Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Gratitude




Time for gratitude. Time to open up to the Universe and let possibilities flow in! Live to learn~


I'm so grateful for- 


My family
Our closeness
Our unity 
My dogs and their unending love
Heat of Summer
Summer
Vacations
Being active
Riding my bike 
Riding my bike far
Walking
Possibilities
Fish Tacos
Friends
Lunch out
Margaritas
Strawberries
Music
This house
This time off
My job
My health
An open mind


Monday, July 4, 2011

Fifty Pounds Ago

Today I asked hubby to go ride bikes. He's been wanting to ride the trail from Valero to where ever it ends. We started at 10 AM. I was worried it would be too hot. It was! Turns out there are 12 miles of trail that are finished. We ended up at Ingram Park Mall! Met a wino there ( he called himself that). Awesome. 

But it was more than a ride for me. It was a challenge and I met it. I wanted to prove that I could ride and keep up with my husband who rides much more than I do. I think I did ok. Even he admitted it was hard. That made me feel good. It wasn't that hard, but it was hard. I could have gone much further if I had water and stopped. So I know I can do longer rides. I would have never thought 50 lbs ago I could ride 20 miles much less 24. Life is good when you take care of yourself. And I'm learning! 

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Summer Days are Slowly Melting Away

I like teaching, but I ...I ...I.....I love summer. I don't especially like the first two or three weeks where I'm still trying to figure out how to not work. I can't relax and don't know what to do with all the time. But about this time every summer, I slip into summer mode and things feel right. The one thing that feels right is my precious time with Parker.


Probably the best thing about this summer has been Parker. He turned 17!!! 
And sometimes he even likes hanging out with us!!! 

One thing that Parker likes is his friends. 

Which means I get to hang out with his friends. 

I like his friends. I think after teaching for so long, I'm more comfortable with kids than anyone else. I absorb their enthusiasm. I absorb their laughter. I wish I had their energy and lack of fear! I know the days I have with Parker are slowly ticking away. I will miss these days. My days will be filled with something else, but nothing will replace all the summers I get with my best kid. So while these days are melting away before me I am so conscious of how precious and amazing each and every day is and I'm so grateful for this time and life. 




Friday, June 17, 2011

Hernia=OUCH





What was I thinking? I have 8 puncture wounds in my belly. No wonder I put this off for so long. On the flip side. I read and made some notes for my classroom notebook project! Since I can't move much, at least I can be productive. I got 15 punctures in my leg for the veins...they hurt less. In a couple of weeks I should be good to go!

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

The Summer of Repair

My goal this summer is to get the things on my body fixed that are fixable. I'm working on my varicose veins. UGH...Below is a "before" picture taken several years ago. It's obvious which leg is affected. Now that I've lost the weight, I've been working on getting them removed. The weight loss has make them protrude even more.



The process in expensive and very painful. This picture is the after effects of the larger vein on the top of the back of my thigh. It looks way better now! But took a long time for the bruisig to go away. I recently had the veins removed from my calf and I'm not happy at all with the rusults. I go in today for another treatment and in a couple weeks will post the "after " results. 

Tomorrow I go in to have my herniated belly button fixed. I've had this for 17 years- since the birth of my big baby- Parker! I'm so dreading it. But it's the summer of repair and time to get it fixed and move on! 


Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Patience


Bring on Summer!!! 

Yeah...that's Parker jumping off the trampoline and into the pool. I know...not too safe...but it's summer after all!!


Which brings me to the topic of this post. I like walking in the morning. I like starting the day on a productive note and having the walk give me the energy to do something productive. In the past summer was getting up slowly..drinking coffee...getting on the computer...getting back in bed..etc. 


I so want to be more alive and active! So far I am. It's amazing being part of a lifestyle change. I think I'm slowly morphing into something new, different, and better. As I walked this morning I tried to think about having patience. Walking Jack is what got me active, but he never used to smell everything like he does now. He's more comfortable with the walk and wants to check things out and I'm ready to go fast fast fast. I've got to have patience. 


Just like with a lifestyle change. It must come slowly. It must be a constant change though. It must not happen occasionally, but constantly. For instance, I've learned that I can't just eat well 5 days a week and expect any weight loss. It's got to be 7 days of being on target. I can't walk a couple days a week. It's got to be constant. It takes patience to see results, but when you do...it's worth it. As they say...patience is a virtue..and virtue won't hurt you! 

Sunday, April 24, 2011

Hoppy Easter and Goals

Happy Easter 

Sundays I like to reflect on the week and think what I might do better the following week.  This past week was wrecked with my headaches. Lately they have been coming on at about noon and they are intense. I get a prescription for 9 pills and it's usually plenty. This month I'm down to five and I still have two weeks to go. I don't like getting so low. Eating was terrible. Well, actually it was terrible three of the four days.I've got to be more consistent. If I'm only consistent part of the time, it won't make a difference. I need to be consistent each day for WW to work. I walked ONLY 12 miles, a record low. I did mountain bike on Saturday which translate to 2 hours of biking, but I have no idea how many miles. 

It's that simple. I think. Ha. Well new week better results! 





