Greetings! Time for another weekly update. Unfortunately, it's not quite as upbeat as last week's, as I have finished off what started out as an excellent week with a cold. A rather nasty cold that my family was generous enough to share with me. Thanks, family.
Um, let's see...last week I did a kickboxing workout with the yummy Guillermo Gomez, 2 treadmill workouts, a Walk Away the Pounds workout, and a Gaiam Walking DVD, which was actually a really good workout. Lots of lower body strength exercises, and I was feeling it the next day. Drank my water, got my sleep, but the eating, once again, was not awesome as I had a serious craving for chocolate and ice cream. I've been good about staving off the ice cream the past few months. This is a major issue for me, as ice cream is one of those "trigger" foods, I guess. If I buy preportioned - like bars or individual treats, fine, but a half gallon is gone in two days. So I don't buy it...until last week. And, yup, it was gone in two days. I did not buy more.
Let's talk books now. We haven't talked books lately, and I have been craving a good book discussion. You would think I would get enough with two book clubs, but no way. I've read some good ones lately. My friend K recommended The Fault In Our Stars, which was excellent, very emotional and beautiful, but here's a question. I was a relatively smart teenager. My son is a very smart teenager, who hangs out with smart teenagers. None of these smart teenagers talk like the supposed intelligent, well-read, unusual teenagers in any of these modern young adult novels. “That's why I like you. Do you realize how rare it is to come across a hot girl who creates a adjectival version of the word pedophile? You are so busy being you that you have no idea how utterly unprecedented you are.” This is said by Augustus, the brilliant male protagonist who breaks my heart. Maybe the unlikely dialogue is due to the fact that the characters have all faced, or are facing, serious disease, and so they've had to deal with their own mortality, something with which most teens are completely unfamiliar. More likely, however, it is dialogue an adult author thinks a brilliant teenager would say. And maybe that's why young adult lit is so popular with adults - because we would like to think that is the way we would talk if we were smarter versions of ourselves?
That went on longer than I planned.
Another interesting book I've read lately - Gretchen Rubin's Happier at Home. I was going to start this sentence by apologizing for this, because I know many of my friends find Rubin to be a little saccharin sweet and maybe a bit self-centered. Which makes me giggle a bit. It's a memoir. Isn't a memoir supposed to be self-centered? It's a book written by a person, about that person's experiences. Also, she is very careful to begin her book by saying she is not a mental health specialist, and she does not have clinical depression. I do have clinical depression. I wasn't expecting this book to cure my depression. She is writing about discovering the things that truly make her happy. And making a specific plan to explore these happy-making activities and include more of them. I enjoy her explorations and plans.
You know, one of my resolutions this year (unwritten; it's kind of evolved over the past few weeks) is to stop apologizing for the things I enjoy. A few weeks ago, a friend of mine posted one of those pieces from...somewhere or other...10 Songs We're all Sick of Hearing, or some such something. And people are either announcing, loud and proud (on Facebook, you know what I mean), "I've never even heard of number 3", or 6, or whatever. Or other people are saying, "don't punch me, but I really kind of like #2." And, while I hadn't heard of one or two of them, and I hated a few, I really enjoy some of them. I listen to them on purpose. And I'm a grown-up, and I'm kind of tired of feeling like, as a woman with any intelligence, I shouldn't enjoy working out to anything by Britney Spears. Or that I should be sick of hearing Daft Punk's "Get Lucky" (no, I'm not sick of it, I have no idea how arrogant the band is, and I really don't care. I like the song.) Or that I should not be dancing to Blurred Lines. It makes me want to dance. And I never listen to lyrics, anyway. I'm not apologizing anymore! And neither should you. If you enjoy listening to West Side Story over and over again, so that your best friend wants to throw herself bodily from the car, you do it. And laugh as she then sings "When you're a Jet, you're a Jet..." for the rest of the day. Oh wait! You already do that, don't you?!
