Calvin's adventure-- So thankful for kind people!

Calvin, my sassy, stubborn dog!

As I sit down to write this, I am procrastinating going on a run. So far, it's working great!

Fast forward to three hours later. . .

It dawned on me when I sat down to write this morning that if I could create time to write, I could surely get my butt out there to run. I would probably write better after a head-clearing run anyways, so I got dressed, procrastinated a little more, then finally leashed up my dogs and headed out. I figured I would warm up by walking them and then head back out for a couple more miles.

When I walk my dogs I like to take them to a trail that runs behind the nearby creek-- it's only three blocks from my house. My dogs drag me down the streets until we get to the trail where they know they can run free. The trail itself is about a 1/2 mile each way so it's the perfect distance for me to warm up and for them to burn off some energy. Plus, I don't have to worry about them getting hit by a car. It's as perfect as it gets being a dog owner that lives in town.

The dogs and I have a routine. Usually, it's down and back and then home again. Sometimes, we do the trail twice. Today, I decided to do the trail twice. It was so nice outside! Besides, I love watching the dogs run and play, and after all, I was busy procrastinating a run so why not do another lap, right?

For those of you that don't know my dogs, I have a giant lab named Deke. He loves to run the creek trail. He hunts up birds, chases rabbits, and usually gets a swim in. He would run the trail as many times as he could. He sounds like a horse galloping down the trail (yes, he's that big.)

My other dog is Calvin. He is a 10-year old Westie with a sassy, stubborn streak. He loves to walk and run. In fact, when we bring him hiking in a nearby nature area, he will walk for hours without tiring- most of the time trying to lead the way. For some unknown reason though, when walking the creek trail that we were on today, he only likes to do one lap. Several times he's tried to skip out on the second lap by looking at me and then running the opposite way. I usually have to chase him down,  grab his leash, and coax him back down the trail. Today though, he looked at me, rolled his eyes (yes, dogs can do that), turned around, and followed me with no problem. In retrospect, I should have known better. . .

10 minutes later when I got to the end of the trail and turned around, I realized Calvin was no where in sight. I didn't panic immediately because sometimes he walks really slow (pouting because he had to do two laps) and waits for me to head back. Sometimes he emerges from the treeline after sniffing something out. This time though, he was nowhere to be found.

I looked at Deke and told him to find Calvin. He snooped around. Nothing! The little sh** was gone! He was gone! I hurried back towards home expecting him to pop out of the trees or just be lying there on the ground waiting for me with a big doggie smirk on his face but he wasn't.

I got home, hopped on my bike, and headed back to the trail. I checked out the creek, rode the trail twice, checked the creek again-- no dog.

I rode around the neighborhood expecting to see him nosing around, as he has been known to do when he escapes, but nothing. I got my son from work and we headed back down to the creek. We checked the trail again as well as the nearby cornfield. Finally, a lady that lives by the creek asked if we were looking for a small white dog. "Yes!" I exclaimed.

She told me that somebody had picked him up and brought him to the vet clinic or the police department. Can you say R-E-L-I-E-F?

I called the PD and left a message as they weren't on duty yet. A little while later, some wonderful people that live around the block from us drove up and knocked on the door. "Are you missing a dog?" she asked.

I hopped in their van with them and went to pick up Calvin. He was as sassy as ever, like nothing unusual had happened. I walked him home and when we got there, he wanted to keep walking. Really dog?

So, from what we could figure out, he turned around and followed me down the trail for a little while. Then he must have decided he was heading home. The people that found him said he was sitting by the side of the road. They stopped, he hopped right in their van, and took off with them! He must have figured he was getting a ride home. This all happened in about 10 minutes. What a dog!

For those of you that know me, and know this dog, you will know that it is totally possible for me to lose a dog while walking it. For those that don't know me (or do) and think I must be a dumb-ass, I will give you that. It's deserved.

