Good Bye 2007!

Today is my last day of eating like there's no tomorrow. Because as we all know tomorrow always has a way of showing up....bringing along excess poundage. I've been eating like a maniac the past few weeks - gearing up for the New Year.

A New Year always offers a fresh start. A time to put the old behind and press on to things unknown. I haven't always resolved to lose weight come January 1st. (There was a time - believe it or not - that I didn't have to.)

Some years I vowed to be more organized. While I didn't totally succeed in my efforts, I did manage to establish a few new habits that have made my life easier. Other years I've vowed to read my Bible daily. That didn't always work either. But it made me keep it on my nightstand and pick it up more oft than not. One year I vowed to quit smoking. I was a two-pack a day girl. I know - very bad! But I geared myself up for it. Mentally and Spiritually. On Jan 1st at about 9:00 am - I smoked my last cigarette. I crumbled up the pack with the remaining cigarettes still in it and tossed it in the trash. I've never smoked another cigarette in my life. Not even a single drag. That was January 1st, 1985. Not bad eh?

So I'm figuring - I can do this too. In 1984 I couldn't imagine my life without smoking. It was all I knew! I smoked all the time - everywhere (that was back when you could still smoke in public places and no one shooed you out on the back porch ) You could smoke on airplanes - in restaurants - anywhere. There was no social impetus to quit. Was it hard? HArd as hell! Hardest thing I've ever done in my life! I struggled a LOT . But I had a game plan. Strategic alternatives to get me through. I avoided social situations the first month. I chewed a lot of gum. I doodled on paper when ever I was on the phone instead of lighting up. (I still can't talk on the phone without doodling to this day!)

And I did it! The first thing I noticed (but didn't expect) was the freedom. I could go someplace and not worry if I had enough smokes to get me through. I didn't have to fumble around to make sure I had a lighter or matches in my purse. I didn't stink anymore. And I could breathe easier and run faster! (unfortunately that's when my weight problems began....but it was a fair trade off at the time.)

So I'm figuring - nothing is impossible! I can do this too. Lose the weight and adapt a healthier lifestyle. And I'm sure there will be some freedom moments that show up as perks this time too!

Like I said - I've been gearing up for this. I'm going to succeed this time. A lot of us are! And this time around - I WILL have progress pictures I can be proud of.

I'm spending the evening at my brother's house to ring in the New Year. I'll eat for sure. But come tomorrow things will change. One day at a time....one pound at a time.

Happy New Year to you all!

Two More Days....

Okay...yesterday's post was a joke. I'm really not giving up and accepting my rolls! Funny as it can be, when we try to sugar-coat the numbers on the scale - there comes a point where you find yourself not really laughing anymore. I got a good gander of some photos taken of me this Christmas and frankly- there was nothing funny about it. First of I realized how "old" looking I've gotten. That I guess I have to accept. But the numerous chins, the jowls, the sagging eyelids - they are a direct result of too much padding!

And the hips - I won't even go there! Suffice to say - reality hit me like a 2x4 and the veil of denial was torn away. I'm one of those people who carries it all in the rear end. Seriously - even in high school when I only weighed 118, I got teased about my butt. Crisco I believe my friends lovingly called me. You know...fat in the can.

But now that lard has crept up to my belly, my arms, my neck, my face!

So this is it. I'm eating with abandon today and tomorrow. Because come hell or high water (my mom always used to say that...I have no idea what it means but she always said it to preface something really important) starting January 1st I am on a new roll (to lose my rolls so to speak!) I'm sticking with the resolutions I posted the other day. My monthly goals. And I'm sticking by them with a vengeance.

I need you guys to push me when I get lax. Encourage me when I want to give up. I'll do the same! We're gonna' look great in 2008!

The Final Countdown....

My youngest daughter left this morning at 6 am with her hubby to go back home to Massachusetts. I miss them terribly already! Which makes the post-Christmas let down even worse. I try to enjoy the week between Christmas and New Years. The decorations are still up... my favorite radio station is still playing Christmas music... and we have one more get together to look forward to. Christmas is something we anticipate for months - and yet it seems some people want it over in a day! Not me. I still light all my candles every night...bask in the glow of the tree...listen to that afore mentioned favorite radio station....