Wow. That was a bit of a rant. Completely unprovoked, which makes me laugh a bit. And now I have to go upstairs and spend some time with my daughter, who is appalled and the mass amount of crap I am spewing. That is not what she said. But she was shocked. I actually had something I wanted to chat about, re: Happier At Home; that will have to be my next post. Sleep prettily, friends.
Monday, January 27, 2014
Thursday, January 23, 2014
Out with the old suckiness...
I am not sad to be saying good-bye to 2013.
This year was a whole big bag of suck - not in a catastrophic, horrible way - just in a dragging, foggy, kind of depressed way. Just looking back at the last year's posts, I've written a lot less than usual, mainly because I just couldn't be bothered to leave my funk, and what I wrote was pretty whiny. I'm not loving the 2013 Missy.
Don't get me wrong - not all of 2013 sucked. Highlights included:
1. A successful Relay For Life - we increased our event from $92,000 to $117,000. We worked hard and it paid off.
2. Lots of time playing with twin nieces - they always make me smile.
3. The Girl's first 5K. So proud.
4. My 20 year high school reunion. I did not expect it to be so fun, and it was excellent reconnecting with people I really have come to like again.
5. Starting back to work full time. I do like my job, a lot.
But in between the highlights? That weird fogginess - a low grade depression that just would not lift. A lot of projects left undone. A schedule I could not get under control. A brain I could not get under control.
I have always enjoyed making resolutions. A lot of authorities say this is an unhealthy way to start the year - setting goals and not meeting them is too hard on the self-esteem. I feel, however, that if I don't get some things under control, I am going to only sink deeper into this quicksand-like mindset, and it will only become harder to function. I am going make my resolutions specific, public, and break them into small and manageable steps. If you get bored with my lists, especially with lists that resemble lists I've made before, you may want to stop now. But I need help this year if I'm going to stick to this, and I am coming to all of you, my brilliant friends (of course you are all brilliant! You are reading here!;) So if you are up to a little ass-kicking, I am ready to have my ass kicked.
Resolutions for 2014
These are broken into categories, and I am starting with the most important one.
Health. Always Health.
I realize that I need to live a more healthful life - not only because heart disease runs in my family and I want to be a good role model - but also because when I am practicing healthy habits, such as daily exercise, enough sleep, not eating way too much - my mental health is much clearer and happier. I will achieve this goal by taking teeny tiny baby steps every few weeks. I will begin the year with the three basic steps as outlined in my favorite and most helpful website, Sparkpeople.com.
1. Exercise at least 10 minutes a day (this is the most helpful habit I have found, mental health-wise.)
2. Drink at least 64 oz water, each day.
3. Sleep 7-8 hours a day. I will post my movement on Facebook each day again. I will depend, again, on the responses of my friends.
Yes, you all have seen this before, I know this. It's gotta stick sometime, right? Why not this year? Weight loss is definitely a goal - I am sick of being obese and unhealthy, but mostly, I just want to feel better. I need more energy. And as the lovely Gretchen Rubin writes in her book The Happiness Project, you can't be truly happy if you don't have any energy (definitely paraphrasing, here.) I'll update you all each time I add a new habit. It is more productive to add healthy habits than to remove unhealthy ones. Seriously, I read a lot. If just reading about health made me healthy, I would be the healthiest woman alive.
Money Money Money
Another oldie but goodie. I have a kid going to college in 1 1/2 years, and another who plays ALL THE SPORTS. All the sports are expensive. I have always been rather disorganized when it comes to spending, and that is my downfall. I do not go out and buy expensive clothes, but I buy a lot of things, including way too many gifts, and it all adds up. Plus I've been eating out for lunch way too much lately. I feel confident that we will be able to pay down the credit card debt a lot faster if I just organize myself better, mainly because I will be more congnizant of where the money is going. Here are the steps I plan to start with:
1. Start tracking the spending again. I used to use Money to do this, but, well, I don't anymore. There are a few online programs that apparently work well, or I'll just set up a spreadsheet. I plan to have a system in place by the end of January.
