Friday, March 20, 2009

The Dogs That Are Friends

There are many dogs in my neighborhood, but two certain dogs have a special place in my heart.

They are known to me as The Dogs That Are Friends. Every time I pass by their house, I look for them. I squee with joy when I see them, and am melancholy when I don't, because they are lovely.

The Dogs That Are Friends are Labs. One is golden, one is chocolate. They romp and play on the lawn, or sometimes I see them curled up in each other, making a furry ying and yang symbol. They make me so happy that I even have a song for them, but yeah that is not for your ears.

I saw them this very morning on the way to work, bouncing and running in the early sunshine. It is a good start to the day.

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

The Vacation at Home

I have recently put in a request for my first week of vacation for 2009. Know where I'm going? Nowhere. That's right y'all, I am staying put, and having a vacation at home.

Now in past years, there have been many trips that required my passport, there have been cruises in the Mediterranean and the Bahamas, family reunions in Florida, but there is nothing on the agenda this year, and frankly (and economically) I could not be happier.

I must also say that a lot of my vacation time was used for working vacations. Dear husband is a photographer, and we have shot weddings all over the place, even Europe. Now, I'm not complaining about getting paid to work for one day and building a trip around that, but there was always an element of stress and pressure. My vacation at home will have none of that.

So, the last week of April, I will be a homebody. I will get up naturally, rather than hearing an obnoxious alarm clock.

I will do those things I have wanted to do forever, like organize my closet. That's right closet, I will control you.

I will go to the grocery store one mid-morning during the week, and stroll around the aisles, rather than hurry through the market one night after work.

I will go out to lunch with my husband, rather than eat a nuked Lean Cuisine.

I will garden. My deck consists of weathered pots and tired soil with the last remants of last year's herbs. I will bring it back to life.

And most of all I will have the quiet enjoyment of my home. I have never had a vacation like this, and it might just be the best one ever.

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Springy Spring

Ahhhhh today is the warmest day of the year so far in Nashville. The weather astrologer says it is 77 degrees outside. I am celebrating the warmth and wind.

I wore sandals to work. My toes are free and merry.

I walked around downtown during lunch, without a scarf or overcoat.

Just a few more minutes until I can be outside again, with the warm wind embracing me like a favorite blanket. I will walk the short and sketchy journey to my car, turn on the radio, and roll down my windows. Even though I the drive will be windy, I will have my windows down, and I won't care if my hair looks like I put my finger in an electrical socket. When I get home I will open the windows. My cats will perch on the window ledges looking out at the psychotic kids that play in the cul-de-sac. Their noses and whiskers will be twitching ... trying to figure out what the wind smells like. Eau-de-nearby-dog perhaps?

Oh good the clock says there are less minutes until my departure. Come on 5:00. I must go!

Friday, March 6, 2009

In Anticipation of Saturday

I love a Saturday when I don't have anything planned. Tomorrow is such a Saturday, and what will I do to celebrate not having a damn thing to do?

I shall make bread...two kinds, and I will clean my diaster of a house.

I know you are jealous of my jet-set sorta lifestyle, but I'm sure you will get over it.

I am going to make pita bread and regular white bread. Originally I was just going to make one loaf of bread, but Smitten Kitchen posted a dead simple recipe for pita bread, so I must make it. I have a cast iron skillet that would be just perfect for baking the pita bread. I'm pumped, and the house will smell like heaven. The pita recipe says the longer the dough can develop, the better, so I am going to make it tonight and let it do it's thang in the fridge. Tomorrow morning I will start on the loaf, and clean the house when I'm not punching the dough down.

Oh! And an update on how I'm doing in the excercise department. So far, I have been on the dreadmill three times, and I feel pretty good about that. Tonight I will probably skip it, because I will be busy in the kitchen, but I think tomorrow I will hike the 1.6 mile trail around Ellington Agricultural Center, which is just a hop and a skip from my house. The weather is supposed to be very nice, and since I'll be in need of fresh air after inhaling bathroom chemicals, the timing is perfect.

Best wishes for a happy Saturday!

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Accountability

Spring is coming, and that means a change in wardrobe is coming too.

2008 was a pretty wonderful year for me in the weight loss department. In February of that year, I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism, and once I started getting my thyroid under control (thanks to a little pill I take every day) and the fact that I had to walk 15 minutes every morning and evening, since I parked far away from where I worked, I lost 3o pounds.

But now that I park just around the corner from work, my activity level has slacked off bigtime.

So getting back to the wardrobe thing, I am now fitting very nicely in my lovely suits that languished in the back of my closet, but I have even lovelier suits, perfect for springtime, that are a size smaller than what I am currently wearing.

Accountability. I know that if I don't set a goal, I will slack off. So here's my goal list for this month.

1. Get on the treadmill at least three times a week, or walk outside in nice weather for at least 1.5 miles.
2. Use the step and step aerobic CD that I have never done since I bought it 4 times this month.

Those are realistic goals. I don't eat really bad, and my alcohol intake is less that usual, so I'm not going to go crazy and get militant about everything.

Last night I got on the treadmill and walked for 1.5 miles, and whilst I was walking, I watched the step aerobic DVD. You do need some semblance of coordination to do even the beginniner's level, but it looked doable. Can I tell you how great I felt after I accomplished my walk? I am looking forward to tonight's walk, and fitting into my pretty clothing once again.

I think I shall do a weekly post to keep myself on track.