I lost my pooch !

Noooo... not the 'doggie' kind of pooch...

My BELLY pooch!

You know, the little tummy most of us get as we get older?

Well, it's GONE! (well, mostly.) And I have Robynn to thank!

I had just woken up this morning and I did a big stretch as usual...

and then for some reason, I ran my hands down my tummy... and something seemed decidedly weird.

Something felt weird.

So I felt some more.

I felt my belly and then the sides of my hips and it just felt strange... ya know?

And that's when it dawned on me.

I felt a much flatter tummy, far less 'love handles', and I even felt boney bits!

I have HIP BONES again, boys and girls!

And it's all thanks to Robynn and her 30 Day Throw Down!

Now, it does seem kind of strange to admit that I was lying in bed, feeling myself all over and thinking of Robynn and getting all excited... but that's exactly what I was doin'.

And I got kind of teary.

See, I knew all along, that I needed to make some changes in what I was eating, but it can be incredibly hard.

As most of you know.

So when Robynn suggested the 30 Day Throw Down, I have to be honest here ... I wasn't actually excited about it, but it sounded like something that I could easily do.

And I knew that I would be doing it with some pretty great people.

It was kind of like the whole "a burden shared, is a burden halved" kind of thing - ya know what I mean?

So I started.

But I started with the idea in my head that this was not going to be a diet.

It wasn't going to be about counting calories, or deprivation, or about kicking myself in the arse for making the occasional less-than-perfect food choices.

This wasn't going to be about weight-loss at all... but rather it would be a change in eating habits.

Choosing healthier alternatives, making better choices in general, and just fueling my body - the only one I've got - with better, healthier, and less 'tampered with' fuel.

If I lost weight - well, great.

But if I didn't... well at least I knew that I would be making much better food choices and doing myself and my body a favor.

Simple stuff.

Like choosing water crackers over Ritz crackers.

Cheese and veggies over a handful of cookies, when I was hungry at 10am.

Starting most dinners out with a big-ass salad - and then eating basically whatever else I had prepared.
lots more fresh fruits and veggies.

And yes... even eating fast food occasionally - but always starting that take-out meal out with a salad, so that I ate far, far less of the junk stuff.

And if I was gonna have a burger, at least it would be a simple cheesebuger rather than a Big Mac.

And if I felt like dessert after any meal... well dad-gumit, if I wanted it, I was going to have it.

But I didn't really want much.

Really.

Even when I was craving a slice of apple pie ala mode, I had it...I just didn't have the room for a whole piece.

So I ate a bite or two or three - and I was satisfied.

Okay, so maybe this isn't exactly what Robynn envisioned... but it was what I envisioned.

And it worked!

It's continuing to work and it probably will continue to work for the rest of my life.

It's about making better choices, not about counting calories.

Because to be honest with you, if Robynn had given us a calorie limit, or said that anything was banned, if she had said that this was a diet... well, I wouldn't have lasted a week.

I know that.

But instead, she encouraged us to think about what we were eating.

Yeah, we were supposed to throw down the junk - and I have, to a point.

A BIG point.

A very big point.

But we were also supposed to think about making healthier, more sustainable, more environmentally friendly food choices - and I'm proud to say, with the encouragement I/we've gotten; the menus or choices y'all have posted, and the just knowing that I was in some pretty special company... this whole "ordeal" hasn't turned out to be an ordeal at all.

Far from it.

I've been empowered - thanks to Robynn, and y'all !

Now I'm off to feel myself again.

And maybe check myself out in the mirror!

Because I've got HIP BONES again !!!!

* happy sigh*

And Robynn?

This is for you...

Odds and Bods

Bits and pieces... odds and bods... this and that... that and the other thing...

I'm sorry about the "theme" going lately, but to tell you the truth, it's what my life has been like for the last couple of weeks.
No constancy, no consistency, no routine and never the same thing two days in a row - and to tell you the truth, it's gotten a little wearing.

Well okay, some of it has been good. In fact, quite a lot of it has been good... but it just seems that my days have just been a jumble of "happenings" lately, rather than everything flowing smoothly and in an orderly fashion.

Not that much in my life every goes in an orderly or smooth fashion...
But I'm just sayin'.

I wish it did.

Things are starting to come together with the room addition/s and renovating, and I've got a draftsman coming back tomorrow to give me some more of his ideas.
Which will be thrown in the hat with the builders good ideas... and then tossed around until I can make up my mind.

So if you've got any ideas, pass 'em along and I can throw them in the hat as well. Which will give me more to think about.
Because the more I think, the less I actually do. And to tell you the truth, I'm kind of dragging my feet here.

See, I want to add on to the back of the house.
I want a combination living room/ kitchen added on, and the new kitchen will actually be big enough to work in, with proper appliances and stuff, and the additional living room will be for the Old Guy and I - and us alone.

No kids mess.
No kids detritus.
No toys or smears or upchuck stains on the carpet.

And the area that is currently the kitchen, will be turned into another bedroom for my part-time/permanent care boy.

Because having his bed in the current kids playroom, is a pain in the proverbial.
I've got to get him up in the mornings, strip his bed, wash down and disinfect everything, remake the bed, get his stuff put away, so I can bring out the day care kids things - because it's actually their room... and it's just too much hassle.
I'm worn out before the day even begins.

So the care facility that I work for, is giving me partial funding for a big portion of the costs... which will take a big chunk out of the eventual and final costs, leaving me to just come up with the difference.

Which is no problem.

