BulgingButtons

May 4, 2014
by BulgingButtons 17 Comments

Here We Go, Again

Here I sit, Sunday night, drinking my water and feeling pretty good about having eaten only half of my dragon noodles (they were soooooo good!). I’m patting myself on the back because I spent about two hours walking around the home and garden show with my guys. So what if there was no inspiration to be found at the show? I hoofed it and got a little exercise, not to mention the hike across the fairground parking lot and back. Oh yeah, I’m a health nut.

Not really.

You know me too well.

If these lame examples are what I’m counting as successes, I’m really not succeeding. I can do better. I can do more.

I want to use selling my house as an excuse. I want to blame my terrible eating habits on having to keep the kitchen clean for any potential visitors, but really that’s baloney. I can eat yogurt or fruit without making a mess. A pre-made salad takes no effort or time to prepare, and has very little clean up. I’m lying to myself, and it’s showing.

My waistline is expanding, my breathing is labored, and the tingling in my hands from my carpal tunnel is getting worse by the day (I swear it’s related to my weight and overall health).

My last doctor’s appointment wasn’t exactly great. We had the talk. Again.

I want to do better. I want to feel better. I know a way that might help, but the question is do I want to commit?

Yes, folks, I’m thinking about going back to Weight Watchers. Again. They always welcome me with open arms and big smiles (of course I do pay them) . I like the meetings. I like the accountability. I even like the structure. The question is, am I willing to put in the work?

I guess we’ll see, because I’m going to do it. Tomorrow I sign up. Again. Wish me luck.

April 28, 2014
by BulgingButtons 6 Comments

Renaming and Reframing the Week

I’d like to take credit for Throwback Thursday, but of course I can’t. It’s been around for about a million years, give or take a few.

Still, I didn’t notice it all over facebook and everywhere else until I started doing my own little Throwback posts. Isn’t that the way? You think you’re doing something fun and out of the ordinary, then it turns out that everyone is doing the same thing.

Learning to speak Hindi? You’ll meet three people next week who are learning it as well. Thinking of moving to Siberia? Funny thing, your new next door neighbor just relocated from there. Think you just purchased the only purple car in town? Probably not, since you’ll notice one parked in the lot at work next week. Turns out that nothing is really original. Still, you have to follow your inspirations.

Speaking of inspiration, I’ve been sorely lacking it lately. As a result, I’ve decided that maybe we should rename the days of the week. Here are my thoughts, as they pop into my head:

Melancholy Monday

Tumultuous Tuesday

Whiny Wednesday

Thick-headed Thursday

Fickle Friday

Slovenly Saturday

Sedentary Sunday

What do you think? They would bring some different ideas to mind for writing, that’s for sure. On Mondays we could reminisce and wax poetic about what might have been. On Tuesdays we can write about all hell breaking loose, both literally and figuratively. Wednesdays will be popular, I’m sure, as there’s no shortage of topics to whine about, from bratty neighbor kids, to paychecks that could always be larger to nasty grocery store clerks. Yes, I’m sure Wednesday would become the new favorite day of the week under this system.

Moving into the home stretch of the week, we could reflect on all of the boneheaded things we have done on Thick-headed Thursday. A little self-deprecation isn’t a bad thing, but if you’re not up for it, why not remember all of the boneheaded things other people have done? I know it always makes me feel better about myself when I realize that there are many people on earth who do a lot dumber things than I do. Finally, on Fickle Friday we could spend the last day of the work week on the fence, avoiding making decisions or standing by our convictions. We could spend the whole day waffling, and never have to commit to anything.

The weekend sounds like a blast too. On Slovenly Saturday we could spend the day in pajamas and eat ice cream out of the carton. Of course the dirty spoon can just sit on the coffee table along with that half read magazine and the empty box of sweet and salty cashew granola bars. Sedentary Sunday will find us on the couch under a pile of filth that we’re just too lazy to clean up, watching movies and avoiding responsibilities. It’s a perfect lead-in to, you guessed it, Melancholy Monday.

What do you think of the new week? Anybody in? No? I hope not. No matter how hokey or overdone they might be, I still prefer Marvelous Monday, Terrific Tuesday, Wonderful Wednesday, Thrilling Thursday, and Fun Friday. And the weekend? Well, that speaks for itself.

April 20, 2014
by BulgingButtons 4 Comments

Spring Renewal

Today being Easter I can’t help but think of renewal. I’m not a Christian, but I do understand the significance of this day, and of the concept of resurrection. I find the idea that people can get another chance, even after death, uplifting- as do countless believers. While I’m not in the running for an eternal heavenly placement, I would like yet another chance here on earth.

I’m taking this opportunity to do some spring cleaning of various sorts. First there’s the bodily spring cleaning that needs to be done. Yesterday I had the pleasure of meeting with my doctor to review some lab reports. They were standard, nothing too worrisome, yet once again they pointed out that I’m stressing my body in ways that it doesn’t like.

Fewer calories, more exercise. Fewer sweets, more fruits and vegetables. Fewer stressors and more physical activities. I know all of this, and yet, here I am again, back where I began. Don’t believe me? Check out the 47 for 47 page that appeared last July. My progress has been poor, but I’m going to print out another check sheet and see if I can’t turn things around. I know my cheerleaders are here to help me, as always.

Another clean up project involves the blog. Not cleaning up, exactly, but straightening up. I almost deleted the projects page, until I realized that I still have projects to share, they’re just different than I originally anticipated. I’ve also included a Best of BB page so you can quickly find posts that others have found noteworthy. I do appreciate shares and reblogs, as long as you link back here, so by all means have at it.

Finally there’s the house. The blasted, blessed house. I’ve been working on cleaning and staging it so I can sell it at last. Today we did some landscaping touch ups, and it looks quite lovely, if I do say so myself. Yesterday we took another walk though one that I quite like, even if it does need some TLC. C’mon house, SELL!

So, in the spirit of new life, new growth, and renewal in general, I wish you a happy spring, and a season of joy and love.