Another week has flown swiftly by. Lots of fun things, and some "not-so-fun" things have occurred this week. Lets see what's been happening in my life for the week of Oct. 12th-18th
First off ........
I stepped on the scale this morning and found that I have dropped about 3 pounds (could be 2, but it looks like 3) since the last time I weighed myself on our bathroom scale. Pretty darn good, considering that we've gone through two weeks of 2,000-2,400 calories--per the Curves diet plan. Tomorrow we start all over again with the 1,200 calorie per day plan. Weigh-in at Curves isn't until November 1st, but I hope those scales show a nice weigh loss as well.
Windy City
The first couple of days this week it was pretty windy around here. I love the wind, although I *don't* love the damage it can do. And as long as I can stay inside, cozied up next to the wood stove with a nice hot fire going, and my electricity still working. Where we are, we're pretty much only able to feel the east winds, which we seem to get more of. We're butt-up against a nice hill that blocks the south winds, so we don't feel those very much. Columbus Day was on Monday, and I was reminded of the great Columbus Day storm in 1962, when I was a sophomore in high school. At our house we knew it was windy, but how windy we didn't know until our power came back on the next day and we could see the news reports. The house of my youth (not the same one as in this photo) was/is also butt-up against a much taller hill--Forest Park--so we didn't get *near* the devastation that others did. When I met DC a few years later and the Columbus Day storm came into the conversation, I learned that he was out in it, and that his family lost their electricity for a couple of weeks. They were on top of a hill, rather than sheltered by one, so they felt the affects much more than my family did. Fortunately they had gas appliances so they could still eat hot meals. Their furnace was gas as well, but the thermostat was run by electricty. I think DC's dad was able to bypass it somehow. My family home was also run mostly by gas--cooking and heating anyway, but we didn't go long without the electricity.
Part of my brother's fence blew down on Tuesday, so we went up after everyone got home and put it back up. Well, actually DC & brother did, while I chatted inside with Sis-in-law, but I was along for moral support. They live atop the hill, so they get all the winds that hit our fair city.
Sad News
Ardyth's brand new kitten, Kaylee, passed away this week. She was only about 6 months old, but had FIP, which is an incurable kitty disease that I haven't had a chance to Google for to get the details on. I did get to meet her, and she was the sweetest little thing. Reminded me a bit of PA's kitty, Piewacket. Whenever I meet someone who has lost a furry friend, I send the link to the poem "Rainbow Bridge," which my brother sent me years ago at the lost of his first kitty, Tsunami. Here's the link for anyone who hasn't seen it before:
http://www.petloss.com/poems/maingrp/rainbowb.htm
Grandma Nora said on many occasions that our pets are ours in the hereafter, too. This poem pretty much says it, too. Enjoy!
The End
I have a few people I need to think up nicknames for. That will be on my list of to-do's this week. I thank Heffalump for most of the names I have used--they were hers first.
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Puzzles
Last night was the second installment of my birthday gift from Ardyth--Puzzle & Game night. Only Ardyth opened it up to my other daughters and their husbands, as well as my sister-in-law and my brother. Snacky food was the menu of the evening, and there were plenty of chips, clam dip, Ardyth's home-made garlic dip, donuts, cookies, and Ezre's chili. Plus "drinkage" (our term for beverages). And Ardyth came armed with lots of crossword puzzle books, Sudoku books, other types of puzzle books, and photocopies of some of the puzzles, as she was planning a contest to see who could finish a crossword puzzle first (with prizes). Since Sudoku was new to some of us, so she wanted to be sure she had enough copies for everyone to try without waiting for a free book. And she even supplied mechanical pencils. What a girl!
Ezre and Pink Avenger and their hubbies were the only ones who were able to come. Heffalump & my sis-in-law were both sick, and Myra was recovering from the birthday party they had given for Princess T earlier in the day.
Some of us were new to crossword puzzles as well. I have done them off and on through the years, especially those in the newspaper. And from time to time someone will gift me with a crossword puzzle book. This was one of my mother's favorite pasttimes, so it brought her memory a little closer to us. Ardyth was 13 when my mother passed away, so she remembered seeing Mom doing the puzzles. Ezre and PA never met her--she died three years before they were born.