All's well that ends well though. Thanks to Pat G. for easing my mind and letting me know that my dog was safe and a HUGE thank you to the Hasbrooks for rescuing my dog and going out of your way to make sure he got home. Thanks also to the CCPD for following up with me. There is nothing like a small town when it comes to kindness.

Calvin is now snoozing comfortably after his adventure. I plan to join him. The run? I think it can wait.

Well hello blog, it's been a while. . .

I LOVE THIS! Be a traveler :)

Well, hello blog! It has been a while! Oh my gosh, I can't believe it has been almost three months since the last time I actually sat down to write something. Boy, it's been a crazy summer! 

After leaving the newspaper business back in May, I vowed I was going to blog and work on my writing skills diligently. Apparently, I needed a break--or was just lazy-- who knows?

I am happy to report, break time is over folks! Let the blogging begin. . . 

P.S. A shout out to my incredible nephew Joey who turns 12 today! We love you Joe! Have a great day!

Life is...

“Life is an opportunity, benefit from it.
Life is beauty, admire it.
Life is a dream, realize it.
Life is a challenge, meet it.
Life is a duty, complete it.
Life is a game, play it.
Life is a promise, fulfill it.
Life is sorrow, overcome it.
Life is a song, sing it.
Life is a struggle, accept it.
Life is a tragedy, confront it.
Life is an adventure, dare it.
Life is luck, make it.
Life is too precious, do not destroy it.
Life is life, fight for it.” 
― Mother Teresa

 Photo from: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bajy/6285579138

Hangin' by a Thread...: Facing Fears and Finding Me: Part 3

Hangin' by a Thread...: Facing Fears and Finding Me: Part 3: No, silly, that's not me! Someday soon though, someday soon . . .      I can't believe it's been two months since the last "installment...

Facing Fears and Finding Me: Part 3

No, silly, that's not me! Someday soon though, someday soon . . .

     I can't believe it's been two months since the last "installment" about my weight-loss and fitness journey. Boy, time flies when you're counting calories. I am happy to report that I am down just over 25 pounds since that first gut-wrenching moment when I hopped on the scale at the end of January. Yay me! 

    My latest epiphany on this journey? I have discovered that when you are truly ready, you can accomplish anything. Ah, shoot, but wait, I already knew that. I've seen countless people accomplish things because they have set their mind to it. I've seen people hit their rock-bottom and subsequently claw their way out of the depths of despair to become a healthy, well-functioning person. Maybe my epiphany was more like a reaffirmation? Anyways...

    A friend of mine recently asked if it's been hard (losing the weight) and I said, "no, it's actually been quite easy. I was so ready."  I was just so ready to "find me,"  I thought afterwards. I was so tired of seeing a person that I didn't really know in the mirror. I was just SO ready! And then I thought, you know, that really is the key. You have to be really ready to make a change before you can successfully do so-- no matter what you are trying to accomplish. 

    Despite the fact that I was ready, please know when I say that it has been easy-- that this leg of my journey has been an easy-breezy, piece-of-cake sort of adventure-- know that it hasn't. I also don't mean that it has been easy in a pseudo-psycho celebrity sort of way-- like, when you hear the A-Lister's talk about how they can eat anything they want, never work out, and never gain weight because really, who believes that? When I say easy, I mean easy in the way that, because my mindset has totally shifted-- because I was totally ready to make this change-- that I am surviving relatively unscathed throughout this journey.

    Seriously, there are days when I want to eat my arm off because I am so hungry. Those days aren't easy. There are also days when I want to skip my walk or workout because I could really (and pardon my French here) give a shit if I ever exercised again. Those days aren't so easy either. But, the days that are good, like the first day that I ran (well, jogged, if truth be told) a mile without stopping-- well, that was a really freaking awesome day. Or, the day I packed up my size 18's for a smaller size-- well, that was a really freaking awesome day too.

     I know that I still have a really long journey ahead of me before I can say that I have accomplished my weight loss goal but 25 pounds was a big milestone for me. I am a third of the way there and I am pretty excited about it! On to the next 25 . . .

