I did it!

Way, Way back when I started this blog, I posted that I was working towards losing some weight. I had gained about 30 pounds during a rather stressful period, and was really struggling to lose it again.

I can't say that I was diligent in sticking to my diet all year. Some months would be good, I'd lose 2 or 3 pounds, and others I would lose nothing...or *gasp* put a pound or two back on.

Last November I was about 15 pounds off from my goal of losing 25 by February. Things were getting a bit stressful again, I had actually gained back 5 of what I had lost, and feared I was going into a downward spiral.

But then I saw a picture of me, double chins, puffy face, my shirt fitting tighter than it should, and I strengthened my resolve. I was determined to get rid of that 15 pounds by February, but not really sure how I would do it.

It turns out I found a perfect diet program, it's easy and costing me nothing. I got a job!

I've been working 3 or 4 days a week at a ski resort, working in food services, sometimes doing 14 to 15 hour shifts, on my feet, with very short breaks.

I don't have time to eat when I am there, I am running around for hours on end, up and down stairs, carting dishes & glasses, picking things up off the floor. Seeing all that food, it turns me off it, and I don't even have a desire to eat when I get home, so I make myself something small and healthy so I don't get sick.

I managed to get rid of my snacking habit, I've reduced my portion sizes, and I am drinking a tonne of water every day.

This morning, I stepped on the scale and was so happy to see, that here we are, February 5, 2008, and I have reached my goal. I am now 195 pounds, and I hope to maybe even lose a bit more.

It feels good to have my clothes fit right. I look in the mirror and I can actually see my cheekbones, and I only have one chin. I sit down and a roll of fat doesn't spill out over the top of my pants, and my zipper isn't straining to stay closed.

I took my measurements over the weekend, Since last February I have lost two inches off my waist, two off my chest, and two off my hips. My upper arm is a whole inch smaller, and my thighs are down an inch & a half. And since I started taking my measurements, in August of 2006 when I was at my heaviest, I am down three and a half inches from my waist, four and a half from my hips, and three from my chest.

I'm pretty pleased, and don't think I will be so afraid of the camera now. I can't wait for the summer, I'll be able to fit back into all my old summer clothes, and won't be so ashamed to wear a pair of shorts!

Yay me!

Not Lonely Anymore

It's been almost a year since I started this Blog, more than a year since I started my other blog Spandex & Hairspray.

I know I hardly write in these anymore, but the thing is, I'm no longer the "Lonely Work at Home Mom, Living in the Middle of Nowhere" I'm still living in the middle of nowhere, but lonely, most days, I am not.

I consider myself extremely lucky. About 8/9 months ago, I started re-connecting with many of my old friends. At first it was just one or two, but soon it exploded into many people I used to know. I found my best friends from high school, two girls who I had missed terribly for more than 15 years. I've re-connected with the people I went out with on the weekends. A great group of people who used to go to the teen dance club, hang out at the pool hall or Tim Horton's, and played football down at the lake on Sunday afternoons.

I've been really lucky to become close to a few people that I only knew as acquaintances as a kid. People I always liked but never got to know that well. We've found ourselves having so much in common, raising teenagers and young children of our own, trying to make a living and keep a roof over our heads. We all have struggled with feeling lonely and missing the fun we had as kids. Some are going through marriage breakups, some are starting new relationships. So much has changed over the years, we all have been through so much.

But now here we are, in our mid to late 30's, most of us having only minimal contact for the last 15 years. However, put us all in a room together, and it feels like no time has passed at all. We are so happy to see each other, you can tell by the smiles on our faces, the twinkle in our eyes. The guys get a bit rowdy, play fighting and pulling gags on each other. The girls sit back, talk & take everything in, laughing so hard at times our cheeks hurt and our guts ache.

We've had parties and get togethers. We might go to the bar, or just have a coffee at Tim Horton's. We send emails and text messages to each other, refusing to lose contact again. We give each other shoulders to cry on, help each other out in any way we can. Even if it is just a distraction from the pressure of being an adult & the responsibilities that brings, having that help, someone there who understands, it makes all the difference in the world.

