Another Quote

I found this one particularly inspiring in light of recent elections...

"The test of courage comes when we are in the minority.
The test of tolerance comes when we are in the majority."
-- Ralph W. Sockman

Food for thought. Have a great week!

Betty

Great News!!!

Many of you know that I started a wellness challenge this summer. Unfortunately due to Hurrican Ike I was not able to complete it with the group (it meant a trip to Washington, DC). That did not mean I gave up on the challenge - just that I was unable to complete it with the group.

I accepted this challenge due to some bad test results I received in July. So, the 3 months were up and this week I had to repeat those tests. And the results are in...it has been an amazing success! My cholesterol is down from 194 last year to 140 (my triglycerides went from 200 to 100); my iron went from borderline anemic to perfect in 3 months; and, my sugar levels have dropped! Additionally, I have lost 20 pounds this year. Am I done? By no means! But if I may pat myself on the back, what a great start!!!

Thanks for all your encouragement and support! You deserve a big hand! Have a great weekend. I will be contemplating my next goal.

Betty

Gasoline "Wars"

I am amazed and ecstatic at the gasoline prices these days. It's almost impossible to imagine that less than 2 months ago prices were double what they are now. I am curious if everyone's is as low as around my house. So...tell me (1) what is the cheapest price you have seen and (2) what is the cheapest price you have paid for regular gasoline lately. Be sure and tell where this was, too, so the rest of us can take advantage! I'll start...

Buccee's, Hwy 35 Bypass @ FM517, Alvin - $1.94/gallon. Cheapest I've seen and paid.

Betty

Blogging, MySpace, FaceBook

I'm curious where it ends. Or should I be asking where does it begin? Or where does it go next?

I have had a MySpace site for awhile now. That was part of the deal with allowing Amanda to have one - I have one also (plus I have her log-in info). I can deal with it. After the newness wore off I was lucky to get on once a month. Now I have a Facebook account.

I will admit I see some advantages to it over MySpace, the biggest being a hair better "security". You have to have a Facebook account to even search for someone. I don't like the fact that you can see their friends without being approved to be their friend - but I can live with that I guess.

Mostly I see both of them as social opportunities and ways to spend my free time. Wait...I have free time????

Betty

Turkey Anyone???

Okay, here is the next opportunity to show yourself just how out of shape you are. Join us for the 2008 Turkey Trot. Feeling like a turkey? Need to burn a few calories so you can afford to eat the turkey and dressing and everything else??? Just want to start a new tradition in your house??? Let's do it! Remember, misery loves company so let's all do this together!!!

Betty

Pumpkin Run, Part 2

We did it! It's over! Not only did I survive, I dropped about 2-1/2 minutes off the time of my last 5K!!! Woo Hoo!!! The last tenth mile was the toughest since it was uphill. Considering we have not done any training since before the hurricane I am very impressed with my results!

They were many "characters" there--Darth Vadar, Wonder Woman, Minnie Mouse, bumble bees, and even someone we think was supposed to be Michael Phelps (he ran in a Speedo and flip flops--scary *any* time of the year).

I have decided that running/walking is mental first and physical second. You must first make up your mind that you can and will do this. Once you have accomplished that you will then be able to handle the physical. Although, training before an event is highly recommended. :)

Who's up for the next one???

Betty

Pumpkin Run

Tomorrow it's Rise & Shine early because it's time for the Pumpkin Run!! WooHoo. This was my first ever fun run last year and I did the 3K. But after a few other 5Ks under my belt I am going for the full 5 (3.1 miles) tomorrow.

With the hurricane and crazy work schedule and volleyball and all those other typical things around here I haven't been able to train like I wanted but I'm feeling good about it. It definitely won't be as much fun as last year because it's just my family (there was about 15 of us last year) but it will still be fun! The weather is looking great and the cooler temps we've had lately just makes me SPUNKY!

So for those of you sleepy heads, I will be the early bird getting the worm! Have a great Saturday!

Betty

Resigning

As adults there are some lessons in life we should already have learned. But just in case you have forgotten or were never taught (gasp!), let me refresh your memory on one of them.

There are just some things that are meant to be done in person or at a minimum on the telephone. It is not appropriate or polite to leave your boss a letter on Friday afternoon that you will not be back to work Monday morning--or ever for that matter. Hmmm, maybe someone who would do that I don't want working for me anyway???