The problem lies in the fact that I've had to source the draftsman to get the plans drawn up, I've had to find a reliable builder, and I have to figure out the time to do it all, since I can't have any building work done while still caring for the daycare children.
So that means a month or so without any income whatsoever, and that's a scary thought. Especially since it's all going to involve such a financial commitment in the first place.

We've figured that buying the kitchen appliances at Costco will save about 50% over the costs of the local appliance dealer, and that's a good thing.

So that extra $3,500 I would have spent, can go a long ways towards adding an en suite (master bath), but then I have the headache of figuring where to exactly put the extra bathroom on to.

Do I add it to the new bedroom, and then use that room as my bedroom - which would be rather small for me - or do I add it to my existing bedroom and just leave the old kitchen as the boys room?
'Cause to tell you the truth, if anyone deserves a bathroom of their own, it's me.
Or... do I add it separately, just off the new laundry area?

See? I don't know what in the hell I'm doing anymore!

I do know that it's a beautiful day out there today, so I'm heading off to drag out the buckets and paintbrushes, and I'm going to let the kids paint the shed with water.
Maybe they can gain enough skills that I won't need to hire a painter, eh?

It would save me sourcing yet another workman anyway!

Bits and Pieces... from Drizzleville

Sorry about the length between posts, but hey, I've been as frazzled as a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs lately.
Oh, nothing major..... I've just been dealing with kids on school holidays, the normal day to day stuff around here, like bills and never-ending laundry, plus I'm still dealing with the whole infected eye/ear thing.

Which makes me look like a cross between Popeye, and a staggering drunk. I'm doing the whole antibiotic thing, trying to avoid the doctors recommendation of prednisone, but it's not working too well and I'll probably have to cave in and go the steroids route, even if it's only for a week or two.
Have I ever told you that I hate that stuff???

~~~~~~~

Anyway, I'm still doing the 30Day Throw Down, and I'm feeling fantastic with it all... I really am! It's becoming second nature to me, and even though I've had a few semi-slip-ups, I actually feel fine about it all.

Because I'm not a "beating up on myself "type of person in the first place, and in the second place, this is not a DIEt, it's the beginning of a new way of life... ya know?
If I eat right, and I eat healthily for 99% of the time, a dinner of fish and chips with a big ol' side-salad, is going to do me little harm.
Right?

~~~~~~~

School holidays are almost done here (we're in week two - the final week. YAY!!!) and although I don't mind them at all, with all the rain and drizzle that we've been having lately, it's made in next to impossible to get outside and run these kids energy off.

So although most days start out fine, by early afternoon, tempers are starting to flare, boredom sets in, fights erupt over the stupidest things, and even the older kids are cranky enough to want to curl up with a book and ignore the little ones.

Or they beg to play on Farm Town or Fish World, which does keep the older ones occupied, but my scores are sure as heck suffering.

Lexxie wants to go for the pretty or flash... and then she cracks it when she can't harvest anything for 3 days, or when her crops fail, because she planted raspberries because they were pretty to look at ...and then she forgot to harvest them in time. Then Mira throws a tizzy because her scores are screwed up because of it.

You did.

No I didn't.

You did too.

No I didn't too, you butt-face.

Look, I just want my games back, and for them to keep their dirty rotten little lunch hooks off my stuff... how childish is that?

We had planned on going to the Ballarat Wildlife Park today, but with the constant drizzle and threats of thunderstorms, there's no way I'm taking any of them out in this weather. And it's cold enough to freeze 'em half to death anyway, even if it wasn't raining.

Which is a pity, because I think I need the outing even more than the kids do.

Mainly to just see other grown-ups out there having a life, and to have the chance for an intelligent conversation.

Because, that sure as tootin' hasn't been happening around here for the last week.

Intelligent conversations, I mean.

Oh the kids have been great actually, but there's just so much a person can take and still maintain some sort of sanity... you know what I mean?

So say a prayer for me... that I can survive the next 5 days - and survive with my sanity intact.

Yeah, right.

It's too late, I think.

Know Your Farmer, Know Your Cow

Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food.

Sounds good, doesn't it?
But for a long, long time now, we've become so used to eating what was put in front of us - whether it's on our plates, something we grabbed from a drive-thru, or on the shelves at the grocery store.
If it's set in front of us, or marketed to us in an appealing way, we just go ahead and eat it.

But how many of us really stop to think about where our food actually comes from?
Or if we do think about it, how many of you continue down the same old road and fail to make the change?

I've been trying for quite a while now, and years ago, I started by buying milk straight from the farm where I know the cows personally. ( it's raw, unpasteurized & non-homogenized) I like my cows to have a name, ya know? Not a number.

Flossie, (pictured up above) is simply known as Flossie.

Not VC296178564738

Okay, well I don't actually know that cow, I'm just using literary licence here.

And my cows don't wear lipstick.

As far as I know anyway.

But when actual farm-fresh milk isn't available, I buy Organic milk from the grocery store. (Or rather, my hunky, spunky home-delivery 'Dairyman" Mark)

Did you know that here in Australia, it's a common, accepted, and a fully legal practice to water down the milk? They then use part of it for skim or low fat, and then add additives (called permeates) to thicken and re-whiten the watered down milk, so that it looks like thick creamy regular milk again.

Basically, they take a gallon of whole milk, water it down to make almost 2 gallons of milk - that now looks like skim milk - and then they portion it out as various *types* of milk.

Have you ever poured a glass of skim milk and really looked at it?
It's thin-looking and almost bluish... right?
That's because the butterfat content has been removed.

But now think of the supposedly "whole" milk that you buy. (here in Australia anyway)
In actual fact, it looks almost exactly the same as the skim milk does - or rather it did, before the additives and re-whiteners were added to it.
They dressed it up for ya.

