Water Aerobics Correction

...I mentioned in my last post that when I first did water aerobics here that I didn't lose any weight. Let me amend that.

We had just moved here. We were working hard and were tired so started eating out on a regular basis. The first year, I started swimming laps. LOL MY version of laps because I'm really not a very good swimmer. The next year, Earlene came over and we worked on water aerobics. I continued the spiral of weight gain.

I have cut out the daily trips to restaurants and now only go with Sam a couple of times a week.

The pool will definitely be nice to jump into when I get home from the gym!

Starting Next Week

I checked in at the gym and will be starting on Monday. $30 a month. Exercise equipment, weight room, tanning beds that I won't be using. And...it is air conditioned. Yeah. After a few months I could've purchased a piece of exercise equipment. Been there done that. Losing baby fat after Jonathan was born, I purchased an exercise bike at a garage sale. I lost quite a bit of weight with it and stayed trim and slim. It eventually wore out, so I purchased another garage sale exercise bike. Never liked it as well as the first one and eventually put it on the curb in Lake Jackson. Besides...I don't have the space for exercise equipment.

Florida Farm Girl left a comment to do water aerobics in my pool...no sweating...stay cool. Welllll....I know some people who do/did water aerobics. Don't think they've ever lost any weight with it. I worked diligently for the first year that we moved here...didn't lose any weight. It will be a good addition to an exercise program, but I need something more than that right now.

Now to go through the closet to find something to exercise in. I don't think those three former DHS students -I met while subbing- that I saw at the gym today want to see me in form fitting exercise clothes. It would damage them for life!

Okay. I've made the decision. I'm not revealing how much I weigh...but I will share as I drop pounds.

Bunches of E-mails!!

You would not believe how many e-mails come in at the new job. Literally scads of them!! YES! "Scads" is a specific number...please do not doubt me...I am OFFICE MANAGER, you know. Woooo...did you hear the echo??

So...what do I do with all of these incoming e-mails? They pertain to webinars (web based seminars - eyeroll), meetings pertaining to area/regional Chamber of Commerces, Better Business Bureau bulletins, Texas Forestry whatever it was, etc. So...I've read these things for five weeks now. Hmmm...that one looks good, forward it. Nah...that one doesn't pertain to our corner of the world...delete. Hmmm...that topic looks interesting...forward. IRS messing with things again...forward...after all, the majority of the people are in business...and who wants to run a-muck of the IRS?!

Finally had a thought...I know...they are few and far between. With the next forwarded webinar information, at the top I asked, "Do y'all" (remember I'm in Texas and not only do we talk like that, we type like that too)..."Do y'all want me to continue to forward this type information?"

I had five or six answers. Count 'em. Yep...five or six or so. Only one person really wasn't interested because he got so much stuff at his office anyway. One "nay"...four or five "ayes." So, the ayes have it. Now off the top of my head, I don't remember how many members are with the Chamber of Commerce, but I can guarantee you that it is more than the five or six replies that I received. Still...majority rules.

Today...after the third forwarded FYI e-mail...I receive an e-mail from the president. NO! Not Obama!!! I could make a few more comments on that subject but I'll let it pass today...

So...the prez e-mails me and advises me that he has received several phone calls wanting to know why I'm forwarding these informational e-mails and please don't. Okaaaay. Ummm...and why did those so quick to jerk out their telephone not simply respond to my e-mail asking, "Do you"...excuse me..."Do y'all want me to continue...etc..." And tell me NO!!

He, the prez, did not know about the volume of that sort of stuff that came through the e-mail and was surprised. I replied back that today had been a slow day and generally the office received more than three...

I still can't figure out why instead of calling him and bugging him, they couldn't just reply to my query??!! eyeroll

Other than that...and the office is small...and the job is rather sedentary...I am really, really liking the job!

Tomorrow afternoon I'm going to the gym/exercise place/whatever it is to see about a membership or exercise classes or treadmill or whatever as long as there's an air conditioner. I've been leaving the house early every morning, going to the office and turning the thermostat down. Then I take a walk through town. Back to the office and change shoes. Fifteen minutes is all that I can handle...it is already...still...some more...too hot to walk long and go back to the office sweating. Fifteen minutes is about a mile. But believe me, not enough exercise for the job that I have. So...to the gym to see about a membership. I wish we had an air conditioned mall to walk in... Sigh...gym. Shudder!

