Ick. I hate roaming on my cell phone. Especially when I hit a tower in Quebec and I’m still in New York! I heard the message that included “çe n’est pas possible” a couple of times yesterday when I tried to check the message in my voice mail. There were high winds and mixed precipitation, so I really needed to know if it was related to the kids at school. Luckily, it wasn’t, but I couldn’t dial my voice mail (the cheat code) because Verizon’s towers weren’t picking me up. Gotta watch the bill and make sure I’m not charged for roaming on the Canadian tower.

In other news, Sami asked for earrings yesterday for about the millionth time in the last year and a half. This was on the way out to go shopping. I had to pick up some fabric to line a bag I’m test knitting and check on some clearance items at K-Mart. The beauty shop in the same shopping center does ear piercing, so we stopped in there after spending $68 at Joann’s (fabric and beading supplies) and $33 at K-Mart. Sami needed new sneakers; their feet grow so fast when they’re little! So, after making sure Sami really wanted to get her ears done, we went to the beauty shop, I signed the permission form and she picked out the little heart studs. She freaked out after her ears were marked and two ladies came up to her at one time. After her earrings were in, Sami spent the next ten minutes yelling at me that she wanted the earrings out. I finally got her to calm down by offering to buy her pink ice cream when we went to the grocery store. She was mad that her ears were hurting a bit, but she forgave me. In fact, once we were done at the grocery store, she told me that her ears didn’t hurt any more and that she was no longer mad at me. As soon as Del got home from work, she proudly told him, “I have earrings in mine ears.” He was more disappointed (“I think it’s degrading to her; she’s a baby”) than anything, but he’ll get over it.

We’re going to be studying spelling words for a long time. William has joined the school spelling bee. I explained to him that it’s not just knowing how to spell the words, but he also has to know the grammatical rules and meanings in order to spell the correct form of a homophone. He said he wants to do this, so we’re going to work hard. His goal: the National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C. Great goal, William!

Tracey is going cross-country skiing next week, Feb. 6, with his third grade class at school. What an opportunity! I wish I could go as a chaperone, but younger siblings aren’t allowed. Even if Sami was in school, I couldn’t go because they’ll be getting back after four and there would be no one here for the bus. My ankle wouldn’t handle it this year, anyway, but that’s really a moot point with the sibling rule. I really hope he has fun!!

Delbert’s speech class at school is really helping him with his problem sounds. His pronunciation has improved in leaps and bounds since he started working with a speech therapist. He told me the other day that he has to get all his stickers before he’s done with his speech class. I have a feeling that he may still need therapy at the beginning of first grade. He’s doing well, but he still has a long way to go. Another big accomplishment for Delbert is that he’s finally learned how to tie his shoes! Yay! He’s still a bit slow, so we have him practice at night, but he can tie his shoes all by himself.

We’re done with disposable underwear!! Sami has been dry overnight for the last two weeks and hasn’t had a daytime accident in even longer. Just cotton panties for her now! I’m so happy I could cry. Of course, yesterday I had to bribe her into the bathroom before we left the grocery store. She didn’t want to go, so I told her I needed to go and that I needed her to take me. She held my hand all the way to the back of the store and even used the toilet while we were in there. *sniff* I’m so proud of my little girl!

These are the flower and fish bath cloths I told you about in the last post. Again, the kids swiped two of them for their baths tonight–a more colorful flower with orange edging and a blue/peach variegated fish. They really like these cloths a lot. The single yellow/green fish was a special request from Delbert.

Last night I finished crocheting a sunflower that originally started out to be a dish cloth. It’s way too thick to be a dish cloth, but since I’m also using this as a stash busting opportunity, I completed the flower. I’m using it as a hot pad instead. I needed a couple more of those as well, so this worked out to be a good thing.

For some unknown reason, the washcloths in my bathroom have been disappearing. I haven’t noticed them showing up in the kitchen (thankfully) with the dish cloths, but it’s a bit disconcerting. So, I started a pattern hunt in an effort to replenish my diminishing supply, because oddly enough it’s only the hand made cloths that are AWOL.

