From couch potato to.... ?

Well, it has been a LONG time since I've done any sort of organized exercise. DD & I ride our bikes when it's warm, but other than that, I am a couch potato. However, that is about to change.

DH has had lower back problems for some time. His chiropractor advised him to start walking 2-3 miles per day. So we're joining a fitness center. It will be good for both of us, because I need to lose about 30 pounds (could stand to lose more), and DH needs to strengthen his back.

Tonight we begin. :) We'll see how it goes.

Getting in shape has been one of my long-term resolutions, but I never seem to follow through. I think that with both of us on board, we can encourage each other.

Living Divine in 2009!

Well, constant reader, another year has come and gone. Alas, I feel I don't have much to show for it.

"If we don't change, we don't grow. If we don't grow, we are not really living."
—Gail Sheehy

Ain't that the truth?

So this year is going to be different. I know I've said that a thousand times before. But this time, change has to take place. I spent most of 2008 in a dark depressive funk, one in which I didn't think I'd be able to drag myself out of. I wasn't even looking forward to the holidays.


DD had to put up all the Christmas decorations (which we took down today, by the way). If it weren't for her, we probably wouldn't have decorated at all; possibly, we wouldn't have even had a Christmas.

But somehow, it all came together, in spite of my negativity.

So, you ask, what has changed me today as compared to yesterday?

Several things, most notably, I'm damn sick and tired of feeling mentally like shit and feeling like I can't do anything about it. Yesterday, as I reflected on 2008, I realized that yet another year had went by (in a blink), and I had nothing to show for it. I didn't go anywhere new; I didn't learn anything new (except knitting); and most of all, I am stuck in the same patterns of behavior—which lead nowhere except to the Well of Self-Pity.

I hardly journaled at all last year. So many days are lost because I didn't record them. I don't know how I fell out of the habit, but somehow I did, and that was not fun to realize. Keeping a journal is important to me, so that is one habit I will be taking back up this year in 2009.

Also, I plan to focus on my spirituality, spending more time in quiet contemplation, while living in the world. Being a kinder, less reactive person will be difficult for me to accomplish, but it will happen.

Getting our finances in order is my number one priority. DH & I plan to take a Financial Peace University class offered at the bank, and I think it will not only help our finances, but help our relationship as well.

This will be a year of change; I plan to keep a record here on this blog.

Today, I began by simply taking a walk around the neighborhood. It wasn't too cold. DD went with me. We had fun. The earth is in repose now, waiting patiently for spring. I feel that I've been waiting far too long for my own spring to come, but now, it's finally here.

Wish me luck.

Back

Yikes! It's been forever and a day since I posted. Not so good for keeping up with posting every day in 2008.

Let's see...

I had an emergency appendectomy on February 22. I thought I just had the flu, but decided to go to the ER and, 2 hours after I arrived, they said yeah, you have acute appendicitis. Glad to know it was an emergency! I had to take a whole week off work to recover, but thankfully, my gut healed quickly.

I learned to knit in the past few weeks, one of my long-term goals. I joined ravelry.com.

I've sold a few more things on Ebay, but I need to sell more. Like everyone else struggling with finances, gas and food prices are insane. I try not to think about it.

Knitting is better than therapy.

The winter has been long and long and long. I keep waiting for the weather to warm up, but other than seeing a few robins, the cold temperatures drag me down.

I am reading Anais Nin and feeling sorry for myself.

Get Out and Vote Today!

If you live in a Super Tuesday voting state, get out and do your part to select your next presidential nominee. I already voted this morning.

DD has a cold or some other sort of plague, and so I had to stay home with her today. But I did my part and voted.

Some people think that voting is not important, or that it doesn't impact them. I admit, I don't vote in every single primary or election, but I try to do so. People all around the world have died to get the right to vote. Heck, even American women couldn't vote until 1920, so I feel that it is important to vote.

A friend of mine once said that it didn't matter who was in office; all politicians are the same. They didn't concern her. I about fell down dead. Not concern her? Who were the people voting on taxes and laws? Apparently, taxes and laws didn't concern my friend. LOL

Maybe it is always business as usual, no matter who is elected or which party controls Congress. But at least those who vote have a right to complain about it. Those who don't bother voting do not.

For Sale This Week

Ebay Sales

I recently began selling stuff on Ebay. Because we went to so many auctions last summer, it seemed only natural that I start selling some of the items we purchased, as well as other items around the house we no longer needed.

This week, I have a Dooney and Bourke small bucket tassel handbag, brand new with tags; a cute Romanian art glass basket; a leather briefcase; two Disney books with great colorful pictures inside; a vintage blue glass candy dish with a lid; and a tall green glass decorative goblet or bowl.

All my items come from a smoke-free home, but I do have dogs so keep that in mind if you are allergic. These items are used unless otherwise stated. :) Shopping on Ebay is fun and addicting! :)

Updating at last

Yikes! So I didn't do so hot updating my blog in January. January is kind of one of those blah months. I can actually feel a bit of hope that Spring is coming, right around the corner, in spite of the 7 inches of snow on Friday, and in spite of how foggy it is outside right now. LOL

We're watching the Superbowl, hoping for the Giants to upset the Patriots. Neither DH nor myself can stand "America's Team." Heh. Go Eli Go!

DD spent some time outside today, but the snow was melting. It's been a kind of a stay-at-home day. I have a few loads of laundry to do. DH fixed nacho cheese dip and chips and some hot wings for us to eat.

I've had a lot of fear about writing. I can hardly bear to open my paper journal. The blank page stares out at me and I am paralyzed. Writing used to be so important to me. I journaled in my paper journal no matter what. I really can't say what made me fall away from it. (I've always been an on-again, off-again blogger!) Too many days are left unrecorded now. Sigh.

All I can do is pick myself up, dust myself off, and get back on the horse. So here goes nothing.

Home Visit

Well, today the day dawned bright and sunny, but cold. The snowplows had gotten all the roads cleared off, pretty much, so we decided to drive the hour to visit the in-laws.

They had over 100 pictures of their trip to Germany. In addition to visiting their friends, they went to the House of 1000 Clocks, and to this Christmas store. They walked and walked everywhere, which was shocking, because my MIL had foot surgery several years ago, and does not like to do a lot of walking.

She did, however, have a flare-up of bronchitis and had to see a German doctor. The doctor spoke English, but once she got back here, she made an appointment with her own doctor and quit taking the antibiotics the other dr had prescribed. No wonder her bronchitis hasn't cleared up yet--not to mention, one of the people they stayed with was a heavy smoker. Whatever!!!

I'm glad they made it home safely. I loved to see their photos, and seeing them reminded me of my own trip to Europe back in 1996. I would love to go again someday.

Oh, I almost forgot to mention: yesterday afternoon, DH took DD to a local park where there is a big hill to go sledding. They had so much fun, until some idiot with an unleashed and untrained dog arrived. The dog started chasing all the kids who were sledding. But by that time, it was 4pm and time to come home anyway.