Yet, while I enjoy this last "official" week of the season - it still can be depressing. The stores are already clearing things out to make way for the Valentine's day fare. All along the curbside one can see heaps of discarded boxes and wrappings waiting for the trash man. The stores have lines a mile long with people returning those "perfect" gifts that someone stood in a long line waiting to buy. And probably the worst is when I see a discarded Christmas tree - a few strands of stray tinsel still clinging to the branches - at the roadside on December 26th! What the heck is that all about? Christmas isn't a day - it's a season - a frame of mind - we ease into it and we need to ease out of it. At least I do.

We just celebrated the Savior's birth. Well...He's still here with us. He didn't go away the day after the festivities. But people forget that. It's not just about the presents and parties and food. Sometimes I forget that too....

So as I ease out of this last week of the "official" Christmas season - I'm promising to take some of it with me as I ease into 2008. It will be a year of change and challenge for me. We'll be moving to the new house (though it's not finished yet, we're already starting to pack.) I don't know where I'll be with my job search. I gave myself the rest of this year to nail a teaching job (no one wants to hire a 50 year old) so I'll be doing something totally out of my element soon as I'm forced to move beyond the thing I know and love best. The bills will not wait anymore. And I'm vowing to myself that this WILL be the year that I get my body back to a healthier state. Which means less crap in the pie-hole, more activity on my feet and a concerted effort to handle my stress.

There are challenges all over the place in blog land. We have 3 days to solidify our game plans. Here is mine. I may tweak it and it may change. But for right now - this is how Lora sees 2008.

Each month a new change for me. They say it takes 21 days for a habit to stick. So I'm making new habits to replace the old - one a month. I've learned the hard day that Rome wasn't built in a day and I don't intend to bite off more than I can chew because then I just end up spitting it out!

January - healthy eating. More fruits and veggies less sugar and fat.

February - consistent exercise that is scheduled into my day. Not "fit" in - SCHEDULED in.

That's how far I'm looking into 2008 for now. Come March I'll implement a new change. Slow and steady wins the race. I'm beyond the quick fix mentality. I want changes that stick. Changes I can live with.

Three more days....and I'm ready! Are you?

Recovering....

I'm really tired. Dog tired.

Running on empty! Up till 3:30 Christmas Eve at my brother's house - 4:30 last night at the in-laws and we are heading out to the farm (late hubby's family) in a few hours to celebrate Christmas/Boxing day with all of them. Too many appetizers...too little sleep. Not a good combo.

But 'tis the season and it'll ll be over too soon so I'm enjoying each minute of it!

It's so great to have all the kids together! The youngest and her hubby head back to Massachusetts Friday :-( Until then we'll squeeze out all we can of Christmas 2007.

And then I'll be back. On a mission to regain the lost ground that this season has taken from me as I struggle to not turn into a total blimp from all the holiday treats and the lack of exercise and sleep!

In the meantime - a few photo highlights of Christmas morning!

Merry Christmas!!!

It's Christmas Eve and the excitement has begun! Youngest daughter came in about 2 hours ago and was met with bear hugs and even a few tears from her step-dad. Her hubby will meet up with us at church (he's at his folks right now getting his long awaited hugs also.) We haven't seem them since August!

All of us will meet at church in the pew we've sat in for years (that has seemed so empty since they all moved out...) and then trek over to my brother's house for the real gala.

Christmas Eve has always been the big day in our family! I've got all my gifts loaded to go, the food is prepared and daughter even gave me a crash course in how to use our new camera!

I have a niece coming in from Texas with her fiancee also. It will be so good to have all my siblings, their spouses (even an ex-spouse) and all the kids together for an evening! There will be 24 of us all under one roof - gathered around one tree - laughing - eating - singing - reminiscing. Mom and Dad would be proud that we've managed to stick together and carry the torch they have passed on to us. I miss them today. A lot.

So for now - I have to go see that youngest daughter isn't demolishing my kitchen as she makes cookies. (some things never change *sigh*) But then again - who would want them to!

Merry Christmas to all of my blog readers! May the warmth of the season and the love of our Lord surround you with peace, happiness and health!

A New Camera!

Hubby and I decided to fore go giving gifts to each other this year. Instead we decided to buy ourselves a nice camera that takes pics as well as video. The camera we have takes crappy shots - the battery case falls open and is held together with tape (I kid you not!) So after some research I went out yesterday and picked up the camera. It was the last one in stock! I was so excited to open the box that I started tearing at it while I was driving home.

