 142 on Saturday. Slow & Steady...<br />
<br />
Hung out with my BFF, Sharon, last night. Dinner & the Clippers' game. The Clippers beat Oklahoma City! Yahoooo!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinZt9OQ8UEPHCLxm9HDv-rb58NaaQvswdQlDapAyB4oTDoMVTb8Xy9sADbnFFLTgqG5x9H1oJ_ZRAs7hILzDuaFkSKu4sI9HxRaW5ElsLlM8Gn8BL_zGPQtC511nTLn9LVL8RsssZh0w4F/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinZt9OQ8UEPHCLxm9HDv-rb58NaaQvswdQlDapAyB4oTDoMVTb8Xy9sADbnFFLTgqG5x9H1oJ_ZRAs7hILzDuaFkSKu4sI9HxRaW5ElsLlM8Gn8BL_zGPQtC511nTLn9LVL8RsssZh0w4F/s320/photo+2.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me & ClipPercussion</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM6byybSpjNWbzrv0nCqjiR1SK7e2BM96nQUX5oLfGR3WdB5g_ocNiRq_Px3swDW245pOVJu-iJVRnOXrPVmJWuIFr_yRWiw7nbnOd27vlWs-4qdwmc-4btvLiSZzViUhAvy5o0XOPdIeX/s1600/photo+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM6byybSpjNWbzrv0nCqjiR1SK7e2BM96nQUX5oLfGR3WdB5g_ocNiRq_Px3swDW245pOVJu-iJVRnOXrPVmJWuIFr_yRWiw7nbnOd27vlWs-4qdwmc-4btvLiSZzViUhAvy5o0XOPdIeX/s320/photo+3.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Game Introductions</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR3JmRacJBY5TsDtCT3TPEbk-yc_79K9PRrAZgtodc4HG3eU-hCMn7p5V0ghy5Bdx_EDkuay_9S9Rqo2CpzOyhd6WiXOvaeenJn4ajnQQDGwFeueLWF4lkbdHAyH_ieuIS8WDMF9_4Vyza/s1600/photo+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR3JmRacJBY5TsDtCT3TPEbk-yc_79K9PRrAZgtodc4HG3eU-hCMn7p5V0ghy5Bdx_EDkuay_9S9Rqo2CpzOyhd6WiXOvaeenJn4ajnQQDGwFeueLWF4lkbdHAyH_ieuIS8WDMF9_4Vyza/s320/photo+4.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Blake Show...</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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Have a great week!<br />
<br />
Toodles!djdjd04http://www.blogger.com/profile/11505371470238707568noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6265362940838096483.post-3068832801113284622011-03-20T18:04:00.000-07:002011-03-20T18:04:03.928-07:00Stepping Out Of My Comfort Zone...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPrN8vLic5uH2kGbu1EAnLLHC-fqrB89kBSl0QcMHO-ym6qbzYueqjahupVwv6dEUica7tIENlNsu-d-frGrXeHfL8LPvdWmSK0y-N_F1OTMl-GdwwtFKrUtklryIcgULhl18aCfzTTwUd/s1600/hot-yoga.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPrN8vLic5uH2kGbu1EAnLLHC-fqrB89kBSl0QcMHO-ym6qbzYueqjahupVwv6dEUica7tIENlNsu-d-frGrXeHfL8LPvdWmSK0y-N_F1OTMl-GdwwtFKrUtklryIcgULhl18aCfzTTwUd/s320/hot-yoga.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hot Yoga... (not me in the picture. LOL.)</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
This week I stepped out of my workout comfort zone and tried a hot yoga class. I have been wanting to try it... but needed a little push. Late last year, I purchased a <a href="http://www.groupon.com/">Groupon</a> for ten hot yoga classes at <a href="http://www.hot8yoga.com/home.html">Hot 8 Yoga</a> in Santa Monica. Normally, ten sessions would be $175. With the Groupon it was only $39. Great... if I actually end up using the Groupon! LOL! I procrastinated to the last minute, and the Groupon was set to expire on Friday, March 18. I went in on Wednesday, March 16 and gave it the old college try.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA-fXN2xXT3SC8or1nJFzc7ljSYLdtEH_T6ScqwEM4BJ_0U3lXIhva6EvzHLsdSqw37u4Yn0XpzaNMdwg3dpZSRrntibkXHuGDLf5wfSyaNdhxEMvvwlcY_N5Y0-3vD2mlLn2F2ulIsuax/s1600/hot8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="90" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA-fXN2xXT3SC8or1nJFzc7ljSYLdtEH_T6ScqwEM4BJ_0U3lXIhva6EvzHLsdSqw37u4Yn0XpzaNMdwg3dpZSRrntibkXHuGDLf5wfSyaNdhxEMvvwlcY_N5Y0-3vD2mlLn2F2ulIsuax/s320/hot8.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<a href="http://www.groupon.com/"><br />
</a><br />
Wednesday, March 16...<br />
First & foremost, I am NERVOUS. If you say, "hey let's go on a ridiculous hike up a mountain.." or "you wanna do a half marathon?" I'm all over it. But a yoga class? I don't know what it is... but I have had butterflies in my tummy all day at work. Class is at 4:30, I have to leave my job around 3:30 to get to Santa Monica in time to change & whatnot... traffic is a little foolish. Normal. I get there about 4:15... and sign up at the front desk. The girl at the desk talks to me for a bit & gives me some encouragement. She tells me, "Go at your own pace, and just stay in the studio. It's going to be hot... really hot. Just try your best not to get up and leave." Um... now I'm even more nervous! Yikes!!!<br />
<br />
The locker room is nice... there is another woman in there who is on her 4th class in 4 days... (uh, yeah... not gonna happen.) She is also new, and she loves it. She also gives me encouragement & tells me to go at my own pace. I'm sensing a theme here... <br />
<br />
I was told to bring a mat, a towel & water. For some reason, I packed a large bath sheet (like the kind you dry off with) along with a hand towel.... but I only brought the bath sheet into the class with me. First thing... when I step in the studio, I am IMMEDIATELY hit by the heat. Hit like, "WTH am I doing in here?" Hit like, "the muggiest, most humid day EVER in Alabama." But I'm already here, so I may as well stay. I'm looking around at people in the room to kinda see what I should do. I put down my mat, and put the bath sheet over it. I figured that part out quickly, because I'm going to sweat all over the towel. If I sweat on the rubber mat it would be wet & I would fall. Before class starts I already have a trickle of sweat rolling down my spine... crazy! And the people are a mixed bag... some are half naked (which I understand very quickly).. and one guy kinda looked like say... Tony Soprano in body shape & size but with fluffy gray hair... and what appeared to be some sort of boxer brief. And that's all. No shame in his game.<br />
<br />
The teacher comes in & she seems cool. Her name is Lady Yoga, so I already like her. She isn't in front of the class doing it... she's going to walk around and tell us what to do... which is when I realize I'm the only newbie in the bunch of about 20 people. My plan? Do whatever the flexible man in front of me is doing!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAYzoghlsP7hhvMJjH2qjJpLbY_aMS8CMZYqL0hm-sTSYlSR6d8nST0pZKsgxzFx1ENrMrrJdeOFY_nNt2hEooaXjp1DVzEFBytyTDOEuCF6kJWWjBJJos1WncjEenRtmh2s97cN8YHm2m/s1600/yogaman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAYzoghlsP7hhvMJjH2qjJpLbY_aMS8CMZYqL0hm-sTSYlSR6d8nST0pZKsgxzFx1ENrMrrJdeOFY_nNt2hEooaXjp1DVzEFBytyTDOEuCF6kJWWjBJJos1WncjEenRtmh2s97cN8YHm2m/s320/yogaman.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(not this man... but a girl can dream, right?)</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
I won't go through the specifics. It was hard as anything I've ever done. More mentally hard than physically... I am not as flexible as I used to be, so it's a bit frustrating. My biggest obstacle was feeling dizzy... and nauseous. Not having a colon puts me at an immediate disadvantage to other people with a colon. I am QUICK to get dehydrated, which is why I am drinking some water or some other drink 24/7. I had a tall bottle of Smart Water, and I could have used two of them. The class was an hour and a half, and I spent a good 30 minutes of it just sitting or laying down due to dizziness. I have actually fainted before... like passed out in public due to dehydration... so I know the feeling as it's coming. I felt it about 35-40 minutes in, so I stopped. I did notice other people stopping periodically to lay down, so I didn't feel so bad. What kept me going was what the girl at the desk said, "Just don't leave the room." And, believe me, I wanted to leave the room!!! Lady Yoga knew my name and would mention me & encourage me throughout the class. I thought that was cool. I'm assuming the girl at the desk told her I was there, I was new, and described me.<br />
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In the end, I made it through the class. Yay me! I have NEVER sweat like that in all my life. It was refreshing and pretty much insane. <br />
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Quick note... weigh in today... I lost .8 lbs this week. I had a great week... but on Saturday, I chowed down on veggies all day. Went to a function & there was a potluck at my house. I didn't go over my points, but I had a lot of zero point carrots & celery... I'm good with it though. If I lose about a pound a week, I'm good. Down 6 pounds in two weeks? I'll take it!<br />
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Toodles!djdjd04http://www.blogger.com/profile/11505371470238707568noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6265362940838096483.post-63885834519567014362011-03-16T10:17:00.000-07:002011-03-16T10:30:56.336-07:00Quickie...Okay, so this isn't going to be a super long post...<br />
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I didn't officially report my first week of weight loss... wait for it....<br />
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5.2 pounds! Yayyyy Weight Watchers!!!<br />
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I'm not naive enough to think I'm going to lose 5 pounds every week, but I'm glad to know it's working. The interesting thing is that my eating habits didn't change that much. I think it's choosing fruit over other snacks that is helping a lot. I didn't deprive myself. I went out to a charity happy hour on Friday night & had a cocktail... diet coke & rum, where I would normally have a vodka tonic.... WW made me pick the lower calorie mixer (smile). They passed around appetizers all night & I didn't eat a single one. Made sure I had dinner before I went there, because I didn't want to have to figure out the points for random foods. Saturday I went to the Staples Center for the Pac-10 Championship game & we went to Fleming's Steakhouse for dinner... I ordered a burger from the happy hour menu... it came with two big onion rings (which I didn't eat), and I took off the top bun because it wasn't a whole wheat bun. Better choices... that's what it's all about. <br />
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Some pix from this weekend...<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhROX3QRSuf3ztVs-4h7OGebjXlNV4Ie3iS1yr0iLUDMmwYzY7SXQkpOhdZvBIbpIzgASKoOWq2fRElVuk-P2RPGbu0MqpeZDvJSsPlYWvsnSlQsSEEmIfvbEA37wGrVywaWO-8rl4xZ_Ug/s1600/IngaJoIsley.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhROX3QRSuf3ztVs-4h7OGebjXlNV4Ie3iS1yr0iLUDMmwYzY7SXQkpOhdZvBIbpIzgASKoOWq2fRElVuk-P2RPGbu0MqpeZDvJSsPlYWvsnSlQsSEEmIfvbEA37wGrVywaWO-8rl4xZ_Ug/s320/IngaJoIsley.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the game....</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmT8fhvSQuFvc8wM_0uJvLde9JPkyWH_41neNl8Mnbf0q_K7nhWdISnqq4tmkEUdXkaJsxDeGAITutuoq6WRgBY0-UTRXnRZRD3hE3T37oRLxm4k697JGazZegH_h3EMwQIku7qnffCeL2/s1600/MeMarch12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmT8fhvSQuFvc8wM_0uJvLde9JPkyWH_41neNl8Mnbf0q_K7nhWdISnqq4tmkEUdXkaJsxDeGAITutuoq6WRgBY0-UTRXnRZRD3hE3T37oRLxm4k697JGazZegH_h3EMwQIku7qnffCeL2/s320/MeMarch12.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bright colors... I tried color blocking thanks to <a href="http://fashiondujourdaily.wordpress.com/2011/03/10/color-blocking-101-what-how/">FASHION du jour</a>!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmPLrI5jSJGv_G5WA2a7MR-9VABU8ZQHFcWZlecebKwpMFRpH5voaFgPDZN39epYG3bpwFMvob5kyDJzzPjlbGlQw02AqcjAh8Q9utzVoDoIqBTvi9fRAKEmt7AAJKy3kbsv1Irf1_uPlD/s1600/PolarHRM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmPLrI5jSJGv_G5WA2a7MR-9VABU8ZQHFcWZlecebKwpMFRpH5voaFgPDZN39epYG3bpwFMvob5kyDJzzPjlbGlQw02AqcjAh8Q9utzVoDoIqBTvi9fRAKEmt7AAJKy3kbsv1Irf1_uPlD/s320/PolarHRM.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My awesome Heart Rate Monitor after a crazy workout with Claudine (who now has a <a href="http://www.fitwit3.blogspot.com/">blog</a>!)</td></tr>
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I'm moving in the right direction... check the tracker above... down to 146.6! Whoo hooooo!<br />
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See you soon!<br />
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Toodlesdjdjd04http://www.blogger.com/profile/11505371470238707568noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6265362940838096483.post-53519953342539164312011-03-09T20:54:00.000-08:002011-03-10T08:56:46.985-08:00Four Days In...Things are moving along so far. I'm not super hungry... it's basically like normal. Before I went back on Weight Watchers, I was a calorie counter... My theory? It takes 3500 calories burned to lose a pound. Have a calorie deficit of at least 500 every day & lose a pound every week. Simple math. Okay, so it didn't really always work out like that. My weight was stagnant... so something wasn't working. Good news is that I wasn't gaining... bad news is that I wasn't losing either.<br />
<br />
