In The Pink

This weekend was a very special and emotional weekend for me. It was the annual Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. I got to spend the morning with my Una Survivor family and my sisters in the fight against breast cancer.
I am a two time breast cancer survivor and went through my own little hell starting eight years ago. However, as hard as it was for me, I am always humbled by the women who have gone through so much worse. This weekend reminds me how lucky I am to have survived. There is a special bond between the women you meet at this event. We are all fighters and we honor ourselves and those who lost the fight. For this one day, we are all sisters.
This year was especially emotional for me. I actually walked the course for the first time in a few years. In the past, my knees have prevented me from walking even the one mile, but not this year. This year, I am almost a 100 pounds lighter and I walked the mile and it felt amazing! Of course, I was weepy as I walked the pink carpet at the finish line, but that's how I roll. Nobody was there to greet me, but it didn't matter because the triumph was my own!
I'm already looking forward to next year. I plan on doing the whole 5K. Come walk with me!!

Thoughts From the Big Comfy Chair

As I sit here in this first day of my Fall Break, I am pondering things that I have discovered about myself, others, and Pinterest. It seems a good time to do this.. the weather is beautiful, I'm totally relaxed and life is pretty great these days.
 Let me start by saying that I have now lost 50 pounds since my weight loss surgery (that is 90 pounds total) and I feel great! Yay, me! I can honestly say that I have not missed much in the way of foods I liked to eat pre-surgery. I'm still a foodie, but it's all about the flavor and getting creative for me. One of my favorite weight loss blogs I have recently discovered is The World According to Eggface. She has so many great ideas and writes with a quirkiness I love. I have made it a point to find new foods and flavors I can eat and stay within the guidelines for my weight loss. It's been fun! I have experienced a lot of positive things since my weight loss.. more energy, less knee pain and shopping is a little more fun. There have been very few negatives, but there have been some shocks. The biggest shock I've had is the "advice" I've been given by other people who have had one kind of weight loss surgery or another on how to cheat and still eat the high sugar/calorie foods of the past. I mean, WTH? Why would I want to do that after all the time, money and effort I've made to lose weight? Why have the surgery at all if you are still going to shove foods and drinks into your body that you know will either prevent you from losing weight or cause you to gain it back? I don't get it at all, but what I do get is that it's not what I am going to do. I am pretty sure that I can still enjoy the foods I CAN/SHOULD eat without splurging on the things I shouldn't. "Nuff said.
  Before I go, I have to share my latest addiction... PINTEREST!!!!!! If you have not yet discovered this site, you should really check it out. It's a virtual bulletin board site where you and others can pin all sorts of links to all kinds of sites. I have found so many cool things there. Trust me, you'll be addicted, too. Here the link to my boards if you want to see what it's all about and if you like it, send me a message and I'll send an invite for you to join. Have fun!! :o)
 

Sunday At JoZoara

  Some time ago, I discovered a little locally owned coffee shop in Murfreesboro called JoZoara. It's a friendly, warm, cozy place that features wonderful coffee drinks, as well as, delectable foods. After my friend Heather moved here, I introduced her to my favorite little spot and she became an instant fan as well. After several weekly visits, we decided to share our love of JoZoara with others, so we started posting invites on Facebook. For a long time, it remained just her and I.. people just did not know what they were missing. Still, we kept the invites coming and it paid off. I'm happy to say, our little group has grown and you can find several of us sitting on the big comfy leather couches and chairs every Sunday at 2:00PM. 

  I have to admit that I really look forward to my Sundays. It's not just about the coffee and wonderful soups and sandwiches. I enjoy the company of friends old and new, the Grounds Crew, and Teresa, the owner. I think they look forward to our visits as much as we look forward to visiting. We're always greeted with a smile and a friendly hello. I feel like the show "Cheers".. everybody knows our name. :o) 

  You should come join us and see what I mean. Who cares if you don't like coffee... they have other things. Most of all, it's about the company and friendship. Life is short... come play!

Shrinking Fast!

