Life keeps on getting more interesting!

Well, it really has been a long time! I am doing more now than I was last May. I am still trying to keep my weight down and lose some, but it's just as hard as ever. My partner keeps saying that I look thinner. And maybe I do, but I still weigh 230 pounds!

I started something new about a month ago. I took a class in pastels. I met a wonderful person who turned me on to my new art love, pastels! I am taking a class at the North Shore Art League on Monday's from 1-4pm. I am learning new and exciting things about my art skills.

My Spanish has taken a back seat, but I still am trying to incorporate that into my life. Hola!
I've been cut off from my sessions of Rosetta Stone, so I am waiting for a new program to be presented to me through the library. I will continue to work on my language.

Well, not much else going on, but I am excited about my art and working to expand that career possibility.

Still working it!

Wow, its been awhile since I last wrote. Time just slips away.

Well, where do I start? Let's start with the diet. So far, I am doing well, but have slipped a little. I am eating a little bit of chocolate and some of the things that were making my stomach go flip flop. The reason being is that I went to the doctor for a check up and started on some medication to help my acid reflux. It's working, but how long will I have to take the stuff. Then when I least expect it, I have other problems with my health and now I am going to all these appointments which have been nerve racking. I just hope there isn't anything seriously wrong. That would suck! I had a cat scan of my kidneys and tomorrow I will do another test on my bladder. The scan came out okay, except now I need to talk to my interest about my spin. I also was put on high blood pressure meds. This is starting to sound really pathetic!
I go next week to have the doctor update me with my blood pressure. I checked it and its down with the meds, but my heart beat is much faster. HUMMM.........now what? Never a dull moment.

Anyway, waiting patiently for the okay to do the art fair. Will know after the 25Th whether they excepted the application to be in it. Not much time to prepare. So, I am thinking what will I do to get ready for it.

I am still working on the Spanish, donde esta perro? Or, where is the dog? Me perro en su casa! My dog is in the house! I think! Anyway, still working on that too. Well interesting there are no comments on my blog. I guess it's not that easy to attract attention.

Well, gotta get going and put together the dinner!

Sunday Brunch

Today I cooked a fantastic Sunday brunch for 15 of our friends. We served Mimosa's and Quiche with lots of other great side items. Like a strawberry spinach salad, bagels, muffins and a fresh fruit salad. Everyone ate and drank and had fun!

The best part was the cooking. I just loved it. I really have never cooked a quiche and I also made a strata. The worst part was when I went to put the pies in the oven, I spilled some of liquid and it started to burn and smoke up the house. But, I was able to clean up the spill and clear out the house in a about 10 minutes without the smoke alarm sounding.

Still sticking with the diet and learning my Spanish.

I will continue to work on getting myself together. I want to start something new, but nothing has worked so far.

I am planning on doing an art fair on June 16th to try and sell some of my watercolors. I got good response from people today regarding my work. I know if I price it right, it will sell!

I'm getting too old for this!

Today the Midwest got hit with a big storm. I'm glad we only got 5 or so inches of snow, cause some states got more and blizzard like conditions. Here I thought the cold was bad and now I have to go out and shovel the drive AGAIN! Don't like all this snow. It looks pretty, but its hard to drive through and I cant get to work when it's like this. So today I am baking cookies, doing some paper work, working on a woodworking project.

I am making a platform bed frame for my girlfriends twin bed. It's finally taking shape. I have all the side pieces made. Now I just have to make the top platform, and the inside supports. I used plywood and particle board for most of it. I got to use a lot of my tools. The table saw, the rotor table, the compound miter saw and my electric nail gun. The worst part about doing a project like this is you have to have patience and time. Everything has to be clamped and glued. So, I have been working on the weekends whenever I can. But, its so cold I have to put my space heater in the garage to keep the place warm. Anyway, it's gonna turn out great, I just know it!

My cookies are about to come out of the oven and I still have to shovel the driveway and get a path dug out in the yard for the boys. Poor little guys cant get around in 6 or more inches of snow! Guess you are wondering who the boys are.........they are a Jack Russell and a mix Jack Poodle. My best buds alive!

It's COLD OUT THERE!

Wow, its been a cold week for the Chicago land area. It hasn't been this cold for years. I can recall the year it was 80 degrees below freezing with the wind and that was the worst winter for me. This -25 degrees with the wind, is not fun, but it can't compare.