One of the toughest changes I've implemented this week is not weighing myself. I'm a scale watcher for real. For REAL. I have a cool Wi Scale that sends my weight & stats to my iPhone. It keeps a little graph and everything.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih286SJ7DkiQ9I-RyIn_g-5Jn-AfNIVBFzS7mwRRHGUQnF8Fpr3bjF4CrDaq8adxBcbprUl_RZK_gHyuaKzQjNwgBcH_DAfquwuSv7jJWcZ7LJ-ptl8OngGtwOZQ9_IOqS7kJxyhwgUBrm/s1600/wiscale.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih286SJ7DkiQ9I-RyIn_g-5Jn-AfNIVBFzS7mwRRHGUQnF8Fpr3bjF4CrDaq8adxBcbprUl_RZK_gHyuaKzQjNwgBcH_DAfquwuSv7jJWcZ7LJ-ptl8OngGtwOZQ9_IOqS7kJxyhwgUBrm/s320/wiscale.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Go Go Gadget! The Wi Scale</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
For a gadget and fitness junkie like me, this scale is great. I'm the kind of person who lets the scale dictate my actions. If the scale isn't moving, I work out more or eat better. If the scale moves up, I REALLY work out more & eat better. If the scale moves down, I use it as motivation to keep doing whatever it is I'm doing.<br />
<br />
With Weight Watchers, I don't want to let my scale at home affect how I'm following the Points Plus Program. I'm trying to trust the program and see what happens when I weigh in on Sunday.<br />
<br />
I've been on WW before, but it was not the same kind of plan. WW works on a points system. Every food has a points value. In the past, fruit & vegetables had a point value, so you kinda watched it with the fruit. Fruit has a lot of sugar, so you really didn't want to use your points on the fruit. In the new Points Plus Program, everything is calculated a new way. No more calories involved... points are based on a formula of Fat, Carbs, Protein & Fiber.... and fruit and most veggies are FREE! ZERO POINTS!!! You heard it... ZERO!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_qO6h517sNtKk5PaQHpIKsI5i0bPzDyaUNXbvFq5oUV_on_n4UfwA_lSm6MJhau9Qk_rGEih532WG0T7ZYP4OjOKXrJBgWPrnGFECFztmH_zyqOYCgeMI6bFaKZePMx8pzaK3KMnS_MiQ/s1600/Fresh+Fruit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_qO6h517sNtKk5PaQHpIKsI5i0bPzDyaUNXbvFq5oUV_on_n4UfwA_lSm6MJhau9Qk_rGEih532WG0T7ZYP4OjOKXrJBgWPrnGFECFztmH_zyqOYCgeMI6bFaKZePMx8pzaK3KMnS_MiQ/s320/Fresh+Fruit.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grub on fruit as much as you like!</td></tr>
</tbody></table> Weight Watchers' theory is that people don't become overweight from eating too many fruits and vegetables. I tend to agree with that. If someone has made the choice to pay money & go to WW, they probably aren't going to go bananas on... well... bananas! Weight Watchers makes you want to grab an apple, grapes or a banana when you need a snack, instead of something less healthy... because it's ZERO points. It kinda scared me when I first heard it, but the truth is, when I eat an apple it fills me up for at least a couple hours. A banana? Forget about it. I'm stuffed. So I'm not going to overdo it with too much fruit. Not to mention, the last thing I need is more fiber in my life... but that's a whole 'notha post! :-)<br />
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Okay, remember I mentioned some "before" pictures? Well, I really didn't get to take a really good picture... but I tried. I have a very strange tummy... I call it my Frankenbelly, but that's just because it has lots of scars from my surgery incision & stoma, combined with stretch marks from when I blew up from that dreaded Prednisone. Funny story... when I was first starting to gain weight from the steroids, I was looking at my belly in the mirror... Me: "Hey Mommy... come here... um, is this a stretch mark???" She told me, "Yes, but don't sweat it. It's a rite of passage for pregnant women." Uh, NEWSFLASH, there is NO BAMBINO in this growing belly of mine!!! Waaaaaah! (Did I mention how miserable I was back then? LOL!) That one little stretch mark multiplied in a big way. I used to say it looked like a cat jumped up & grabbed me by the belly... and slid down. LOL!!! In the past decade, I have grown to love my Frankenbelly. It's just a part of who I am... and as long as it's eventually somewhat flat, I could give a rat's hind parts what kind of scars it bears! Bring on the two piece bikini! <br />
<br />
Back to my strange tummy... the top part of my tummy is sticks out more than the bottom part. It's weird. I'm sure my sister might have some medical explanation for it... or maybe that's just where I carry my abdominal weight. The good news is that I can suck it in like a pro. LOL!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNNWd38SQzBrE6ik5NbxehVf07Afm9iEpyUZt7Cl3PPkb0OxrM_csfV9qCDmtmJ5nR5f0StaYE7OspA66C7BhP3ZXzV-E6KjgjHz4gTG03n_YSlrOe5FYoP_bk41QXGCFoXPsfUH0DaLDU/s1600/photo+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNNWd38SQzBrE6ik5NbxehVf07Afm9iEpyUZt7Cl3PPkb0OxrM_csfV9qCDmtmJ5nR5f0StaYE7OspA66C7BhP3ZXzV-E6KjgjHz4gTG03n_YSlrOe5FYoP_bk41QXGCFoXPsfUH0DaLDU/s320/photo+3.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Side profile... 3/9/11... not sucked in.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheYje2lUH-VQajReEtW0w7BNlqF7_PQ-6BKwV70BI7F9qlLhFQNkTDDglAoC_hNPUrBxlcwgZDemtCG2J6ttvRyAf_bvqCne9gNMsj3UZU-y4U1_ZT8nQKgkJngx_VX4CKnNk1kINBnk9y/s1600/photo+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheYje2lUH-VQajReEtW0w7BNlqF7_PQ-6BKwV70BI7F9qlLhFQNkTDDglAoC_hNPUrBxlcwgZDemtCG2J6ttvRyAf_bvqCne9gNMsj3UZU-y4U1_ZT8nQKgkJngx_VX4CKnNk1kINBnk9y/s320/photo+4.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Side profile... all sucked in! Look ma! No Spanx!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>In the next few months I'm hoping all of this shrinks down a little. That's about it. So that's where things stand... I'm looking forward to the weigh-in. I hope it's good news! You'll know right after I do!<br />
<br />
Toodles!djdjd04http://www.blogger.com/profile/11505371470238707568noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6265362940838096483.post-30759464297481063322011-03-06T15:02:00.000-08:002011-03-07T09:26:05.306-08:00I'm Baaaaack!Okay... okay... I KNOW I have not blogged since September 2010... I'm really going to try to do better. I needed something to get my motivation back up, and I found it.<br />
<br />
Before I tell you what has spurred my motivation, maybe I should recap my journey... I can't believe I'm about to do this... but I'm showing a picture of myself when I was as big as I ever remember being... In my defense, this picture was taken ten years ago in 2001 & I was on HEAVY doses of the dreaded steroid, Prednisone. That mess blew me UP! That's all I'm saying...<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPFZ15-8u0eqoAEzBZWbzuE4h0uYkkp56ueIPbV0W0QH9OAYGDSqhjgrt7w5Allq4ASvOud9-EBNDVD88_MJMnbJ4T9e0Uu9-E0GUjNNx0hrNNaaq33s0Vn6vLXg3edx1X5XtCbV5fwhmo/s1600/Before3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPFZ15-8u0eqoAEzBZWbzuE4h0uYkkp56ueIPbV0W0QH9OAYGDSqhjgrt7w5Allq4ASvOud9-EBNDVD88_MJMnbJ4T9e0Uu9-E0GUjNNx0hrNNaaq33s0Vn6vLXg3edx1X5XtCbV5fwhmo/s320/Before3.jpg" width="107" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Summer 2001... looking like Winne the Pooh :-(</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
It was a really bad time for me... REALLY BAD. I was not a happy camper. I wasn't working. I was about to have major surgery to have my colon removed, and I was all around miserable.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">But God is good. I had two very successful surgeries, and eventually got off of all my colitis medication. So years passed... my weight went up and down and around. I had convinced myself that I was okay with how I looked... but it was absolutely not true! The next picture of me was taken in December 2006... five years post surgery... no medicine to blame for being this size. This was just good ol' fashioned "more calories in than out":</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWQEGSOaCXJL5e68DGVjqqObkjeNU2Y3OagufbycIfhHoYFiwYkoFGWnxkNHxNYN-fUL8lZvcCpnjfkOom5I88Pr1THhkjoMcZDn4Gw005D723-cmXpxST8IVNNmeraXFuyUqmyNAokvUJ/s1600/Dec06before.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWQEGSOaCXJL5e68DGVjqqObkjeNU2Y3OagufbycIfhHoYFiwYkoFGWnxkNHxNYN-fUL8lZvcCpnjfkOom5I88Pr1THhkjoMcZDn4Gw005D723-cmXpxST8IVNNmeraXFuyUqmyNAokvUJ/s320/Dec06before.jpg" width="206" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Christmas 2006</td></tr>
</tbody></table>I think I gained a little more weight after the holidays... But some time in March of 2007, I walked past a mirror in my house and stopped. I looked at myself & said, "Oh hell no. This is not cool! AT ALL!" At that moment, I decided to join Weight Watchers. I knew it worked, and I needed something to get me started... so I joined. I still have my booklet from when I first started. April 21, 2007: Starting weight? 179.8. Yep. You read that right. Picture proof below:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJSh3F4gqrTC_zy9XubhHZdfOfO1qi3T8M2sg5f39_7tpMJRVEFkeh6d7QBpKSuAbbBqlTvSbw4xOGax_Q8NHyNLC3Rdu-rd62gb1Ih9J55x8otwCbu8dfyE82A29ffjqipxT3rrgD24_K/s1600/photo+1-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJSh3F4gqrTC_zy9XubhHZdfOfO1qi3T8M2sg5f39_7tpMJRVEFkeh6d7QBpKSuAbbBqlTvSbw4xOGax_Q8NHyNLC3Rdu-rd62gb1Ih9J55x8otwCbu8dfyE82A29ffjqipxT3rrgD24_K/s320/photo+1-1.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Um... 180??? Say whaaat? </td></tr>
</tbody></table>There is no reason a 5'2" woman should weight 180lbs... it's just not healthy! But I was ready, and the weight started falling off... In late 2007, I was introduced to Claudine Cooper, who I mentioned in a <a href="http://djdjd04.blogspot.com/2009/08/tuesday-thoughts.html">previous post</a>. She's my trainer, my friend, my sister and one of the best things that every happened to me. I've probably said this before, but God brought her into my life exactly when I was ready for her. I had figured out the eating part with the help of Weight Watchers, but I still wasn't good on the fitness. Claudine changed all that... PLUS she came with two beautiful daughters (and now a son!) who I love to death, a husband who doesn't mind that I'm ALWAYS over their house working out, and a next door neighbor, Nichol, who has become a wonderful workout partner & friend.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW31HPkuq2E3elq-Eep9dYhNZXTBzeOFYzS41jobnv3_8edz91fOiKOQIvxwDzxbUqDdaGqV8V2joUIW3ZYbCDHSJLZF0XqIGGaU0i_sBI8GQwp0JliIzSq6z45dI-triNk-Z1WthDKLfW/s1600/DSCN4166.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW31HPkuq2E3elq-Eep9dYhNZXTBzeOFYzS41jobnv3_8edz91fOiKOQIvxwDzxbUqDdaGqV8V2joUIW3ZYbCDHSJLZF0XqIGGaU0i_sBI8GQwp0JliIzSq6z45dI-triNk-Z1WthDKLfW/s320/DSCN4166.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Claudine, Nichol & JoLai; October 2010</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhto9B-lBHNnvcfJyNicl55mEB5rEBeHC73PMbaSPFzy-xMrwM4rfif8wuCBCXNgGkX6QaOFD__ITL16TRGiz7ZJcC38daMPNmIAXP4O8dAfNxlJX4j_drGy9goO54ZYy9YpoSDfdrhtCwY/s1600/DSCN4664.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhto9B-lBHNnvcfJyNicl55mEB5rEBeHC73PMbaSPFzy-xMrwM4rfif8wuCBCXNgGkX6QaOFD__ITL16TRGiz7ZJcC38daMPNmIAXP4O8dAfNxlJX4j_drGy9goO54ZYy9YpoSDfdrhtCwY/s320/DSCN4664.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Auntie JoLai at "Justin Bieber: Never Say Never" with 3 of my favorite little ones, TJ (Nichol's son), Mackenzie (Stacy's daughter), and Faye (Claudine's daughter)</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Oh, back to the story... I can't remember why I stopped going to Weight Watchers... I wasn't at my goal weight yet, but I had lost nearly 40 pounds.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRgp7b9RHbU3NCwUfRb_hCyqP2okMWgsUmw8EslWs1zCkCZyZsyupiW6eK6RvutqwxD7mdvBpWSLXMQOB_4MLq4puHj60qQExYml2ZbVylAC1-gnNj0w2RTr8fJUUu2YeOv0jL5Fu3tTf1/s1600/photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRgp7b9RHbU3NCwUfRb_hCyqP2okMWgsUmw8EslWs1zCkCZyZsyupiW6eK6RvutqwxD7mdvBpWSLXMQOB_4MLq4puHj60qQExYml2ZbVylAC1-gnNj0w2RTr8fJUUu2YeOv0jL5Fu3tTf1/s320/photo.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Last WW weigh in was 140.6 lbs... 39.2 lbs lost!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>That was October of 2008. Since then, I've gained weight and lost weight... kinda floating between 145 and 155. That's not so great when I was down to 140.6, but I was pleased with how I looked & I knew there was some muscle gain going on. I am not perfect on my eating habits, but I can pretty much keep it under control... otherwise I'd be back up to 180 again... and then some.... <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnl9ycqCJTyqA0afAdtLAougcw9e-fSsd459DxVknNieqplP8vTWLEAp_lNmvMMpv4EqN0fakLU4pmM6_8m2oz9BA51nIk0uCTOHjCawtAnTFTSHTfYj8PfCySClfMNlX3M0vqCRCir6F4/s1600/DSC04018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnl9ycqCJTyqA0afAdtLAougcw9e-fSsd459DxVknNieqplP8vTWLEAp_lNmvMMpv4EqN0fakLU4pmM6_8m2oz9BA51nIk0uCTOHjCawtAnTFTSHTfYj8PfCySClfMNlX3M0vqCRCir6F4/s320/DSC04018.JPG" width="131" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">June 2009... maintaining</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJkCMIpbtTBKlRMHy9I1z0t_tbmJwNRZfC6Hn2qHBm2GiwK1XK6CnbEhEqmbdWwIy99aStYM2FqFfmKXHYfRdeSSpSRVvYkqUhImMCBgtlAMmoFHd1djkePFP6822pdjie6tOdz5rYiOx8/s1600/DSCN3380.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJkCMIpbtTBKlRMHy9I1z0t_tbmJwNRZfC6Hn2qHBm2GiwK1XK6CnbEhEqmbdWwIy99aStYM2FqFfmKXHYfRdeSSpSRVvYkqUhImMCBgtlAMmoFHd1djkePFP6822pdjie6tOdz5rYiOx8/s320/DSCN3380.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">August 2010... still maintaining...</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMWr5BAndx6HUif0RXhotGsDrZysEJ4vfWBBWqJSIiYZqEfRtttN875B-oTkRaMuuLoDiknDhxDSCJRtLW7QNyDyhIsJuN9hM9oqLS-tClEwuaziL_2YEJh6pshUXItCapXhHG7bvhUf60/s1600/DSCN4732.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMWr5BAndx6HUif0RXhotGsDrZysEJ4vfWBBWqJSIiYZqEfRtttN875B-oTkRaMuuLoDiknDhxDSCJRtLW7QNyDyhIsJuN9hM9oqLS-tClEwuaziL_2YEJh6pshUXItCapXhHG7bvhUf60/s320/DSCN4732.JPG" width="153" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">February 2011... looking good!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhakEoJ24S3dl9Qc8P_9xNxHFboXM8WBcVCyka4f4m8nJRmhWPyppmrD2b9bqgyw5aIObQnXc1eJ5Mb4cw9K1MI23jB8BNqPQKggzAGETd0JC35Fi646306D2rD830ibIylxiStWwtuDMLQ/s1600/DSCN4820_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhakEoJ24S3dl9Qc8P_9xNxHFboXM8WBcVCyka4f4m8nJRmhWPyppmrD2b9bqgyw5aIObQnXc1eJ5Mb4cw9K1MI23jB8BNqPQKggzAGETd0JC35Fi646306D2rD830ibIylxiStWwtuDMLQ/s320/DSCN4820_2.JPG" width="123" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">February 2011... still looking good (later that same day! LOL!)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Sidebar: I have GOT to get a new pose!!! LOL! The problem is that I have to pose from that side because of my lazy left eye... and I always put my hand on my hip, because it makes my upper arm look smaller. LOL! Oh well....<br />
