I am now in the last year of my 40s

with 50 staring me straight in the face. I just want to push 50 down the hill and skip to 55.

Last year the goals were to take off some weight, get my teeth fixed, and actually go to a different country for a vacation. Check, Check Check.

There was some serious transformation goin' on with me last year. I found some very precious lost, well maybe not lost, but definitely stuffed away to the back of the closet, pieces of myself. I now have 4 pink shirts, several very tarty dresses and a renewed dk attitude.

I found my way back, even though I'm still renovating the shape (but really - who isn't?), to loving myself inside and out.

I re-embraced emotional risk-taking and dumped the wishy washy too-safe politically correct socially appropriate responses to direct questions. I enjoy confrontation. I like to argue. I am back to my blunt self and people can love me or take a freakin hike.

I have relinquished my remaining control over my children's lives, my family's lives and my friends lives, and made the choice to interject my pearls of wisdom then stand back and watch the show. Quite a show some days;)

So this year's goals - hmmm. Have fun. Say what I mean. Don't get arrested. Reduce the weight and the debt and take another vacation.

and avoid snow storms.
Happy 49th birthday to me;)

thanksgiving & GIST all in one

I am thankful for:

~ the good health that myself and most of my friends and family enjoy.
~ a job I am happy going to almost every day
~ beautiful smart and independent grandchildren
(and the kids are pretty great too)
~ a new reason to smile every day
~ colour
~ music
~ being able to dance down my hallway
~ financial stability
~ the vision of new kitchen cupboards
~ moments of serenity and clarity
~ the interwebs for keeping me connected to those I care about no matter how far away they are.

Happy turkey day

winning

When it comes right down to it, I am making some serious headway on my goals. I got over, or maybe I should say through, my fear of the dentist and now have a pearly white smile. There will have to be a few adjustments and I find myself learning to chew all over again, but there will be no more abscess, no more gum disease, and they look mmmmarvelous;) win-win

The whole mega mass issue has always been an up and down thing for me, more up than down but c'est la vie. However, I've lost a net of at least 35 pounds since January and I am using the soup soup to stay off the upswing. A balanced diet with all the things I'm supposed to have and an attempt at seriously exerting my will when I want those things that are evil like fires and gravy or KFC and other fast foods goes hand in hand with curtailing the hops calories. It will likely take me 5 years to reach my goal, but it took me 10 to put it on. Another win-win.

I took on a project this summer and found myself banging my head against the wall because I could not find the brain drawer that I put those skills in when I quit using them 4 years ago. There was a soft spot on my desk where I had been banging my head when I realized - ah - why not install dreamweaver. Took me long enough. It's all about the right tools for the job. Job complete - on time, clients happy and so am I. My kitchen renos will now be way less expensive than when I first started planning them. win-win.

And then there's the exercise thing. Historically, every time I start some new regimen, I end up hurting myself. In the last couple of months I've decided to attack it a different way. I take longer steps when I walk. I do more stairs, but let's not kid ourselves, not that many more. I dance around my house. And I've been doing little 5 minute mini exercise breaks at work before coffees and lunch. The best is when I take myself on a photo walk, I get exercise AND I get some new pics. win-win.

and my new glasses are freaking smashing.

So welcome October, I look forward to my 49th birthday, becoming a more concentrated me, and being happy with that woman who stares out of the mirror every morning.