2. I will allow myself lunch out once a week, only.
3. Go back to the weekly menu plan. This works very well.
I would like to work on managing my schedule better, as well, but I feel I need to work on the energy issues first. So I will continue to tweak these resolutions as the year progresses. As I've been writing this, I realized there was another highlight of 2013 I did not mention, and this is something that has happened time and time again. I have realized this year how lucky I am in my friends. Whether they are people I live near or long-distance Facebook friends, someone has always stepped in to let me know I wasn't alone, and they had my back. Many times it was many people. I really know some amazing people. And now I am asking these amazing people to back me up once again - help me maintain these resolutions. I promise to return the favor if ever any of you need it.
Hi - this is me again, several hours later. I've been trying to add pictures and make this post look nice, and Blogger is being all stupid. So, rather than risk losing this train of thought, I'm going to publish as is. Kisses, and Happy New Year! Here's to a 2014 that doesn't suck!
This year was a whole big bag of suck - not in a catastrophic, horrible way - just in a dragging, foggy, kind of depressed way. Just looking back at the last year's posts, I've written a lot less than usual, mainly because I just couldn't be bothered to leave my funk, and what I wrote was pretty whiny. I'm not loving the 2013 Missy.
Don't get me wrong - not all of 2013 sucked. Highlights included:
1. A successful Relay For Life - we increased our event from $92,000 to $117,000. We worked hard and it paid off.
2. Lots of time playing with twin nieces - they always make me smile.
3. The Girl's first 5K. So proud.
4. My 20 year high school reunion. I did not expect it to be so fun, and it was excellent reconnecting with people I really have come to like again.
5. Starting back to work full time. I do like my job, a lot.
But in between the highlights? That weird fogginess - a low grade depression that just would not lift. A lot of projects left undone. A schedule I could not get under control. A brain I could not get under control.
I have always enjoyed making resolutions. A lot of authorities say this is an unhealthy way to start the year - setting goals and not meeting them is too hard on the self-esteem. I feel, however, that if I don't get some things under control, I am going to only sink deeper into this quicksand-like mindset, and it will only become harder to function. I am going make my resolutions specific, public, and break them into small and manageable steps. If you get bored with my lists, especially with lists that resemble lists I've made before, you may want to stop now. But I need help this year if I'm going to stick to this, and I am coming to all of you, my brilliant friends (of course you are all brilliant! You are reading here!;) So if you are up to a little ass-kicking, I am ready to have my ass kicked.
Resolutions for 2014
These are broken into categories, and I am starting with the most important one.
Health. Always Health.
I realize that I need to live a more healthful life - not only because heart disease runs in my family and I want to be a good role model - but also because when I am practicing healthy habits, such as daily exercise, enough sleep, not eating way too much - my mental health is much clearer and happier. I will achieve this goal by taking teeny tiny baby steps every few weeks. I will begin the year with the three basic steps as outlined in my favorite and most helpful website, Sparkpeople.com.
1. Exercise at least 10 minutes a day (this is the most helpful habit I have found, mental health-wise.)
2. Drink at least 64 oz water, each day.
3. Sleep 7-8 hours a day. I will post my movement on Facebook each day again. I will depend, again, on the responses of my friends.
Yes, you all have seen this before, I know this. It's gotta stick sometime, right? Why not this year? Weight loss is definitely a goal - I am sick of being obese and unhealthy, but mostly, I just want to feel better. I need more energy. And as the lovely Gretchen Rubin writes in her book The Happiness Project, you can't be truly happy if you don't have any energy (definitely paraphrasing, here.) I'll update you all each time I add a new habit. It is more productive to add healthy habits than to remove unhealthy ones. Seriously, I read a lot. If just reading about health made me healthy, I would be the healthiest woman alive.
Money Money Money
Another oldie but goodie. I have a kid going to college in 1 1/2 years, and another who plays ALL THE SPORTS. All the sports are expensive. I have always been rather disorganized when it comes to spending, and that is my downfall. I do not go out and buy expensive clothes, but I buy a lot of things, including way too many gifts, and it all adds up. Plus I've been eating out for lunch way too much lately. I feel confident that we will be able to pay down the credit card debt a lot faster if I just organize myself better, mainly because I will be more congnizant of where the money is going. Here are the steps I plan to start with:
1. Start tracking the spending again. I used to use Money to do this, but, well, I don't anymore. There are a few online programs that apparently work well, or I'll just set up a spreadsheet. I plan to have a system in place by the end of January.