<br />
So back to what spurred me to blog again... I decided to go back to Weight Watchers to get off these last 20 or so pounds. My weigh-in this morning was 151.8. I knew where I was, so I wasn't shocked or anything. I don't know exactly how much I need to lose, but I do know I need to lose some more -- simply because I'm still 5'2" (not gonna grow any more!) and I shouldn't be 150 lbs. I carry that 150 well, but I'd love to get off my HBP medicine one day. Maybe this last 20 pounds will do the trick. <br />
<br />
I'll keep you posted on my WW journey. This will be fun. I'm excited about the new Points Plus plan... and, hell, Jennifer Hudson looks like a million bucks! I'm gonna try to take a before picture that doesn't involve me wearing Spanx... I'll post it when I take it. :-)<br />
<br />
Here I go again... I'm BACK!!!<br />
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Toodles!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJSh3F4gqrTC_zy9XubhHZdfOfO1qi3T8M2sg5f39_7tpMJRVEFkeh6d7QBpKSuAbbBqlTvSbw4xOGax_Q8NHyNLC3Rdu-rd62gb1Ih9J55x8otwCbu8dfyE82A29ffjqipxT3rrgD24_K/s1600/photo+1-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div>djdjd04http://www.blogger.com/profile/11505371470238707568noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6265362940838096483.post-78606436766235763252010-09-27T21:30:00.000-07:002010-09-27T21:33:03.223-07:00Too Darn Hot...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaExIuZkS-qTtL4ki4_R4pf762J_lBSNIBmdECMd9fmfHYDYFEMWCN9-KzD51plB6a4COuWvmdwPz0b6Vo4SP91bWz0rYNfUD92QyX43173dOfAxTKeGsAX2CtVmW8DYLUS9_Mgai0P7Gh/s1600/heat.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaExIuZkS-qTtL4ki4_R4pf762J_lBSNIBmdECMd9fmfHYDYFEMWCN9-KzD51plB6a4COuWvmdwPz0b6Vo4SP91bWz0rYNfUD92QyX43173dOfAxTKeGsAX2CtVmW8DYLUS9_Mgai0P7Gh/s320/heat.JPG" width="237" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This was the reading from my car at 4:17pm today.... 100 degrees... Today marked the hottest day in LA history! Luckily, I spent the bulk of it indoors in my cool office building. But when I got home & tried to work out, it felt like a sauna in my house... probably because I RARELY, if EVER, turn on my AC. I have too much house to waste money cooling all the rooms when I'm only in one of them. I did manage to do a DVD workout & two miles on the treadmill. It took every bit of me to finish that two miles! I was pooped when I finished!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So, I guess I don't have anything to talk about really.... work has been pretty nutso. I've been spending time with friends... the usual stuff. I thought I'd share with you a couple of things I have recently acquired... and a couple of things I would like to acquire soon!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">First up: Champion Sports Bra Style #1018! The bra happens to be discontinued, but I found a couple on ebay. Believe me when I tell you, this is the best sports bra for the money that I have ever found. Holds "my girls" in when I'm jumping around and jogging... excellent for someone who is well-endowed. But for some STRANGE reason, Champion discontinued the style... and I haven't found another one they make that compares. I should write them a letter.....</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvcmmUQlZ59bJp2ihb4SIzR7OkcqrTWT4HR4_q_wLCATWOoqH95s3y2J7SLlqCr4SdFP0DGsOo-hklXWhQIb_A8qwvn4ZStmHaV5zIOBWmCWzvRMajTeNQ2dwfGMSk0joIXnacND5xDsx7/s1600/bras.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvcmmUQlZ59bJp2ihb4SIzR7OkcqrTWT4HR4_q_wLCATWOoqH95s3y2J7SLlqCr4SdFP0DGsOo-hklXWhQIb_A8qwvn4ZStmHaV5zIOBWmCWzvRMajTeNQ2dwfGMSk0joIXnacND5xDsx7/s320/bras.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Next up, another discontinued item: Nike Shox Navina Sparkle... I don't think you can get the full image from the pictures, but they are quite bling-a-licious! And I must have them!!! Trying to decide between the white and black... they're also on ebay. A wee bit pricey, but they would last me 2-3 years easily since I swap out shoes so much.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0t-S32agk3T7HdKeti7fPjY0iJ29t2SRaNHWVijG-NVoH_ECofW-3YtoijWW1dGXiDx7HUrRY_rpL5QeIPZ6oOQ6raQ6lsg1oljw_2-1fy9du7Prk4o6b75TIexdJ2b7SJ5ithzbK60KI/s1600/nike1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0t-S32agk3T7HdKeti7fPjY0iJ29t2SRaNHWVijG-NVoH_ECofW-3YtoijWW1dGXiDx7HUrRY_rpL5QeIPZ6oOQ6raQ6lsg1oljw_2-1fy9du7Prk4o6b75TIexdJ2b7SJ5ithzbK60KI/s320/nike1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDpPyt4_gjKGlsiBRKiFcz_b3DDhwI7vBsurKTZYQreVpSGFV23U_hEVMqN6IsFmelu2bBANgt6-YgQO6kJ-49ypdoRwofPFbLlFJFWogyv8Ew5b6ODkqexgFH08XkWhrYkc-OoGNe_J23/s1600/nike2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDpPyt4_gjKGlsiBRKiFcz_b3DDhwI7vBsurKTZYQreVpSGFV23U_hEVMqN6IsFmelu2bBANgt6-YgQO6kJ-49ypdoRwofPFbLlFJFWogyv8Ew5b6ODkqexgFH08XkWhrYkc-OoGNe_J23/s320/nike2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<br />
Finally, I've been drinking Shakeology meal replacement shakes. Yummy yum yum! I put ice, soy milk, maybe a half a banana in mine & it makes a great shake. Totally fills me up!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu9wvSdNE1JqSlvnFG0d7NEYnqiT3SSC_CLjxL3W78FCFF8bwg0lHDXvvnU3fJwW8IPOqGIoZSWntFPCVJBwcuir3sXwmGS_20XeGEsGaDuSb7mC-Dd8BuAdorqcHGpCAZCkRcvltpHa54/s1600/shakeology.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu9wvSdNE1JqSlvnFG0d7NEYnqiT3SSC_CLjxL3W78FCFF8bwg0lHDXvvnU3fJwW8IPOqGIoZSWntFPCVJBwcuir3sXwmGS_20XeGEsGaDuSb7mC-Dd8BuAdorqcHGpCAZCkRcvltpHa54/s320/shakeology.jpg" width="276" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Of course, drinking Shakeololgy means I needed a new blender! A REAL BLENDER! No, it's not a VitaMix, but it's also not the $30 blender I had from Target. This one really works. It set me back $80, but it's worth every penny...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMi0YFQRBZScek4cCRnt3pYOwcK9GVbd5U6fwcsbEj0ID31BSmVizkZV3kF33muu8jJnQ9LKA5NkVqFPCqedMQoAalmKtz5qI8SZJFDQoXmW7Yx9EKgbeNnxmHSISyBFgTMl-h80qnsiTY/s1600/blender.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMi0YFQRBZScek4cCRnt3pYOwcK9GVbd5U6fwcsbEj0ID31BSmVizkZV3kF33muu8jJnQ9LKA5NkVqFPCqedMQoAalmKtz5qI8SZJFDQoXmW7Yx9EKgbeNnxmHSISyBFgTMl-h80qnsiTY/s320/blender.JPG" width="237" /></a></div><br />
Well, that's it for now.... gotta jump in the shower and get my mind right for Tuesday. Hope to talk to you soon... I'm gonna do better with the blogging... (I know I keep saying that!) Did some fun things last weekend & have some fun things coming up... so I'll have lots to talk about!<br />
<br />
Toodles!djdjd04http://www.blogger.com/profile/11505371470238707568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6265362940838096483.post-55765325145949634342010-09-09T23:02:00.000-07:002010-09-09T23:02:19.567-07:00Summer's Over...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It's been a while since I last posted, so this will be a catch up blog post! August was a busy, but WONDERFUL month! I would have to say the highlight was watching my BMFF (best male friend forever), Sean Patikas-Hunter, marry his beautiful wife, Rita, aka Mrs. Patikas-Hunter :-) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The night before the wedding, Sean calls & tells me to come over... they're celebrating his last night as a single man over at his house. Rita was already at the hotel. So, of course, I get there & I'm the only girl there (sometimes I think Sean forgets I'm not a guy... LOL!) I'm used to it by now, and Sean's guy friends don't even blink when I show up. We talked & ate & drank... around midnight the guys were going to some bar, but I recommended that Sean stay home & get some rest. He listened (and I'm sure he appreciated it the next morning!) The wedding was Friday, August 20th... the day was perfect. The ceremony was beautiful... I didn't even burst into a complete cry bubble the way I normally do at weddings. I think I had gotten out of my system earlier that day... the wedding was in the evening on a yacht in Newport Harbor. I hadn't seen Sean all day, but a few hours before the ceremony I got a text from him which pretty much brought me to tears. Happy tears. By wedding time I was all cried out. I did get a little misty when I first saw Rita, because she was so beautiful. I remember her telling me about when she found her dress & how she knew it was perfect. When I saw her standing with her dad... Wow... she was right. She was a picture perfect bride. Here are some shots from the wedding & reception:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVws2iWwOVB3-xBP8gnpac9_ng9Zx0MhFDOXUACVg58XL_SZ-NBzhdOw_jbEb1SrEAsg4e4ydfPFYEk09oPy_q1xZ-iJUTic4_XWeJaqL1SfmAGvdRmlbRLQ9Ix5667-zCdVLMMCtpNPlB/s1600/DSCN3422.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVws2iWwOVB3-xBP8gnpac9_ng9Zx0MhFDOXUACVg58XL_SZ-NBzhdOw_jbEb1SrEAsg4e4ydfPFYEk09oPy_q1xZ-iJUTic4_XWeJaqL1SfmAGvdRmlbRLQ9Ix5667-zCdVLMMCtpNPlB/s320/DSCN3422.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My best friends at the wedding, aka, "Sean's Lady Crew" LOL!<br />
Stacy, Sharon, Taufiki, LaVetta, JoLai</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAkjh-BVrd7yAfIo4g4LVDyxQtK_A7KoYRfhBp0OJZ9ZBFIy9bpg79imlSpkdE-n6-vMpU-OtnAOug09IOE4V986UIyP9K44to7YVzWx6ehvBvElqDt6hF_av7CKi2ZsHR9FMZqcppsTqn/s1600/IMG_1471.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAkjh-BVrd7yAfIo4g4LVDyxQtK_A7KoYRfhBp0OJZ9ZBFIy9bpg79imlSpkdE-n6-vMpU-OtnAOug09IOE4V986UIyP9K44to7YVzWx6ehvBvElqDt6hF_av7CKi2ZsHR9FMZqcppsTqn/s320/IMG_1471.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The happy & handsome groom, Sean</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV72pTCsU-d2viq1uW4l7tSTDg7uSOc0LBBR2FKChkXNQkhlxrbnaZnwNOCSTYa8QUoQr4b8i05cQPiK0-QuUIRMflwK7VYbxuv_78aIftxRt28p8euqgQ0rm0QFcdhYMeiNhxjMxtyJfv/s1600/IMG_1469.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV72pTCsU-d2viq1uW4l7tSTDg7uSOc0LBBR2FKChkXNQkhlxrbnaZnwNOCSTYa8QUoQr4b8i05cQPiK0-QuUIRMflwK7VYbxuv_78aIftxRt28p8euqgQ0rm0QFcdhYMeiNhxjMxtyJfv/s320/IMG_1469.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"I do..."</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji3yXrxVUVSSo4Yw3Dmbe1mZ4vXmYTOQ4lbAaXoSfJYrJ257eMnrE97fQHsL2yX6Mih8SBRstwB5tBVBKJz6gTikGeHoEI0gnwdv-3uWLO4vSqhdNBENQ6VfVZVd1_RGcbBGk7-pnIopxP/s1600/IMG_1467.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji3yXrxVUVSSo4Yw3Dmbe1mZ4vXmYTOQ4lbAaXoSfJYrJ257eMnrE97fQHsL2yX6Mih8SBRstwB5tBVBKJz6gTikGeHoEI0gnwdv-3uWLO4vSqhdNBENQ6VfVZVd1_RGcbBGk7-pnIopxP/s320/IMG_1467.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The wedding party</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNsDMUhYViJeKySLf7ZiKiiP6VB2X4OlbxnLZkCIkt-dHRCZFvdUqqq27F39iGNeX-OrqaLDAvN3siEtp32AZaKx45Bay-ItS0iSLZQQ9v-VCE8iLtvMIcYXJ1g4CaD_5XhGPL33DM4bAD/s1600/DSCN3551.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNsDMUhYViJeKySLf7ZiKiiP6VB2X4OlbxnLZkCIkt-dHRCZFvdUqqq27F39iGNeX-OrqaLDAvN3siEtp32AZaKx45Bay-ItS0iSLZQQ9v-VCE8iLtvMIcYXJ1g4CaD_5XhGPL33DM4bAD/s320/DSCN3551.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great friends from all over the country <br />