They adulterated it for ya.
They lied to you and they deceived you.
And you bought it didn't you?
You not only bought the milk, but you bought the lie that they sold to you.

Milk prices have gone up, right?
But you probably weren't aware that even though prices have risen, the actual 'milk' content in your carton or bottle, has diminished.

Astoundingly so.

What they're selling to you now, is in fact milk diluted with water.
Plus unknown, not required to be divulged to the public, added crap called permeates.
So prices have gone up, and a big portion of the selling price is what they've charged for milk... but they've actually just sold you probably half water.

And it's legally allowable.

Now butter my butt, and call me a biscuit, but if I wanted water, I would buy it myself and pay water prices.

Or I would turn on the faucet and top my bottle of milk up
I wouldn't buy a carton of milk in the grocery store, and pay their vastly inflated prices for for what is virtually 25-50% water...

I want my milk out of a teat... not out of a tap.

They sell us a water-saturated, water diluted product... and they called it "milk" - and they screw us all in the process.

Or at best... lie to us.

Now... when I started this post, I had every intention of sharing a video from over at Robynn's place... 30 Day Throw Down.

and it's called "Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food".

But no matter what I did, what position I held my tongue in, or how many swear words I used, I couldn't get the dad-gummed thing to load ... for life or money.

But it's worth watching.

It's what got me obsessing about the milk stuff above.

So please head on over to 30 Day Throw Down and check out Breaking News From The USDA.

Because I've failed you in the video loading department and I'm ashamed of myself.

Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food... (or Your Cow)

I know, I know...

A government that seems to be thinking the right things, thinking in a healthier, more sustainable way and doing what's best for it's citizens... or at least encouraging us to do the right things...

Well, I found it a bit mind boggling too.

But fingers crossed that they're finally beginning to wake up.

Watch out! It'll get ya! (for my Grandsons!)

I had a lovely visit with my 3 grandson's via Yahoo IM yesterday!!!

Mainly, because they had watched some TV program about "Australia's Deadliest Animals", and they needed to talk to their Grummie right now... so that they could tell me to be careful and to watch out for dangerous animals and snakes and spiders and stuff.

They were actually worried that I was in danger from being eaten, bitten, stung, or just chewed up and killed to death at any minute... what with me living here in Australia and all.

And I needed their latest info and tips, to help keep me safe.

Well, Grumpy too of course... but because I'm a girl, I'm more at risk than Grumpy is - because he's a boy... (hmmmm...maybe that's because boys are less tasty or something?)

Anyway, at one point, when Draven was telling me about all the stuff I had to watch out for and getting quite serious about it, I told him to hang on just a minute, because I had a parent who had just arrived to drop their child off...

And I needed to go run out and wrestle a killer crocodile off the porch, so that the parent and kid could get to the door.

His response?

"COOL!!"

And then when I told them that about 10 years ago, I had gotten bitten on the foot by a Brown Snake, and ended up being rushed to the hospital, where they used some special anti-venom on me... they asked if the snake had killed me!!!

Ummm... nooooo!

At least I don't think so, anyway.

So Draven, Griff and Brandon... This is for you!

Australia's Top Ten Dangerous Animals

Australia definitely has more than its fair share of some of the world's most painful and poisonous creatures.

We have deadly spiders, very dangerous sharks, killer crocodiles and.

of the top ten most deadliest snakes in the whole world, Australia has six on the list!

1. Box Jellyfish

2. Irukundji jellyfish

(the Irukandji is believed to be the most venomous creature in the world)



3. Salt Water Crocodile

4. Blue Ringed Octopus

5. Stone Fish

6. Red Back Spider

7. Brown Snake

8. Tiger Snake

9. Great White Shark

10. Funnel Web Spider

Even the cute and funny looking little platypus' produces one of the most painful venom's known!

So boys?

I'll be sure to keep an eye out for any of these creatures and I'll stay far, far away from all of them...Okay? I promise.

And I'll see if I can't find some Australian animals books or some DVDs to send to you.

Oh.. and before I forget (not that I ever forget)....

Grummie and Grumpy LOVE you guys!

I'm still doing The 30 Day Throw Down

But I'm not necessarily keeping track... ya know what I mean?

I've been eating the same basic foods that I've been eating for the last few weeks, but making sure to add in a little more protein several times a day.

And cutting the carbs a bit.

See, I don't do well with just plain carbs at breakfast... at all.

It's got to be mixed with protein, or I'm a complete goner.

Give me a couple of pieces of toast, or even a regular sandwich, and within a few hours, I just want to lay me down to sleep.

I have to force myself to stay awake... and when you've got a house full of kids, that ain't necessarily a good thing to do.

White bread, wholemeal bread, whole grain, sourdough, rye... you name it... on it's own, it makes me drowsy.

Which really sucks wienies when you want some garlic bread with the beef ravioli's you know?

But with eggs or tuna or crab meat... I'm fine.

I got me some of those cute little peppers at Costco earlier in the week, and man-o-man, are they yummy!

But I found out the hard way ( I'll spare ya the details, okay? You'll thank me.) that eating a handful of sliced regular capsicums (bell peppers) is a leeetle different than eating 3 or 4 of the *cute* ones with crackers and cheese.

Same taste and all, but a slightly different outcome...

Well, more of a major outcome, to tell you the truth.

All I can - or will say - is that I'm so glad that I bought a couple of those 48 roll packs of toilet paper.

Aren't they just the cutest little things?

Pity about the results though, because I still have about 20 of 'em left... Lol!

