Loser

I'm a total loser. I AM LOSING WEIGHT! I don't know how much, because I'm staying away from the scale, but I feel it in my clothes. This morning I am wearing pants I haven't worn in over a week and I can really FEEL it.

I am not on a diet- but you know, I have this pesky Graves Disease and it's done a number on me. So I got a book on "Living Well with GD" and I think I'm figuring it out ... but the first thing I did was start eating breakfast- I keep oatmeal here at work and I genuinely like it- even without sugar and all the good stuff. I only drink water and the occasional coffee- no juice or soda! I also have either been bringing my lunch OR eating lunch out IF they have a healthy menu- like Chili's and Applebee's do. You can eat a surprising amount for under 500 calories. Then I have been cooking dinner at home. No more eating out 4 times a week for dinner. I have been enjoying it. We haven't actually exercised yet, but that's coming. I have been trying to stay off the couch by painting and organizing and doing chores around the house. Any MOVEMENT of any kind is better than laying comatose on the couch. I think this is really working and so far, I don't feel like I'm starving or in any way "on a diet". I am truly just trying to change my life. I'm going to make an appointment with a thyriod doc and take this to the next level!

Blog Spotlight Today: My Friend Tracy from Rogers, AR
QUESTIONAIRE

1. Please state your FULL name and your relation to me or how I know you
Tracy Curtis King. You are my friend and fellow porch monkey...

2. How and/or when did we meet?
We met at the 2001 Wal-Mart YBM meeting. You didn't like me and when we went to lunch I almost killed you in KC traffic. (This is true. I did not care for you at first .... but I felt, as a fellow woman, it was my duty to educate you about a certain evil man and then yes, you did almost kill me. I'm almost always frightened when you are behind the wheel. I think you have even scared Mr. John Force a time or two ... and yes people, they ARE friends... TC works for Castrol!)

3. What were your first thought upon meeting me
You reminded me of me - hard worker, no nonsense, kind of bossy. (Bossy?!)

4. Are you satisifed with our current relationship?
Yes, except I wish we weren't so far apart. I also wish I knew Conrad (You shall meet him shortly and then like everyone else, including my parents, you will like him more than you like me)

5. If no, then what I can do or what can WE do to improve it?
Plans are in place to fix all that come Labor Day! (I can not WAIT!)

6. Are you happy?
Very

7. If no, why not?

8. Do you drink?
On occasion. I like Merlot and Captain Morgan's. Once in a while I will drink something Frou-Frou like a Dacquiri or Margarita. (Uh yeah ... there are three people at least that can vouch for your love of Captain Morgan's ... poor Brian still talks about you drinking his whole bottle ... and anyone that can chase THAT with moonshine, is a winner in my book. Hello Winner!)

9. Do you feel you have a purpose?
Absolutely. (me too!)

10. Where do you live?
Prairie Creek, AR ( I LOVE ARKANSAS!)

11. Name some of your hobbies, or all of them, whatever...
I love to read, I like to camp and fish and landscape, I teach Sunday School, and I am a little obsessed with Politics. (I like to read too ... camping is ok as long as there is a cabin or something available for me- of COURSE you like to fish, or you'd have no job .....)

12. Do you think I'm funny?
I think you are one of the funniest people I know. You have a sharp wit, which combined with your self-acceptance of your neuroses, makes you hilarious. (I've been told I could go on the road...)

13. Do you think YOU'RE funny?
Yes, but I am more Julia Sugarbaker funny. (and I am a Suzanne)

14. Any kids?
Yes. My daughter, who just turned 18(!!!), Erika. I also have 2 step-daughters, a Boxer, and 2 cats. Oh yea, I also have a Yorkie who's my granddog'.

15. Do you like them?
I love them all. I really like my daughter. She's a very cool person. (Yes, she is!)

16. Do I like them?
You like Erika, or at least I think you do. You two have a lot in common, very stylish and tattoed. (Um... tattoed? You let her get a tattoo? I am so proud)

17. Care to talk about how you feel about the upcoming election? The candidates? The in-fighitng? The war?
I could go on for days, but I will just say that John McCain will do the least harm. I would say Hillary, but she has that cockamamy Social Healthcare plan. Obama scares the living daylights out of me - period. He should scare anyone who's paying attention.
I believed in the war. I think it was absolutely the right thing to destroy the Taliban and to hang Saddam. That was all justified. Our problem in the US is that we are never satisfied with that. For some reason our Govt feels the need to colonize these countries and turn them into another Welfare State... We set them free... let everything else be their problem. (I agree with you about the war. Saddam would have never been stopped, but now it's time to move out and I'm not sure when or if that will ever happen)

18. Do you think the Queen of England was rude for not responding to the invitation to our wedding? Incredibly. I think they should get over having their asses kicked in the Revolutionary War already. Sheesh, how long do they need to pout?

19. Are you surprised I was in my 30's when I finally got married?
No. I was 33, and I think that it takes at least that long to know yourself well enough to find a compatible mate. I do know that the statistics are in your favor when your first marriage comes in your 30s. You just had to learn to stand still and let the good things come to you. When we are in our twenties, we spend all our time chasing our destiny, when all along destiny is chasing us... waiting for us to stop long enough to catch up. (When I was in my 20's, I was an idiot and therefore, would have attracted idiots ... and well, I did ... a countless number of them. My only hope is that they, like me, smartened up ... but there are a few I know probably didn't)

20. Do you think Conrad is a lucky man?
Extremely. You are one of the most loyal people I know. He will never have to question where your heart lies. Plus, he will NEVER be bored again for as long as he lives. (Oh, he's already said he'd never be bored. Mildly irritated, but never bored.)

21. Chocolate or Vanilla?
Chocolate. Unless it's ice cream, then I like to start with Vanilla and then add chocolate syrup until the mixture is just right. Could be a control issue - not sure. (oh DELICIOUS ... I also like to add cherry juice, but not too much)

22. Morning person or not?
Yes. Annoying aren't I? (Yes)

23. Are you addicted to anything- coffee, relationships, shopping, alcohol?
I'm probably addicted to Coffee and Diet Dr. Pepper. I get a little bit of a thrill when I'm driving fast, so that may be an addiction. (I wonder how much of a thrill ending up in a ditch will be. Let me know, will ya?)

24. Do you trust me?
Absolutely (I trust you too)

25. Do YOU know your heritage? If so, what is it ....
I'm SOUTHERN. Southern Mutt, actually. We have Irish, German, Dutch, and Cherokee blood. Anyone who knows me, will look at that list and everything will fall into place... :) (I saw SOUTHERN and then didn't even bother to read the rest! I accept your answer ... and also Cherokee cause I think the Abercrombie's have a touch of that too. OMG! Maybe we are SISTERS!)

KAH