to celebrate Sean & Rita's big day!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYyFFfw-cWxTM0ZEqy6d6Ykc8_BK1mijAYysv-dEI_Z96zXje4gQdGDRw-teqExWRiuq6WKyBN3_WWKORsYXOVT0ySzL4oV_t1q9jFgyT2z4f6RHH-Bfg30ek3IANHpc4ijouPCS24osXW/s1600/DSCN3534.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYyFFfw-cWxTM0ZEqy6d6Ykc8_BK1mijAYysv-dEI_Z96zXje4gQdGDRw-teqExWRiuq6WKyBN3_WWKORsYXOVT0ySzL4oV_t1q9jFgyT2z4f6RHH-Bfg30ek3IANHpc4ijouPCS24osXW/s320/DSCN3534.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With the bride... I told Sean I'm on Team Rita now! LOL!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsIr_4b7epWgBpqM3Z2ClDQUdd03S9HLugoE8QycCeF9Il0QJzLUPbcKmjiIS1VKSDM4c1kPOpI6-YbUqx9fG0nbzbqQOYtP682TQgWl04L6bhdBZto1z9Xh0phnZ_mVgXqzGxSJpjtpyY/s1600/DSCN3463.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsIr_4b7epWgBpqM3Z2ClDQUdd03S9HLugoE8QycCeF9Il0QJzLUPbcKmjiIS1VKSDM4c1kPOpI6-YbUqx9fG0nbzbqQOYtP682TQgWl04L6bhdBZto1z9Xh0phnZ_mVgXqzGxSJpjtpyY/s320/DSCN3463.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My favorite picture: the mother/son & father/daughter dance...<br />
What you don't see is that Rita is looking at Sean the whole time.<br />
That is when I cried again... it was such a moment.</td></tr>
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Okay, so remember the weight loss challenge? I actually lost 10lbs in August! It was a result of checking my diet & working out (like I always do.) So I felt good going into my Labor Day weekend vacation to Florida. I wasn't going to go crazy and eat everything in sight, but I was not going to be the snack police either. Yes, I ate a lot of chips... they were in the beach house, and I ate them. But I also went walking with my dad Saturday & Sunday morning... walked on the beach Saturday... and went walking twice on Tuesday in Atlanta. Some pix from Florida:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIThg05ICX0d6mVXGPCGvRzjeG7KtkYDj_ka5dlA7cnXlrPVnwlCj-YVMeKv_sJ4Cvr6VNUNSRsB5MwInqFW987BdttLSGUNUv3N9dKmMzduNKHQFPciEq_K0xYuQImOCdn4I_BxV5mH05/s1600/DSCN3650.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIThg05ICX0d6mVXGPCGvRzjeG7KtkYDj_ka5dlA7cnXlrPVnwlCj-YVMeKv_sJ4Cvr6VNUNSRsB5MwInqFW987BdttLSGUNUv3N9dKmMzduNKHQFPciEq_K0xYuQImOCdn4I_BxV5mH05/s320/DSCN3650.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">During my beach walk...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsc2PEx0sOeBWqUTypV44uaTTbx0YEKIOHBqp6ftv90KFItdweNH9uAvbkMvvr0nzBT_NxyIjjb0YlNG1DpM73JiQzw9JbMR3jC5lb5FFE3VSsW8qB3O7v9KbwXeXjVHw7XdKxNDwp3DwQ/s1600/DSCN3616.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsc2PEx0sOeBWqUTypV44uaTTbx0YEKIOHBqp6ftv90KFItdweNH9uAvbkMvvr0nzBT_NxyIjjb0YlNG1DpM73JiQzw9JbMR3jC5lb5FFE3VSsW8qB3O7v9KbwXeXjVHw7XdKxNDwp3DwQ/s320/DSCN3616.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On my morning walk with Daddy...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1ltrYf8f5ZJTUQgc_53PMXXoi49HePuIBkTy_uzBB0KP0-Hj0ZHCTFXcWWALKch348a8MaODgB4MSOnthgXddulzX4UXkuoX5fPmpxfb1WGpVliPYdW6rdNtVAg8NiDkq1yF3VV12u7mQ/s1600/DSCN3727.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1ltrYf8f5ZJTUQgc_53PMXXoi49HePuIBkTy_uzBB0KP0-Hj0ZHCTFXcWWALKch348a8MaODgB4MSOnthgXddulzX4UXkuoX5fPmpxfb1WGpVliPYdW6rdNtVAg8NiDkq1yF3VV12u7mQ/s320/DSCN3727.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is pretty much what I did... :-)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRD7h-RlD-gyrnrv2sCFS5NF1wxSEFreU_7GmwFJpEMARWkV_5v2LqauubfRl39j5r5fWB2JVOMiMn5igmVzp15zxuOM7EUCRx3jyU9fl1Im1nPUHddngCosJvnz7Fwo0QUBXcDbg_T3gg/s1600/DSCN3671.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRD7h-RlD-gyrnrv2sCFS5NF1wxSEFreU_7GmwFJpEMARWkV_5v2LqauubfRl39j5r5fWB2JVOMiMn5igmVzp15zxuOM7EUCRx3jyU9fl1Im1nPUHddngCosJvnz7Fwo0QUBXcDbg_T3gg/s320/DSCN3671.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Posing at sunset...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr2E-7wcDXrLnY_ME2NMuR5pEo-1ck-9rZZDpFkaETnXmkO-epXmJEzNz1LYmc0IjYL6EfPpsHH6YSgFlvYLOOabLzdccLatVSMqW3kezSH93oaJDcC8101fHDFHQuITnnZHeGeHdzc4zM/s1600/DSCN3745.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr2E-7wcDXrLnY_ME2NMuR5pEo-1ck-9rZZDpFkaETnXmkO-epXmJEzNz1LYmc0IjYL6EfPpsHH6YSgFlvYLOOabLzdccLatVSMqW3kezSH93oaJDcC8101fHDFHQuITnnZHeGeHdzc4zM/s320/DSCN3745.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After my walk... the water was so clear!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBC2uy4cVGLXi9BoaTMP4V-wV_EWelgRYig8LTOhPBgWBimGJrnxXzmEReGNPN0fafGusrlF38_puUtsQvOY7Wmn_If-of32o2o9NSwP-NGPbVp3Y57MOU_j6XesZpIYTtoaVTPZdxW4e6/s1600/DSCN3782.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBC2uy4cVGLXi9BoaTMP4V-wV_EWelgRYig8LTOhPBgWBimGJrnxXzmEReGNPN0fafGusrlF38_puUtsQvOY7Wmn_If-of32o2o9NSwP-NGPbVp3Y57MOU_j6XesZpIYTtoaVTPZdxW4e6/s320/DSCN3782.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My suntan... which almost became a sunburn...</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;">We left Florida on Monday & headed up to Atlanta to celebrate Kimberly's 40th birthday. She had a t-shirt & flip flops themed BBQ, and it was a blast! I got to see a lot of friends from college, play with my nephews & eat some DELICIOUS fried fish. Oh yes, I enjoyed that fried fish!!!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7yAxpdKyG_MRhcQNJr1MZp2UVAm9IcfJoQwscx06VWiz5sFFYgh05ob_c9uy_2C0WH_cEyIJi2gQW3vCn1uHkvB4AZgvOkWqZvIOmQYR0GVUYHSEsrCFV7IAXdYoaDuyek26KWoDGwgaV/s1600/DSCN3856.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7yAxpdKyG_MRhcQNJr1MZp2UVAm9IcfJoQwscx06VWiz5sFFYgh05ob_c9uy_2C0WH_cEyIJi2gQW3vCn1uHkvB4AZgvOkWqZvIOmQYR0GVUYHSEsrCFV7IAXdYoaDuyek26KWoDGwgaV/s320/DSCN3856.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes, 40 year olds double dutch! And do pop ups!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhswGaMq5M8EL2y_k8jFBUxnGFz6cVWJkewQ0fEzOtxHzzwy53f0Xl2FasLPMg9sOUdfl0LWtDv6iRlMcpXTKrpI2G1PYZE_-kxQU3bsUiDnUmdmpHynm3_lCfx6S_beKOjjJK0IQzTlh8U/s1600/DSCN3922.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhswGaMq5M8EL2y_k8jFBUxnGFz6cVWJkewQ0fEzOtxHzzwy53f0Xl2FasLPMg9sOUdfl0LWtDv6iRlMcpXTKrpI2G1PYZE_-kxQU3bsUiDnUmdmpHynm3_lCfx6S_beKOjjJK0IQzTlh8U/s320/DSCN3922.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our last day as 39 year olds together... Miz & Biz</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_zMKd2_UZfk9mySy7a8aqmdcSoIiWIKG4n_P_rmAy3pD7ycORTfvbAGqPL386PYdALqA_uAch-S7fpY_JKxHrcgXlv5FqJF8PD2by5wd56qeUeBTKRmgFapfIn_lPpftKZx8A1BtjeSME/s1600/DSCN3943.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_zMKd2_UZfk9mySy7a8aqmdcSoIiWIKG4n_P_rmAy3pD7ycORTfvbAGqPL386PYdALqA_uAch-S7fpY_JKxHrcgXlv5FqJF8PD2by5wd56qeUeBTKRmgFapfIn_lPpftKZx8A1BtjeSME/s320/DSCN3943.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Auntie's baby, Zachary... my little sunshine!</td></tr>
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'm proud of myself for not beating myself up for snacking and eating things that I normally wouldn't eat. It's all about moderation. As much as I would have loved to come home, jump on the scale & weigh what I weighed when I left.... that wasn't the case. The good news is that I didn't gain even half my weight back, and I enjoyed some great food. Of course, I'm back on my grind now.... I have given myself a 10lb goal for September. I can do it!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Toodles!</div>djdjd04http://www.blogger.com/profile/11505371470238707568noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6265362940838096483.post-68794604504473299442010-08-16T21:58:00.000-07:002010-08-16T22:03:59.185-07:00Challenge...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvhi2onwCXhXVxYl0JzbSVjP4jeKe0cmYgNsVCtQ4E5mO3B0HNAo8SrfLEhWPum6ZRAMBhJjxhywgH0F0bSjSqBL5mUexRyTFOv7E8XqZIH1RXdOQtvBnVHBEr7fu7UZ2iCUTYbkvzoyfG/s1600/DSCN3381.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvhi2onwCXhXVxYl0JzbSVjP4jeKe0cmYgNsVCtQ4E5mO3B0HNAo8SrfLEhWPum6ZRAMBhJjxhywgH0F0bSjSqBL5mUexRyTFOv7E8XqZIH1RXdOQtvBnVHBEr7fu7UZ2iCUTYbkvzoyfG/s320/DSCN3381.JPG" /></a></div><br />
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I posed a challenge to my family last week... well, not really a challenge, just a little inspiration to workout. I vowed to lose 5lbs by Labor Day weekend. Pretty much everyone followed my lead, and we're all planning to announce our SUCCESSES when we meet up for Labor Day. I'm doing a pretty darn good job so far. For me, all it takes is a watching my calorie intake & eating the right foods. I have the workout part down. It's not a problem for me. I love to exercise... it's generally my favorite part of the day. I've already lost 4lbs, so 5 will be no problem. Between you & me, I really plan to lose 10lbs... so we'll see how it goes. My motto for my birthday was "Eat, Drink & Be Merry", so I'm making up for it now.<br />
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The picture above was taken this past weekend at a wonderful luncheon I was invited to. It was a celebration of Fifty Fabulous Women... and I must say it was incredible! I met some great women, and it was such a beautiful day, as you can see in the picture. As you can also see, I wore a strapless dress... let me tell you, JoLai does not do strapless! One, I am well endowed, and it's just weird to not have bra straps... two, I never liked showing my arms. When my trainer, Claudine, saw me at the luncheon, she was soooo proud of me. She's been working my arms & shoulders to death! I asked for it, and she's giving it to me. The dress is from The Gap... and I'm pretty sure I've had it for a decade. LOL. I was digging through the closet & found it. Cheers to me! It'll be too big soon, so someone else can enjoy it next summer... unless I take it to my tailor to have it nipped in... I kinda like it.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmL4aXBB9wvwgbEAieajKrrUhKRLd233vU0LRuo-2G6x13bDjjyfPkaK4MQUbfz5RvlZ2MoRQmV4PyaZiZzEQvZ9rsz4hssr-flPiZhDJA33GqFkWbdRnFC7AtlcehFeh5g-H5T9udt5ke/s1600/DSCN3380.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmL4aXBB9wvwgbEAieajKrrUhKRLd233vU0LRuo-2G6x13bDjjyfPkaK4MQUbfz5RvlZ2MoRQmV4PyaZiZzEQvZ9rsz4hssr-flPiZhDJA33GqFkWbdRnFC7AtlcehFeh5g-H5T9udt5ke/s320/DSCN3380.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyjeYxBnJ51lOF7MrOVpzS53gP7ZWbhCSpmWHP1w_CdVAhLZWjPTlCdG-tZCYs3bP5MNdUB3zmJJEPf-4w-1L19zL8RAgarxgdTSlLsMgCpDLDPuVAd2yFQYA9byUHQD0bl_i1L29MK-CU/s1600/DSCN3346.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyjeYxBnJ51lOF7MrOVpzS53gP7ZWbhCSpmWHP1w_CdVAhLZWjPTlCdG-tZCYs3bP5MNdUB3zmJJEPf-4w-1L19zL8RAgarxgdTSlLsMgCpDLDPuVAd2yFQYA9byUHQD0bl_i1L29MK-CU/s320/DSCN3346.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">With my girlfriends, Nichol & Stacy</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ZYca911Oetfzn4SDDasmlTStd-B51i8bBcdxS4T1XoM_YOyndPkBMfdG-EN1GJwcylz8gPrBg6zXdpc09awhyphenhyphenWtwwU2a1urLF8skY8MABFDKBGdWhW18JWkAKkGQaeWt1eGVo8Wdbqfy/s1600/DSCN3383.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ZYca911Oetfzn4SDDasmlTStd-B51i8bBcdxS4T1XoM_YOyndPkBMfdG-EN1GJwcylz8gPrBg6zXdpc09awhyphenhyphenWtwwU2a1urLF8skY8MABFDKBGdWhW18JWkAKkGQaeWt1eGVo8Wdbqfy/s320/DSCN3383.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The view was amazing!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Oh, before I go, I wore one of the dresses from my last post... it's the one I wore to Jon & Leslie's wedding. It's definitely gonna be too big soon. I wore it to a bridal shower last weekend... with my Calvin Klein wedges that I love...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVoRkf0cAhn2Iph2DBZdwWlebMJD4VBLECI5m4K-P7uqniMNxxfs6y8dnh-tdWA3eWnejPzNK5tQ3xIYGcSsu_cOvI42I5tYQ4EH-VyhlyX897ZOF_9VFUA9MavJb3Qno_Se_x2zOdcO7I/s1600/DSCN3313.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVoRkf0cAhn2Iph2DBZdwWlebMJD4VBLECI5m4K-P7uqniMNxxfs6y8dnh-tdWA3eWnejPzNK5tQ3xIYGcSsu_cOvI42I5tYQ4EH-VyhlyX897ZOF_9VFUA9MavJb3Qno_Se_x2zOdcO7I/s320/DSCN3313.JPG" /></a><br />
FYI, Leslie's blog is back up & running at:<br />
