Ready, Set, Go! Again.

I am knee deep in endeavoring to keep more weight away from my waist (and hips, and arms, and . .well, all of me.) But even more, I am endeavoring to improve my my overall health; that entails eating healthier, exercising regularly, and not crossing the street against the light or other not so prudent acts that may result in massive head trauma or broken bones.

I've been down this road before. I've been successful before. I am trusting that I can be successful again. But, more than reaching a weight loss goal, or achieving multiple (consecutive) days of healthful eating and hitting exercise targets, I am looking to achieve a lifestyle shift toward a health-filled existence.

Every journey begins with a step. I celebrate the steps taken to date, and the steps yet to come.

#MicroBlogMonday. (click the link to see, read more)    

Flashbacks

My Grandma "Big Mama" (w/my kids) 

My Grandmother (w/my dad) 

My mom (with my daughter) 

As you may imagine, yesterday was a bitter to sweet kind of day.  I spent much of the day alone (well, the dog and cats were about, but you get my drift) and as often happens when I'm with myself my mind flashes to times, past and present, good and bad.

Through music, FB tributes, other blogs, my scrapbooks of notes and photos, I walked through our histories, my memories. I am because they were. I miss them, I love them. I am grateful to have been and to remain part of them and to have them with me, now and forevermore.

#MicroBlogMonday 

May We Go All The Way

No cook, mason jar oatmeal.                      

Four years ago I had a girlfriend. Weird to be saying girlfriend in my mid-fifties, (well, I wasn't mid at the time) but still . . .   that's what we were, girlfriends. And April per FB memories was our signature month. She shared and spoke with me much four years ago April  Not to long beyond April she stopped talking and eventually, broke up with me. But, I am veering off track. The track being: healthy eating. My good friend over at 8th Day proposes a community challenge of small changes to daily eating that will hopefully lead to lasting changes toward eating healthily.

Some of the small changes referenced in the post  are changes that I'd already adopted on some level but I have not been consistent to the discipline. Thus, I am joining the challenge. One of my hurdles is having healthier options readily available. Which brings me back to the girlfriend.

Four years ago she shared a no cook, mason jar oatmeal recipes link.I bookmarked the link but had not ever gotten around to trying any of the recipes. Then, we broke up, life took a turn toward death, grief, unemployment, and . . . well, suffice to say, I forgot all about living healthily let alone, no cook mason jar oatmeal.

If not for the "On This Day" FB feature no cook, mason jar oatmeal would have remained forgotten. Now, however, I am anxious to pick up the supplies and ingredients needed to make several days worth. I am already doing smoothies a couple of days a week, oatmeal in a more traditional serving method for a couple others. Breakfast done healthier is rolling along fairly well. The no cook, mason jar oatmeal will help mightily.

Lunch and Dinner need much more work. In preparation of the challenge, my grocery list included more fruit and vegetables. My week one challenge is to include at least one vegetable with both lunch and dinner this week.  

In addition to taking on the May Healthier Eating Challenge, May is also National Bike Month. My hope is

that weather permitting Melody and I are rolling more and more hours this month. April has been dismally wet and cold. Not at all conducive to Melody trips. Here's to taking a lasting turn toward sustainable lifestyle changes and healthier living. Thank you to FB for prompting a memory. Though the relationship ran aground, I am happy for having had the experience. I remember much of our time together fondly, now.

#healthier eating challenge week 1 

Leap, Circle and Yearn

Last year PBS Newshour presented a segment with musician Rob Kapilow speaking  

to why the song is so good. He makes a good point, I guess. . 

All I know is I love the film. I ♥ this song. 

Music is life. 

A Week in Pictures

 The nature challenge mentioned last week in this space resulted in the posting of these ten photos (3 for day seven). The first, taken the day after the challenge was issued, is a neighboring yard. The house behind the yard is empty and I believe, has been for some time. One of the things I love most about Spring is the surprise blooms of perennials in gardens of all shapes.

Day Two, you've seen before 

    

 Day Three, a neighbors Mum display from Fall 2015. 

Day 4.  Call of the Not So Wild 

Day 5. One of the Amazing Local Parks 

Day 6 HI Fall 

Day 7 (1) Winter, not Blah 

Day 7 (2) Summer Bloom 

Day 7 (3) Array of Fall Colors 

Day 7 (4) Spring Bling

Some of these pics are from archived shots, a couple are new with the challenge in mind. A good friend who accepted my nomination, said on her 7th day posting,

"I opened my eyes to new things this week ... noticed such beauty that I wouldn't usually take notice of."  I had a similar kind of reaction. I am a fairly observant person. But, what I noticed most during this challenge, was a concerted effort to observe differently. I walked down the same blocks, but on the other side of the street, for instance. I look forward to exploring with my camera in hand, to see if what I see, is what I document. :-) 

#MicroBlogMonday 

Forever Purple

GobsmackeD

There are words, so many thoughts swimming around in my head but they won't release. 

