Peanus?

Saw my dad today. He was up walking around - amazing how far he's come!!
I ask him the usual, "how are you feeling"? "What medications are you taking". Etc... I then asked how the incision is where they entered through his groin (they go through the main artery there to get to the heart!).
Asking this question should have had a return of "it's healing well"... right?? Not from my dad:
"It's completely black. The whole area. My scrotum, my peanus, my hip all the way over to the other side. I mean really black. It's unreal".
Oh GAWD! Please don't show me. Please don't show me. Please don't show me.
I try not to look horrified. First, the idea that it is bruised that much. Second, he said scrotum. Third, he said "peanus" pronounced pee-anus. Now, was this a slip of pronunciation or was he referring to his whole nether regions, coming up with a new term?
I was done talking about it and moved on to "oh wow! Look how tiny the nitro pills are"!

Happy New Year!

I think I'll sleep tonight

My dad is home!
He's feeling good.
I'm feeling good.

I hate when my world gets all topsy turvy

My 64 year old dad had a heart attack last night. It disturbs me beyond comprehension. He is doing well today; even went for a stroll around the nurses station.
He was 100% blocked in one vessel and is 70% blocked in the other. Two stints later and less than 24 hours, he's eating vanilla pudding, sitting in a chair and joking about how he projectile vomited three times that afternoon... right at the nurse. (In his defense he warned them it was a-comin') Way to go, dad.
Medicine is a wonder.
The reality is that my parents are aging. The reality is that I don't think that 64 is that old. It kept me awake all night and made me anxious all day. What if... what if... what if...
One thing, I wish those hospital gowns closed in the back. Forever I will have the vision of my dad's nekkid bum.

Refelctions on 2009

I feel like I've grown a lot this past year.
I went through five months of unemployment that led me to a job that pays me considerably less but I love it considerably more.
I went on two trips. One to Daytona Beach, FL and the other to San Antonio, TX. Both were so much fun.
I made a huge step toward accepting my body (it's helped that I lost 25 lbs.)
I let go of all the weights I put on my own shoulders. All the pressures and expectations I put on myself for so many years I've begun to let go of. I'm continuing to learn that it's okay to occasionally live in the moment because I've spent most of my life living in the past and planning too hard for the future. I'm allowing myself to be a little more carefree and for the first time I'm completely okay with who I am and where I am.
I know I still have hurdles ahead of me. I know I will occasionally falter.
But right now, dare I say? I'm happy.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

I finally finished my shopping. I found plenty for myself as well. Most have been wrapped and tucked away so Sam can't eat the tape.
There will be snow for Christmas.
My cards got in the mail this afternoon.
I'm exhausted from waiting until the last minute.
I'm looking forward to spending the time with my family.

Buncha losers

Well, that was short lived.

There was so much "confusion" and whining and "too many changes" that we are
postponing the Biggest Loser contest at work.

Ultimately it came down to a bunch of lazies and those with zero will power.

"A lot of us are too busy to workout right now with the holidays".
"There are so many treats coming into the office from vendors".
"It will be easier to start after the first of the year".

I will continue what I'm doing. I lost almost two lbs. last week. Of course it's the same two that I've been losing and gaining for the past several months...

Moving at a stand still

It's been really difficult to get going with all the Christmas stuff I have to do. I haven't put up my tree and at this point I won't because I'll just be taking it right back down again in three weeks.
I'm not making my own Christmas cards this year. I guess that's about right; I've been averaging a homemade card about every other year. Still, I have to get out there and buy some so they get in the mail before Christmas!
I haven't done any shopping. I have a list and ideas but no motivation to do it. However, I'm going to knock out three or four gifts tonight on a trip out. That leaves eight or ten gifts to still buy.
Then there's the whole wrapping thing. I'm fine once I get started. It's the digging everything out and putting it all away... and the folding and the taping and the ribbon tying and the tag writing...
I better get out there before I put on the yoga pants and curl up with my knitting needles with a cup of hot cocoa.

Game on

Monday a group of us at work started the "Biggest Loser" competition. We all chip in $20 and will go until the end of January. From there we decide if we do another round.

Day two and there is already much confusion. I mean, really, how would you expect to participate in this challenge? Weigh in once a week, calculate the percentage of loss, at the end of January the greatest percentage would win.

Emails were flying this afternoon:
"I thought we weren't going to weigh in again until the end". Where's the challenge in that?? How will you keep motivated??
"Who's going to figure out the percentage"? Gah!
"We have to figure out the rules". It isn't that complicated. You lose weight.
"I don't have much money". This I understand but...

I would love to have everyone put in their $20 and then, each week the person who comes in losing the least ("under the yellow line") would put in another $10. There is potential to win nearly $200 for the biggest loser.

Meanwhile one of the guys was eating candy and cashews in the break room, one of the girls goes out drinking regularly and another is one who isn't greatly motivated. This leaves competition really between myself and another girl.

Game on!