Whoa! That's too long between posts...

Wow! Really? I haven't posted since February? Tsk, tsk, tsk, shame on me.

Anyway, I'm back to post today. Weight loss? Still in check. I do still have to log my food and points, or I do stray. Accountability. That's the name of the game for me. New job? Fantastic first year is completed and I have signed my contract for next year. Yay! Kids? Healthy, happy, enjoying summer. Ted starts high school (Westwood IB Programme) in August, and Claire starts at the Mesa Academy for Advanced Studies (also IB) as a 4th grader in August. The future's so bright, they've gotta wear shades. Chip? Still stuck with me :). He's working on renovating the kitchen as well as converting the GTO to CNG. Mom? Back at her own home in NJ after nearly two months recuperating at our home from a tri-malleolar fracture and the surgery to repair it.

We're off on our (now annual it seems) trip to the east coast. The kids and I leave this weekend, Chip will join us for a part of it later. We'll see a few roadside oddities along the way, as well as the St. Louis Arch, Statue of Liberty, and the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum. There will be boardwalks, beaches, fishing, swimming, junk food, and fireworks. Plus what other unknown surprises await? We'll just have to wait and see.

Summer plans afoot

Here I sit in front of the Super Bowl multi-tasking. Chip's out of town, the kids are playing video games in the other room, so I've got some time to myself to get planning. I've now completed the hotel reservations and mapping of the eastbound portion of our summer trip to the east coast. Not too much sightseeing is going on in either direction, but we'll do lots at various destinations.

Our first stop will be at Four Corners Monument, we'll head east through Colorado into Hays, Kansas. After a night in Kansas, we'll head for St. Louis, MO and spend 2 nights and 1 full day. For sure we want to see the arch, ride to the top, and visit the museums on the site, but we don't know how long that will take, or what else is great to do with two kids (8 & 13) in the area. If you have any ideas, let us know! From there, it's a ride to Columbus, OH for the night, then a quick ride (relatively speaking) to Pittsburgh for most of the day and 1 night. While we're there, we'll ride the Duquesne Incline, and maybe do the "Ducky" boat. Then we're Jersey bound! We'll stop in Philadelphia along the way, IF we can get an early enough start to get to Independence Hall and environs before they close at 5:00. If not, we'll do a day trip back into the city later.

We'll rest a couple days with the family in NJ, then head to see more family in Virginia Beach. We'll spend about a week there, then head back north via Richmond, Fredericksburg, and Washington, DC (depending on which friends will be around to visit). We hope to spend a day in DC (especially the Air and Space Museum we skipped last visit) and back to NJ.

Now, I've lived most of my life in the mid-Atlantic region of the country and I've never spent a day in NYC. We hope to change that this summer. Those plans are still pending, but I'll take suggestions. If you had two days and one night in NYC with 2 kids, yourself, and your mom, what would you do? I'd like to say that money is no object, but it is. We're thinking a GrayLine 2-day all loops bus pass. It should take us to most of the "must sees".

Another busy summer for us. I guess we wouldn't have it any other way. It would sure be easier to stay home...cheaper too. But where's the fun in that?

I'll post more when there's more to tell. Life just keeps on keeping on, so surely there will be something to write about soon.

New Year, new you...

It's a phrase we've heard before. It can also sound a bit trite, but as it turns out, trite doesn't make it any less true. We're now a few weeks into the new year, 2011. A chance to reflect and start fresh. Here are 59 things I'm glad to get rid of from 2010 and things I'm looking forward to in 2011.

2010 was a year for the record books. The 59 things that I'm glad to say good-bye to from 2010 are the 59 pounds that I lost starting January 1st! I hope none of you find it. It's been strange to see my new body in the mirror and know that it's mine. I'm hopeful that continued exercise will pull some of the extra jiggly places back into shape, but I don't know if that's possible. It's been hard work to lose the weight, but the benefits I've felt physically have been so worth it. I have discovered more stamina, developed more strength, felt more comfortable in my own skin, and felt less joint pain. I have my physical in a couple of months and that will give me some scientific numbers to bolster my resolve. All things to look forward to.

2011 starts well. I'm still on track for my continued maintenance. I'm looking forward to determining my own physical future. I'm looking forward to NOT developing diabetes or hypertension, getting a new bathing suit in a size I haven't worn since high school, looking good in jeans, being able to buy "cute" clothes, and feeling well and pain free more of the time. I'm thankful for my supportive family. They've all gotten behind me in this adventure. They're loving and encouraging and they've actually noticed the weight loss. I want to continue to be a good role model for them. If they can avoid some of the pitfalls I've tripped on along the way, they'll be better off. But if they can't avoid them, at least they'll know that I've been there before and that they can turn it around.

I wish for all of you health, happiness, and a zest for life. Find one new challenge to undertake this year. It can be weight loss, exercise changes, take a class, read a book you've been putting off, conquer a fear, visit somewhere on your list of wish places, resolve to live a "greener" life, learn a new language...I don't know what you should pick, but pick something. We should all keep growing and striving for greatness. Nurture yourself, show compassion to others in your words and actions, do your part to make the world a kinder, better place.