Thanksgiving RERUN...

This post is mostly about WHAT I MISSED when I went to Fat Camp. Warren would have been the PERFECT age this year to go see the big balloon parade...but, alas, Grandma was out of town.

I cannot believe it's been TWO YEARS since I took Lilly to see this parade...such wonderful memories...

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From November 2014...

Lillian and I LOVE watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on Thanksgiving morning.

As it happens -- there is a wonderful local big balloon parade right here in Davenport, Iowa every year to kick off the Festival of Trees. This year, Lilly is 5 years old, and the weather was cooperating (no rain, 50 degrees) -- so I decided at the last minute that WE SHOULD JUST DO IT...

We arrived in downtown Davenport about an hour before the parade was to begin. There were thousands of people, and soon, we were in gridlock traffic. Ugh. I parked the car and we got out to walk down to the parade route.

All those thousands of people were carrying those nifty lightweight folding canvas chairs...you know the kind -- with the carrying case they casually fling over their shoulder.

Oh oh.  It suddenly dawns on me that I'm going to have to stand for the next three hours.  

OH CRAP!!

I almost turned around at that point -- but Lilly was so excited.....So, we walked on -- and I hoped there would be a bench somewhere...or at least a tree I could lean on....

Then, on the corner of 3rd and Ripley, right where the parade is going to make a turn -- I notice all these people sitting on chairs and benches in front of a junk store I've never noticed before. We went in, and it is jam packed with my kind of treasure....it is packed tight with used furniture, some Retro stuff, many kitschy pieces....

I took this picture three hours AFTER the parade...because during the actual parade, it was impossible to cross the street to even TAKE the darn picture...

Lillian and I walked in and I looked around, hoping there was something I WANTED TO BUY -- so I could befriend the owner...(yes, I am an evil genius -- AND I used to own a retail store...!)

As Ritaluck would have it -- I found the PERFECT treasure (another post).  Larry (my new friend, the owner) negotiated a price with me.

Still looking around his exciting store, I said   "how much for one of those benches out front?"

Larry:  $5

Me:  Sold.  (getting my billfold out of my purse)....So, now, Larry -- you must go out there and tell those people to get off my bench...

Of course, laughing now -- he did exactly that. The two men who had settled in on the bench were dismayed to be losing their sturdy seat  (hey -- THEY HAD EVERY CHANCE TO BUY THE DARN THING)...

Larry brought my bench into the store...and I paid him the money. He told me we could set it up on the empty lot side of his store -- where there was a little rise -- and we'd be able to see all the balloons coming down the street...

I actually took this picture AFTER the parade -- when there weren't SO MANY PEOPLE

Lilly and I sat on the bench until the parade started. Once things got rolling, she wanted to be on the curb -- and as it happens -- we had a small tree right in front of us -- so she had a PERFECT watching spot, and she didn't have to push in front of the people who arrived before us...

Lessons from Fat Camp

I got home from Florida at Midnight on Monday -- and three days later, experienced the whirlwind that is THANKSGIVING. So, I've had no time to really consider what I learned.

And, obviously, I haven't gotten back into the rhythm and temptations of my regular life...so it would be premature to make any big declarations...

But here's how I learn things. I WRITE IT.... And I'll be doing at least some of that writing in this blog during the coming months. Altho, I will try not to be obnoxious about it.

BECAUSE I DO NOT THINK THERE IS ANYTHING MORE BORING IN THE WORLD THAN PEOPLE WHO WANT TO TALK ABOUT THEIR DIETS...UGH...(with the possible exception of people who want to talk about cleaning products and processes...double ugh...)

I know this much already.  I am very grateful for the week I spent in Florida.

So -- with the help of a few pictures -- I'm going to share the first three or four things I learned:

1.  No matter how wonderful your life is, getting away for a whole week puts things in perspective.

And you MIGHT AS WELL GO SOMEPLACE BEAUTIFUL.

The view of the ocean/sunset from our balcony.

2. Having somebody else cook and then deliver three meals a day is HEAVEN. I had no idea how much time and energy I spent each day thinking about, then cooking food.

Turkey meatballs over spaghetti squash. DELISH!!

3. I'm doing this because I LOVE MANY PEOPLE...and I am so very fortunate to have many people loving me back. I want to be there for them as long as I can.

My sweet, wonderful sisters sent me flowers. The card said, "We love you -- and YOU CAN DO THIS."

