Days 52 and 53: Blogging About It (Moon Pie)

 I do believe I've reached a point where I am no longer going to bother blogging about my daily diet and/or exercise. There is a reason; actually, there are a few.  One of the main reasons is that I really don't think enough people are reading blogs to make a difference.  Another reason is, I am not seeing the results I wanted to see, and therefore, I am not really achieving the goals I wanted to achieve. I haven't gained any weight, but I haven't lost any either. It's literally been 7 weeks and I am exactly the same weight even though I have eaten under 2000 calories every day and I've been exercising at least five days a week.  I walk about 5 miles a day on average. You'd think there would be a difference! There is not.

    That being said, today is my last blog for the Dwindling Author for a while.  If I pick it back up it will be down the road.   Today is CHEAT DAY!  I am cheating in true Southern American style too.  I decided to have an entire Moon Pie for dessert at lunchtime.  We have a Swedish friend visiting and he's never seen the Moon Pie before, so it was a must!  Actually, to be honest, I sort of cheated yesterday as well since we picked him up from the airport and literally took him to Braum's for burgers and fries!  I mean, I was under 2000 calories yesterday, but just barely. I may end up being under 2000 today as well, but I feel that eating a Moon Pie (300 calories) does in fact qualify as cheating.  Big time.  It was OK. 

    They changed the dang recipe for the Moon Pie! The bakery in Chatanooga, TN has been making the Moon Pie since 1919. It was invented by a traveling salesman named Earl Mitchell back in 1917.  It is supposed to be two graham crackers (shaped in a circle) and a marshmallow center. The whole thing is then dipped in chocolate. It's a Southern thing really, but now you can buy them all over the U.S. Whenever anyone from another country comes to visit we hit up the Braum's, we buy Moon Pies, we make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, drink a Coke with peanuts in the bottle, and we have to go to at least one BBQ restaurant that was established in Oklahoma! Thems the rules.

    Not happy that they now have three graham crackers in the Moon Pie, and they seem a bit dry as well. The chocolate is not as good or thick as it used to be. I understand the reasoning to a degree; it's cheaper, but damn, don't do that. Don't change the product! Charge more if you need to, but don't change the product to be something less than what it was. Oh well, I'm not in charge. If I were there would be so many more naps, and the coffee would be flowing pretty early too. No one really wants me in charge. Trust me. I can be a taskmaster, but I swear, I only ask anyone else what I would expect from myself.

Breakfast: Didn't have it

Lunch: PBJ and Moon Pie

Snack: Matcha Green Tea smoothie

Dinner: Ted's - - way over the limit (enchiladas, tortillas, salsa, and queso.) Yeah, I am officially cheating today.

    

Photo Credit: Wikipedia

Day 51: Blogging About it (The Adjuster's Test)

 Hopefully, by the time I finish this blog, I will have an answer as to whether or not I have passed the Oklahoma Property & Casualty Adjuster's Exam.  I have been an adjuster for years, and I was licensed for a very long time. I let the license lapse because I wasn't doing much adjusting over the past several years.  I owned my own business, so I had to run the business end of things. The adjusting was done by others.  So, here I am sitting at my desk at home,  just waiting for the email that says I passed or failed the test. I don't even know why I took the exam again. I guess I thought maybe I would get back into adjusting. I could, I suppose. If I did it would be as a private adjuster.

    Adjusters for insurance companies are rather special in that they are the ones who give a dollar amount to the proposed damage(s) and they determine (with the underwriter) how much will be paid, who will be paid, if there will be a payment, and whether or not there will be a need to involve a third party to collect damages from another party if the insured is not at fault. I have been on both sides of the coin.  I have represented the insured that was at fault, and I have represented the insured who was not at fault. It's about the same in terms of determining the amounts but let me tell you, it's a whole other ball game if your insured is not at fault and you have to go after the money!

    I recently (yesterday) accepted a position where I will be instructing again, not doing insurance.  If I had known this six weeks ago, I would not have paid for the exam in the first place. This particular exam is cheap to take,  unlike others where you have to mortgage your home just to take the exam.  (I'm kidding, but the Series 66 exam was literally 8x more expensive than this exam!)  I missed the Series 66 by one question and you can't know how upsetting that is. If I pass this one I'm good, if I don't pass it I'm good.  

