Marathon writing

“I am thankful, of course, for the prize and thankful to God for each story, each idea, each word, each day.” ~ Isaac Bashevis Singer  

I’ve been running a marathon today.   Not an actual marathon.  Please, let’s get serious.   I’ve been engaged in a writing marathon.   I’ve been writing countless articles, one after another, at work.   When I got home, I was helping Caleb with his writing project.  Some edits here and there and that his project was finally done.  

To top off the day, I’m writing not one but two blog posts, because yesterday I forgot to post so today you get two posts instead of just one.

If I have an ounce of energy left, I might finish writing the Christmas letter.   We’ll see.

Is it possible to burn calories writing?  I think my hands and fingers are looking a little thinner.  Ha!

Only have time for laughter

“I am thankful for laughter, except when milk comes out of my nose.” ~ Woody Allen

Yesterday, I got so completely busy with work and with the boys that I didn’t find time to post a quote, write a blog post or exercise for that matter (what’s new)!   Instead of writing about my diet and exercise woes, I was living life.   I was laughing with my family.  Luckily I wasn’t drinking milk or I too would be having milk come out of my nose.

Lovin' Christmas

Never worry about the size of your Christmas tree.  In the eyes of children, they are all 30 feet tall.  ~Larry Wilde, The Merry Book of Christmas

I love having the Christmas trees up in the house. It is a lot of work but I always enjoy every single tree in the house.  Trees in the living room, the dining room, the bedrooms and the rec room in the basement.  Lovin' Christmas.  

Searching for the words

"I'm very busy this time of year, so I’ll keep my Holiday Newsletter brief. Our family is so much happier and more successful than yours, so you should be very jealous. Seasons Greetings, The Johnsons.” ~ Randy Glasbergen

I'm actually struggling with the Christmas letter.  I'm having some serious writer's block.  

I wrote something earlier this morning but I'm not sure I'm in love with it.  

Hoping for some inspiration. I'm looking for just the right words, the right sentences, etc.  

Six Christmas trees later

Christmas gift suggestions:  To your enemy, forgiveness.  To an opponent, tolerance.  To a friend, your heart.  To a customer, service.  To all, charity.  To every child, a good example.  To yourself, respect.  ~Oren Arnold

It was a stay-at-home day. 

It was cold. It was rainy. It was simply frightful outside.  Luckily, we had plenty to do inside.  

We started at nine o'clock this morning putting up Christmas decor.  As usual we worked until we were done.  By three o'clock, all six of our trees were up. 

Although my feet, legs, shoulders and back are throbbing, I am now on the sofa watching a Christmas movie with only the glow of the Christmas tree as a light.  It is Christmas once again!

Black Friday

"He who has not Christmas in his heart will never find it under a tree." ~ Roy L. Smith

I am exhausted.   I began this day in a line waiting to make a purchase at Target.  Once the purchase was made, it was time to get some sleep. After four hours of sleep, I was up again to do some more shopping. Five hours later, I was back home. 

Although I was tired, I kept going. No time to rest.  The weather was too perfect.  There were additional items that needed to be put up outside for the Christmas season.  

Now as the day is winding to a halt, so do I.   My mind and my body are done for the day.  Black Friday is officially over. 

Thankful for the sunny day

"Thanksgiving, man.  Not a good day to be my pants." ~Kevin James

I'm thankful for the beautiful weather today. It was so nice we went outside to take family photos.  And yes it wasn't a good day for my pants. 

Burning pies

"We're having something a little different this year for Thanksgiving. Instead of a turkey, we're having a swan. You get more stuffing." ~ George Carlin

Good thing we aren't having "swan" for Thanksgiving because we are having a hard enough time getting the pies baked. Two of the pies have already burned and we are starting over. 

I did a few situps and a few pushups and that was about it. I'm not sure that has burned off enough calories for the big meal tomorrow. 

Relaxing evening at home

"Thanksgiving is an emotional holiday. People travel thousands of miles to be with people they only see once a year. And then discover once a year is way too often." ~ Johnny Carson

I'm thankful for ... a relaxing evening at home under the blanket watching television. 

McDonalds and Tongue Biting

“Biting your tongue and swallowing your pride is a meal of humility. Though it may not be tasty to you,it is indeed healthy.” ~ T.Ruth Israel

It was an evening of high school basketball.  Of course that left no time for exercise. And it was dinner at McDonalds.  Diet and exercise was not a part of the plan for the evening.

All the tongue biting and pride swallowing I have done today I needed some fast food from McDonalds.

First Thanksgiving Dinner

"What we're really talking about is a wonderful day set aside on the fourth Thursday of November when no one diets. I mean, why else would they call it Thanksgiving? ~ Erma Bombeck

Thanksgiving Dinner at Mom and Dad's house is always the Sunday before Thanksgiving. This year was no exception.  The only difference was that Dad had other places to be.  Hope all is well in his little corner of heaven. 

Platters as plates

"Never order food in excess of your body weight. " ~ Erma Bombeck

I don't think I ordered food in excess of my body weight, but I believe the platter of Mexican food I ate came really close. 

Nothing to say

No post yesterday. 

I got busy and I fell asleep early.  End of story. 

Circling the buffet table

"Under no circumstances should you exercise between now and New Year's. You can do that in January when you have nothing else to do. This is the time for long naps, which you'll need after circling the buffet table while carrying a 10-pound plate of food." ~ Craig Wilson

The buffet table circling season is about to begin.  While your out shopping for Christmas gifts, I recommend everyone purchase bigger pants. 

I'll be trying to avoid taking more than one lap around the table. And hopefully I will be buying smaller pants. 