Ardyth finished the crossword puzzle first, I was second, and I'm not sure whether Ezre or her husband (aka Roman) was third. Ezre was one who had never done crossword puzzles before (I don't think she has, anyway), so it was fun as we all tried to give her hints when she got stuck. For example, a 4-letter word using "turkey" as an example. She had the MEA, but couldn't imagine what the last letter could be. I don't remember exactly what clue Roman gave her, but she cried out triumphantly "MEAL." Poor Roman, he laid his head down on the table and groaned while the rest of us who had already gotten it, laughed. She did get it after that (the answer was "MEAT").
I have tried Sudoku in the past but had always given up because I lack the patience to keep erasing when I discover a wrongly-placed number. So Ardyth showed me her strategy. Totally different than what the first book I had ever seen had given. No wonder I was frustrated. I will be giving Sudoku a better look now.
Thanks Ardyth, for a GREAT evening!
Ezre and Pink Avenger and their hubbies were the only ones who were able to come. Heffalump & my sis-in-law were both sick, and Myra was recovering from the birthday party they had given for Princess T earlier in the day.
Some of us were new to crossword puzzles as well. I have done them off and on through the years, especially those in the newspaper. And from time to time someone will gift me with a crossword puzzle book. This was one of my mother's favorite pasttimes, so it brought her memory a little closer to us. Ardyth was 13 when my mother passed away, so she remembered seeing Mom doing the puzzles. Ezre and PA never met her--she died three years before they were born.
Ardyth finished the crossword puzzle first, I was second, and I'm not sure whether Ezre or her husband (aka Roman) was third. Ezre was one who had never done crossword puzzles before (I don't think she has, anyway), so it was fun as we all tried to give her hints when she got stuck. For example, a 4-letter word using "turkey" as an example. She had the MEA, but couldn't imagine what the last letter could be. I don't remember exactly what clue Roman gave her, but she cried out triumphantly "MEAL." Poor Roman, he laid his head down on the table and groaned while the rest of us who had already gotten it, laughed. She did get it after that (the answer was "MEAT").
I have tried Sudoku in the past but had always given up because I lack the patience to keep erasing when I discover a wrongly-placed number. So Ardyth showed me her strategy. Totally different than what the first book I had ever seen had given. No wonder I was frustrated. I will be giving Sudoku a better look now.
Thanks Ardyth, for a GREAT evening!
Saturday, October 03, 2009
Whatta Week!
Now THERE'S a Name That Just Rolls Right Off Your Tongue!
Matt Tuiasosopo. I loved to say that name (last name) years ago when we lived in Seattle and his father, Manu Tuiasosopo, played football for the Seattle Seahawks. It's nice to see that name still in sports. One of Manu's sons, Matt, has been brought up from a Seattle Mariners farm club to play for the Mariners at the end of the season. Hit his first major league home run earlier this week, too.
I almost got to meet his father years ago. Several Seahawks, including Manu T & Jim Zorn, visited our Res office. It was my day off. I was so disappointed when I returned to work and heard the news. I don't remember now just why they were visiting us. Our office was still in downtown Seattle on Westlake Avenue, so it was before 1980. Must have been 1979 or early 1980, as Wikipedia says Manu Tuiasospo played for the Seahawks from 1979-1983 and our office moved out across the road from Sea-Tac in May 1980.
Good luck Matt Tuiasosopo, I wish you well in your career!
PS: While Tuiasospo is fun to say, it's not very fun to type out. Spelling variations I have stumbled upon in this blog include, but are not limited to:
Tuiasosopop
Tuiasposo
Tuiasopso
--------------------------
Losers!
Ezre has had us on a diet and exercise regime for almost 2 weeks now. And my friend Rose Marie and I have been going to Curves for almost two years now, in an attempt to get in better shape and lose some weight. I think I've lost the same couple of pounds, and regained them back, over this full amount of time.
Until this week, that is! Weigh-in was Friday. We usually weigh in once a month. My last weigh-in was on September 2nd. I had forgotten to weigh myself when we started this diet/exercise regime of Ezre's, so I don't know how much of the weight I lost in September was *after* we started the diet.