    I think I see the email has been added to. Let me go see what or how I did.  THERE YOU GO....I passed. Yea! I mean, I was pretty sure I would, but you never know. Yes, I did in fact pass. YEA.  Now, I will apply for the license, pay that, and have it so that if I want to, I can become a professional Claims Adjuster again.  Woot!

Snack: Licorice, trail mix, turtles (2)

Lunch: Grilled cheese with a chicken sandwich

Dinner:  Chicken salad with fruit

Water, tea, water, coffee, lemon water.

1500 calories max

I may end up swimming tonight and walking!

Photo Credit: Oklahoma Department of Insurance

Day 50!! Blogging About It (Looking at Homes)

 If I am realistic about it, and not just fantasizing, I would say that I'll more than likely stay in Oklahoma and not move to Scotland. Though my heart stays in Edinburgh most of the time, I know I would grow really really tired of not being able to just jump into my car and take off for the nearest Braum's Ice Cream and Dairy Store. Who am I kidding? There are no Braum's in Scotland!!! (Yet)  I would not be able to do just about anything I want to on a whim, and as a very spoiled American, that would really not set well.  I'm nothing if not spontaneous! I would be forced to plan even the smallest of trips if the grocery store were more than a mile away.  I can visit each year. That may be a better plan.

    I'm about to take on a new challenge professionally, and though I'll be facilitating and instructing rather than teaching, I will be gone most of the day. I'll have to trade while on break, on lunch, when I go home, and Sunday nights since the Australian market will be open then.  I can set alarms and alerts to keep it both going and interesting, but for me, the plan to just do Forex or Options will be one year out at least. I will need to take things slowly and build it up, but it will happen. I am a good planner. I can do this.

    I'm looking at homes in the 25-mile range of where I'll work, and that will put me in the country, but that's OK.  The U.S.D.A. actually pays 100% of the financing upfront, and there are only closing costs to worry about. It's literally $6000-10,000 cheaper this way, and I have a small-town lifestyle ahead of me....and a Braum's.  Every small town in Oklahoma has both a Braum's and a Sonic, both are Oklahoma-based companies, and I will BE OK as long as I can walk to a grocery store to get my steps in, board my horse close by at a neighbor's house and get another dog to run the fencelines!  I really am looking forward to this. I'm thinking I'll get a bigger dog for outside and bring him/her in during the evening hours. Maybe a German Shepherd. I like them.  Then again, Golden Retrievers were first bred in Scotland. I could be closer to my heart home.

 Breakfast: Cereal!! Oat squares

Snack: licorice and trail mix

Tea: Biscuits with jam and honey

Lunch: Avocado smoothie with peaches and powders

Dinner: Spaghetti and meat sauce.

Water, tea, water, lemon water, water, tea, and coffee.

Calories:  1500

Walking: 10,000-11,000 steps.

Photo Credit: TheFoodxp.com

Day 48/49 Blogging About It (Good Dream / Gaelic)

 So, I accepted the job at the federally run operation that has an educational component to it. It's not quite a prison, as the students are not under arrest or in custody. They agree to be there, and the government pays their way while they study. They have a very specific responsibility to the government for both their behavior and their academic path. They can only stay a maximum of two years, so for some, it's a big thing. They have to cram four years of education into two, but for others, they only have to stay a few months to get their diploma and find a good job on the outside. It's a win-win if the students follow through on their side. It's a win for me either way.

    That being said, I  have been given permission to speak Gaelic to anyone who decides to speak another language other than English to me.  I am an English speaker, and they are being instructed in English. They have agreed to fulfill and adhere to all of the standards and the rules, therefore, speaking another language other than English is out of the question.  If they speak their native tongue to me, I am going to give them their instructions in Scots Gaelic.  We'll see if they straighten up; and just how long it will take them. This method has worked wonders for me in the past. I'm not good really at speaking Scots Gaelic, I'm still a learner myself.  I can, however, say "Hello, how are you? Who are you? Good afternoon friend" and they will have zero notion as to what I just said. 

    I did dream last night (again) and this time, instead of a story with a beginning and a middle and end, I was just riding around in a rickshaw thinking. I got out, and I saw a bush of Rose of Sharon, they were very vivid and bright purple. Loved it. I looked it up and the meaning is so wonderful. I am in a relaxed and thoughtful mood. I am being taken where I need to go, and when I get there I see goodness, hearty friends, and colleagues. I am in a good place in my life. I like that. I really do. God is just too amazing. I can't wait to meet Him in person/spirit.  Soon. Very soon. I think the Rapture is just imminent.  Hopeful.