Enough said. Let's move on and get to work (it's gonna be a long day).

Betty

Inspirational Quotes

I subscribe to a daily inspirational quote. Some are pretty bland and some are pretty good. Occassionally there are ones that really just strike out to me, you may have noticed them at the top of my blog. Here are a few more that showed up recently. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

"Some of the secret joys of living are not found by rushing from point A to point B, but by inventing some imaginary letters along the way."-- Douglas Pagels, Author

"What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others."-- Pericles

"Don't duck the most difficult problems. That just ensures that the hardest part will be left when you are most tired. Get the big one done; it's downhill from then on."-- Norman Vincent Peale~~~

My recent favorite!

"Being happy doesn't mean that everything is perfect. It means that you've decided to look beyond the imperfections."-- Author Unknown

Maybe this is my favorite because it spoke directly to me. I am a perfectionist--I have to work really hard to see beyond the imperfections and just look for the joy.

Have a great Sunday!
Betty

Growing Up

I'm not convinced that growing up is something you stop doing at 18 or 21 or even 30. I believe that in some way we all continue to "grow" until we die. Even then I think there is still a certain amount of growth that happens in Heaven--shucks, we've never been there before how can we know fully what it is like.

This week has been a tough one for me. We have crossed the threshold of a new phase in our lives--my teenager has a boyfriend. I've known for some time the day was coming. I've even to some extent looked forward to it for her. But it is one of those events in life that sneek up and slap you in the face with a ton of bricks and says, "It's Time!!!" Okay, maybe I wasn't as ready as I thought--let's just back up about 2 years and take this a little slower.

Funny how little things from unexpected places can bring forth such strong emotions. Kenny Chesney's new CD was released Tuesday. Yes, of course I went out and bought it--was there any doubt in your mind. :) I was listening to it on the way home from breakfast with a friend Thursday morning. Now normally I love driving in the car alone where I can crank the music up and really listen to the words but not this time. Instead I listened to the words to the 5th track--Down the Road--and cried like a baby. The song tells a story from 2 perspectives--first, a young man with a crush on the girl (any only child) who lives down the road and second, from the father of the young girl. The only way I could quit crying was to hear the words I told Jackie just days before--it's a date not a marriage proposal.

The timing of the release of that song did not--could not--have happened by chance. It was certainly something I needed to hear at that moment and it certainly changed my perspective on the subject. I am now convinced I am DEFINITELY NOT READY FOR THIS!!!

If you get a chance listen to the song but parents of teenagers beware--have a box tissues handy!

Betty

Just Catching Up

It seems like it's been forever since I've been able to post. But I guess the old expression "Better Late Than Never" can apply here.

So much has been happening and not happening. It seemed that forever nothing was happening. Schools and businesses were closed due to the lack of power. However, every day a few more grocery stores and gas stations began slowly but surely reopening as power was restored. Equally, lawns and streets slowly began being cleared and a sense of normalcy returning.

God blessed us that first week and brought a "cool front" - that basically means the temps stayed below 90 but below 90 can be a wonderful thing. Unfortunately by the end of the first week the temperatures were creeping back to the upper 80s/low 90s. With the increase in the temperature came decreases in patience.

We returned to the land of civilized human beings on Monday when the power was restored. Woo Hoo! Tuesday volleyball returned. Homeschool co-op started back today in a temporary location. Life for us not severely affected by the storm is really almost back to normal.

We have all seen the graphic images on the television and heard the rumors of all kinds of disasters--they are everywhere you turn. And please understand I am in no way trying to diminish the losses of some, but for those of you not living here please recognize that the media is reporting the worst cases. Were there gas lines? Yes, for the first few days. Are there some homes completely destroyed? Yes, some but not the majority. Most people I have spoke to have had similar damage to ours--lost fences and trees. Some have roof damage which led to isolate water damage inside. But few had a complete loss.

The rainbow in all this is the spirit of compassion and kindredship. Neighbors helping neighbors. People helping complete strangers. Everywhere you turn you see and hear the stories of help that has been occuring. It gives you a warm fuzzy inside. Sometimes the help is in unrecognized ways. In Bible class last Sunday, Kouba was talking how he was disappointed that his son was not "excited" about helping others clear limbs and such. I reminded him that God gave each of us different gifts and talents and expects us to use them to glorify him in that way. Sometimes we as parents forget that God knows better than we do and we get frustrated because our children aren't doing what *we* think is best. Just a reminder.