I checked both Knitting Pattern Central and Crochet Pattern Central for patterns or ideas but came up with nothing I wanted to use. I didn’t want to spend a lot of time making these. Last night, I decided that I would just whip up some granny-style pentagons and hexagons. I did one of each before deciding I didn’t want an entire bathroom set of them. I also made a small fish that I wasn’t happy with repeating.

Finally, after ripping back several ideas and discarding them, I decided on a pattern I like. I’m using the “Full Bloom” from 101 Thread Crochet Embellishments. It’s the perfect size for a bathroom washcloth and works up in about half an hour or less. Very quick and very easy (to make and memorize). I’ve already made five of the flowers and will work up more out of my cotton stash.

I’ll have to post pics after I do a load of towels. My kids decided to break in the new cloths while showering and bathing tonight. I guess they’re a big hit! (Even though I’m not really thrilled with the fish, I may need to make some more in different colors for the kids. They seem to really like it.)

I am. That’s right. I’m a loser and I’m more than happy to admit it. In fact, I’m damn proud to admit it.

Why am I proud to be what society considers a less than worthy, unimportant person? Because I’m talking about a different kind of loser. A weight loser. A fat loser. An unhealthy lifestyle loser.

My doctor told me last summer that I needed to lose about 65-80 pounds to get down to a healthy weight for my height and bone structure. That would put me down to about 145-150 pounds. Yeah, I topped 200 this past summer. Not good for a 30 y/o woman who stands 5′7″.

I’m proud to report that since the end of August 2007, I have lost 15 pounds (and 2 inches)!! Yep. Fifteen pounds in 5 months. I’m so happy I could do a happy dance except my ankle has been screaming in pain lately (cold weather is not conducive to a healing bone). I’ve just got 50-65 pounds to get to my target weight. Yay!!

How have I done it? Simple changes. No crash dieting, no supplements, just simple lifestyle changes.

1. I’ve cut out sugary sodas.
   • Problem: One can of Barq’s Root Beer (my favorite) contains 160 calories that I was chugging up to 5 times a day.
   • Change: Switch to Diet Barq’s and cut back to no more than 2 per day.
   • Problem: One can of Pepsi (my other vice) contains 120 calories and I was chugging up to 4 a day (not at the same time as the Barq’s, but still).
   • Change: Switch to Diet Pepsi and drink no more than 2 per day.
   • Soda Progress: I rarely drink more than one soda per day since I’ve started drinking coffee more. I sweeten my coffee with Splenda brand sweetener to avoid the extra calories in the sugar.
2. I only eat when hungry, not when the clock says it’s “time” to eat.
   • Problem: I would eat when stressed, no matter what time it was, even if I had just eaten a meal.
   • Change: I started watching my stress levels better and found other ways to alleviate my stress, like crochet, knitting, or music.
   • Progress: If I’m not hungry at a “meal time” I simply don’t eat. I’ve figured out that if I’m not hungry, my body doesn’t need the fuel at the time. No excess calories.
3. I’ve cut back on snacks, especially sugary ones.
   • Problem: I have a major sweet tooth and love to munch on cookies and candies. I would often do so without taking inventory of how much I was consuming.
   • Change: We now buy the itty bitty one-bite candy bars (more expensive, but easier to track) and I limit how many I can eat in a day. Not a sitting; an entire day.
   • Progress: I’m eating less of the sugary stuff and feeling better for it. My energy has risen and sugar crashes are almost gone.

We’re also eating healthier. Instead of going out to eat (which in addition to adding calories and fat also puts a strain on the wallet), we’re cooking at home almost every night.

• We serve at least two vegetables with every meal to ensure proper nutrition for us and our children. Even if we have French toast, there’s a veggie on the table.
• We limit the amount of meat we cook. I’ll cook two split chicken breasts for the entire family. No more than one pound of any meat is put on the table for a single meal.
• We cook in olive oil. It has a wonderful flavor but adds little unhealthy fat to the foods.
• We limit desserts to one per week if it’s cake or cookies or the like. Fruits may be served for dessert on other nights.

