Month: May 2009

Reality Check — Progress Report

subtle, but the difference is there

The photo on the left was taken on March 9. Those jeans are a size 10, and I was on day 2 of wearing them. Since that photo was taken (and I saw just how bad it looked — and yes, that pose wouldn’t be flattering for most people since the twist in my torso accentuates the muffin top issue), I have not worn that shirt again except under a jacket, and I have gotten a LOT more serious about my work at the gym. I have been working out in some fashion about 5 days per week, and I’m up to running 2 miles out of 3 when I get on the treadmill now. MAJOR progress, considering that 11 months ago I was on crutches and unable to walk. I’ll take it.

While I have not lost much weight (4 pounds, total), I have gone down a full size. The photo on the right was taken a few minutes ago. The jeans on the right are a size 8, and today is day 1 of wearing them.

I am not even close to where I want to be, but I can see a difference in where I was 6 weeks ago, so I’m encouraged. I know I feel a difference.

If you can tell that I’m shrinking, please tell me. I’m so fragile about the weight gain in the past year (even if it wasn’t something that I could really help, since I was forced to be sedentary by the injury) that I really need to hear positive feedback. Don’t lie to me, but if you can tell, please say something.

Thanks. 🙂

Magnolia

On the way home from the pool today, Helen picked a gigantic magnolia blossom off one of the neighbor’s trees, and it’s on my desk right now. The smell is so powerful it keeps distracting me.

I love Magnolias. Yes, they’re messy. But they’re SO beautiful when they’re in bloom, and those trees are so strong! Jerry and Russ backed over one in our side yard the day we moved into our house on Ward, and it survived. It just has a scar there now.

And Magnolia blossoms are a lesson in irony: the blossoms have such a delicate fragrance, but it can have incredible power at the same time. And they bruise so easily. I remember pinching the petals as a child and watching them turn brown almost instantly in the shape of my finger.

Strong trees, delicate flowers. It’s no wonder they’re so often used as a metaphor for Southern women. We can withstand being run over by a truck, but we bruise easily, too.

We don’t have a Magnolia in our yard anymore. There are two BIG ones next door. I’m kind of glad they’re over there — I can see them and smell them, but I don’t have to deal with the leaves in the yard all the time.

Credit Card Fail

So I get airline miles on my credit card. I have quite a few saved up. A few years ago, I tried to get them to send me one with Jerry’s name on it, but apparently that was too much trouble because it never showed up (and there was no unusual activity on my account, either).

Well, I got a new card in the mail a few weeks ago, so I had to call to activate it anyway. So I called and activated it and then asked to speak to a service rep, and I got a really nice guy on the phone. Strong accent. Whatever. Nice guy. I told him that I wanted a card for my husband, and that this wasn’t the first time I’ve asked for one.

We went through the whole thing, and he asked for the name. I gave Jer’s full name. “Do you want for the Junior to be included?” Um, yes. Because if you don’t include it, the card would be in his father’s name, not his. “Oh, yes. Of course, of course.”

I was told that the card would be here in 7-10 days. No problem. I thanked him for his kindness and hung up.

The card arrived this weekend.

The “Jr.” is there. But the dude added an “s” to the end of our last name on the card. So I guess I shall be calling again… *sigh*

Maybe the third time will be the charm.

Good grief. It’s really not worth the effort sometimes.