Hope y'all are all well and good. Remember to hug your children today and don't forget to tell them you love them. Remember to let their gifts shine in their way.

Betty

Southern Hospitality

I have bittersweet emotions at this moment. I am sitting in the hotel room in Biloxi thinking of the many life-changing events of the last few days--some good, some not so good.

I must say that the people of Biloxi have been wonderful whether they knew it or not. In addition to Wal-Mart and Radio Shack, we have also had a fantastic experience with the Honda dealership who fixed the radio which quit working because of the Magellan cord that broke in the power point. (I told my darling daughter she really didn't want to have to listen to me sing for 450 miles. She agreed.) There was even the somewhat strange, but very friendly, waiter at Applebee's who I am convinced was hitting on my much-too-young-to-date daughter. These people did not know we were "evacuees" (wow, that's the first time I've thought about that), they were just being themselves. They were just demonstrating true Southern Hospitality.

Think about it the next time you are in a position to help someone or just plain be friendly. You may not know what they are dealing with. A small act of kindness could make a huge difference.

We will be heading home in the morning. We have no electricity, 2 fewer trees, and much less fence. But we have a home in tact as well as a dad/hubby waiting for us. We are truly blessed.

Betty

Wally World

Those of you who know me know how much I despise that mega-conglomerate I refer to as "Wally World". What you may not know is in my 20s I worked part-time for his cousin "Sam". I think I have earned my opinion.

Why, you ask, do I dislike Wally so strongly? I believe they should be sued for deceptive advertising. Their commercials depict a place where people are friendly and helpful. I have yet to find this store. The stores I have been IF you can find an employee they are (1) definitely NOT helpful and (2) incapable of helping even if they wanted.

Typically, I will travel out of my way to patronize their French competitor Target. However, in Biloxi I was unaware of where a Target was so I begrudginly ventured into the "graveyard". You see, in my rush to evacuate I forget to pack my cell phone charger which is a necessity at this time. To my surprise I encountered friendly employees. Not only that I needed help and actually encountered employees who HELPED. Has my vision of Wally World been shattered??? Well, let's not rush to any judgements...

After Wally World I had to go to Radio Shack. You see, as helpful as the employees at Wally were, they did not have what I needed. At Radio Shack we also encountered a HELPFUL employee. Not only did they have what I needed--a new power cord for the Magellan--the employee even got the broken one out of the power point (that's another story). That's true Customer Service.

So, was it an exceptional Wally World or just good, old-fashioned Southern Hospitality I encountered? Judge for yourself but my opinion of the mega-conglomerate has not changed based on one anomoly.

For now, I am happy and in communication with the rest of the world from Biloxi,
Betty

Third Time Is A Charm

My how I despise those words this morning.

As I sit in a hotel room on the beach in Biloxi, Mississippi looking out the window at choppy water and very windy conditions, my thoughts are of home. No, I'm not on a grand, glorious vacation. I am here and not home because Hurricane Ike could not be like his predecessors and stand me up for a date elsewhere. No, he is headed straight for my house. Mine and my friends and family.

Amanda and I chose to go against the grain and travel east playing chicken with Ike. I felt he was still far enough south in the Gulf that we may get weather from some of the outer bands so I wasn't that concerned with going east. The smart part of this is most people were going west or north so we avoided a vast majority of the traffic. However, what would normally be a 7-hour drive was an 11-hour drive. It took 2 hours to get across Baton Rouge, Lousiana. Interesting.

Did I mention Jackie stayed home? Yes, he did. He and Sophie (the dog).

Please pray for all those who did not evacuate. Give thanks that so far the storm has not intensified like predicted. And for those of you home reading this, please be careful.