Day 11... and then I sorta fell off the radar

Day 11 of the 30 Day Throw Down.

Breakfast: 2 eggs fried ( I used cooking spray), 2 pieces of whole grain toast with butter and a glass of orange juice.

Morning Tea: crackers and cheese, yogurt and carrot sticks

Lunch: a sandwich, made with whole grain bread, sliced cheese and cucumbers and lettuce and an individual size (kids portion bag) bag of potato chips.

Afternoon tea: Fruit salad (apples, mandarins, kiwi fruit, grapes and banana) with yogurt and shredded coconut

Dinner: Half of a Tandoori wrap thingie from McDonald's... because the Old Guy was in charge of dinner on Friday night.

I had asked for a large Caesar salad with chicken, but when he spied the Tandoori thing on the menu, he figured that lettuce and veggie stuff basically constituted a salad, and it had chicken in it as well... so what wasn't to love?

I could barely eat the darn thing though... and ended up just having some saltines instead.

And do I feel guilty about some of those food choices?
Nope.
Not at all.
I think I did pretty darn good, all things considered

~~~~

Now, On to Day 12 13 & 14.....

Breakfast: stuff
Afternoon tea: stuff
Lunch: more stuff....

Okay, okay. I hear ya.
I wrote it all down.... I really did.... but then I went and lost the piece of paper it was written on.
Well, I guess I didn't actually "lose" it, but I'll be buggered if I know what I did with it. Its here somewhere, but I'm not up to looking for it.

It was all healthy stuff, I can promise you... other than what I ate while I was at Costco yesterday.

See, while we were at Costco, I ended up ordering a slice of pizza and a hot dog with a drink.
I no sooner told the Old Guy what I wanted, and he had walked away, than I was kicking myself in the pants over it too.
*sheeeeesh*

No - and not because of the inherent "unhealthiness" of it all , but rather because I knew that I have trouble even finishing even a slice of Costco pizza , let alone anything else - so that hot dog would more then likely go to waste.
Which it mainly did.
I was still too full at dinnertime to actually eat or prepare any dinner, so the Old Guy ate half of my 'left in the wrapper" hot dog and shared the rest with the birds...
And I just did without dinner, and walked a few more laps around the yard while he ate..

So it kind of evened out.... right?

I have been eating right, and a few little ummmm... dietary changes or hiccups aren't going to throw off my game plan.
Not at all.
Because I think that if this is going to be a way of life with me, a few little slip-ups or a bit of falling off the wagon... well, it's gonna be actually good for me in the long run.
I'm not gonna be hard and fast about it all, but I am going to stop whenever possible and think about what I'm putting in my body.

And if I want a treat... well dad-gummit all, I'm going to have it - right?
Right?

Besides, kicking myself in the pants is good exercise.. innit?

Day 10... I am not DIEting!

Day 10

Breakfast: Oatmeal with raisins and pure maple syrup

Afternoon tea: Raw veggies, a handful of crackers and some Jarlsberg cheese.

Lunch: Vegemite and cheese sandwich, with whole grain bread, a mandarin and some grapes

Afternoon tea: Whole grain bread, with a "portion controlled" pat of real butter, and an apple

Dinner: Leftover Cannelloni, and a small greek salad,

and then some crackers and some cheese at about 8 o'clock.

~~~~~~~~

Now.... for the person who has sent me some pretty strange and dare I say... 'judgmental' emails, telling me that I'm not eating right, and that all the ill's of the world fall fairly and squarely on my shoulders.... all I have to say is that it's my business what I put in my mouth.

I know that I'm eating 'righter" than I was before I started this.

So this is for you... and you know who your are.

I'm making healthier choices whenever possible, but I sure as tootin' am not going "the whole hog" as it were.
Not that I'm really eating hog. I would if I wanted to, but I'm savin' the bacon until the weekend.


Because I'm not on a 'diet', per se.

And no, I'm not counting calories or beating myself up over deciding to eat some chocolate covered licorice or a Big Mac.
I will eat whatever I want to eat - because quite frankly, I know what I was eating before, and I know what I'm eating now. These are my choices, and this is my life.


I'm making the choice to eat healthier alternatives whenever I can - and I am certainly NOT looking at this as a diet. Or as a way to save the world.

I'm simply and purely making an effort to eat more healthily.
If I fail.... well, I fail.
And I have to live with that - not you.

Raw bell peppers or carrots or whole grain bread and butter, instead of a cookie at 2 o'clock, or grilled fish instead of fried.
Healthy, nourishing fuel going into my body at 8am, instead of skipping breakfast like I usually do.


Ill say it again, just in case you missed it before :

I am not DIEting.

I'm just thinking more.

I certainly don't feel deprived, or weak... and my breath smells just fine, (because I am not starving myself, regardless of what you may think) but I thank you for your concern.


So although I appreciate you going to the time and effort to point out to me that I'm going about this all wrong, I think I'm going to have to agree to disagree on this.
And we'll just leave it at that, eh?


But I have to wonder why you went to all the trouble to email me personally, rather than post a comment like everyone else?

Why didn't you simply comment on my blog itself... so that the other readers or commenter's could benefit by your 'wisdom'?


I talked this eating plan over with my doctor.
He had no problem with it and in fact encouraged me to keep going.
This is my choice, and my choice alone.
If the Old Guy feels like following along... great.
If he doesn't, that's fine with me too.


Because this is about me.

Not you, not the woman next door or anyone else.


My choice, my life and my arse.

The Clothes Line Diet...

It's a book written by Karen Gatt - who managed to lose 67 kilos, ( 147.7 lbs) and she started out losing the weight by simply eating sensibly and by making healthier choices...
As well as walking around the clothes line in her backyard...