I know they say if you are lucky enough to have one good friend in your life, that can mean everything. For that reason, I consider myself one very lucky girl, for having these people in my life again means so much to me. I will never again take for granted how important friends can be. I've learned that being a good friend takes effort and patience, but it can be the most rewarding thing you will ever do.

In a nutshell....despite all the stresses I may have, the worries about money, my kids, about work, despite all of that, my life is really awesome, and I have my friends to thank for it.

When will people ever learn?

You know how sometimes something really pisses you off and you just need to get it out? I'm having one of those moments.

There is a restaurant in here in The Middle Of Nowhere that is owned by two of our younger residents. It's not a bad place, service is a little slow, but the food is good. However, I never eat there because the one of the owners, Kelly, is a total, complete, Bitch.

She is rude to the customers, has a knack for pissing of the local residents, never does anything to assist in improving our town, unless it has a specific benefit to her. Being on the Chamber of Commerce, I have had a few dealings with her, and had resolved to keep as far away from her as possible, and never refer any more business her way.

I know this may seem a bit harsh, but this week, she did something to PROVE she is worthy of my spite.

I read in the paper this week, the Kelly was spotted driving erratically through town, speeding and swerving down the street. A number of residents called the police, and Kelly was spotted doing 135km/h in an 80 zone. She was pulled over, given a breathalyzer and was found to be 3 times the legal limit.

Not only is she an ass for pulling a stunt like this, having consumed the alcohol at her establishment, she did it at 4:00 in the afternoon. ON A MONDAY! The time when out kids are walking down the street on their way home from school. The roads are filled with school busses dropping of this towns most precious residents.

That stupid, stupid woman. You better believe I will repeat this story to anyone who asks about where to eat in town. There will be no referrals coming from the local tourist booth I am in charge of. There will be no more including her restaurant in local events. That bitch has pissed off the wrong woman!

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On a side note, I really hope to get back in to this writing thing. It will be slow at first, as I have a lot on the go right now, but soon, I plan on being back!

More Shirley & Earl...

So Shirley & Earl are at it again, and this time they have taken it too far!

It's a long story, so I'll try to be as brief as possible.

Last weekend we had a friend staying with us. This must have really irritated Shirley & Earl, because they called both the Fire Department and the Police Department on us. They were accusing us of leaving a fire unattended, and get this....driving the lawnmower drunk!

True we did have a fire going in the fire pit. My husband had doused it with water before going up the street a little bit, on foot. It is possible it was smoldering, but we have a safe, controlled fire pit, in the middle of an old garden, with nothing but dirt and concrete around it. There was also a garden hose sitting right beside it, in case of a flare up.

And yes, our friend was booting around on our lawn tractor, and he was likely a little less than sober. But the thing only goes 10km/hr, he was not using the blades, and it was early evening, not late at night or anything. We live out in the country, tractors are always being run around here, including by Earl who runs a farm!

Now, the best part is, while this was all going on, I was in town, running a fundraiser to save our Old Firehall. A cause that is important to our fire department. I happened to come home while the Fire Chief and another Fireman were still at the house. They thanked me for all the work I had been doing, told me that the guys were doing nothing wrong, and apologized for bothering us. They also gave their sympathy for having to live where we do.

A few minutes later the police arrived, and were stopped by the firemen, who told them it was a false alarm, there was no trouble there. I could tell by the way the police car sped away, the cop was none too happy about being called out there.

Through all of this, Shirley was standing in her yard, taking it all in. I am sure she was right pissed, but it serves her right.

The following night, we were out at the fire again. Another friend showed up, and wanted to let off some fireworks he had brought. Again, I stress, I live in a rural area. This kind of stuff goes on all the time here, no one minds at all. If it's not firecrackers, it's some farmer shooting groundhogs in his backyard. Personally, I prefer the firecrackers.

So, we agreed let him let off just a couple, I didn't want to bother anyone else in the neighbourhood. WELL....Earl came out and started yelling over the fence, calling us Asshole's, threatening to call the cops again. We just laughed it off and waited. Funny, the police never showed.