I think of all those people without heat, electricity or any kind of necessities and think, boy have I got it made. Just having a roof over my head with running water and heat amazes me.

My brother is driving around in this cold snap with no heat in his car and no window. He says "well, people riding snowmobiles deal with it". Not the same. I can't imagine sitting in a car and the wind is whipping in at -30 below freeze.

I think of my garden to keep my mind off of it. In several months the ground will be thawing and the signs of spring will be emerging.

That's the life you have to deal with when living in the Midwest. Snow, cold, rain, wind, humidity, and sunshine. I pray for sunshine!

3 weeks without chocolate

Well, three weeks have passed and I haven't had an ounce of chocolate! That's like the biggest accomplishment that I have had in years. I just couldn't seem to get a handle on the additive forces that darn stuff has over me.

For the past few years I have been struggling with GERD. Acid reflux. My system was completely screwed up and I continued to eat like a pig! I love candy, pop, and fast food. Of course I also love salads and other things that make myself sick as a dog.

So three weeks ago I reached my bottom. I was so sick of the acid backup, that I decided to end it all..........bad food that is! I cut out coffee, chocolate, pop, uncooked veggies and fried foods. I started eating bland, bland, bland..........no spicy foods and very little dairy.

Well, after three weeks, I have only 2 times felt sick from food. Both times I had consumed sour cream in a meal. So, now I am concentrating on cutting that out too. I love sour cream! I love coffee, I love chocolate and I love fattening foods.

I looked in the mirror last week and noticed that one of my rolls was almost gone! Walla, instant diet. I guess its a good thing, cause I was sick of the way I looked anyway.

So, now I am on the road to a healthy stomach and I'm losing weight.

Power of Thought

Wow, when you set your mind to it, it happens!

Yesterday I went on a job interview, well sort of. I saw an ad in the paper for a part time floral designer and made myself call. I went over to the place and actually filled out an application. I had a very good feeling when I walked in. There on the wall was a plaque from the Lexi Kazian Foundation. My prayers were answered. Love that Lexi! That florist does all the flowers for my nephews foundation! I thought it sounded familiar. Cool! Anyway that broke the ice with the gal and I was asked to come back on Monday. Now, I have to figure out how I can get the job and if it would work. Didn't talk about money and when. Just thought I'd let them tell me.

Anyway, I have to put together a floral bouquet for them at 9:30 Monday morning! I better get cooking and figure out how to do that!

The power of thought.................it works!

Working Hard, but gotta make a change

Back to work today and I have to say that I worked like a dog. For the past 24 years I have been self employed. Working as an interior house painter. It's getting rough going up and down those stairs day in and day out. Haling materials and equipment, slapping up paint, sucking up fumes and at the same time creating a master piece for people. They all love me! Just how can I move on to another career when I love this one so much. I need to find something that isn't so painful after the days done

I also started a diet this weekend. I have been feeling really bad and thought that its about time to get serious about my weight and my health. I am not getting any younger and it's not getting any easier as I got older. So, I have cut out coffee, chocolate, cheese and anything that's too spicy and full of fat. We shall see how far this takes me. Maybe a change in my diet will help me with my new career.

Oh yeah, yesterday I picked up the Spanish lessons on CD so that I can start learning to speak another language! Now I need to get going on learning!

What a weird winter

Woke up today and there was a dusting of snow on the ground. Here it is mid January in usually blistery cold Chicago area and its no where near the temp or conditions we usually have this time of year. No complaints, cause I like the fact that I don't have to shovel my driveway or bundle up like an Eskimo.

I am anxiously awaiting the start of spring so I can get my garden going. Nothing like the colors of spring. I also need more subjects for my watercolors. Although, I have yet to take any winter scene pictures. So, maybe there is a major snow storm still in store for the midwest at some point this season.

Life after 50

Yep, I turned 50 last July 27th and the world took a complete 180 degree change. Well, I can't say that drastic, but I sure have been feeling different since then.

Got all kinds of things going on in my head that I didn't have when I was 49.

Like for example, I want to learn to speak another language. How can knowing only one language be enough. Looks like I will start learning to speak some Spanish as soon as I get a book and a cd on it. I don't really need to know it well, just want to be able to know what all those people are saying in the Wal-Mart!