HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Starting the new year off right with a first posting of the year 2010! I always reflect on the new year's eves of the past and I have had some fun times! I'll never forget the year I was at a party with my L on the forehead Loser Boyfriend. I paid for the night ... including a limo only to have his sloppiness check out the other chicks in the club. So I did what I could do...busted a move on the dance floor and partied hard. Luckily I had friends with me who had my back. Still, they couldn't help much when the tank reached full on the fuzzy navels! In the crowded bathroom with a line out the door, I grabbed an abandoned party hat to catch my overindulgence. Yep, I lost it right into the hat. No one was the wiser. I splashed some water on my face, rinsed my mouth and went back to the party. On the way back out the door, I heard another party girl say "ooooh look! a party hat! as she put it on her head". Oooops! My bad. What was your fondest New Year's Eve memory? (i am not implying that i had a fond memory of that poor unfortunate girl's mishap with the party hat...it's just a memory that stands out among the blurred memories associated with parties in general!

I love it when....

I find a book that I just can't put down! I started reading Beneath A Marble Sky early in the week and finished it last night. I was drawn into the story quickly and found myself looking forward to the moment when the world would stop long enough for me to grab it and go back to the building of the Taj Mahal and the story of a family and the rise and fall of their empire. What I loved most about this book was the classic good versus evil tale that had you rooting for the underdog. I also really loved the premise under which the story unfolds. Having the "grandmother" relay the story to her granddaughters was just one of the little details that made this book so incredible to me! I found myself like her granddaughters, waiting for the next scene on the edge of my seat..begging for more!

11 Years And Counting

It's been 11 years now since I became a wife. We are on vacation at an RV resort enjoying the 4 children we've created in 11 years! Life really is good and I am grateful.

Do You Remember the Time?

I can't help but feel old right now! First, the passing of one of our own idols, Michael Jackson. Everywhere we went at the Mall of America, they had a TV on playing the memorial service. Although I couldn't not hear what they were saying, I was still moved to tears - right there in the food court! When we got home later that day, I watched more of it as it was replayed over and over on just about every channel. Then, I really started to cry! It was a moving tribute and I felt so sorry for his children.

Then as we go to the Jonas Brothers concert my urge to dance and lose myself in the music was over-ruled by my mother status. The sparkly hat that put on which actually belonged to my daughter was taken off as we were leaving the hotel room. A sudden feeling of being ridiculous came over me. There was a time when I would have put everything sparkly on that I could!

As I sat and watched here soak it all up, I was reminded of how much I have always loved the live performances like this. I would stand occasionally and join her in the sing-along songs that I knew the words to (well, most of the words). I recalled my own experiences going to concerts and considered myself really blessed to have been exposed to so many. It is a moving experience (even if you aren't moving as much as you used to!)

No Scale!?

So we are in Minneapolis and having a great time! I am *trying* to be mindful of my goals and have found it very difficult to be without a scale to check-in on my weight! I am curious to see what it says when we return. I haven't been snacking at all and we have had to do some walking for most of our meals which I have been very thoughtful about what I'm ordering. I have been sticking with my push-ups and sit-ups each day and manage to get them both in before bed time!

The hotel has a fitness room with great cardio equipment so I have been able to squeeze in at least an hour of sweating a day. Today, I mixed it up a little and ran for about 20 minutes of my 60 on the treadmill. I also haven't had diet coke at my finger tips all day long so it's made my goal of rehabbing the diet coke outta my life, a little more realistic!

One of the most enjoyable things I have seen is the statue of Mary Tyler Moore. I loved that show (I think that I watched reruns of it after it was off the air). But I loved her independence and spirit. Another thing I like here is that I don't HAVE to have a car! We have walked mostly everywhere and the public transportation to further away places (like the Mall of America and the airport) is a breeze! In reading vairous tourist literature, I have found that there's a lot to see and do here in Minneapolis. Who knew?

Exercising While Traveling

This should be an interesting week as I attempt to travel and keep my exercise routine! I have checked the hotel in advance and confirmed that they have a fitness center that is equipped with cardio equipment which should be a good start. I am motivated so let's see if I make this happen!

Count down begins

It's time to start counting down the days to bali. departure is september 29 and i have lots to do before then. the first thing on my list is to get rid of the pounds that seemed to sneak up on me...around the holidays, and around my waist!

88 days is about what i have. wonder what i can get done in 88 days. first goal is to lose weight on a trip to minneapolis. hey, i did it before, i can do it again!