2. I will allow myself lunch out once a week, only.
3. Go back to the weekly menu plan. This works very well.
I would like to work on managing my schedule better, as well, but I feel I need to work on the energy issues first. So I will continue to tweak these resolutions as the year progresses. As I've been writing this, I realized there was another highlight of 2013 I did not mention, and this is something that has happened time and time again. I have realized this year how lucky I am in my friends. Whether they are people I live near or long-distance Facebook friends, someone has always stepped in to let me know I wasn't alone, and they had my back. Many times it was many people. I really know some amazing people. And now I am asking these amazing people to back me up once again - help me maintain these resolutions. I promise to return the favor if ever any of you need it.
Hi - this is me again, several hours later. I've been trying to add pictures and make this post look nice, and Blogger is being all stupid. So, rather than risk losing this train of thought, I'm going to publish as is. Kisses, and Happy New Year! Here's to a 2014 that doesn't suck!
Sunday, January 19, 2014
Week 1 Recap
Time to recap week 1 ... ok, so we're already 3 weeks into the new year, but I started implementing my new habits this past week. Because I did, that's why.
Last Sunday I did Gaiam's Cardio Kickbox DVD. I was sitting around, doing nothing, and I just decided to get up and do something. It was a nice workout - good instruction, although I wasn't dying at the end or anything, like I tend to with Tae Bo. The moves were much more controlled.
Monday was 3 miles with Leslie Sansone. She's kind of dorky, but for some reason I like her.
Tuesday was the This is Tae Bo DVD. Tough workout, and less sleep than I would have liked, but fun. I like it when Billy Blanks looks right at the camera and tells me what to do. I like to pretend I'm punching him in the face. I may have more violent tendencies than I realized.
Wednesday I slept late, but when I got home, I did the 30 minute Crunch Dance Party DVD. Did not love this one.
Thursday I did two Sparkpeople Jumpstart videos and one Sparkpeople kickbox cardio video. All together it was about 35 minutes.
Friday and Saturday I was lazy. No workout at all, and I felt it.
Today I did 30 minutes on the treadmill and spent some time stretching.
I drank at least 80 oz water each day, which meant I cut back, a lot, on the pop. I also got myself a foam roller for Christmas, and used it for the first time on Friday night. My back sounds like a string of bottle rockets, and it hurts so good! I have a certificate for a month of free unlimited classes at a fitness center nearby, and I look forward to cashing that in, but I'm having trouble fitting the classes in. Need to figure that out.
It's amazing how quickly I feel the benefits of the extra activity this week. My mood has been so much lighter, and I've had so much more energy. This is also a good chance for me to go through my mass collection of workout DVDs and get rid of some - a lot, actually. I may have way too many.
Last Sunday I did Gaiam's Cardio Kickbox DVD. I was sitting around, doing nothing, and I just decided to get up and do something. It was a nice workout - good instruction, although I wasn't dying at the end or anything, like I tend to with Tae Bo. The moves were much more controlled.
Monday was 3 miles with Leslie Sansone. She's kind of dorky, but for some reason I like her.
Tuesday was the This is Tae Bo DVD. Tough workout, and less sleep than I would have liked, but fun. I like it when Billy Blanks looks right at the camera and tells me what to do. I like to pretend I'm punching him in the face. I may have more violent tendencies than I realized.
Wednesday I slept late, but when I got home, I did the 30 minute Crunch Dance Party DVD. Did not love this one.
Thursday I did two Sparkpeople Jumpstart videos and one Sparkpeople kickbox cardio video. All together it was about 35 minutes.
Friday and Saturday I was lazy. No workout at all, and I felt it.
Today I did 30 minutes on the treadmill and spent some time stretching.
