Quote for 10/3/09: Paula Poundstone on Dieting

I've decided that perhaps I'm bulimic and just keep forgetting to purge. ~Paula Poundstone

Remodeling the FAMILY Home

After several weeks of nothing, I lost a second pound this week. Of course, the weekend wasn’t happened yet, so I shouldn’t get excited. I feel like getting a little off-task to celebrate.



I love HGTV … not the realty shows and especially not the Property Shop with that self-absorbed prima donna. I love decorating shows. I followed Design Star and had the winner picked early. The judges talked about what a great group of talent they had this year, because it’s required. Others had good moments, but Antonio was good all the time. Did you see how he decorated his bedroom? A sombrero girl on the headboard would not be my choice, but it was fun.


I DVR Divine Design. A lot of her work is the same, but I like aspects of it, particularly the use of built-ins.


My favorite is Color Splash. I like bold color, but was brought up with pastels and neutrals. I want to learn how to pull it off without looking like kindergarten.  Find out more at http://www.hgtv.com/color-splash/show/index.html


While I want to do more landscaping, all their shows have pools and outdoor kitchens. I don’t want and can’t afford either of them. OK, I’d like the pool, but it's too much work in the Mid-West.


When I’m finally done with college tuition in 2011, I want to remodel. Take out some walls. Put the fireplace on an angle and get it working. Make the house cool. I’ve got graph paper and am laying out a floor plan. The design phase is cheap. It’s actually doing it that will cost me.

FRIDAY FOTOS: Water and Beth at Missouri Botanical

Quote for 10/2/09: Gwen Owen on Exercise

You can't lose weight without exercise. But I've got a philosophy about exercise. I don't think you should punish your legs for something your mouth did. Drag your lips around the block once or twice. --Gwen Owen

Are Your FAMILY and FRIENDS Making You FAT? (part 2)

It’s my fault. When my daughter comes home, she expects ice cream. This is the female bonding I taught her – girl-talk over brownies. I created this problem.  Now, I want to change … or I feel I ought to change. Perhaps “want” isn't the right word. I “want” to climb into a vat of fudge and emerge a healthy weight. Wanting and reality are 2 different things.

Just because I’m trying to change, doesn’t mean the people around me are interested. They were comfortable with fat-me. So was I … but it was really unhealthy. I feel better now. The looking better part is just a bonus.


As I’ve lost weight, I noticed a change in some of my acquaintances. Fat people are a lower form of life – the only group it’s socially acceptable to condemn for their appearance. If you have to feel superior to someone, pick a fat gal. Family members. Co-workers. Clients. The pecking order in their minds changed, when I reached an average weight. Women, who used to weigh less than me, have the biggest adjustment. They're worried. What if I weigh less than them now?


Then, there are the enablers. “You don’t want to lose too much.” “Don’t pay any attention to those height and weight charts.” “Haven’t you lost enough?” Maybe they’re trying to understand? Maybe.


Change isn’t just hard internally. Ask someone in AA. Sometimes, the people around you make it more difficult.

Thursday Double FEATURE Videos

New(ish): Shatner does Palin on the Tonight Show http://www.tonightshowwithconanobrien.com/video/clips/shatner-reads-palins-tweets-072909/1140351



Classic: Blagojevich as Elvis (from Illinois where governors go to jail) http://politicalhumor.about.com/od/rodblagojevich/youtube/blagojevich-elvis-impersonation.htm  

Quote for 10/1/09: Nietzsche on FAITH

A casual stroll through the lunatic asylum shows that faith does not prove anything. -- Friedrich Nietzsche