BATTLING THE SNOW

We have about six inches of the white stuff. It's beautiful, but poor Rufus, who used to like snow, is having a very tough time.

There's a crust on top of the snow and he can walk on it for a while and then he sinks down into it. There's no place to sniff, which means nowhere to relive himself.

Then he comes back in with ice imbedded in his fur.

I've resorted to putting pads down everywhere, which he is using, I'm happy to report.

I'm thinking about getting bundled up and clearing a path for him in the yard, but that would mess up the beauty of it!!

It's just not easy to be a little dog!!

SNOWBOUND!!

The snow is falling fast and furious -- 3-9 inches expected!! If it keeps up like it is now it will be a lot! And here is the real shocker: the genius's school is closed! That's the first time in my memory that that has happened! Wonders will never cease!!

Of course, he was already there when the decision was made so he's staying on and working out, etc. Thank goodness he has four wheel drive and no big hills between the school and here.

Right now as I write, a man has braved the weather to come and measure for an estimate for hardwood floors. Another man came yesterday; I'll be glad when we can make a decision and start on it. I really look forward to getting this Rufus-stained carpet out of here and get something new down, be it hardwood or carpet.

At least I'm ready for this snow. I went to the grocery yesterday and got enough to last a few days. In Nashville, when the weatherman announces snow coming, all the elderly (like me) run to the store. But it wasn't too bad and I'm ready to be a hermit.

I like the estimate for the floors for the kitchen, pantry, and foyer this man gave me, so that might be my choice. And -- he had a carpet man for me to call. I love getting into this network of people who fix up houses. That way I can be my own contractor and save money.

I'll keep you posted on the saga of redecorating. Who knows? There may be more photographs to come!!

LIVING WITH THE DIET

OK, it's time to buy a new set of bathroom scales. The one we have is digital and it flies all over the place. I can step on it three times and get three different weights and yesterday it showed me losing 22 pounds! I know I haven't lost that much so as I said, time to hit the stores for a new one.

I'm still having fun with the diet. I'm doing so much cooking and trying so many new things that I guess I'll have to think about getting rid of my "I only have a kitchen because it came with the house" sign.

Last night I tried something called "Chicken Au Gratin", a chicken-spaghetti affair that was really delicious. Monday night it was "Beef Burgundy Casserole" except I didn't have any burgundy so used merlot instead. That too was a success.

The genius is beside himself coming home each night to these meals. Tonight it is chili, a tried and true favorite of ours. I may have to cheat a little and add cornbread, haven't decided yet.

So what has been the result? Who knows with scales like ours? I suspect I have lost about 12-15 pounds and the genius about 10. (He has to face that lunch line everyday and I don't, thank goodness.)

All I know is I was able to wear a pair of jeans last weekend that I hadn't been able to get into in ages.

That's the best sign of all!

P.S. TO FRIDAY'S BLOG

No sooner did I have Friday's blog posted when I received a call from the genius at school. "Guess who has been here working out all week?" he said. Right away I knew who it was. our guy Tim! The fact that he was on campus was a deep dark secret so he didn't get to see him and didn't even hear about it until he was gone. Oh, well, what would either one of us say to him if we did meet him? I'm not the type to approach a star and I've had plenty of opportunities here in Nashville.

THE NEW WALK

As I have mentioned, I'm trying to exersize more these days in the form of a brisk walk on one of the times I take Rufus out. The genius measured our street to be 1/10 of a mile one way, so if one goes up and down it 5 times, he/she has walked a mile. So I have been building up gradually until I at least do a mile a day.

I would take off and go on other streets to make the walk more interesting, but Rufus is so uncomfortable off of our little dead end that I just stick to this one. In fact, everytime we get to the part that runs into another street, his tail goes down, he starts looking at the cars in a panicky way, and tries to turn back.

I'll let him tell his side:

Y'Mommy has a different way to walk these days and I don't know what to make of it. First, we turn right at the end of the driveway and go to the end of the street. Them she turns around and tears up the street like a bat out of hell; I don't even have time to sniff, much less pee. Eventually, she slows down and I grab that time to do some smelling around, but if I tarry at all, she takes off again! I have to do my business really fast if I need to and I usually do.

She takes me all the way up to where the cars are whizzing by at breakneck speed, and just when I think I will have a heart attack, she whirls around and starts back.

Then, of all the crazy things, when we get to our house we keep right on going and do it all over again! She really must enjoy it because every time we go out she wants to increase the number of times we make this walk.

By the time we finally do turn in at our driveway, I am exhausted and barely have the strength to eat my treat!! But I finally do and then collapse in a heap on the back of the sofa where I can still keep guard of the house. If I can only stay awake!

Why do I get the idea that wearing me out is part of her plan?

OUR MAN

The genius and I have a new newspaper that we read online everyday: The Gainesville Sun. Not only does it have good coverage on national and local news, it also has the best coverage of our all time favorite football player. Of course, I'm talking about Tim Tebow.

