The Sequel...

Just a short update on my last post:

Daddy seems to be doing better. Answer to prayers.

I have lost 10lbs. on my diet and have not cheated once until today (more on that later).

I love my new iphone! My Facebook posts have increased dramatically!!

Now, as to the cheat...a friend and I are seriously exploring the feasibility of opening a winery in Rockwall. We have visited with several winery owners/operators. We have taken field trips to wine shops. We have done internet research and we have even met with one banker who referred us to another bank that provides small business loans. We are serious about this. Today, Brandy and I took a road trip to Houchatown, Oklahoma (yes, that's a real place) near Beaver's Bend State Resort. There is a winery there called "Girls Gone Wine." It was started by three women who had no business experience but who wanted to open a winery. One of the owners, Michelle, sat with us for over two hours and let us pick her brain. She took us on a tour of the production facility next door and answered every question we could think to ask and many that we didn't. She was fabulous and is willing to work with us in a consulting/mentor mode. Yea!!! They have been in business four years and have already had to expand their business. The cheat part comes in where we participated in the wine tasting (tiny sips) and drank one full glass of wine. I will simply cut carbs somewhere else and be extra careful for the next few days.

On a totally non-related note, my sleep study revealed nothing that I didn't already know...I have Restless Leg Syndrome (I already take medicine for that and my doctor upped the dosage). My blood work is okay except watching that lupus titer. And...I may be able to take the boot off next week if my foot has healed enough when I go in.

School starts on Monday so I am about to be really busy again. It's a kind of busy that I enjoy. Oh yeah, and I hear that we are in for a cold front. It's only supposed to be in the mid-90's next week!::shrug::

Ron and I had our pictures made with the grandsons (Kristin's suggestion). We buy a coupon for a free 10x13 portrait each year to support the McLendon-Chisholm Fire Department. We usually give the coupon to Kristin for the boys or for their family, etc. This time she suggested that we have OUR picture made with the boys. Now why didn't I think of that???


I only wanted the group shot...until I saw the rest.

My Favorite Little Buddies...


Trenton Dayne


Carter Michael

Am I not just the luckiest Nana in the world???!!!

That's about it for now...I will keep you updated!

To Be or Not To Be...That's not really the question!

I'm really torn. I love sleeping until 9:00 or 9:30 daily. I love afternoon naps on the couch. I love the freedom to eat or drink what I want when I want and to go to the bathroom whenever I need to go. I looooovvvvveeee the luxury of taking a bath in the middle of the day. Don't know why, but that speaks to me in a way I can't explain. I do, however, hate being broke. Thus the dilima.

Students report back to school next week and along with that will come the need for subs. Job opportunities for me mean giving up my freedom to do whatever, whenever. It means entering a blistering hot car at the end of the day in order to come home. It means an end to boredom and a renewed beginning to a sense of purpose. It also means the additional money that I need to cover the incidentals and flexible expenses. The money to shop ahead for Christmas...to fund my trips to Winstar and Shreveport...to do whatever, whenever. Hmmmmm. Why does that phrase sound so familiar?

Either way...the start of school (and work) means fall is just around the corner. With fall will come the end of the triple digit temperatures that have hammered us for twenty straight days this summer. Oh, yeah. Now I can chill on their dime and get paid in the process. Not a bad arrangement.

Happy "Back to School!!!"

I'm melting...

You might think that a reference to the heat. While it must be true that Satan left the door to hell open and all that heat is escaping, I wasn't really referring to the heat. Not that I am negating the impact of fourteen straight days of triple digit temperatures...I am simple referring to my diet plan.

I went to see my doctor recently because of various complaints. Among those complaints was that I have put on nearly 50lbs. since I retired in May, `08. Regardless of what diet I have pursued, I have played with gaining and losing the same 3lbs. So, enough. I admitted that I needed help. I'm tired all the time...can't find anything that fits...can't breathe in this heat...look and feel like sh*t. Doctor S suggested a nutritionist supervised diet plan. I met with her the next week.

Give me a plan...I can and will follow it. I don't cheat. Especially if there is accountability. There is. I began my diet on a Wednesday and immediately lost 2lbs. over night. I lost another 2lbs. the next day. Then, my body realized what I was doing and the weight loss slowed to a more reasonable number. I have been on the diet for 9 days now...have not cheated...and have lost 6.8lbs. Yea!! My target is 50lbs. I have a cruise to the Bahamas scheduled for Dec. 5th and I want to feel good and be able to do the activities on our excursions. Not to mention, I don't want to look like a beached whale in my swimsuit! Whatever, this time when I lose the weight I hope to learn how to transition back to regular eating...and drinking! Wish me luck! This old dog is trying to learn a new trick!!

A Jumble of Thoughts...

I had a doctor's appointment recently. I had a couple of issues...tired all the time...can't seem to lose weight...and my foot hurt. So I went for a "short" appointment and over two hours later I left his office. I had to have more blood work done and there is one test that I have to watch...a lupus titer. Not that I have lupus...just the possible propensity to contract it. My blood pressure was high...first time since I was pregnant 20+ years ago. I had to have another sleep study and am awaiting those results and my right foot has a fracture so I am back in the boot until the end of August. No idea how I broke the foot...unless it was those "cute little flip flops" that had absolutely no sole and no arch support.::sheepish grin::

Upon leaving the doctor's office I met my SIL for a "little shopping." After I put my boot on we headed out and were gone until nearly 10:00 p.m. trying to find those Skeechers shape up shoes for ourselves and hubbies. Found 'em, but had to go to Rockwall, Forney, Greenville and Athens to get them all! As if that wasn't enough, we went to Canton the next day to shop for Yellow Box sandals. Found out that Yellow Box split and another company opened called "Grazie." I found the exact shoes that I wanted in bronze and white!! And Grazie is actually more comfortable and cheaper than Yellow Box!! :-))) While in Canton I was persuaded to purchase a couple of the long shirts with capri leggings. I had always thought, "I'm too old for that style." However, there were older than me wearing them and, to be honest, I LOVE them. They are so stylish and comfortable!!