<a href="http://www.fashiondujourdaily.wordpress.com/" target="_blank"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1282018916_1">www.fashiondujourdaily.wordpress.com</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">That's all for now.... next post I'm considering sharing my "before" pictures. I look at them & thank God that He positioned me to be READY to make this change in my life three years ago!!!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Toodles!</div>djdjd04http://www.blogger.com/profile/11505371470238707568noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6265362940838096483.post-84925531350216611682010-08-03T23:33:00.000-07:002010-08-16T21:24:12.720-07:00The Right To Bare Arms...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Before I start... I want to say THANK YOU to my sister, Dr. Kimberly Manning, for writing about me in her fabulous blog... here's the link to the post: <a href="http://gradydoctor.blogspot.com/2010/07/reflection-on-tuesday-no-excuses.html">Reflection on Tuesday: No Excuses</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Okay... here we go!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Iydyq7tn1w0VGlMuYoZKqIITTow5jz-wo3zh5BEQ2P4reR-YHMRCJ2vUgYefboOLRxyj8OyMr8Fv1TcDj0BqGTvcVaUSrtetSaqGjyXciCL5mYgUR2osXlNHJxt8eCHG0k4O2dWpgzrB/s1600/DSCN0032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Iydyq7tn1w0VGlMuYoZKqIITTow5jz-wo3zh5BEQ2P4reR-YHMRCJ2vUgYefboOLRxyj8OyMr8Fv1TcDj0BqGTvcVaUSrtetSaqGjyXciCL5mYgUR2osXlNHJxt8eCHG0k4O2dWpgzrB/s320/DSCN0032.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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I've never been a super girly girl... I'm much more at home in jeans and a t-shirt with flip-flops... or sweats and sneakers... My job is very casual, and when I do wear a dress, it's like the talk of the whole floor. LOL. Because I don't wear dresses & skirts to work very often, I like to wear them when I go out. I love to buy dresses, and I love to wear dresses.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPXh3bM4K4T98RT7YooyTLp164U3LD0Zc0wa7to6-ASkgGAI2h9xGVLFLZR40ggFTNJXKkWUb4hFYQgkeZMMbWXVxp2Q9_x7JSZhY1KndoIHz4fjzMT6zZQbLTRm6ne1V3eeIgEBvay8hS/s1600/DSC03667.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPXh3bM4K4T98RT7YooyTLp164U3LD0Zc0wa7to6-ASkgGAI2h9xGVLFLZR40ggFTNJXKkWUb4hFYQgkeZMMbWXVxp2Q9_x7JSZhY1KndoIHz4fjzMT6zZQbLTRm6ne1V3eeIgEBvay8hS/s320/DSC03667.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Here I am again in my signature pose... haha!</div><br />
One change that has happened in the last year is that I've become a bit more confident about showing my arms. There is probably no part of my body that I struggle with more than my arms. When I was on heavy doses of prednisone for my colitis back in 2001, my body swelled up like a balloon. And my arms GREW (along with everything else), so I have some stretch marks on the back of my arms that I really don't like. After a lot of soul searching, I have learned to accept all of my "battle scars" from my struggle with ulcerative colitis. As I've worked out & lost weight, my arms have gotten smaller. Now, I don't mind showing them. I'm still not super happy with them, but I'm not gonna wear a shawl all night to cover them either.<br />
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In the coming months, I have a LOT of events to attend.... my BMFF's wedding, luncheons, holiday parties, etc. And I have a LOT of dresses to wear. I'm just about confident in a size 10 these days (especially if the dress has some stretch to it!), so a lot of my size 12 dresses are about to be too big.... which means I need to wear them before the end of the year!<br />
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I've taken some pictures of some of the dresses I'll be wearing in the coming months... and you'll see that many of them are sleeveless :-)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrZjqzL-T6Kft_43HuXeBZK6Ka1lyeBcJY9XU7yK_WNpU5AF-Q7v5w_6oFBa1WIg5pyLuRRHRPM9Qs3a27XJ2X_w6oFG004Qs2yaj5_BLOQOtfoe6p2ZOKe5nEvlApxtb3UHL8dhEL7P5p/s1600/DSCN3239.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrZjqzL-T6Kft_43HuXeBZK6Ka1lyeBcJY9XU7yK_WNpU5AF-Q7v5w_6oFBa1WIg5pyLuRRHRPM9Qs3a27XJ2X_w6oFG004Qs2yaj5_BLOQOtfoe6p2ZOKe5nEvlApxtb3UHL8dhEL7P5p/s320/DSCN3239.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Love this one... it's definitely a summery dress... may save it to wear to my BFF's wedding in Hawaii next June... but, I will probably find something else before then :-)</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXTeriNSZDN_V5RyeyO8akME7-3Guoa2e_7TSaj6AWxVEIxWPPLNSbuIlfUnI7A_oHiuLk5hfSCjILMRRozbNqlH5h9tCeNu_8y0fPN_SxJjx1BKoVqAWO7HxEdsSHWpa8VDa3dJgo_aqg/s1600/DSCN3241.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXTeriNSZDN_V5RyeyO8akME7-3Guoa2e_7TSaj6AWxVEIxWPPLNSbuIlfUnI7A_oHiuLk5hfSCjILMRRozbNqlH5h9tCeNu_8y0fPN_SxJjx1BKoVqAWO7HxEdsSHWpa8VDa3dJgo_aqg/s320/DSCN3241.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">This is such a great little black dress I got from Ross. It has side pockets & ties in the back. The current problem with this dress is that is is SHORT... shows a bit more thigh than I'm comfortable showing (right now), but it might be great for a holiday party if I work extra hard!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghGi4uvwCJL7QHafHf45qjlykC7XZwrlkozGutGvJPZYyX1aZG5rwPut7gSrk2wkARNZwYP6ZQNFxvJE4ptRi2GZCfmkbwPPU9ZPP5qnCV9el8KB5oLVDQd36Mibypq1LS37TBEm83_aY1/s1600/DSCN3242.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghGi4uvwCJL7QHafHf45qjlykC7XZwrlkozGutGvJPZYyX1aZG5rwPut7gSrk2wkARNZwYP6ZQNFxvJE4ptRi2GZCfmkbwPPU9ZPP5qnCV9el8KB5oLVDQd36Mibypq1LS37TBEm83_aY1/s320/DSCN3242.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">You can't really tell from the picture, but this is kind of iridescent. It fits great right now... will probably be too big in the top soon. I love it enough to take it to my tailor & get it nipped in on the sides. Looks short on the picture, but it's a good length for me. I'm pretty sure it came from Ross or Marshall's.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcp-DflFjIb_ABmNxE6OYZLuFJijw0z7t15otRPa2unFe4FMvoylli-hamq4q3rByFzyyRF6VW3wBYbGyuA25Uzmfe93Ofc1Q5-Oyf1wOCzvmsNS4OAFhbYd_wuSI_5Bjud5vvZ6N1RSVt/s1600/DSCN3243.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcp-DflFjIb_ABmNxE6OYZLuFJijw0z7t15otRPa2unFe4FMvoylli-hamq4q3rByFzyyRF6VW3wBYbGyuA25Uzmfe93Ofc1Q5-Oyf1wOCzvmsNS4OAFhbYd_wuSI_5Bjud5vvZ6N1RSVt/s320/DSCN3243.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">A recent purchase from Banana Republic. I'm pretty sure I'm wearing it to my BMFF's wedding in a couple of weeks. It's silk, and I love it. Kinda proud of myself for choosing color to wear to this wedding instead of playing it safe in black.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrgTzXIgWSMOe7ydN6KDmm-QBwN1ELbbFUvwzBFowlaLOEGhNs6Ese4QJlAgFdmcZdM1S8fqWr_-CAwr_fv8vLASjcyUg96OLOC_mVJwz09jw2kXHIG887C2s9Z5FgdKq2CRT34Mi9htwI/s1600/DSCN3244.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrgTzXIgWSMOe7ydN6KDmm-QBwN1ELbbFUvwzBFowlaLOEGhNs6Ese4QJlAgFdmcZdM1S8fqWr_-CAwr_fv8vLASjcyUg96OLOC_mVJwz09jw2kXHIG887C2s9Z5FgdKq2CRT34Mi9htwI/s320/DSCN3244.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Also snatched this up at BR. It's kinda thick, and would be great for a holiday work function. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjptszXoVQZmb5SjzcsaU3TX2xf_-ijwpPH1Oa5Mx1XWljIYSuRCZkGWZUwzRWdUXs-EUfi8spSiSLFRO7xOiXx1dOzL3ycI79Ed-ZF6n04Zn_BgLVC20bWlZQBoPCf6FN9m5RGoMUCRKA1/s1600/DSCN3245.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjptszXoVQZmb5SjzcsaU3TX2xf_-ijwpPH1Oa5Mx1XWljIYSuRCZkGWZUwzRWdUXs-EUfi8spSiSLFRO7xOiXx1dOzL3ycI79Ed-ZF6n04Zn_BgLVC20bWlZQBoPCf6FN9m5RGoMUCRKA1/s320/DSCN3245.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">You guessed it... BR! Shirt dress with a slip dress underneath. Thinking of wearing this to a luncheon I'm going to in a couple weeks... It's super cute. I see my Calvin Klein wedge sandals going with this perfectly...</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgksqC9WUiw82KWHeH9IUZd8ubSKmqyJldKHbhyPuY0ltNpOgRTU5S4nFn8_3kXOKtseY2tsbmZz6XndWPtdvYquO1MHGxwzp_9_KmL-a6w6cAjoGYcTWX5c8JNXnqJyUjlyHfqClUOwwTU/s1600/DSCN3246.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgksqC9WUiw82KWHeH9IUZd8ubSKmqyJldKHbhyPuY0ltNpOgRTU5S4nFn8_3kXOKtseY2tsbmZz6XndWPtdvYquO1MHGxwzp_9_KmL-a6w6cAjoGYcTWX5c8JNXnqJyUjlyHfqClUOwwTU/s320/DSCN3246.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">This dress is pretty old... in fact, I know exactly when I got it, because I wore it to Jon & Leslie's wedding. LOL. It's just about too big now, but I may be able to get one more wear out of it. It's brown and white. By the way, you can check out Leslie's fashion blog at <a href="http://www.fashiondujourdaily.wordpress.com/">FASHION du jour</a>. It's a great site with great fashion tips & ideas!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9LZ8ZoWJ5OyIb6wNNOysTlTbRZObrtopPlbJkPkmfNN3N7V2rlpVLkScMzT3iLBj3Nqnvl6Cz05IYGTuBt9f7wyEbFFGYXvlnwbHXg3LHzeoh1o-5h2GbXAm9nk6pfi1C_9bHhI7sAqUv/s1600/DSCN3247.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9LZ8ZoWJ5OyIb6wNNOysTlTbRZObrtopPlbJkPkmfNN3N7V2rlpVLkScMzT3iLBj3Nqnvl6Cz05IYGTuBt9f7wyEbFFGYXvlnwbHXg3LHzeoh1o-5h2GbXAm9nk6pfi1C_9bHhI7sAqUv/s320/DSCN3247.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">This is a chocolate brown dress... simple... and cap sleeved. I am not a cap sleeve girl at all. Nothing is more unflattering to my arms than a cap sleeve... I have a feeling this one will be given away. By the time I'm okay to wear it... I'll be too small for it.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZo9oo1IAiRorBIOJqOlPX573MCT0j9DtZMNMwXEafoRfBC3umdWcvIcgBxnF7HuD17muewRc9RZc4CuNehW6CUBkfvezDshf0nRdgVe0NS8IghtJunjMD2dsnIwDgQd9JYNeBypHTX_rY/s1600/DSCN3249.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZo9oo1IAiRorBIOJqOlPX573MCT0j9DtZMNMwXEafoRfBC3umdWcvIcgBxnF7HuD17muewRc9RZc4CuNehW6CUBkfvezDshf0nRdgVe0NS8IghtJunjMD2dsnIwDgQd9JYNeBypHTX_rY/s320/DSCN3249.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">This is a black dress... it is a semi-heavy satin-like fabric, but it has print as well. It's really cute from one of my favorite stores, White House/Black Market. I definitely need to wear this one to a holiday party this year, because it will FOR SURE be too big in a few months.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx7cFs9xlnRKqM2o-BwKg02ac2ymWYM6o9lDwd1aJwv9GwSRJKfWDS0lvrW4F8wU21Rsj-8n4yeiuNz05NQQWOogWQE8stZDO2p10VW9mbX_CCEDX5VwyqYEfs-OH5v8N_UslOibFTH4BO/s1600/DSCN3240.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx7cFs9xlnRKqM2o-BwKg02ac2ymWYM6o9lDwd1aJwv9GwSRJKfWDS0lvrW4F8wU21Rsj-8n4yeiuNz05NQQWOogWQE8stZDO2p10VW9mbX_CCEDX5VwyqYEfs-OH5v8N_UslOibFTH4BO/s320/DSCN3240.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Finally... I just added this one because it's in my closet. I am sure I got it at Ross/Marshalls/TJMaxx, and I'm sure it was probably about ten bucks. It's actually very cute, but right now it is too tight. I'll step out in this one next year... for someone's 40th birthday party... in some hot gold sandals... :-)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">There you have it.... looking at all these sleeveless dresses makes me want to do some more pushups & triceps kickbacks before I hit the hay.... Toodles!!!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div>djdjd04http://www.blogger.com/profile/11505371470238707568noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6265362940838096483.post-6700269668823591012010-07-21T23:25:00.000-07:002010-07-21T23:25:19.455-07:00Big Fat F!!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr_VaQ96dvL4zwk9BWOR5svWEb4sbnKYWl-pizhPgWblR5ONTtItuGV4dbYxCTJEiCa62ORLvBGlcpKWU2lTi9fBKh5vMMQ7fUwoJSM07mbV3iJidraDMRsEYEDAtTN9ZyRYDqRbMxlPkO/s1600/eye-chart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr_VaQ96dvL4zwk9BWOR5svWEb4sbnKYWl-pizhPgWblR5ONTtItuGV4dbYxCTJEiCa62ORLvBGlcpKWU2lTi9fBKh5vMMQ7fUwoJSM07mbV3iJidraDMRsEYEDAtTN9ZyRYDqRbMxlPkO/s320/eye-chart.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<br />
So, it's time for me to renew my driver's license... I haven't had to go in for the last two renewals, and the DMV makes me come in to give a thumbprint, take a new picture (sweet with my LONG hair!), and take a vision exam. No biggie. Been driving with no DMV drama since I was 16.<br />
<br />
I go in with an appointment -- a MUST out here in LA County -- I get in, wait maybe 10 minutes, they call my number, and I take my vision test -- with my contact lenses in, naturally.<br />
<br />
"Read the last line you can read on the chart."<br />
<br />
I knock out the smallest line, no problem.<br />
<br />
"Cover your left eye and read the smallest line you can read."<br />
<br />
No problemo. Bam, smallest line again.<br />
<br />
"Cover your right eye and read the smallest line you can read."<br />
<br />
Uh... well... I can't read any of the chart.<br />
<br />
"Can you read the first line?"<br />
<br />
Um... nope. <br />
<br />
"Okay... so you failed the vision test. You need to take this form to your eye doctor & get it filled out."<br />
<br />
Come again? Form? Wha? I've been driving for 23 years, and this is the first I've heard about a form.<br />
<br />
"You have to have 20/40 with both eyes... AND 20/40 in one eye alone... AND at least 20/70 in the other eye alone. I can't test your left eye, so you have to get the form filled out."<br />
<br />
Sooo, what happens if I DON'T have 20/70 in my left eye? Because I can tell you right now, I don't.<br />
<br />
"Your doctor will have to explain on the form what the problem is & then we'll make a determination."<br />
<br />
You are shitting me. (yep, I actually said that.) Is this a new thing? I don't understand... I don't drive with only my left eye. I drive with BOTH eyes... specifically the right one, which works just fine. I couldn't make it to the car in the first place with just my left eye. I got my license at this very DMV when I was 16, and I've been driving with this one eye ever since. No doctor form. *just begging*<br />