Too bad I didn't get it all the way open before I got there. What I discovered was a beat up old broken camera inside! It was all scratched up, the lens was sticking out, it was a mess! So I called another branch of the same store and they had two left. I ran over there and snagged one. When I showed them the one I originally bought - they were flabbergasted! The box it came in wasn't even the same design as the one they had. It was an older model. Apparently someone had returned this old beat up camera and the store just re shelved it! I mean c'mon! The camera had to have been used for a good , long time to be in the condition it was in. I'm just thankful I didn't wrap it up and tuck it under the tree. I'm glad I was so excited I just had to look it over right away!

Anyhoo - now it sits on our kitchen counter. We admired it all night. Even put the batteries and memory card in it. But dang if we can figure out how to use the thing! It has so many setting and icons and doohickeys that we were overwhelmed just trying to figure it out. It came with a pretty lengthy guide on how to use it. I suppose we should read that. But we both figured we'd wait until tomorrow when my daughter comes in from Massachusetts with her hubby. She has the same camera. (She was always the technologically savvy one in the family) so she'll show us what to do.

Aren't we pathetic?

Fa La La La Last Minute Shopping...

Whew! What a whirlwind rush these past few days have been. Shopping, shopping, shopping! I have been a good girl and wrapped every single gift as soon as I got it in the house. The tree is surrounded with gifts and they are starting to spill into other corners of the living room. I know it's not all about the gifts. But for some reason I have been so nostalgic for my mom and dad and the Christmases we used to have... And seeing the tree harboring all the tokens of my love for all the people I care about is bringing back some very fond memories.

The thing about being super busy is - it wreaks havoc on your eating. Either I forget to eat all day and then devour half the fridge that night - or I stop and grab something quick - which equates to fast - and we all know about fast food! I have NOT been eating good. And I don't think I will from here on in until the New Year rings in. I definitely have put all on hold until then. And in the meantime have put on about 5 pounds. Yikes!

Thing is - I know that there will be incentives everywhere come January first for weight loss. It has to be THE number one resolution that most people make. I've seen a lot of challenges going up on blogs and I know we'll all be ready to give it our best shot. This next year WILL be the year for some of us. Others will fall away...abandon their blogs...others will hang in there and post...not lose weight (but hang in there just the same) which in my opinion is a good thing - because it means they haven't given up!

So let's make a pact that 2008 is the year we do it! In the meantime - we can still try to make time for exercise in spite of the food temptations the holidays bring. Park a little farther than usual. Use the stairs instead of the elevator. Shovel the walk instead of making hubby do it. Every little bit helps!

I hope y'all have your shopping done! If not - there's a small window of opportunity left. But be forewarned - now is when all the men are hitting the malls (procrastinating creatures that they are...) I try to stay way from the stores when it gets this close (although I always inevitably have to run out for something at the last minute) which can be a real mood wrecker. People that wait until the last minute to shop - aren't so jolly.

Snow? What Snow?

Well so much for the storm! When we left the party last night it was snowing - but no worse than usual. There was a build up on the roads (about 4 inches) but still....no big deal. I expected to wake up this morning and find everything buried. I even had my oldest daughter (who lives alone) come over and spend the night so she wouldn't be snowed in all by herself. Gheesh! Last night the weather advisory was saying not to go out of your house and if you did - make sure you took a blanket and warm gear with you in your car.

So this morning I look out and nothing! I mean, there's some snow out there - but didn't even have to shovel to get to the wood pile to start a fire this morning. I may be eating my words as the warning is in effect till 7 am Monday...but still - all that hype over nothing. Which is good. I'm not complaining. (Remember I said I hate snow?) But a lot of people skipped that party last night in fear of the storm. Oh well...the weathermen aren't God so I guess we can cut them some slack.

The party was nice. The B&B used to be an old Tavern/Inn on the Erie Canal. It has been restored beautifully. The main tavern area had the original ornate bar. Because it's not operated as a bar, my brother (who was throwing the party) hired a bartender and brought in his own beverages. There were three rooms downstairs - each boasting various hors'dourvres that my sister-in-law carefully handpicked from a wonderful caterer. Of course I meandered through each room and sampled everything.

Hubby & I spent a good deal of the evening chatting with the owners of the B&B. They were gracious enough to give us a tour of the guest rooms upstairs and also their private living quarters on the third floor. They shared the history of the place and it was fascinating to step back in time or an evening and imagine all the people who had stopped at the Inn back in the days of horse drawn carriages. The picture above is of the tavern area.