Because walking around the clothes line was all she was capable of doing.
And she admits that some days, even that was hard to do.
She eventually shed the weight and ended up writing a book about her struggles - and it's a very interesting and inspiring read, with some great tips and recipes.
The Clothes Line Diet ( <-- go here to check it out)

Anyway, I was thinking last week, that sometimes it's nigh on impossible for me to get out of the house and do any regular consistent exercise, because I often end up working 12-18-or even 24 hour days.
And when I have the little ones or special needs kids in care, there's no chance in hell of getting out there and working up a sweat.
None.
I mean we can play and we can dance and we jump rope, skip around the yard, play tag etc... but when you're going at 3-4 year old speed, it makes it hard to get the ol' heart rate up... you know what I mean?

So... I've been walking around the backyard every chance I get - and it's a lot further than just around the clothesline...

See, I've got a huge backyard and from the patio, straight down to the back fence and garden shed it's about 75 steps.
So if I make a round trip, it comes in at 150-152 steps, all up.
And for every 2 steps, I'm basically covering a yard.

Not a huge amount, I'll grant you that... but for the last week, I've been making the round-trip at least 10-20 times a day - or more if I can.
And hey... it all adds up in the end, doesn't it?
Which is far better than adding up on my end.

Hey, we do get out for a walk around the neighborhood whenever we can, but if I've got kids in care, I just can't do it...
So the Old Guy and I only manage to get out for a "real" walk once or twice a week - and that isn't good enough, as far as I'm concerned.

So your assignment boys and girls, should you choose to accept it...
Is to do the math and tell me how far I've travelled if I do the "circuit" even 10 times a day.

I tried... I honestly did... but I'm sad to say, I'm one of those people who have to take off their shoes to count past 10.
And if I need to count past 20, I have to invite someone over.
I really do.

So can you help?

I'll even send you my unwanted Almond Roca's...

Good to the last drop! / Day 9

Day 9, of the 30 Day Throw Down:

Breakfast: 3 Weetbix, with blueberries and organic milk, 2 cups of coffee, black.

Morning tea: A piece of whole grain toast, with homemade lemon butter (lemon curd), and an apple.

Lunch: Crab Salad on a turkish roll, with red and green bell pepper strips and a couple of small kiwi fruits.

Afternoon tea: fruit salad with a bit of yogurt and chopped walnuts.

Dinner: 2 Canneloni, filled with spinach and ricotta cheese, green salad, and a small piece of garlic bread.

We ended up going for a walk after dinner last night, but I'm not sure how far we actually walked.
We walked fairly briskly - and we were gone for about 45-50 minutes or so, with a quick stop off at the playground, so that I could swing on the swings for a few minutes!
(Something I never get to do, when I have the kids around)

~~~~~

COFFEE !!!

My day started off right this morning, because the Old Guy brought around his coffee machine thingie last night, (after he figured out how to work the dang thing and how to make a normal cuppa, as well as fancy schmancy cappuchino's) and he left it here.
At MY house!

I joked with him last night, telling him that he needed to come around first thing in the morning - so that he could surprise me with my first cup of the day, because I didn't know how to work it .... So he DID!
At 4:45am!

I had just gotten out of bed, 'cause I smelled something good wafting down the hallway... and when I came out, this was waiting for me!
Wooo Doggies... I love this man!

Oh c'mon.. hurry up!

The way to a man's heart may be through his stomach, but the way to this girl's heart, is through her coffee cup - and he knows it!


Squinky-eyed, bad bed hair, and still half asleep, but Oh my stars!... What a lovely way to start the day!!

Crab meat from the 2 gorgeous crab legs I bought at Costco.

Our lunch, yesterday.

Doesn't it just look mmmm, mmmmm GOOD???

The back is feeling absolutely GREAT today, 'cause my magician-slash-chiropractor worked absolute wonders yesterday morning, even going as far as using the industrial strength massager on me! (tho I was a bit worried as how my arse must have looked, jiggling like a frog in a blender!) And I think the additional walking has helped, as well... so I plan on keeping it up!

I'm off work all day today, (2 kids off on holiday, and the other 2 are sick) so I think I might just settle down with a book... after I get some more laundry done.

Oh, and maybe after I have another cuppa....

Because my mama didn't raise no fools!!

Coffee anyone? - and day 7 & 8

Day 7 of the 30 Day Throw Down:

Breakfast:
Malto Meal, yogurt with blueberries and raspberries, and several cups of coffee with organic milk.

Morning tea:
fruit and crackers and a little Jarlsberg cheese

Lunch:
English muffin toasted, topped with chicken salad and grapes

Afternoon tea:
A couple of small pieces of beef jerky and a glass of iced tea - mainly because I was working in the garden and couldn't be stuffed preparing anything.

Dinner: A Caesar salad wrap from McDonald's
Mainly because I was too worn out from working in the garden, and my back was literally killing me.

~~~~~

Day 8:

Breakfast:
Oops. I forgot to eat it. I did have half a pot of coffee though, while I feebly attempted to clean the house. With organic milk.
Not clean the house with organic milk... because that would be stupid.
I had it in my coffee.
Duh.

Morning tea:
Ditto

Lunch: We were at Costco, so I just had me some samples of Asian chicken soup, bread with olive dip, and some seared salmon. Oh, and some meatball thingies.
And then I made the rounds again.
And then the Old Guy and I shared a slice of pizza from the food court.
Because we were at Costco, baby!

