Thank you so much GROUNDHOG…….

Dear Groundhog,

It is with great displeasure that we so not thank you for your prediction of 6 more weeks of winter. 

Sincerely,

Donna

Today, Monday, February 3, 2014, is another snowy day. It is so hard to believe since yesterday, I was able to finally go outside without a coat, and clean out my car and also clean the windows. Today, the snow keeps on coming and coming and coming. The kids have school, which personally I think is not such a good call. I do understand that no one wants to go to school into July but, we have to keep the safety of teachers, parents and bus drivers who drive the precious cargo to and from school in mind. I have not seen a plow or salter on my block yet and this is not good as school gets out in another hr or two. 

It was nice that the weather held for the Superbowl yesterday in the playing of it in an open air stadium although the hype of snow happening was crazy. Football is a cold weather sport and they can play in all kinds of weather. The fans will come no matter what. It was nice that it held off though. I was rooting for Denver but, I see that my team’s QB (Eli Manning) left his stadium on a bad note and then left the bad luck to his brother Peyton. Good game though Seattle. Hopefully, next year the Giants will be on track and make it to the SB but it would have been nice to see either the Jets/Giants play on their home field in this yearly event. 

I also wish I could shovel like I used to do as I could go out and make some cash money today. My injuries prove that I cannot do it and I so wish they would fix them so I can get moving and get a better job and back to work as I know it. I do miss my 14 hr days and the nice feeling of no worry that came with it. For now, let the snow stop and spring be sprung. 

Stay safe. 

Did you ever wonder why bad things happen to you or say why always me? I say it all the time as it seems that my life is always in a bad storm. If you have ever gone into the ocean and jumped the waves and sometimes especially before or after a bad storm, the wave will sometimes pull you out with the undertow as it rolls back to sea. That is my life for the past year anyway. As I think maybe things will look better, I am on top of the wave, then all of a sudden the undertow comes and swoosh there I go farther out to sea. I call out to the lifeguard and he waves to me telling me that he sees me however, I am not to be rescued. The lifeguard being God and/or other people. Meanwhile, I continue screaming for help and no one listens and all just ignore me and the fact that I need help. 

So today, I actually was again talking to God, telling him how I felt and asking him why, Why am I being dealt such a hand when I am not a bad person, never hurt anyone intentionally, I do not do drugs nor drink to excess, I do not steal or lie, I am honest, trustworthy and a good friend. I always tried to do things the right way. No, I am NOT perfect and I do make mistakes, but nothing major just the kinds like most people will make in their lives. I asked him for an answer and am searching for it even if it is so subtle. I want to know. 

Some may want to know why I am asking this so here is a general synopsis. In the past year, my husband had become unemployed which made me the main bread winner of the family. Being at the end of his employ, he was barely making money and the money he did make was going towards the rent of the booth he was in, the phone he used and the transportation to get there. He used the savings he saved to pay bills off and also some to allow me to go and see my father while he lie in a hospital bed in the ICO burn unit in Ok. He was not expected to live past the weekend so the decision was made for me to go. After many prayers from me and some friends, he made a turnaround and is now home and doing ok. Anyway, by the time my husband first did not go to work and I became the main bread winner, we were now living off of my fairly small disability check and a small PT work check. My son’s work hours were deleted from 39 to 16 and mine went from 28 to 6. So I got paid checks down from 400 to 100/2 weeks, my husband 0 and my son, 240 every 2 weeks. My disability gets eaten by the mortgage, then my other checks have to pay for the gas, electric, water, taxes, insurances, car insurance, upkeep and registration and inspection, non food items and if left over some food. Things quickly got behind as there is no possible way to pay all with the little bit of money. Anything that is not mandatory got canceled such as the newspaper and special movie channels (went basic), and only buy things on sale. 