Saturday

I was sitting in my sewing room yesterday and happened to look out the window. This cardinal hen was visiting my feeder. Later...I wish I'd been five minutes earlier.

Cutting Table and Stuff

A while back...did I mention that Sam was planning on building a drop leaf cutting table for me? HE STARTED ON IT! I am so excited! Even before he started building his wood working shop, I sent him an e-mail with a link to a website that sold cutting tables. Only problems with those...cost...whoooweee! and size. The size that the person built would not fit my space. This one will! It is made of red oak and red oak-faced plywood. The box is on it's side with the bottom toward the yellow measuring tape. The top drawer will be opened from either side and will hold rulers. On this side the slots will have drawers, the other side will have shelves...either with or without a door...I have to decide and I'm leaning on without because of the limited space in my sewing/quilting/computer room. The long slot will hold cutting mats.

These are the three top pieces glued up and patiently waiting... This was the sky-view yesterday afternoon. Just wish there's been some rain in those clouds for us! Guess what these are going to be? No fair! You guessed!

Baby News

Sam is 74. He will be 75 December 9. His children are 31 and 33 (if I remember correctly). He has no grandchildren. In May he found out that John and his girlfriend, Erin, are going to have a baby in November.

Today, when he came to the house from the shop for lunch, he told me that he got a phone call and was going to be granddad twice. I asked, "TWINS?" No...Sam's daughter, Brook, and her husband, Cody are going to have a baby in January!

When it rains...it pours!

Apron Time

Carol and I were 'antique' shopping a while back when we stumbled across some cute Texas tote bags. We were going to buy one, take it apart, then each of us would have a panel. Then one of us turned around and found TWO napkins. Here's mine now: Hmmm...I really need to hire a skinny model. :o(

To make ME feel better:

More Cup Towels

I finished sewing the borders on this set of cup towels for the All I Want for Christmas swap on the HGTV quilting forum. I want to make a few more for me...probably with some different fruit designs.

Cup Towels

Remember the apron I made? It's for a swap I've joined on the HGTV board...All I Want for Christmas. I would've never purchased the orange fabric for me, but I have so fallen in love with it!

I attached my embroidery base to my sewing machine this afternoon and stitched a couple of flour sack cup towels. (The designs are from www.annthegran.com. I don't think they offer them any more so am sooo glad that I saved them on my computer!)They were for the swap too until I realized that I used the wrong stabilizer...the second design was stitching when I tried to tear the stabilizer off the first one. eye roll So these are mine. I took my little scissors and cut the stabilizer from behind the larger areas. I've got the other cup towels for the swap stitched with the Dutch dolls, but decided not to do the day of the week. I don't like the green (it looks like it matches in the photo, but it really does not) and, besides, I have some vintage DOW cup towels and never use them on the correct day. So...I've omitted them from the swap gift.

I also made these for me. Red, purple, and green grapes.

I Do NOT Understand

Cranky Old Woman time...On a forum that I frequent, I related a recent incident. I ate at Chicken Express a couple/three weeks back (and loved every grease laden morsel). I started visiting with another diner, and she mentioned the receipt. I looked. There was a Bible verse printed at the bottom. I thought Bravo for the owner! He came around and asked about our meal. It was good, and I told him that we both appreciated the Bible verse. He said that a week before he did the same thing...visited with the diners and asked if everything was okay. A woman said No. That she was offended by the Bible verse on the bottom of the receipt and would not be back. He paid for her meal...gave her $10 for a $7 meal.

Another poster on the forum said that she would've been offended too.

WHAT?! I buy gasoline from people who do not believe as I do. I stay in motels that are owned by people of different beliefs. I purchase clothes and various other items from people who worship differently from me...or don't worship at all. I would never dream of telling them that I was insulted by a religious icon or quote from one of their religious leaders in THEIR store. Nor would I say anything about displaying a flag from their native country. I would be more apt to ask, "Oh, where are you from?"

But if a cross is displayed. Or a Bible is on the counter. Or I say "God bless you." Or an American flag is flying. THIS IS INSULTING?!

When did EVERYTHING become acceptable except for Christianity or country pride in the United States of America?! EVERYTHING else can be jammed down our throats, but if we have a Bible verse printed on the bottom of a receipt in OUR store that is not acceptable?!

Where do we live?

In America where soldiers have died for our freedoms...

...or in some middle eastern country where people are killed because they do not believe in the 'state' religion?