Not now. 

RIP Prince Rogers Nelson   

Nature for Seven Days

A friend was nominated a friend for a FB exercise; post a nature pic for the next seven days and nominate a friend to do the same. Should the nominated friend  take up the exercise, they are to nominate a friend, and so on and so on. 

Thus, I'm participating in a FB exercise to post a nature pic for seven days. The above photo is day two of the exercise. I posted this: The beauty and majesty of trees make me swoon. Over the next few days there may be more trees. with the photo. 

Looking through my current stock of nature photos, I observed that many include buildings. Well, I do live in a very urban area. But, even as I've traveled to or through scenic areas, the photos tend to include people, animals, or buildings--making those things the focus--over the scenery. 

Observation: a focus shift may be in the works. 

#MicroblogMonday   
Follow the link for more Micro Monday.

Sun, Stay

Welcome to Friday. 

Friends, Family, Framily

This song emerges from my memories often. A hit, in my 

daughter's birth year (a remake of a previous version 

recorded in my son's birth year) it was one of my 

mom's favorites.  It has taken on a newer life for 

me in recent years. Thank you, Friends. ♥ 

F*cking B*tch, Get A Life

Ian L / Public Domain 

Sunday, March 27, 2016. Otherwise identified as "Easter Sunday" began like any other Sunday. It was laundry day for the Middle Girl ladies. We decided to cab it over using the car share option. Since we only had the laundry run, a cab made more cents financially.

The cab ride and transaction to the laundry mat was more-or-less uneventful. The driver friendly and efficient enough. The return driver was huffy from the start. He went from huffy to out-and out belligerent when I asked to used the credit / debit card swipe and nasty when I passed on adding a tip.

"Don't you have 7 dollars?" "Why don't you take a bus?" He huffed and puffed about the expense of the credit / debit option. There was a bit of back and forth. (read: not a discussion. think: yelling match)
As he was pulling off he yelled into the still of this Easter Sunday morning, "F*ck you, you f*cking b*tch! Get A Life!" 

Get. A. Life. . .   Here I thought breathing, walking, talking, working, mothering a son and daughter, nurturing pets, volunteering, writing, drawing, and a bunch of other stuff was me having a life. It isn't? If not, then what is?

I do so love laundry day. 

Waiting Can Be Trying

not a product endorsement. just cute as heck. 

That is all. For now. 

March On

A wee bit of randomness for this last Monday in March: 

Sunday was nice enough, long enough for a short ride; first of the season. Given-the-givens body feeling pretty good. A damn sight away from agile, but again, given-the-givens, pretty good. 

Tuesday (tomorrow) is the anniversary of the birth of this blog. I updated the inaugural post last year to commemorate the event, late. This year I am early. Whoopee. ten Years. Wow. WoW  

Saturday I intend to attend the first social event not connected to family in some/any way in many, many, (even more many) months. I'm a little nervous. Okay, I am a lot nervous. 

I do not believe Spring is here to stay yet. The photo shown is a couple of years old but is from a group labeled, "snow in April" (though THIS photo was taken in May). Point is, too soon to dust off the Spring togs, full on. My daughter is of the opinion that the winterizing efforts should remain in place until after 5 days of wanting to open the windows have gone by.  Five days feels long to long for fresh air. But, she has a point. We'll see how this week plays out, weather wise. 

The coffee experiment is going well. The household is now out of coffee. Having a cup at home means going out, which I am not apt to do. As far as coffee on the way to work, or at work, I feel the handle on that is fully and firmly grasped, given I've already gone two weeks without succumbing to either of those options. . 

And as for how I feel . . . given-the-givens, pretty good.

#MicroBlogMonday   

Same Ole Love

Album: Rapture: Release Date: March 20, 1986 

From beginning to end, 365 days a year . . .  

Despite the fact that I'd given birth to my second child only a few months before, I was far from a "happy in love" station (in the romantic sense). Life was, in a word, turbulent. It became less so over the years but right when this song / album came out I was dreaming of a past that never really was and for a future I hoped to secure. Same ole . . but, new.  

Anita Baker roller skating. Swoon. 

Cool Poultry

Buttah Explored*

Last week I participated in an experiment of my own design. For the five work days, I went without coffee.
It was a trial. Even though I do like teas and drink them fairly often, tea is not my go-to hot beverage. It is certainly not my, "getting up in the morning, on the go" beverage. Or, it wasn't until last week.

It was Thursday before I wasn't actively craving coffee and considering abandoning the experiment. Still, on Saturday morning upon reporting to a rare Saturday shift, the coffee had brewed and it called me, loudly.

