Don't ask how the 'lose 40 before I leave 40' is going. Not well to say the least, but I am exercising more now than I have in the last 10 years. I have come off of all meds except the thyroid stuff, so that should help, albeit slow. There are other benefits of not taking those which you can talk to CheeseHead about ;)
Anyway, on to Christmas! We are slowly getting our stuff together here and I found this recipe that I plan on making today. (yes I realize it will only help me FIND weight, not lose it!)
Terribly Terrific Toffee
1 cup unsalted butter (no margarine allowed)
1 cup brown sugar
2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
40 saltine crackers
Preheat oven to 350ºF. Line jelly roll pan or cookie sheet with foil and spray with non-stick spray. Lay a flat layer of crackers out on the foil. Melt the sugar and butter until a boil is reached. Reduce the heat and simmer, uncovered, for 5-6 minutes or until mixture is thickened and sugar is completely dissolved. Pour this mixture over the crackers and spread to coat evenly. Bake for 5-8 minutes, or until the toffee becomes bubbly. After removing the pan from the oven, let it sit for 3-5 minutes. Sprinkle on the chocolate chips, let them soften and melt, and then spread them into an even layer. (You can add nuts, cracker crumbs, or whatever else floats your boat at this point.) Let cool and, if desired for expediting purposes, refrigerate until hardened. Break into pieces the size of your choice. I personally prefer a hand-sized chunk.
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Lose 40 before I leave 40
The other morning CheeseHead says "I've got to stop losing weight, I need new jeans they don't fit me any more." My response, "I've got to stop finding weight, I need new jeans they don't fit me any more. And by the way, YOU SUCK!!"
Over the last year and a half I have steadily put on 40-50 pounds. I think its a combination of health issues, medication and just 'getting older'. Granted, I haven't been exercising as I should but I can't imagine that can account for THAT much weight. I have started to rectify that situation though, I am going in to the gym three mornings a week when I drop the girls at school. Its not much, but its what I can manage.
I am going to aim at losing 40 pounds before my 41st birthday. That is about 10 weeks, I am pretty sure I can make it. I don't have a reliable scale here at home (the one I have lies, unfortunately in the wrong direction. It said I weighed 109 pounds this morning, Don't I wish!) so I am going to go by my pants. I can just squeeze into a 14, and I'm thinking a nice comfortable 12 maybe even a 10.
So wish me luck.
Over the last year and a half I have steadily put on 40-50 pounds. I think its a combination of health issues, medication and just 'getting older'. Granted, I haven't been exercising as I should but I can't imagine that can account for THAT much weight. I have started to rectify that situation though, I am going in to the gym three mornings a week when I drop the girls at school. Its not much, but its what I can manage.
I am going to aim at losing 40 pounds before my 41st birthday. That is about 10 weeks, I am pretty sure I can make it. I don't have a reliable scale here at home (the one I have lies, unfortunately in the wrong direction. It said I weighed 109 pounds this morning, Don't I wish!) so I am going to go by my pants. I can just squeeze into a 14, and I'm thinking a nice comfortable 12 maybe even a 10.
So wish me luck.
Friday, January 21, 2011
Bugle Call Bruhaha
Oh my goodness! I cannot believe some people!!
Okay, let me explain a little. Here at FORT Belvoir the garrison HQ have begun to play the bugle calls throughout post. You would think that someone was commiting a major crime 5 times a day from the reaction of a few people around here. Hey, I get that 2300 is a little late and 0630 can seem early to some people, but that is kind of the point of Taps and Reveille. You will get used to it, just like you've gotten used to the helicopters and planes that always buzz right over our houses. Honestly if it bothers you THAT much you can always find housing off-post, where you won't have to hear the wonderful Army traditions that disturb your peace.
To add to my irratation with 'people' around here, they do not pay proper respect during Retreat. Most don't even slow their walk through the parking lot while it plays, much less stop their cars and stand.
That being said, I saw this article on another blog, and thought I would repost. Enjoy!
The scene: It is 5 p.m. and you are driving through base. You come up to a green light and find some person “parked” in front of the light. You start to boil. You start to honk. You think something along the lines of, “Man- this idiot must not be paying attention!” Nope- not true…that “idiot” is probably me (or someone like me) and I’m definitely paying attention to something– the sound of the bugle call playing retreat signifying that somewhere on base the flag is being lowered.