<br />
"Let me look in your records... this isn't new. I don't know how you passed before if your eyes have always been bad.... nope, no form on your record.... that's weird."<br />
<br />
Oh well, I guess I'll call Dr. Kelsey & get the form filled out.<br />
<br />
I call Dr. Kelsey's office... he won't be in until the afternoon... I go in that same afternoon & get an eye exam. Dr. K knows me... he knows my vision history... he knows all about my sad left eye. He still goes through the motions with me every appointment: "1 or 2... 1 or 2... 1 or 2.... okay, don't worry about it." LOL. My mom told me as a child I memorized the eye chart. I would rattle off the letters & Dr. Kelsey would be impressed... until she busted me: "JoLai can't see that chart! She memorized it!" <br />
<br />
Dang, I should have thought to memorize the lines while I was waiting at the DMV, but I had no idea my bad left eye would cause me to fail the test! *making mental note for next time...*<br />
<br />
I've been literally "blind in one eye, can't see out of the other" my whole life. I see pictures of myself as a little girl with no glasses, and I wonder how I made it through those first 3 or 4 years of life in such a blur! <br />
<br />
Come to think of it... I don't know how any of the Draper Girls got around as kids... I don't think any of us could see! LOL!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7t4IrkvzG0aPmtUgJmgPbuZIQ1sf8faPyi9qY7ouOwiAmQb81RBwre3l5RpGMTe8yr0GBWEw1i7dUgBYW9l6-atls8LkwB7GxhlO12NSysG1Wqk9pN-aNFqwd6hor8oZh3kOymd1B86X-/s1600/Stitches.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7t4IrkvzG0aPmtUgJmgPbuZIQ1sf8faPyi9qY7ouOwiAmQb81RBwre3l5RpGMTe8yr0GBWEw1i7dUgBYW9l6-atls8LkwB7GxhlO12NSysG1Wqk9pN-aNFqwd6hor8oZh3kOymd1B86X-/s320/Stitches.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Probably the most "telling" picture... squinting that left eye... I still do that today.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmzZxXiP4h8UHDAHFYeDEdaXtX4Pdz6POquStQRU13OYcsFqhrgseeBKj61sIFwCJGFDfg8wm3gtwqYb1wQRHEQvOggBp2OTuIZ7EX6L0FOdFTuXYDq4Bju3sWRpyzEzq_vZZtET9HlGXR/s1600/CubScouts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmzZxXiP4h8UHDAHFYeDEdaXtX4Pdz6POquStQRU13OYcsFqhrgseeBKj61sIFwCJGFDfg8wm3gtwqYb1wQRHEQvOggBp2OTuIZ7EX6L0FOdFTuXYDq4Bju3sWRpyzEzq_vZZtET9HlGXR/s320/CubScouts.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Still squinting...</div><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKg7F1thfd0kvzI6sBkjUlnsC3JhMWMfF_Lyo9ZBWgxNLkPciBGsqEiP9od7-p29Vh-LO1wU-fyYYKVAaeSTLesY5iVlUx6nyOJexu9ebzrR6Pawa1vNteqX1mfbF3IVv4sUFBr-rz8mqn/s1600/Draper+Old+School.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKg7F1thfd0kvzI6sBkjUlnsC3JhMWMfF_Lyo9ZBWgxNLkPciBGsqEiP9od7-p29Vh-LO1wU-fyYYKVAaeSTLesY5iVlUx6nyOJexu9ebzrR6Pawa1vNteqX1mfbF3IVv4sUFBr-rz8mqn/s320/Draper+Old+School.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqVfUm4uOL8FmHOWG3UHXzpfjYjwX9Ym0i2tpHsuW6_h9u40dxghtTfWh9tE2Tsvp1-Op6f4zGUTHNkTKcpQa1x-bTnPihbcL_kVc6Glqlv0wIw5tKAqVFibfPRhkdjwRlIgjxjMZuS6oa/s1600/DraperKids2_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqVfUm4uOL8FmHOWG3UHXzpfjYjwX9Ym0i2tpHsuW6_h9u40dxghtTfWh9tE2Tsvp1-Op6f4zGUTHNkTKcpQa1x-bTnPihbcL_kVc6Glqlv0wIw5tKAqVFibfPRhkdjwRlIgjxjMZuS6oa/s320/DraperKids2_2.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Bs44XEhrG5OgiF8m5gyvyhVKCzwR0pGgo1VR3lY7JyLCu3P58aMt-iWF52RJcqMiDduq9MKtzpgF9dqc5VgPa-HE_zSedwCayJxDoDbAHV7SOwpg0LAt0kY2F2xWaCStttV-sN2D8gMD/s1600/DraperKidsEaster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Bs44XEhrG5OgiF8m5gyvyhVKCzwR0pGgo1VR3lY7JyLCu3P58aMt-iWF52RJcqMiDduq9MKtzpgF9dqc5VgPa-HE_zSedwCayJxDoDbAHV7SOwpg0LAt0kY2F2xWaCStttV-sN2D8gMD/s320/DraperKidsEaster.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<br />
Are you wondering what happened with the form? Dr. Kelsey is working on it. He assures me I'll be able to take it to the DMV and drive away with a passing grade. I have a temporary license that will last two months, and I have to bring the completed form back within that time.... *fingers crossed*<br />
<br />
Toodles!djdjd04http://www.blogger.com/profile/11505371470238707568noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6265362940838096483.post-74043804560988660662010-07-18T09:58:00.001-07:002010-07-18T09:58:09.021-07:00Checking In...<img width='640' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1TJfXtXcvhT7XI7SFbNF2Il9HUPG7DwPeRCG2JJAqu9dbDCFA76iOr8GN4cgboZnDd4lHoXazubu9ae0Sf4iTZHoO0IZzNzZhV3BPRtNSZzQl3dKTZQx36uayHdIdeTgb4PCVLNQRvA-e/'><br>It's been a while! This is gonna be short & sweet! I'm still at it with my workouts (see calendar), but I've made some changes. I'm no longer doing the Six Pack Mom bootcamp in the mornings. My work schedule is a little too crazy for that. But I did start a new DVD called ChaLean Extreme... I promise I'll tell you all about it soon!<br /><br />Gotta run! Jazz Festival today! I may post from there ;-) <br /><br />Toodles!djdjd04http://www.blogger.com/profile/11505371470238707568noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6265362940838096483.post-87597334594850986012010-07-07T22:11:00.000-07:002010-07-07T22:42:03.081-07:00Fitness Inspirations...Okay... so this post was inspired by my sister, Dr. Kimberly Manning. I got a call from her this morning, and she had a question about my last post. In the <a href="http://djdjd04.blogspot.com/2010/07/early-morning-musings.html">last post</a> I mentioned that Serena Williams was one of my fitness inspirations. And I stand by that 100%! The girl is bad! Kimberly asked me if I meant to say Venus Williams... because I couldn't possibly be talking about Serena! <span class="goog-spellcheck-word">LOL</span>! Yes, I was talking about Serena, and yes, I think her body is great. Serena is gonna be Serena... she can't help that she may have a mannish body. As she recently said, she thinks her arms are too big, but they pay her bills. Ha ha! I love Serena's body because she's curvy and has muscles. That is what I strive to have one day. I'm not going to be long and lean like Venus or Jennifer <span class="goog-spellcheck-word">Aniston</span>, because I don't have that type of body.<br />
<br />
So this post is dedicated to my celebrity fitness inspirations! Some folks are inspired to work hard by seeing pictures of overweight/obese people. I am inspired by healthy people who are physically fit!<br />
<br />
Let me make a few points right up front:<br />
<br />
1. I know these people have access to trainers, plastic surgeons, whatever... I get that. <br />
2. I picked people that actually work out (okay, so I've seen tabloid pix of them working out or leaving the gym)... even if it's with the help of a trainer, they still have to get up and do the work.<br />
3. Never mind the fake boobs or if you think they've had liposuction... it doesn't change the fact that their bodies inspire me!<br />
<br />
Alright, here we go... in no particular order:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">I'll start with Serena, since she prompted this whole thing!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCs90KGqT2TvPBAAy5yppuKLjvnSedRIhB3mccY7Nq6pE0gxbVkVtvRHt8V4XqTgIoRSqDJMwHtLyU1OeVRkqS3nP7bpL1Qk0tyhmS0H76gewWSCg7otdjBlWFi-jbXpX-d00Ghyphenhyphenm3xkpL/s1600/serena.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCs90KGqT2TvPBAAy5yppuKLjvnSedRIhB3mccY7Nq6pE0gxbVkVtvRHt8V4XqTgIoRSqDJMwHtLyU1OeVRkqS3nP7bpL1Qk0tyhmS0H76gewWSCg7otdjBlWFi-jbXpX-d00Ghyphenhyphenm3xkpL/s320/serena.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">I have always loved <span class="goog-spellcheck-word">Demi</span> Moore... she's 47 & just as fabulous as ever!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHT3nlSYLV237g-Alcw5JPrt-V5Fs197YPKQKtb59LPM6r37uMhIuJ2In3litDmdiHh6J21pdr5ER509fp-f8wHIhOPI6SNqIaU1NEG1LcVYE4TlNaeLpcazw5ixGiyAoQyT9LDN3ndh8x/s1600/demi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHT3nlSYLV237g-Alcw5JPrt-V5Fs197YPKQKtb59LPM6r37uMhIuJ2In3litDmdiHh6J21pdr5ER509fp-f8wHIhOPI6SNqIaU1NEG1LcVYE4TlNaeLpcazw5ixGiyAoQyT9LDN3ndh8x/s320/demi.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Kim <span class="goog-spellcheck-word">Kardashian</span>...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is one hot body.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLFSUaZ7wTJsbaT6BwPFDZyZlfmq0_xFwaYM7gK4KGMPWpJ5cAiZeDGjwY8sB2o7hWvUrsMpTq0K8LnoOOy_SdIfbwf877rZPAroBcWbQ_aEOE5RpsUdYFrZ8Y8mDlyQD8KJolZWOYnV8n/s1600/KK.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLFSUaZ7wTJsbaT6BwPFDZyZlfmq0_xFwaYM7gK4KGMPWpJ5cAiZeDGjwY8sB2o7hWvUrsMpTq0K8LnoOOy_SdIfbwf877rZPAroBcWbQ_aEOE5RpsUdYFrZ8Y8mDlyQD8KJolZWOYnV8n/s320/KK.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Gabrielle Union... 37 years old...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjsWrKdMQoYTrN5Wyzwyw4OeR2sT56HMoYxmBYjUpqNG3ojAQZXI6poY_DlifNztIvXdZne8_8kzARbCLKTjbdJVa2AtgXrGLGKaQ1M1KLAFr9S4MJiNRQoT5A-3Hg4fWU6Gt5QsUm3EFW/s1600/GabbyU.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjsWrKdMQoYTrN5Wyzwyw4OeR2sT56HMoYxmBYjUpqNG3ojAQZXI6poY_DlifNztIvXdZne8_8kzARbCLKTjbdJVa2AtgXrGLGKaQ1M1KLAFr9S4MJiNRQoT5A-3Hg4fWU6Gt5QsUm3EFW/s320/GabbyU.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Jennifer Lopez... 41 in a couple of weeks... mother of young twins...</div><div style="text-align: center;">And this picture was taken in January. Killin' it.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRWas-fqKrsm-Uc5xXI9IUtIQbnFzg59ES6LkF9bReJ0L1VJn2g0mMT1GOfrEiQfhcs4xSQN-LpT_NhSczo_zfX5MQT4ZSaH6gGq1VWB218NNi5_Crzamddlp4HP1hKI7eLV3c1ceztEFo/s1600/JENNIFER-LOPEZ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRWas-fqKrsm-Uc5xXI9IUtIQbnFzg59ES6LkF9bReJ0L1VJn2g0mMT1GOfrEiQfhcs4xSQN-LpT_NhSczo_zfX5MQT4ZSaH6gGq1VWB218NNi5_Crzamddlp4HP1hKI7eLV3c1ceztEFo/s320/JENNIFER-LOPEZ.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Jessica <span class="goog-spellcheck-word">Biel</span>... loving that beach body!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOUykaB1dqUCXnLJBAuTeVvYzJdm5q_d__BsQVpkzGVHrK5JFKx8yy1SYA4lzudV6azcUbwKJCxQYYJdn1hdkpDLrx0-PwOgIcvBCOhWgLkgMxG0aLlrLarb5g8vl6Ke5K1RBepBjlr3YS/s1600/jessica_biel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOUykaB1dqUCXnLJBAuTeVvYzJdm5q_d__BsQVpkzGVHrK5JFKx8yy1SYA4lzudV6azcUbwKJCxQYYJdn1hdkpDLrx0-PwOgIcvBCOhWgLkgMxG0aLlrLarb5g8vl6Ke5K1RBepBjlr3YS/s320/jessica_biel.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Mel B... can you say "Six Pack"?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQYNF5lr3uPkGSlb8dUBD3mfFtKBJuS6s7oK1nrIp3q0JQFYsIfxQiqkuHiUtVFY1qYkp905IvSInvIcsUXFpecfVdtmSzwPZfITF5pz5Slf1iakvWsrlvFUfcb0UujBS6iiUGc7-YSuvB/s1600/MelB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQYNF5lr3uPkGSlb8dUBD3mfFtKBJuS6s7oK1nrIp3q0JQFYsIfxQiqkuHiUtVFY1qYkp905IvSInvIcsUXFpecfVdtmSzwPZfITF5pz5Slf1iakvWsrlvFUfcb0UujBS6iiUGc7-YSuvB/s320/MelB.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="goog-spellcheck-word">Nia</span> Long... always looking fantastic...</div><div style="text-align: center;">and she'll be 40 in October.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgERBdtYlZmCy_vJ_4Tuzx3SZFu6Dm6kQkYDxGoPMonqOVZj3XKpI8D4h6CAKTBxoraipneD6GT69Ao0inLwTHZcGSfNoCv5wQvCO1tcfGK44m71bmOnp32kEJD68ME1jMl4oc_Ljj8DJuE/s1600/nialong.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgERBdtYlZmCy_vJ_4Tuzx3SZFu6Dm6kQkYDxGoPMonqOVZj3XKpI8D4h6CAKTBxoraipneD6GT69Ao0inLwTHZcGSfNoCv5wQvCO1tcfGK44m71bmOnp32kEJD68ME1jMl4oc_Ljj8DJuE/s320/nialong.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">And now for my Fab Five Faves...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Regina King. I really could go on about her... look at her!</div><div style="text-align: center;">If that's what 39 looks like, sign me up!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiBS6nWG2Q8ElSRZw02IEwLfFeR2EiTl2EuW90jfqZWeXVOLIYH6PuBgcGKjL7CLv6V2pJl5xMmHV9IQR09oIrzqbwC_zgy8kc0PQ0IKt8V-RjN6uBeyEhiksUvejlgyZdr1bk8TC0Syuq/s1600/regina-king.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiBS6nWG2Q8ElSRZw02IEwLfFeR2EiTl2EuW90jfqZWeXVOLIYH6PuBgcGKjL7CLv6V2pJl5xMmHV9IQR09oIrzqbwC_zgy8kc0PQ0IKt8V-RjN6uBeyEhiksUvejlgyZdr1bk8TC0Syuq/s320/regina-king.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Of course, <span class="goog-spellcheck-word">Beyonce</span>... I don't care if she's 10 years my junior...</div><div style="text-align: center;">B's body is just insane. Period.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic4h5hN7Jz2CBhVDhztVDzvu5y89HKyHbBIpfxZwHgKt8Su7jCnwZGlOQzARvH7wXqD6piTxnEW99KT3d2WJX_Wkkdrr0UXaZJ1KbOicsfonPaxmknR8MUPoY0OraIqvUHXW9t_46XVpHX/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic4h5hN7Jz2CBhVDhztVDzvu5y89HKyHbBIpfxZwHgKt8Su7jCnwZGlOQzARvH7wXqD6piTxnEW99KT3d2WJX_Wkkdrr0UXaZJ1KbOicsfonPaxmknR8MUPoY0OraIqvUHXW9t_46XVpHX/s320/photo+2.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Speaking of B... here's the Queen Bee...</div><div style="text-align: center;">The One. The Only.