Injuries!!!

I haven’t posted daily this week because I seem to have done something to myself that prevents me from moving very much. I’m a bit P.O.d, to say the least. I just got over that crud I had and now... (dreaded word)... INJURY. I managed to get to a body worker I know yesterday, and my hour of intense pain (screams and whining!) with him produced miracles. Even though I am extremely skeptical of alternative treatments for injury or sickness, this guy has come through every single time I’ve done something dumb. The only problem that remains is that I can’t lift until next week or do any intense cardio—just walks. UGHHHHHHH!!!!! I’m sick of being sick!

Even though I’ve lost weight for the last couple of weeks, I'm not hoping for any downward movement on the scale tomorrow. Several of your posts have reminded me that in the scheme of things, life can really be very good, despite setbacks. I have a multitude of gifts to be thankful for—the blogosphere is teaching me about the power of gratitude. I send major thanks to you all for that and so much more. The weight will come off. But here’s a problem I can’t help with.

My son hadn’t called his grandmother (my 80-year old, very fit-for-her-age mother) for a couple of months. He phoned her yesterday morning, to what must have been her surprise, but she told him that she couldn’t talk at that moment as “someone was coming to put a cast on her hip.” Son called me, so I immediately tried to get through on this bit of news. Now, the night before, my sister-in-law had called and we caught up on some belated Thanksgiving doings and family. She told me that my mother’s Lhasa dog had broken her leg and was wearing a cast. I hadn’t heard about that either. All my extended family lives in or near New York City.

By yesterday afternoon, I was thoroughly confused and couldn’t reach ANYONE back east. Finally this morning, I was able to contact my sister, who confirmed that on Tuesday afternoon, my mother (who has had two hip replacement surgeries) reached down from a chair to pat her dog (who did have a cast) and dislocated her hip. She had to drag herself to the phone in excruciating pain and then spent all night in the hospital having her hip reset. Ouch and I can’t tell you how much I wish I’d been there. My sister was with our mom, however, for which I’m also grateful, but I also can’t believe I didn’t get any calls about this—argghhhh!

So, my son called just as she’d gotten home from the hospital yesterday morning and someone had just arrived to fit a brace on her hip. And her constant companion doggie has gone for a month to our aunt’s house, so I’m worried about my mother being lonely a little. Sometimes, I just wish I could afford a pied a terre in NY, but that won’t happen soon. It's a problem I can't fix for her although I can be supportive and positive. I can wish all I want, but as Mom used to say to us kids, “If wishes were horses, then beggars would ride.”

Happy Thursday, everyone. I’m very lucky to be able to take a nice walk today and get to work. But I’m glad I have a place to vent my stuff. For that, I'm extremely grateful.

Lori's Gift!

I am dumbfounded and incredibly honored by Lori’s nomination for the Marie Antoinette, real blogs for real people award. In so short a time, I’ve discovered a mind-blowing community of people who are always warm and generous in their support of each other (and me!) Three cheers to everybody! It’s hard to open up and share our very personal thoughts and lives with so many people we often don’t know. Courageous, indeed. I’m very touched. Thank you so much, Lori and I nominate the following seven people for the Marie Antoinette award:

http://24stepstogo.blogspot.com

http://angiealltheway.blogspot.com

http://scalejunkie.blogspot.com

http://www.jensjourney.com

http://morgangetsthin.blogspot.com

http://fab50.blogspot.com

http://maintainmyweight.blogspot.com

You have all helped and supported me so much in the last couple of months that I've joined this community - please check out these peoples' blogs if you aren't already following. These women are tremendously inspiring! Thank you again, so much for this award. I am truly grateful!

xoxo Miche

Out of the Mouths of Babes

Love reading all the Thanksgiving posts! Late yesterday afternoon, I picked up the youngest (7-year old) grandkid, along with her new friend from France, who is only here for three months. Once home, I gave them a container of street chalk. They went to town on our patio, which is concrete with brick, and in bold colors drew turkeys, hearts, and houses with smoke curling up the chimneys. They even outlined each other in white chalk (weird, eh?). Then they made one last huge heart and wrote, “Things you are greatful (sic) for.” The list was long, but four words that stand out are, “Love,” Exercise,” “Shelter,” and “Feries” (sic). Out of the mouths of babes.

I’ve enjoyed reading some of your blogs that discuss the use of gratitude lists in your daily lives—something I’m woefully and often neglectful of. I know it would clean up the edges of my life that are not in synch with my desires, so to speak (write). It may be a cliché, but each and every autumn, I’m apt to eat more (bad) food for some reason, and this tendency (me) doesn’t seem to (want to) quit until late February or March. Could it be the shorter days, longer nights? The grand triumvirate of holidays along with the food that says it’s absolutely and unequivocally vital to celebrate these events with food? With lots and lots of carby kcals—more than I could have dared to guess, according to blogland? Yikes! I guess... yes.

So, I’ve finally unharnessed myself from the house for more than carpools and tame dog walks. I got in some remedial exercise this morning and have set aside time for some lifting a little later. Ditto tomorrow morning early, early. Feel so much better that I believe I can pull off a houseful of 14 folks tomorrow. Funny thing: when I cook a good meal for others (our menu is nice and healthy!), I end up eating relatively little. My focus is on the many small details that seem to wipe out the desire to consume, despite the fact that I’m cooking a lot of food for a lot of people. It’s almost a meditative process. I’m not a great cook, but I find that I really concentrate on the kitchen skills if a bunch of people show up!

It’s rare that I fix anything too yummy—food that appeals to my inner addict, however. This year, we’re sharing dinner with several Thanksgiving “orphans.” I’m incredibly grateful for so many things, but friends and family top the list. I’m thankful also, for finding this blogging community. So very quickly have I received so much warmth and support from you gals/guys and I thank you so much. I could pen my gratitude list here, but it wouldn’t come close to the thoughts written in a chalked heart on our patio. Happy Thanksgiving all!