  It's been just over a month since my surgery and I'm doing great! I have lost 33 pounds since my surgery and am averaging about a pound a day. I'll be little in no time. I'm amazed at all the changes I see and feel when I look in the mirror. The first thing I noticed was my neck and face, but now I am noticing changes in other parts of my body. My clothes are fitting looser and I've had to give away some items already because they are just too big. I can't wait to walk in any store and buy right off the rack. :0)
  am surprised at how easy it's been to give up some of the things I loved before... especially sweets. I truly have not missed them. I'm still a foodie and always will be, but it's about the taste for me. Food has to taste good!! However, it is no longer my focus. I still like to look at recipes and am always looking for tasty items that are low fat and/or low sugar. Pinterest has become my new addiction.. for recipes and school stuff!
  One thing I need to do is exercise more. I have the equipment, but now I need to just get with it! I wish I had a workout buddy. That always helps. My goal this weekend is to work on a workout schedule and get started.. no excuses!!! I think my weight loss would go faster if I did exercise more. In fact, I know it would. It's just getting started.....
  I've had some many people encouraging me and cheering me on. I want to thank all of them. It really does mean a lot to me. The best is yet to come!!

P.S. Pictures soon!!!

Back to School

  It's that time of year again!! Cleaning, moving around furniture, boxes, and books, meeting after meeting, then finally greeting 19 smiling, and sometimes crying, little faces. The first couple weeks of school are always a whirlwind of chaos, excitement, planning, and primping. I find myself full of energy, but ready to drop at the end of the day. It's a good kind of tired though.
  Already, I can say that I love my class. They are bright, funny, energetic and engage easily in the daily lessons. It's going to be a great year! I have seven girls and twelve boys. Almost half the children in my class have names that begin with J. I have an autistic child, two children with speech issues, one child with a deformed arm that does not slow her down one bit, and a variety of other personalities. My days will never be boring!!
  This year brings a lot of changes to our school and our whole system... new common core standards, new staff, new procedures and new evaluations. I'm ready for most of the changes and preparing for the others. I know I am going to love the new standards we are teaching. They are much more in-depth and really allow us to TEACH!!!!! Finally!! No more just scratching the surface. The timing is perfect, since they raised the bar for end of the year reading levels in kindergarten.
  The other big change is teacher evaluation... we are all being evaluated 4 times a year if you have a professional license and six times if you are just an apprentice. It's all good though.. I'm ready!
Bring on the new standards, bring on the evaluations and bring on the kids... it's time to rock and roll!!

Home again, home again!

I made it! I left the hospital Tuesday afternoon with six small incisions. After a bumpy ride home, who knew Nashville decided to add so many bumps and holes, I am recovering from my surgery with my best friend, DeDe, playing nursemaid. Everything is going well. My only discomfort is the trapped air they filled me with and trying to adjust to smaller sips and spoonfuls. I feel my energy getting better every day. I'm actually surprised at how fast I am bouncing back. The doctor said I have no real restrictions.. no weight lifting yet, but otherwise, I'm free to do whatever doesn't hurt. If it hurts, stop.
I weighed myself this morning and have already lost 6 pounds!
Here is my first progress picture. Warning, it's a picture of my incisions.

Twas the Night Before Surgery....

Twas' the night before surgery
And all through the day
Not a bite of food was eaten
Just water, coffee and whey.

The Magnesium Citrate
Did it's job with ease
But I've worn a path to the bath
With my constant need to pee.

The house is all clean
The laundry is done
So the adventure can begin
Tomorrow at one!

I'm nervous and excited
To be on my way
Thank you for your love and support
You've ALL made my day!!!

A New Journey

For as long as I can remember, I've always been a big girl. I remember dreading shopping for school clothes because, while my friends all got to shop for the latest fashions in the average size department, I was trying to find something in the husky girls department that didn't look like something my mother would wear. I was always active and loved doing all kids of activities outdoors like hiking and sports, but I always felt like an amazon, even at five feet, five inches. As I got older and my knees started to suffer from years of damage from hiking, snow skiing, ice skating, volleyball and racquetball, I got even heavier. I stopped doing the things I loved because the pain was too great and recovery took longer and longer. I knew I needed to lose weight to get the pressure off my knees, but that is easier said than done. I've tried a gazillion diets and nothing worked for me. Then, last summer, I started taking meds for high blood pressure. I didn't want to be on meds for something I could put an end to just by losing weight, so I made the choice to have weight loss surgery.
It's been a long journey and a lot of hoop jumping to get here, but I am finally here. On Monday, August 1st, I will have my gastric bypass. I'm starting off at 280 pounds and a lot of body fat. As I lose, I'm going to blog my progress and post pics as I go. I'm excited about the new journey. Thank you to all my friends and family who have supported me in my decision. I'll try to make you proud as I make myself feel better!