One issue I still have to work on is my exercise. Unfortunately, I can’t do too much there right now until my ankle heals better. I still can’t run on it, even on a good day. I still have to wear support when we’re walking for extended periods of time, like when we’re shopping for groceries. As soon as I can put enough weight on my ankle to get some meaningful exercise in, then I’ll start back with the exercise program we have for the XBox. I’ll probably get back into DDR as well, but the exercise program is more than just a cardio workout.

So, are you a loser? Do you want to be a loser? Try simple lifestyle changes, one at a time. Don’t deny yourself your snacks, just limit how much you eat. It’s much easier to change how much you eat and cut back than it is to create a major temptation by denying yourself. Switch your caffeine source from soda to coffee or from regular soda to diet soda. Eliminate extra calories to help shed those unwanted pounds.

Just for reference, even when on my period this month, I had to wear a belt to prevent my pants from sliding down over my hips. I’m too small for my regular jeans, but still too big for my smaller ones. The belt will have to suffice for now, but I’ve lost at least 2 inches from my waist since August. And I’m keeping it off! Just from simple lifestyle changes.

I’m amazed at myself. I actually finished another project! Two in one month. I’m not sure I can handle the excitement!

I digress. I started working on the Seraphina’s Shawl by Doni back in October when I found a bag containing 10 skeins of Noro Gisha ribbon yarn in a beautiful blue/purple color (it’s Color 109). I know for a fact I did not buy this yarn, but I do remember it being gifted to me by a Secret Pal a couple of years back. I decided that it would make a lovely dressy shawl, and I was right.

Arming myself with my size L hand-whittled apple hook (from Jimbo’s apple tree by the crick) and my yarn winder, I set out to make the Seraphina’s Shawl. This would not be my first attempt, but it is the first one I have finished. I have no clue what happened to the first one I started. Probably hiding in my stash somewhere. It wouldn’t be the first WIP to get lost in the shuffle.

So, I did the ends tonight, officially finishing the shawl. I used all 10 skeins of the Gisha, working two rows of sc along the neck edge of the shawl. It’s long and lacy; I love the effect the larger hook gave with the worsted weight ribbon yarn. This is definitely a pattern I will work again. It’s easy to work and easy to memorize once you get going. The only part I really need the pattern for is getting started. After that, it’s really easy. Doni calls it “hand candy” and I really have to agree.

I finished the bulky lapghan I found Tuesday night! Yay! A UFO that stayed packed away for oh, about 2 years, is finally done.

It’s not big, but it is nice and warm. It keeps my feet toasty at night–I can’t stand wearing socks to sleep in, but my feet get cold. This small warm blanket is perfect for keeping my feet warm without restricting them in socks.

…He ain’t afraid of nothin’! ~~Jayne Cobb, Serenity

Thursday, while shopping at PetCo, I saw the infamous Jayne Hat walk down the aisle next to me. I took off in hot pursuit. I just had to find out where the hat came from! When I caught up with the owner of said Jayne Hat, the conversation went like this:

Me: Where’d you get the Jayne Hat?

Him: (with a confused smile) My wonderful talented wife made it for me.

Me: The fact that I know what it is is kinda scary, eh?

Him: A little.

Me: Man walks down the street wearin’ a hat like that, he ain’t afraid of nothin’!

Him: Yep!

I had the pleasure of meeting and chatting with Terri, the lovely lady who knitted the hat for her hubby. I even snapped a pic of the two of them. Terri’s hubby asked that I not reveal his name. I guess he’s a little shy, despite wearing the Jayne Hat. Terri asked about my hat and where I got the pattern, so I told her where to find the Hat of Horns by Woolly Wormhead.

Unfortunately, I don’t have the adapter for my phone’s memory card readily available, so I’ll have to post the pictures later this evening after Del gets home from work.

UPDATE 1/18/08: I found the adapter and uploaded the pics! The pattern Terri used is here. Enjoy!