Dinner: I was too stuffed from the Costco samples to eat much of anything, other than a small handful of Blue Diamond Smoked Almonds.

~~~~~

Now... to bring you up to speed.
I had the day off yesterday, due to my back... and I was hoping that I could get in to see the chiropractor.
He did have a spot available at 10:30, but that totally conflicted with my hair appointment -
so I'm going in to see him at 10:15 this morning.
Because my hair is more important than my back pain.

See, I've got this great gal who comes to the house to do my hair, and there ain't nobody who can do it like Sue can.
She's just fantastic.
She never yells at me for chopping at it, or for waiting 7 months to re-color it or have it cut, or anything.

She knows what I like (even when I don't know it myself) she knows the tricks to coloring my hair that makes the gray just disappear... and even when it starts growing in again, it's hardly noticeable and it just blends right in.
( unless I leave it 5 or 6 months, and then I've got to admit - I'm not fooling anybody and I look more like a skunk, than I do anything else.)

And I have to say, I always look great when she's finished.
So yesterday, even though I may have looked great, I still felt pretty damn awful, from the back pain.

My dear Old Guy has been very solicitous and caring with the whole back thing, so when he said, "Hey, since you have the day off, why don't you come along to Costco with me - while I buy that DeLonghi Magnifica coffee maker I told you about? I checked it out The Good Guys, and Costco is almost $500 cheaper ! It will be fun, and it'll get you out of the house!"

Well... I said yes.
Grudgingly.
I didn't really want to go, but to just say "no" seemed kind of unfair and mean, with me having the rest of the day free and all...
And in light of everything he's done for me, since I did my back in on Sunday.

So off to Costco we went... and I have to tell you, the drive was terrible.
I was writhing and moaning and couldn't sit comfortably, so we weren't 10 minutes down the road before the Old Guy had to have started seriously regretting his invitation.

Not that he ever said anything. And knowing the Old Guy, he probably didn't even regret it at all.
Because my guy is fantastic that way.

He kept patting my leg during the drive, and saying stuff like
"gosh, I really love your hair"
"Do you know how much I love you?"
"How does your back feel? Are you comfortable?"
This is great, you being able to come along like this."
"Isn't it great, you having the day off and us going to Costco together?"
"I love spending the day with you, babe."

So I did m level best to smile and chat and say nice things back, but I have to admit I just wanted to grump and groan and I wanted to be back home in my own little bed.
Where I could grump and groan and thrash around to my hearts content.
But how can you ignore or yell at a cute little puppy, when they look at you with those sweet, soulful, loving eyes?

So anyway, we got to Costco, and the Old Guy ended up buying his super duper, "it does everything but mop the floor and make the toast" DeLonghi Magnifica coffee machine.
Which looks a leettle bit complicated to me, with it's self-cleaning nozzles and de-scaling fozzles and stuff - but I'm sure he'll figure it out.

We had debated stopping off at Miz K and Mister R's place on the way home, (they're in the Costco neighborhood, the lucky ducks!) but I figured that Miz K was still at work since it was only a little after 3 o'clock and that Mister R was probably busy running around visiting friends, and doing important manly stuff (he's on shore leave)... So we didn't.

We should have though, since Mister R spotted us driving down the road and got his feelings hurt that we hadn't even called. He called Miz K - who then attempted to call me on my mobile, but phone-phobe that I am, I either didn't have it turned on, or the battery was flat. Or something.
I think it's just on vibrate, but try as I might, I just can't get the stinkin' thing to ring.
I keep it in my purse, but maybe I need to start carrying it in my pocket or something, so I at least feel it vibrate, and so I don't miss important calls from folks that I think the world of.

So anyway, if I can't figure my bloody mobile phone out - you gotta know that figuring out a super-duper coffee machine ... Well, it's way down on my list of things that I'm capable of learning.

But as soon as we got home... Omigosh!!! The Old Guy was like a kid on Christmas morning, getting into that "Delonghi Magnifica" coffee maker box, and reading the (about 40 pages long) coffee making instructions !!

Ooohing and ahhhing, and rattling off names like " long white and short white. Latte's and Lotto's and short blacks. Long blacks and cappuchinos and thingamajiggers.

Frankly, I didn't give a rats arse. Because I hurt. But I did my level best to seem interested.
I really did.
And I think I pulled it off pretty well, considering the back pain and all.

If they gave out Academy Awards for "acting like you give a sh** when you really don't give a sh**" ability, I swear I would have won yesterday.
Hands down.
No doubt about it.
Because "I just want the coffee, sweetheart... and please don't bother telling me how you made it.

But yesterday? When it came to the Old Guys happy, smiling face, and his practically palatable excitement over his new coffee machine?
Well, I have to admit that he almost always makes a bad day seem just that little bit better.
Or even a lot better.
There's just no resisting him - Or his excitement.
Because when my Old Guy smiles, the whole world smiles with him.

See, I know that I've got it good, and I know too, that God well and truly blessed me... when it comes to the Old Guy.
He really did.
I'm blessed... and love my guy to bits.

But it's now 6am.... and I have no danged coffee !!!
1,200 bucks and I'm still coffee-less!

~~~~

News Flash!

I showed this post to the Old Guy this morning, and that pic above, isn't his machine at all.
Like it matters.
But I guess it does to him, so here's the actual coffee machine he bought yesterday.
Notice the difference?
Neither did I. ;-)

You can open your eyes now.

Well, I hate to tell you, but if you've been holding your breath, waiting the chance to see me in my undies, you can let it out now.
And if you've been squinking your eyes shut, dreading the moment when I bare my bvds'... you can open your eyes now
You've been granted a reprieve.