My Bucket List

This summer is bringing lots of changes for me. I have said goodbye to people and things that are not healthy for me, I've made a choice to be happy, and I am having weight loss surgery. I know that is the biggest change of all. I know my life is going to change. My attitude and people's attitudes toward me will most likely change, too. That is what scares me the most. I know I'm still going to be the me I have always been, but people look at you differently when you are overweight. So it is scary, but change is also a good thing. So with all the changes I am going to experience, I decided to make a bucket list of all the things I want to do in my new life. I'm sure I'll add to this list from time to time.

Kristin's Bucket List

1. Weight loss surgery.
2. Disneyworld with Ryan
3. A cruise/trip to Alaska
4. A trip to Australia
5. Foster care
6. A cross country camping trip that includes the Grand Canyon, Yosemite, Mt. Rushmore, Yellowstone.
7. Swim with dolphins
8. Fall in love
9. Move to the ocean or a house on the lake
10. Deep sea fishing
11. Take a train across Canada
12. Write a children's book.
13. Go to NYC for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
14. Skydive
15. Pay off my house
16. TBA

Men In Uniform

 I went to the Smyrna Air Show this weekend and had a great time. It was exciting, emotional, and had a buffet of men in uniform (military and police). I love a man in uniform, but what's not to love? There is just something about them that just makes you stand up and notice. My friends often give me a hard time about my love for men in uniform, but they don't always understand why I love them. It has nothing to do with the romance books I read or the "dangerous, bad ass" man they represent. Those are the fun part of it, yes, but not the real reason I love and admire a man in uniform.
 I grew up in the military. My father was a Major in the Air Force. I was surrounded by young airmen all the time. I never thought anything about it, except pride. Pride in my father and pride in the string of young airmen who had dinner with us often. They were like big brothers to me. I loved the life we had then and it has carried over into my adult life.
 In recent years, I have had many friends in the military (even one I have adopted as a soldier, son, and friend). I love them all. When you see them in plain clothes, they are like any mere mortal, average Joe, but when they put on their uniforms, something changes. They stand taller, prouder and more confident. You feel safer with them. THAT is what I love about a man in uniform. That sense of pride in themselves, their country and the job they do. How can you not love that?
 Lots of people love the romantic idea about the man in uniform, but they don't "get" the realities of the job; the hours they put into training and the time away from their homes and families, and the horrors that many of them see. It's why they have such a high rate of divorce. It's hard when the one you love is gone for long periods of time. It takes someone strong and confident to do it. I have always understood that. Growing up,  my mother, sister and I always supported my father through cards, letters and care packages any time he was deployed somewhere. It was our job as a military family and one I was proud to do. It's something I still do. There are a lot of service men and women out there who want and need the support from home. In the last couple years, I have adopted soldiers through an organization that matches people with deployed soldiers. You can send them cards, letters and even care packages. One of those soldiers has become someone I have gotten to know and am so very proud of both as a soldier and a new dad. He'll be deploying again soon and I'll gladly adopt him again. If you haven't done something like this before, you should give it a try. It can be very rewarding and you are helping to make someone feel a little closer to home. Even if you can't afford to adopt a soldier, there are other things you can do that cost very little. The Green Bean is a coffee house located on military bases/posts all over the world. For as little as $2.00, you can donate a Cup of Joe for a Joe. It's easy to do and greatly appreciated.
 So, yes, I may oogle a man in uniform, but more importantly, I admire, appreciate, and am proud to call some of them "friend".

 P.S. My adopted soldier, friend and son, Michael. Hooah!

Southern Louisiana... home away from home.

