Apologies

Hey guys, I can only say sorry for not blogging or reading lately. I am so focussed on losing weight (not always successfully), trying to fit in exercise, bringing all at work uptodate and more, getting my house in order before I go into hospital that there are just not enough hours in the day.

Anne I hope everything is going well with Peter.
Zanna, everytime I hear something about RioTinto I worry about you.
Suzy, you caring makes me smile.
Jen, I hope your son is behaving himself and everything is fine on your side of the country.
Molly, I miss your photographs.
Linda, I hope you have found your dream job.

The good news is I will soon have unlimited time to catch up and read. Expect lots of comments. I will be two weeks in plaster and then back into my big skiboot. I am so looking forward to being about to lie around for a month. Mind you nothing will get done at home and not sure how we will survive food wise but I dont care at this moment.

Must be off, boss has just rung in with urgent email to go now.

Patience

Sorry I have been a bit slack lately but I have been catching up and reading lots and lots of blogs. Interesting blogs, old friends blogs, about food, about weight loss, about life. I dont always comment but I am there. Probably could be classed as lurking but I try not to.

I have been busy at work trying to get everything done before I go into hospital. Only four weeks to go now and am looking forward to the rest. Trying to keep up with friends, exercise and doing the bare minimum in housework, keeping up to date with the ironing and washing and the biggest loser. My Foxtel IQ is chockablock full of programs I have recorded but not had time to watch.

Weight loss has slowed down but still happening and that is my fault. Too many social engagements where I cant or dont say no. Enjoying the Weight Watchers meetings and am making an effort to stay after I weigh-in as I like the leader and I find the people (wont say women because there are a few men there too which surprised me) inspiring.

I have to understand that it is going to take time to get this small amount of weight off. I have to have patience. I also have to get into the mindset that I am worth it. I am not depriving myself by not eating junk food (chippies hmmmmm) or drinking wine (have switched to low alcohol). I am making a choice or at least trying to. My body doesnt need it - my mind does.

Latest hurdle is waking up in the middle of the night hungry. I drink water, have a half a cup of warm skim milk and sometimes eat a biscuit or a slice of bread or some potato chips. (I didnt bring that last temptation into the house for obvious reasons.) I know I dont need it but I do it anyway. And then..... I get annoyed with myself. Move on I say, but it will happen again tomorrow night and the next and the next. Maybe my hormone meds need tweeking.

Enough whining more wining - damn no, that's what got me in this little mess in the first place and I havent even mentioned my love of cheese.

Wandering off into the sunset......

Biggest Loser Synopsis

I love this series.
There are so many nice people on this show this time.
Amanda is my favourite. She is the person I call to mind when I am at the gym and dont think I can finish my set. Bloody Hell! This woman can do it, so the bloody hell I can I.

People I like (who cares?)
Teresa
Bob
Meagan and Julie
The younger of the brothers, Andrew I think (the older may win them the series)
Amanda and Shaun (the hold hands all the time and I am so impressed by her determination)

I have just watched nearly a whole week of BL. Girls night by myself. Mark watching rugby with workmates. Me drank wine tonight. Did ironing.

This year they appear so more positive then they have in previous years.

Anyway in Sydney it is pouring with rain. I have once again put it out to the universe to send something to Victoria to help them. I am at the point when I cant read anymore about the fires. The mega money that has been donated and the govt assistance better get to them fast and the insurance companies had better step up and the banks better back off.

Anyway I have lost another 900 g this week. I know it doesnt work for everyone but weight watchers seems to work for me. I know how to do it but I need the meetings. My goal is to reduce my weight so when I am on crutches I dont have too much weight to carry around.

In three weeks I have managed 2.8kg (not boasting) it has been extremely hard.

Bought a Wii this week. I know I know I got a WiiFit for Christmas but as you all probably know I am a luddite. Anyway, the kids wil turn up and sort it out for me or else I will step up and work it out myself.

Anyway, BL has finally finished for this week. Am catching up on Desperate Housewives now.

Should really go and sort out my house. Grocery shopping everywhere, ironing finished (hallelujah), washing half done and drying (because it is raining) quarter done.