Then it all started with my car breakinng, the furnace breaking, inspection and registration coming due, hrs being cut, illnesses for me from stress and food benefits taking away my 13.00 a month. There is never any food and going to bed hungry is not a new thing. The things happening one after another never stop. So I investigated to see if God had something to do with all of this and the outcome was YES! It went on to say how he tests us to see how we handle the bad stuff and how he wants us to handle things in the right way and become stronger and better individuals. 

Now, I am more confused than before since if this is totally true than I must be a bad person in a way that I do not know about. I also do not know what to do to handle the situation. I am not am awful person and try to live the Golden Rule and by the Ten Commandments the best I can but of course no one is perfect. So, in ending this post I wonder what it is that I need to do to fix this all together. 

Here is the web site. What is your opinion?

 

http://www.discipleshiptools.org/apps/articles/default.asp?articleid=37254

Snow Day in NY

Today was a snow day in NYC and the 5 boroughs. Everyone was waiting to see what the NEW Mayor was going to do about school since Mayor Bloomberg had a strong belief that schools needed to be open because it was a hardship on parents to find sitters if they were not. I think since I have been associated with NY he has closed school maybe 4 times in the 10 years for snow and for a week when we had destruction from Hurricane Sandy. Well, all were pleased when he closed the schools and many took off from their jobs avoiding the long commutes one public transportation that was not running too well. 

The air was quite crisp at a balmy 18 degrees. The side streets were not plowed. My strret was covered and was icy as well. I remember as a kid it we lived for days like this when we got up, ate breakfast, did chores and all met up at the famouse sledding hill behind a school. We would spend the entire day there only going home to eat lunch and get some dry clothes on. I also had grandparents who lived in Vermont in a town called Shaftsbury. This town was so rural with one house and then the closest house a ways down the block. Thank goodness there were kids in that house and we all played together. The backyard of my grandparents was one bill hill so we had a huge place to sleigh ride. We also went snow mobile riding and then off to the slopes of Mt. Snow and Mt. Bromley for some skiing. 

I remember being around 3 when I first went to Mt. Snow and the ski instructor taught me how to ski. The first time we went down the bunny slope it was the instructor, my mom and me. We got to the top and the instructor sent me down without poles as he followed. It was the most amazing feeling and I loved skiing after that that I did it well into my 20’s. I would go with the woman whose child I babysat for to Pennsylvania to the Poconos.

Needless to say I too got called off from work because I am guessing my student wanted to enjoy his/her snow day. I just went outside as I noticed that the normally busy street that I live on has not had a car pass in the past hr. The air is a very crisp 10 degrees and there are no sounds. It is eerily quiet as if NY went to sleep. You can see the shine on the road as the streetlight shines off the patches of ice. Usually you can hear the planes taking off and landing at the Newark Airport and can see them flying between the trees and not even that is happening. 

I wonder what tomorrow will bring. Have a great weekend all. Stay safe and warm. A good weekend for some good old family time with maybe a nice boardgame and some appitizers for lunch. Then a nice snuggle and a good family movie. Whatever it is Enjoy!

Make a pact wit…

Make a pact with yourself today to not be defined by your past. Sometimes the greatest thing to come out of all your hard work isn’t what you get for it, but what you become for it. Shake things up today! Be You… Be Free… Share.
— Steve Maraboli

Marathon TV Shows

Tonight and tomorrow brings marathons of Twilight Zone, The Odd Couple and The Honeymooners……I love all 3 and I am working on emptying some shows from DVR to fit them on there. What a task. lol

Good-bye with happiness to 2013 and welsome with prayers 2014

Tonight, as I sit alone, as usual while my son is off doing his thing and my husband is upstairs watching his own programs, I ponder on the finishing of 2013 and the coming of a New Year and new beginning with 2014. I must say, I am extremely happy to say farewell to 2013 and with prayers welcome 2014 with open arms. 

This past year has been stock full of no money, shut off notices, borrowing to pay bills and doing totally without because my small amount of money will not and cannot cover it all from Mortgage to car insurance to cable. All the extras have gone and I downsized on cable, downsized on my phone (got my fancy phone for free which is why I have it) but it is still not an IPHONE or anything that fancy. I have had to make the choice whether to pay the bills or get my medicine or even food. 

