We lost power Thursday morning, and it wasn’t restored until yesterday late afternoon. We spent two nights reading and playing games by the fire. We ate out, and made coffee on the camp stove in the kitchen. The house was lit by candles, and Beckett slept like a rock.
I love my little family so much.
I have a confession to make. Actually, I have two confessions to make. In November I bought myself two early Christmas presents. And I’m enjoying them both so much that I don’g feel the least bit guilty about either of them.
Last month, I bought myself a monthly Premium Listener subscription to Audible. And as long as I pay my bill on the 5th of each month (ahhh…pay day!), then I can download two books and one magazine or newspaper subscription and listen to them while I work. Or I can download them to my iPod Shuffle and listen to them while I’m lying on the couch pretending to watch hockey with Basil. So far, I’ve listened to James Frey’s A Million Little Pieces & his book My Friend Leonard. I saw James Frey on Oprah, and after the interview I was interested in reading A Million Little Pieces. It was well worth it. I thoroughly enjoyed both of his books. However I was disappointed while I was listening to My Friend Leonard because the book was read by a different person, and didn’t at all sound like the James I had pictured after listening to A Million Little Pieces. But I recommend them both.
Oh, shoot. I have to run. I’ll finish this in a little bit after I get back from Christmas at Timms Mill. In the meantime, go check out the Audible site and James’ books.
If you’ve been secretly wondering how I’m doing with my diet and exercise program, well, here is a little insight into my progress.
Observe me at last night’s Hippy School Holiday Gathering…
Yep. Still chubby. And still eating (brief inventory) cheesecake bites, cake with coconut sprinkles, Christmas cookies, brownies, and some fruit concoction sweetened with custard. Mmmmm. One small victory- note the wedding ring that fits again for the first time in 2 years.
But when I look at this picture, I see something in myself that I haven’t seen in a long time. I see ME. I’m happy right now with myself, and with my life. I’m happy with my hair, and the way my clothes are fitting. I’m feeling sexy, and confident. I’m liking myself a lot right now. And it has nothing to do with my weight. When I look in the mirror right now, I see the person I want to be. I see a loving and understanding wife. I see a compassionate mother. I see a hard working and successful woman. I see a dedicated and generous friend.
I am learning not to judge myself based on the number of chins that show up in pictures. And even though it’s a foreign feeling, it feels right.
This Christmas I’m going to have my cake and I’m going to eat it too.