Sunday, April 10, 2011

These Are a Few of My Favorite Things

 I LOVE SPRING....yeah it's pretty much my favorite season beside summer. I think spring means I've made it through another year. I measure my years on school years not calendar years. LOL 

Here are some favorite views I am privileged to see every day!!! Happy Spring~ 

Texas Red Bud


 Yeah, even Parker!! 




My Molly


Cedar Oak 







 Twisted and Tangled 






Thursday, March 17, 2011

Balance

I need balance. How do people do it all and make it look so easy? I feel like when I'm teaching I use so much mental energy in my job. Physical too. There is no down time except for lunch and even then it's a rush to eat and relax. Then I get home and its time to exercise, then eat, feed everyone....maybe an hour of free time. That's why I don't blog. That's ok...hopefully with the time change I can slow down a bit and have day light.  Which brings me to this topic= health. I want to be as healthy as I can. I want to continue to improve myself and my life. I want it to reflect it in my writing. I want to find balance in this life I call my own! 
How do people drink these things- Green Monsters. Blech. I don't have the knack for making delicious healthy stuff -that is for sure. 

Spring Break!

I've really dropped the bucket with my picture a day and blog. Work got the best of me. It's draining to say the least- mentally that is. But it's spring break and I have a week off! I can find myself again which is always nice.

Parker is in Colorado with his cousin and her husband. He's having a good time. It's his first time away from us - where he's the one gone. He's doing ok and not homesick. I miss him, but it's been a nice break and a taste of how it will be when he is gone for good. I love hearing his stories of what happened that day. 


I hope he hasn't been a huge hassle for them. I guess we'll find out if any manners he's been taught have emerged! 


I am still on board with my weight loss! To date I've lost 45 lbs. I may have gained some back this week- Hubby and I over did the eating out this weekend. What was I thinking? I also have been doing boredom eating...that is the worst. I think I've got control over it now...and it's already Thursday! Ha I've really walked  and worked out and that is awesome. 

I've been walking 3-4 miles daily. With the time change I'm adding in bike riding. I plan to start doing push ups and sit-ups. Good old fashioned stuff that works. I also want to concentrate on eating at home more on the weekends. Eating out has gotten so routine. Time to find something else to entertain us!! 
If I want to loose these last 40 lbs I've really got to focus on healthy eating and beef up the exercise.




Sunday, February 6, 2011

Today

Today is Sunday. I'm on the computer reading blogs, drinking coffee and thinking about what I'm going to do with the last day off. All I seem to think about is my free time. What will I do with "MY" free time. I 
hate that.!!  I have never liked working regular hours, however when I was in my 20's working odd jobs I dreamed of regular hours. I'm never going to be satisfied I guess. So I need a mind change. I need to get back to my One Day at a Time mind set and just worry about the day and not the week ahead. With that said I think I should plan out today. Church? No..that's another story. 
I am going to walk this morning.  A Melva Walk. I'll go when Hubby takes Jack. Then I'll come home and clean up and get laundry sorted and started. I need to go to Target. After that....I am dying to go on the bike trails. I'll go if its warm. If not, the day is open. yee haw

Saturday, February 5, 2011

What a Cold Week

This week was so unusual. On Monday it was warm and in the 70's.  On Wednesday the high was 22 degrees and by Friday we had ice on the roads and a beautiful sprinkling of snow! The bonus is that it was a SNOW DAY for us South Texans. 
February 4th, 2011

I also have been so unmotivated to walk and eat right. In fact, I've been eating terrible. Why? I keep asking myself why. I think I'm anxious and bored.  For three days I didn't walk because it was below 25 degrees, but you didn't see me on the treadmill. Well this next week it's back to business. I can hardly wait for spring!! 


Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Beautiful Gems

I like teaching. It's rewarding, frustrating, fulfilling, and challenging. My latest struggles involve my pre-AP students and getting them to be more focused and serious. It's a typical challenge to have. I'm working on things to make me adapt to the changing clientele at our school- that is more students are coming in less prepared and less serious. Still smart, just not a good work ethic. They need guidance and more help at home.


The other class I teach is regular English in the Academy. It's for 9th graders who are failing two or more classes badly. We bring them out to a remote part of campus, take away the social aspect of their day and get them back on track. It's like bootcamp with loving, but strict teachers.  As with any school initiative I've been involved in, the first year  is fabulous because the focus is on the students and program. After that first year it kind of gets pushed aside. And you are left doing the work with less help ( all the help promised goes away)  I'm feeling that now. But I still am working hard with these kids. Take David for example. He is a strange child. He looks Hispanic, yet has a Polish last name. He whispers and walks funny. I can't read his writing. He is easily looked over.


 I started getting to know him when I couldn't read his writing and asked him to read it to me. For being in special ed and having a learning ability the kid is smart. He listens, is a good reader and is right on. Once I saw he was motivated I worked with him with getting his thoughts in order and saying what  he really meant and of course getting him to slow down so someone could read his writing. 