My family is not the helping kind and I wrote a letter to them stating how much bills were, how much I paid out and now it was their turn to figure it all out and that I did not want anything to be turned off because it all remained on while I had to sacrifice. I have been avoided ever since and nothing was said but I did notice that my husband has a PT job and the bills that he sends out are only bills of his……his tax payment and money owed to repay someone for laying out monies for him to get a special license to drive a cab, which he has yet to do. He always boasts how he is not our son and knows how to take public transportation but all of a sudden now he cannot drive the cab because he needs the car so he does not have to take 2 buses to get there. He has also spent the yr telling me no one complained when he “paid it all” but he did not opay it all. I always paid my own credit cards, cell phones, the cable, food and non food items and car insurance. Now I have to literally pay it all. 

So, for 2013 I bid farewell and I now pray to God and am looking for what Novenas I can say to help me have a better 2014. I have made resolutions in this order: I will keep a Journal starting tomorrow and include everything major that I do and do not do so that I can figure out where I am going wrong and why I let people walk all over me the way that I let them do. 2. I will smile, instead of frown because they say it helps the psyche. 3. I will keep my home, despite the fact I get no help at all, in perfect company/mom visiting order at all times despite how much pain I am in. 4. I will make a list of all things that need to be done, fixed and what I want changed in the house and also have some pics to go with it and get estimates for it all and put some money no matter how small every payday away towards it. 5. Being that this past year I had no money for any Birthday gifts, Christmas gifts or have any celebrations for holidays I will also make a list of all people and holidays and do the same as with the house fund. 6. I will not stress over things I cannot control but only over things I can. 7. I will go to the doctors as I should be doing and get all medications as I should and also get the ball rolling on the operations needed and the lawsuit finished. 8. I will collect all monies owed to me and also not make any more loans out to people who would not help me when I needed it. I say this because one person needed money and I loaned a nice amt and was told oh in April, then something came up and it was in August then I heard nothing then oh in December and now when I get my taxes. Although this person has come up with several vacations, nice clothes and other things and I gave money when they needed it and when I needed help I was pushed aside. 9. I will make every attept to pay all my bills in full on time. I may have to find some other work but what needs to be will have to be. Once my surgeries are done and I feel better I can go back to doing what I do best work from sun up to sun down and not lose a beat. 10. I WILL NOT LET ANYONE WALK ALL OVER ME NO MATTER WHO THEY ARE.  11. I will be a better daughter, mom, wife and NANA. 12. I will lose the weight that I put on after I lost over 235 lbs and gained like 80 back because lack of exercise due to PAIN. I will have to work through the pain and just do it. 13. I will think of me too and not only of everyone else all of the time as it seems it is never reciprocated. 14. I will work on and finish my childrens book that I have started.

These are some of the resolutions, I know there are a lot and I know that it will be hard to do and complete them all. However, the way that I see it if I do what is totally right in life then it should not be too hard. Not that I have been doing anything illegal because I have not, it is just that I can get very stubborn and when things just do not go my way I will not think twice about going on strike. I have done it before and it worked. A few years ago before I was sick, I used to work for the Bd of Education and my one dream when I was in college getting my Degree, was to work in a NYC Public School as a teacher because these kids needed someone like me. Someone who cared about education, yet someone who understood that sometimes you just do not get it and I have a knack at being able to get children t understand things through a variety of ways, mainly because when I was young I did not always get it and had to work so hard to do well. I show them school can be fun, how they can become well rounded and how they also can respect themselves, each other, others and education in general and then become anything that they want to be in the future. The star in the farthest galaxy is their oyster and they and only they can make it happen. Anyway, I had to get up at 6 to be at school at 7:30 or 8 at the latest. I would work until 3:30 and then go right from there to a second job, which is the one I still hold and have had for the past 10 yrs. I would work there until 8:30 and that was Monday thru Friday and then on Saturday and Sunday would work there from 9-4. When I would come home there were dishes all over, my son’s school stuff all over, soda cans all over, dirty socks and laundry, basically it looked like a bomb went off or a tornado came through and only through our house. There peacefully sleeping was my husband in bed as he at the time got up at 4 for work that he had to be at for 9 so why he got up so early beyond me…..but he did. My son, would be waiting for help with homework so I did that first than began the clean-up of the day and then made lunches for the next day and did some wash and prepared my lessons for the next day and finally went to bed about 1. Nothing was ever said about my working 2 jobs but OMG when I mentioned he might take 2 PT jobs now he went off the wall about why and how he had worked all his life and yada yada. 

