Issues of Weight

Weight has been on my mind lately, in many aspects.

First, I am constantly impressed and motivated by my best friend and her weight loss efforts. In the years I've known, and cared, for Charlene, she has lost over 100 pounds. Fifteen of that in the last three weeks. She recently converted to a near vegetarian diet and is looking and feeling better every single time I see her. She has more energy, a glowing complexion, and the most positive attitude imaginable.

I met Charlene for a late breakfast today and we ended up discussing our clothing issues. The issue is they're all to big. They've been to big for months. I can't get clothes to fit me fast enough before they hang on me like sacks. The funny thing was that during our conversations we both kept stumbling over the phrase "growing out of". All our lives we've been "growing out of clothes". Now we're . . . what? I can think of several different words or phrases for getting to large for your clothing, but I can't think of one for getting to small for your clothing. Weird, hu?

And last, but not least, is that fact that my 'life changing' eating trends are now habits. I haven't had to count calories, research a restaurants menu's nutritional value on line, or fight huge cravings for a hamburger in months. I pay less attention to what I'm eating - because I just automatically make better choices, I work out less due to an increasingly busy schedule, and I am still loosing weight.

I was pretty excited to step on my scales this morning and see I had dropped another 20 pounds. Since May of this year, I've lost a total of 40 pounds. Oh, I'm still about fifteen pounds from my goal and the weight is slower to come off the closer you get to your target. Overall, I'm pretty happy with my issue of weight. (But let's not discuss baggy skin.)

Light at the End of the Tunnel

I sit at my computer with the week behind me and experience the greatest sense of accomplishment. I didn't do anything extraordinary, nothing most women don't do on any given week. However, I had lost all belief that I would ever be able to function at full capacity again. And I'm doing it.

Steve was out of town Tuesday, Wednesday, and most of Thursday. He came home around 6 PM and was out of town again this morning. He will not be back until Sunday evening. And his absence is one of the main contributors to my feeling of euphoria, because, I never would have realized what I could accomplish on my own if he'd been around.

I worked four days this week. Each of those days I had to get up at 5:45 to get Will out to the bus, fix breakfast, pack lunches, and leave the house by 7:00 to drive into work. When I returned home, I had less than an hour before Will's bus showed up. In the evening, Will and I would go out to the park or go shopping. We'd eat out. Come home just in time to get him bathed and in bed. Then I'd spend 3-4 hours on the computer finishing up my online class.

Big deal, right? I worked part time, took care of my kid, and did an online class. The amazing part is that I did it without loosing my cool, getting the shakes, or sinking into depression. I felt great all week.

Now, I did stumble across at least one major issue. I can not deal with the entire 'fix a meal' thing in the evenings when it is just Will and I. He requires too much attention after a day at school and my nerves can't handle the constant interruptions while trying to work on something. But as long as I put us in a situation where I can give him the attention he needs, we do fine.

I even watched the neighbors boys a few minutes today. I took them all riding in the trailer on the lawn mower as I mowed the grass in the front yard and then out to Sonic for ice cream.

Tonight, I clearly see the light at the end of the tunnel, and for the first time in years, I don't think it's a train.

Walmart Wine

I've had several occurrences in the last week that have really taken me back - back to what I'm not sure.

First, there was my attendance at the World Championship Goat Cook off this last weekend. And while the word "world" in the title may make it seem more important, it was really just a little hick festival held in my home town. It's huge to those that live in the area. The rest of the world? Not so much.

It's three days of heavy beer drinking, gorging on food cooked on a bbq pit, loud (and opposing) music played in every tent, and oppresive heat. So basically, you have a bunch of old red neck boys in stained t-shirts that haven't taken a bath in days. Everyone is covered in sweat, dust, and smells like bbq smoke.

I'm not going to lie to you, it's fun. But it's a shock to my system after living in Austin all year. But as my Aunt Cindy says, you get enough alcohol in me and the hillbilly comes out. And I'm always shocked when it does. Buried deep in side (or maybe not so deep) is still the small town girl with the hick accent.

Besides the cookoff, other things have come up this week to remind me of my roots.

I was having coffee with my friend, Leticia, on Tuesday night and she told me a story that made me laugh so hard I almost fell off my chair. Her husband was born and raised in New York city. The closest he's ever lived to 'country' is the subdivision where they reside in Buda. When she took him to meet her family in Del Rio he was ASTOUNDED when the first thing he saw at her folks place was a bunch of men pulling a live (and kicking) goat out of the trunk of a car. Apparently the family had a huge old car, no truck, and a farm. That part of the story didn't seem off to me at all. I grew up like that. It was his reaction that killed me.

"But, but, they have a goat..."
"In the car! A live goat."
"It could get hurt!"
"What are they doing with a goat in the car?"
Did I forget to mention he's a vegetarian.

Then tonight, I finished off a nice bottle of sweet red wine and Steve poured me a glass from some wine I have sitting on the counter. I take a drink and shudder. I've been trying out different reds the last few months and not all of them are worth drinking; which I shared with Steve.

"You know, I think I'm going to have to stop buying wine at Walmart . . ."

That was as far as I got. Steve started laughing so hard I was afraid he was going to choke on his beer. I guess my raising was shining through again, 'cause I don't see anything wrong with buying wine at Walmart . . . if you can find one that tastes decent.

Apparently, others agree with Steve though. Here is a list David Letterman put up regarding Walmart wines:

10. “When Kmart Wine Just Won’t Do”
9. “I Can’t Believe It’s Not Wine”
8. “Show Your Friends How Little You Care”
7. “Kills Germs on Contact”
6. “Recommended by 4 Out of 5 Drifters!”
5. “Crack Open a Can Today!”
4. “Fresh From the Vineyards of Aisle 6″
3. “Here’s to Making Bail!”
2. “Feeling Down After Being Thrown Out by Britney?”
1. “Goes Great With a 20-Dollar Hooker”