I know, I know, some of you are very tired of hearing about the too-good-to-be-true young man. But you can't deny that so far he has have proven to be a great quarterback if not the greatest all time college football player. And his leadership abilities and the example he sets both on and off the field are first rate. So what's ahead for him?

Apparently, there are doubts about him as to whether or not he can make it in the pros as a quarterback. I can just see all those defensive NFL players itching to get their hands on him and thinking to themselves "I'll show you what football is all about!"

So it will be interesting to see first of all, who drafts him, and secondly, how he holds up to the tremendous pressure he will be under next year.

I do know this: whichever team gets him will have two new fans next year!!

WEATHER RAMBLINGS, ETC.

The weather has been a real test to me the last few days, which have been very dark and dreary, but I'm doing well, thank you, in spite of it. The diet, some short brisk walks, plus my new mental attitude are all still working.

Ever since we acquired our precious Rufus, I have wanted some ear muffs. I have a nice Angora tam that keeps my head warm in really cold weather, but my ears are frozen by the time I get back from my walk with the dog. I have periodically looked for something to cover my ears, (usually during the really cold weather) and haven't been able to find them anywhere. Finally, I did what I should have done all along -- went online and ordered some. I kept waiting for them to come during those days a few weeks ago when the temperature didn't get above freezing.

You guessed it. The first day that actually felt like a heat wave (in the 40s) my package arrived. Now my new cheetah ear muffs are sitting on the dining room table waiting for another cold spell. I've had to my rescue them from Rufus a time or two, but so far they are still in one piece.

Speaking of the darling dog, I heard that Winston Churchill had two poodles that he was very fond of. He liked the name "Rufus" so much that he named them Rufus I and Rufus II. He treated them just like children, covering their eyes if something came on TV they shouldn't see. One of them got away from from a servant while she was walking them and he reportedly never spoke to that person again!

I KNEW there was a reason I liked that man!!

BACK IN THE SWING

We had a nice three day weekend and I am ready to get back on schedule with my writing.

I enjoyed the time with the genius plus grandchildren yesterday. Annie and I went to the nails place for pedicures while Jay and the genius spent their morning working on math problems and then picking out trophies for the upcoming math contest. (I know, I know -- doesn't sound too exciting to me either, but those two are two peas in a pod when it comes to math.)

I'm still plugging away on my diet. I have hit a plateau, but I was expecting it so am not disappointed. I've lost about 10 pounds and have just stopped. This is the point where I often get discouraged and give up (and of course, the 10 pounds come right back). So I'm just going to keep on keeping on and see if a few more won't roll off. I still feel really good and haven't had a nap for weeks.

I read a few good books over the holidays -- I found two Maeve Binchy books I hadn't read. One was a book of short stories that I didn't know she had written. And speaking of short stories, John Grisham's latest book was really good. At times I felt like I was reading Faulkner reborn -- the Mississippi settings and themes were so similar. With our Mississippi conection, all three of us sisters enjoyed reading it.

And I've actually been watching pro football these past couple of weekends. I got interested in the Arizona Cardinals because of our Phoenix connection, and now I'm hooked on all of it. I don't really have a favorite team now that the Cardinals are out, but I've enjoyed watching football played at that level; it really is amazing how well they play. Peyton Manning, especially, is amazing to see in action.

I really don't know why, as mild-mannered as I am now, that I like such a violent game. Guess I have some hidden aggressions that are coming out vicariously through this sport!!

ANOTHER BIG D

Ever since I can remember I have suffered from SADS,(season activated disorder, or winter blues) during the cold months. Mine is not critical, but I do tend to get "down", sleep more, have less energy, gain weight, withdraw socially, all symptoms of the disorder.

What I want to do when it occurs is to just give in to it and go to bed or hang out around the house in my pjs. But that is exactly what I shouldn't do. So I have tried a number of ways to combat it. I plan, if possible, to take a winter trip to a warm, sunny place; I take extra Vitamin D, and have even tried antidepressants. Nothing has really worked effectively. When I get it, I have it and have to live with it.

Last month when I went to the doctor for my biannual check up, I mentioned the problem . My symptoms seem to have increased this year and started earlier than usual. She told me exactly what I did not want to hear: 1) Get outside more to get whatever light is available and 2) Exercise!!! Of course, both can be accomplished at the same time by taking a brisk walk.

I have accidentally happened upon a method that brings relief from it: the diet that I wrote about yesterday. So I will pass on what I am doing in the hope of helping others.

For breakfast I have fruit, any kind, and as much as I want. Since I rarely eat breakfast, this is new to me. Usually I eat an orange, but I have strawberries, bananas, grapes, cherries, and apples on hand if I would rather have that.

For lunch I have some sort of vegetable(s), often a huge salad filled with lots of things in it. I have always considered a salad as a side dish, so I have had to learn to make it large and have various combinations of ingredients.