I also have spoken through email to someone I normally would never have spoken to out of fear mostly. However, this person has changed his life and has become a minister and has turned his life around by turning his life over to God and letting him handle the big things. I still am not quite sure how to do that because I am afraid to think you just say ok God……I am turning my life over to you. Guide me in the right direction and then leave it at that. Hmmmmmmm so this I also will be working on as well. 

It will take a lot of prayers and I know the one resolution about being a better mom, wife, daughter and NANA is one of the hardest as something I was told by someone who is not the best with reliability, was pretty much confirmed by my mom from her own mouth. I also think that once she said what she did she was sorry she said it but I wonder if she was sorry she said it because she knew it hurt me or was she truly sorry. I was adopted and at one point this unreliable person took to calling everyone in my phone to tell them what an evil person I was because I was beginning to stand up for myself and not let her walk all over me and continue to suck me dry of my money. Anyway, one day she says your mother told me she was sorry she every adopted you and your brother and wished she only had your one brother. I was like you are nuts. I did not dwell on it but it was always in the back of my mind as I was not an awful child, I did not do drugs nor drink before I was of age, break curfew, cut school or get arrested or pregnant. So, what was it I did that was so bad? About a month ago I was speaking to her on the phone and we were speaking of my own daughter and how she did not wish to keep in touch with certain members of my biological family as the only time she heard from them was to ask her for money or when he needed a place to stay because he overstayed his welcome where he was. My mom was like that was so mean…..since if I thought that about you or your brother I would never have spoken to either of you years ago. I was floored. It all was coming together now. A few years ago I got a special gift for Christmas and she even told me it was not her idea or from her but from her partner since we were always close since I was a youn child of 2 and when I was adopted. There was a time when they helped us with some money and I was not even really asking for help with money but help with making a budget because I had no clue how to budget when the bills were 10X more than the money coming in. She then was like we cant help you anymore you have to figure it out on your own but because of my son not pitching in as he should. She always showed favoritism to my daughter over my son and now he sees it too. But, somehow I want and need to overcome this because she is not terribly old but she is also not well either. I am never kept informed about her health and just little things like that makeme feel like it is true. I must get over this, make amends and be the good daughter I should be. Even though she has a habit of remembering all the not so good things I may have done, she also does not remember the very good things I have done, like going back to school and against all odds and all people’s predictions of me quitting after MAX 6 weeks, I gave 6 years and graduated with Honors with 2 BA Degrees. I was a mom of two young school aged kids, had no car, no money and not a lot of help. I often took my kids to work and school with me so as to not miss and it was all in an effort to make a better life for me and my children who are and always will be my life and my heartbeat. Sometimes I feel as if I robbed them of something by always working and/or being at school but I knew what the end result could be. I still never missed a class trip, a school play, a Back to School Night, a Parent Teacher Conference, ball games, or whatever they were involved in. Now, they understand more, especially my daughter who is now a mother of 2 beautiful girls, 4 and 2. She thanked me for all I did for her and also being strict and being General Patton as they used to call me. She is now enrolled in college and made the Dean’s List her 1st semester but she is lacking the balance she needs to make it all work. She is trying to recreate what I did but she has different circumstances and now her marriage is suffering because she is being selfish in a way. Now, I need to be the better mom and step up and talk to her about what needs to really be done and not be afraid. We had many years of butting heads and now are friends and I so do not want to lose that. I also have to be stricter with my son, who was always a but spoiled, mainly because he was sickly as a child. As far as being a better NANA, well that job I have pretty well down although, I have to stop thinking I have to spoil them all the time. They do not always need toys but more hugs, kisses and to be told Nana loves you……we have a saying the girls and I, I love you to the moon and back to Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars, Jupiter, Saturn Uranus and Pluto….through the many galaxies and right back to the moon where I LOVE YOU SO MUCH! Then they say I love you more and I say nope I love you more……and then I give them huge huggies when the oldest one holds out her hand and says “Nana……Buddies for life” and I put my hand in hers and then the other one puts her hand on top of mine. These girls are really the beat of my heart. I miss them so much and cherish every second I am with them. They love to come and visit and we love having them. 