Guys I will catch up with you all this weekend I promise (rainy Sunday forecast). I am either so slack or bloody busy trying to stay fit, run a house (more badly than I have ever done before) and work full time.

But life is wonderful at the moment (scary to say that) and I hope you all are in a similar position.

PS: Jess's partner has found a job and started this week. So proud in these difficult times, she loves him so much. This may be the start of something big. Keep fingers crossed.

The Universe

I know this will sound sort of loopy but about a week ago, on the spur of the moment, I addressed the Universe on behalf of my daughter and her partner. He desperately needed to find a job, had applied for lots and lots of jobs with few responses and my baby was starting to stress with carrying the burden of being the sole wage earner.

Well.....
the interview started, and today he was offered a job. I am so happy for them although I think they are considering moving closer to the city (and further from me).

Lost another 500g this week even though I went out to a work dinner on Tuesday night and ate and drank everything that was put in front of me. I was a bit worried because I thought I had blown it but two days of back on track helped. I was hoping for just maintaining but a loss was a bonus.

I know how to do this (I am sure we all do) so why do I keep ambushing myself? It's like: I lost 500g this week I can have a glass of wine with dinner tonight. 'bout time I realised the implications.

Anyway the other good news is that I fitted back into my skinny black jeans (could get them over my thighs). Of course I had to wear a loose top as there was still a bit of muffintop going on but hey, I was so happy.

Ankle operation has been put forward to 2nd April. Got the paperwork yesterday.

Mark has said that I can order the lounge I want. The problem is me. It is soooo expensive. He said get what I want this time. The builder is coming tomorrow to talk about the renovations. All happening in our household.

Looks like it is going to be a scorcher this weekend. Temps in the 30s and 40s. I know I will regret this statement in August but I am so over summer and we still have February to go. Looking forward to autumn - my favourite season.

Hope everyone has had a great week and will have a great weekend too. My wish for you all.

The week that was plus more

Well, you could have knocked me over with a feather. Mark actually suggested that we go looking at lounges on Australia Day. I suppose there is a first for everything. So off we went to King Furniture and even though they are horrendously priced I knew he would love the construction (engineers are like that). We had a great time with a great salesperson who wasnt too pushy and left with leather samples and catalogues. Much measuring later (Mark measuring not me) and I sent off an email last night with a request for a new price because the suite we had liked was a bit too big so just awaiting that and step one in the remodelling of the family room has been completed. It wont be delivered until after Easter but that will fit in with the plans for knocking walls out and polishing floors (I hope).

Back at work this week after 5 weeks holiday and chaos has reigned. My office looks like a cyclone has blown through it and I dont work well in mess but at the moment both work and home offices are disgraceful. Didnt help that I had to take a day off for a first aid course so actually only worked three days and got pulled off normal work today to work on another project. I have a headache!

Good news - no injection this week. Side effects becoming too great so GP refused to give it to me. So nice not to be the one pulling the plug on this stuff this time. Off today to have more blood tests to see what damaged has been done if any. But for the first Friday in months feel human.

Lost 1.4kgs this week.

Jess and I saw Marley and Me last week and cried ourselves silly. A lovely movie. Mark and I finally got to see Gran Torino on Sunday after months of waiting for it to be released in Australia. I will have to buy it for him when it comes out on DVD he really enjoyed it but then he is a rabid Clint Eastwood fan.

Had lunch with Catherine aka Caramel KitKat when we went to IKEA. This gorgeous woman is moving to Melbourne so I can only say it is Sydney's loss. Jess came with me and I dont know what she was expecting (yes I do, someone my age) but she thought Catherine was a stunner. Mind you so did I - she is looking so well. Thanks Catherine for taking the time to catch up and come out in that terrible heat.

I am back to being slack again with reading blogs just because I am a bit time poor at the moment and as mentioned before dont work well in chaos so I am going to instigate lists again until I can get back on top of the stuff at home and keep in contact with everyone at the same time.

My gym program is fairly basic at the moment but I am trying to go everyday. Doing cycling to get some cardio into my routine every day (sometimes easy and long or sometimes short and hard) and weights twice a week. Pilates and yoga once a week and on Sunday I am going to try to go swimming unless we have to go out. I dont know what else I can do. Hopefully I will be able to walk again after the op.