Welcome to my pet peeve…my biggest pet peeve of all pet peeves. If you have business on base (whether you are military, a family member, a civilian employee or contractor, or even just a visitor) the you have the responsibility to educate yourself on the etiquette and protocol of how things are done on base. Which, yes, for us spouses there should be a spouse’s handbook or a mini-bootcamp teaching us all of the important things we need to know about military life (minus the rough and tumble stuff). There is part of me that thinks I cannot fault someone for not knowing, but at the same time people need to take responsibility for themselves…which in this situation if you see cars pulling over and hear music, then you might start to wonder if there is something you should know. I am posting this because this hasn’t been a once or twice thing…watching people ignore the bugle calls is a daily basis thing around my base.
So, here is my “course” in Bugle Call 101:
There are 3 times a day that the music will usually play:
Reveille- generally around sunrise. My base has a set time of 6:30 a.m. …which is also the time that you will see a lot units form for p.t. (physical training) so that they can pay proper respect in a formation as the flag is being raised.
Retreat- generally around sunset as the flag is being lowered. 5p.m. for my base.
Taps- signifying the end of the day. 9p.m. for my base.
**Check with your individual base for actual times at your location.
The significance/history of the bugle calls:
Reveille: The bugle call of either “To the Colors” or the “National Anthem” (depending on your base) is played with the rising of the “Colors” (the American Flag). Many bases have a single canon shot accompany the bugle call. Reveille is the French word for “wake up” and is believed to have been used all the way back to the 1600′s as way of waking soldiers for battle.
Retreat: A bugle call for “Retreat” is sounded just before the American Flag is lowered and the song “To the Colors” is played during the actual lowering of the flag. ”Retreat” is also a French Crusades bugle call. It signified the end of the day and for soldiers to return to their quarters for the night. (If only war was really that dignified and stopped for soldiers to get a good night’s rest.) The combination of “Retreat” with “To the Colors,” as we see it today, is believed to date back to the American War for Independence (otherwise known as Revolutionary War).
Taps: “Taps” is played at the end of the day signifying the end of the working day or “lights out.” The tradition originated with the playing of the French song, “L’Extinction des feux” which was later thought to be too formal and changed to the bugle call “Tattoo” which later morphed into “Taps” that we know today. Most people think of “Taps” as a way to honor fallen soldiers at funerals, but it is also played at the end of the day to honor those who gave their lives that day.
Protocol during the bugle calls (in simplest terms):
Okay, let me explain a little. Here at FORT Belvoir the garrison HQ have begun to play the bugle calls throughout post. You would think that someone was commiting a major crime 5 times a day from the reaction of a few people around here. Hey, I get that 2300 is a little late and 0630 can seem early to some people, but that is kind of the point of Taps and Reveille. You will get used to it, just like you've gotten used to the helicopters and planes that always buzz right over our houses. Honestly if it bothers you THAT much you can always find housing off-post, where you won't have to hear the wonderful Army traditions that disturb your peace.
To add to my irratation with 'people' around here, they do not pay proper respect during Retreat. Most don't even slow their walk through the parking lot while it plays, much less stop their cars and stand.
That being said, I saw this article on another blog, and thought I would repost. Enjoy!
The scene: It is 5 p.m. and you are driving through base. You come up to a green light and find some person “parked” in front of the light. You start to boil. You start to honk. You think something along the lines of, “Man- this idiot must not be paying attention!” Nope- not true…that “idiot” is probably me (or someone like me) and I’m definitely paying attention to something– the sound of the bugle call playing retreat signifying that somewhere on base the flag is being lowered.
Welcome to my pet peeve…my biggest pet peeve of all pet peeves. If you have business on base (whether you are military, a family member, a civilian employee or contractor, or even just a visitor) the you have the responsibility to educate yourself on the etiquette and protocol of how things are done on base. Which, yes, for us spouses there should be a spouse’s handbook or a mini-bootcamp teaching us all of the important things we need to know about military life (minus the rough and tumble stuff). There is part of me that thinks I cannot fault someone for not knowing, but at the same time people need to take responsibility for themselves…which in this situation if you see cars pulling over and hear music, then you might start to wonder if there is something you should know. I am posting this because this hasn’t been a once or twice thing…watching people ignore the bugle calls is a daily basis thing around my base.
So, here is my “course” in Bugle Call 101:
There are 3 times a day that the music will usually play:
Reveille- generally around sunrise. My base has a set time of 6:30 a.m. …which is also the time that you will see a lot units form for p.t. (physical training) so that they can pay proper respect in a formation as the flag is being raised.
Retreat- generally around sunset as the flag is being lowered. 5p.m. for my base.
Taps- signifying the end of the day. 9p.m. for my base.
**Check with your individual base for actual times at your location.
The significance/history of the bugle calls:
Reveille: The bugle call of either “To the Colors” or the “National Anthem” (depending on your base) is played with the rising of the “Colors” (the American Flag). Many bases have a single canon shot accompany the bugle call. Reveille is the French word for “wake up” and is believed to have been used all the way back to the 1600′s as way of waking soldiers for battle.