So I pray that for 2014 may it bring a lot of good things but also make things easier and be chock full of Love and Happiness! I wish my son the best and may God show him the right way to go and the right things to do in life. I wish my daughter and her husband prayers, love and hugs that God too will come into their hearts and they will work together and stop being the me and you instead of the US as they used to be and should be. Let them always cherish their kids and learn from them because I have learned kids will teach you things you need to know if you open your eyes, ears and heart and just listen to them. I love them all so much and want the best for them all as they are all the heartbeat of my life and when something happens my heart skips a beat in a not so good way. 

So here is 2014…….I wish each and every one of you from the bottom of my heart to you and your families…..a year with Health Love, Happiness, Family Togetherness and may it be prosperous for you in more ways than just money. The BEST! God Bless. 

In Rememberance….and Gun Control

It has already been a year since the Newtown School massacre. When I first heard the story in the breaking news on TV it made me sick to my stomach to see so many dead at the hands of a shooter who most likely had a personal problem that they needed to take out on innocent people. As it came out, the gunman, who took the life of his mom and then the life of 24 others at the school she worled at aiming primarily at the first grade since that was where mom did her volunteer work and he felt she cared more about them then she did him. Of course this was not true, however, the question is still in my mind as to why? 

I am so in favor of gun control and banning the ownership of firearms to anyone other than law enforcement and avid hunters who must purchase, register and store his/her weapon at a central location. There will always be people who have stolen guns, guns that they bought along with ammo from a person or before on the internet. It was so sad that someone could just go on the pc and buy a gun and the ammo to go with it without so much as an ID and money. There has been so many shootings in the past since Columbine HS and one would think that the lawmakers would do something about it. Now they have Newtown, there was a man who commited suicide in the mall in NJ that we used to shop at regularly and other places. Everyone has a different story but somehow they seem to be similar in a way. Lonliness. What about in the movie theatre with Holmes? 

It is getting so scary to think that there has been shootings in so many public places you go so now you cannot feel 100% safe. There was Columbine HS, Newtown Elementary, a movie theatre, a train during rush hr (Lpng Island Railroad), malls and even in an airport in Ca. and nevermind the terrorists aboard the planes on 911. I would love to see some gun control come into play. 

In mt city, last weekend they had a double the money buyback for firearms. So the bigger the firearm turned in the more money was recieved. I believe they got over 250 weapons BUT that same weekend they had 6 shootings where several deaths occured and all shooters and victims being between the ages of 19-29. What is the fascination with guns and shooting people? How is this solving anything since you either end up dead or in prison. 

I hope that soon there can be a Gun Control Law come into action but I think that it will take one of the lawmakers family members being involved so sad to say. Hopefully by the time my granddaughters are older will it happen. After all they finally have laws for drinking and driving, driving drunk with a minor 15 and under in the car , etc. 

