Lilly is Eleven

Today is Lilly's 11th Birthday.  I'm making her a steak dinner (Filet Mignon).

I'm pretty sure she is not a typical 11 year old girl...for example, one day, after I lectured her about something-or-other, I was expecting her to be upset...maybe cry...or pout...I dunno.  But, instead, she just got really quiet.  After waiting for what seemed a LONG time...I said, "What are you thinking?"

She replied, "I'm debating which direction I should go here...."

I'll be making her usual STEAK DINNER tonight...

 I will try to enjoy every minute of her 11th year...

If I start to miss the little girl she used to be...too much...I'll make sure nobody sees me crying...

After reviewing what I've done for her past birthdays -- I decided to re-post what happened two years ago, for Lilly's GOLDEN BIRTHDAY...

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Okay, in the interest of full-disclosure -- in this blog, I mostly write about the HAPPY STUFF in my life. Every word I write is 100% true...you NEVER have to worry about that... But, I leave lots of things out. That's actually the whole point of having your own blog, people!! YOU GET TO EDIT YOUR OWN LIFE...as you see fit.

So, you only hear about the stuff I do RIGHT... And I almost never give you a peak behind the curtain...my messy basement and unkempt car, all the times I lose my temper with the kids or have a fight with my husband. Who wants to relive that kind of crap??

Anyway -- as lovely as Lilly's Golden Birthday was -- there was one spectacular bad moment... As I was making Lilly’s special Golden Birthday dinner -- rushing around in the kitchen (barefoot), the pinky toe on my left foot got caught in Frankie’s wire food dish holder, which then pivoted and slammed against the cupboard, pinning me....but as my body pitched forward, but my little toe stayed behind. Ugh. I tripped and fell, dropping two big empty glass serving bowls...they went clattering to the floor as I caught myself on a chair...which was the only thing that kept me from doing a complete face plant. OMG...THE PAIN...I thought I tore my damn toe off...

Lilly's Golden Birthday dinner (two years ago)

I was afraid to look down, and when I did, the little toe on my left foot was bent at a 90 degree angle. I was screeching in pain... And doing a lot of very loud cursing...which sounded like this: S**&&))(*&^%% D$$##@%%^^ H((**&&%!! F((**&))%$## My four favorite curse words, always in the same order...over and over again...

With all the commotion (falling glassware, and me screaming)...John and Warren came running into the kitchen. Lilly (who was standing next to me when it happened) -- ran to the kitchen door and covered her ears. The kids were terrified. I sat down in the chair to get my breath...and I was crying from the pain....

When I saw my toe, pointing West like that...without even thinking, I crossed my right foot over to push my little toe back into the North position...which caused another wave of excruciating pain. And more cursing than I care to admit... At that moment, all I could think about was Lilly’s Golden Birthday Dinner. The beautiful porterhouse steaks were already resting, and the twice baked potatoes were on the table. If we go to the Emergency Room, the whole night will be ruined...my broken toe will be the big story...and it will be how she remembers this day. Besides, I've always heard there isn't anything they can do for a broken toe...

So, I told the kids I was going to be fine...I just needed a minute. Then, I asked John to help me buddy tape my little toe to it’s neighbor... Within five minutes, we were all sitting down to eat supper. Those steaks were DELICIOUS. And, sure enough, according to Google, there isn’t much you can do for a broken toe. I couldn’t stand the idea of somebody touching it....so I used one of those stretchy Velcro bandages to wrap all the toes on my left foot together.

I took two aspirins and I propped my foot up with an ice-pack. I sat in my chair that night, thinking. HOW QUICKLY IT ALL GOES TO HELL. Yikes. I am SO GOD DAMNED LUCKY. I ended up with a broken pinky toe...because that fall could have just as easily resulted in a broken hip. Jesus Christ...how, in just a flash, everything changes. (see what I mean? lots of random cursing...)

That night, I slept in my own bed, but every time I moved, the shooting pain from my toe would wake me up...so it was a restless night. But, finally, about 3:00 AM, I fell asleep... At 6:30 AM, John got up and let Frankie out. Which he often does. Then, he locked himself out of the house. That was new.

Apparently, he knocked on the kitchen door for about half an hour. But I didn't hear that. So, he moved to the front door of the house (which is near our bedroom window)...and he started banging on the metal door with a wooden spoon. THAT woke me up!!

