Captains Log - Day 3 - Isolation and First Day of Spring

Happy Spring! 

A reminder that, after a long and not so cold and snowy winter, there is rebirth and hope. We will get through this corona virus season but I'm not exactly sure if we will ever be the same. 

If you know anyone who is still out partying at spring break or getting together with friends for a corona party, please do whatever you can to convince them to stop and think about how many people they could get sick or kill with their selfishness. They have to realize how serious this is by now. This is not just a bad strain of the flu. 

The majority of us are blessed to have technology and Netflix and all sorts of things to keep us entertained at home. Act like you have the virus and just stay home to save the lives of many. Be a hero. You can save lives and give the doctors and nurses a chance to save more. It's really not that hard. If people don't wise up there will be many more casualties and we will be forced into isolation. 

I'm praying we all survive this terrible season and look forward to the seasons to come on the other side of it. Be safe and stay healthy my friends.

~~~~~

To everything there is a season
And a time to every purpose, under heaven
A time to be born, a time to die
A time to plant, a time to reap
A time to kill, a time to heal
A time to laugh, a time to weep
...
And a time to every purpose, under heaven
A time to build up, a time to break down
A time to dance, a time to mourn
A time to cast away stones, a time to gather stones together
...
And a time to every purpose, under heaven
A time of love, a time of hate
A time of war, a time of peace
A time you may embrace, A TIME TO REFRAIN FROM EMBRACING
...
And a time to every purpose, under heaven
A time to gain, a time to lose
A time to rend, a time to sew
A time for love, a time for hate
A time for peace, I swear it's not too late
~The Byrds

Peace and Love My Friends!

Happy Autumnal Equinox!

I love the change of seasons, well, maybe not mud season, but Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter, I love them all and feel lucky to live in New England where I can enjoy the benefits of each one. I can't wait to see the mountains bursting with color in their full fall splendor. Bus loads of leaf peepers will be cruising the back roads of Vermont in just a couple of weeks but they'll all be gone by the time the snow flies. If you're in the neighborhood, get out and enjoy nature's show while it lasts. Just like 2010, it will be gone before you know it.

As of tomorrow there will only be 100 days left of 2010. Join me in the Hot 100 and let's finish out the year on a high note. The leaves are changing and so am I. Are you ready for a new season? Are you ready to see a change? I am.

End of Summer and the Hot 100 Challenge

2010 is more than half over and as of tomorrow there will only be 100 days left to this year. It's true that the older you get the quicker the years seem to pass by. It's like living your life in slow motion when you're young and think you have all the time in the world to fulfill your dreams and then years and decades fly by and you're left wondering how you got here and if you still have enough time to make your dreams come true. As long as you're still breathing, you still have time.

Have you let those healthy new year resolutions slip through the cracks of daily life or are you well on your way to living the life of a healthy person? Have you figured out what works for you or are you still struggling to get through the day without poisoning yourself with junk food. Have you been moving your body, getting your heart rate up and working up a sweat? Have you reached your goals only to learn that maintenance really is the hardest part?

Are you prepared for the holiday season with all the food pushers and the feasts being offered up at every turn? The Halloween candy is stocked on the shelves, the Thanksgiving turkeys are getting fattened up and the Christmas feasts are being planned. Are you prepared to handle that? Are you up for the challenge?

I am!

Since I had so much fun doing Biz' 1o1 Days of Summer Challenge I've decided to join South Beach Steve's Hot 100. You can check out all the details on Log My Loss here.

My three goals for the Hot 100 Challenge are:

1. Lose An Additional 15 Pounds by December 31st

I know some of you and everyone on the Biggest Loser can drop that in a couple of weeks but if you haven't caught on by now, I'm a VERY SLOW loser. I'm just trying to be realistic here and set a goal I think is attainable. My goal for the 101 Days of Summer Challenge was to lose 20 pounds and I almost made it with a total loss of 17 so since the holidays have to be factored in to this equation I think 15 is a realistic goal. I don't want to fall victim to the pressure of losing "x" amount of weight in "x" amount of days but will strive to just keep losing at my slow and steady pace and attempt to reach that goal.

2. Couch to 5K

I'm not giving up on this even though my bad knee isn't always happy about it. I really WANT to be a runner but I'm not sure my body is willing to take the abuse. I may be the last person to cross that 5K finish line but I'm going to do it.

3. Build More Muscles

I must confess I struggle to get in the weight room more than a couple of times a week and even when I do I'm just pushing through it, going through the motions and doing the bare minimum so I can say I did it but I don't love it. I need to get my head in the weight room, slow down and try to enjoy it instead of just getting it over with.

What can you accomplish in the next 100 days? Join the Hot 100 Challenge and set some goals to finish out 2010 strong. Don't you want to feel good about making progress when the new year rolls around?

There's a gorgeous full Harvest Moon out there tonight even though I'm sweating like it's still the middle of July I know these hot days are numbered. Here in the northern hemisphere the Summer of 2010 will officially be over at 11:09 p.m. EDT (0309 GMT Sept. 23). Fall in New England can be magical when spectacular bursts of the most amazing colors get splashed over the mountains and the giddiness I feel knowing that a blanket of fresh white snow will soon follow.

Where will you be at the end of 2010? Closer or farther away from your goals? Don't waste another second of your life wishing you could get healthy, just wishing your life away. Make the choice right now, not Monday, not after the holidays, RIGHT NOW!

Happy Summer Solstice!