Why?
This is why...

Not that this is me... but this is the actual position I'm in right now.

Besides, I don't wear pink pants.

Yet.

I will when I'm older, though.

Like 90.

See, the thing is... I spent most of the morning working and weeding in the yard and everything was great, right up until the end. I was almost done, and just picking of the last of the weeds for the compost pile, when something went "pop" in my lower back... and that was the end of that.

I can't stand upright, I can't take a deep breath, and I've been sitting around all night with a pack of peas on my back. But did I eat those peas? No... you can bet your sweet bippy that I did not.

I had McDonald's for dinner. A healthy(er) choice of course. Really. A Caesar Salad wrap and a glass of iced tea.

And for dessert, I had 2 extra-strength Nurofen.

We'll see how it goes tomorrow, and if I can stand up straight enough to take a full length photo, instead of just a pic of my knee caps, maybe I can post that potentially gag inducing pic after all.

Don't hold your breath though.

Day 6... Gardening, and Goodbye

Well, I'm into day 6 of the 30 Day Throw Down... and I'm hanging in there. It's getting easier and easier to make better - and healthier - food choices, and I kind of feel like I'm on a roll here.
It's feeling natural and it's feeling good, so things are changing... you know what I mean?

Breakfast:
Steel cut oats, topped with an "individual portion" size thingie of butter and a little brown sugar, a small berry and banana smoothie and straight black coffee.

Morning tea:
an apple and a chunk of cheddar cheese

Lunch:
Ry Vita crackers (2) with butter and Vegemite, another banana, and a glass of organic milk.

Afternoon tea:
Salad roll, with lettuce, tomato, cukes and grated carrot. Black coffee

Dinner:
Veggie and chicken breast wrapped in a tortilla, with mayo and mustard - but I was too tired to eat the whole thing, so I shared it with the magpies. (it made a nice change from the worms and bugs I turned up while gardening, I guess)

~~~~~

I managed to put in a couple of hours in the front garden yesterday, and I have to say I'm definitely making headway there. I can see a huge difference... and my hamstrings and tushy are telling me that I just about worked my arse off.
If only wish it were that easy, eh?

Today, I've got about 20-40 Agapanthas, (the damn things have multiplied in their pots, so I'm not exactly sure how many I've actually got) 6 geraniums that I've started from cuttings, and maybe a dozen lavenders (ditto on the lavenders) to get in the ground, so by the end of the day, the front yard should be looking pretty "put together"... and then I can start on the back.

I've still got about 30 geraniums, as well as probably 50 lavender cuttings to get in the ground, so I just hope I haven't waited too long in the season, to get them going.
I know I should have gotten them in in the fall, but hey... what can I say?
I'm lazy.

~~~~~~~~~

I don't know how many of you read Mandy's blog,

The Old Dairy

but I found out this morning, that Mandy's husband Greg went to be with Jesus on Thursday.

We knew that the end was coming, and bless her heart...Mandy has held up amazingly well under the circumstances, continuing to make life as normal for her children and as comfortable as possible for Greg.

But it's still a bit of a shock that such a loving and vibrant husband and father has passed away.

My heart goes out to Mandy and her children.

Today is Father's Day here in Australia, so

please keep them all in your thoughts and prayers, at this trying time.

Day 4 and 5..

Yay for the weekend!

I'm more than ready for it this week, let me tell you! It's my regularly scheduled "on" weekend, but the kids I would normally have, aren't coming... so I have today and tomorrow to myself. And I still get paid for it! How good is that?

Which now gives me a chance to run the whipper-snipper over these legs of mine, and see if I can't find some Spackle, to cover the varicose veins and the dimples in my knees!

Okay... now on to the boring shite -

Day 4, of the 30-day Throw Down...

Breakfast: A small bowl of Malto Meal and a bran muffin, with a banana, and half a pot of coffee.

Morning tea: bell pepper strips, rice crackers and some Jarlsberg cheese

Lunch: Tuna salad on an English muffin, carrot sticks and celery.

Afternoon tea: a slice of whole grain bakery bread, with Vegemite and real butter, apple slices and craisins

Dinner: Four Cheese Ravioli, with fresh tomatoes, onion and capsicum.

(I did get a bit peckish around 8:30, so I had about 6 little Kirkland Signature brand Organic animal cookies, with a small glass of raw milk. I only ate the heads, so you'll be pleased to know that no calories were consumed during the eating of these cookies.)

~~~~~~

Day 5...

Breakfast: 3 Weetbix topped with a sliced banana, a bit of yogurt and organic (raw) milk and a couple of cups of coffee - no sweetener- and organic

Morning tea: cheese, crackers and watermelon

Lunch: Ry vita sesame and rye crispbreads (3) with real butter and Vegemite, and 2 kiwi fruits

Afternoon tea: raw veggie sticks and a cup of coffee

Dinner: various salady things (lettuce, cuke, tomato, olives, etc) and shredded cheese wrapped in a flour tortilla

~~~~~

I totally meant to post yesterday ... I really did.

But with one thing after another happening, and some pretty big drama's going on involving one of my placement children, I didn't have a minute to myself .

And by the time I had dinner over and done with, all I wanted to do was crawl into bed.

Day 3 - a tip, and an admission

I'm hanging in there with the 30-Day Throw Down. It's not as easy as I thought it would be, because I'm constantly having to stop and think... but I know that it'll become easier with time and I know that we can do this thing.

So, for your viewing pleasure... here's what I ate yesterday.
(Lord have mercy, but you're gonna get sick of this by day 30, aren't you?)

