Conversations With A Woman 2.0

Sunday, March 30, 2008

Easter Weekend in Dallas

I went to visit HDW in Dallas, TX over Easter Weekend and had a great time. I flew for the first time in many, many years without using a seat belt extender so that was a wonderful way to start the trip!

We went and got a mani/pedi and waxing on Thursday, Friday during the day we went to the Dallas Arboretum where they have an event called "Dallas Blooms;" Friday evening we went to the Dallas Museum of Art where they were having an evening thing with music and a sneak peek at an exhibit that was going to open the next day that was by an artist that loves Bluebonnets (I LOVE Bluebonnets!); Saturday I went and had a totally awesome experience with HDW's Thai massage therapist,Ty; and Sunday we went to Easter Brunch and then to see Horton Hears a Who before I headed to the airport. It was wonderful to be back in Texas if only for a short while! I've included some of my favorite pictures from the trip. You can see the rest on Flickr.

Peace Love & Happiness!

// posted by Joan @ 2:16 PM

4 lbs lost for a total of 128.2!

I didn't weigh in on 3/21/08 because I was out of town, so when I weighed in on 3/28/08 it was for 2 weeks. I lost 4 lbs which I feel really positive about because my "monthly visitor" had visited and I ate a little more than I was used to while I was out of town.

YAY!

Peace Love & Happiness!

// posted by Joan @ 2:14 PM

Saturday, March 15, 2008

3lbs lost for a total of 124.2!

My second week of eating was pretty uneventful, which is great! I was very pleased to get on the scale and see that I've lost another 3lbs!

Today I got to start eating lunch! Woo Hoo! One of the recommended lunches is a whole wheat tortilla, with 2 oz of low fat cheese, lettuce, tomatoes and salsa. OH. MY. GOD. It was freakin' amazing! So simple, but so tasty!

The last couple of weeks have been a bit of a bear at work. We've got a lot of people out of the office and we're being expected to pick up the slack. Now, I'm all about pitching in to get the job done, but I didn't make it to water aerobics once last week and I only made it once week before. Fortunately, the weather was good that I could get a few brief walks in, did some heavy duty vacuuming, (yes, that's exercise!) and spent some time on my recumbent bike. However I love my water aerobics and I miss it!

I went through the whole blaming work and the people who were out and all sorts of other blame game techniques, but I finally made it back to the fact that I knew I was going to be expected to work some extra time and yet I didn't get to work until 9:00. Finally logic kicked my brain's butt and said, "You have no one to blame but yourself, girl! You've got to get up and get to work early so you can leave in time for water aerobics." My brain couldn't argue with that, so that is the plan for next week. Wish me luck that I'll get back on my water aerobics routine!

I went clothes shopping last night and was trying on this pair of pants. I put them on and they were too big. Too big? What the hell is too big? I took the pants off and made sure that the tag inside the pants matched the tag attached to the pants and lo and behold, they did. I wander out to the sales floor and got the smaller size, and I'll be damned if they didn't fit! Now, I don't remember the last time I fit in this size. It's been A LOT of years. What a great feeling that is! I can't even describe it!

I was flipping channels the other day and came across an episode of "Big Medicine." I don't normally watch this show because it just makes me sad and has me thinking, "There but for the grace of God, go I." However this episode featured a girl who lost all the weight she needed to lose and was having a breast lift and abdominoplasty. Once I get to where I want to be, I want to have a breast reduction and abdominoplasty. They showed her journey and how she hurt like hell afterwards, but when she healed, SHE LOOKED AMAZING! Man, if I look 1/4 as good as she did after I have my surgery, I will be over the moon!

Here's to amazingly simple and tasty meals and feeling good about yourself!

Peace Love & Happiness!

// posted by Joan @ 6:31 PM

Mother Nature is PISSED OFF!

Boy Howdy! Mother Nature sure got her knickers in a kink last night and today! Downtown ATL was ripped up last night as a EF 2 Tornado went through. A tornado! In the city! I know it's not unheard of, but it is rare!

I talked to 2F today and he told how he was at his Bookstore in East Atlanta Village when the storm hit. He said, first the hail, then the rain and then the wind. He said as he hunkered under the counter he just knew the roof was going to be torn off the place. Fortunately the store did not sustain any damage, however his immediate neighbor on the other side did.