I tried to hobble down the hall...but I couldn't put any weight on my left foot...I was confused and didn't quite know what was happening... Lilly and Warren were still sleeping, and I was afraid all the noise would wake the kids. By the time I got to the door, John was FURIOUS...but, obviously, I DIDN’T DO ANYTHING WRONG...so, after some yelling (both of us) -- I went back to bed.

Later that day, when Lilly heard what happened, she asked me why Grandpa didn't just use the spare key in the vestibule? Humm.. I told her Grandpa doesn’t approve of hidden keys, so I’ve never told him we had one...and now doesn’t seem like a good time...

Lilly, her mom Emily and I ALL HAVE March Birthdays...and here's the thing about March...

BOTH pictures were taken in March....(2018)

When it comes in "like a lamb"

It goes out "like a lion"

How Do Habits Work?

There are three elements to any "habit".  The cue, the routine and the reward.

Hummm...

The cue for a habit can be anything that triggers the habit. Cues generally fall under the following categories: a location, a time of day, other people, an emotional state, or an immediately preceding action. For example, every day at 2:30pm, you might crave chocolate from the vending machine, or the smell from the coffee house downstairs compels you to get a latte. As another example, the music from roving ice cream trucks is a very powerful cue. The cue tells the brain to go into automatic processing mode, and it takes effort to resist the cue, versus deriving satisfaction from following the cue.

The Routine A habit's routine is the most obvious element: it's the behavior you wish to change (e.g. smoking or biting your nails) or reinforce (e.g. taking the stairs instead of the elevator, or drinking water instead of snacking).

The Reward The reward is the reason the brain decides the previous steps are worth remembering for the future. The reward provides positive reinforcement for the desired behavior, making it more likely that you will produce that behavior again in the future. The reward can be anything, from something tangible (e.g. chocolate, salty crunch), something intangible (e.g. a half hour of television, or a visit with your pals at the vending machine.)

Yeah...I might need some help with this...

AND HELP IS ON THE WAY!!

My WORST Habit

So, last October, when I finally stepped back on the scale, I was not surprised to see I'd gained back 25 pounds of my hard-fought weight loss

Time to GET BACK TO BASICS....

Losing weight has always been a battle for me.  And, even though I was going to the pool almost every day, and making much healthier choices..,,I'd lose a pound one week -- then gain 3 pounds the next.  ugh...

WHO AM I KIDDING??  I need to do an honest assessment of MY BAD HABITS...  

So -- what is a "Habit"??

According to the dictionary:

Habit: a settled or regular tendency or practice, especially one that is hard to give up.

Okay....if you were looking at my daily life, you'd think...SHE CAN'T BE GAINING WEIGHT!! Rita is doing so many things right -- and she goes to the pool almost every day!

WHICH IS TRUE. I start the day off with breakfast, I eat smaller portions, I do Aquacize five or six days a week.

Honestly -- I don't have sweets in the house, there are no hidden chocolate bars or cupcakes in my purse or even in my car...I don't have a bag of fudge wrapped in aluminum foil under the lettuce in the veggie drawer...(incidentally -- all things I used to do on a regular basis)...

So -- WHY AM I GAINING WEIGHT?

Clearly -- I AM DOING SOMETHING WRONG.  So -- the challenge is to identify my worst eating habit.

And that was EASY....

Late Night Snacking.

Yep. That's right. Late Night Snacking. John goes to bed early -- and I love to stay up late. And, because I record so many wonderful television programs -- I often stay up until 2:00 or 3:00 AM, watching those shows.

You know -- the Real Housewives of Damn Near Anywhere, the Bachelor, This is Us, All Rise, Home Town, Pioneer Woman, Bull, Dr. Pimple Popper, My Feet Are Killing Me (I'm not kidding -- you can't look away)...Project Runway....

Well -- you know the deal between me and television...some goofball makes a show, I must watch it...

And, at some point, I get the munchies. I need a little salt...with some crunch...hummm...a bowl full of peanuts...or maybe some saltine crackers with cheese.  HEY -- how about some peanut butter on Ritz? ANYTHING GOES ON A RITZ..!!

Before I know what hit me, I've hit the "Pause" button three or four times so I could go into the kitchen....AND GET MORE SNACKS...

Okay.  Now I have identified my WORST EATING HABIT.

The question is -- what am I going to do about it??

Habits

Years ago, I read this quote, "we are all a product of our daily habits, be they good or bad..."

Those words stuck with me.

But -- like everybody else -- I have my share of BAD HABITS...