Betty

Here We Go Again and Other Ramblings

Well, it seems it was just yesterday we were preparing for our good buddy Eduardo and then he stood us up. So here we are again, quite possibly getting stood up by Gustav. I would let this hurt my ego, but you know, I have a husband and he doesn't appreciate when I cheat on him--especially with a hurricane. So I think I shall just count my blessings and not be offended by being stood up. I realize that hurricanes sometimes take wierd twists and turns, but at this point it would appear we shall only get some rain from Gustav. It just seems really strange to know that the gorgeous weather we are having today will be interrupted in a few hours. Please pray for all those in the path of this storm.

Other ramblings...

The past week has been typically busy. More and more, day by day, I am beginning to believe crazy busy is just normal. Most days I am up at 4:30 and don't get to bed until 10 - 11.

This week brought a new activity to our family--homeschool co-op. Amanda really enjoyed her first day and seems very excited. I, on the other hand, could take-it or leave-it. I am blessed to be a helper in kindergarten to 5th grade PE. There is one young kindergartner who I am convinced will grow up to be either an Olympic sprinter or kick-boxing expert. The story with him went something like this--he ran, we chased, we caught, we attempted to carry back, he kicked. That inspired another darling to try and make her escape but in a much less conspicuous manner--she simply kept slowly backing away. But I felt the most sympathy for the *only girl* in a class of 3rd to 5th grade boys. I understand her not wanting to participate because the game we were playing would involve "touching" a boy. ICK! So my Friday mornings from now until next May shall be filled with joyful children so happy to be in PE.

I have not decided yet to do or not to do the San Antonio marathon. Training these past two weeks has been a struggle at best (unless you count chasing escaping kindergarteners). Or shall I say finding the time to train has been the struggle. When I am training it's tough but do-able. I believe there is still a chance to register but after today the fees go up. I have, however, found many 5Ks in the area to register for.

We started a new Bible class in church this morning and it was great! Our youth minister--Kouba--is trading places and teaching the parents of the youth instead of the youth. He started out by mentioning the response of one of the youth which was something like "Hey...you just have to teach them, I have to live with them." I must remember to find out if it was my darling teenager who said that. So Kouba's lesson included listing the 5 problems we have in our lives. Next we were to list 5 problems our teens have in their life. I was struggling to come up with 5 in my life, much less my daughter's. Ultimately what I got out of the lesson is questioning how serious the day to day struggles we face are. Is it really that tough? I know it certainly seems ginormous at the time, but in looking back was it really that much. We should all--especially me--remember that if we allow him to, God will take care of all our challenges and we don't have to worry one iota. Easy today, tough tomorrow. I gotta work on that. Thanks Kouba!

BTW, did I mention that Kouba had a birthday a few days ago? Yes, my darling daughter and 2 of her friends (including Kouba's daughter) "decorated" his house in honor of that birthday. Isn't it great to know you are loved????

More ramblings later, but for now here's to less of me!
Betty

"Wii Hoo"

Okay, I know it's supposed to be "Woo Hoo" but in this case I think "Wii Hoo" fits better. I am excited and proud to announce that after weeks of constant driving all around, we have finally acquired the coveted "Wii Fit". Wii Hoo!!! Thanks to my good buddy Pam for her assistance we are now working out on the Wii Fit.

I may not say this in a few months, but for right now it's pretty fun. It has 4 categories of exercises you can work out on--Yoga, Strength Builder, Aerobics, and Balance. We didn't get started until late last night so we haven't been through it all so I will have to keep you posted.

It will give you an assesment of your current body--balance, BMI, weight--and then allow you to set goals for how much you want to gain/lose and in what time frame. It will continue to track these for you and let you know your progress.

I'll report more as we use it more but for now here's to less of me!

Betty

PS. Thanks again Pam!

Are My Ears Deformed? Observations about Walking

Here are a few observations I have made while training/walking...

1) Walking on a treadmill - I like it for the fact that I can control my pace. I don't like it because it's the same scenery. Even with the televisions on the treadmill at the Y, I find myself paying too much attention to the "clock" to see how much longer I have to go.

2) Walking on the street - I like the scenery that is constantly changing. I don't find myself watching my watch. I also feel that the short goals of "if I can just make it to the next turn" help the time go faster. The downside is the obvious traffic to watch out for, as well as the dogs.

3) Walking on the street, in the elements, is only moderately more sweaty than being inside the Y, unless it starts raining.

4) Rain on your walk is good if it's the last mile because it cools you off. Rain on your first mile only makes for steam and more heat.

