Awesome and Amazing Words

Dear World,
Here are some synonyms for awesome and amazing. Use them! alarming, astonishing, awe-inspiring, awful, beautiful, breathtaking, daunting, dreadful, exalted, fearful, fearsome, formidable, frantic, frightening, grand, horrible, horrifying, imposing, impressive, intimidating, magnificent, majestic, mean, moving, nervous, overwhelming, shocking, something else, striking, stunning, stupefying, terrible, terrifying, wonderful, wondrous, zero cool, fascinating, incredible, marvelous, prodigious, surprising, unbelievable.
Thanks,
Idy

Game On is off

Well, I am taking a break from the Game On diet. I really dragged my team down on the last two rounds. It is hard to keep track of all the goals and rules when on vacation, travelling, and focusing on other goals so I am going to rejoin at a later date in another round. Each round typically lasts 4 weeks with a week or more between.
During the time off, I am going to ride my bike as much as possible and try to eat fresh, in season fruits and vegetables.
The pluses of Game On make me want to rejoin at a later date. I really enjoyed the commitment to keeping in touch with my friends who were sharing the journey. I am ashamed to admit that I am not as diligent about connecting since I don't get "points" for it. It takes a lot to motivate me and though I miss the interaction, I am not very proactive at maintaining it without the accountability that the points provide. I also enjoyed setting a new habit goal and trying to keep it. It is really more than a weight loss plan. It is just a challenge to keep all the balls in the air for each aspect of the game.
I am just not the kind of person who can or likes to keep track of every aspect of my life all the time. To me it takes some of the fun out of life to be tracking, counting, and fussing about so many aspects of life that the Game On plan addresses. It is useful to see my habits and patterns and how they affect my days but it is also pleasant to have a break from it. In my perfect world, I would eat like I did when I was young (and thin) and I would stay thin.

Homeschool Prom

One of the things people used to say to me when I said I began homeschooling our children, was, "But won't they miss out on the prom?" I thought this was a pretty silly statement for two reasons .My children were elementary age at the time and second because sending a child for 13 years of public education so they could go to a to a prom seemed pretty ridiculous to me.

Fast forward several years, my homeschooled boys are gearing up for the prom tonight. They have ordered the corsages,(the ones who have dates). They have figured out the wardrobe, including new dress shoes for the one whose old ones fit only two weeks ago. They have consulted with the girls on coordinating with the dresses (the ones who have dates). They have figured out the transportation- allowing parents to drive since it involves getting to a riverboat in downtown Detroit. Currently they are getting gussied up so we can spend time beforehand getting pictures.

The older two have tried to persuade the youngest not to wear his red/orange basketball shoes, to no avail. Oh, and they have readied there masks since it is a masquerade themed event(the ones who have dates) The boy who is going stag feels as if he can do whatever he pleases- basketball shoes, military pins and no mask.

I love that the event is taking place on a riverboat, that parents are driving, that it is being chaparoned by homeschool parents/teachers, that it is okay to go stag, and that renting a tux is optional. I love that my boys want to have fun and hangout and don't seem worried about impressing anyone.

It should all be fun.

Spring in "the D"

Spring is a time for new beginnings.

It is better than New Years because the whole earth feels like it is being renewed. Because all things feel new, and because I don't want to be fat all my life, I have rejoined the journey to weight loss. (I had reached one weight goal, when my mom was diagnosed as terminally ill)

I am playing "Game On" with some friends. This necessitated picking a good habit to incorporate into my life. I chose going outdoors every day. I love the outdoors but sometimes I get so busy with house chores, homeschooling duties, laziness, etc. to get outside.
I rode my bike 25 miles last week. This was like paying two bills with one check or throwing two strikes with one pitch because on the "Game On" plan 20 minutes of exercise per day is required.

Someday soon I am going to write about being side tracked, like I was when I went looking for an alternative to killing two birds with one stone to use in this blog.

Ah, well, back to spring, weight loss, getting outdoors and "Game On". "Game On" is based on a book "The Game On Diet" that has a plan for losing weight and changing your life. My friend M told us about it and two weeks ago eight of us joined in the friendly competition. Competing to do better at positive life change is an interesting concept. It provides at least four good things. Camaraderie develops since communicating with your teammates and opponents earns points. Each player gets encouraged toward a healthier lifestyle. Accountability keeps us honest. And hopefully, we will all lose weight. Plus we decided on a prize before we started.

It is hard to tell who will win. Our team had the best score the first week and the other team beat us this week. Without sounding too kindergartenish, we will all be winners in the end for trying.

Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution

I watched Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution last night. I think his approach was wrong. What kid would pick baked chicken over pizza? Why didn't he just "healthify" the pizza. Perhaps side by side, the children would have been more willing to try the healthier version. I guess it couldn't become a series if he was the winner during the first show.
I have to agree that the USDA requirements are messed up but he should have known what they were when he planned his meal. I suppose, that just wouldn't have made for good TV.

Olympics

People who know me know that I am NOT a night person. My children can name all the movies I have slept through. Give me an afghan, a fire in the fireplace, and the TV and I will zone right out. Yet I have been trying to stay up and watch the Olympics. Why are they showing this stuff so late at night? Yeah, yeah, I understand time zones but just fool me and show it in prime time. I guess that is easier when it is on the other side of the globe but I NEED MY SLEEP.

It's a small world after all

Today some of my friends have been on my mind. One friend in Mississippi is facing surgery, another in Indiana, is going through chemo for cancer. My sister in Seattle has a cold. Another friend who lives close to me is facing some challenges at work. My friend, Elaine, is in South Africa. I am amazed that I can know all of this because of the internet. And knowing these things means I can pray for my dear friends.

What was life like before the internet? I don't remember.