Last weekend, I went to Louisiana for a wedding for a dear friend. The weather was amazing and the smells from all the wild flowers in bloom made it a perfect day. Tia looked amazing and so happy. I'm so happy for her! It was a good day, but then, any time I am in Louisiana it's all good.
 I started going to Louisiana several years ago to visit some friends, Alfred and Janice, who lived in a little town called Maurice, just outside of the Lafayette area. I fell in love with the people, the culture, the music, and the food. It's home away from home for me. I try to visit as often as I can and every time I go, I experience something new. I've been to haunted plantations, The Myrtles and Oak Alley Plantation, and a wonderful alligator park the focused on preservation and education of the swamps and bayous of Louisiana. Of course, you can't go to Louisiana without experiencing the amazing local foods.. po'boys, crawfish and crab boils, gumbo, etouffee, oysters, and all kids of fresh fish. Strangely, one of my favorite stops when I'm there isn't for seafood, but Herbert's Specialty Meats, home of the stuffed chickens.They are whole de-boned chickens stuffed with various stuffings that are sewn back up, then rubbed with Cajun seasoning on the outside. Drool worthy!! The local shop does not ship them, but you can order from their Oklahoma store. They have become a favorite request from friends and family. My last trip had me returning with 43 chickens!!
 I didn't get to see my friends on this last visit, but still had a great time. I traveled with two friends, Lisa and Eddie. It was Eddie's first trip to New Orleans and he had no idea what he was in for on the road with Lisa and I. We introduced him to Hurricanes at Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop and Monsoons at Port of Call (along with their AMAZING burgers). We learned to cook at the New Orleans School of Cooking and had huge oysters and great food at the French Market Restaurant and Bar. Of course, we had to have coffee and beignets at Cafe Du Monde. I think we wore poor Eddie out. Nothing like trying to keep up with two tipsy women who go in two different directions. LOL!! Still, we all had an amazing time.
 The trip only had two drawbacks. The first was a personal attack by a horrible little caterpillar, the Buck Moth Caterpillar. He got under my pant leg and stung my ankle and hand when I grabbed him to remove him. It BURNED!!!!! Evil little slug. He died a horrible death at the foot of my friend Eddie. The second drawback? Leaving.
Someday, I am going to live in Louisiana... mark my words. It's already in my heart.

The Cost of Healthy Eating

  Did you know that grocery stores are set up so that all the basic food groups, your fruits, veggies, proteins, dairy, and grains are along the outside walls of the grocery store? Pay attention the next time you go to your local store. All the foods you should eat whether you are trying to lose weight or just eat healthier are easy to find and arranged in a nice, organized circle. In my quest to make better food choices, I try to shop these sections, but in doing so, I have noticed my grocery bills going up. Why? It costs more to buy fresh and healthy. The precooked, processed foods are cheaper to buy and make. One would think it would be the other way around. I mean, I'm doing most of the work to clean, prep and cook the food, so why is it cheaper to have someone else do it? Personally, I think it's a conspiracy. There are people out there that like/want us to be fat and unhealthy. Insurance companies make a killing off weight related illnesses and so do all those weight loss companies who hock programs and products to people who are looking for quick, instant weight loss. They'd be out of business if we could all afford to eat healthy. Summertime is easier on the wallet. Farmers markets and roadside stands help with reducing the cost of fresh produce and I am supporting my local farmers in the process. Bonus!
 In the long run, I know the payoff for a healthier me is going to be worth it, so I keep buying fresh and healthy and try not to cringe too much when I hand over my debit card. Hurry up Summer!!!

Why A Teacher?

As long as I can rememeber, I wanted to be a teacher. Well, except for that short period when I thought I might be a veterinarian, but the thought of putting an animal to sleep was just too traumatic for me. Plus all that math!! Blah!
Teaching was a natural choice for me. My mother was an amazing teacher, my father became a teacher after he retired from the military, and I had a string of crappy teachers who made me want, more than anything, to be a better teacher than they were. I also had some teachers who had a positive impact on me... Miss Eanice, Mrs. Edmunds, and Mr. Rocci to name a few. To them I will be forever grateful for their encouragement, advice, and dedication to their students and profession.
So really.. why teaching? The pay stinks, you spend a lot of time working after hours, weekends and even at home, you spend a LOT of money out of your own pocket to buy things to enrich your teaching and you get little respect from the government officials who decide your fate without ever having walked in your shoes. Then there is the biggest pressure of all... meeting the individual needs of twenty-five bright, energetic, eager, fragile, small individuals. As a kindergarten teacher, what I do today lays the foundation for what they will do in the future. No pressure there.
Teaching is joyful, heartbreaking, funny, random, frustrating, rewarding, challenging and I love ever minute of it! I love the look on a child's face when they "get it". I love their open, unfiltered view of the world. I love the challenge of meeting the needs of each child and watching them grow more excited with each new word they can read on their own. It's the hardest job in the world and the most rewarding.
Let's not forget the perks of teaching, too. Where else can you work and be guaranteed to get a hug or random, "I love you"? What office is decorated with unique artwork created by curious, talented, creative minds? Where can you work and get stories written and illustrated just for you by budding little artists and authors or gifts of melted chocolate from fuzzy little pockets and crushed backpacks? Jealous? You should be!
Why do I teach? Because I can.

