A mile farther along

Just got off my butt and walked a mile around the neighborhood. I am still alive (and not even as close to dying as I expected to be) and feeling great. I took dd11 along, for company and so I could send her for her dad if I just could not finish. It didn't even get close to that! It may have taken almost an hour, but that is an hour I did not spend on Facebook or watching TV. This will not be the last mile I walk, believe you me. DD13 (then known as dd10) caught a fish. She was one of the only ones who did at the company picnic that day. July 2009

Coming Out of Retirement

That title sounds so much better than "Getting off My Butt." I like it.

I have decided things around here need a shake up. Or is it a shake down? Doesn't matter. Things will be shaken in all sorts of directions. Make no mistake, there will be shaking.

#1 Writing. Well, if I want to be a writer (as opposed to a housework-avoiding mooch) I had better get to it. I have found that my creative talents have been flowing into finding reasons NOT to do things I should actually be doing. But that job doesn't pay well, or fill me with joy, so I am quitting and going back to my old job of Writer.
You hear that? I am a writer.

#2 Weight. Most of you either don't know me or haven't seen me in years. And I have liked it that way because then I don't have my inner criticizer telling me that you are thinking about how fat I am. (Can you follow that sentence? Try and keep up.) Well, rather than continue to avoid people, those I know or don't know, those I like, or even love, I have decided to get rid of that problem.
Also, I would love to live past 50, be able to walk without pain or shortness of breath, and be able to shop at a store that isn't specially catering to hippos. (No offense to other women who shop where I shop.)

#3 Eating
(we'll avoid the D word, because that makes it feel temporary, and this is not.)
More salads, less junk, more fruit, less soda, more water, less processed garbage. We will be trying new recipes and I will give you the info, because I have to tell someone and I don't really mind wasting your time.

#4 Moving
(not changing living arrangements, moving my body)
I am avoiding the E word here just because I hate it. It brings to mind jogging and treadmills, and gym class. For right now, I just need to MOVE more. So, dancing with dd11, walking around the house, walking at the park, walking in the pool...these are what I will be starting to do, as well as my modified sit-ups that burn fewer calories but do not hurt my poor little knees. (Sitting on the edge of the bed and laying back, then sitting up, then laying back, etc.)

#5 Accountability
As I said above, I need to talk to someone and I don't mind wasting your time. You did choose to read the blog, if you object to reading about this particular personal journey, then don't. But the whole thing feels more REAL if I put it out there. And real is the name of the game this time. No more faking it.