And finally,

5) Are my ears deformed? I can't see to keep the earbuds to my iPod in my ear. This is another reason walking on the street is more appealing. I seem to be so focused on trying to keep the things in my ears I lose my sense of time and it doesn't really seem like I was out there as long as I was. Any suggestions???

I still have not decided to do the San Antonio Half Marathon but I have not ruled it out either. Still thinking!

Here's to less of me in DC!
Betty

To Marathon or Not To Marathon...That Is The Question

Last week a friend invited me to participate in the Rock n Roll San Antonio Marathon in November. She will be walking the 1/2 marathon and wanted a buddy to walk with. She told me how much fun it would be doing it together (yea, right...if she thinks walking 13.2 miles is fun then maybe I need to reconsider who I am hanging out with) and how they are going to have bands set up all along the course (hmmm....I wonder if Kenny Chesney will be there). I told her I would think about it.

To help me make my decision, she gave me the website for a 14-week training program to prepare you. Wouldn't you know it...starting with this week there is exactly 14 weeks until the marathon. Don't you hate it when things you don't really want to do seem to work out like someone is saying "Do This - It's Good For You". So okay, I started my training yesterday with a 3-mile walk (Monday is considered a rest day on this program). I'm still not committed but I will at least think about it while I am torturing myself in 90+ degree heat, fighting off pit bulls, and dealing with my child who "accidentally" turns off the stopwatch on my phone while I am walking. I guess my time doesn't really matter that much anyway, right?

So...What do you say? To Marathon or Not To Marathon??? Registration fees go up August 31st so I have to decide by then. Anyone else want to Marathon???

Here's to Less of Me in DC!
Betty

PS. If you want the training program, too, go to www.marathonwalking.com - they have programs for full and half marathons for beginners and advanced!

Never A Dull Moment aka Edouard

We returned home from the funeral very late Friday night/early Saturday morning (depending on how you look at it). It was 3:30 a.m. I was non-functioning at that point, especially considering in the previous 37 hours, at least 20 of it were spent in the car. Ugghh.

Saturday was spent mostly trying to sleep and orientate myself to what went on while we were gone. After a good nap after church Sunday I began to feel human again. Then, wouldn't you know it, never a dull moment (even if you wanted one). We are on our way to church Sunday evening and find out that Tropical Storm Edouard has formed in the Gulf of Mexico and guess where it is headed - straight for Galveston. Did I mention that we live 20-30 miles from Galveston (as the crow flies probably closer)?

So we spent last night making preparations and they resumed at 5:30 this morning. We are closing the business at noon today and don't plan to reopen until Wednesday (provided we have power). While you should never under-estimate any tropical weather, at least this is not predicted to be a major storm. We will be staying home and battening down the hatches.

Everyone take care!
Betty

Loss

Loss, as in weight loss, can be a good thing. It can also be a bad thing as in a lost cell phone or car keys. And other times it can even be sad. Jackie and his family lost a very valuable member this week--his 95-year old grandmother. She was a wonderful, Christian woman who was admired and respected by many. I was not fortunate enough to know her as long as many other--only 19 years--and never had the pleasure of meeting her husband of over 50 years (he passed away the year before Jackie and I married). I am glad she has gone to be with him. She was one of 12 children, many of which are still alive.

When we saw her last on the 4th of July she was "unresponsive" and had been that way for several weeks. I will miss her. I will miss the many stories she always had to tell about growing up with so many brothers and sisters, her life with "dad" on the farm, and even stories about when Jackie was a young boy (I'm sure he won't miss hearing those). I will fondly remember her homemade bread and cherry pie, the smile she had for everyone, but mostly the love she had for her family and friends and God. She even loved me.

We will be leaving tomorrow afternoon to go to Lubbock for the funeral Friday afternoon. We will come home as soon as it is over.

Betty

YMCA

Today we went to the local YMCA. We have been members since March, but today we finally registered with the FitLinx program. Even though the young man who signed us up was new and obviously needed a bit more training, the program appears to be really neat.

They go through a series of questions--the usual background, health, what are you looking for from this program, which of your first born children are you prepared to sacrifice--and record all the answers in the computer. Then you get to the fun stuff of assigning workout programs (you know, choosing which mediaval torture chambers you want to be subjected to). After that it gets better and they test you in these chambers to see which can make you cry like a girl the most (also known as setting your range-of-motion). Then the true torture begins--start exercising!

