Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Sharing a real woman's battle...need your support!


I asking my ladies here to read a blog I have followed for some time now...this young lady has cancer and has very poor chance of survival. I have followed her for many months ...I guess two years now even before this blog. Anyway she is pretty powerful and every once in a while I ask people I know to pray or do whatever they do to send positive power her way...This seems like one of those times. Check her latest out: WELCOME TO BALDIE'S BLOG: Going Blind
I think you will see what makes her so special. Thanks to you all!

Thursday, March 26, 2009

Trying to Work OUT!


Okay so I am starting a new thread to keep up on our daily workouts. I have had a crap week and am sitting here determined to get up and do my workout. Sitting her is the operative phrase! Seriously I would really like to get us back on track...what did you do today and if you did not what got in the way? Let's keep trying to support one another to get it done. I know how hard the world is and how easy it is to get absorbed into the mix of the daily grind. So in this thread lets try and report our work out, any ten minute routine, best way to fit it in and if not what is stopping us?

Thanks Ladies. This has kept me going I hope it helps you!

Friday, March 20, 2009

Doing it ALL!


I was reading an email from a friend of mine and realized that she, like me, often feels that she must be the doer of all things "home". I think it is a female thing. Not so much that our spouse does not cook or help out but do who is really running the house? Who nags for the window replacement or the Spring cleaning? Whose decor is in the home? Would the back door get fixed if you never said a thing? I think ultimately my husband does a pretty good job at keeping house but it is never the way I would do it. And often lacks that feeling of "home" when I am not around. Even he will say that --- hmmm making me feel better or keeping me at task? :)

The concern I have is that when we evolved as working people with high level professional careers we did not drop any of the "other duties". This could be more emotional and intellectual than reality. But often I see, in my friends, my sisters and other women in my life, a small tired fear that all is not perfect, that some piece of our life purpose is not fulfilled. I named this blog because of this very thing, that little voice that nags you in the night or as you walk in the door and clutter consumes your view: I should do better. What do we do with that?

Sunday, March 15, 2009

Coming Home


So leaving the best place I have been in 20 years was not so easy. My 82 year old mother who lives with me is depressed...that means we all experience her pain....there is a bunch of snow around the house and the laundry is sky high. I am not sure I want to be back.

I loved letting go for a week, in fact I highly recommend vacation. I am eager to return to work and feel refreshed, sounds crazy but true. I am also eager to start to plan for my final vacation at hmmmm age 70? is that the new 65?
I am pretty sure that I want to be where it is warm for at least part of each winter. (Oh my goodness I will be a snow bird.) Life is funny huh? When did I become older, when did the activities of 70 years old look good to me? I watched these people walking everyday along the beach road, having early dinners and drinks by the beach and it looked good to me. I think I will include kayaks in my future I discovered how much I really enjoyed that activity, especially in the warm waters of Florida. What do you all envision for your retirement? Do we even really think we will? I think I will always do something...but maybe less stressful like part time grant writing or consulting...But I sure do believe in early bird specials and morning walks!

Saturday, March 7, 2009

Being Wrong!

I am not good at being wrong. As I write on this tiny computer to prove that I was not wrong I begin to think..ugh maybe....But alas it was so simple to carry with me. Tossed it in my pocket book like nothing. It is cute too. These are the seven inch screen computers that we got for staff who are never in the office to report into the online data system. The key board is small but after a day I am pretty good with it.I did not bring my big lap top so this will be a week with it.
All this is about some employees who complain it is too small and difficult to work with. My rationale for the small was to be less expensive and they are sturdy and less likely to damaged from being tossed about.

Back to being wrong. I am stubborn. I think it is a part of being perpetually dissatisfied...always looking to do better. To be correct and to push for excellence. Many will tell us that this is from our parents but I am not so sure. I see it in my grand daughters and at a very young age..competition and strong will. Does it come from being women? My 4 year old grand daughter told me that at her school the boys are the heroes and the girl is the princess. So young huh? What does that relationship really mean after all? For me the more I was treated like a princess in life the more I became committed to being s Queen (knew I could not be King). But was very clear that I wanted to be the decision maker. My Kingdom, even it I was a queen mother.

So now I find myself stuck on being right. Hate eating crow. If this computer proves to be a royal pain I will be in a dilemma. Guess I will practice more on this little key board.

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Sunny, sunny day..why am I blue ?


It is a sunny day. I am ready for some wonderful time away from the snow and cold to the warmth of a small island on the Florida gulf coast...but today I am a bit blue. I ponder how a few words can take a high moment or maybe just an average one into something not so nice. Now here is the thing: I allow it to happen. It is my choice to internalize things that are said, or to allow some one's bad become mine. Or even worse it may only be their bad moment and I choose to make it my bad day.

I am going to take today and turn it around. I have so much to be happy about. Stop worrying about the stuff I cannot control and take command of my day. It sounds so good huh? Now if I can just find that instruction book. Think I will start with my exercises and a really hot shower. Perhaps since it is almost 8 am I should just get off the couch and move. See I am already there. What do you do to move a moment or bad day to GOOD?

Monday, March 2, 2009

Healthy Snacks, Good foods that actually taste good!


Okay so who has a healthy snack that actually tastes good? I know that most of my treats are not healthy and do not match my unhealthy treats. I know that we are suppose to eat well but oh dear it is not so much fun. So I have decided to ask all of you to let us know what you eat when it is snack time and you need a good healthy alternative.

By the way I could talk about my yogurt, cashew,banana and honey sundae but I am not thinking it is very low calorie...Tastes great and makes you feel good b/c it is yogurt. Seriously the whole weight and health thing is hard, I really liked it when I was younger and it was easier. And seriously what tide are we fighting anyway...ladies in a few short decades we will all be eating chopped food in the old nursing home with a white towel bib!

How Many Green leafy veggies can I eat?


Okay I read too much this weekend about diets. What foods help increase metabolism, what foods work on the chubby belly syndrome. Seems to me that the green leafy ones are very highly rated. Then I read about this diet that one of the women's magazines was claiming high success rates: eat a huge breakfast! Now that sounds good. My issue is that when I do eat breakfast I tend to be hungry the rest of the day. But I love breakfast, most of the time I just do not have time so I hold out until lunch. I wonder if I ate a big breakfast around 10am if I would just then go straight to dinner and call it a day.

Oh and just for the record, do not buy snacks! I have found that I have no will power at all. Bought a can of my favorite cashews (with lots of salt) and was not really good about keeping those puppies closed up last night. That is my worst habit, snacking after dinner.

I like feeling healthy and not fighting with my clothes. I do not need to be thin but I really do not like tight jeans, they are uncomfortable. Hate to buy more. So I think I will cook some broccoli!