Every day I try to connect with my students. I make a special effort of ask how they are and continue our conversation for the day before. David and I talked daily. He went from being a doodler on paper to a serious writer. He even asked me to read a poem he wrote.  One day I asked him why he had two stuffed backpacks and he replied simply smiling, "I got kicked out of the house." I said really and he nodded. I asked jokingly where he slept and again smiling, he replies, "In a ditch." So we get him to a counselor and contact his parents which of course isn't always really helpful. But sure enough he was kicked out, but they were working on resolving the problem. 


Yesterday he was gone and when I mentioned it to my coworker, he laughs and said oh we didn't tell you...he got caught with a knife, a couple in fact....He showed me a picture of the knife. Scary.  David is in jail and I'm stunned. He'll be in alternative school for a long time. 


This is the second kid to be arrested in two weeks. The other was for drugs. A third kid was high and was caught - all these kids I had invested time and energy in. I had hope for them. 
This scene plays out over and over in my life. So many kids are right there...on the verge of becoming connected to school...... So many times I work so hard and have a break through just to have it thrown away. 


I want to blame parents. If they spent the time I spend with their kids they would know what beautiful Gems they have and how they are letting them go to waste. 

Sunday, January 30, 2011

January is Weird

I'm not sure I like January or February for that matter. They are too unpredictable. Take today for example. It was in the high 70's. My husband mowed the dang yard. What is up with that. Because in a couple days we are expecting snow? HUH? Really. humph.


I'm just ready for spring. I'm ready for more daylight. I'm ready to make my walks more interesting. Four miles a day is making the weight come off but it's becoming B-O-R-I-N-G!


I think I will head over to I-Tunes and see if I can download a book or something to listen to. I'd rather be swimming. hmph.


Wednesday, January 19, 2011

What I Like About Him

" Something unique you love about your significant other." This is Mama Kats weekly writing prompt! 


So what do I love about HIM??

He is so hot!! I mean, look at those pecks. 



I LOVE

...that he is so predictable.
 (That way when he does surprise me it's really fun).

...that he likes to do lawn work. 
My neighbors get jealous that he actually likes working in the yard. 

He tries to do what I like to do, even though we both know he won't like it



He sat on the boat while Parker and I played with the stingrays. 

... that he never complains about my mood swings. 

... that he always drives. 

... that he spends a lot of time with Parker. 


... that he helps with laundry. 

...that he cleans the pool and never complain even though I mostly use it. 

... that he gets up at 5 to walk Jack. 

...that he like sports so much. 

...that he listens to me and my advice. 


... that he likes me whatever size or shape I am. 


...that he isn't one bit lazy. 


... that he is OCD about: 
his desk, locking doors, folding undies, checking for his wallet, checking that the emergencies brake is off, double checking 15,000 times any decision we make, etc.


... that he hates it when I cry. 


... that he likes my family. 


... that he secretly babies the dogs. 




Ok...his ego is probably getting big...and I could go on and on. 
So I'll stop. 
I just love him for the imperfect perfect person he is. 




Sunday, January 16, 2011

I'm Getting Better

One of the things I'm trying to do in my life is not sleep though it. I think in the past when things got tough for me, I'd just crawl in bed and zone out, and then sleep or eat. I'm over that. Now I walk. Walking 4 miles requires patience. Having patience forced on you is not easy. I see the same streets, houses, and signs over and over. So it forces me to go inward and therefore deal with my stress in a more healthful way. I can't say enough about walking.


So with all this free time I'm hoping to do more of the things I enjoy in life....writing, taking pictures, and reading.


Blogging is such a great outlet for the writing and photography. Everyone has their own reasons for blogging. I haven't figured out mine yet, but I do know it's a rush when someone reads it and comments. I spend hours and hours reading other blogs! It's kind of like reality TV!


In the spirit of change and balance I hope to write more, read more, and take pictures of things that inspire ME. I'm not a good picture taker at all....nor am I a good writer. But I love doing both so that is good enough for me :) 
So from me to you...here I am and here I go! 

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Weekly Food Update for Fun

Tuesday:

Playing catch up...

I get migraines monthly...not too horrible..but enough to make me miserable. I do take meds which are great but they really make me tired. I crave quiet time when I have a headache. In the past I've used the headaches as an excuse to eat poorly and not do much of anything when I was having them. Sometimes just going to work was the most I could do. Now I'm not letting them slow me down too much. I don't feed into them. I exercise with them or without them. I don't eat them away either like I used to. That being said yesterday's headache got the best of me. I waited too long to take the meds as I was at work - teaching. I had to stay very late at school and so when I got home I was a mess. I ate and got in bed!!! So no exercise for me!
I did eat well- still had 2 points I didn't use.

Today I took the meds before it got bad and the result was much better!!!

Walked three brisk miles with Jack- burned 330 calories! ( I have a Garmin GPS watch that is fun to use!)

B= Coffee w/ FF cream (2)
Banana -0
Luna protein bar-5

L = Turkey/ mustard/ ff cheese sandwhich = 4
Chicken and stars soup=2
Blackberries/blueberries=0
lots of water
Snack= grapes -0

Dinner= 2 chicken/bean/lettuce/tom ( Hardly any cheese) chalupas- 8?
each= 16

29 points...

I am doing a nightly workout which includes:
10 pushups,butt tucks, = for about 15 minutes......