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="goog-spellcheck-word">Halle</span> Berry. Enough said.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHRD57ayxRZl3yri9a589PejWV2OMBNHotAGlLrLCBnXTKytr0lj3tnsHxCbvRw-lro6-looufdd1iptzcdpuULZxM0mBIousZ2ihzDGtbI4__4ZMXBHEs8W8LqUe4JBpdrmBCBBX8rShX/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHRD57ayxRZl3yri9a589PejWV2OMBNHotAGlLrLCBnXTKytr0lj3tnsHxCbvRw-lro6-looufdd1iptzcdpuULZxM0mBIousZ2ihzDGtbI4__4ZMXBHEs8W8LqUe4JBpdrmBCBBX8rShX/s320/photo+1.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">She's gonna kill me for this, but my sister, Kimberly, is absolutely one of my fitness inspirations.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">That's a 39 year old mother of two right there!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibOXCSLVVqB23RO5coqX2f9e-6qX4QiYBap1mt70dQeTSz6ZFUosUAHP9Wa9eCtYEbIHZP4hL4vXVa0j_2rmPA8qxxUfWlVzIVvyQdmP3Y_sMujV1oUL7ET623d7B2tnlqhkAdCliHBGl9/s1600/DSC04021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibOXCSLVVqB23RO5coqX2f9e-6qX4QiYBap1mt70dQeTSz6ZFUosUAHP9Wa9eCtYEbIHZP4hL4vXVa0j_2rmPA8qxxUfWlVzIVvyQdmP3Y_sMujV1oUL7ET623d7B2tnlqhkAdCliHBGl9/s320/DSC04021.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Kimberly & her boys: July 4, 2010</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnyfo0tvjn39vcnRHF6VcetUbGe9z55t4WiLas57utS82n31whp4gCUZ8MxIF3fQapTWUsdiOsZ-Z395gBwCrQYullhUaCM3EJHN-y8ucCORLlmBB1C53IVqoFwtiyG4vZHmlsY3eNkoY-/s1600/KDM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnyfo0tvjn39vcnRHF6VcetUbGe9z55t4WiLas57utS82n31whp4gCUZ8MxIF3fQapTWUsdiOsZ-Z395gBwCrQYullhUaCM3EJHN-y8ucCORLlmBB1C53IVqoFwtiyG4vZHmlsY3eNkoY-/s320/KDM.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">And finally, I can't forget the completely fabulous,</div><div style="text-align: center;">First Lady of the United States of America:</div><div style="text-align: center;">Michelle Obama!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU0D9SAz-UB6KpkeZUOIITQwceT8yxwHuu8QrvSrsqbPxCcOkOgGwLUuoJPUaFviBzq9Qz2x4pjKw0nBvhARS3gGhHWLzDNbJh9_dC2abmxN9kBNjvycHoWfy1UPWhy3AWef8VrybOVoZG/s1600/michelle-obama.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU0D9SAz-UB6KpkeZUOIITQwceT8yxwHuu8QrvSrsqbPxCcOkOgGwLUuoJPUaFviBzq9Qz2x4pjKw0nBvhARS3gGhHWLzDNbJh9_dC2abmxN9kBNjvycHoWfy1UPWhy3AWef8VrybOVoZG/s320/michelle-obama.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">What I love about our <span class="goog-spellcheck-word">FLOTUS</span> is that she is fit, strong, and not afraid to show it to the world. I love her! I love that she's championed the childhood obesity epidemic with her <a href="http://www.letsmove.gov/">Let's Move!</a> campaign. I love those arms and shoulders... and I love every time she wears something that makes the Good Ol' Boys & Girls cringe! That just makes me love her more. Did I mention I love her??? (smile)<br />
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She caused quite a stir in this strapless number at the Obama's first state dinner:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUC3u_O3wQs2rvVuh8VSxoCFsWQ6nCN9uq6bvOnEN5rW49QB9zdOjXyCs_B1jkiuCU5p6_e7CQv0oBdWo-afbyC4xdxWp2A7v8_i0NrA8YnEeabODy5f_W7BAzcdCimhoITLCk8QtmVwu0/s1600/michelle-obama-state-dinner-dress-naeem-khanjpeg-3632ee113ad7c60e_large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUC3u_O3wQs2rvVuh8VSxoCFsWQ6nCN9uq6bvOnEN5rW49QB9zdOjXyCs_B1jkiuCU5p6_e7CQv0oBdWo-afbyC4xdxWp2A7v8_i0NrA8YnEeabODy5f_W7BAzcdCimhoITLCk8QtmVwu0/s320/michelle-obama-state-dinner-dress-naeem-khanjpeg-3632ee113ad7c60e_large.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Flexing her famous muscles!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEielS8N5vBFXp24gKghyNwMXTWpNVPGIc-5Xkejcg-Ot_NM3gichM5YumsJrY1VcAnP_IUCnjRH_FzJ4qSeCqWytdLa6tje6PaJ1fJVDy5S_4THVLuJSMKxTi_6bBZ30IupGPvR0ZskKkQZ/s1600/FLOTUS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEielS8N5vBFXp24gKghyNwMXTWpNVPGIc-5Xkejcg-Ot_NM3gichM5YumsJrY1VcAnP_IUCnjRH_FzJ4qSeCqWytdLa6tje6PaJ1fJVDy5S_4THVLuJSMKxTi_6bBZ30IupGPvR0ZskKkQZ/s320/FLOTUS.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">And, most of all... I love the example she sets for her daughters & all women... and I love seeing a First Lady that looks like me! (Her hubby ain't so bad either!)<br />
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President & First Lady Obama</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNyncw4RvqX7zC82iTbRlpbMj4q4-3SYPdZSgSGGD3kz-C3VWFE5eiPKMVRhSe7rrkE6_xAOncThSdSoPOl-TG2YP3J1XSkQvjal6rdhznZJE6QFEAgsn1Nqw13Bendu8wsVs0Nh8HbqTh/s1600/ObamasSD.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNyncw4RvqX7zC82iTbRlpbMj4q4-3SYPdZSgSGGD3kz-C3VWFE5eiPKMVRhSe7rrkE6_xAOncThSdSoPOl-TG2YP3J1XSkQvjal6rdhznZJE6QFEAgsn1Nqw13Bendu8wsVs0Nh8HbqTh/s320/ObamasSD.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4b7XU0WMFg19dq7YD2X00Cuiw6tnr-RM2TEc_W_BguhbAHnjqddldugoAVToSDgx_L8qaZWfc2HRFRmwF4CQp3Hh0UXOkAmmE8lNGxqZGkUk-2KNERZk9w7FEIzrPZFUHSgm28dFCrgVD/s1600/obama-family-people.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4b7XU0WMFg19dq7YD2X00Cuiw6tnr-RM2TEc_W_BguhbAHnjqddldugoAVToSDgx_L8qaZWfc2HRFRmwF4CQp3Hh0UXOkAmmE8lNGxqZGkUk-2KNERZk9w7FEIzrPZFUHSgm28dFCrgVD/s320/obama-family-people.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">So there you have it... some of my celebrity fitness inspirations! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Do you have any?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>djdjd04http://www.blogger.com/profile/11505371470238707568noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6265362940838096483.post-9370543043850222032010-07-03T07:18:00.000-07:002010-07-03T07:27:54.565-07:00Early Morning Musings....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsO6OqZRqKoZy8_AWIpi-Dr_Gm_LoBk2_qqFBKxqp5b439SMtucjCDZyVq2gh7Aolpy_cM3S2qEzmgwSfDzbQiLzkaEDKM7Ogb3XPbSWVLMeSohXChdjzEDBIyO9EwCerJhkUbE34ppdm1/s1600/IMG_0933.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsO6OqZRqKoZy8_AWIpi-Dr_Gm_LoBk2_qqFBKxqp5b439SMtucjCDZyVq2gh7Aolpy_cM3S2qEzmgwSfDzbQiLzkaEDKM7Ogb3XPbSWVLMeSohXChdjzEDBIyO9EwCerJhkUbE34ppdm1/s320/IMG_0933.JPG" /></a></div><br />
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I really have nothing specific to talk about his morning.... I popped up awake at 5am on a Saturday morning, and I couldn't fall back asleep. The scene above is from a beach house in Florida. I'm supposed to be going out there with my family for Labor Day. So that should be fun!<br />
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Since I'm up, I'm watching Serena Williams in the Wimbledon Final... she's kicking butt right now. I'm hoping she finishes before I leave for <span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: yellow; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">bootcamp</span> at 7:40am. :-) I realize my body knew I wanted to see this match, so that's why I woke up at 5am on 3 hours of sleep... I just love Serena. She's actually one of my fitness inspirations... by no means a small woman... she has a butt & boobs... most of the time she's not super crazy muscular, but just right... She's about 5'9" or 5'10"... but she's what I would like to sorta look like one day.... of course a 5'2" ten year older version... (smile)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi22GSXnEHfzcMm_si1m1ECt2Q-Ge9qHPhPWXiO68cYFPhpxRFkNX7RU_c3m7lf2jFlyRbvomXRsj9B3sF5Tn8C_py3JJQs4OfzZ4V-JUHew7ajB_RsBuFz9bMy2lEhShkeTPFBGLTPrnoV/s1600/serenawilliamsbodyissue2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi22GSXnEHfzcMm_si1m1ECt2Q-Ge9qHPhPWXiO68cYFPhpxRFkNX7RU_c3m7lf2jFlyRbvomXRsj9B3sF5Tn8C_py3JJQs4OfzZ4V-JUHew7ajB_RsBuFz9bMy2lEhShkeTPFBGLTPrnoV/s320/serenawilliamsbodyissue2.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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I don't know if it was the June Gloom or what, but I have been craving bread for the past week. I made the mistake of buying some bread products at Costco last weekend, and I've been on bread patrol all week! Good grief!!! I'm going to have to limit my bread intake for a while. I can't be eating random bagels all week. Even keeping within my daily calorie range, it's probably not a good idea to eat so much bread. It won't stop me from treating myself to a Subway Veggie <span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: yellow; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">Delite</span> every week... no cheese!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAlmlBFGHOWJ90sJ04wxseTktP8NXi2m4w4CxiXcREy2rTPZ7q9Utx9w3xuCB09-fu6H9P3HKj2_JjUkRq4AII17VNJJiN1Xr51xKrPri3jXDClpQG3uMXy58l2RAEC0sqiJsA6DC_pqGk/s1600/IMG_1044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAlmlBFGHOWJ90sJ04wxseTktP8NXi2m4w4CxiXcREy2rTPZ7q9Utx9w3xuCB09-fu6H9P3HKj2_JjUkRq4AII17VNJJiN1Xr51xKrPri3jXDClpQG3uMXy58l2RAEC0sqiJsA6DC_pqGk/s320/IMG_1044.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Seriously, I love this sandwich... Thank you, Subway</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Five... five dollar... five dollar <span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: yellow; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">footlong</span>!</i></div><br />
Speaking of meals that I enjoy.... the lunch truck outside of my building makes the best chicken tacos!!! I enjoy them every now & then when I don't bring in my lunch. Two filling tacos for four bucks? Yum Yum! And they aren't measly tacos... these suckers are pretty substantial! When I'm not super hungry I just get one & it's totally enough for my lunch. Sometimes I get it without cheese... but not often. :-) Check out the picture I took one day during lunch:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9iZNlz1KfB8mrECMY1zLCkFIBxpQVWaSh0ktQb_4Ijckr1LzeqvCAOKMQ0gjysdW99F1WRpiNl2jHGAjFstIez1pAl-zTXyUv_lAucArfNCobST9LUJsXxMT4a0mNcPFmjAuAk8cErUkS/s1600/IMG_1115.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9iZNlz1KfB8mrECMY1zLCkFIBxpQVWaSh0ktQb_4Ijckr1LzeqvCAOKMQ0gjysdW99F1WRpiNl2jHGAjFstIez1pAl-zTXyUv_lAucArfNCobST9LUJsXxMT4a0mNcPFmjAuAk8cErUkS/s320/IMG_1115.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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Since I've been kinda half-<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: yellow; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">assing</span> it on my eating this past week, I vow to have an excellent eating week... starting right now! Not starting Tuesday after the holiday... starting NOW! No time like the present!<br />
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Holiday Weekend Tips:<br />
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1. DON'T OVER-INDULGE! Have a big, healthy salad with lots of veggies before you go to that BBQ! Fill your belly with good stuff & it will help you avoid the bad stuff!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWtwkx-HOAsDzYpY8Zc42aZ82Voc2nrayXGZriPjdNb4wnc3w-j2c7rHbhFm5QEQP7vxsjYCrdD2uqXRmXCIh8TzRXJQztmkb6AAStcqLuK5NhEnGDEmAH4psfcGxkJcHzooPvjgED91hg/s1600/big+salad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWtwkx-HOAsDzYpY8Zc42aZ82Voc2nrayXGZriPjdNb4wnc3w-j2c7rHbhFm5QEQP7vxsjYCrdD2uqXRmXCIh8TzRXJQztmkb6AAStcqLuK5NhEnGDEmAH4psfcGxkJcHzooPvjgED91hg/s320/big+salad.jpg" /></a></div><br />
2. DRINK WATER!!! Try to drink 64 ounces a day! Great for your body. Great for your skin. And a good way to fill you up with something other that mac & cheese... potato salad.... pies.... cakes.... cookies.... chips..... (you get it)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeXaiSB18xZRYXf0aEQWcVkmJ7mbT2VgRjM7WuJFxNt6MUKYZoyB4-BDK7F8SQ7DeMO4ql463DR2yspxXxEQJ41af__uOXviFl62KP9Db5J6Jq5urS4tasILxI1LcQNrc7kkWiud6wY4pC/s1600/DSCN1035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeXaiSB18xZRYXf0aEQWcVkmJ7mbT2VgRjM7WuJFxNt6MUKYZoyB4-BDK7F8SQ7DeMO4ql463DR2yspxXxEQJ41af__uOXviFl62KP9Db5J6Jq5urS4tasILxI1LcQNrc7kkWiud6wY4pC/s320/DSCN1035.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Gabby drinking her water</i></div><br />
3. DON'T SKIP YOUR WORKOUTS! I'm headed to <span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: yellow; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">bootcamp</span> in an hour and a half.... a holiday weekend is no reason to skip out on the fitness. Sunday morning, I think I'll go for a hike (probably the Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook, below... or I may venture out to Runyon Canyon)... and Monday, my day off work, means I get to treat myself to Claudine's <span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: yellow; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">bootcamp</span> class at 24 Hour Fitness! (<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: yellow; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">Yipee</span>!)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZGfVGdv4IiYsa7N43rtuITsPASjGKo2hcZl7Uovx5JFzDGi4I-61mJs0AXw0zDUmHjHCIc9kGDHamUCNMFs7gyWG6HY1GUErVOlH8PIHSQBkwFKIZ0B4Sbc1DQ0faHprcPp5Squm672jd/s1600/IMG_0460.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZGfVGdv4IiYsa7N43rtuITsPASjGKo2hcZl7Uovx5JFzDGi4I-61mJs0AXw0zDUmHjHCIc9kGDHamUCNMFs7gyWG6HY1GUErVOlH8PIHSQBkwFKIZ0B4Sbc1DQ0faHprcPp5Squm672jd/s320/IMG_0460.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>"The Beast" aka the stairs at the <span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: yellow; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">BHSO</span></i></div><br />