Day 21 (My Reaction to the Zimmerman Decision)

Today is not really a grateful for me but a grateful for someone else. I signed on to my Aol account this evening and saw the first thing George Zimmerman’s face staring at me with the words court and decision. I was thinking could it be that for once he was not acquitted for something evil he has done? I read the article and was amazed that the man got off AGAIN. He is the only one I know of that has gotten away with shooting and killing an unarmed teenager, domestic violence at least 3 times now and a slew of moving violations. Even after murdering someone with a gun because he was acquitted he gets to walk around carrying that gun aiming it at people. I am sure he has it with him at all times too. He only got off with a technicality too with that case and even the jurors were saying that they feel and know he is guilty but it is the evidence and things that were and were not allowed in court that caused them to only be able to come to the decision they did. 

Makes me sick to think that he can almost do whatever it is that he wants and to anyone that he wants to and nothing will happen to him. Even the woman, who at one time was planning the escape with him after the shooting of Trayvon, said he is a time bomb waiting to go off and also a monster. Hmm so if she sees this why can’t the court? I am thinking he is a narcisstic person, one who needs to have all under his control and will do everything to destroy other people’s lives but knows exactly where to draw the line. I am in no way a mean and vindictive person. I see no purpose in “getting back at someone” however, I will love to see the day when he meets his match, man or woman. Since a narcissist won’t let you control them but they will control you, there will be a day he comes face to face with one and not even realize it. When he does I hope the court finds in favor of that other person. 

I felt bad for the Martin family and even when people said that Travon beat him up, my reaction was…..if you were in his shoes, walking on a cooler, wet day and had on a hoodie to keep warm, listening to your music and walking forward trying to get some exercise or even walking home from somewhere and someone came up from behind you unexpectedly what would you do? I know I would not be putting out my hand saying hi, good to know you, I will be throwing the best punch or kick that I could get out. I do not think that Trayvon saw him coming nor could hear him since if anyone reading this is young or has young kids they turn up the sound on their music. I do n ot think that it was intentional but he fought back and got the best of him mainly because Zimmerman kn ew he should not have been pursuing him as PD told him they would handle it and he kept on following him.

Either way today, it is Zimmerman who is grateful to be let out of jail to haunt yet another victim. Hmm who and when will it be next? 

You opinions??????

I Saw A Touching Movie That Started Me Thinking That…..

Today while flipping through my 300+ channels for something to watch, I came across this movie “Letters To God” and it was a very touching movie that actually made me shed a tear. The last movies that made me do that were ET and a movie called Without A Trace, with Kate Nelligan and Judd Hirsh. Anyway, this movie was about a boy who had lost his dad and now was battling cancer. Along the way he was writing letters to God and mailing them, actually giving them to the mailman. Just like in the movie Miracle on 34th Street, the post office did not know what to do with them and the postman kept them. At the end of the movie he read them and the secret was given away. The boy was praying for everyone. He was praying for the happiness of his mom, about his best friend Sam, his brother and the happiness of his mom. Ultimately, the boy died and the story was a true one in fact, but it got me thinking.

There are so many people out there who are suffering with things, both small and large. It could be a parent needing a prayer for a sick child, a child needing a prayer for a passing test grade, a lonely person praying for a friend, a homeless person praying for a home, a jobless person praying for a job, or like me a person who is praying that their mortgage company does not take their home just because they feel like it.

There are countless things that people pray for and yes there are many Gods to which they pray to and that is not important. What is important is that we do pray to our own God for forgiveness, help, love, peace and help for others. I observe so many people where I live and the stupidity that they do at times. Everyone is in a hurry to cut someone off instead of letting them in on a highway or intersection because they have to be first to that upcomming red light. They cut in lines and almost knock old people over so that they can get out of a store faster instead of saying Miss or Sir that line is open why don’t you go first, because not only are they elders, but because maybe they can’t stand as long. I watched a young person cheat a cashier out of $40.00 the other day and laugh about it when they got out of the store, because they were $40.00 ahead, but knowing the company that cashier lost their job because of it and all it would have taken was a bit of honesty. I watch young people almost crash cars to get a front spot in parking lots instead of letting an older person or a mom with toddlers have it so it would be easier for them. I have had a guy argue with me to put his cans in first into a machine, indicating he only had a few, but to find out he had 6 huge garbage bags full and then he threatened me with bodily harm if I didn’t let him do it. I have also seen people buy cat food so that they could afford medication and yes I paid the copay and also gave the woman a ride home when I heard her say she did not have a cat. She was elderly…..but yes I too have been there and have let my crucial meds sit in a pharmacy because I did not have the money to get them.