The highlight of the evening though....was this one woman who walked in and immediately collapsed to the floor. Her hubby caught her - right on cue - as she proclaimed that she "felt a presence" and that a "ghost was in our midst." (She claims she's a ghost hunter and can sense these things.) I had to chuckle. Why is it that people think ghosts (which I don't believe in anyway) would only live in old places. I mean - if there were such a thing....wouldn't they be living everywhere? Of course ghosts are actually dead - so I guess they wouldn't be living anywhere so to speak. Anyway - it was amusing.

Time to stoke the fire and make some breakfast before church. And ride out the storm that never was....

Getting Ready for the Storm!

Tonight - Third Christmas party of the season. And we're supposed to get hit with a Nor'easter that promises to leave 20 inches of snow before it's done. Thankfully the party is very close to home. It's to be held at a Bed & Breakfast Inn on the Erie Canal so at least if we get snowed in there'll be a place to sleep! Even my daughter in Massachusetts called this morning to say they were hunkering down to wait it out.

Lately the winters in upstate NY have been relatively mild. We've become spoiled I guess. Used to be...storms like this were the norm at least a few times each winter. Heck - last year I don't think we even ever shoveled the driveway. Like I said...complacency had settled in and now reality has come back to remind us what winter is all about. (I think I've mentioned before - a LOT - that I hate snow.) It's cold. It's wet. It messes your hair and shoes and it's ugly in the spring when it's all dirty and piled up along the edges of the road trying to melt. Sorry to all you skiers and snowmobilers and lovers all that is white and fluffy. I just don't like it!

So I'm already counting down the days till spring. It's funny...my blogger pal Sharon who lives in Australia, has the opposite weather we have here! I remember when we were dragging out the pool toys - they were dragging out their mittens and boots. And now that we are out shoveling our walks - they are fighting flies and wearing shorts! Which goes to show you - you don't need snow for Christmas. Yep. I could live without it.

As for the *ahem* diet - or lack thereof....I'm into the let's start this thing in January mentality which is a really dangerous thing because a lot can happen between now and then - even if it is only 2 weeks away! I've been eating up a storm (as I've noticed many of us are right now) and I guess it's a seasonal thing. Although it always has been an easy time for me in the past. Lately every season has been an uphill battle. With no job to go to - there has been no routine in my life. And kiddos - I need routine. I've got about as much backbone as a jellyfish and I need to be told what to do and when to do it. Given to my own devices - I tend to do whatever I want. Which lately has been - EAT!

So I'm feeling particularly pudgy today and not looking forward to donning a pair of pantyhose (shapers of course!) and some high heels tonight. But I must...so I will. And tonight when I walk into the party - I'll automatically scope out someone bigger than me (to make sure I'm not the biggest) and then scope out all the skinny ones to see what I could be wearing if I was skinny too. It's such a merciless game. I'm sick of playing it. Thankfully after that's done I'll kick back and enjoy myself and catch up with old friends and maybe make some new. And probably forget to keep my gut sucked in and hope no one takes any candid pictures!

To those in this region - stay warm! To those where it IS warm...no fair!

Pausing to Reflect On Christmas....

Sorry guys.....I've been super busy this past week trying to get my Christmas shopping done. I started out on such a good foot - but then things slowed down (in the idea department) and I was left doing my usual daily trek to the stores in search of the perfect gift for each one on my list.

Why do I stress like this? Hubby says "give 'em all gift cards..." I say "No way!" Part of the joy for me at Christmas is watching the people I love open a gift that I have chosen especially for them. Buying the right gift takes time. It means you have to stop and think about that person and know what they like - what really thrills them! (That's why when a husband dashes off to the store on December 23rd and grabs what ever is closest to the door of the store - has it gift wrapped and hands it to you Christmas morning....there is a wee bit of...shall I say....miffedness?) (my own little made up word) Not that hubby routinely does that - but he did it once and it pissed me off

Anyway - yes, I tend to obsess when it comes to the gifts. Because in my heart I know that Christmas is much more than all of that. It's a time to celebrate the birth of Christ (even though He wasn't born then) It's still a time to reflect and remember what His birth means for all of the world. It truly was the greatest gift - so I guess in a way I try to make my gifts great too. Not in the spectacular, look how much I spent on you way - but in a way that says, "I love you. I care about you. I hope this gift makes you smile."

I used to think when I was a kid that Christmas must be pretty boring for my parents. They just sit there with nothing to open (save the token $3 gifts we'd get them) while we tore open tons of really cool things! But now that I'm the parent - I've realized that they were probably enjoying the day even more than we kids were! Because (and I know it sounds trite - but it's so very true) giving really is better than receiving!