Now to put everything I have written into practice must go and do housework. Have a great weekend.

A Lunching Lady

Sorry if I appear to have dropped off the edge of the earth but I have been a lunching lady for January. I have caught up with stacks of people, heard their news, imparted mine and just generally chilled.

All coming to an end next Tuesday when I finally return to work. In a funny way I am looking forward to it I think.

Anyway my news:
Finally went to seek ankle doctor yesterday (cant remember what they are actually called). Lovely man, not so lovely news.

As of 9th April I am going into hospital for an ankle replacement. Bummer that it is at Easter but that was how the dates worked out. I'll be in plaster for two weeks and then into my big ski boot thingey (great that I get to use it again). Have asked to go into rehabilitation locally when I get into hospital and that is dependant on me getting some scooter chair to support my leg. Dont ask me why but I will have to arrange with friends who live at Bondi to get it for me because that is the only place I can hire it from.

Bad news is that apparently it will take me 6 to 12 months to recover so our trip to Europe will have to be deferred once again until next year. Also bad news is that I will have to give myself injections daily for a while to counteract DVT which is scarey but I am sure I will be able to do it. Not much choice actually.

Weight has gone up and down but stayed basically the same which is not good because it was too much but I will just keep trying and hopefully I can fit back into my jeans by winter.

Re previous topic of grumpy old men - well I told my darling this morning that he was "a bad tempered prick" and that is a direct quote. I became a grumpy old woman and surprising he turned into a nice person again. I have had enough of grumpiness and walking on eggshells so that I dont upset the equilibrium. I AM WOMAN HEAR ME ROAR! and if someone is going to act like a spoiled child they will be treated like a spoiled child.

Im off to read everyone else news now, have a good long weekend Australians...

Happy New Year

Well I seemed to have survived yet another New Years Eve.

7 hours of solid partying (when will I remember how old and infirmed I am) and a day spent sleeping and recovering.

On New Years Eve finally got around to buying Shauna's book - The Amazing
Adventures of Dietgirl. This amazing woman has realised something that even though I kind of know it too, still hasnt sunk into my head properly.

Just eat well, exercise to the best of your ability (I especially like the vampire training method) and dont give yourself a trip to guiltsville when you do, allow yourself some leeway. It is not the end of the world.

I really really recommend reading this book - beg, borrow or steal - no dont do any of these because she wont get any royalities. It is uplifting and inspiring.

So what am I going to do different this year - well for a start, no resolutions. They only make me feel bad when I dont keep them.

I am going to try and jump off this diet mousewheel I have been on for nearly 40 years. Really it has been feast or famine, literally. I just have to not eat mindlessly for no reason (how's that for bad grammar)! It is my choice.

I am going to try and learn how to meditate - damn this little grasshopper mind of mine. Never lets up! Apparently, according to the Mayo clinic, I can use the mind to control pain. Hey we all know that really, look at childbirth and that wonderful breathing technique. Still use it to this day when something is hurting.

And that's it. May 2009 be a year that all the little mousie treadmills fall over and we all learn to just enjoy life as it happens. Mind you this is a big call coming from this super control freak but I will try.......

Busy bee

Have been confined to my study today finalising our tax. Boring. I dont think I am too late. Only time will tell. Will drop it off to accountant tomorrow on my next expedition into the local shopping centre. Already have a long list of things to do within my 3 hours parking limit.

Over the last week have put on 700g. Damn Damn Damn. Will I never learn - I can be such a moron sometimes.

I am taking Lucy the Wonderdog for a walk nearly every day although she now walks faster than me, the little show off. And I have to remember to take painkillers before I go and hope they work. Must remember to take mobile phone with me in future in case I need rescuing. Lucy the Wonderdog not up to going for help like RinTinTin or Lassie used to.

Am also trying to swim everyday - gradually increasing laps everytime in readiness for Sunday swimming when private big pool reopens when school starts. Doing aqua exercises too (supplied by Anne) but havent actually got around to using flotation belt yet. Another box to open.

Also havent had time to open WiiFit yet.