So here is my first letter to God.

Dear God,

I know you are up there somewhere and I know they say you only give what we can handle, but sometimes I find that hard to believe. I, myself am sick of being in pain, especially the unnecessary pain inflicted onto me by a careless driver and other pain there by my condition that will only get worse. I can’t handle the pain in my heart as to why a bank would want to put us out of our home when we ar paying them each month and they get away with lying and we pay the ultimate price. I know God we are not the only ones in this predicament so please I pray for others just like us. It makes me sad to see so many people losing their homes, their jobs and along with it their sense of pride. Why are you letting all of this happen? Why are you letting people be hungry, especially children? Why are you allowing children to be abused and animals too. They are innocent. God I am praying to you to please help all the people who need your help! Maybe they don’t know how to get you into their heart or they do not believe you are there or whatever reason. God, I know you are there and I know you can help but I just do not know why you are allowing so much suffering.

I thank you for the good things you give us, the sun, the rain, the flowerrs and the trees, the animals and the beautiful earth. Please though send us some help one at a time one good thing today so that everyone can have the faith in you and pass it on. If I had money of substance I would help the less fortunate. If I had a garden I would share the food it grows. If I had the know how I would share it with someone else….so please endow on me some of these things so I can share with others.

Me

Please take a moment and relect to your higher power and see how you can start the circle. You see if we all do it we can help each other. There are many good people out there and many people that are good that we dont know because we do not take the time to get to know them. Next time you are in the store, let that older person go first, hold the door for the next person, let a mom with kids have that closer spot if you are fortunate enough to have two good legs, give the extra buck to a person who is short some food money, offer to run an errand for a neighbor or cut their grass, bring some dinner to an elderly neighbor who may not have a home cooked meal everyday. The ways you can help are endless. Pray to your God for forgiveness, guidance, love, peace, and help. Pray for the needs of others don’t be afraid of what others think becausee no one has to know. It feels good inside.

A Real Person Loses Weight….My Personal Diary Complete With Tips and Recipes

Hi all I hope this finds you all well and enjoying the last of the summer. As the summer draws to an end and we are all about to embark back into the daily routines of school, work, and whatever other routines we have, I am about to embark on another journey for weight loss and hopefully quitting smoking as well. I hope you will follow me on my journey and if you need to lose some weight feel free to follow my tips, share some of your own and come along for the ride.

Let me start from the beginning. All my life I was always a little chubby, not always morbedly obese but chubby. I always heard those words “you are so beautiful if you only lost weight….” like that was helping any. I had my classmates who seemed to be able to eat anything they wanted and not gain a pound while I would look at a chip and gained a pound (not literally). We always had healthy food at home, pretty much the food pyramid. When I was young, very young, my dad would state what he wanted for his meals and that would be what we would eat. But we always had the nutricious meals, limited unhealthy foods and junk and very rarely ate out at fast food restaurants. If we ate out we ate at fancy restaurants, mainly to learn manners and how to act, but also to learn to appreciate good food. Yes, daddy-o liked the diner once in awhile for his eggs and he and I would sneak off once in awhile for a dad/daughter breakfast or lunch. My teen years were filled with healthy meals less refined because my parents were since divorced but it was not uncommon for a nice roast chicken dinner, or steak and salad. I do however, remember thinking I can’t wit until I have my own place and can eat what I want like hamburger helper meals and burger king when I felt like it. Big mistake.

