Weight, Weight Don't Tell Me

I hadn't seen her in probably three years.

So, when she showed up on my doorstep to visit, I hope she didn't see the shock on my face.

She was BIG; lots bigger than when I had seen her three years earlier.

And, I hope it doesn't sound like I am being critical; I'm not.  I've gotten much bigger over the years also. I remember the first time a lady told me I had gained a lot of weight; I was stunned that someone noticed because the pounds just sort of crept up on me.

And, that's what happened to Nikki; the weight just crept up on her as she juggled: home, small family, career, life.

It's a bugger - this weight business.  It's so frustrating to try to eat right...to not snack, to not gain weight.   Plus add that with GENES and it just seems so hopeless most of the time.

But, look at this article which caught my eye this morning.  Apparently, we can't get people to control their own appetites, so we will now regulate it:  you can see the link here.

Is that what it will come down to?  We will force people to get it right.

But on the other hand, I see where cities and states are coming from.  The cost of obesity is frightening.  Our son is a doctor.  One day he told me that he had 8 patients under his care in the hospital.  All 8 of them weighed over 300 pounds; now, that is scary.

We have created a monster for ourselves; super-sized, over-sized, fried, battered, breaded, slathered in sauces and butter; filled to the brim with high fructose corn syrup.

Somewhere we lost track of a taste for real food.


For me, it's a constant battle.

C.O.N.S.T.A.N.T.

I'm losing - not weight;  but the battle - of the BULGE.

Two Types of Grandmothers

Last week T told me that when her oldest sibling got married, her mother said, "I've raised a big family.  I"m done raising kids, so I'm not babysitting for you.  If you need a babysitter, hire one, or trade with someone, but I'm not going to do it."

T understands how her mother feels, and she accepts it.

Yesterday Barbara told me about her granddaughter and her granddaughter's twins.  The father's parents tend the twins who were born 3 months ago.  They take them every day - all day - long days.  And, they are glad to do it.

Two grandmothers, two styles.

But, truthfully, I like to get to spend some quality time with my grandkids over the years.  I don't tend often, and i don't live close enough to do it on a regular basis, so I'm glad when I get the opportunity.

What's More American Than Apple Pie?

MONOPOLY!

Allen, MOI, Justin, Eli, and Miles

We played a short version of this all-American game on Memorial Day.  

However, the short version took about 6 days - 

just kidding.

Eli loves this game.  

Miles whopped us all buying up property, houses, then hotels.

Is this a sign of things to come in his future?

The Non-believer

Everyone claims it's right.

Everyone seems to think it is effective and necessary.

People tout its benefits.

But, I am not convinced.

It doesn't seem to make any difference to me and my life.

I will continue down this path, but I'm definitely a non-believer.

Oh, yeah,  I'm talking about

E.X.E.R.C.I.S.E.

Side note:  I feel the same about food; I just don't feel any difference when I eat healthy as opposed to eating unhealthy...I'm just not convinced it really does make a big difference....

Okay, call me SKEPTICAL!

Uptight Vs Relaxed

When T told me recently that her two sons were coming to visit, it was interesting to hear her reaction.

She said within one hour she got a call from her son to the south and an email from her son to the north that they were coming for the four-day weekend.

"My stomach went into knots immediately," she said.  "And they will be in knots until a day after everyone leaves!  It's just so stressful for me the entire time they are here.  I can't relax and enjoy them for one minute! Between them, they have six children and it is just chaos and mess from the minute they enter the front door till they drive away at the end of the day on Monday.  I don't understand why my OWN family puts me in such a panic!"

She made me think of Jeanine.  I've never met anyone like Jeanine.  Because Jeanine is the polar opposite of T.  

Jeanine is the most relaxed person I have ever met.  

Nothing upsets her, and I do mean, NOTHING.  It doesn't bother her when her kids run amok.  (But, here I have to say her kids do have the same pleasant and calm disposition she does, so they don't really run amok all that much.)  It's not that she is oblivious to her children or surroundings, it's just that she can relax and essentially pick her battles.  Which is to say, she has none.  

She does not explode, get angry, frown, get uptight, express dissastisfaction, displeasure, does not ever show impatience with her children or her husband.  

To me, she's a perfect example of what we all should be; patient.

Sometimes when I find myself getting uptight, I think of Jeanine.  I slow down, take a breath, and try to relax.

Honestly, though, I don't think of her often enough in frustrating situations.

But, I'll keep trying to NOT be like T and be much more like Jeanine...oh, she's got it right.

GRADUATION!

Stockton picks up his actual diploma from Hurricane High School - May 22, 2012 -

The graduates just moments before throwing up their hats in glee - it's over!

Landon joins the Senior Class in singing, WE ARE YOUNG - May 22, 2012

That's one mighty fine looking family and two mighty fine looking graduates....

Never Thought of This Before

Hurricanes, tornadoes, fires, floods...

when I see the devastation on the news, I immediately think of all that is lost:

pictures, keepsakes, clothing, furniture, even beloved pets.

But, today, while making a favorite banana bread recipe, I thought of something I had never thought of before;

the loss of treasured recipes.

You know, the ones not in a commercial cookbook.

The ones from grandmothers, mother, friends, sisters-in-law (that you are no longer speaking to, but whose recipe for chicken dumplings is the best in the world), newspapers, magazines clipped out from years ago.

These are the recipes that are stained with food splatters from years and years of being used again and again.  These are the ones that your family remembers fondly and asks for when they visit.

These are the recipes that are irreplaceable.

It's a minor thing in a catastrophe, but food is comfort and who needs it more than during a disaster?