Visited Officeworks yesterday - bliss - a stationery store. Bought a new chair for study and guess what, they come in flat packs. It took me forever to put the bloody thing together but I was determined to do it ON MY OWN. This is not rocket science (much muttering and occasional swearing) but it took me forever and I really needed another set of hands a one stage but I managed on the lounge with cushions stacked under it. Put arms on the wrong way first but ended up with it all together and no pieces left over.

I also bought pretty lime green star paper clips, bright orange pack of pocket files, a new file holder, a fake plant (I know, I know - but I cant kill this one and it looked so stylish in the shop), a pack of reduced Christmas cards, print cartridges and a red stamp pad for next Christmas. All in all a satisfying trip. Also on the agenda soon is my yearly trip to IKEA.

Have gone through the Target sale catalogue and highlighted all the DVDs I want to buy that have been reduced. Plus new quilt cover for spare room.

Beloved daughter away with friends until after new year but we had the future son-in-law for dinner last night. He drove up the coast today to surprise her. She wasnt expecting him until late on new years eve. They are going to a fancy dress on new years eve - she is a giant strawberry and he is spartacus (its an S party).

I am catching up with all the unread posts on googlereader. Only 60 odd left. Sigh.

Anyway my lovelies I had better get this study sorted out a bit and I have promised to do some ironing today. The husband had to actually iron his own shirt this morning and while he did a good job it took him forever. The alarm kept going off on the iron and I thought something was wrong but I think it was just taking him an age to arrange the shirt properly on the ironing board so that he could iron it and the iron kept thinking that it had been forgotten. LOL.

Im waffling again - catch up with you all soon and have a wonderful New Years Eve.

Survived (but dont look at the scales)!

Well I have survived Christmas, just!

I still havent got the house quite back to normal. We have stacks of food left over. Next year I will keep a tighter rein on the ordering - this year not well enough to worry but it is worrying me now.

Still a lot of socializing to go. Dinner tonight and tomorrow night. Diet is the "see food diet" again but I think the pudding has gone, there is no more pavlova, quite a lot of mini brandy puds left but the children will make short work of them.

I had better get to work remaking the beds, putting away all the platters and things I dragged out to use.

The success of Christmas was Lucy the Wonderdog. Small child arrived last night with his parents for dinner and he was absolutely terrified of dogs. But beautiful calm Lucy and her beautiful human sister Jess won this small child over. The boy's grandmother couldnt believe her eyes and it made me so proud of my beautiful girls.

Looking out my study window at the late afternoon sunshine and watching the breeze play in the leaves of the trees I am feeling extremely lucky. Pain or no pain life is good and I am grateful. Grateful for my family and friends.

Peace to you all and so looking forward to 2009. A big year ahead. Hope it doesnt fly like this one. I want to savour it.

I hope that Santa brings you all.......

whatever you want!

Good news:

I know which joint in my ankle needs the operation now after the last injections. Back to the surgeon towards the end of January. Hopefully a successful operation will be on the cards in March. Just got to put up with the pain until then.

Looks like we are ready to start talking and planning the renovations. Will let you know how I go about winning the series of arguments that I am sure are going to arise. Love him dearly but he has no idea (probably thinks the same about me). I am going for the wars - will let the minor battles slide. I have a very long list of things that need changing, updating, fixing, etc etc.

I am now on 5 and a half weeks holiday.

I have bought myself a WiiFit for Christmas just in case everyone else forgets me. Dont laugh it has happened before. Not from the beloved Jess - she is like me in this regard and really makes an effort. Anyway, Margaret there may be a few emails coming your way.

Anyway, I must go out and deadhead those beautiful gardenias so that they look their best for Christmas day. Breakfast at Jess's, quiet lunch here and then our seafood spectacular for dinner with lots of rellies and of course my beautiful family.

Girls, I wish you all, happiness and health for Christmas and the New Year. You are a large part of my life now so take care of yourselves.

Lots of love
Julie
xxxxx

My Lips Are Sealed (I wish)

Who were the two slightly mad people outside in the rain in their jammies at 4:30 am today spotlighting possums?

My Lips are sealed.