     P.S. A HUGE shout out to everyone that has been there supporting me, I couldn't have made it this far without you all! I am so very grateful! Oh, and so very blessed. :)

   

     

    

Thank you Goodwill donator...I love you!

Vintage rocks. So do the people that give it away.

To the person that donated the incredibly beautiful-but-ugly, hand-knit, oversized, vintage, mustard yellow sweater to Goodwill- I love you, seriously, I do.

I happened upon this gem of a sweater over the weekend. It ranks as one of my greatest all-time vintage finds. Seriously. It’s one of those fantastic pieces that I never dreamed of finding, ever. I intend to wear this sweater every fall and winter for the rest of my life. My husband is already sick of it (he rolled his eyes and mumbled something about my find of a lifetime being ugly) and I haven’t even worn it yet! The nerve of some people! Beauty is in the eye of the beholder I guess. Luckily, while I occasionally value his opinion when it comes to my attire,  the hub has never been, nor ever will be, my fashion consultant. Anyways...

Except for a small hole in the sleeve, which my dear and incredibly talented friend, Donna Roberts, has already fixed, the sweater was in near perfect vintage condition. I honestly am still kind of in shock that I was lucky enough to score this wonderfully, odd-but-adorable, one-of-a-kind piece. Definitely, my lucky day. I already have several outfit scenarios swirling around in my brain once September rolls around. Not to wish the spring and summer away, but...

Anytime I find a vintage piece of some kind, I always wonder where it came from. What is its history? Who was the original owner? What kind of person were they? What possessed them to get rid of such an awesome bag, pair of shoes, sweater, piece of jewelry or coat? One woman’s trash is another’s treasure, that’s for sure!

In the case of my newly treasured sweater, I think it has had a wonderful life. I imagine it was knitted with love, has traveled to exotic places, and spent countless hours in front of a fireplace keeping its previous owner comfy and cozy over many a cold winter’s night. Or maybe it has been shoved in a trunk for the last 40 years, who knows? All I know is that now this lovely piece of knitted history is mine, all mine.

Whatever its past, the golden sweater has now found a loving home and an owner that will cherish it always. Yeah, I know it’s just a sweater but now it’s MY sweater... Did I already mention that?

To the person that donated the beautiful-but-ugly, hand-knit, oversized, vintage, mustard yellow sweater to Goodwill,  I thank you from the bottom of my heart and I love you- seriously, I do.

(Pic from http://rosemaryblueboutique.blogspot.com/2011/06/heres-what-keep-rosemary -blue-driven.html)

Facing fears and finding me part two...

So, I did it! It's been about a little over a month now since stepping foot on a scale for the first time in nearly a decade. I sucked it up and stepped on and boy, was I surprised. I weighed 40 pounds more than I thought--30 pounds more than the 'worst case scenario' number I had in my head! I got on and off the scale three times just to make sure.

Crazy I know. I am an intelligent human being. How could my judgment be so far off? How could I weigh that much and not have a freaking clue? I suppose there's a thousand reasons why but none of them would have changed the number flashing before my eyes. Did I freak out? Incredibly, no. In fact, the first thing I did was say, out loud, to myself,  WTF?  Then I chuckled, because, in all reality, that's about all I could do. Boy, years of denial and unaccountability sure don't get a person very far.

Nonetheless, I accepted it for what it was, a number on the scale- nothing more, nothing less. The number didn't change me as a person, it didn't change my goals (other than I had an extra 40 pounds to lose on top of the 40 I thought I needed to), and it surely did not define my worth as a person.

As I began contemplating what to do about my weight and how obviously out of control it was, I began to think about all of my rides on the weight loss roller coaster over the years. I thought about what has worked, what didn't, where I've gone wrong, and where I've excelled when it comes to my weight, health, and fitness. When I looked at the big picture-- when I took everything I knew and put it into perspective-- things became pretty clear. I didn't need a miracle weight loss drug, prepackaged expensive meals, or a stock pile of diet shakes in a can. I just needed to take what I already knew and apply it, with no excuses, denial, or unrealistic expectations.