I drank at least 80 oz water each day, which meant I cut back, a lot, on the pop. I also got myself a foam roller for Christmas, and used it for the first time on Friday night. My back sounds like a string of bottle rockets, and it hurts so good! I have a certificate for a month of free unlimited classes at a fitness center nearby, and I look forward to cashing that in, but I'm having trouble fitting the classes in. Need to figure that out.
It's amazing how quickly I feel the benefits of the extra activity this week. My mood has been so much lighter, and I've had so much more energy. This is also a good chance for me to go through my mass collection of workout DVDs and get rid of some - a lot, actually. I may have way too many.
Friday, January 3, 2014
Every good goal needs a few tweaks...
Hello, and happy Friday, my chickens. I have posted to my SparkPeople blog today, and I want to share it here. Especially since Blogger is still being weird. Seriously might be time for a new platform...
Please go read here: http://www.sparkpeople.com/mypage_public_journal.asp?id=HI%5FMISSY
Kisses, and have a great weekend.
Please go read here: http://www.sparkpeople.com/mypage_public_journal.asp?id=HI%5FMISSY
Kisses, and have a great weekend.
Wednesday, December 25, 2013
The only thing better than drunk dialing...
Is drunk blogging!
How did I not post a Tomten pic this year yet?
I hope you all have enjoyed your Christmas thus far. I was kind of a jerk...adopted a tree frog for my frog-loving girl from the National Wildlife Foundation...but also got her a new comforter for her pretty blue room, and she loves it. Boy got lots of Magic stuff. He loves that stuff. Drank a lovely pink moscato, and the effects, they linger.
Now I must make nighty night cookies, a recipe my grandma used to make. And they are delightful. Merry Christmas readers!
Tuesday, December 17, 2013
Good Grief.
I am a total crab-ass right now. And since you all are my sweethearts, and you just love to hear me whine, I'm going to tell you about it.
Nothing catastrophic happened today. Just irritating little issue upon irritating little issue. For instance, my day started with me sitting on the bed with my legs crossed, waiting for my lallygagging husband to get out of the bathroom so I could pee, and get ready for work. Then I stuck my left thumb with the syringe while I was giving Bug her shot. Could not get the Girl out of bed. Almost forgot to take the trash to the curb, so had to go back and do that. Almost late for work. Almost, but not, so that's good. Some late requests at work (And one was misspelled. At least one word in every. sentence. How do you do that?) Got home to fighting kids. The Girl was whiny, The Boy was irritating. The Girl decided at 6:45, when I finally sat down to eat dinner, that she wanted me to study math with her. And "could you just make me up a practice test? just 20 questions?" They're studying probability, so I had to make up stories and diagrams and crap. Litter boxes need to be changed and I'm out of litter. All of this is making me very shouty, so every few minutes someone is asking, "why are you yelling?!" Which then makes me feel very stabby.
Breathing. In through the nose...out through the mouth. That's better.
Oh well. Need to go up and do the dishes. Another Charlie Brown picture is in order today.
How was your day?
Nothing catastrophic happened today. Just irritating little issue upon irritating little issue. For instance, my day started with me sitting on the bed with my legs crossed, waiting for my lallygagging husband to get out of the bathroom so I could pee, and get ready for work. Then I stuck my left thumb with the syringe while I was giving Bug her shot. Could not get the Girl out of bed. Almost forgot to take the trash to the curb, so had to go back and do that. Almost late for work. Almost, but not, so that's good. Some late requests at work (And one was misspelled. At least one word in every. sentence. How do you do that?) Got home to fighting kids. The Girl was whiny, The Boy was irritating. The Girl decided at 6:45, when I finally sat down to eat dinner, that she wanted me to study math with her. And "could you just make me up a practice test? just 20 questions?" They're studying probability, so I had to make up stories and diagrams and crap. Litter boxes need to be changed and I'm out of litter. All of this is making me very shouty, so every few minutes someone is asking, "why are you yelling?!" Which then makes me feel very stabby.
Breathing. In through the nose...out through the mouth. That's better.
