I Have Belt Loops!

"People are often unreasonable and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.
If you are honest, people may cheat you. Be honest anyway.
If you find happiness, people may be jealous. Be happy anyway.
The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough. Give your best anyway.
For you see, in the end, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway."   — Mother Teresa

I love that quote from Mother Teresa. I discovered that quote only recently and it rang a bell with me. It is how I have tried to raise my children. My words were not quite as eloquent… "yeah, people might take advantage of your kindness, but be kind anyway. Better to be known as a really nice guy that people will remember, than as a jerk who is soon forgotten." And, yes, we do get taken advantage of occasionally, but it is only very occasionally, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Not too much to report this week, as far as weight loss goes, but… get this… I have belt loops! I can now wear slacks with zippers and belt loops! I can now hang my phone on my belt loop, just like all the normal-sized people do! And, what's more, I can tie my shoes without holding my breath! And, I can wear a non-plus-size large! Have you any idea how excited I am? Oh! And, my towel wraps around my entire body, so I can run around scantily clad at the Y and not worry about things showing that shouldn't be showing! Oh! And one more thing... I can now cross my legs when I'm sitting. I am such a lady!  LOL Oh, the pure joy of it all! I'm tellin' ya! I should have done this a long time ago! People who have never been obese really have no idea how much effort it takes to do just simple day-to-day tasks, like tying shoe laces.

My weight loss seems to be slowing down these past couple of weeks. I think it might be because, while I still can only eat a small portion at a time, I've not been eating very healthily. I'll have to buckle down this week and just eat healthy things and more salads. I'm not eating much for vegetables. I need to work on that this week. But, I have belt loops, so all is right with the world!  LOL

Once again, I got lots of exercise this week! On Tuesday I went to water aerobics in the morning, and then had my group exercise in the afternoon, consisting of 20 minutes on a recumbent bike and 20 minutes on the treadmill, at 2.5 miles/hour and an incline of 5. On Wednesday, I went to water aerobics at the Y. On Thursday, I went to water aerobics again and then headed to the senior center for an hour of line dancing. On Friday I went to water aerobics. I think I'm beginning to like this.  And I have to thank my neighbor, Barbara, for keeping me going!  :)



This week, my 3-year-old grandson took my picture! I think he did a GREAT job! Thanks, Caiden! By the way, the boy LOVES those temporary tattoos! He's covered with them!

I decided to take my granddaughter to the 2nd Church today, as there was going to be a 9/11 remembrance ceremony involving the town's firefighters. I wasn't sure what I would be able to find to wear. While clothes that fit me are in the 18-20 range, I have no dresses smaller than 24. But dresses are wonderful things -- depending on the style, one can wear many sizes! Many of my size 24 dresses fall off me -- literally. But I found a sleeveless sheath with a matching short jacket -- made of rayon in a robin's egg blue. It looked really nice on me. It was very loose, but not so huge that it looked sloppy. And I found a pair of ivory sling-back pumps that I'd never worn -- actually forgot I even had them! (I'm NOT a hoarder! I'm NOT a hoarder! I'm NOT a hoarder!) I haven't worn any kind of heeled shoes in years! But, I did and I could actually walk like a lady in them! I added a pearl choker and, I must say, dahling… I looked mahvelous!  :)  My granddaughter had on a pair of black velour slacks with a very cute black and white top that tied in the back. She had black patent t-strap shoes and she wore nude panty hose! We were totally stylin'!  LOL  :) 

The ceremony was very nice -- short and sweet. The church has a gigantic flag that covers the entire front of the antique congregational church in the West village. It looked especially lovely today. The Fire Department members wore their Class A uniforms (dress coat and hats). They were all lined up outside the church while the minister spoke and prayed. After the minister finished her prayer, one of the firefighters read the Firemen's Prayer. Two of the firefighters walked across the street the lower the flag that hangs by the monument. It was a poignant community ceremony and I was proud to be there with my granddaughter and my fire chief husband.


When I am called to duty, God, whenever flames may rage;
Give me strength to save some life, whatever be its age.
Help me embrace a little child before it is too late,
Or save an older person from the horror of that fate.
Enable me to be alert and hear the weakest shout,
And quickly and efficiently to put the fire out.
I want to fill my calling and to give the best in me,
To guard my every neighbor and protect his property.
And if, according to my fate, I am to lose my life;
Please bless with your protecting hand my
children and my wife. . -- Author A.W. "Smokey" Linn

Well, that was my week. How was yours?  :)