4. HAVE FUN!!! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPpKBp7x_DHKGgAfeEdDKgO-CrKSDeh_kRkC8YIfer16m27uZj_OQM8VnMkdyjUuLkVQNmaYfYs17_838NZNuPwXj1VaAHtIW1a8j-yBkiOCKJfeDYnzFHWGqSeB-bvWHGFXJO_DLGdKQG/s1600/DSCN2741.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPpKBp7x_DHKGgAfeEdDKgO-CrKSDeh_kRkC8YIfer16m27uZj_OQM8VnMkdyjUuLkVQNmaYfYs17_838NZNuPwXj1VaAHtIW1a8j-yBkiOCKJfeDYnzFHWGqSeB-bvWHGFXJO_DLGdKQG/s320/DSCN2741.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i>Claudine, Nichol & I having FUN last weekend!</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy0paIbwmtJlvCgHXYUOEecCLkBVI_hmB_laYOtEtGjxWIq134DJQ2zpL782ZIz5jl4vRvPZljhaQ5kkL-0neX450XBhRHC2cKs4DtDtQBKAsBNcIZ1UONQiB0Pg1fGz8YiOdjdg-soG_M/s1600/DSCN1061.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy0paIbwmtJlvCgHXYUOEecCLkBVI_hmB_laYOtEtGjxWIq134DJQ2zpL782ZIz5jl4vRvPZljhaQ5kkL-0neX450XBhRHC2cKs4DtDtQBKAsBNcIZ1UONQiB0Pg1fGz8YiOdjdg-soG_M/s320/DSCN1061.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Daddy & Zachary watching fireworks in Decatur, GA (2008)</i></div><br />
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HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY WEEKEND!!! ENJOY!!!<br />
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PS -- Serena won! and it's 7:21am! FOUR WIMBLEDON SINGLES TITLES! THIRTEEN SINGLES MAJORS! Now I can get dressed for my workout! Toodles!djdjd04http://www.blogger.com/profile/11505371470238707568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6265362940838096483.post-68888202950967662162010-06-22T23:42:00.000-07:002010-07-03T12:33:03.546-07:00Lucky Girl....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmnI6D5UEaZQX93Pg5_wVMKXi5ipkQWWk8bLWWGlVPBr-xijuNKmryEFYhi3zxjTwEugboNDpbbthoODzArY9UVwsuqcgs2hyphenhyphenW0RueLWrmVEd1DPBQdFvV_bjwghTbu_QBd7KAbo13VqSE/s1600/n1345258006_66914_8946.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmnI6D5UEaZQX93Pg5_wVMKXi5ipkQWWk8bLWWGlVPBr-xijuNKmryEFYhi3zxjTwEugboNDpbbthoODzArY9UVwsuqcgs2hyphenhyphenW0RueLWrmVEd1DPBQdFvV_bjwghTbu_QBd7KAbo13VqSE/s320/n1345258006_66914_8946.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Alright... so this isn't really going to be about working out... I'm just in a mood right now... a great mood. I have a core of wonderful friends, which is truly a blessing. But even more so, I was blessed with a built in crew. I was born into an exclusive club... the 4th and final member of the Draper Kids. I know that there are three people on this planet Earth who share a bond with me. No one else in the world knows what it's like to be the child of Tony & Cheryl Draper except Kimberly, William & Deanna (with me, above). No one else knows how wonderful it is to be the child of Tony & Cheryl... except the four of us. I feel like the luckiest girl in the world to be approaching 39 years of age, and I genuinely LIKE my three grown siblings. I think if a parent can raise 4 distinctly different children who grow up and still like each other, that's a success. LOL.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I could go on and on and on about them... We're VERY close... we grew up VERY close... Will was born in Jan '67, Deanna in Aug '68, Kimberly in Sept '70 & I came along in July '71. So my parents had 4 kids in less than 5 years... like I said, we were packed together, and I had a built in posse from day one. We're not all sunshine & roses.... we have our differences every now & then. Something interesting is that I can not ever remember having a fall out with any one of them (outside of a childhood tussle over toys or Kimberly being on my side of the room). As a teenager, college student, adult... I've never had any issues with the three of them that I can remember. Perhaps it's my personality... and it may have something to do with the fact that I live in California & they all live in Atlanta. At the same time, I can say that I am equally close to all three of them. I have a different & special relationship with each of them. As the Draper Kid who is out of state, I always want to feel like I'm not missing out, so it's important for me to communicate with them as often as possible. In a seven day week, I may talk to Kimberly 5 days (she likes to talk on the phone)... Deanna & I talk on the phone & through Facebook.... Will & I don't talk on the phone much, but we generally talk once a week either through Facebook, text or the phone. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCI795MSa2nco0Jn2J5ViA1BOfLosWtw8hlVR9HMBl51nRVuPk3X3tAtrS40vOEZeQfyPHEzmwqWKiI3Dpg5Tvbvaa9pJOM14T0hslMEFELkqwu1atONOwfaS_0SlTSDTvrYIeWZeu9jJv/s1600/DSC03969.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCI795MSa2nco0Jn2J5ViA1BOfLosWtw8hlVR9HMBl51nRVuPk3X3tAtrS40vOEZeQfyPHEzmwqWKiI3Dpg5Tvbvaa9pJOM14T0hslMEFELkqwu1atONOwfaS_0SlTSDTvrYIeWZeu9jJv/s320/DSC03969.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I guess what's prompting all this sibling talk right now is the sister a step above me. Kimberly is a little over ten months older than I am, so we grew up side by side. A grade apart (except when I skipped first grade & did second & third grade with her... that's a whole different blog post... LOL!) </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwNfzNuyViKV9iGKyi7qP10lkAqfKcMlwGJX5Gq3ahKXcZy5VvQQ982bnoNvlmxnixFfSYWUjdXogLmWPMuWAkQnOyh09a0aiPSTVGckS_TrQVtpMGnUZfOzeyfryJZy1S7bFzuKfKaoYc/s1600/n1345258006_298289_5953984.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwNfzNuyViKV9iGKyi7qP10lkAqfKcMlwGJX5Gq3ahKXcZy5VvQQ982bnoNvlmxnixFfSYWUjdXogLmWPMuWAkQnOyh09a0aiPSTVGckS_TrQVtpMGnUZfOzeyfryJZy1S7bFzuKfKaoYc/s320/n1345258006_298289_5953984.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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One thing I love about Kimberly is how outgoing she is. Actually, all three of my siblings are more outgoing than I am. Maybe that has something to do with why I've never clashed with any of them... Hmmm... this is like a therapy session... Okay, I digress... Kimberly was always in drama club, loved to perform... I have never wanted that... outside of cheerleading, I pretty much have been content to stay in the background. I'm the planner. I like to make a spreadsheet, make sure everything is running smoothly, check off my To Do List.... so I've always been drawn to people who are opposite of me. I love the person who is the life of the party, because I'm not like that... and I need that person to draw me out of my shell. My best friends, Stacy & Sharon, are both very outgoing... Claudine, my friend and trainer? She's always the first person to get the party started... she's good to get me out of the house to have some fun. Kimberly? She's always enjoyed the spotlight... not in a vain way, but she has always been comfortable in that role. She was Miss Morningside in high school, Miss Tuskegee in college, in school plays, etc. And I've always been her biggest cheerleader & fan, along with the rest of our family.<br />
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Kimberly is a doctor in Atlanta (<a href="http://www.gradydoctor.blogspot.com/">www.gradydoctor.blogspot.com</a>) who does a weekly segment on the Fox 5 morning news called "Good Day Atlanta Housecall". I am able to watch it on line every Wednesday, and she does a great job. That gig led to two appearances on the Dr. Oz show... which was, in the words of her two boys, Isaiah & Zachary.... AWESOME! To see my sister on national television, holding her own next to Dr. Oz was just.... really there are no words to explain how proud I was of her. For her to marry the doctor in her with the performer in her is completely natural... Duh, of course Kimberly belongs on television. It only makes sense! <br />
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On Sunday, we got a text from Kimberly saying that she was on her way to CNN to do a segment about Manute Bol's passing.... and they even sent a car for her! <br />
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Hold up... did you say CNN... as in CNN CNN??? Like, the news network that everyone all over EVERYWHERE watches??? My sister??? The one who I shared a room with growing up??? on CNN??? Stop the presses!!! And she knocked it out of the PARK! Yes, I'm biased... I won't lie... but seriously, she was incredible. Let me find a thesaurus, because proud just doesn't cut it... like... what is way, way, waaaaay above proud? That's what I was... hell, I still am. <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><object height="405" width="500"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Drw1A7TSTmk&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00&border=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Drw1A7TSTmk&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="500" height="405"></embed></object></div><br />
Above is a video I made of her appearance... CNN.com did not post the video (yet?), so I had to do it old school to share with everyone. My sister on CNN! Shutchomouf! LOL! I'm still floating. One thing about the Draper family is that we celebrate each other's successes... so this is a homerun for our entire family. The sky is the limit for her, and I can't wait to see what God has in store for her next!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu04PTxntqlRaiSdBVpvh5nnkJclyyyKFf4GrUQ-eiBRDpXVAHpCb004UussYWJRFd0QwS4dTde_7v3fNO2EJkbdFT2X3ht8Z8KWC4X-djATaaKTo9lPRqZ6VCN1E3uibmqo6nqcPHcx9-/s1600/DSCN1538_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu04PTxntqlRaiSdBVpvh5nnkJclyyyKFf4GrUQ-eiBRDpXVAHpCb004UussYWJRFd0QwS4dTde_7v3fNO2EJkbdFT2X3ht8Z8KWC4X-djATaaKTo9lPRqZ6VCN1E3uibmqo6nqcPHcx9-/s320/DSCN1538_2.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Biz & Miz</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Stay tuned... Dr. Kimberly Manning is going to be a household name one day... you just wait and see. Yep, my little-big sister... We've already claimed it! </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I love you, Miz!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div>djdjd04http://www.blogger.com/profile/11505371470238707568noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6265362940838096483.post-88783420570086705622010-06-21T21:27:00.001-07:002010-06-21T22:00:16.300-07:00Dance Fever!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlHxmJYgew0Dw5OyuhxkJ30lzKn0yp-ru-XZIxnxIkl4y-3n-KgGZHig0N7bVthrWDFhK2RqWNFi9m2k9J6D1zwbzginVrpWHYG6Lzjsc8LuEdTAsifwnS626ojYYEL-Pc0_X17cSaKuFN/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlHxmJYgew0Dw5OyuhxkJ30lzKn0yp-ru-XZIxnxIkl4y-3n-KgGZHig0N7bVthrWDFhK2RqWNFi9m2k9J6D1zwbzginVrpWHYG6Lzjsc8LuEdTAsifwnS626ojYYEL-Pc0_X17cSaKuFN/s400/photo+2.JPG" width="267" /></a></div><br />
My knee has been hurting a little bit for the last couple of days. So I haven't done any impact workouts since Saturday. Today, I felt like I needed to do something, so I decided to dance. Perhaps I was inspired by "So You Think You Can Dance" on Fox... but it was probably more like "Dance Your A** Off" on Oxygen. LOL! I wasn't dancing hard, but I was moving for 30 minutes... it was a lot of fun.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6jqU5nh3Rpb33SqwUVLWXKwKa6XdAzHjjbwJ4uoTH4wplO2SJcWYh5gTDYjp7J2OWAcytPrkCMzUBvkBsVgrICHX7ZG47YCpgmDId4ZpPo4KfCQQP9Uz3Dom28muD-gMgVixk7UdQygNo/s1600/photo+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6jqU5nh3Rpb33SqwUVLWXKwKa6XdAzHjjbwJ4uoTH4wplO2SJcWYh5gTDYjp7J2OWAcytPrkCMzUBvkBsVgrICHX7ZG47YCpgmDId4ZpPo4KfCQQP9Uz3Dom28muD-gMgVixk7UdQygNo/s400/photo+3.JPG" width="267" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">"How low can you go?"<br />
(What's up with my "dance face"??? LOL!) </div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><br />
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The pictures are me dancing at a party a couple of weeks ago... Soul Train line, of course! I wasn't quite so dressed up tonight. It was more like sweats, socks, and a tank top. And I am not ashamed to say I have "Macho Man" by the Village People on my playlist, and I repeated it a few times! Dance to "Macho Man" on repeat, and I guarantee you will have a smile on your face & your heart rate will be elevated!<br />
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My tip for today is if you're in a rut, put on some good music and DANCE YOUR A** OFF!!!<br />
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P.S. -- Make sure you drop it like it's hot for a little extra leg work!djdjd04http://www.blogger.com/profile/11505371470238707568noreply@blogger.com0