The coolest way to flavor up

I not only did I find today's blog title in my spam folder, it comes from Subway.
Bahahhahaahh

Rain,my roommate may be moving out. I will miss her.  I will miss her.
I will miss her. I will miss her.

But she needs to go and take the damn kitten with her.

Halle is raising hell in my house.
She likes to play with the doors around 6 in the morning. Her play causes the doors to rock back and forth as if the wind were moving it or someone was knocking on the door.
It took two mornings for me to realize that Halle as using the door as a toy and my roommate was not knocking on the door then running out of the house.

And she has caused so much destruction. This is the dwarf snake plant that I inherited from an old roommate.  The entire pot had been full of the plants. Now..... I pulled out a few of the rhizomes and potted them in pots that are kept higher than her launching reach.





Which leads me to this picture of Fuzzy (formerly known as Little Cat). Halle terrorizes her so much she can only find peace by jumping into high spaces.


Halle pretends to innocently look for ants. She is actually waiting for Fuzzy's defenses to calm down. As soon as she drops from the bar stool, Halle will chase Fuzzy throughout the house.

Their "play" as my roommate describes it has led to so much destruction.
This used to be a brown wall below the window. Halle likes to try to sit in the window sills like Fuzzy. Her efforts to climb herself onto the ledge are recorded in my wall.  She must do everything that Fuzzy can do. Sadly, she is still a kitten and her efforts damage my house.

I dare you to caption that picture on the LOLcats website.

My college graduation photo. I think she chased Fuzzy into jumping onto the hutch to be rid of her. I kept this photo in its frame on the hutch. The hutch stands 5 feet high. The picture is stuck to the glass. I fear that it is forever ruined.

My jade plant. I nipped a bit of this plant from my father's plant at his house last Thanksgiving. He laughed at me when I did it. Dad sinformed me that it would not grow unless I took some of his super special soil mix. Meh. I stuck it in a pot and it grew wonderfully until Halle cat learned to leap the two feet needed to sit on the TV cabinet.

And finally the floor lamp that until recently had a glass half globe shade .I have had this lamp and its shade through 3 apartments and now my house.
I should retire this lamp but the living room needs the light. I am going to look for a replacement floor lamp with a cloth shade next month or so. Until then, I am still in mourning.










Fortunately, I have fresh strawberries from the yard to make some strawberry lemonade (plus rum) to comfort me while I give Halle cat the side eye.

Make your winky colossal

Not too long ago, I arrived late to my weekly knitting group. As I pulled off my jacket one of the gals exclaims,
"I am always the last to know."

I was startled by the excitement in her voice. I did not know what she meant until she said in a much softer tone,
"I see that you are expecting."
I replied just as quietly, "no, I am just fat."


I should get a t-shirt.

And that began my serious consideration for changing my diet and routine to lose some weight.


I started the Fat Smash diet back in February. It went well for the first three phases. Then one day, during a sorority event, someone pulled out a package of Reese's Eggs. I lost it.
I ate so many of those delicious peanut butter filled eggs that there was no turning back. By the third phase I had stopped paying attention to the diet. Needless to admit, I did not finish the diet.
So long control.
Hello Reese's Cups. I started putting them in my lunch box to control the urges.
I found that my lack of control for the delicious treats remained even when I tried to ration them.
Sigh
I simply must stay away from them.

Fortunately, some of the Fat Smash diets habits remained.
I still take small bags of carrots to work everyday. I still try to make a salad for dinner every night with chicken or a crab cake. I make large rice dishes that I divide out for my daily lunches. I add fish, chicken or beans for the protein.

I did lose a few inches and about 8 pounds. Then nothing.
So....
I have decided to take up jogging. More importantly, I decided to embark on a 5k training schedule.
I have learned something pretty funny.
At the gym, I used the indoor track to practice my run/walk intervals. Of course, I am sharing the track with amateur athletes. The downside of working at a college and using the gym. I am surrounded by beautiful people.
Younger beautiful people.
During one of my running intervals I noticed that the lithe young man wearing the "Panther CC" shirt walked faster than I could jog. I mentioned this to him.
It probably isn't a good idea to converse with people on the indoor track. The young man almost tripped over himself with laughter into a group of pack joggers. 
My jogging style is called slogging. Watch this video explaining it.

Slow Motion Jogging - watch more funny videos




More updates to follow. 
And the count down to turning forty begins - see below

Good Day Dear

I admit it.
I crochet and knit in public. 
My niece graduated a few weeks ago. I am sitting in the stands in 90 degree weather waiting for the ceremony to begin. You can see that I have already begun my knitting project. It was on my lap and make of acrylic.

Here I am walking with my newly graduated niece to meet the rest of the family. Note the bag of knitting for public display.

Yes, it sometimes puts my friends off. Fortunately, I also hear comments like "I am used to it."
I take my crochet and knitting just about everywhere.

I tend to drift off during meetings and trainings. I have found that if I keep my hands busy under the table, I can pay attention for longer periods. Sometimes memories of what I have learned or experienced become associated with the project that I created. I think the psychologists call that a memory trigger.
Sadly, there have been a few items that I have created with memories that I wanted out of my house.  Forcing me to give the item away.

I rarely put my knitting away to ease the discomfort of other people. I can craft in moving cars, trains, and while walking in the park. I can refuse any request to "Make me something" without dropping a stitch.  I can stop at anytime, too. It is not an addiction. I just choose to do it wherever I am.

I can sit and craft without complaint for almost an hour. Add in some beer or wine and I need to pull it back to 30 minutes.  Place chocolate in front of me and I am putting it away completely.

Spent time with family this weekend

Click here to view these pictures larger

My sister only has one more child to get through the perils of elementary and secondary education. Two will be in college this Fall. Pray for her......