Retreat: A bugle call for “Retreat” is sounded just before the American Flag is lowered and the song “To the Colors” is played during the actual lowering of the flag. ”Retreat” is also a French Crusades bugle call. It signified the end of the day and for soldiers to return to their quarters for the night. (If only war was really that dignified and stopped for soldiers to get a good night’s rest.) The combination of “Retreat” with “To the Colors,” as we see it today, is believed to date back to the American War for Independence (otherwise known as Revolutionary War).
Taps: “Taps” is played at the end of the day signifying the end of the working day or “lights out.” The tradition originated with the playing of the French song, “L’Extinction des feux” which was later thought to be too formal and changed to the bugle call “Tattoo” which later morphed into “Taps” that we know today. Most people think of “Taps” as a way to honor fallen soldiers at funerals, but it is also played at the end of the day to honor those who gave their lives that day.
Protocol during the bugle calls (in simplest terms):
- ANYONE IN CIVILIAN CLOTHES (military, their spouses, civilians of any type including children) should immediately stop what they are doing, face the flag (if you cannot see a flag then face either the direction you know the flag is or where the music is coming from), remove any hats, and place their hands over their hearts…same as they would for the playing of the “National Anthem.”
- Military members not in a formation, but still in uniform (including pt-s) should come to attention and salute while the music is being played. (**Military members should definitely be aware of protocol for bugle calls for every situation and if not be clarifying with their command…so, I’m not going in depth. However, with that said, I did have a Navy person in uniform ask me what the music meant and if they were to do anything while it played…so, PLEASE- if you are on a joint military base and are not aware of protocol…PLEASE ask!)
- If the bugle calls play while you are driving on base, you should pull to the side of the road. All military personnel shall get out of the car and pay the proper respect while the bugle call is being played. (When riding in buses and military trucks, only the senior member needs to get out.)
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Almost 40
My dear sweet Julia, my middle daughter, the one everyone says is the most like me, looked at me and said "Wow, Mom, in two weeks you'll be 40!". I don't know why, but for some reason that just doesn't bother me. I guess 40 is a big deal, I just don't see it as a problem. CheeseHead was torn up about it last year when he hit the big 4-0 and keeps teasing me about my impending milestone. But it's no big deal, there is nothing that I can't do at 40+ that I can't do now.
I don't think I've ever had any aging heartburn. I take that back, I do remember when I turned 25 and several people said, 'you're a quarter of a century!'. That didn't bother me, but when my Dad called and said ' Wow, 25, that's half way to 50!' THAT got to me! Even writing this right now somehow 50 looms pretty large. I guess that might be my 'old' threshold, talk to me in ten years. Hopefully by then Jules will have a little more tact, then again she will be 20, yikes!!
-E
I don't think I've ever had any aging heartburn. I take that back, I do remember when I turned 25 and several people said, 'you're a quarter of a century!'. That didn't bother me, but when my Dad called and said ' Wow, 25, that's half way to 50!' THAT got to me! Even writing this right now somehow 50 looms pretty large. I guess that might be my 'old' threshold, talk to me in ten years. Hopefully by then Jules will have a little more tact, then again she will be 20, yikes!!
-E
Monday, January 10, 2011
Giving this a try!
I guess that I will give blogging a try. First, an explanation of the title. Where's The Frog!?!? is the explanation of what WTF stands for that was given to my middle daughter, who was 8 or 9 at the time. Obviously we couldn't tell her what it means, and that was the first thing that came to mind......where's the frog. Hey, I have never claimed to be too clever, but it works and is now a family joke.
I am going to try to use this space to express myself about stuff and things going on in my life. I doubt that anyone will really be interested, but I just want to put it out there. Please don't take anything I write to heart, or too seriously. I don't mean to offend, but I probably will at some point because I plan to use this to go on rants that I really can't go on here at home, just to get things out. I love my family, but as everyone knows, they can be the most irratating factor in life.
I hope to develop my writing skills that at this time are almost nonexistant. I seem to always have some sort of narrative going on in my head, so I'll just type it out and see how that goes.
Anyway, here goes nothing!
-E
I am going to try to use this space to express myself about stuff and things going on in my life. I doubt that anyone will really be interested, but I just want to put it out there. Please don't take anything I write to heart, or too seriously. I don't mean to offend, but I probably will at some point because I plan to use this to go on rants that I really can't go on here at home, just to get things out. I love my family, but as everyone knows, they can be the most irratating factor in life.
I hope to develop my writing skills that at this time are almost nonexistant. I seem to always have some sort of narrative going on in my head, so I'll just type it out and see how that goes.
Anyway, here goes nothing!
-E
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