When you begin on a machine you enter your ID number and it tracks how many wimpers and how many outright screams you let out, along with how long you lasted in a particular chamber and how much torture they were able to subject you to. The machines then assign points for the various wimpers versus screams. Understand the more screams the more points for assigned for that particular machine. After a certain amout of torture, ie., number of points, you are rewarded with free t-shirts and such. Now I am all about free t-shirts--ask my family. They will tell you that I do a 5K walk for the shirts and food (haha). I know I'm sick.

Now off those couches and head to your local Y! Let's be enthusiastic about that torture--you'll feel better for it! Let's see who can get to 15,000 points first!!! C'mon t-shirt!!!

Here's to less of me!
Betty

4-Letter Word

Isn't it ironic that we raise our children to not say "4-letter words", yet as adults there is one we hear most likely every day and think nothing of it--diet. This is an awful word yet is readily accepted and used by society.

Earlier this year I was involved in a group discussion with a human resource consultant. The topic of employee probations was brought up and the consultant challenged us. She asked why we put employees on probation for a specified period of time. She said, "That is like saying you can't perform this particular action for 90 days but after that it's okay." Wow! What an eye-opening statement. I had never quite looked at it that way but it makes perfect sense--I don't want my employees to go back to those actions after the probation is over.

Diet is the same. Why would you change your eating and/or physical activity habits for 90 days or so and then tell yourself "now I can go back to my old ways." We should not diet--we should be prepared to change our lifestyle if we sincerely want to keep the weight off and become a healthier, most-likely happier, and definitely more active part of society.

I am not dieting. I am making permanent, positive changes to my lifestyle.

Here's to seeing less of me in DC (and beyond)!
Betty

WOW...I'm Blogging

So I guess you could tell from the title this is my first blog. I feel a bit at a loss for what to say, which some people may find ironic since I usually am NOT at a loss for words. I hope I can only live up to that of my "Evil Twin" and keep you entertained while reading my blog.

So maybe you are wondering why I finally gave in and decided to blog. Last week I was at NPMAs Academy in Scottsdale, AZ. The theme of the conference was the Customer of the Future. Needless to say there were a lot of sessions on technology. Despite the fact that I have an iPhone my husband bought me--which I found out will do gazillions of things I had no idea about--I am certainly not a tech person. So all this tech stuff was well over my head. But they kept telling us to take home at least one thing and put it into practice. How Do You Pick Just One??? Okay, so blogging is the technology mission I choose to accept. But I can not choose just one thing to bring back from Academy. I must choose 2.

On the first day of Academy we were challenged in another way by Andy. Andy is a personal trainer who has been at Academy for 8 years. This year was my 3rd. My daughter and I lovingly refer to Andy as "Satan Andy". He makes us exercise at 6:00 a.m. I am not a morning person--enough said. So Andy issues a challenge. NPMA is sponsoring their version of "America's Biggest Loser". They accepted 24 persons to participate for the inagural year. The criteria for partcipation--(1) you must need to lose at least 10% of your body weight and (2) you must be at PestWorld in October. Now, I have never seen the television program but I understand the basic concept. I believe my participation in this program is mandatory, not optional. The day before leaving for Academy my doc (and friend) gave me a wake-up call. Then I hear the challenge. God is definitely sending me a message and I don't intend to ignore it. I was the second person to sign up.

So, I have roughly 13 weeks to lose 10% (or more) of my bodyweight. I am well on my "weigh". I began my challenge Monday, July 21st and I have already lost about 3 pounds. I have recruited 4 coaches--Pam, Kouba, LeAnne, and Daesha--and the support of many friends and my family. I have also encouraged my office staff to participate and given them incentives--they also accepted the mission. I am blessed! Thanks guys. Understand though...this is not a DIET (that is a 4-letter word). This is taking bad habits and turning them into good ones. I haven't had a Dr. Pepper in 9 days. Those who know me know that is a big deal.

Okay, I told you I'm not usally at a loss for words. I guess I've said almost enough. I have to close with my last words to Andy in Scottsdale--"I look forward to you seeing LESS of ME in DC". Here's to less of me!

Betty