Tommorrow's the Big Day!

I subbed for one of the art teachers in our local school the past two days and then went straight to remodeling when I got home. (Hence no posts...) I even forgot to watch the Biggest Loser last night Waah!

Just those two days being back on a working schedule made a huge difference in my eating patterns. The old packing a healthy lunch while the resolve is still strong in the morning thing...and then having to eat it for lack of anything else when lunch time rolls around. (And Actually enjoying it too!) I need to be working full time again. All this time spent remodeling the kitchen has kept me in the most dangerous room in the house - not a good thing. The pics above are a before and a partial after - there's still work to be done...but we're getting there! (the blue is before...)

Speaking of the kitchen - we have a sink again! Yay! The stove is till not hooked up to the gas line, but the microwave and a hot plate have been holding us over. I've felt like we've been camping the past week. Those two days in Chicago - in a luxury hotel were well needed and appreciated!

Tomorrow is my big debut on Oprah and all of a sudden I'm scared to death! I mean...sure I was nervous as all get out while it was being filmed, but that all happened so fast and then it was over. Now - the show will be aired to 22 million people (and while I really don't care all that much about the people who see this that don't know me) I'm really in a panic about those who do! Here is me, Lora - who is mortified to run into someone from high school that hasn't seen me in the past 10 years for fear they'll be mortified in turn at how I've let myself go - and now I've agreed to plaster myself on national TV!

And I'm also concerned that my story (as it was put in a mini biography form) paints me as a pathetic creature. The author of the book tells me on the show that I may be driving my kids away by not letting them go. Very NOT true! I've always had an exceptional relationship with the girls and try to explain that on the show. But it is EXTREMELY intimidating to be sitting there with a camera on you and correcting someone on the Oprah show! She also tells me that I will someday remarry and also have grandchildren to fill this void in my life. Ummm...someone didn't do their homework. I am remarried and I do have a grandson. So much was left out in the editing of the final vignette of my life....but my sisters said they felt that many women would still connect with what I was going through and not to worry. (I was also so darn nervous I forgot to suck in my chin and sit up straight! I don't think I even smiled once!)

Still - as I said in an earlier post - I DID come away with a new attitude and am thankful for the opportunity to have been on the show. The next job interview I have - I will be bringing Oprah's words of wisdom along with me (said to me after the show) and believing in myself and the ability to be the best candidate for the position! And I've also started seriously thinking about the Children's Book I want to write that has been hiding in my heart since high school. My mother made me promise that before I died - I would write and illustrate one. I'm going to do it! (and the associate producer said to me as I was leaving... "if you write that book...let us know! Oprah just may promote it on her show!") Wouldn't that be instant advertising!

Okay - so tomorrow's the BIG day! Just remember that the Lora you see on TV (while definitely going through a mid-life thing) isn't as bad off as she appears! Thank you Diana - for the plug on the Healthy You Challenge ! I'll "see" you all tomorrow! (and for those who don't get the show for several weeks - you may find clips on the Oprah website.) Not sure - but I'll let you know!