First of all, I know that true change takes time. So often when we "go on diet" we take drastic steps. We try to make too many big changes all at once. Although it may work temporarily, this approach is rarely sustainable. To truly achieve lasting change, slow and steady always wins the race. My ultimate goal is to be a marathon running, mountain climbing, vegan but if I woke up tomorrow and decided to do all three, I would fail miserably. I first need to be able to run a mile, climb the stairs without getting winded, and make it a week without meat before I can take another step forward. It's much easier to change one thing and make it permanent, then to change several things at once and fail at them all.

Secondly, take the word "diet" out of your vocabulary. Instead, commit to making positive healthy lifestyle changes. For instance, the change I made after hopping on the scale was to not to eliminate 1000 calories a day from my diet but to commit to increasing my fruit and vegetable intake-- a positive healthy change. Getting my fruit and veggie allotment daily has led to me increasing my water intake which in turn has led me to increase my exercise time which leads to me making better food choices. You get the picture.

Thirdly, be accountable! Record your calorie intake, step on the scale, let others know your goals, write about it, join a weight loss support group, whatever it takes to be accountable for what goes into your body. I have been using an app on my phone called My Fitness Pal. You can track every morsel that goes into your body, record exercise time, take notes etc. It's a wonderful tool that I have used faithfully for the last month, even when I have gone over my calorie limit and haven't wanted to admit it. There are countless other tools and apps online and for your phone. Being accountable to yourself can be difficult but the rewards are worth it. If you aren't accountable, your weight can easily get out of hand (see above).

Next, get educated! Learn about the foods you are putting into your body and what those foods do to it. You might find that you no longer find fast food or sweets so enjoyable. I learned a lot about food several years ago when, following my sister-in-law's example, we started eating all-natural and organic foods whenever possible. We now cook most of our meals. Frozen, processed foods are a thing of the past (the one exception is frozen pizza.) Around that same time I took a research paper writing class that was about the food industry in the United States. Because of what I learned, fast food became a rarity in our household. The more I learn, the better choices I make.

Another thing I have learned over the years is that a change in the way you think about food is essential! We Midwesterners are fabulous at rewarding ourselves with food. We indulge because "we deserve it." We indulge because we love food. We indulge, because... well, for any reason we can think of. Have you ever said this to yourself? "I was so good this week on my diet that I deserve a cupcake (or cookie or chips...)."  No you don't! You don't "deserve" to feed your body trash because you "were good." Thinking like that sets yourself up for failure. Instead, if you really need the cupcake, have the cupcake but do it because you are making a responsible choice to eat that cupcake, not because you "deserve it." Do it because you allowed yourself the calories or spent an extra 30 minutes on the treadmill. Make the cupcake a choice and not a reward. It's a little attitude change that can have big effects on what you ultimately choose to put into your body. You wouldn't give an alcoholic a shot of whiskey to reward sobriety so why do we think it's okay to reward ourselves with food when we are "good?"

Lastly, be patient. I know that I didn't become overweight overnight, so I'm sure not going to lose it over night. This unfortunately is much easier said than done-- patience can be SO hard to practice! When we lose patience, we make unhealthy choices. Maybe you'll succumb to a harsh crash diet to drop pounds faster or maybe you'll just give up because it's taking too long to lose the weight. I've done both, to no avail. There inevitably will be days when you make good choices and days when you don't. There will be days that running for a hour will seem like a walk in the park and other days when 10 minutes on the treadmill will seem like a lifetime. Know that it's okay to have those hard days. Take days like that one minute at a time if you have to. With patience, those days will be fewer and farther between.

I have to consciously think of these things every single day to keep myself on track. Some days are SO hard and others, not so much. So far, I've lost 11 pounds in one month! It feels good to be without that extra weight. Soon I'm going to be rewarding myself, not with a cupcake, but with new pants. I can't wait!.