I am so darn excited for daughters and their husbands and my grandson to be here Christmas morning and open the gifts I've chosen for them! I can't wait! And I can't wait to be able to all sit together and fill up a whole church pew (like we used to) during the Christmas Eve service. As we hold our lit candles and sing Silent Night. I can't wait! And I can't wait to go to my brother's house on Christmas Eve and be with all my siblings and nieces and nephews and eat too much food and laugh and reminisce and open gifts and wish my parents and first hubby were still here to celebrate with us.

Which brings me full circle to why Christmas is so special to me. Because of the first gift given that night some 2000 years ago - someday I will see mom and dad and first hubby again.

Thank you, Jesus.

Gotta' Love Those Family Get Togethers!

The party last night was fun. As fun as one can get when all of our extended family gets together. We have a motto.... "Our family puts the FUN in dysfunctional!" Some of your are nodding. (You know exactly what I mean!)

Here are a few of the highlights of the evening.....

Highlight #1 ~ My cousin got beat up by a woman at a bar a few weeks ago. (long story...told you we were "different") I decided to write a song in his honor, commemorating the event and put it to the tune of "Grandma got run over by a Reindeer". My daughter and niece sang it. It was an instant hit - and sadly the only singing at all last night. Late hubby was a professional musician so we always had tons of music and singing while he was alive. Sadly there are only one or 2 now that can carry a tune so we've given up.

Highlight #2 ~ The bitch fest all the woman had at the start of the evening because we ALL hate our hair now. My sister (the hairdresser) left her shop about 4 months ago to embark on a new career. We've all been floundering to find new hairdressers and agreed that no one does it like she did. My poor aunt sat there with orange hair because no one can mach the shade my sister did. My cousin's cute trademark bob now looks like she got the back of her head stuck in a blender. My niece...well we wont even go there. Suffice to say that she needed that firm touch only my sister had when it came to strongly recommending she didn't go platinum. Because she did. And me...well we all know how I feel about MY haircut from my rantings in an earlier blog.

Highlight #3 ~ The grab bag event... This is a good one! Much better than the very first year I brought present hubby to the party to meet the family for the first time when we were dating and my sister screamed to my cousin's boyfriend (who was balking at he socks he had received as a gift) "Take the damn socks you greedy mother f ---er") yep - made me proud! Anyhoo - daughter's boyfriend gets his grab bag gift and it's a lottery ticket. Lame....so he scratches it off and starts to smile.

"Hey - I won $25!" He continues scratching.

"Wait - I won $50!" Suddenly it's not such a lame gift. He scratches off another box.

"Holy crap! I won $100!" And yes, we had checkers making sure he wasn't pulling our leg.

Gets better! When all the boxes are scratched off - he's won $500!"

He cashed it in the morning and is now $500 richer. Way cool! Better story than the socks one!

On a final note - my family really is wonderful. Yes...we have our oddballs but my dear sister isn't as bad as I made her out to be. The sock guy deserved it. (He's history now anyway...) Like I said - we put the FUN in dysfunctional. And last night was ..... fun!

Will Someone Whack Me Upside the Head Please?

Tonight I hit my second Christmas party of the season. I tried my black dress slacks on - the really nice ones made of the fine material that I only wear to parties. I could zip them still...but they were snug. Yep. Thanksgiving did me in. I feel a tad bloated now and well...rather fat.

It's my own fault. I do stupid things that I know will sabotage my efforts. Like this morning. Daughter was getting her phone hooked up and couldn't be there when the phone company came. So I volunteered to sit there for 4 hours...in an apartment that has no living room furniture yet. As I'm driving there I remember that she doesn't have a coffee maker. Egads! I need to have a cup of coffee while I'm waiting there! It was only 7:45 as I was driving over. So I zip through the McDonald's right by her place and decide (now here's the stupid part and I knew as I was speaking the words that I was going to be sorry) to get a breakfast to go with the coffee. The sausage biscuit with egg. Which comes with home fries. Of course.

It tasted heavenly. But as soon as I washed that last bite down with a swig of coffee - I felt like crap. I'm a sucker for anything crispy, crunchy, fried and loaded with carbs. Eating that stuff is a like a fix for me. I wish I hated carbs. I wish I loved fruit. I force myself to eat it. I do love veggies...thank goodness for that or I'd really be in trouble.