Breakfast: Everything bagel and cream cheese.

Snack: Licorice and trail mix

Lunch: Pastrami on white with Harvati cheese & nectarine

Dinner: Choc. chip pancake!!

Calories: 1500 

Water, tea, tea, raspberry tea, coffee.

Walking: 10,000+ steps

Photo Credit: GardenGuides.com 

Day 47: Blogging About It (Took a Job)

 I've been unemployed for the entire summer and part of spring due to a misunderstanding with my employer.  She thought I wasn't catching on (I had been at the job exactly one month) and I knew I was catching on to what it was she was training me for.  She terminated me on April 12, having been hired on March 11. On my last day of employment I had completed 10 of the reporting tasks she had asked me to do, she only expected me to do 3.  There you go, I was 3x better than she thought I was, but she had already submitted my termination papers. The company decided to uphold her recommendation.  Life can suck. I know this.

    I've been using the time off to study my Forex trading and now I'm studying Options as well.  I have been applying for positions and I have been interviewing. I did accept a position today with a federally funded grant program through the Department of Labor. I will be (if I pass the background check) a facilitator of education for young adults who have had things pretty rough.  I won't give the name of the facility out of respect for the students. Suffice it to say I'm not so much of a teacher as I will be a steady hand when they need to ask questions or find ways to figure things out for themselves. 

    The students are on a self-paced program to complete their education and I'm going to be there to guide and facilitate.  It is an in-house dormitory/school setting and no, I won't live there, but I will eat breakfast and lunch with the students as well as take walks around the grounds with them, all the while talking, teaching, helping, listening, and guiding them. I was even allowed to use the words "Jesus" and "salvation" but I'm not supposed to browbeat anyone with my faith. I can handle that.  I think it should be a good fit -- we'll see. I won't discuss the students online and I won't say the name of the facility out of respect for the students, but I do thank God that I am going to be useful, and hopefully learn along the way.

Breakfast: Oatmeal with flaxseed, cranberries, walnuts, and molasses.

Lunch:  Didn't eat it.

Snack: chocolate, trail mix, and a TURTLE SUNDAE (to celebrate)

Dinner: Chicken spinach salad with balsamic dressing.

Calories: 1600

Water, fizzy water, tea, coffee, iced tea, and water.

I walked over 4.3 miles later in the evening! 

Photo Credit: Unicaf.org

Day 45/46: Blogging About it (Happy Birthday Yuuki!)

 I know that some people think it's silly to celebrate the birthdays of their pets, but in this family, we have family members who wear fur year-round.   Yuuki is a little dog about 15 pounds or so. He was advertised as being a full-blood Chihuahua when my daughter Laura was bent on buying her first dog.  We had family pets, but she was going to get her own dog with her own money.  I tried to talk her into going to the shelter, and we usually do, but she really wanted a Chihuahua. I think she had plans to teach the dog tricks and she wanted to put clothes on it, and you know, be a young and crazy dog owner.  Laura was 18.

    Laura had just turned 18 and was literally just back from having toured with Ozzfest. She was a performer on the tour, and though she only went on the western side of the tour, at 18, hanging with Ozzie and crew, she learned more in a few weeks than she had ever learned.  She felt that owning her own dog (we had Faith) would be her way of showing herself that she could be responsible and she couldn't wait to pick out her pup.

    We arrived at the center, the home where the breeder lived.  Immediately, I felt that we must have the wrong address. I couldn't see anything remotely resembling a breeder's facility. Nope. We had run up onto a real puppy mill! It was terrible!! We later called the authorities and we were able to show them exactly where the lady resided. Before calling the police, however, Laura did "rescue" through payment, one small little black dog that she was told was a full-blood Chihuahua, but I think we both knew that longer body and snout gave us cause to think that maybe a quick-acting Dachshund (of which the woman had a few) had made his way over or under the fence -- probably under.

    Yuuki was named for one of Laura's Japanese show characters I think. I think it means courage, I'm not sure. Anyway, as he grew older we could tell the boy was a Chiweenie and that's OK. We don't care! We love all of our babies the same. I am rather happy (to be honest) that he wasn't a full-blood Chihuahua because he had a much better attitude (most of the time) when he wasn't trying to dominate the world around him and us. He lived up to his name. He had courage!