The first taste was gulped hungrily. I soon settled into a more respectable sipping and savored with glee. I had coffee again at home on Sunday and it was swell. Quite.

This Monday morning the day begins with Green Tea with Honey and Ginseng to have alongside some cottage cheese, sliced strawberries and peaches, saving coffee for a weekend pleasure.

Maybe.

The experiment shall continue for the next few weeks, or for as long as I can stand. Unless, it is proven that there is (or is not) a direct correlation to the hot beverage of choice and overall eating habits. (I believe I eat poorly and / or make poor choices when I drink coffee and not so much when I have tea. I also tend to drink more coffee and less of other beverages (like water).
The theory may be all wet, but there it is.

It may simply be mind over matter.

Whatever the case, appreciable and measurable changes must be made and maintained--forevermore.

This is a new start.

#MicroBlog Monday *
*Happy Anniversary Twitter*

Welcome to Friday

"We have to live together."

Second Monday in March

A co-worker asked what I was doing for St. Patrick's Day. I replied, it is Thursday. I'll be doing what I do most every Thursday. No big whoop. I just hope the weather stays more like spring rather than deciding to deliver a winter blast.

Bigger than St. Patrick's Day (in my opinion) for the up-coming week, is our state's primary.  Election day is Tuesday and if last Friday is any indication, it shall be a bumpy ride. The weather may keep most folks off the street. Hopefully, most folks voted early.

The best aspect of this week (and the advent of Daylight Saving Time) is that Spring is officially around the corner; sunshine, blue skies, fields of blooms. May the Sun shine warm upon all our faces.

#MicroBlogMonday
click the link for more Monday Musings 

O Say, What'd He Sing?

This song has been blowing through my mind for the last several weeks. Why? I don't know. I mean, yes, I used to love it but hadn't thought about it for years. Like most of Smokey's song catalog it is about love, falling in love, being in love, loving - - - L O V E. And that is not where I am or have been. Well, except with . . well, that's another post.

Anyways . . . I always thought I knew this song like the back of my hand. For while I hadn't thought about it for years and years until a few weeks ago, I used to listen to it often.  Blow, baby.  And so, as I couldn't get the song off my mind, I decided to build a post around it. And even thoughI felt I knew the song backward and forward, I checked lyric sites none-the-less.

And now, I'm thrown.

The first stanza after the chorus: When you sigh, weak am I, A butterfly caught up 
in a hurricane, hurricane. Lucky me, umbrella free. Suddenly I'm caught up in your summer rain

Those lyrics are in my bones. I've listened to the song again and again and again in the past several weeks and that is what I hear.

Or is it that I have always believed those lyrics to be true and refuse to hear it any other way?

Most of the lyric sites have the lyrics to that stanza as follows:

Windy sigh, weaken my Butterfly caught up in a hurricane, hurricane
Lucky me, I'm better free, Suddenly I'm caught up in your somber rain

I mean, I listen to the song and try to hear those lyrics....but, I can't. In my mind it is fairly obvious what he's singing and it anything about being better free (WTF?) or somber rains.. idiotic. Really.

So, I don't trust the site. I trust what I hear/d.   It is in my bones.


PS. Good golly I miss albums and liner notes with song lyrics.



  

On Repeat

I got Aretha in the morning
High on my headphones and walking to school
I got the blues in springtime 'cause I know that I'll never have the right shoes

Momma she'd notice but she's always crying
I got no one to confide in, Aretha nobody but you
Momma she'd notice but she's always fighting
Something in her mind and it sounds like breaking glass

This song / recording is old however new it may be to me. I heard it for the first time a couple of weeks ago while listening to one of those DIY streaming music sites. It was suggested because I played (or searched) for something else. I don't even know what the something else is now. I may have it written down somewhere but for the life of me, I can't bring IT to the surface now. If it is meant to come back to me, it will. But for now, I am all over Rumer (stage name) Sarah Joyce and her tale of a girl being lifted by the music of Aretha Franklin, trying to forget just how bleak life is for her and her mom. .  

PS:  Spring? Oh yeah, two words: wintry mix. 

Minding Your Words

Or even as thought balloons that lingered for quite some time after the words were spoken. . .

#MicroBlogMonday 

Tough Week

I'm trying, but it isn't working out so well this week. It is taking every single ounce of energy I have to get up, get to work, do my work (to the best of my ability) and make it home, where this week I've been crashing, asleep before eleven only to wake up at 2: 30 ish. Again at 3:30 ish and yet again, at 4:30 ish, only to have to be up by 5:30 and out the door by 7--to do it all over again.  I'm trying not to dwell, I'm trying not to wallow. But, I don't feel like doing anything but wallowing. But, she wouldn't like that so again, I rise.

May 26, 1940 - Feb. 18, 2013
Peace, be still.