So tonight will be a challenge. There will be a ton of fancy hors' douvres and since this is our big family bash - all the cousins get together (there will be about 30 of us) the women will all hang out where they ALWAYS do every year. Hovering over the food table. I know I'll be right there with them. No matter what kind of resolve I may have right now - that's where I'll end up.

The only good thing is that because of all my blogging buddies ~ I'm still hanging in there. Long before this I would've thrown in the towel and decided that I was meant to be fat and I may as well get used to it. (I used to do that every few months.) But since I've been blogging - 10 months now - I haven't. Not once. Sure I've slipped a lot. But I've always gotten back up and put one foot in front of the other. It's a slow and painful trek. But one I'm determined to make no matter what.

A Little Bit of Mojo for Wednesday.....

Before I start...to those waiting to hear from Wrigley's regarding your gift bags - I did hear from the spokesperson, Mary Metcalf, and she will be contacting you via e-mail. I'm sorry it's taking so long! Rest assured - you will get those gift bags!

Next....

While perusing the Oprah website today I came across the highlights of a show I SO wish I had watched! I don't watch TV during the day - but late afternoon I tune in to watch Dr. Phil and Oprah. (Where else can I see my hero - Dr. Oz?) Anyway...I don't tune in every day (I do have somewhat of a life) so I missed last week. Rats! There was a show on about this amazing woman who lost over 500 pounds - all on her own! No surgery...no programs...it all just resulted from her filling the emotional needs she had with something other than food. It's just amazing to hear her story. She has just started a web page http://www.nancymakin.com/ that has some interesting links in the press room.

Skip ahead and I'm reading some of my regular blogs and come across Scale Junkie. She mentions this woman also! And she has a link to an interview with Diane Sawyer on Good Morning America. You gotta' see this!

What a motivating story! I am eager to see her website develop and hear what she has to say.

So guys...if any of you are thinking (present company included) that we'll never get there - remember Nancy! I know I will :-)

Back to Monday.....

The weekend is over and it was a tiring one. Friday I accompanied hubby to a small town about 40 minutes away to look at a stackable washer/dryer unit for the new house. We bought it. Yippee! I'll finally have my first floor laundry! But the trip took a major chunk out of my already busy day that I had so carefully planned. After that I helped daughter move some belongings into her new place. I drove her to pick up her car in the shop (I swear - her car LIVES there!) and then ran home - slammed a few items into my overnight bag and scooted off to my much anticipated "Girl's Nite". Two friends that I've known like forever - one since 7th grade - the other since 9th (which is a long time ago when you're 50!) and I got together to spend the night kind of like we used to back in the day. You know....the day when we had no kids - no hubbies - no responsibilities!

We had a nice time. The evening started out with a healthy meal but went downhill from there. I brought a bottle of wine that 2 of us split. Yep. We drank the whole thing. Naughty us. And then she brought out this incredible stuff called "Chocolate Bark" which we sank our faces into. Except out third counterpart - the one who has made goal at WW. She was a good girl. But that didn't stop us!

After dinner we retired to the living room and popped in a tape of "The Big Chill". The music was from our era and we thought it'd be fun. It's about a bunch of old school friends who get together a decade later for a mutual friend's funeral. We had fun "assigning" roles to each of the actors in the movie - matching their persona's to friends we used to chum around with so many years ago.

Then we fell asleep. Before the movie was even over. We never even finished it! But the evening was fun and it was good to kick back.

Saturday was our first Christmas party of the season - the hostess had prime rib and fried chicken out when we got there! Gheesh. What happened to normal hors'douvres? She had those too of course..but felt she should offer some dinner fare in case anyone hadn't eaten yet! I succumbed to a very small portion of the prime rib and a roll. I stayed away from the appetizers and spent the evening yakking it up with my sister in law. Had 2 glasses of wine and a few diet cokes. So the evening wasn't a total wash, After Friday night I needed to do some damage control.

Sunday I couldn't drag myself to church. I was just so tired. (I think it's the nasty cold I've been fighting and the late nights. ) Okay...Friday we went to bed fairly early - but I had to share the bed with my friend's dog who meandered in and I was awake most of the night.

So now that this Christmas season is upon us - I have to admit I feel my resolve slipping. Part of me wants to say the heck with it all I'll start anew in January. With the rest of the world. But the other part says "NO!"

Who will win? Stay tuned for as the saga continues....