Struggle

Today has been a struggle. Tired and hot.
Came home from work and lay down and went to sleep.
Woke up feeling no better and ate 10-15 jatz and a slice of cake.

What in the hell am I doing? Talked to myself sternly and got off my backside and went and got the washing in. Feel better. Dont know whether it was the stern talking too or the food. Made a cup of coffee.

On another subject altogether - we have a baby brush turkey wandering around at work. Lots of goannas and water dragons too. They love the warm weather.

One of the guys I work with saw two things today on his way to work - one made him laugh and the other made him sad.

The first one is driving along Bobbin Head Road at North Turramurra saw an adult brush turkey cross the road. Even though it is near the national park is was still a funny sight in surburbia. Five years ago they were fairly rare but the fox baiting program must be working.

The second one was terribly sad. Furthr along there was a women standing with a leash in her hand and at the other end her obviously dead old golden retriever. She looked like she was in shock and was surrounded by people comforting her and trying to help. His heart must have just given up.

Made me like him even more for the softness of his heart. He is a nice man.

Going out to dinner tonight for girlfriends birthday. There will be cake, food and drinks. Have to think of some kind of strategy to get through tonight without drawing attention to the fact that I cant eat too much after todays binge. Might just tell them I am feeling a bit unwell. Am feeling this way so often these days that no one ever questions it.

I can smell gardenias

Its that time of year again, I can smell gardenias. Ive picked some of the first ones and they are in my bedroom and everytime I walk in the perfume hits me. The garden smells wonderful too. Makes me feel good.

The jacarandas are out too (nearly finished) and they look wonderful against the stormy grey skies. Such a beautiful colour.

Everything good.
BP down for the first time in ages so meds are working.
Still having to have methotrexate injection (am tempted to say metho injection but people might get the wrong idea)
Dr has sent letter to gym so I am back in there tomorrow.

Off to walk Lucy and tire her out before the next storm hits so she doesnt keep us awake tonight guarding us against those bloody possums. I wonder if daughter would lend me her tasar or her gun. (Just joking - She doesnt have a tasar yet.)

Three weeks before school holidays start - 5 glorious weeks off - yippee!

Gran Torino

Gran Torino

Click on above for trailer I think. This has taken me forever.

Have seen the trailer for this movie and if looks good especially if you are a Clint Eastwood fan. It reminds me so much of the Dirty Harry films - just a lot older. I think the guys would love it. It is being released in USA in December so hopefully it wont be too much later that it comes to Australia.



Post edit: Thought for a while this morning they were not going to let me do pilates but in the end they did.

Venting

Guess what, because of my new blood pressure problem the gym wont let me work out until I give them a letter from my GP. I know they are just covering their backsides but hells bells, if I hadnt mentioned it in passing to someone then they would never have known and I could have done my session today. I'm a bit pissed off!



Ive been stewing about it since I got back home and I had no one to tell. The husband is off being a lightening rod somewhere (I mean playing golf), the daughter is on duty and not answering her phone (how inconsiderate) and sisters seem to be incommunicado. So....... I thought about you all. I am sure that this will make me feel better.



Oh and the house looks like a bombs gone off in it - so much for a day at a time. Lucy the wonderdog is worrying the hell out of me with her new squeaky toy. Wants to play but wont give it over.



Regarding messy house - a while ago there was that email going around something along the lines of - went to wash my car, found my keys in the study, noticed that bills had to be paid, turned computer on

I JUST LOST THIS POST OR MOST OF IT AND I AM NOT DOING IT AGAIN. NOW I AM REALLY PISSED OFF.

Doom and Gloom - You have been warned

Home is slowly getting sorted out. Ive started cleaning a room a day when I get home from work so that I am not spending one day of the weekend cleaning the house. Seems to be working out okay but for how long?



Weight still terrible but I am starting something new probably on Thursday. Talk about putting off the inevitable. If successful will share - if not you will never hear me mention this latest attempt again.

Blood pressure is now officially through the roof and am on tablets. When I went to doctors last week for methotrexate injection (a 15 minute visit) was there for 50 minutes as they took my blood pressure 7 times in various positions. Ending up ringing the husband and telling him I was being held hostage at the doctors just in case he was worried about me - should have known better.

