To Do List

After work, I headed to the 'senior' recreation center I joined yesterday. Wanted to stationery bike, treadmill and read before American Idol. Well, if I'd paid attention, I would have noticed the hours, painted in BIG letters on the door: Closed on Wednesdays. UGH. Gives me all the more gumption to hit it hard tomorrow.

Until last night, I've not biked or tread since I moved to the house in April 2008. Spoke of getting my own treadmill and bike--looked at some at the Salvation Army, yet never did. More afraid of the things not having any warranty left. You have 10 days to take stuff back, but my luck it would happen on the 11th. Nonetheless, I enjoyed it. The sweat from my brow confirmed I was doing something right. Felt good to do something for me.

Then I stood in the Wal-mart check out line. A lady two spots ahead of me, was upset because of a price difference. The lady's voice raised louder when a manager cover, so gave me enough time to read Kirstie Alley's article about her weight re-gain in People. I'd caught Kirstie on Oprah a week or so ago and for the first time in a long time I liked her.

Part of never got over the fact Kirstie got the chance to fly around the galaxy and question Captain Kirk about his cheating in The Wrath of Khan. Then Kirstie wasn't in the next Star Trek: The Search For Spock. I never really forgave her. Yea, I watched some "Cheers', but bitter I was. But on Oprah and then read the words Kirstie said made me think: "We are one."

I lost 70 pounds. Kept if off for a good long time. Then when my trek to buy a house coupled with my job going loopy, I quit counting the number of Pringles Potato Crisps to pack in my lunch. Always been an emotional eater. Sometimes not even really knowing what I ate--just did because.

So more than half was re-gained. Not all. But enough. I relate to Kirstie's story alot. I've always been curvy--yet I started to have more of it. Hips. That's where all my fluffiness is. Can squeeze into some of my clothes. Heck, I threw out my 'fat' clothes. Wasn't gonna need em anymore. Was 100% sure of that--just like Kirstie.

And I didn't go back to fast food. I mean, if I ate anything fried, it was maybe twice a month. And that's when I'd splurge and go the best burger place in Dallas: Burger Island. My cholesterol went down so much, my cardiologist lowered my cholesterol medicine! So how did I gain weight?

Well, I may not fry much of anything-but Chinese food was a downfall. And of course ice cream, instead of just a few spoonfuls to soothe, empty Blue Bell pints started to pile up (I'm back to spoonfuls, not the whole pint. I canNOT and willNOT give up all my Blue Bell!) . At work, BOREDOM was my name so bag of peanut M & M's because my friends. Now the thing is, when I had my surgery in 2006 it took me until 2008, to eat a full vendor size bag of M & M's.

But like Kirstie, I quit exercise. Sure, I'd play racquetball with Movie Man, yet it wasn't a weekly ritual. My friend Maria and I would play weekly, until personal things in her life prevented her from having our racquetball night. Once I moved, I realized how convenient my apartment's work out room was. Five out of seven days, I either walked the park, hit the work out room, and had one night for racquetball. All that was pretty much gone when I closed on my house. You can eat a rice cake, but if you don't do some good for your body--it doesn't matter.

I blame me. I wanted that convenience of the equipment close and the park trail where I could rest on my Forrest Gump bench. Well, a year later as my knees ache, my belly bigger, the cute shirts I wore even a summer ago don't even button, and don't want to give my heart any extra work to do--I finally got off my duff.

Exercise matters. Alot.

And so I joined the senior recreation center in my city. Why there? I finally admitted to myself, I have hit their age requirement of 50 and get discounts. Swallowed my pride and did it. My knees begged me to. And, well, because the prices are half of the other rec centers, including those a couple minutes closer to me. The gorgeous building, and ton of the activities from the gym, ballroom dancing to canoe rides (I might have to think about, but this is about getting out of the box!) and swimming.

Even tho the gym was closed today, the pool was open. OK. I'm scared of water. Well, I can't swim is more like it. And I don't want my hair to get wet. Last night there were about 30 folks there doing water aerobics. All ages. The pool is always open. The one swim teacher said last night, it's easy on your knees. Soo...

When I was in the hospital, in 2006, I was so surprised how much grub they gave me. What I realized, the food was good for me. Fruits and/or veggies with every meal. I practiced that at home until-hey, I said I counted the numbers of Pringles to pack for my lunch. I was serious.

I am one to love yourself, no matter what stage you're in of your life. I'm OK with being a big girl, just want to be less of one. More so due to my heart. I want to do what I can to not have my heart go through another surgery. One scar is plenty.

I'm over Kirstie not being in The Search for Spock. Even tho if she had been, the Search would have been much more entertaining. We both have a To Do List. All about lifestyle change. Eat the good stuff, exercise and drink water...To Do.

Stay tuned.