    Today, our Yuuki is 15 years old and we didn't even have a birthday cake, but we did treat him to his favorites and we did spoil him rotten all day - - we spoil him rotten every day, so he may not have noticed, but we did pull out the party hats, of which he refused to participate with or in. He's not stupid. He's old enough to know we will be a bit silly at times. Happy 15th Buddy!!

Breakfast: nothing

Snack: Papaya and licorice

Lunch: Avocado and blueberry smoothie with powders

Dinner: Chicken and rice.

1300 calories or so, and only 10,000 steps. I suck.

Water, tea, water, sparkling water!! Coffee.

Photo Credit: Me and Laura Stringfellow 

Day 44: Blogging About it (New La Croix)

 For all those who want to know if drinking sparkling water is the same as drinking regular water, the answer is no.  Sparkling water is fizzy and regular water is not. There is, however, no difference in the intake count for ounces. If you wish to drink fizzy water as opposed to tap water, bottled water, or whatever you call regular water, you can do that!  I am into the La Croix brand fizzy water myself.  I enjoy most of the flavors; the new one is awesome.  It is Beach Plum, and it does not disappoint!

    I've always been able to drink club soda and other fizzy waters. Several of my friends are not fans of it, but there I am just adding lemon or lime to it, and drinking it by the liters. I can do that for some reason, so I do that. I like water. I don't do sugar in my drinks, but I will do fizz!  Mind you, I don't start drinking fizzy water until after 4:00 p.m. as I'm doing coffee, tea, and lemon water until about that time. I have my schedule you know -- mustn't upset the body! LOL

    Speaking of upsetting the body, today was yet another day that my right knee has decided we won't walk. I put in about 11,000 steps yesterday, 16,000+ the day before and for the past few days before that I've been active.  Today, however, the knee simply quit around 4000 steps, then it began calling me names and I really just can't have that. I know when to stop and soak that thing until it stops spewing rudeness that it can't take back.  

    When I do decide to replace the damn thing I'll let the world know - - I deserve a knee that is willing to rock climb, run, jump rope, and have a good time. Where this one came from I don't know. It could be that I abused the hell out of it when I was growing up. I was a barrel racer, a gymnast, and a spirit clown at school.  I guess I may have taken my knees for granted a time or two during those years. It's had time to rest and relax - - I don't fully understand this body. I can't wait to get my new one in Heaven!  Any day now!! Maranatha!!

 Breakfast: bagel with cream cheese!

Snack: Licorice and trail mix

Lunch: I didn't eat it!  I may bran bread. It was great.

Lunch #2: A peach and kefir smoothie!

Dinner: Hamburger with rice (leftovers!) I finished it. (With cheese)

Water, Fizzy water, tea, water, and coffee!)

'

Photo Credit: AmeridcanFizz.co.uk

Day 43 Blogging About it (7.3 miles Walking)

 On average, I would say I walk about 6 miles a day.  Some days I walk less and some days, like today, I walk more. Today, I walked 7.3 miles before calling it quits. There's a thought inside my head that wants to try and do more than that, but I think my body thinks 7.3 is good.  When I was younger I would walk for about 10.2 miles each day and it would take just over 2.45 hours.  My friend Sharon and I would start out at 5:45 p.m. and get back around 8:30.  We mostly did this in the summer, but here in Oklahoma, it's often over 100 degrees at 5:45 p.m. in the summertime. Dang, we must have been really young and healthy!  I wait until 7:30 p.m. to do most of my walking now.

    I probably put in about 1.5 miles from the time I wake up until the time I go walking in the evening.  I just don't torture myself like I once did. I remember being thin during those years, that's for sure. I'm hoping to return to the glory years when it comes to healthy living. That would be really great!  I'd also love to swap some of my body parts out for the shape I had back in the day.  After I was finished walking I would stop by the neighborhood 7-11 and get myself a Fresca! Can you remember those? Wow...it was a different time for sure. 

    We didn't have cell phones, Netflix, computers, or really any worries. We just had friends to walk with, talk with, dream, and argue with. We had real times, not all the gossip and drama kids have today. Give me the lamppost! Give me the banana-seat bikes! Give me a galvanized steel slide that stood on concrete and had bolts holding the slide to the frame that rocked every time you ran up it! I wouldn't trade those days for the stress kids put on themselves today. We caught live fish with our hands in the creek when I was 10; I think I prefer that time.  Not gonna lie, I had a great childhood.  I see that now.  I get all excited if I go 7.3 miles -- I think I would have considered myself pretty lazy if I had only gone 7.3 back then.

