Back where I started

I have a new post up at my old place...I think I'll be doing more writing over there for a while, in case you're interested.

End of Year Wrap Up

1. What did you do in 2009 that you’d never done before? Tried acupuncture

2. Did you keep your New Year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year? My only resolution from last year was to cry less and enjoy my life more and I do think I've done pretty well with that. (Except for the menopausal crying jags...and I'm not sure you can count those.) I feel as though I've given a lot of time and energy to enjoying Life, and I'm proud of that.

I don't think I'll make resolutions for 2010 because I don't need that kind of pressure. Perhaps I'll just carry last year's over again?

3. Did anyone close to you give birth? Yes, Alcott's girlfriend did.

4. Did anyone close to you die? No.

5. What places did you visit? I think the only place I went this year was to the Bay Area (San Francisco, Sunnyvale, San Jose).

6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009? Not a thing.

7. What dates from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? April 11, the day TCB arrived home from Japan.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? I raised over $4,000 for the Breast Cancer 3-Day in the midst of a recession.

9. What was your biggest failure? I didn't stick with the 3-Day training schedule enough to finish the entire event.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury? Nothing major.

11. What was the best thing you bought? iPhone

12. Whose behavior merited celebration? My cat, Harry...he always makes me feel happy and loved.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? The mortgage company for TCB's condo. We've worked for over a year trying to come to a workable arrangement that will let us keep it and only lose a small amount of money each month, but they will accept nothing but the full amount for a condo that is worth only 40% of the mortgage value, and we simply can't support that kind of loss every month any more.

14. Where did most of your money go? Eating out. (At least my clothing budget was more reasonable this year - progress, not perfection!)

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? TCB's homecoming

16. What song will always remind you of 2009? "Defying Gravity" from Wicked (Glee cast version)

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:

a) happier or sadder? Happier, most of the time

b) thinner or fatter? No change

c) richer or poorer? Probably about the same.

18. What do you wish you’d done more of? Fun physical activity (as opposed to forced physical activity)

19. What do you wish you’d done less of? Flipping out on people (and my poor puppy) because of my stupid hormonal mood swings.

20. How did you spend Christmas in 2009? Went to see Blind Side with TCB then had a quiet dinner with just the two of us.

21. Did you fall in love in 2009? Not in the literal sense, but I have certainly spent the last eight months since my husband's return understanding how tough it is to stay in love when faced with adversity.

22. What was your favorite TV program? Glee. Love, love, LOVE.

23. What did you do for your birthday in 2009? TCB and I met my parents for lunch at our favorite seafood restaurant in Oceanside.

24. What was the best book you read? Sad but true...I don't think I read anything really memorable this year.

25. What did you want and get? I wanted to have a life so full that it left me feeling giddy, and I do.

26. What did you want and not get? I wanted to see Alcott graduate high school and head off to an out-of-state school. (See #3 for the reason why this didn't happen.)

27. What was your favorite film of this year? Blind Side or The Soloist

28. Did you make some new friends this year? I did in fact, mostly within Junior League

29.What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? Being able to tell TCB what I'm really thinking, even when it might hurt him to hear it.

30. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009? To heck with baggy, saggy clothes - bring on the fitted dress!

31. What kept you sane? Um, I'm not sure that I AM sane.

32. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? Michelle Obama (another woman who is not afraid to wear sleeveless outfits even when it's cold outside)

33. What political issue stirred you the most? The movement to withhold the right for couples in love to legally marry based on their sexual orientation.

34. Who did you miss? My grandfather (he passed in 2008)

35. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009. You will be about as happy as you make yourself...there are no magic pills.

How am I doing so far? - Days 1 and 2

OK, here's the scoop for yesterday and today in terms of Leading a Healthy Life:

11/12 -
How did I feel when I went to bed? Not exhausted, just tired and ready for bed. Woke up refreshed, too!

How did I deal with stress? Pretty calm most of the day and I remembered to take my Chinese stress herbs

How's the house? Still a disaster

11/13 -
How do I feel now, just before going to sleep? Tired but not wiped out

Stress? Um, I plead "week before TTOM"...I cried in my office and just dragged myself around most of the day after a morning meeting

House? Total wreckage

So...we see that there are some good things going on (generally not completely wrecked at night) and still some areas to work on (stress relief). I need to do more work in some areas (walking and yoga first, I think) while some things I would have thought would be tough have been easy (eating veggies with every meal). All in all, I'm pleased.

In other news, Alouysius had his "Boy Into Man" surgery today and he's got to wear one of those conehead things for two weeks. (Poor him, poor us.)