Today is officially the first day of Summer here in the northern hemisphere which means I only have to wait another six months until I can snowmobile again. In the meantime, I'm doing my best to avoid burning my pasty white skin to a crisp again and trying not be the sole source of food for every mosquito out there that wants to suck all the blood out of my body.

This weekend the no-see-ums in Vermont were brutal. I couldn't stay outside more than two minutes before the little bastards were swarming around my head trying to land in my eyes. You may think people look ridiculous with those nets over their heads but it beats having bugs in your eyes.

Thematic Photographic 97 - Spring Has Sprung

Thematic Photographic was on hiatus for a while but I'm happy to say it's back. This week's theme is "Spring Has Sprung." I love taking springtime photos at the Public Gardens in Boston but, unfortunately, the weather didn't cooperate this year and I missed the flowering trees. I was even more disappointed when the strong wind storms destroyed most of the tulips. The lack of flowers forced me to switch off the macro and point my lens in another direction. I'm glad I did because otherwise I wouldn't have gotten this shot which is a little overexposed but I still love it. I don't know the little girl so it was just a fleeting moment I was lucky to catch as she raced by to catch up to her family.

The seasons change so quick around here we often say if you don't like the weather, wait a minute, it will change. We've already had temps in the '90s but it was snowing in Vermont on Sunday and there have been freeze and frost warnings the past few nights.

I feel like I'm always rushing around trying to capture the seasons before I miss it and have to wait another year to try it again. I definitely didn't get my fill of snowy pictures this year. I was able to get a few shots of the remaining tulips which you can see here.

You can get all the Thematic Photographic details and join the fun over at Carmi's place at writteninc.

It's a Pity Party ...

Did you get the invitation? I'm having a little pity party for myself. There won't be any cake but there will be lots of alcohol, preferably Stoli, Kettle One or Grey Goose, and I'm going to get those freaky fun house mirrors that make everyone look svelte.

I just can't stand it anymore. I'm so frustrated and disgusted with myself. I'm still wearing the same fat clothes, still binging, still "phoning in" the workouts, still looking longingly at all the cute outfits I can't wear spilling out of my closets. I'm still thinking about losing weight but not actually making any significant progress. I want desperately to lose weight but I'm still making the same mistakes over and over and over again.

I know I tend to get a little depressed this time of the year when the snow melts. Everything turns drab and brown until things start turning green. I know it's my own version of Spring Fever. I love the winter and the snow and hate to see it go. Mud season is so ugly and I'm certainly not looking forward to another hot summer trying to keep all my fat covered. Unless I get into the fast track to weight loss mode, I will be just as fat this summer as I was last summer. Shouldn't I have been at my goal already? Shouldn't I have at least made some progress? What the h*ll am I waiting for?

I've been reading tons of blogs trying to get inspired to get off my *ss and get serious again. There's lots of inspiration out there (thank you for doing your part). I feel like I'm just wasting years of my life in a body I don't particularly like. I don't even like to look at what I've done to my body. Does every fat girl avoid full length mirrors? or is it just me? The fatter I am the less I want to see. I know what my body can and should look like if I would just get off my *ss and work hard enough to lose the lard.

I know what I have to do. I know I need to make the commitment to myself and stick with the program. I'm not getting any younger and every day I poison my body with crap food is another day I get further from my goal. My healthy lifestyle is waiting for me and I want it NOW. This fat girl is not the real me.

Thanks for coming to my pity party. If you brought a gift, thank you, I hope it isn't food but a good hard kick the *ss (or at least top shelf vodka). Ok, everyone go home, the pity party is over. This is going to be the summer I get healthy, right?

Spring Ahead ...

We lost an hour of sleep today but we get the benefit of more daylight hours so it's a good thing but I always get a little depressed this time of year. I like getting out of work while it is still light out but I hate to see the winter end. It looks like my season is going to end early with the warm temps we had this weekend. It was in the 70s here in Boston and the snow is melting fast up north.


Spring also makes me think how quickly another summer is approaching and if I don't get off my *ss and get serious about this weight loss I am going to end up spending ANOTHER summer trying to keep all my fat covered instead of enjoying the pool and other activities that require minimal clothing.


Just thinking about putting a bathing suit makes me break out in a cold sweat. I'm not brave enough to even try one on right now. Just thinking about it is stressing me out.


I keep making the same mistakes, going round in circles and not getting anywhere. I'm determined to get into a consistent exercise program and getting out of the sugar/carb cycle. I know what those simple carbs and sugar do to my system but I still continue to stuff them in my mouth. What is wrong with me?


I don't have any chance of getting to my goal by the time summer gets here but I can be well on my way to a healthier life if I get down to business and take care of myself, exercise at least an hour 5-6 days a week and stop stuffing my face with crap food.

I'm off to hit the treadmill and elliptical now. As much as I would like to hang on to winter, summer will be here before you know it.

Summer .... What Summer?

I can't believe the summer is over and I hardly got out to enjoy it. We did get up north this weekend but couldn't even go to all the Labor Day parties. B's recovery is slow and he gets tired easily. The doctor told us that B will not feel 100% for 3-6 months.

Even though I'm disappointed to have missed out on all the summer fun, I'm always happy to see the leaves change and know that the snow is not too far off. I'll be glad when 2008 is over. It hasn't been a very good year.