More mashed potatoes

"As for mashed potatoes, always ask if they're made with skim milk or whole milk. If it's skim, pass. Why bother? It's like buying a sports car with an automatic transmission." ~ Craig Wilson


Can you tell it's almost Thanksgiving?  I'm already thinking about mashed potatoes. 
 
As we venture into the season of expanding waste lines, I'm hoping I can either maintain my weight.  I would actually prefer to lose a few pounds.   We'll see what happens.
 
Perhaps more exericse and fewer mashed potatoes.

Secret of falling behind

"The secret of getting ahead is getting started. " ~ Mark Twain

I wonder what the secret is to falling behind. I'm guessing it has something to do with the chocolate brownie, with chocolate icing, carmel and pecans that I had yesterday and again today. It was delicious and I am certain it is the secret to why I am not losing weight. 

Traveling and eating right

Wherever you go, no matter what the weather, always bring your own sunshine. ~Anthony J. D'Angelo, The College Blue Book


I’m traveling today. It’s tough eating right while you are traveling. I was faced with all my favorites – chocolate chip cookies and brownies. Then it was chips, cheese dip and enchilada for supper. I hope this hotel has a gym so I can work out in the morning.

Thinking about pie

"Seven percent of Americans have passed off a store bought pie for homemade." ~ Pascale Le Draoulec, Parade Magazine 

I haven't had any pie this weekend but I have certainly been thinking about it and thanks to Parade Magazine I have also been reading about it. 

What's Thanksgiving without pie?  Next week, the pumpkin pie along with several other Thanksgiving fixings will find it's way on to my plate and into my belly. It's probably not a good time to start a diet. 

Time for a nap?!

"Sadly, in today’s times, pies are an endangered dessert." ~ Paula Deen

After an afternoon of climbing around on the roof of the house, I am being lazy watching an episode of Paula Deen's cooking show on the Food Network. 

I am getting a little hungry watching the show. Good thing I'm also getting a little sleepy as well.  I think I will take a nap instead of getting up to eat!  

In a daze

How important it is for us to recognize and celebrate our heroes and she-roes! ~ Maya Angelo

I went to the gym in a trance this morning. Do you ever do that?  

I was there for twenty minutes. I lifted some weights but there was no enthusiasm to it. It wasn't intense. I was just going through the motions. 

I'm hoping for a better workout tomorrow. 

Let's be naughty

"Let's be naughty and save Santa the trip." ~ Gary Allan

I have been naughty today. I have had many cookies. Many, many cookies. 

Hard work required

"I'm a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work the more I have of it."  ~Thomas Jefferson

I must not be working out hard enough because I have no luck when it comes to moving that needle on the scale.  I was hoping the number on the scale would be lower however it was the same as it has been for months. Disappointed. 

Wearing out the shoes

"Between saying and doing many a pair of shoes is worn out."  ~Italian Proverb

I'm doing everything I can to wear out my new tennis shoes.

I was up early again this morning. I lifted some weights and worked out my abdominal muscles.  

This morning I wanted to stay in bed.  It was raining outside so it wasn't that difficult to persuade myself to stay in bed a few more minutes. 

I didn't stay there long. I did finally get up, slip on the clothes and shoes and stomp through the puddles so I could get in a workout. 

Tonight I did a few more minutes of abdominal exercises.  Now my abs are seriously sore. I doubt I will be able to complete any more of those crazy ass ab exercises tomorrow. 

Tomorrow I may have to slip on my pair of shoes and put some wear on them by walking or running. 

Sticking with this like a postage stamp

Consider the postage stamp:  its usefulness consists in the ability to stick to one thing till it gets there.  ~Josh Billings

I'm going to stick with this dieting and exercising thing till I get wherever it is I am going with all of this dieting and exercising. 

For a week, I have been having fun exercising. I was also eating less until the last couple of days. However, I won't let that deter me. Sticking with this like a postage stamp. 

Ringing out the sweat

"What lies behind you and what lies in front of you, pales in comparison to what lies inside of you. " ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson 

I found out today that what is inside of me must be lots and lots of sweat.  I was on the treadclimber for thirty minutes and I was sweating profusely.  It was a great workout but I could ring sweat out of my shirt. 

Patience

Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

With a little patience my two youngest boys were able to quietly walk into the woods, wait patiently for an hour or so and end up killing two bucks this morning.  I'm sure my oldest was patient too but he didn't have as much luck.

I went to the gym to work out.  I patiently worked out for close to an hour.  I got on the scale today for the first time in about 5 days.  I was pleased the number was lower.  I was hoping for a lower number but it was lower, so I'll be patient.

We are all adopting the pace of nature and trying to be patient!  Trying, really hard!

Dripping with sweat

"Healthy is not a number. It is a lifestyle." ~ Bob Harper

Today, I found twenty minutes to exercise. I ran, yes ran, for all twenty minutes. It was sweet! I also spent 12 minutes on the treadclimber.  I also did a quick 15 minute circuit.  I was dripping with sweat.  

Get the agony over

"Run like hell and get the agony over with." ~ Clarence DeMar

I ran for another twenty minutes today. Insane, I know. 

It was a bit agonizing. When I had five, maybe seven minutes left to run I had to dig deep mentally to keep going. 

I felt great when it was over. 

Run, Scott, Run.

"Healthy is not a number. It is a lifestyle." ~ Bob Harper

Today, I found twenty minutes to exercise. I ran, yes ran, for all twenty minutes. It was sweet!

Good reasons to replace the carpet

"The worn out carpeting proves I snack too much ... Tomorrow I get prices on hardwood floors." ~ Marty Bucella 

The carpet in our house does need replacing although putting in hardwood to hide the path to the kitchen really is extreme, although it is a good excuse for getting new carpet. 

I really need to stop the snacking or get rid of the snacks. I'm thinking it would be cheaper than replacing the carpet.