Oh well. Need to go up and do the dishes. Another Charlie Brown picture is in order today.
Saturday, December 14, 2013
Some things of which to be proud
I title this post thusly mainly because of one story I really want to tell, and my friend Sarah (holler Sarah!) told me I should write about it here. I haven't pulled completely out of my pea soup fog, but I'm feeling a bit clearer. I had a good week at work, I met some really lovely people (A's cousin is a sweetheart), an excellent therapy session on Monday, and this happened last Saturday...
I would like to preface this story with two points: 1. I realize this would not be a big hairy deal to most people. 2. I am non-confrontational - to a fault. It takes a lot for me to open my mouth and speak up, much less to get in someone's face.
The Girl is playing basketball for a good team. Admittedly, we are rarely on "the good team" so this is kind of a nice change of pace for us. It is a feeder team for an AAU team, so all the girls are pretty into basketball, and really like to play. We were up 18-0, and a guy sitting behind us says "This is bullsh*t." Guy sitting next to me turns around, shoots a dirty look, and turns back. Guy 1 says something along the lines of "yeah, you can look at me." Guy 2 "Yeah, I looked at you. What's the big deal, they're little girls, having fun." Guy 1 "I don't know how much fun you would have, losing 18-0 every week." And they start getting in each other's faces, yelling, and the f-word starts being dropped, a lot. I look behind me at the little boys staring, wide-eyed. And I stand up, insert myself between the two guys, and yell "sit down and shut up! There are little kids here! What is wrong with you!" Heehee, they looked all chastened and apologized. Obviously these were not scary gang members or anything, but this was kind of a big step for meek little me. I felt kind of...empowered...after that. And the mom of the little boys thanked me.
I am also rather proud of the fact that, despite my rather grinchy attitude as of late, I have been all festive and social on not one, but two occasions this week. And I was only paid on one of those occasions (and it was still kind of fun, if exhausting.)
I'm not sure what made this week's therapy session so good, exactly, but I have been feeling better - more in control - since. She gave me a packet from an anxiety workbook to do before our next session, so I even have a concrete assignment to work through. I'll tell you all more about it when I read it.
So there we are...a little more upbeat this week. Snuggles and love to you all...
I would like to preface this story with two points: 1. I realize this would not be a big hairy deal to most people. 2. I am non-confrontational - to a fault. It takes a lot for me to open my mouth and speak up, much less to get in someone's face.
The Girl is playing basketball for a good team. Admittedly, we are rarely on "the good team" so this is kind of a nice change of pace for us. It is a feeder team for an AAU team, so all the girls are pretty into basketball, and really like to play. We were up 18-0, and a guy sitting behind us says "This is bullsh*t." Guy sitting next to me turns around, shoots a dirty look, and turns back. Guy 1 says something along the lines of "yeah, you can look at me." Guy 2 "Yeah, I looked at you. What's the big deal, they're little girls, having fun." Guy 1 "I don't know how much fun you would have, losing 18-0 every week." And they start getting in each other's faces, yelling, and the f-word starts being dropped, a lot. I look behind me at the little boys staring, wide-eyed. And I stand up, insert myself between the two guys, and yell "sit down and shut up! There are little kids here! What is wrong with you!" Heehee, they looked all chastened and apologized. Obviously these were not scary gang members or anything, but this was kind of a big step for meek little me. I felt kind of...empowered...after that. And the mom of the little boys thanked me.
I am also rather proud of the fact that, despite my rather grinchy attitude as of late, I have been all festive and social on not one, but two occasions this week. And I was only paid on one of those occasions (and it was still kind of fun, if exhausting.)
I'm not sure what made this week's therapy session so good, exactly, but I have been feeling better - more in control - since. She gave me a packet from an anxiety workbook to do before our next session, so I even have a concrete assignment to work through. I'll tell you all more about it when I read it.
So there we are...a little more upbeat this week. Snuggles and love to you all...
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| There is something about Snoopy that always puts me in a good mood. I can't be Grinchy around Snoopy. |
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