Breakfast: NOPE

Lunch: Pastrami, cheese, and lemon gouda slices.

Snack: Kefir, almond milk smoothie with blueberries and my powders.

Dinner: Hamburger meat with rice and spice.

Snack: one scoop of ice cream with chocolate and caramel!! YES

TEA!!! TEA!!! WATER.....and more water. (1 coffee)

1600+ calories

Photo Credit: ME (at Lake Hefner)

Day 42 Blogging About It (Cheat Day / sort of)

Oh, I thought it would be a complete cheat day, but it turned out to be a normal day. Not a diet or watch what you eat day, but not a full-blown eat what you want day either!  I think I probably hit 2000 calories, but that's not bad in and of itself. I will end up going for a 3-mile walk later, nothing too hard on the body.  It's still 94 degrees at 7:30 p.m. so I'm not all that gung-ho about making the trek.

Today I didn't have breakfast, it seems that I don't do that very often these days. I was going to take a test but the testing center didn't have my name down as being registered so I decided to eat lunch around 2:00 p.m. this was a big fat Aloha burger from Braum's. I thought maybe I could continue the trend and get a sundae, but my body said no.  I ended up eating only 1/4 of the fries and drinking all of the unsweetened iced tea.

    Dinner was a combination of things we had in the fridge. Do you ever do that? It was hamburger meat, rice, salsa, red enchilada sauce, onion powder, garlic, and chives. Yes, it was awesome!! I put sour cream and cheese on top - - and ate it with really cool pretzel Ritz crackers. Oh yeah!  Snacks today consisted of licorice candy and trail mix. I do love me some Good and Plenty!  Overall it was an average calorie day for most, and an above-average day for me. Maybe 2000 (closer to 1800) and more tea, please!!

Breakfast: NOPE

Lunch: Aloha Burger/ some fries / HUGE iced tea. Unsweetened

Dinner: Hamburger, rice, salsa, chiles and cheese with sour cream!!

Snack: Trail mix, licorice candy.

Water, tea, more tea, then much more tea, and water. (1 coffee)

10,000+ steps and zero stretching and doga...just a lazy day.

Photo Credit: me

 

Day 41 Blogging About it (Del Taco - Who Knew?)

 I have no idea if your city has a Del Taco or not, but we have them here in Oklahoma City and let me tell you, they are really good. I was most impressed with the portions and the price.  I always double-check calorie counts when I go to a restaurant. I was pleased to see that the Del Taco grilled chicken salad has about 500-510 calories, and most of that comes from the avocado.  I ordered one for lunch, and at all the chicken of course, and about 85% of the salad.  I'm guessing I saved myself 25-30 calories, but it was really good -- I do recommend it when you don't have time to cook, or you just don't want to. It's really hot today, and I have friends coming over from out of town. 

    We'll end up walking the lake again tonight, as I have been doing for the past several nights. I'm not doing yoga. I'm not doing Doga. I'm not even boxing, jumping rope, or lifting weights today! Nope. I'm just gonna walk about 6 miles and all that a good day. I'll pack in about 1200 calories total, and with the water, tea, lemon water, and coffee, I'm thinking I'll be good to go.

    OH MY GOSH, I did want to record that I am such a DORK!! I ordered a bag of tea, and by bag I mean a pound of raspberry tea, crushed and organic.  It was something like $20 online with Amazon. I figured I would put some in the green tea that I have and it would be nice. OMG...it's HUGE...monster big, and not only that, it's really good!!  I then decided to message my friend Niki about it since I'll be spliting it with her probably. There is a heck of a lot of tea in that bag!!  I didn't message Niki. NOPE. I messaged Bethany Christian Trust in Edinburgh, and that name is NOWHERE NEAR Niki's name. There was ZERO reasons for me to do that. But I did that. I couldn't figure out why Niki didn't respond. LOL

    Anyway, I'm a dork, and I own it.  I have enough raspberry tea to last me a year or more I'm sure. I'll probably not run out of it. If it wasn't any good I would have mixed it in with my hay and fed the horses, but it is good. Really good.

Breakfast: didn't have it.

Lunch: Del Taco grilled chicken salad

Snack: Cheez its, chocolate, and cheese

Dinner:  Brats, cottage cheese, grapes

TEA!! Water, water more water, and then lemon water and tea. With Coffee.

1200-1300 calories.

6 miles walking. 

Photo Credit: ME