Breakfast:
A bowl of oatmeal (steel-cut with a couple of teaspoons of black strap molasses)
A mandarin, and 2 cups of unsweetened coffee, with raw milk.

Morning tea:
capsicum strips with a few water crackers, grapes and yogurt (homemade)

Lunch:
Tuna salad on a toasted English muffin, 2 kiwi fruits and some carrot strips.

Afternoon tea:
fruit salad (mandarin, banana, apple and kiwi - with a spoonful of yogurt and a teensy amount of brown sugar sprinkled over)

Dinner:
A big green salad, with about a half cup of pasta tossed with fresh tomatoes, bell pepper and olive oil.
Oh, and about half a cup of applesauce, for dessert.

I'm drinking lots of water, ( I always have) but I found that I was losing track of how much I was drinking.
So I put 2 small dishes in the kitchen window, and in one dish, I put 8 marbles.
Every time I have a glass of water, I move a marble from one dish to the other -
So that way, I can keep track of just how many glasses I've actually had throughout the day.
There ya go... your tip for the day.

~~~~~~~

Okay... I'm seriously, seriously thinking of taking a "before" photo of myself in my bra and knickers, but I don't know if I'm game enough to post it on here. On my blog.
I want to.
But I don't want to, at the same time - you know what I mean?

I might alienate some people - or make them gag... I don't know which.
And because I've become attached to you gals, I don't want you to run screaming from the room, never to speak to me again.
I would hate that.
Big time.

I might have to con Robynn into posting it on her brand-new 30 Day Throw Down blog - with a paper bag over my head... and a secret witness-protection program name, or somthin'.
What do you think?
Is anyone else game enough to do it with Joolz and I?

For me to do it, it will involve first running the whipper-snipper (weed-eater) over my legs, getting some of that extreme cover-up make up, to hide the "road map of greater Cleveland" varicose veins, and maybe some laser surgery to obliterate any potentially identifiable by ex-husbands or boyfriends, scars... but I'm willing to do it in the ol' bra and knickers - IF, Joolz or anyone else does it with me as well.
With a paper bag over my head, of course.

See, I know that I'm not fooling anyone, by wearing baggy pants and loose tops - and I'm sure as hell not fooling myself either.

I'm fat.

There... I've said it. Largely, and boldly.
I know that I'm fat, and the friends who know me, know that I'm fat.
We just don't talk about it.

I need to make some drastic changes... and Robynn's "30 day Throw Down", ( have you seen her brand new "30 Day Throw Down" blog, devoted exclusively to the "throw down"?) is the ideal way to do it.
(did you notice that I threw in *throw down* 3 times in that one little sentence? Is that overkill, or what?)
Because, see... I like me some moral support, and it's empowering as heck to know that I'm not alone, fighting this damn battle of the bulge(s).
I need to admit to all and sundry that "this is me" - in all my (coughcough) glory .

So c'mon.... who wants to join Joolz and I ?
Paper bags optional.

Day 2 of the "throw down" - and cold shower stuff.

Well, I managed to survive day one of Robynn's 30-day throw down challenge - and I have to say that I did well with it. (here in Oz, we're a day ahead of you gals in the US - so we started a day earlier.)
It just involves thinking about what I put into my mouth, and ever since Robynn challenged us,
I've been shopping accordingly.
No more highly processed foods, healthier choices... Really simple things, really.

My first full day consisted of:

Breakfast: 2 Weetbix, topped with a sliced banana, and organic, raw milk.
Coffee, no sugar or sweetener, with raw milk.
(In regards to the Weetbix, I'm happy to say that Australia is totally into recycling, and it's amazing that they can recycle cardboard into a semi-palatable breakfast cereal. Well, just joking, but I have to admit that I've examined my cereal more than once, looking for traces of printing labels)

Morning tea: 2 Saltine crackers with butter and Vegemite, a handful of sliced raw capsicums (bell peppers) cucumber and carrot sticks, and a small piece of Jarlsberg cheese.

Lunch: Tuna on crispbread, homemade yogurt and an apple with cheddar cheese

Afternoon tea: Fruit salad, made from apples, kiwi's, bananas, grapes, mandarins, topped with a dollop of yogurt and some finely chopped walnuts. (the kids LOVE this, so we make it several times a week!)

Dinner: A big ol' Caesar salad, and less than half an Angus burger from McDonald's. (okay, I know it's fast food, but I went for the healthier choice - and only had less than half of it. It's a start... isn't it?)

~~~~~~~~

Now, on to the cold shower thing...

I might not have explained myself fully.

See, 2 years ago, my blood pressure was through the roof, (190 over 100) and I made some dietary changes, as well as starting on blood pressure meds.

I hated those darn things, but I was bound and determined to get off them and get the blood pressure controlled in a more natural way.

Diet itself just wasn't cutting it - although it was helping (it's a hereditary thing) - so I started on taking the cold showers... and it worked! Six months later, and with the doctors full blessing, I stopped taking the BP meds entirely.

That was enough reason for continuing with the morning semi-torture, as far as I'm concerned.

But... I found that I also like the way I feel afterwards. I think the heat/cold thing releases endorphins, and by the time I'm dried and dressed, I feel like I can tackle anything!

I feel good... like I've just had a brisk walk or something. I'm bright-eyed and bushy-tailed and man...it just feels wonderful!

It doesn't have to be an instant icy change... or even icy cold at all. I just like it that way.

Even just turning down the hot water just until you get a little "brrrr-y", does basically the same thing.

Hot to tepid or cool is fine... just as long as you feel just a titch uncomfortable.

Screaming isn't really necessary.... I just like freaking the neighbor out.