One Step ahead and two behind - The Murphy Law dance

Between yesterday and today, I have had a conversation with a friend that once a week at least we commit to a diet and exercise plan and then on Monday/ Tuesday we are back having the same conversation. It flip flops on who is having the issue and bringing it to the surface. It goes something like this...

Okay.. I just don't see any movement. I walk, I try and eat right and then the weekend throws me off kilter. It was a bbq at a friend's pool or a couple of cocktails

I know ... We went out to dinner and I just couldn't get past the (fill in the blank).

Ya and then I didn't get the (walk/run/bike ride) in I promised myself.

Okay well you have to push me... don't let me falter. Okay if you do it for me.. yada yada yada...

This was the boiled down version of yesterday's conversation with me whining excuses on why it was a failing battle and why I couldn't do this or that. She is a no carb freak and I am a calorie counter. Calories are calories.. she is all about no carbs. Whatever - I need to grow up and just do it. I bet she would say the same thing.

This morning, I got up late but managed to get 3 laps in the park. Feeling good about doing extra, I came home to my email. My friend in Georgia was pleased about going over 1900 miles on his bike this summer. Steve - that is great. I haven't taken out the bike in a week with the rain. Thanks for extra push to get off my ... well you know.

So, I figured I could take a short lunch and do another 1.5 miles on the treadmill. IT DOESN'T WORK.... I HAVEN'T USED IT SINCE THE MOVE. Do you really think that Berger-Allied is going to 1) have a good laugh I haven't used the treadmill since April or 2) Believe me it hasn't worked? or 3) All of the above.

I thought I had checked them off the list.... ^*68^%%$#$^@#@@!

So I am now not only battling the extra pounds and the motivation but down one weapon going into the fall and have to go back to war with the moving company. That should take weeks to fix.

Yikes!

What will the arrival of fall bring for you?

Today was the start of school for many schools here in the NorthEast. My nephew Jamie drove off in his car for the first time for the first day of his Senior year. I bet his mother after taking all the pictures including the one of him disappearing up the street wondered if this day would have been ever possible some 17 years ago. It seemed so far off in the future.

Fall is suppose to be a time of the dying of the light and all the spring growth. However, I find it is a time to refocus and perhaps a "new year" as our Jewish brethren do... See,I am Virgo baby. It is a new year for me every September.

What will this year bring me? Could I have predicted everything that happened this past year? Living for 4 months thru the holidays by myself? Dad's heart attack? The horrid unfriendliness of the community (okay well it is New England.. I shouldn't have been surprised)? The terrific success professionally? The friends we have found or rediscovered? I am not sure... Certainly couldn't in mid July last year!

I look forward to Fall ... New clothes. We already know about the new shoes. Hopefully, a new approach to nagging problems. I am cautiously optimistic about my 2006-2007. What is new for you? What do you want to lose yourself in next?

Shoe Safari Aug 2006

As mentioned, I had two goals for the weekend. Only one was possible due to the weather. Saturday morning with directions from the DSW website in hand and a quick conference from my husband about did these directions make sense. We made some changes and I set off alone with my trustee blackberry and a vision of what lay ahead. My first thought was that on this trip through yuppie CT I would be able to make a quick pitstop at a Starbucks to get my vision clearly focused.

That didn't happen as a result and several incorrect turns including missing the exit onto the Merritt. I found the "supposedly" closest DSW. About an hour away in Orange/Milford CT. The stars finally aligned and there was a Starbucks in the parking lot. However, I thought the coffee would only hamper my quest for shoes at that point. It would be a reward for good hunting!

When you approach a shoe store, you have to set your mind on the method. This was a bit screwed up since they had moved a set of the discount racks to the front of the store. My usual process is to wind my way back there. I like to give a once over on the regular stock prior to hitting the sale racks. It gives me a better appreciation of what is back there. I got delayed and dazzled by a cute pair of flip flops... hmm.. Not yet. We are here for fall and winter shoes. NO Sandals NO Flip Flops!

So I did a quick turn around the sale racks. I found a pair of sneakers 50% off. Sneakers check (they were on the list). Again not finding what I made my trip really for, I trucked my way out to the aisle of other shoes. I became depressed and snapped at a sales person. Did I come all that way to not find anything but a pair of sneakers? Nothing struck me as take me home!!!

Well, I come from a hearty line that never gives up on a shoe quest! Heck my great grandmother Parker had bushels of shoes (size 4 AAAA) removed from the house after she died. Shoes are in my blood!

