"Time marches on..."

Why does it seem as though time stands still sometimes, while other moments seem to fly by.... All I can say is that the next 60 days should fly by. Today I went on a wonderful 3.7mile run with clean streets....yes the streets were actually bare. I usually use my Yaks (grippers for outdoor snow runs). I really love the fact that I am motivated once again to run. Running is such an uplifting activity. There is nothing like the beauty of running ...year round. I was a home body last winter and put on 30...yes 30 pounds. I was too depressed when my husband left to move off the couch and into my shoes. I have stabilized finally. I have lost 4 pounds already. I have maintained most of the winter because of the running I have done. The four lbs loss has been since I started Weight Watchers. I guess I needed a little accountability. I know what to do because I was at my goal 2 summers ago. A little complacency goes a long way to destruction. I will push forward and continue towards victory. I feel a lot better since I made the decision to change my life. It wouldnt be a bad thing either to look a little sexy for my husband when he returns would it? hahaha. That is not my only goal. I feel so much better when I am at my optimum weight. Our culture is so obsessed with our weight. Even right now with 30 extra pounds on ...I still look good. It could be a lot worse. I dont say this because I am vain but because truthfully there is more to a person than the amount they weigh. Truth?! I really miss my husband and sometimes bad things happen, but I have learned over the past 14 months to be greatful for what I do have ...health, food to eat, roof over my head, beautiful healthy children, family and friends that love me just the way I am, good and honest character, the ability to move and to Run! There is much truth to the statement " You don't realize what you have until you lose it!" That is such a truthful statement. We should all be greatful for what we have and not be angry about what we don't have. God Bless.....

"My little broken jeep!!"

When life throws you a lemon...make lemonade. It is all so humerous on the curveballs that life throws us. I went to court to fight a traffic summons last Thursday (responding to a fire traffic summons by the way) and I not only lost but I paid the entire fine and they wanted to hurt me more but stated they were being "nice" to just let things go as they were. Amazing!! I am a volunteer who races to put out fires in burning buildings or assist others who are putting out fires in burning building or those who have met with disaster on the road or elsewhere. I ask you where is justice?? If your house were on fire would you want me to pause and obey every traffic law?? That is in essence what I must do. I have a red emergency light in my car whick is a useless piece of junk that just "looks like a firefighter". The truth is, I am not angry about the $258. oo fine that I had to pay while responding to the fire, but the poor treatment I recieved while getting the ticket, as well as the way I was treated by the District Attourney and Judge. I received no breaks, nothing!! But the girl behind me who threw her cigarette out the window of her car (by the way this starts fires) and had no seatbelt on (bad outcome for 1055's -car accidents) received a reduced fine. By the way this same girl was in jail the day before. What has society become when you punish someone who is trying to be of help to the community and you allow those who have habitually broken the law off with 1/2 of the punishment she deserved. Perhaps it is in the interpretation of the law. I have always been "pro law enforcement" I have never been a trouble maker, but have assisted many times with car accidents, and other minor infractions. I would be the first to report something amiss. Lest anyone think that I have changed that opinion I must clarify. I feel that there are bad and good in every profession. I happened to come across the "bad cop". He is infamous in our county as the unprofessional, rude, other such names. This same "bad cop" led police in a local town on a wild chase through town on a crotch-rocket motorcycle before finally pulling over. This same cop also had an undercover sports car which was taken from him for ...get this!!....speeding!!! So I ask again...where is justice. I filed a formal complaint against him and he was investigated, so he enacted his revenge on me in the form of "court". He and the DA were quite cozy...which made me very "uncozy" during that long wait for my turn to come up and be heard. Only to be disenhearted with a response from the judge..."I will leave the decision in the hands of the DA to decide what to do"...I knew right there the kind of treatment I would recieve. So now I was not the only one to lose...my community lost also, for I won't be driving fast to fires anymore ...the cost is just too high.

Another week gone by...

Another week has gone by and I am closer to the time when Louis will be home. This week has been filled with many changes. Interestingly enough, the weather has taken a brief yet pleasant turn in a springlike direction. We have had temperatures up in the 30s and yes some rain and freezing rain to boot. This does not pose a shoveling problem; however, eventually it will turn cold again and we will have ice....lots of ice. I already miss my snowy paradise of last week. I was just getting into the groove of either skiing or snowshoeing daily. We are due some new snow on Sunday after Saturdays rain. It is hard to establish a pattern of healthy exercise habits and stick to them. This winter I am determined between exercise and diet (weight watchers) I will get my weight off once and for all. Stress which I allowed to direct my consumption has gotten the best over me this past year. I have made some healthy changes and I have already lost a couple pound. I will stick with this as it is a lifestyle change. I lost 80 lbs before and I can lose the 30-35 that I need to lose again. Determination is key. I will press on and continue to pray for success. After all I want to look good for my husband when he comes home from Iraq. It would be a present for him too.!!