Daddy had day surgery to repair a pinched nerve in his elbow. It went well but he requires more assistance since he is "the one-armed man." I am concerned about how quickly he seems to be going downhill. He is having difficulty getting out of a chair and it takes him a minute or so to get his legs under him. He is very unsteady when he first stands up. He is afraid, now, to be left alone. When Ron and I left for church tonight he asked that I leave him the neighbor's phone number in case he fell. He knows that he wouldn't be able to get up without help. It's sad but he keeps plugging along. He has booked a cruise for himself and his girlfriend to the Bahamas at the end of January. I hope he has the strength to go. I think it will be his last.

On a brighter note, my SIL and I took a friend out for lunch at D'Vine Wine. I guess we had a good time. Between the three of us we drank 4 bottles of wine!! Sounds like a good time to me::snicker::

We are quickly approaching the start of school again and with that it seems that I have something happening every day. Ron and I are going to get away for a very short couple of nights to a cabin in Lake Palestine. We aren't taking anyone with us this time. Just the two of us sleeping in, swimming, laying in the sun, reading, and relaxing. After that I need to meet with a banker to discuss financing for a business that I am interested in starting. I also need to get my tatoo touched up.:-)

I hesitate to report it, but I have started a medically supervised diet. I don't want to report it because I don't want to fail...again. But, I think the accountability will help me. In the first two days I lost 4lbs. I was encouraged and I refuse to cheat. So, maybe....

Well, I'm thinking that I have rambled enough. I must get back to playing blackjack on my new iphone!

Take Nothing for Granted...

My dad's girlfriend lost her son this week. Ernie had apparently been "blacking out" off and on for a while. He did not go to the doctor or have it checked out. He ignored it. Turns out he was having strokes. He had another major stroke this week and died on Wednesday. He was only 54.

Live for today for you are not promised tomorrow. Take nothing for granted. Live each day as if it is your last...it may very well be...and if it isn't then do the same thing tomorrow. Condolences to Lila on the loss of her son. Godspeed, Ernie.

Time for Change...

The last couple of weeks have been...interesting. Ronnie and I took Trenton to Lake Palestine for a couple of days. We swam...fished...played mini-golf...had a great time. We have continued with our concert nights...great bands. Went to Shreveport and played a ton of Blackjack and Flop Poker. Lost. Went to the doctor.....that's where it gets really interesting.

I went to the doctor yesterday because I just lack any form of energy...my allergies are kicking my butt...and my right foot has begun to hurt and swell. Bottom line...I'm going to hell in a handbasket. I need another sleep study because he thinks I am having sleep apnea. My blood pressure is a little bit wonky...not bad...just not as great as it has always been. I need to lose weight so I will be seeing a nutritionist beginning next week. And, oh, my foot is broken so I will need to enroll in water aerobics for therapy. Damn!

When my left foot had stress fractures last November, I knew exactly how I had done that. This time...haven't a clue. This is the OTHER foot and this is an actual break in the bone. Apparently I did whatever within the last couple of weeks because it was already showing signs of starting to heal. I'm still going to be in the fracture boot until the end of August, however.

One of my friends said that I need a vacation..."one foot at a time." Not a bad idea!

Time keeps on driftin' into the future....

Oh, my goodness! It has been two weeks since I posted. Time has certainly flown. What's been going on...I want to say "nuthin' much," but let me think about it a bit. First, there was Trenton's birthday party and that was a blast. My oldest g'son turned 7...7! He is such a big boy and yet, he was just born...


Let's see...after that celebration we moved in to July. There was July 4th pizza and fireworks at my house. Love hanging out with the family. We had a good time eating, playing board games (though some nameless people cheat!) and shooting off fireworks. No near deaths with the firebombs this year. Just a couple of hot spots from the stupid sparklers and punk sticks! Everybody seemed to have a good time. Carter was mesmerized by the fireworks...either that or the fact that he was up 4 hours past his bedtime!


Went to Shreveport on July 5th with some girlfriends. Lost my butt...enough said. Still had a good time. Love spending time with girlfriends, too.

Been keeping up with the Concerts by the Lake every Thursday night. Such an enjoyable evening! We go to Agave at 4:30 and have a couple of beers before going to a restaurant for dinner and then on to the concert. My friend, Brandy, has begun to join us and we have a great time laughing, talking and people watching.

Speaking of my friend Brandy, we went on an outing together...a shared common goal...we got tattoos! I have been wanting to get a tattoo ever since I walked in the Breast Cancer 3 Day 60 mile walk last November. I broke my foot on that walk and wanted to get a breast cancer ribbon tattoo on that spot to commemorate the event. My foot finally healed to the point where I could follow through on it. Brandy went with me...my partner in crime...and she got a Care Bear Star tattoo on her foot.




All in all, the last two weeks have actually been packed with activity. Guess I had better end this post and take a nap. Just reading it has made me tired!