At night I eat meat and vegetables, no bread or dessert. Afterwards I often eat some more fruit. If I get hungry between meals, I eat more fruit or a handful of nuts. One of the secrets for success has been to have a large variety of everything.

So what have been the results? The first week I lost 8 pounds, and over the last four days, two more have been shed. I know the loss will slow down and be more gradual, but here is the kicker: I feel great and I haven't even begun exercising yet!

THE BIG D

No, I don't mean Dallas, or Divorce -- today the subject is diet. The genius and I are on one TOGETHER! At LAST!

Dieting is one thing I haven't done much of in my life. (Duhhhh, all you have to do is look at me.) But what was the point if I tried to do it myself without the genius on board? Besides, we have eaten out a lot and if the food is before my face, I will eat it.

To give you some history, I was skinny when I was little and on into my teenage years. I weighed between 100 and 105 for years. I ate anything I wanted, but I just couldn't eat a lot at one time. Even after we married, the genius would many times eat half of what was on my plate because I was full.

But then I got pregnant and that's when it all started: My appetite exploded. But even then I stayed pretty small. I remember weighing 108 when Brenda (the youngest) was a baby. And of course, when I was playing tennis everyday, I easily kept my weight to a reasonable number.

During my teaching years, however, my struggle with pounds really escalated. I was getting no exercise and still eating pretty much what I wanted. The cafeteria with its teenaged-type food was certainly no help. So the extra weight piled on. NOW I'm finally doing something about it.

Tomorrow I will reveal the diet and results, which have been somewhat surprising!!

MORE REDECORATING

I mentioned a few days ago that we are having another house project. We've decided that we don't want to live with this stained white carpet anymore, so today a man is coming out to measure for several options in re-flooring our house. We are looking at hardwood flooring and carpet plus something in the kitchen.

I love the look of hardwood on floors, but the more I have thought about it, the more I think I want carpet just for the sake of comfort. I was raised in a house that had the former and we sooooo wanted our parents to put in carpeting. Finally, they did and it just felt so nice and warm to me.

I've never been one to do something to a house just for its resale value -- I always redecorate (the precious little I have done) for US to live in it, not for the next person. I know that wood floors would increase the value, but I have to think about living here, and how long that will be only God knows.

When we were looking at carpet/flooring in the store, the salesman commented that one sample was guaranteed for 25 years. I just looked at him and said, "I won't BE here in 25 years, I would be 95!" He looked a little taken aback, and then went on to suggest another type that was a step down from that.

Meanwhile, Jim IV during his less busy period from tennis is painting the cabinets in the kitchen. It is a nice creamy color that has already brightened up the room.

I'll keep you posted. Who knows? I may dream up another major project -- does a woman's nesting instinct ever diminish?!?

LEARNING THE FADS

During the holidays the genius and I were having dinner with Brenda at one of our favorite restaurants. He was puzzled about something and put a question to us.

"What do you do when a person does this to you?" and he held out a fist with the thumb down.

One of us or maybe both said, "You make a fist back and knock against his/her fist." Brenda said, "It's called a fist bump."

Then he related two incidents where it had happened to him. One was with another teacher in assembly (meaning at least some students witnessed it). The teacher across the aisle held out her fist and he didn't know what to do, "So I just reached over and shook it."

At this statement, Brenda and I just put our heads in our hands and moaned, "Oh, noooo!"

Then he said a student made the gesture to him later and he just waved to him. By this time Brenda and I were crying we were laughing so hard.

So, to all the genius's students who read this (and I would die of shock if any did), the math professor has learned the fist bump, so feel free to use it on him. Be careful of his ring, though -- that could be painful.

ANOTHER HOLIDAY SEASON -- GONE!

Where does the time go? It seemed like yesterday we were looking forward to the genius's getting out for Christmas break, and now he's gone back to school already!! We had a very nice three weeks though and things are a little more back to normal now, i.e., I am back on schedule writing the blog.

So much happened over the break I don't know where to start, probably with Christmas. It was a very quiet one this year since Jim IV and his family were visiting with Ashley and her clan out in Phoenix. But we enjoyed Brenda and her two spending it with us. The genius, as usual, was very generous with his gift to me and I now have started on another house project, but I'm getting ahead of myself.

We spent New Year's Eve at BJ's this year (next year it's my turn) and we had fun with the two sisters and spouses. It was a little hectic to say the least because we had FOUR dogs in the same house, that's right FOUR!!! I took Jesse because I was keeping her while her family was gone, and BJ had one of her daughter's, a little fireball named Rocky, in addition to our own, Rufus and Monty.

Poor MA and Chun, who don't have any dogs and don't want any, had to put up with all the stir that these four animals caused. Chun would look at one of the dog's antics and say, "That's reason number 11, -- or 18, etc. why I don't want a dog." I'm reasonably certain that after those few days he will never want one. But we had lots of laughs, as usual.

That's all I'll write about today; I need to save some for later.

Hope everyone had a wonderful, restful holiday and are ready for what 2010 brings. May it be a blessed and happy year!