Mom, Sadie, Bernice and I are cozied in at the lake house. It is wonderful to be out here again, where it's quiet. I was up extra early this morning--and that's okay. I live at a different pace at the lake. And there's always the nap option! Mom and I haven't had much time together, due to all my travels and construction at the other place, so this is very nice.
Sadie and Bernice always have a little trouble adjusting--the windows overlooking the lake are floor to ceiling, and Sadie-beagle feels duty bound, until she gets used to the change anyway, to alert me that there are PEOPLE out there, boating, skiing, fishing and swimming. (The nerve. :)). Bernicie always sniffs every corner and then pees somewhere she shouldn't. :)
Plans for the day include:
A chapter of the new book (TYLER) written.
Flowers and fresh fish from the store in town. (I cooked up the regulation 3 and 1/2 ozs of Chilean Sea Bass yesterday for lunch, using my George Foreman grill. DE-licious!)
A run to Barnes and Noble, just for fun. I inherited my deep love of books from Mom, and we LOVE to prowl the stacks, even though we both own hundreds, if not thousands, of books.
And perhaps a round of "Bookolpoly", the board game Mom brought with her. We have Scrabble on the shelf, but if you're going to play THAT game with my mother, you'd better be taking double vitamins. I'm good at it--she's LETHAL. :)
Supper and early to bed, with a good book.
Life is good.
Monday, June 30, 2008
Friday, June 27, 2008
OK, Linda, Enough Already!
No more talking about the diet, at least until I have numbers to report. :)
It's beautiful in Spokane today--a delight to the soul. Since I need one more goof off day, I'm planning to: make phone calls, collage a little, and perhaps make a run to my favorite art supply store. Tonight, I'll probably visit my nephew Mike and family for a couple of hours, out at the lake house.
The staff house is almost finished--how long have I been saying that?--and Mary Ann and Larry are eager to move in. Who can blame them? The place is gorgeous--I always tease that they can stay in the big house, and Sadie, Bernice, Cha-Cha, Jitterbug and I will move in over there!
Alas, I will soon have nearly 3,000 square feet of office/library/studio space. Because the area is on the ground floor, and the French doors open into the back yard, the dogs and kitties will be overjoyed. So easy for them to go in and out. The grass is green and the fence is high enough to keep out coyotes. It's all good.
Have a lovely weekend. Talk to you on Monday.
It's beautiful in Spokane today--a delight to the soul. Since I need one more goof off day, I'm planning to: make phone calls, collage a little, and perhaps make a run to my favorite art supply store. Tonight, I'll probably visit my nephew Mike and family for a couple of hours, out at the lake house.
The staff house is almost finished--how long have I been saying that?--and Mary Ann and Larry are eager to move in. Who can blame them? The place is gorgeous--I always tease that they can stay in the big house, and Sadie, Bernice, Cha-Cha, Jitterbug and I will move in over there!
Alas, I will soon have nearly 3,000 square feet of office/library/studio space. Because the area is on the ground floor, and the French doors open into the back yard, the dogs and kitties will be overjoyed. So easy for them to go in and out. The grass is green and the fence is high enough to keep out coyotes. It's all good.
Have a lovely weekend. Talk to you on Monday.
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Day 2
It is surprisingly easy to stay on this food plan. Here's what I eat: three and a half ounces of fish, chicken or lean beef at lunch and dinner, and the same measurement of approved vegetables. In addition, two pieces of fruit. Two litres of water. Starvation fare, right? Wrong. I love not having to make so many decisions about food all the time. PLEASE do not go on this program as outlined here--I'm under the care of a doctor, and taking special supplements and hormone drops. I have regular blood work. I repeat, DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME. You MUST have medical supervision. If you think you might want to be on the program, call Dr. Sam Walters at Wellspring Clinic in Scottsdale, AZ. He's listed.
Although the time for peonies is about gone, I still have some budding in my yard. What joy they give me, and I suppose the fact that they're here for such a short time is part of their unending charm. When it comes to flowers, my rule is: it simply isn't possible to have too many peonies. :) Roses, either.
TYLER is well underway, but except for Monday, and some polishing yesterday, I haven't written a word. I'm in goof-off mode, but no worries. I'll be back to work by Monday, for sure. After many years of driving myself, I've learned (finally) that puttering occasionally is okay. It's even good for the creative process.
So I'm going to collage today, and go in for my mammogram at three o'clock.
Have you had YOUR mammogram, ladies? I know it's a pain, but it's necessary to stay healthy.
More tomorrow.
Although the time for peonies is about gone, I still have some budding in my yard. What joy they give me, and I suppose the fact that they're here for such a short time is part of their unending charm. When it comes to flowers, my rule is: it simply isn't possible to have too many peonies. :) Roses, either.
TYLER is well underway, but except for Monday, and some polishing yesterday, I haven't written a word. I'm in goof-off mode, but no worries. I'll be back to work by Monday, for sure. After many years of driving myself, I've learned (finally) that puttering occasionally is okay. It's even good for the creative process.
So I'm going to collage today, and go in for my mammogram at three o'clock.
Have you had YOUR mammogram, ladies? I know it's a pain, but it's necessary to stay healthy.