Love is a beautiful thing, but....

Love is a beautiful thing. We make a big deal out of love. Valentine's Day, weddings, flowers, gifts, rings, candy, and other romantic gestures abound, especially this time of year. Yep, love is great, but trust is better. If I had to choose, I'd pick trust over love any day. You may love me, but will you catch me if I fall? You may love me, but can I say anything to you and trust you with my words? You may love me, but can I share my feelings with you and trust you to keep them safe? You say you love me, but do your actions match your words? I hope you can answer yes to these questions. I hope I can, too.
Don't get me wrong, I am NOT down on love. I truly believe it is a wonderful thing, but sometimes I think we throw it out there too easily.  I am not expert on relationships. Heaven knows, I can't seem to get it right, but I recently listened to a friend talk about his/her struggling relationship and wonder, why do you stay? Their issues weren't the day to day frustrations all relationships face, but  "trust" breaking issues... cheating, lying, and a total lack of communication with a healthy dose of insecurities heaped on top. Trust is all but gone and neither is doing anything to fix or change it.
If you love someone, but you can't trust them, how can you say you even have a relationship? Do you work at making it better and try to build that trust back? It's hard, but not impossible. I think, if you love someone, you owe it to yourself and them to try. However, if you work at it, make changes and even seek outside help and still can't trust again, why stay in a situation that is only going to continue to hurt? How can you even say that is love? Sometimes, you just have to love and trust yourself more and walk away. I believe in love, but I believe in trust to keep that love strong.
And for my friend.... love yourself.

Steady As She Goes

The holidays are behind us and so is all the good food. Thank Goodness!!!!!! Why is it during any holiday, the food and temptation to over eat seems greater? I mean, it's all the same foods that are available any other time of the year.. cookies, cakes, casseroles, turkey, ham, beverages. Yet when you add the word holiday, it seems to put an emphasis on those foods and a license to overindulge. I tried to be good, I really did, but I found myself giving into temptation more than once. I ate that slice of chocolate cheesecake made by my brother-in-law's sister. I had seconds of the cheesy-pineapple casserole that I made for the family holiday meals. I ate, drank and made merry, but I also tried to be good. So instead of a HUGE slice of cheese cake, I had a small sliver. Instead of heaping spoons of my casserole (and others) I had small scoops. In between holiday meals and parties, I ate lighter and walked more. The payoff? I didn't lose weight, but I didn't gain either. I stayed the same. I'm pretty content with that. In some ways, it has motivated me more than if I had lost. I now know I can control my portions and still enjoy all the foods I love... especially at the holidays. I can do this!

Life is Short...how will you live?

I'm a cancer survivor. My first diagnosis was seven years ago. I required surgery and six weeks of radiation. A year to the day later, I was diagnosed with early stage one cancer, this time in my left breast. More surgery and more radiation. That same year, I lost my father to cancer and almost lost my mother to a brain injury and heart issues. Life was a horrible roller coaster ride and I wanted to get off, but it's also a short ride. I decided then that I was not going to be afraid to let the people I love know that I loved them.. no matter to what degree that love reached. If they didn't love me back, that was ok. I decided not to take life for granted and to live each day with no regrets. Somewhere along the way, I forgot that. I slipped back into the same old routines I always had.. work and home with some play. I didn't do a lot of the things I wanted to do.
Yesterday I got the news that one of my best friends through high school and after college had passed away suddenly that morning. Her name was Tami. We had lost touch over the years and had only recently reconnected on Facebook. She had done so much with her life and had big plans to do even more. I was thrilled to hear all about her life since our days of running around. Then all of a sudden, she was gone. I was stunned. It was too soon. Her passing had my thoughts turning again to all the things I wanted to do, but hadn't. She had done so much with her life and I felt as though I had done so little.
So today, I reflected and decided to follow her lead and live life so everyday is special. When I lay my head down at night, I want to know I lived the best I could. I am going to get out more, dance, play, volunteer, love and live. I'll let you know how it goes.
Thank you Tami, you lived well. You will be missed.