A tribute to my best friend...

My hats off to you my best friend. You are the first person I think of in the morning and the last person I pray for in the evening before I lay my head to rest. You were there for me during the hard times and during the fun times too. Sometimes you weren't able to be there for me ( I know this contradicts what I just said) but this was not your fault. You have worked hard to make sure that I am taken care of. You always put my needs before your own. You love me no matter what, unconditionally. You smile at me as though I were special. You scold me when I need to be scolded. You listen to me when I go on, and on, and on, and on, and on...see what I mean. You make me laugh when all I want to do is cry. You make me cry with your kindness and concern. Many people go a lifetime and never know what it is to have a best friend. I have been fortunate to have many close, faithful friends...but I have to say my one true best friend is you Louis. You have lived with me longer than I lived with my parents. It has been almost 20 years. Time flies my friend and I am eagerly awaiting your arrival back home. It has been a long time....almost a year. We have some catching up to do....I miss you!

"What a beautiful view from here!"

Today I spent the day in awe of God's wonderful beauty. When I left work last night the trees were completely flocked with white. There had been a fog and the trees were as bright as bright could be. This morning I was able to take my camera outside and capture this beauty. As I was snapping pictures of our home a city worker drove by and smiled and then backed up and showed me he too was taking pictures while he was working!! Even if you were born and raised here in Aroostook county , the beauty that was there for the viewing today was incredible. I feel bad for those who did not get to see. For my wonderful husband who is stuck in the desert of Bagdad. It is for him I had to take these pictures. He will be home soon and I am hoping some of the snow will still remain so that I can take him out into nature and snowshoe. I plan on giving him a loving kiss by the flocked trees in the moonlight! Tonight I went cross country skiing with Shelly. It was breath-taking on the trails at the high school. Quiet, peaceful beauty of the flocked trees....and a good workout to boot. It has been a rough year without Louis. I am thankful to a lot of people, Shelly included. She keeps at me to do things and go places (like skiing) even though I can not motivate myself to go. Once I get out I don't want to leave. I love the outdoors. I love Northern Maine and all it's splendor. We truly are what postcards are made of, and jigsaw puzzles. I am anxiously awaiting the return of my hubby, but meanwhile I will occupy my time with the wonders of winter....only 85 days until his return. We are seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. Come home soon honey...I miss you very much!!

"I hope today was the coldest day of the year...."

Somehow I doubt it was...but I am hoping. Today I went snowshoeing for the first time. It was a challenge and I know I got at least a small workout as my bum hurt during this excursion. The landscape was magnificent. Endless blanket of white meandering though the potato fields. Ice which was leftover from the "deathlike" storm that we recieved just a few days ago. It seems like months ago. This is my fifth day in a row off from work, but I got cheated. I ended up with the puke flu for 2 1/2 days. Then a day of recovery from weakness. It was probably stemming from the "deathlike" storm and the countless hours of shoveling I did and snowblowing after work for between 2-3 hours. The relentless city plow and it's 6-7foot drift in front of my meager driveway. Now I have a plow guy on hire because I pitched a fit. So everytime I get a storm I have to dish out some cash....mind you it is worth it to not have to deal with the 6 foot drift at 6am when I am dressed and ready for a 12-13 hour work day. Today I have my health mostly regained...just mild weakness ( I think I am part horse or maybe donkey)...either way I joined weight watchers and I will be back on the road running within the week. I just needed to regroup. I think that if I continue to persue outdoor activities and enjoy the fresh air that I will indeed survive the winter. Last year I forgot what it was like to enjoy the beauty of winter and its snow which resembles diamonds in the multitudes. My Louis should be home soon too. Maybe we will get to snowshoe if there is still some snow on the ground when he returns in 87 days give or take. The rumors from the newsletters seem to indicate later as sooner, but I shall not get discouraged. Louis is anxious to see new horizons away from the camoflauge politics and stupidity. I just know I cant wait until he is home. I miss my "best" friend. Come home soon my friend.!!