Back to the sale racks and I hit pay dirt. I found 4 pairs of terrific flats including a pair of black flats made by Coach for only $62 and a comfy pair of Joan and David brown pumps. As I walked proudly up to the register, I had captured 7 pairs of shoes. I only spent $214 total. I had achieved victory! The receipt said I had saved over $397.

The conquering heroine proceeded to Starbucks for a Venti ice coffee and trekked home a different way that saved time (if she didn't go the wrong way on the Merritt again for 2 exits). Home in time to put a quick dinner together to take over to the Vara's. No Mars but great company and conversation as usual!

Sunday was a rainy blah day. Dogs out between the rain drops and old movies on TV.

Google and the Internet Delivered Me!!!

Many of you know my father had a relapse this week and found himself right back in the cardiac ward of CMC with Congestive Heart Failure. That is a pretty scary set of words to a family that has a lot of heart related problems. Never fear, I set about not to panic but to find out all I could on the web.

There are some great articles from the American Heart Association and in particular a great series from the University of Maryland's medical Center. They set a road map from describing the damage to the leftside and how that can progress / present CHF. The symptoms are very similar to a cold with congestion in the lungs and coughing. HMMM..

They suggested a recovery plan and a couple of diets that have shown good results and great things to watch out for. This was especially interesting describing the differences in relapse in women and men 6 months down the road. Women are more likely by 8 fold to have a hospitalization especially if they don't have a care giver or are living alone. Makes sense given the longevity of women to men and that most women marry older men than the other way around.

Google is my hero for this information. Fear of the unknown has always been a great motivator. It is what the entire insurance industry relies on daily! Google searched the web and delivered me from my fear with a matter of key strokes.

The internet also allowed me to notify the rest of my family and friends to what was going on quickly. This blog allows me to stay in touch with my readers. What is next in the wild world of the web? At my company, we are buiding hosted communities to enable the next generation of web usage called "Web 2.0". We offer ways for companies to let there customers engage and collaborate with each other. After reading an article on Generation Y and the IM language... Understanding the attractiveness and addicitiveness of blogging. Many blogs are the new Dickens. Many of his initial books were written as monthly or weekly installments in journals. I have read that he rarely missed a deadline!

The good news is Dad came home from the hospital last night. While Mom was out filling prescriptions, he decided to load the truck to take the garbage to the dump. I guess that means he feels better. The Captain certainly sounded 100% better than he did on Sunday!

Weekend Plans: Trying to figure out a good place to see Mars tomorrow night! Otherwise I am determined to have a restful weekend and go shoe shopping! I have seen some great new styles on the internet and need something besides my flip flops I have lived in Georgia for the past 4 years! Time to Google where the closest DSW is to me. Mecca is calling.........

San Francisco and Back again

Last week's lack of blog activity was because I was in San Francisco on business. We had a launch conference on Self Service technology. My team on site was terrific! We are a great well oiled machine. Hopefully, it will translate into a stellar product and a great money maker in the future.

I got to see Stacy when I was out there. She was my airport shuttle both ways and we got dinner on Wednesday night. It was so good to see her. I cherish being able to travel and see friends like that on the company nickel!

Got home and had taken the day off because we had originally planned to go to Delaware and see Ivan and Nancy this weekend. Dad's heartattack put the stop to those plans and Jim's parents decided this was the weekend they were going to visit. We had them here for a lovely visit and went to a family birthday party on Saturday. Thanks to Michael and Dianna for a lovely gathering. Especially, since it was her birthday!!!

Many of you have been terrific asking about Dad's health. He is slowly getting used to the changes in his diet and medication. He seems to have a summer cold on top of everything which is causing some real trouble in being able to breath. Your best wishes and thoughts, offers for help with the dogs and everything are terrific. It means the world to them and Jim and I to know you are there.

I am sorry not to have profound thoughts on anything. I am just trying to keep my head above water with the daily chores.

homestead bound

Well... I understand he is on his way home. Back to the homestead where he is the 4th generation to live there. I am sure he and the dog will be estatic! I am not so sure my mother will be after 24 hours.

I am off for our Customer Self Service Conference in San Francisco on Sunday. I can't wait to stand in line with out food or water ... or more importantly...lipstick. At least they are allowing me my trustie computer and blackberry.

I am hoping for a child free, terriorist free, and stinky overweight smelly shoe guy free flights. I have two lay overs in the ATL. Bets on whether I take the return flight to Westchester on Thursday night? I will....