The Garden

In their innocence, kids say the funniest things. We've probably all heard their opinions of the world through their little eyes and chuckled or even been embarrassed at their poor timing for such observations, but sometimes they ask questions that make us think.
A few years ago, I was teaching kindergarten in an inner city school in Knoxville, Tennessee. It was January and the week before Martin Luther King Day. My students were heavily involved in a lesson and discussion about Dr. King, segregation and civil rights. (Yes, kindergarten... don't underestimate their ability to understand deep topics.) In the back of my room stood the husband of a coworker and our class visitor for career day (he also happened to be a black man). Suddenly, my blonde haired, blue eyed Patrick speaks up and asks, "Miss Pucker, why did God make black people?" I froze. My eyes popped up to see what Mr. Grays reaction would be and Patrick sat there and patiently awaited my answer. Then it came to me...
Me: Patrick, if you planted a garden, would you plant just red flowers?
Patrick: No.
Me: Would you plant just orange flowers?
Patrick: No.
Me: Blue?
Patrick: No.
Me: What would you plant?
Patrick: Well, I'd plant all kinds of flowers.
Me: Well, we're like God's garden and he likes a lot of colors, too.
Patrick: OK.
I smiled. Mr. Gray smiled and to Patrick, it was as simple as that, "OK".
We celebrate the life of Dr. King on Monday, but we should celebrate his teachings and message every day. Every year, I am reminded of that conversation with Patrick and how simple it's message was and how it made me think. We are like a garden, each flower beautiful in it's own way. Together we have the potential to make something magnificent, if we could all learn to accept and respect the beauty and diversity of all cultures. Dr. King dreamed of this and others continue in his footsteps. Let's not forget. God loves diversity and color, why can't we?

Shopping: The Big and Little Deal: Panties, Petites and Prices

Most people who know me know I HATE to shop. I am a disgrace to women everywhere. I just don't have the patience to wander through store after store just to look. When I shop, I know what I want, go get it, and go home. Clean, simple, quick, and easy. Usually.
My dislike of shopping stems form the unfairness of it. I'm a big girl. I shop in the plus size departments and stores. However, I am losing weight and have recently had to look for some smaller sizes in some things, like panties. (Now I know you probably don't want to hear about my panties, but a recent experience was a perfect example of the unfairness of shopping when you are a big girl.) When I got to the store to make my panty purchase, I picked up a 5 pack of my usual Hanes Just My Size (full figure) panties for $9.50, but as I walked by the "regular" size Hanes rack, I noticed something; they had the same size panties with 6 in a pack for $6.50!!!!! The difference? They were not marketed for the full figure gal. The idea behind it is that full figured clothes use more fabric and that raises the cost. We are considered a "specialty" size and often have to pay higher prices. I say BULL... the extra pair of panties in the "regular" pack would add up to more fabric than they used in the "full figure" package, but they charged $3.00 less.  We full figured gals suffer this injustice often, but we are not alone in our shopping woes. My best friend is tiny and petite and she has the similar shopping issues. It's not about cost for her, but the availability of stylish professional clothes in her size for her age. The clothes are either too frumpy or unprofessional. Not only that, but they often charge more for petites, too. Why? It's a "specialty" size.
So big or little, you are special, and as such, you pay special prices. Fair? No. Fact of life? Yes.
I think I'll boycott and go naked.

People Let Me Tell You 'Bout My Best Friend

When DeDe and I became friends, I realized three things...
1. First impressions aren't always right, and
2. A single moment and a single decision can make the difference of a lifetime.
3. Friends are family you choose.
When I first met DeDe, I didn't really like her. She was bubbly, outgoing and had the longest eyelashes I had ever seen. I just KNEW they were as fake as I thought she was. I was not impressed. Then I had a chance to spend some time with her. Who knew a trip to a store on Super Bowl Sunday in a snow storm would lead to a lifelong friendship! We still laugh about that day... me driving my little mystery colored VW Beetle and her leaning out the window in the snow and cold, spraying de-icer on the windshield. We were a sight, and on that day, we became inseparable.
At the time, I was in a single person room in the dorm and she lived off campus, but we stole a mattress from an overflow room in the dorm and stashed it under my bed so she could crash in my room at night. Later, we would get a two person room on the first floor of Murphy Hall at Tennessee Tech and we would RULE that floor! Life was never dull with DeDe. From food kicks and practical jokes to football and frat parties, we blazed a trail through our college years.
Twenty some odd years later, she is still my best friend. Nobody knows me better. There is nothing I wouldn't do for her and I know she feels the same. She has been there though thick and thin. Even the years we spent in separate cities didn't make a difference.. we'd just pick up where we left off as though no time had passed. She makes me laugh, she listens to me cry. She's ready to take off the gloves and kick anyone's butt if she thinks they have hurt me in some way. I'd do no less for her. I couldn't love her any more if she were family. She's my best friend, my partner in crime, my sister of choice. Love ya, DeDe!!
P.S. The eyelashes are real!!!

