It's my birthday!

Today is my birthday. I'm 56. FIFTY SIX. So that means I've had a whole bunch of birthdays. I've had some really bad ones -- for example, my 20th birthday -- I was supposed to go out with 3 friends: one got sick, one had to work, and the 3rd forgot. The one that forget felt horrible and  scrambled up some plans for us, and while we were out my car was broken into and our purses stolen.  And I've had some fantastic ones: my 40th when I sort of maybe bullied a friend into letting me use her lake house for my party, and I maybe sort of bullied my husband into working his butt off to ensure that everything was exactly the way I wanted. And my 50th when my husband and son pulled off a surprise birthday party and my son got me Springsteen -- SPRINGSTEEN!  -- tickets.   But I've mostly had mediocre birthdays that leave me feeling a little bit melancholy about getting older.

I am a birthday brat. I really want a crown and a parade and a cake and to feel freaking special all day. Is there something wrong with that?  Well, my poor husband doesn't get it, and I can tell that every August he gets that panicky look in his eyes that translates like this:  "oh shit. her birthday is almost here and I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT TO DO.".

Today went nothing like it was supposed to. It was supposed to be a day off leading to a 3 day weekend.. Instead, it's a ONE day weekend, because I ended up going to work today, AND I have to drive 4 hours on Sunday to be at a Monday morning 9 am meeting in another state.  But here's how my birthday went:

• I went to work about an hour late, so I got some extra sleep this morning. 
• When I got to work, there was a gift on my desk and some cards from co workers.
• I finished everything by about 1:30, and I left, took myself out to lunch, and bought myself some goodies at Ulta.
• I got a massage. And, when I went to pay, I was told that my bill had been taken care of by another coworker.  (I don't even know how she knew where I was!!)
• I had about 50 billion texts, calls, and/or facebook messages from friends.  
• My son came over with my 2 sweet grandsons, who had homemade birthday cards and a balloon!  And hugs!!!!
• my husband cooked a yummy family dinner, and cleaned up a big old mess afterwards.  
• We had a store-bought cake with candles, and everyone sang, and Owen blew out the candles, and we had to re-light the candles  and sing again so that Carson could blow out the candles.
• And when they left, they each gave me a really big hug -- not just the kids, my son too! -- and said that they loved me.  

So. I don't need a crown. Or a parade. Cake's fine but I don't have to have it. Parties are great but not necessary. This birthday included none of those things (well, OK, I had cake).  And I'll be darned if it wasn't awesome!

I'm Back - With A Little Bit Less of Me

It's a good thing no one reads this blog, because I suck at keeping up with it. Every now and then someone will tell me that I should get back to blogging, which always flatters me, because I really am amazed that anyone would want to read my musings. But the thing is, I enjoy doing it. I mostly do it for me. So I decided to start doing it again!

So, I've mused on here for years about getting healthier and losing weight. I seldom get very far. But I've finally done a little something toward that goal -- I've lost about 27 pounds since the first of the year, by following a medically supervised low carb diet. Low carb is one of the only things that seems to work for me, because, I'm told, I'm insulin-resistance. I don't know what that means, exactly, but if a doctor says it, it must be true, right?

Low carb eating -- in case you live in a cave -- is a diet that includes lean meat & eggs, green veggies, healthy fats and small amounts of some fruit and dairy. No bread, sugar, starchy veggies, potatoes, beer, wine, chocolate, donuts, croissants, cronuts, Reese's peanut butter cups, ice cream, chips, french fries, or any of my other favorite things. Which means, it pretty much sucks. Just kidding! It's awesome! Or at least that's what I tell myself!

OK for real, it's not too bad. But lately I've been slacking off and have been in a holding pattern for about a month. Gain a pound, lose that pound, etc.etc.  So in an effort to get back on track, I thought I'd remind myself of all the things that a 25 pound weight-loss has meant to me:

• I've lost about 5.5 inches in my waist. This means that many of my clothes no longer fit. however --
• I've been able to buy quite a few cute new items of clothing in a SMALLER SIZE.  I'm not quite 2 sizes down, but then, my original size was often quite snug.  So it probably was not my "real" size anyway  (SHHH! Don't tell anyone)
• I can cross my legs comfortably. This may sound silly, unless you've ever been large enough for that not to be a possible sitting option.
• I tucked my shirt in one day, AND wore a belt, and I didn't look heinous. Although, I think my co-workers were annoyed that I was constantly telling them to LOOK! Because I was WEARING A BELT!!
• Last week, I wore a bathing suit that DID NOT have that camoflaug-y skirt thing on it. And I probably still looked scary, but, I DID NOT CARE!!!!  WOO HOO!!!
• My face has lost one set of chins.  It was my least favorite set, so I was glad to see them go.
• I can reach my toes with ease when I paint my toenails.  I still can't see WTF I'm doing, so the polish job isn't perfect. Don't judge. Being unable to see anything close-up is NOT a by-product of being fat.  

In all seriousness, I do feel better. I do look better, at least to me. I still have a long way to go, so I hope I can get over this slump. I As soon as I polish off this little stack of Reese's cups, I'm going to start thinking about my plan.