Luckily, aside from the rain and a wicked lightening and thunder show, my neighborhood got off easy. We were under a tornado warning for a bit this afternoon and the sirens went off, but not much more than rain and the occasional rumble for thunder. It was kind of surreal because as the sirens were going off, it was sunny out.

Growing up in Texas, which is known to be part of "Tornado Alley," I was fortunate enough to be close to tornadoes, but never in one. Mom and I lived in a A-frame house and we had the couches on opposite walls facing each other. We both got under the cushions of those couches as the tornado roared by about 1/2 mile away. I was saying the Lord's Prayer under my breath as fast and furious as I could while we heard the winds howling outside. It was pretty scary!

It's interesting - when I was younger and was feeling out of control or freaked out by something in my life, I would inevitably have a dream about being in a tornado. I would wake up on the verge of screaming and heart pounding from those dreams. I haven't had a tornado dream in a while, and I remember the last time I had one, I felt peaceful and not scared to death like I used to. Maturity setting in? Who knows?

Here's hoping that wherever you are the weather is pleasant and so are your dreams!

Peace Love & Happiness!

// posted by Joan @ 6:06 PM

Sunday, March 09, 2008

3 pounds lost for a total of 121.2!

I made it through my first week of beginning to eat without much fuss and still lost 3lbs! Woo Hoo! I was feeling pretty good about that!

Friday when I got home it was 63 degrees. I woke up Saturday morning and looked out the window to see snow! It was a very small amount and didn't even think about sticking, but was still fun to see!

I got dressed and went to Costco before meeting Jef and Orbit Boy for a very informal celebration of Orbit Boy's birthday. We drove around after lunch looking for a new place for Orbit Boy to orbit around. Our conversations are always very interesting and Jef continues to say that we should do a Podcast and share or witty, though frequently ribald, repartee with the world. Of course we would do it under aliases to protect the not-so-innocent! Jef has declared that the true test for my Prince Charming will be if he's able to keep up with and survive a conversation with the 3 of us. So, Prince Charming - start boning up, sweetie! ;-)

One of the things that Jef, Orbit Boy and I like to do is go to used CD stores. It's usually Orbit Boy that walks out spending the most money, however the last 2 times, I've been leading the pack! Yesterday, not only did I spend $31.00 at the used CD store, but I bought a CD at Starbucks when we stopped for coffee and conversation. What can I say? I love me some music!

CD Purchases for the last 3 weeks: kd lang's "Watershed," Lyle Lovett and his Large Band, Herbie Hancock's "River: The Joni Letters," The Soundtrack for the movie "White Nights," A CD called Bella Luna which features the likes of Dean Martin and Rosemary Clooney, Prince's "Planet Earth," Janet's (Miss Jackson if your nasty) "Discipline," Erykah Badu's "New Amerykah Part One (4th World War), Cyndi Lauper's "Shine," Soulhat's "Outdebox," Jen Chapin's "Ready," Nickel Creek's self titled, 2007 Lost Highway Record Label Sampler, Stevie Ray Vaughan's Real Deal Sampler and Christopher Riley plays Radiohead. Whew!

I have been looking for the Soundtrack to White Nights for years! I had it on cassette back in the day and played it to death. So as I drove home last night after my day with Jef and Orbit Boy, I had it cranked loud and remembered why I loved this soundtrack. There is the beautiful song by Roberta Flack on there called, "People on a String" that gives me chills to hear. I know it may not mean anything to anyone else but me, but I just love it!!!

Here's hoping there is lots of good music in your life!

Peace Love & Happiness!

// posted by Joan @ 9:56 AM

Sunday, March 02, 2008

4 Pounds lost for a total of 118.2!

I had a pretty good week! I was working toward being at 120lbs lost by the time I started eating, and I got very close!

I was supposed to start eating yesterday, however I had my day planned out very meticulously and you know what they say: The best laid plans are blown to hell! LOL! I was really starting to get anxious about it and was contemplating getting a salad from Wendy's (a recommended fast food choice) but I decided I didn't want my first food eaten after being on the program to be fast food! So, rather than continuing to be anxious about it, I just decided to start eating today when I have the whole day at home and no pressing errands to run.

I saw some friends yesterday that I hadn't seen in a while and they were very impressed with how I look! That was a nice addition to my very busy day!

Here's to a good and stress free week for everyone, but especially me! ;-)

Peace Love & Happiness!

// posted by Joan @ 12:47 PM

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