Also? A week from today, I'll be crying, bleeding, and soaking in the tub after the first day of The Breast Cancer 3-Day...oh poop.

Lead a Healthy Life - Project Charter

OK, every successful project starts with a great plan, so here's what I've got so far:

Project Goal - I want to live a healthy life!

Project Team - Sara (nutritionist), Judith (acupuncture practitioner), Dana (chiropractor), Dr. Bevan (general practice doctor), and me (project manager)

Requirements -
1. Get some exercise every day
2. Work on flexibility
3. Keep up with vitamins and Chinese herbs
4. Eat vegetables with every meal
5. Plant a Fall/Winter garden
6. Prepare meals as designed by nutritionist Sara for breakfast and dinner most days
Note: If scope of project has to be reduced, #s 1, 2, and 4 are Critical Path and must not be deferred, while the other three requirements are negotiable

Success metrics - (to be measured by posting here every single day of the project schedule)
1. How do I feel each night when I go to bed? Am I exhausted? Am I stressed out and barely able to make it up the stairs? Or am I pleasantly tired, relaxed, and ready for sleep?
2. How do I deal with stress? Do I mindlessly eat? Am I screaming at the puppy? Or do I take it all in stride and go for a short walk to burn off nervous energy during the day?
3. Is my house clean? I hate a messy house and yet mine usually is messy because I'm just too wiped - mentally and physically - to deal with it when I come home. A healthy life for me would also mean not just wanting to do something about the house but actually creating a daily chore list that would allow me to have the clean house that I want/need.

Schedule - November 12, 2009 through February 14, 2010 (Yep, that's Valentine's Day...)

You'll note that there's nothing in the metrics about "Did I eat my veggies today?" or "Did I get some exercise?" and that's because those are the means to the end I want, not the end itself, so it doesn't matter if I do them or not if I don't achieve the requirements for the project.

Angry

Today has not started well. My hip has been bothering me for days and now my heel is killing me, too. This does not bode well for my 3-Day walk in two weeks. I'm sitting in the house, with the air conditioning on, sweating like a pig. And I just shook Al and screamed at him for ruining (another) pair of shorts. Who is this person and where has the real me gone?

Is it the lack of sleep talking?

I don't know I'm just too tired to think straight or if this is real, but I'm suddenly overwhelmed by the urge - nay, the NEED - to live a healthier lifestyle. I just want to get what I'm thinking down on paper (virtually), so here are my Five Principles of a Healthy Lifestyle, in no particular order:

1. Get some exercise every day (yup, I'm calling it exercise, not"movement" or some PC thing). My body needs to move so that I don't end up stiff and sore every night, and even worse first thing in the morning. I have enough pairs of walking shoes now (thank you 3-Day!) that I can keep a pair at work, a pair in the car, and a pair at home...no excuse not to strike while the iron's hot

2. Keep up with my vitamins and Chinese herbs. Things just feel easier on the days I take them and it takes less than 5 minutes every day

3. Get the five fruits and veggies thing going. I can't remember the last time I had a meal that included veggies unless they were covered in oil or some fat-laden sauce; no fruit in any form for months. I'm pretty sure it won't kill me and perhaps I won't feel as lethargic...worth a try

4. Get the garden going again. Will help with #3 plus help with the depression PLUS it's a good excuse to walk 10 minutes each day when I have to water it

5. First, go and see a primary care doctor for the first time since 2003 (yes, really) so that I can get a referral to a nutritionist/dietitian who can write up a bunch of breakfasts, lunches, and dinners that I can cook or grab and go, depending on my mood. I'm fed up with eating every meal either out of a take out bag, a box (microwaved, processed within an inch of its life, nothing fresh or healthy), or at a restaurant which eats up our bank account as well as my good health

6.Write here every day so that I can report on how I'm doing and how my ideas morph in the light of day

(Yes, I know I said I had 5 Principles...consider #6 a bonus, if you will.)

OK, the puppy's snoring (TCB probably is, too) and I see light coming through the blinds...let's see if I can get some clothes on and my walking shoes and go for a little stroll, huh?

Totally decadent

Well, no progress as yet on the plan to do 20 minutes of exercise plus 20 minutes of yoga, but I have a lot of hope for today because it's MY day for myself. I have one meeting from 9:00 to 10:00 am and then I'm done for the day. Here are things I'm thinking about doing: Walking and yoga, soak in my huge tub with lavender bath salts, a visit to the chiropractor for evaluation and possible treatment for my back pain, and a little retail therapy at my favorite department store. I might even take my bicycle out for a little ride before TCB gets home. Read a book. Buy a newspaper and read it end to end. Who knows?

I'll come back tomorrow to report on what today brings.