So On

Gotta admit, I considered going to see Star Trek --AGAIN- today. Yep, I loved it THAT much. Got to think the last movie, I saw multiple times in the theatre was The Lion King and before that, Jurassic Park. Both were viewed about 7 (each) times, with popcorn in hand. Hmm. Just remembered I saw Titantic 4 times in theaters. Since it was 3 hours long--almost the same amount of time as for the 7 times...I think. Don't have my abacus handy. Anyway, I didn't do a moving picture show, instead headed for luncheon for Motherless Daughters. Maybe next weekend. Let it all simmer a bit. Oh wait, did I tell you the storyline of Lt. Uhura I really liked? I did smile through out--LOVED IT. I've not gushed about a movie this much and/or this bad in years! I do have one gripe--with the prospect of alternate universes why couldn't Captain Kirk be in it?

Nonetheless, Go see Star Trek! Gene Roddenberry would be proud!

I've decided I love Zachary Quinto just a hair more than Chris Pine

Must be the pointy ear thing--well, at least for today!

Live long and prosper!

May 8, 1978 was Monday

I knew I needed to grow up, eventho I still ached do all those fun things folks, in their 20's do. Yet, something happened that day. Something inside of me must change, I reckoned because:

Donny Osmond got married.

Yep. Life as we knew it ended. I've said before, originally Donny was not my favorite Osmond. His older brother Merrill was. Not until The Twelfth of Never (the song, not a calendar date) did I begin to fathom Donny not being half so bad. See, his voice changed. Donny sounded a bit more interesting to me, than during that "Puppy Love" stuff. Being honest. As I ventured to around the country concert dates and had a chance to chat with Donny--he was always very nice. His 70's nickname for me was "Crazy." So, indeed, I liked Donny.

Then Donny gets up and gets married. Co-workers gave me every newspaper clipping they could find on the wedding. What would I do, they asked? Did I still like him? Sure I did, yet it all felt funny. Donny and I weren't best friends. We never shared ice cream, but it felt like someone close to me ended our relationship. What of me? Was it time to get serious about life? Be grown up? Not stay out until 3 am and go to work 5 hours later?

I tried to be grown up. Be responsible--like Donny was. To look back, I can't blame him getting married. Donny had done ten times as much as anybody his age. In a sense, he had to grow up quick. To wed so young seemed like a given.

Fast forward 31 years to today. Donny and his bride Debbie are now grandparents. That thought seemed so far away in those 1978 days. I couldn't believe Donny got married as I vegged in my studio apartment with the black, brown and white shag carpet all for the $180 a month-utilities paid. And now to celebrate their 31st anniversary and what of me?

Today I boldly went where alot of men (and women) have gone before, and will go alot this weekend: the new Star Trek movie. Just got two words: LOVED IT. A smile rarely left my face through out! Not had THAT much fun at a movie in such a long, long time, ALL the way front start to finish. Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto were superb as Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock, respectively. I can't say enough except I LOVED IT. Hey, I'd even say pay full price -I did- and have no regrets. I can't believe I ever doubted to even see this Star Trek. What was I thinking?

What a time to remember. The picture posted here, I once showed to Donny and Debbie. They both smiled and Debbie said, "Oh, how cute!" Then today, a movie reminds of a time once was and makes me look forward to tomorrow. Big time warm feelings on both.

As for me being all grown up. Well, some folks might think so while the others would say not so much. That I bounce around like a yo-yo instead of staying on one road.

And what fun is that? Except to be a segue to cue up The Osmonds Brothers to get the weekend started with a little Yo Yo. This clip is from Flip Wilson's show, in 1971, and another smile of how things once were.

I am blessed.

April 12, 1950 was Wednesday

....and the day David Cassidy was born!

I can't believe the groovy and just too cute guy who dazzled me and a gazillion other girls as Keith Partridge back in the 70's, turns 59 today! I bet David's got his share of AARP membership invites, just like me. Wonder if David tosses 'em--just like me? If David hasn't, I'd be willing to let him use one of those AARP discounts on me for a long over due wanna be Tiger Beat kinda date.

See, back when I was a teen, I just KNEW David and I were destined! How did I know? Well, it had nothing to do with I was in Iowa and David wasn't even close to that time zone. Nope, it had to do with we both were born in April and in the SAME decade.

Yea. OK. Laugh if you well. My mom probably tried to hide her laughter when I made this announcement. Does show how creative I was even then to use my imagination! Do what I could to make something point in my direction. Let's say, like Captain James T. Kirk of the Starship Enterprise did on the Kobayashi Maru because --er--that's another post!

Back to David.

So grown up and with that gorgeous hair! How could one girl not fall for him? Kept a soft spot for David even when I moved on to the Osmonds, to boys right in front of me instead of in a magazine, to when I got older and had the desire to have legs like Tina Turner legs (which I still don't have!)--always wanted David to still be there. That the public thought of David in a positive light, whether they saw him as still Keith Partridge, or adult TV actor or Broadway star, especially as years crept upon us all.

So cue up the song that proves David was always on my mind...Happy Birthday!