BulgingButtons

Not bad for a fat girl

Reconnecting

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Four women on a video call screen smiling and waving, with two women smiling nearby
Not really us, but look at those dazzling smiles!

I feel like things are moving in the right direction for me. My health is improving, my energy level is increasing, and my connections with others are strengthening.

Recovery from recent surgery (nothing life threatening, but not fun either) is going well. At first it was awful. The “one week off before returning to work” just did not work for me. That one week turned into two, and my recent paycheck took a hit because of it. My situation with time off is a little complex, and the long and short of it is I took more hours off than I had available, so my pay was docked. Oh well. One body, one life, one extra week to heal. It was worth it. Now I’m up and around, energy is back, and although I’m not 100%, I’m well on my way. I’m also living in a smaller, easier to manage body, and that’s a huge plus.

During that recovery period, I was scheduled to host our monthly Bunco game. With the help of my sweetheart and my amazing friends (not to mention my favorite pizza place), I was able to pull it off with very little effort. They did just about everything, and my kitchen was pristine before the last girls left. I love those ladies; spending time with them is good for the soul.

The following day we had a low key lunch planned at another friend’s house, and I was pampered and fussed over and generally cared for in a way that only your girlfriends can do.

Speaking of girlfriends, not too long ago I received a text that one of our longtime online scrapbooking club friends had passed away. This online group changed my life in so many positive ways. I got active in the group when my son was about three years old. He’s well on his way to 30.

I made lifelong friends in the group, including my dear friend who lived on the same street as me. Yes, we met on the internet, but lived less than a mile apart in the same neighborhood. In addition to being neighbors, we realized there were some odd coincidences between our lives. For example, my son’s first and middle names are her two sons’ names (in the same order). There are other weird things too, but you get the idea. It was fate, plain and simple.

Anyway… this group became a huge part of my life for several years. We had multiple get togethers, and I was lucky enough to participate in events across four different states. Friday nights we had online chats that kept us connected. We had challenges and swaps and all sorts of fun things, but mainly we were there for each other. Births, deaths, marriages, divorces… we saw it all, and we shared genuine affection for one another. It was a remarkable experience.

We lost our first member way too young. Cancer. Not much more to say. Then, this month we lost another. Also cancer. Horrible. But her passing, and the woman who we affectionately refer to as the “team captain” brought us back together. Our team captain shared the sad news in a group text, and it allowed us to reconnect. Many of us have been online friends over the decades, but we lost touch with others. All of a sudden, there they were. We were talking again. Sharing news. Sharing updated pictures. What a gift. Our friend would have been so happy to know that she had a part in bringing us back together.

Now my formerly down the street friend and I live miles apart, but we have plans to get together. It’s been too long. We try to see one another now and then, but life often interferes. Not this time. She invited me to come along with her to a workshop to try something new. I’m in. I don’t know if I’ll enjoy the activity, but I know for certain that I’ll enjoy the company. These recent events have reminded me that life can be unpredictable. Take the trip, call the friend, try the new activity, get outside. Take time to notice it all, especially your people. And pets. Don’t forget your pets.

OH!! And I almost forgot to mention. I’M GOING TO SEE BTS!!!!!!! But that’s a whole other story.


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Brave New World

Well, here I am once again. I was challenged by a friend, who is a far more prolific writer than I am, to at least write a blog post. Well, E. here it is, in all its awkward glory. Why awkward? Because I feel like a stranger here, in my very own blog. Things look different. Things work in different ways. Even the login process was different. Not bad. Easy, in fact. But still, different.

From the very beginning, in June of 2013, this blog has been all about me, me, me. Me as a parent, as an educator, as a friend, as a partner, and as a daughter and sister. More than all of those versions of me, though, this blog has been a record of the ups and downs of my never-ending quest for the healthiest version of me. My weight has fluctuated, as has my motivation. Currently my weight is on a downward trajectory, with the help of medication, an app, and a food delivery service. Oh, and orders from my doctor. Can’t forget those. Is it pricey? You bet, but like the L’Oreal commercials say, “I’m worth it.”

I’m at a weight that I reached about 2 years ago, wearing the smallest clothes in my closet, but for some reason it doesn’t feel like it did 2 years ago. That time around I felt like I was powerful, strong, in charge. I was a warrior going to battle. Then I ran out of steam. Time passed, things changed, and some of the fifty plus pounds I shed made their way back onto my frame. Those pounds are gone again, but so is my warrior persona. Now I’m mostly just resigned. I suppose I look better, and there are definitely some things that are easier to do (like flying, my favorite), and really my labs have never been better (at least not in the last couple of decades). Still, I’m just not feeling it this time around.

I might have a little bit of imposter syndrome. I’m using medication, which makes the weight loss so much easier. Is that cheating? Do I get to feel the same kind of triumph? If we were talking about anyone else, I would say, “Of course!” but I don’t generally give myself the same kind of grace that I give to others. Maybe it’s a little bit of the perfectionist in me. I know I have a long way to go to get this body to its peak of health, and frankly it seems unrealistic to think that I will ever reach an “ideal” weight, but I’m still out here trying. So there you have it, and now you’re thinking, no wonder she hasn’t written anything in over a year. Of course blogging is like so many other things, the more you do it, the easier it becomes. Hopefully I can remember that when it comes to the healthy habits I’m trying to cultivate.


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Long Time, No See

I’ve fallen and I can’t get up! Remember those ads? I sort of have felt like that when it comes to blogging. I’ve loved blogging over the years, but recently I just haven’t been able to add it into my routine? Why? Absolutely no reason whatsoever.

When I began this blog in 2013 (was it really that long ago?!) I did it as a way to keep myself accountable in regards to my health and fitness goals. Well, it’s been a long up and down and up again struggle, but the war rages on. Last year I became one of the Noomies (my own term, but feel free to use it), and it was the right thing for me at the exact right time, because I lost over 50 pounds and was feeling great. Then, around last November, I started to use it less and less, but oddly my weight stayed stable. For a while. Once again, I’m at a place where I know what to do, but just need to do it. UGH.

Teaching-wise, I’m loving being a teacher of gifted kids. I’m not going to lie, the kindergarten and first grade kids scared me a little at first, but now I love working with them. Gifted 5 and 6 year olds are quirky, funny people, with little to no filter. They are so much fun to teach.

I’m also looking forward to a retire, re-hire situation with my school district. It’s a little complicated, but the gist of it is that I can keep working, but start drawing my retirement. I’m all for it. There are just a few paperwork (well, website work) challenges I have to overcome, but I’m looking forward to that next phase of my career.

Other than that, the doggy is doing fine at the ripe old age of 14, the kid is also doing fine, but still pounding the pavement (or internet) for a chemical engineering position (anyone hiring? let me know). I’ve been traveling to visit my mom more frequently, since she does not appear to be getting any younger. Have I mentioned how much I dislike flying? I’m pretty sure I have.

Finally, I have a new love in my life. It’s K-pop. Yes, I’ve been enjoying it for a few years now, but I finally discovered BTS (I know, I know… I’m SUPER late to the party) and there’s no looking back. I never got onboard with Leif Garrett or Shaun Cassidy, but I’m like a tween when it comes to BTS. Thank goodness for YouTube so I can get my fill of them whenever I feel like it. I hope you enjoy a few minutes of happiness.