Because, of course -- words are just words. It's your deeds that matter...

Deed: an action that is performed intentionally or consciously.

So -- if I'm writing about bad habits -- you might guess I'd be talking about my weight.  OF COURSE.  ugh.  You know how BORING I THINK IT IS when people want to talk about what they eat.  So -- sorry...but here we go again.

After attending Fat Camp in 2016, I developed some really good daily habits.  I eat breakfast in the morning...I go to the pool most days...blah, blah, blah...

Over the course of the next two years, I lost almost 100 pounds.

But -- ALAS -- in the last year, I gained 25 pounds back.  Then my knee started to bother me....

I was squealing often enough that John said, "when are you going to see a doctor about your knee?"

I said, "IT'S THE WEIGHT, I KNOW IT'S BECAUSE I'VE GAINED BACK SOME WEIGHT..."

TIME TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS...and I think you'll be surprised by what I decide to do.

Nancy Zieman Exhibit

DAY TRIP ALERT..!!!

Make plans this March to visit the Celebrating Nancy Zieman Fiber Arts Exhibit – hosted by the Dodge County Center for the Arts – DCCA, in Beaver Dam, Wis., February 28 through March 29, 2020. The Celebrating Nancy Zieman Exhibit features a large collection of original Landscape Wall Quilts designed and sewn by Nancy. In 1998, Nancy learned the art of landscape quilting from her longtime friend, Natalie Sewell, of Madison Wis.

Rhonda Pierce, me, Nancy and Deanna (in Houston -- ten years ago -- I wish I still had that jacket)

Deanna -- the hardest working woman I know!  STILL DOING IT...she runs Nancy Zieman Productions..carrying on Nancy's legacy.

Mary and Nancy -- KICKING IT UP A STITCH.  What a hoot that night was!!  Remember??

I'm so glad Jackie got to come to Puyallup -- and meet Nancy!!

Nancy Zieman was an incredible woman, and we lost her way too soon. She did so many remarkable things to promote home sewing, we are all forever in her debt. And this exhibit looks like an amazing tribute...I CAN HARDLY WAIT TO GO..!!
http://www.nancyzieman.com/blog/sewing-general/celebrating-nancy-zieman-fiber-arts-exhibit-on-display-this-march-in-wisconsin/

Young Artists at the Figge

Over the years, you've heard a lot about the Figge Art Museum in Davenport, Iowa. We are very lucky to have a World Class Art Museum in our town. They always have wonderful exhibits...and an intense schedule of events for people of all ages.

It's a stunning building.  When Mary visits, we often go there...

Every year, they have a Young Artists Event -- where they honor two students from every grade, in every school in the area.

The awards for Lilly's school were on a Sunday afternoon.  Always in the Figge Auditorium.

That's Lilly in the back corner.

Uncle Ross, with Warren and Lilly's other Grandfather (PopPop)

Her piece was framed -- and hung right along with all the other art.

She takes these things in stride...

But I know her brother was very impressed!!

5 Reasons to hate February

OH MY GOD...it's over. FINALLY. February is the WORST month of the year...I am JUMPING FOR JOY that we actually lived through it.  February is the WORST month of the year for sooo many reasons.

• The weather. Which always sucks. It's one of the coldest months of the year...uf there is going to be an Arctic Freeze...orone of those Polar Vortexes -- it'll happen in February.

• The old snow. Everybody loves FRESH, NEW SNOW....but absolutely nobody loves old, hard, gray snow. The piles have been in the parking lots for months now...and they are lethal.

yes -- this was fun.  IT WAS NOVEMBER...we loved it...

THIS is what it looks like in February. We are OVER it...

• The whole world is completely without color. There is no green, no pink, no flowers -- even the sky is gray.  Everything is gray....

• The short days. HOLY COW...this is so painful. It gets dark by 4:00 most days -- and the lack of sunshine makes everybody crabby beyond measure.

• The crabby people. I'm telling you -- people are PISSY. I used to work retail, and in February, customers would walk into the store wanting to pick a fight. IT IS HARD TO MAINTAIN A HAPPY, CHEERFUL ATTITUDE...

The only GOOD thing about February is it's the shortest month of the year!! AND -- when it's over -- we get to live another MARCH. Which is my FAVORITE month of the year.... birthdays and all that...

Yes -- for sure -- LET'S GET ON WITH IT.  MARCH, MARCH, MARCH...YIPPEE KAYEE...HERE WE COME...