Kung Fu Grip

This is a picture of my parents circa 1969?? I love it that my Mom resembles Priscilla Presley. The way my Dad is holding onto her seems a little protective -- like she's about to make a run for it or something. Growing up, I never saw this picture -- ever. My Mom gave me an album with pictures of them early in their "blink and you might miss it" marriage, when I was in my early thirties since she was selling her house and moving. I could see where it would be weird to have old photo albums of ex-husbands. What do you do with them? I have never seen a an episode of Martha Stewart where she has addressed such an issue.

Best of Times

I am pretty certain that this portrait is from 1980 or 81. This type of photography is ridiculous at best, but at the time was all the rage. The awkwardness of my presence in this photo is almost painful to look at. It's like a car crash, or staring at the sun. The funny thing is that this was the happiest time in my childhood. I had a new baby brother. We lived in an awesome house. We drove a new car. I was doing great in school and had tons of friends. Two or three years later -- I would move out of my mother's house and move in with my Dad. My life would completely change forever.

Day 4

Toady is day 4 of the alli/enemy plan I have been trying to follow. So far so good. No accidents. Maybe I have found my motivating factor that I have been searching for to lose the weight. I just ate a pancake -- so I'm a little paranoid right now. I took Griffin to the Doctor on Tuesday and weighed myself on their scale -- and I swear I lost 3 pounds. Yes, yes, I know --- it's water weight. I DON'T CARE! There is less of me today than there was on Monday -- so ---- SNAP.

My new Alli/ Enemy

So yesterday was the first day of my newest diet adventure -- and I survived, but just barely. I started the alli plan, you know the one, where yo take the drug Orlistat that is basically a fat blocker. You are restricted to a low fat/low calorie eating plan and if you slip up and eat too much fat -- you will be punished with explosive diarrhea. Yesterday I did so great and was right on track and even came under the recommended fat grams and calories for the day. Brad was so sweet and made dinner for the kids and they ate a seperate meal filled with taste, and fat, and carbs, and calories. I was fine with that -- I really was, until I smelled the cheesey garlic bread baking in the oven. I almost started to cry.

The Zoo Campout

Sophie's Brownie Troop and I went to the Houston Zoo over the weekend for a camp out. It was like 115 degrees that day, so the zoo took pity on us and let us camp out in the auditorium in the super cold air conditioning. My camera was acting up like the bad kid on the bus, so my clips and pictures are terrible.

We had the zoo all to ourselves at night when it closed, and we went on a private tour with our guide with a flashlight. The zoo is freakin' dark at night. The animals are out and about then too, it was one of the coolest things I have ever done, and was worth the heat and sleep deprivation and the migraine that would not quit. In the morning, we had another tour before the zoo opened to the public, but the animals weren't as active. Why? Well, it was already 90 degrees by then.

Thirsty

Scary Stuff

Last week we had Sophie's Birthday Party at the Aquatic Center here in Brenham. It is a great place with water slides, fountains, big pool etc... It was sooooooooooooo hot, if you were not swimming. I honestly thought I would catch on fire in the sun. Of course I was dressed with make up on, hair somewhat presentable and my over sized sunglasses, (that smush my fat cheeks when I wear them.) After a two hour party in the Africa like hotness, and Vietnam like humidity, I was sweaty to say the least. This little girl, a younger sister of one of Sophie's friends, came up to me and said, "Hey, I don't even know what you look like underneath those big glasses. Take them off so I can see your face." I warned her, "Well, Mrs. Tina is very sweaty and hot, so I don't really look all that great when I take off these glasses but here ya go."

So I took off the sunglasses. Sweat pours out, like I have just released the water from a dam or something. I can feel the big marks that have formed on my fat cheeks from the over sized lenses and can only imagine what that must look like to a child.

She looked at me, and jumped back, and flinced. She was actually horrified, and then she said really loudly "EEEEEEWWWWWW!!!!"