More tomorrow.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
The Continuing Adventures of Linda
OK, this is the first real day of the Magic Hormone Diet. (For the first two days, you load up on fatty foods, so your body won't freak out when you cut back. Think this is easy? Think again--I couldn't WAIT to get back on the low-fat wagon.) This second phase of the diet is a challenge, though. 500 calories a day. (Don't panic. This is temporary, and there are lots of supplements. My doctor's wife, who looks fantastic, by the way, lost 25 pounds in three weeks. And she's keeping it off.)
A week from today, I will weigh in. And I will report honestly. If it's a bust, I'll say so. :)
I'm inspired, though, to pursue other goals. I want to quit smoking, so I'm on Chantix, and I just ordered some special cut-back filters from http://www.quitsmoking.com/. Got the false cigarette, too, because with writers, so much of the habit is about holding something in your hand.
Many and varied are my personal goals. :) Here are a few of them:
Declutter, get rid of clothes, makeup and STUFF in general.
Learn Photoshop.
Attend some art workshops--especially ones by Lisa Pavelka and Laurie Mika, polymer clay artists extraordinaire. (No, I don't know them personally. :)But I am a great admirer of their work.)
Learn something new every day, however small and seemingly unimportant. Knowledge IS power, ladies and gentlemen.
Find a tailor, when I lose the 26 pounds remaining, and have some clothes custom-made.
And I want to remember that the key to success is any endeavor is VISION. I will think about how I want things to go, and not invent disaster scenarios. :) Writers are very good at that.
A week from today, I will weigh in. And I will report honestly. If it's a bust, I'll say so. :)
I'm inspired, though, to pursue other goals. I want to quit smoking, so I'm on Chantix, and I just ordered some special cut-back filters from http://www.quitsmoking.com/. Got the false cigarette, too, because with writers, so much of the habit is about holding something in your hand.
Many and varied are my personal goals. :) Here are a few of them:
Declutter, get rid of clothes, makeup and STUFF in general.
Learn Photoshop.
Attend some art workshops--especially ones by Lisa Pavelka and Laurie Mika, polymer clay artists extraordinaire. (No, I don't know them personally. :)But I am a great admirer of their work.)
Learn something new every day, however small and seemingly unimportant. Knowledge IS power, ladies and gentlemen.
Find a tailor, when I lose the 26 pounds remaining, and have some clothes custom-made.
And I want to remember that the key to success is any endeavor is VISION. I will think about how I want things to go, and not invent disaster scenarios. :) Writers are very good at that.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Books, Books, and More Books
The boxes of books I shipped to myself from Manassas have arrived. One of them is so heavy, I couldn't even drag it over the threshold. :) I am especially excited about the fold-out timeline I bought in one of the Park Service gift shops--they've all run together now, so I couldn't tell you which one. Good thing I faithfully labeled my battlefield pictures every night in the hotel room--no small feat since I was exhausted by a twelve-hour march. :)
I am super-eager to delve in, but right now, I'm reading the new Stephanie Plum book, "Fearless Fourteen". I'm a major fan--especially love Grandma Masur and Bob the Dog.
I drafted the first chapter of "Tyler" yesterday, as planned. It is quite unusual for me to finish a first chapter in one day, actually, but having already told Logan and Dylan's stories, I'm all primed to tell Tyler's.
My nephew, Mike Lael, wife Sarah (she's a real sweetie) and children, Courtney and Chandler, along with other family members, arrived yesterday, to spend a week at the lake house. It makes me so happy to think of them all out there, splashing and enjoying the lake in all its changing phases.
I'm on a new weight loss plan, so Weight Watchers is on hiatus. It's all natural, involving hormones and the like--definitely a factor with Baby Boomers like me. I'll report on it when I have more to tell you, but it's definitely exciting, if a little complex. If you can't stand the curiosity, check out Wellspring Clinic and Dr. Sam Walters on Google. :)
The sun is shining, glistening on flowers and pine needles. Just the way I love it.
Color me grateful. After a long (long) winter, this weather is pure joy for me. Would you believe it snowed on June 10th??? Fortunately, I was sweltering in Virginia at the time, or I probably would have had a meltdown.
I am super-eager to delve in, but right now, I'm reading the new Stephanie Plum book, "Fearless Fourteen". I'm a major fan--especially love Grandma Masur and Bob the Dog.
I drafted the first chapter of "Tyler" yesterday, as planned. It is quite unusual for me to finish a first chapter in one day, actually, but having already told Logan and Dylan's stories, I'm all primed to tell Tyler's.
My nephew, Mike Lael, wife Sarah (she's a real sweetie) and children, Courtney and Chandler, along with other family members, arrived yesterday, to spend a week at the lake house. It makes me so happy to think of them all out there, splashing and enjoying the lake in all its changing phases.
I'm on a new weight loss plan, so Weight Watchers is on hiatus. It's all natural, involving hormones and the like--definitely a factor with Baby Boomers like me. I'll report on it when I have more to tell you, but it's definitely exciting, if a little complex. If you can't stand the curiosity, check out Wellspring Clinic and Dr. Sam Walters on Google. :)
The sun is shining, glistening on flowers and pine needles. Just the way I love it.
Color me grateful. After a long (long) winter, this weather is pure joy for me. Would you believe it snowed on June 10th??? Fortunately, I was sweltering in Virginia at the time, or I probably would have had a meltdown.
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