Puck Talk

Anyone who knows me knows how much I love hockey. One of the reasons I was so tickled to be moving to Nashville was because they have an NHL team, the Nashville Predators. Growing up in the north, I was always a fan of the game. I remember playing with the neighborhood kids on a rink made in a neighbor's driveway. While I grew up with the game, I never really knew much about it. I loved the speed and hits, the names of the players and the jerseys, but I didn't know what "offside", "icing", "boarding" meant or even who did what on the team. I just liked to watch.
Since I moved to the Nashville area, I have been to many games. A couple years ago, I even had a season ticket in the rowdy 303 Cellblock section. I wasn't able to get season tickets the next year because I didn't have a friend who wanted to get them. I missed my hockey games. Oh, I still made the occasional game and watched the games on TV when they were on, but it wasn't the same. Then, last year, I met someone who also loved hockey and has since become a good friend. Matt has two season tickets and often invited me to go to games with him. I was hooked all over again. This time, however, I started learning more about the game itself and when the season ended and season tickets went on sale for this year, I jumped on the chance to get my own seat (right next to Matt's two.. he's such a good guy)!!
Now I am an official season ticket holder. My interest in hockey goes beyond the Predators.I have started watching other teams and players more closely. I have learned what offside, icing, and boarding mean, as well as, many other technical terms. I even recognize penalties as they happen on occasion! If I can see it, the ref should, too! Sadly, it doesn't always happen that way. I know the difference between a defenseman and a forward and where they generally hangout on the ice. I recognize players beyond the pretty face and respect their talents and team contributions. I've also learned other random hockey trivia such as why they freeze the game pucks and what it means if a player tucks in the back of his jersey. With each game I learn more, but my first love is still the speed and the hit, the energy and the chants of the game. If you haven't been to a game, you should! I'd love to be your guide!

On Shrinking

I have always been a big girl. Other than being short, I don't think I have ever been petite. I've tried every diet out there from Weight Watchers to Phen-Phen and back again. I'd lose and gain, lose and gain. I should be dizzy from all the bouncing around I have done in the past. If you ask my best friend DeDe, she'd tell you she doesn't understand why I am big. I don't over eat and I don't eat too unhealthy ( usually...we all have our moments) and I have always been active. This past summer, I was diagnosed with high blood pressure, sleep apnea and severe arthritis in my knees. With the exception of the arthritis, all are the result of being overweight, and while the arthritis is not a result of the weight, all of my access weight does add additional pressure and pain to my knees. I was tired of being fat and now was the time to get serious about losing weight.
 I have had friends who had weight loss surgery. At first, I was totally against it. To permanently alter your body just scared me. Despite my fears and feelings about the surgery, I researched it. I read what people who had the surgery had to say both good and bad. I looked up statistics regarding risks and the possibility of gaining the weight back. I talked to health care professionals and friends who had had the surgery. I educated myself as much as possible. In the meantime, I got the sleep apnea under control with a sleep study and cpap machine. I had blood work done and found out I was vitamin D deficient and started taking supplements...who knew that  both of these conditions would effect weight loss and gain. After getting those under control, I lost 30 pounds... just what my insurance required a a prerequisite for surgery. Yes, as you have guessed, I am going to take the plunge. I want to be healthy and active. I miss doing all the things I used to do. I have set a goal for a summer surgery. I have a checklist of things I need to do in order for insurance to approve, but I have already fulfilled most of the requirements. I'm going to continue to lose weight on my own. I am curious to see how far I can go on my own. Right now, I'm 30 pounds lighter and I feel good about  myself. Go me! The best is yet to come!