Anyway, I moved on my own and all went haywire. I gained weight like crazy. All that independence led to all that fat and yes at the back of my mind was mom’s good cooking and sound advice. Yes, I liked apples, bananas and a barrage of fruit and veggies….my favorite meat being chicken and turkey oh and cheeseburgers. My best friend and I would go to the bagel store every Sunday and get bagels with taylor ham and cheese, my boyfriend and I ate out a lot and needless to say when I moved away from him and into another place I had to take all my meals out.

It was not until about four years ago that I realized the roller coaster had to stop. I had ballooned to almost 500 pounds. I could not breathe when I walked, I was afraid to sit on chairs for fear they would break and it was nerve wracking that when I went on a trip to see my brother and had to go on a plane, I had a fear they were going to make me buy two seats (tg I did not have to). I finally asked a friend for help. I was sick of sitting in the corner at work because no one could get by and I was sick of the looks, the stares and the comments made by people. So with my mind made up and a good support system (my friend) I took my diet seriously and got to work. I did within 1 year lose 235 pounds.

Now, I found out I have osteoarthritis in my knees, have hit menopause and the only fix for my legs is total knee replacements. One problem. I am too young so they won’t do it because I am not a bad enough case YET! If you ever saw that commercial that says: I can’t make any money because I don’t have any skills, I don’t have any skills because I didn’t go to school, I didn’t go to school because I don’t have any money…..that is me. Not in that scenerio but I can’t lose weight because I’m in menopause and you gain weight, then I can’t exercise like I used to because of my knees and they hurt, but if I don’t then I won’t lose weight. So now my journey begins again. My goal is to drop the last 100 pounds (actually I would like to go 130).

NOW PUT YOUR MIND IN A MINDSET TO DO IT AND LET’S GO….

My plan of action: 3 meals, 2 snacks and exercise. First time around I cut out for first two weeks all bread and starches, fast food, sugars (except natural sugars in food), red meat, alcohol and butter and fats (except for a small amount of olive oil). Sounds harder then it was. I walked about 2 miles a day, except if it rained, and when the weight started to really drop off I started aerobics.

Here is a sample menu for a beginning of what I did.

Breakfast: Fruit Smoothie (any fruit you like, although apples did not work well in this…I like a banana, a peach….a small container of NONFAT vanilla yogurt or like fruit what you put in, a dash of skim milk (hint: skim plus is good does not taste like skim nor look like skim and has a long shelf life so if you do not use a lot of milk this is a good choice), a shot of honey, a tablespoon of wheat germ and some ice put in blender and blend. Makes about a medium size Dunkin Donut Iced Coffee Cup (I save them for this reason)

Coffee or tea

SNACK AM : small apple

LUNCH: Grilled Chicked Cesar Salad…..Perdue thin cut breasts marinated in FAT FREE ITALIAN DRESSING and grill either on the grill outside or inside in a nonstick pan using PAM so it does not stick. (they cook fast so watch carefully) Get the pre-packaged LIGHT Cesar Salad and prepare slice chicken over it and enjoy.

Coffee, Herbal Iced Tea, Water and a piece of fruit….NOT BANANA

PM SNACK

CELERY STICKS AND CARROT STICKS with light ranch dip
or Handful of Almonds and raisins

DINNER: Shrimp Kabobs (shrimp, mushrooms, onion, peppers) marinate in lime juice and cilantro and a few red pepper flakes. Grill unil done….serve with salad with a light vinigarette

SQUEEZE A LEMON, SOME STRAWBERRIES AND ICE IN BLENDER FOR AN ICY DRINK

If you need a nightime snack: an apple, a small 100 calorie bag popcorn or a fat free yougurt.

Walk at least 1 mile or as far as you can go and turn around and come back. Lift a 1-2 lb weight and build up to 5 lbs. Ride a bike, use a treadmill……lets get moving……take your honey out dancing……! Enjoy the recipes let me know if you liked them. I am starting tomorrow back on my diet.

Good luck to you if you are dieting, thanks if you are just a supporter and God Bless, stay safe. Til tomorrow……