I love you back...

2016 Thanksgiving

And, hey -- if you're reading this blog because your Thanksgiving sucks and you are feeling lonely and sad -- BUCK UP. You're not alone. Remember -- the very BEST thing about Thanksgiving is that it is JUST ONE DAY. That's all it is.

Read a book, take a nap, walk on the treadmill -- SEW A T-SHIRT DRESS.

Or, honestly -- forget doing anything worthwhile.  Eat whatever you want.  IT'S JUST ONE DAY. 

Last year, I told you to eat a pan of fudge.  That was then, and this is now...

This year, as you know -- I'm just getting back from Fat Camp.  So  I have a whole new mindset.

My friend Valerie turned me on to Healthy Choices frozen dinners!!  Yahoo.  They are on sale this week at HyVee -- and for only $2.50, you get a pretty darn tasty meal -- and you don't have to wash up any pots and pans!! 

Way better than you might think!!

Hey -- just fall into your television.  IT'S JUST ONE DAY.

Check out your favorite guilty pleasure channels. HGTV has a marathon of Fixer Upper, and BRAVO is doing a whole day of Housewives.  (you can thank me later).

If you have On Demand -- OH MY GOD, BINGE WATCH an entire series.  Get into Game of Thrones (I haven't done that one yet).  I watched the first six seasons of Nurse Jackie in about a week, and recently, I watched Newsroom with Jeff Daniels and I can't remember when I ever enjoyed a television show more.  There are only three seasons, so it's a good choice.

The New Season just started -- so catch up on "This is Us" on NBC.  But you must watch it from the first episode...Great writing, complex characters...

With On Demand, the possibilities are endless...you could watch five seasons of Dance Moms!! 

Thanks for reading my blog today. If you feel like you were nearly pecked to death by a turkey --  remember.  IT'S JUST ONE DAY.

Fat Camp...

Today is my travel day. I won't get back to Iowa until really late tonight...and I am TOO POOPED to think any original thoughts, much less write them down in a coherent way...

 I am hoping the fog will clear soon...

Because so many of you sent messages of encouragement -- I am gonna post some random pictures from Fat Camp.  IT HAS BEEN AMAZING...

flowers from my sisters!!

Our Maderia Beach Fitness Camp Condo

Rhonda and I are sharing a two bedroom, two bath condo. We are like an episode of the Odd Couple. She is extraordinarily neat...I'm quite the opposite.

Our kitchen is fully equipped...

The refrigerator is stocked with a case of bottled water...breakfast on the top shelf (yogurt, boiled egg and raisin toast).  Morning snacks, too.  (Granny Smith apple with almonds)

There's a little dining area -- with a comfy sofa and chair...

You can see out to our balcony.

Which has a great view...and lots of birds to watch...

From outside our door -- we can actually see the Gulf of Mexico!!

This is a screen shot of the outside of our building. On Maderia Beach. In Florida. Yes...I LOVE MY LIFE...

Fat Camp, Day #1

I arrived in Tampa, Florida on Monday and got to Maderia Beach -- the location of Weight Crafters Fitness and Weight Loss Camp.

I zentangled my new sneakers...

One shoe looks like this.

I decided they needed more color...

Okay, now I'm happy.

An inspirational message from my sister Deborah.

The elliptical trainers are a challenge...

But I LOVE THE treadmill...I got this...

No...wait... I think I'm screaming here...

Fat Fashions Style Show

Getting ready for Fat Camp -- I've spent the last three weeks consciously changing my bad eating habits....trying to get back into a routine on my treadmill...and MAKING NEW WORKOUT CLOTHES.

 The weekend I was packing up, I decided to do an impromptu Style Show at my Aunt Ada's house.  TMBC came -- and here's what they saw:

I made this shirt two weeks ago, but decided to change the first word...

To something more appropriate!!

The back is much longer than the front.

I added the zebra side insert so this nice knit jacket could work.

You already saw this outfit.

the back is spectacular!

But this gets the prize for the BEST BACK of any fat camp outfit...great crochet, eh?

This is the perfect FRONT Of that shirt.

These three things -- a turq top, graphic tee (Brooklyn Bridge) and a knit dress...are about to be CUT UP...

I'll try to get a better picture at Fat Camp...it's a great shirt!!

I want a dress to lounge around in...get it?  FRIDA..??  I am thinking 'FREE RITA"...