Sunday Night Chit Chat: Dog Days Of Summer

Howdy Humble Readers...

Just a funny for you to remind you that
it's only FIVE MONTHS until
the return of Downton Abbey!  :)
Source unknown, via Pinterest

I hope you all had a good weekend.  Ours was productive, but blissfully calm.  Grocery shopping, a trip to the farmers market and library, and some final decisions on paint colours for our bathroom and hallway (and a rather expensive trip to the hardware store for supplies).  The only blight on the last few days was the fact that I woke up this morning with a wretched kink in my neck and shoulder that I just can't budge. 

It's been a good week in regards to my weight-loss journey.   I have officially hit the 70lb mark.  This is remarkable considering the lingering crud has kept me from being able to exercise hardly at all for the past few weeks.  I was stuck for quite a while at around 66lb and, as usual, I started to doubt that I would be able to continue to move forward.  It's a tape that plays in my head about how this is the limit, that I won't be able to lose another pound, and that the numbers on the scale will start creeping back up again.  I know it's nonsense, but it's what starts going through my mind. 

One thing that I'm really and truly struggling with is wrapping my brain around the fact that I have lost so much weight already.  I see the commercials on tv for different weight loss programs and exercise equipment (I lust after the bowfl.ex treadc.limber... it would make my quandary about how to get my exercise in during the winter moot) and I see all the spokespeople who have lost 40, 50, and more pounds.  I am shocked to think that I could be one of them.  I still see myself as the 300+ pound lump I was for so long.  And I have moments of surprise... like this morning I was stretched out on the couch and I had room to pull Ginny up to snuggle with me.  I could hardly do that when she was brand new, let alone now that she's my big 2 and a half year old girl.  I know it's going to take time for me to become used to the changes my body is experiencing. 

One other thing that must be mentioned today... If my second angel baby, Olivia, had been born on her due date, she would be four years old today.  In a rather ironic coincidence, or perhaps even a cruel twist of fate, tonight's Disney movie on CBC was "Up".  Ginny loves to see the Disney movies on Sunday night, so I couldn't very well not let her watch it.  I made sure to be out of the room for the first fifteen minutes or so, because I just couldn't handle that on today of all days. 

Anywho, onto tonight's chit chat.  Here's what I'm...

Reading - I finished Fried Green Tomatoes At The Whistle Stop Café by Fannie Flagg yesterday and have just begun Mistress Of My Fate by Hallie (something or other, can't remember right now).  It's a Regency/Jane Austen-esque era novel about a young woman, formerly of good means, who has to find her own way in the world after being orphaned and abandoned by her family.  I'm only a few pages in, but I like the main character's voice already. 

Watching - Nothing in particular right now.  The finale of Whodunnit will be on later this evening, so I'll watch that.  I finally finished watching Rome and thoroughly enjoyed it.  I'm sorry it only lasted two seasons.  I'm now into the BBC series Sherlock (with Benedict Cumberbatch who played Khan in the most recent Star Trek, and Martin Freeman who plays Bilbo Baggins in the Hobbit movies).  I've only watched one episode, but I loved it. 

Listening To - The whir of the fan, a pledge drive on PBS. 

Cooking/Baking - Tonight's dinner was a new recipe, and was a grand success.  It was a Spanish mixed grill (chicken, shrimp, and chorizo... marinated with lemon, garlic, and herbs), and a rice pilaf salad with green bell peppers, tomato, cucumber, and peas .  Very yummy!  Even Ginny ate it with a minimum of fuss and cajoling. 

Happy I Accomplished This Week - Met Mom's beau... seems like a decent guy.  He doesn't say much, so it's hard to have a really clear picture of who he is.  I'll need to come up with a bloggy name for him.  Bought my painting supplies.  Stuck to my daily and weekly to do lists.

Looking Forward To Next Week - Painting next Saturday (my Beloved will be taking the wee-lings down to spend the day with his mom, so I will be alone to do the painting.  I just hope I can get it all done in one day), prepping for the aforementioned painting (filling holes, sanding, etc), and a FUN SURPRISE FOR MY BLOGGY BUDDIES!  Tune in on the 22nd to find out! 

Thankful For - The support of my Beloved, and my family and friends for this on-going weight loss saga.

***Bonus Question*** What is your favourite candy treat?  Before diabetes became a part of my life during my pregnancy with Ginny, I would have told you that while I like the occasional sweet, I was just not a sweets person.  Of course now, my sweet tooth is in perpetual hyperdrive.  There was, however, one candy bar that I just loved, and would indulge in once in a while.  It was called Take Five... layers of chocolate, caramel, pretzel, nuts, and peanut butter.  Candy perfection!  I don't think it's still being manufactured, but I couldn't indulge in it even if it was. 

*****
This was posted as a part of Carla's Sunday Night Chit Chat.  Pop on over and check out what the others are chatting about this evening.