BUT I LOST 6 POUNDS!
And gained a star on my foot!
To explain, at Curves, once you have lost a combination of 12 inches and/or pounds, you get a foot--a paper foot with your name on it taped to the wall. We had earned ours about a year ago. As a result of the 6 pounds and 3.25 inches lost this past month, I got a star to represent the next 12 pounds/inches lost. Rose Marie got one as well. So we are the first of the two losers this section will cover.
The next *loser* is my daughter Myra. She has also been on a diet/exercise regime for a few months now. I don't know what she weighed when she started, but this past week she met her goal of 125 pounds. And got to celebrate with a shopping spree to buy some clothes that fit! Way to go, Myra!
When I was over at Myra and Art's house (Art is her dh) the other day, I noticed that Art was also somewhat thinner. So, congratulations to Art, who has lost around 27 pounds!
DC is also losing weight, I'm not sure how much either because I'm not sure what he weighed when we started. But our diets are good, exercise could be jumped up a bit. We are changing our life styles.
What I also notice is that I have more energy and don't need the customary afternoon nap anymore. Just the act of getting sugar and fat out of my diet has helped in the energy level too.
Congratulations to us all!
Matt Tuiasosopo. I loved to say that name (last name) years ago when we lived in Seattle and his father, Manu Tuiasosopo, played football for the Seattle Seahawks. It's nice to see that name still in sports. One of Manu's sons, Matt, has been brought up from a Seattle Mariners farm club to play for the Mariners at the end of the season. Hit his first major league home run earlier this week, too.
I almost got to meet his father years ago. Several Seahawks, including Manu T & Jim Zorn, visited our Res office. It was my day off. I was so disappointed when I returned to work and heard the news. I don't remember now just why they were visiting us. Our office was still in downtown Seattle on Westlake Avenue, so it was before 1980. Must have been 1979 or early 1980, as Wikipedia says Manu Tuiasospo played for the Seahawks from 1979-1983 and our office moved out across the road from Sea-Tac in May 1980.
Good luck Matt Tuiasosopo, I wish you well in your career!
PS: While Tuiasospo is fun to say, it's not very fun to type out. Spelling variations I have stumbled upon in this blog include, but are not limited to:
Tuiasosopop
Tuiasposo
Tuiasopso
--------------------------
Losers!
Ezre has had us on a diet and exercise regime for almost 2 weeks now. And my friend Rose Marie and I have been going to Curves for almost two years now, in an attempt to get in better shape and lose some weight. I think I've lost the same couple of pounds, and regained them back, over this full amount of time.
Until this week, that is! Weigh-in was Friday. We usually weigh in once a month. My last weigh-in was on September 2nd. I had forgotten to weigh myself when we started this diet/exercise regime of Ezre's, so I don't know how much of the weight I lost in September was *after* we started the diet.
BUT I LOST 6 POUNDS!
And gained a star on my foot!
To explain, at Curves, once you have lost a combination of 12 inches and/or pounds, you get a foot--a paper foot with your name on it taped to the wall. We had earned ours about a year ago. As a result of the 6 pounds and 3.25 inches lost this past month, I got a star to represent the next 12 pounds/inches lost. Rose Marie got one as well. So we are the first of the two losers this section will cover.
The next *loser* is my daughter Myra. She has also been on a diet/exercise regime for a few months now. I don't know what she weighed when she started, but this past week she met her goal of 125 pounds. And got to celebrate with a shopping spree to buy some clothes that fit! Way to go, Myra!
When I was over at Myra and Art's house (Art is her dh) the other day, I noticed that Art was also somewhat thinner. So, congratulations to Art, who has lost around 27 pounds!
DC is also losing weight, I'm not sure how much either because I'm not sure what he weighed when we started. But our diets are good, exercise could be jumped up a bit. We are changing our life styles.
What I also notice is that I have more energy and don't need the customary afternoon nap anymore. Just the act of getting sugar and fat out of my diet has helped in the energy level too.
Congratulations to us all!
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