Three Gray Hairs

Last night I found three gray hairs. **gasp**

Now I've found a few before, but never three at once. I pulled all three (and a few others that got in the way when I was trying to pull the others).

Maybe I've had these for a while or maybe they turned gray this last week. But I didn't like seeing them.

It got me thinking...what am I doing to do when I get more? Am I going to dye my hair or am I going to let it go gray someday? Is this a quick trend or just three hairs I hadn't noticed until last night?

It definitely makes me want to highlight my hair soon. Maybe if I highlight my hair for the next 20 years I won't have to even worry about this.

:)

All about Del

Well, it's been a week. A week without Del. I'll admit...it's been lonely. It's been tough. I hear noises and think of him. I miss having him sleep next to me. I miss hearing him purr. But with all that, I thought I'd write down a few things about Del that made him Del. Funny things, weird things, cute things, etc. Enjoy.

• He had the bluest eyes I've ever seen on a cat.


• His eyes vibrated. I've never seen that before.
  
• He loved to lick those plastic sacks you get at Target or Walmart.


• He liked people food. Chicken, fish, milk, cheese, crackers, corn chex, frosted flakes, nacho cheese sauce, etc. Pretty much everything I ate he wanted with one exception. He wouldn't even touch gravy of a frozen Healthy Choice meal. Probably tells me something about that gravy.


• He didn't like children.


• He didn't like dogs.


• He didn't like other cats.


• He was afraid of mice.


• He liked to sit on his blue chair and look out the window.


• He loved to sit on my chest and stare at me.


• Before he lived with me he lived with my BFF. One night I stayed over and woke up because he'd decided to sleep on my throat. (He clearly knew I was an easy mark even back then)


• He would bite me if I cried. Any time I'd be watching Extreme Makeover Home Edition I had to make sure he wouldn't see me cry or he'd bite me. Either he thought that would make me feel better or it annoyed him...who knows.


• He had a fondness for my black clothes.


• He would wake me up by gently nudging me with his paw on my arm (this sounds cute, but it was highly annoying at 4 a.m.).


• He showed his approval of people by headbutting them in the leg or foot.


• If you scratched his back in certain spots he'd start licking (himself or just the air).

Well, that's just a few of the things I jotted down. There are more, but I don't want to bore you. Many of the things were special just to me, I realize. And I treasure those memories. He was a great cat. I don't think I'll ever know another like him. And that was my Del.

Is it Genius or Insane?

I had a fabulous idea today and I thought I'd better share it with my loyal readers.

I drove by a church on my way to the gym and noticed a few people sitting outside eating. They were in those canvas outdoorsy chairs people use for camping or tailgating. That's when inspiration struck: tailgating before church.

Now think of the genius (or insanity) of this. It would likely get a few more people to show up more regularly. This would have to be done at a fairly contemporary church as you really wouldn't want to tailgate in "church clothes." I can just see it now...men begging their wives or girlfriends to go to church and the women staring at them in astonishment.

Of course I'm not saying this would be a tailgating where there's alcohol involved (though that WOULD increase attendance even more). And yes, I know the drinking is one of the best parts, but so is the great food. Think of all the fellowship and goodwill that would be garnered. It's like a fun potluck. We could call it: Tailgating for Jesus.

So you be the judge....am I going to hell or are you thinking to yourself..."yeah...that might just work"?

:)

New recipe

I'm not a chef. I'm not even a decent cook. I pretty much survive on frozen and convenience food. But...that doesn't really work so well with eating healthy like I should. So today I did something completely out of character. I dusted off the slow cooker.

Yes, I've used it in the past, but I usually forget I have it. At my WW meeting a recipe suggestion was made. Cook a whole chicken in the slow cooker. That gives you chicken for one meal and if you're like me, chicken for more recipes during the week. I gave the recipe to Monnik and she tried it last night and gave me rave reviews, so it's my turn. I know it's an easy recipe...but can I make it? I know, I know...there's not much involved, but I have bad luck with "new" recipes. So the chicken is currently cooking away for dinner tonight.

I can't help but think how Del would love this. He LOVED chicken. LOVED it. And surely the smell of it cooking all day would have been wonderful for him. (Since I can't smell, I'm just assuming it would smell.)

Anyway...for anybody that's interest in the recipe:

Crumple pieces of tin foil for the bottom of the slow cooker. OR...double wrap potatoes and put them in the bottom. Then take your seasoned chicken (I used Lawry's because I had it) and put it on top of the foil or potatoes (leave the skin on the chicken). Cook for 9 hours on slow or 4 hours on high. That's it. The foil in the bottom lifts the chicken above the fat. That makes this much healthier. (Double wrapping the potatoes helps to ensure that the fat doesn't go into the potatoes.)

I'll let you know how it goes for me...but all I've heard were rave reviews so far.

The choice is mine

Sorry I haven't written in a while. I've had a bit of a dry spell as far as writing goes. I'd attempt to write, but nothing was really there that came together in any interesting way. I'm hoping this time I can come up with something.

So the other night I attended my first Weight Watchers meeting. I didn't know what to expect and was a little leery when I started seeing all these older women come into the room. Now don't get me wrong, I don't see anything wrong with that, but sometimes you want to be in a group close to your age. Luckily this was a large meeting of about 75 people, so there were women of all ages and even a few men.

The meeting leader started out walking around the room and talking with people. I assumed it was just with people she knew who were regulars. Nope. She stopped and noted that I was new and asked me some questions. It definitely helped me feel more at ease.

Then the meeting started and there were questions and tips and tons of motivation. This leader is great. She's been there, done that. She's lost 90 lbs, gained it back, and then lost it again. She knows the game. She knows it's hard. And that's good. I don't want somebody who had an easy time of it trying to motivate me. It's not easy for me and anybody who says it is demotivates me in a hurry. Or...rather...I stop listening to them.

I have a tendency to do the opposite when somebody badgers me about something. If somebody asks me over and over and over, "Have you gone to the gym?" I'm not going to go. Not out of spite, but just because it makes it less something I want to do and more what someone is telling me to do. I just don't react well to that.

Anyway...back to the meeting. I've been on and off WW for several years now. I know the routine, but something my leader said really hit home for me. And those of you who don't have weight problems are going to say, "Duh". But she said you can fit crap food into this plan, but in the end you won't succeed at this. You need to eat nutritious meals. You have to quit starving your body of nutrients. **ding** Makes sense. Just because I can fit those processed "chicken" nuggets and french fries into my daily points, doesn't make it particularly nutritious. And she said it in a way that wasn't...you MUST EAT RIGHT. She gave me the choice. Eat right and succeed or keep fitting crap into the plan and continue to fail. Those are the options before me. I hope I can make that right choice.

Moving on

Last night I attended a meeting with the Clive Jaycees. They talked a bit about what all they do and we met different officers of the group who explained even more. In the end I decided to join. So I got my Clive After Five t-shirt and signed up for my first shift with that.

The group at the meeting was fun and big. I'd estimate about 50 people at the meeting. That's where I was surprised. Meetings aren't the most fun part of an organization like this. It's the socials and events that you'd think would bring out the big numbers. So that told me a lot about this organization.

In the end it was a good thing to attend to get my mind off of Del.

Good-bye my Bubba

Today I had to put Del to sleep. His Chronic Renal Failure was just too far progressed by the time I took him to the vet today. It was the worst thing I've ever had to do. But he's better off now.

He was the best cat in the world. He was cute, fat, fluffy, huggable, lovable, smart..... and he'll be missed.

My heart is broken.

:(