Knock, Knock, Knocking on 50's Door

This is me ten years ago. I believe I was hedging over the 200s, if not looking back over the hedge in disbelief.



This is me three and a half years ago after finally figuring out that food does not equal happiness, and that maybe if you find happiness, you forget to eat sometimes.

This is me eight months ago after forgetting everything I thought I knew about food and happiness and health.

And though I don't have anything recent, as in taken today, this is me about two months ago in Key West. (Give me a break... I'm usually BEHIND the camera)

Today I am about 12 pounds lighter, and I'm knocking on a total of 50 lbs lost since February of '06.

So what have I learned this time that will break the yo-yo string?

Probably nothing.
Because habits aren't really things that are learned as much as they are things that are practiced.

But I have "learned" that meat is not my friend... except the ham plant. The ham plant is my friend. So is the occassional steakshroom. I've learned that when I abstain from meat, I don't miss it at all.

I've "learned" that broccoli is sold in ready-to-steam bags at Publix, and that when I steam the bag in the microwave and cover it with an ounce of 2% cheese and I Can't Believe it's Not Butter, it can actually take the place of an entire meal. It also gives me wicked gas, which keeps the demanders (kids) at bay for a few hours.

I've "learned" that I cannot live without cheese, nor do I have to. I just can't eat a pound of it a day.

I've "learned" that bran is my friend.

I've "learned" that organic food tastes better, and it's way more expensive.

I've "learned" that I still hate going to the gym or excercising in general. However, I love to run. I'm not good at it yet, but I've increased the amount of time I can run from 1.5 minutes to ten minutes. I've learned that when I run, the world goes by so fast I don't have time to contemplate anything but the burn and the sting. And I like that.

I've "learned" that there is no place on earth where you can get away from chocolate or lasagna. The way to defeat them is to eat them... just not all of them. American restaurant servings are big enough for four people.

So those are some things, some habits, that I've slowly integrated into my daily living. I'm still doing Nutrisystem, not religiously, but for breakfast and lunch for sure. Some nights my dinner is a salad, or a MorningStar burger with some veggies. Some nights it's not. And as it stands, I'm only 15 pounds from my goal weight.

And I'm only two months from my vacation in Jamaica.
And I've learned that clothing optional resorts are GREAT weight loss motivators.

So if you'll excuse me now, I have to grab my iPod and run with Saving Jane.

This is so much better

I will talk when the mood strikes me, and I will stay silent when the mood is not-so-enticing.

And since I get to take tomorrow off of work, I will talk tonight. And maybe tomorrow. Twice.

I noticed that the "elite" (ha) are camera bugs. Did you notice? Binsk, Kami, Heather, Greekchickie, Shephard, John, Tim (though he doesn't bloggy 'bout it). Even Scotty takes out his camera now and again and snaps off a pictoral of his life and times. Snap snap snap and the heart goes pitter pat. You know what I mean, right?

And some of you are getting accolades, and some of you are starting businesses, and some of you are winning contests!

Me? I finished one assignment last week (no grade yet, but I posted the portrait work on the old blog) and now I'm wallowing in another assignment from hell. But I shall not be overwhelmed. Okay, I lie. I am overwhelmed. But I'll pull through and be oh-so-proud of me.

So tomorrow I'm taking my girlfriends out for a day of shooting. Me, Diana, and Holga are going to go find shadows and reflections, and we're going to make them tell a story.

We will, by God. We will.

The Never Can Say Goodbye Girl

In the next few days I hope some of you will be leaving me housewarming comments.

As I have tried to explain in the few e-mails I've sent out, I had to close up shop over at the other place. Yes, I loved the template, yes I loved the readers, no I did NOT love the comments. Not one bit. Each comment meant I had to reciprocate. It's the way I was raised. Damn you, Mommy.

And fact of the matter is, there are only a small handful of people that I realized I don't want to exclude from my on-line life.

And I'm suck at e-mailing, even worse than commenting.

So over here I can select who visits me each night for dessert, and who I can hide from in the back room of the house with the lights out.

Thank you for finding a way to worm into my heart in a way that is seemingly important to me. As the days went on, I couldn't stand the thought of NOT sharing my days with you guys.

I promise I'll be as real as I can be. Now that I'm finally free from the shackles of social niceties, I think I'll be able to get back to why I started blogging in the first place.

So, welcome home.