A year ago, this would have had me in tears, just devastated that these people hated me so much. Thank goodness I have come to the conclusion that it is not just us, Shirley and Earl have real problems. They obviously cannot stand the idea of anyone enjoying life and having a good time. Well, jokes on them...I'm starting to enjoy pissing them off, and having a great time doing it!

Never Say Goodbye...

Okay, so I know I said I am on hiatus, and I am sticking to that. BUT I had to write about the absolutely fantastic night I had last night.

Anyone who knows me, or has read my other blog Spandex & Hairspray, knows that I have a few regrets when it comes to the way some of my friendships from highschool ended. In particular, I felt a heavy sense of loss over the fact that I had not talked to my two very best friends, Emma & Sara, in years.

Well last night, for the first time in more than 17 years, Emma, Sara and I were together again.

I had been chatting with Emma through Facebook for a couple of months now, and then, last month I ran into another old friend who had Sara's phone number. As soon as the three of us got talking again, we knew we had to see each other.

So we met at Sara's for some drinks. I know we all were a bit nervous at first, each of us likely a bit afraid of how the night would go, worried that we had changed too much, and we would have nothing in common anymore.

That fear melted away within seconds of us sitting down together. The conversation flowed with such ease, we talked about or families, or love lives, our careers. We caught up on so much that had been missed over the years, and reminisced about the old days. And we told each other things I have never told anyone, comparing love lives, discussing our feelings about people we know, our spouses and our kids. I felt so comfortable, knowing I could tell them anything, and I would not be judged in any way.

These two girls know some of my deepest darkest secrets. They were with me during some of the toughest times of my life, as well as some of the happiest. So many memories came flooding back, and to be there with the only two people that shared those memories was the most incredible feeling. It was like finding a part of me that had been lost for some time.

We met last night at 7:00. We sat down in Sara's backyard, getting up once and awhile to get another drink, or something to munch on. Usually I am someone that is always looking at my watch, especially when I know I have a long drive home like I did last night. At one point I thought to myself, it must be getting late, so I finally picked up my cell phone to look at the time. I nearly fell off my chair when I realized it was 2:30 in the morning. It felt like no time at all had passed, yet we had been sitting there for more than 7 hours.

You honestly, truly, never have friends again like the ones you had when you were 15. I am so happy, and so grateful I have mine back.

Remember days of skipping school
Racing cars and being cool
With a six pack and the radio
We didn't need no place to go

Remember how we used to talk
About busting out - we'd break their hearts
Together - forever

Never say goodbye, never say goodbye
You and me and my old friends
Hoping it would never end
Never say goodbye, never say goodbye
Holdin' on - we got to try
Holdin' on to never say goodbye

See you in December...

I think I need to go on hiatus.

I started this blog as something to keep my mind occupied during the lonely winter months, when I would sometimes go days, even a week, without leaving the house or seeing anyone other than my family.

Right now I am so busy, with work and the Chamber I don't seem to have any time to devote to writing, let alone thinking about what to write. I even have a bit of a social life now, I've been reconnecting with old friends, going for coffee, going to parties, I have been having a blast!

So I will put this on the shelf, say thank you to the handful of readers I have, and hopefully get back to it in the winter. Because I know, I will be bored. As crazy busy as I am right now, I will be bored to tears come December. And having my favourite blogs to read will remind me there is a life outside the snow banks.

Till then!

Every little thing they do is magic.

I just read a review of the opening night of the Police's North American tour. And you know what.

I am TOTALLY FREAKIN EXCITED!

Even though I have had these tickets in my hot little hands for a couple of months now, I still cannot believe it is true. I never in a million years thought I would get to see the three boys I spent hours listening to as a kid, the band whose greatest hits CD is the only one I have replaced three times. With all the concerts I have seen over the years this one will top them all. The only thing that could top this would be to see Jim Morrison performing with The Doors. And somehow, I just don't think that is going to happen any time soon.

I may have had to pay through my nose to get these tickets on eBay, but I don't feel one smidgen of regret. So my kids may not get new shoes this year, so what if my visa is maxed out. It's THE POLICE!