Made appointments yesterday for radiologist to do anesthetics under xray and fluoroscope. Am taking the first two Fridays in December off to do these injections and maybe some Christmas shopping.

Am tired, irritable and not terribly good company at the moment.

Molly, am making another attempt at Enbrel next week when I see the rheumotologist and am definitely stopping methotrexate as I dont think it is doing me any good and when the person doing the injection wears gloves because the stuff is pure poison then I think enoughs enough

Have a great weekend and remember I would be lost without you.
In the words of Jeff Fenech - "I luvs you all"

SICK SICK SICK

I am sick sick sick sick sick sick sick sick sick sick of it!
(Imagine foot stamping and clenched fists and a little red face)

What I am about to tell you is true -

At forty I was overweight but I lost it all in 6 weeks without too much angst.

BUT I noticed the subtle changes in my body. Boobs sagged. Not major not big.

At fifty I lost my waist. I have always had big hips (good childbearing hips - yeah right - how wrong could they have been) but I had a very very small waist. Gone disappeared.
Weight battle still going on but not too onerous although getting harder.

Let me tell you, at fifty five this is not fun. Not only has waist disappeared but have developed almost overnight a large roll around my middle.

This is really giving me the shits.

And by the way Zanna, gave up on scattergories. Do you know how hard it is to find words starting with "j". Ended up was cheating and putting in words like jirrafe and jidnapped etc. I am sure that smarter people than me could have done it but not this jittle jlack juck.

Hope everyone else is having a good week. For me, its the pits.

Im off to work out what in the hell I am going to wear to this wedding on Saturday and take the recalcitrant dog for a walk. I am going to tire her out somehow. She keeps us awake all night chasing brushtails in hobnail boots who have started tap dancing on our roof in the wee small hours of the night. And she is not too fond of the milkman either.

Disclaimer: I am crochety, fat and old and entitled to a whingey post every now and again.

Postscript: This has made me feel better but I bet you could have told me that.

You Can Tell.....

You can tell that I am back at work again due to the lack of posts and comments.

This last term of the year is always busy as some person (read moron) decided that the financial year for schools should end on 30 November. Now it is hectic for me and I dont have students preparing for exams, end of year festivities etc etc. I just have teachers who have forgotten that they were supposed to do fieldwork activities ringing up begging a day but what can I do - we are just about booked out or should I say booked. Every year it is the same thing, book early I tell them but no. Oh well maybe one day the planets will align and everything will slot into place.

Weight is stable at too much. Wedding is two weeks away so it doesnt look like I will reach my goal started all those months ago.

Weather is back to broiling again. But I dont mind after all it is spring/summer.

So I will apologise for my slackness yet again.

Folk art and yoga and pilates and Princess Lucy take up so much time not to mention work.

Off I go once again as the tribe is descending on the house tonight for their weekly baked dinner. They never miss it if they are in town and our week wouldnt be the same without them especially now that they have all flown the coop.

Waffling

Was I waffling on the other day about it being Spring.

Then it serves me right!

It's bloody freezing today.

It's snowing up in the Blue Mountains.

It is pouring rain and blowing a gale.

The people across the road have lit their fire again.

I have to go out in it again to yoga!

I will sleep well tonight.

They have promised back to hot by the weekend although I could do with a wet Sunday. Still havent done my tax stuff for the accountant.

Should get a phone call any day now.

Waffling again - I'm off.

Black and Blue

I have noticed this week that I have a few large bruises on the left side of my body - legs and arms.

This morning when I was straightening my hair I saw more enormous bruises on my arm and innocently asked The Husband if he had taken to beating me when I was asleep.

The look I got was priceless - didnt I remember falling over in the hallway last Sunday night (see previous post for that day), then getting angry with him for no reason and he just threw his hands up in the air and let me go my merry (or not merry) way.

Oh I was bad - I dont remember at all.

Mind you I only have his word for this event happening and even though he is so trustworthy I think my explanation sounds better and doesnt reflect badly on me so that is the one I am going with.

Have been dress shopping this morning for a wedding that is coming up - bought him 4 new business shirts and an attachment for the vacuum but no dress.

I hate dress shopping!