Oh.. if a doctor's office doesn't confirm regular appointments... what do they confirm? Medical science... where all surly condescending waitresses find work after retiring from the airline industry. The receptionist at Jennifer Holloway, MD in Newtown CT needs a good ol' lesson in being polite and common sense. I am naming names! The heck with political correctness..

Update

I want to thank everyone for the calls and emails. I brought them to the hospital and shared them with Dad aka the Captain. He wanted to make sure everyone knew he appreciated the thoughts of good will.

Status: Day 6 in the hospital. Concerns.. He is diabetic and medication they have him on for the heart issues has switched the other medications for the diabetes requiring more shots and less oral medication. They hope to spring him by tomorrow. He was thinking about stringing bed sheets together and scaling down the three stories for an escape last night.

His other concern is that he hadn't been able to show in now 6 days. Wants to get home and bath. I can't blame him!

Everyone has been great to ask what they can do... I am not sure at this point. If you are in the area... Visiting or spelling my mother so she can go to the grocery store and her exercise classes might be it. They have to watch everything he eats and know the carb/protein/fat content so.. food is not the best thing. Otherwise stay tuned for updates. I have been cleared to leave on Sunday for San Francisco.

-PB

2 for 2

Back to the subject of being 20-30 lbs heavier than I want to be.. My father had a heart attack over the weekend. Mom had one at 49. My Grandmother had her first one at 36 and died at 72. If my father hasn't woken up, I have

They got him to CMC in time and we are waiting for him to be taken out of ICU.

We are such wimps!!!

Our power came back on this morning after being out for over 12 hours. No A/C, no computer..(needed to save the battery for work today just in case), no TV... no light to read by... cause the candles were not cutting it. Went to bed with the Sun and woke up with it.

We are such wimps!!

Education in America ... Is it time for Education 2.0

I am now hooked on reading the highlights for the Oprah show online. It is about a 13 page transcript of the most important points made. I was extremely interested in the piece she has done this week on the Crisis in the American school system. The huge dropout rates and actually calling some schools in the SF Bay area "feeder schools" for get this ... the PRISON SYSTEM! I am not surprised because of the stories Stacy has told me about being a social worker in a high school in Oakland. Stacy - please correct me if I am wrong - There are 3 adults in some class rooms. One Social Worker, One Teacher, and One disciplinary person. These are not large classrooms. I think she has mentioned they are under 20 students. Oh - this is also the middle level high school in Oakland meaning there is one that is worse.

The two part episodes also discuss some revolutionary ways to attack the growing problems of drop outs and the dumbing down of American education to teach to the lowest level. This has been occurring in American schools since at least 1978. I remember our elementary school vice -principal, Mr. Tierney telling my mother, " We have some students start 1st grade here (hand at eye level) and some students start first grade here (other hand at the stomach level) and by Third grade we have everyone here (hands meet at chest level). What is wrong with this ... The bright kids are not challenged. They are brought down to chest level. Instead, of this expecting each student to go to college from day one. Realizing that they come in with 101 reasons why they can't and having to combat that with 101 reasons why as adults we believe in them and that they can succeed. My teachers knew my name (even the middle one), knew my parent's names, and some of them knew my grandparent's names. How much power is there in believing in success? There is more power than an atom bomb. Every business owner, every successful athelete and star personality must believe in their ability to succeed.

Another group that was trying to make a difference said that it was time for teachers, administrations, parents and students to stop pointing the fingers at each other and realize the whole system has critical flaws. We need to step back and re think how we are engaging the students, parents, and teachers. We keep giving them books but is it better to give them laptops? Are we embracing the Web 2.0 and community 2.0 into the school system? Our kids text message, are on myspace.com, and are plugged into their iPods and video games. Why not teach them through the tools they embrace? What is wrong with CD rom text books? Pod casts lectures? Time to move education into the next century.... If we don't we risk losing the grip on what has made this country the economic and moral success over the past two hundred years.

Wedding Bells

We had a delightful message this weekend our dear friends have set a wedding date for October 28th. Terrific!!! 3 months to create a boot camp for myself. I rode this weekend over 23 miles and did about 13 miles last night in the blistering heat here in the NorthEast.

Since the happy couple are cyclists, it gives me an extra kick in rear to get better, faster, and more comfortable with long rides.

Congratulations!!! Thanks for the motivation!!

on a side note... my mother has been struggling with a huge weight gain since she had a heart attack in 1993. I am please to report that she has lost over 40lbs. I am so proud of her!!