Change – the news, magazines, e-zines etc are totally focused on the word. Everyone seems to believe that things are so bad that we must change. While I DO NOT buy into that notion, I do think that change can be a good thing. Some are very resistant to the very idea, yet I know some people that relish change to the point they rearrange the furniture in their homes ALL of the time just for change sake. (Hello Sis A…)

But, I experienced an example of real LIFE change right here in my own home Friday night. Paul and I hosted a party / get-together for the Connect life group from church. Why are called “Connect”? It is a subject to talk about. Now just what we’re really supposed to stay “connected with” is of some concern, even debate. You see, Connect is the over-50 yrs old group. Are we supposed to be the connection between the younger kids and the older church of yesterday – you know, the “Amazing Grace” sung from the hymnal generation? Or, are we needing to stay connected to each other in this rapidly changing world where so many values we hold dear, as “tried and true”, are replaced by “brash and bold”? Or, are we just needing to stay connected to our brains in a time where some of us don’t remember what day it is, much less other things…

I really believe that everyone had a very good time. After speaking with Sis Patrick and others, I asked to change the focus of the party. The last several get-togethers we have had have been “eatin-meetins”. We have some good cooks among us, so we all bring the proverbial “pot luck” and eat and visit. While we have had wonderful times doing this, I wanted to play some games, like we did at some of the first meetings. While some of the joiners said it was kinda loud at these parties, it was still fun, and I wanted to play again.

So, in planning the party, we just asked for finger foods, snacky-type items. That way, we would eat, even munch while playing games. Keep the night “lite”.

I made “Centers” around my great room. I had a “Domino Center” at the dining table, a “Card Center” at one card table, and a “Game Center” at another card table. The “Food Center” was set on the island and around the counter tops in the kitchen. We were set to “party”. (Even though Chris and Misty Ferguson said I had finally arrived at my dream job of Activity Director at a Nursing home, I turned a deaf ear to them and still had my centers, and I acted like I wasn’t offended at their inference. You’ll be old some day, you two. ***smile***)

We had a great turn out. Most of the “senior set” came. (In fact, the youngest people here were Pastor and Sis Smith who “crashed” the party, being they are still in the middle 40’s!!!) While some simply sat around and visited, relaxing after a long week, the rest were in the middle of playing games, laughing, and having fun. I learned who NOT to play cards with, because age DOES NOT always temper everyone. One of our group, a relatively newcomer to our church, was the oldest at our card table and really played cut-throat Skipbo. (I can hear ALL of you reading this say, “You have got to be kidding? Cut-throat Skipbo? You’re losing it, Kathleen.” Let me just say nyah-na, nyah-na boo boo to you!!!) Some had to leave early, while other closed the place down about 11:30.

11:30. Is that what I really said? Yes, 11:30. The party was over at 11:30.

Change. Who would have thought there would come a day when 11:30 was LATE and the party was over because we were tired? (I know there were at least a couple of us at this party that closed many a bars / dance halls singing “Happy Trails to You” at 2:00 am).

Oh, there were definitely the days then I would have laughed my head off, maybe even gotten a little riled, if ANY ONE would have even SUGGESTED that I would be playing Skipbo with a bunch of old Pentecostals. Deliver Me! You have got to be joking!

Change. Who’d a thought! Playing dominoes and Skipbo. Playing “Apples to Apples”. A bunch of adults sitting around a table playing “UNO”. AND HAVING FUN DOING THIS!!! Who would have thought it. Not me. I never thought I’d arrive at this point.

But, I have. We have. We’re here. We’re there. We have arrived. We’re arrived at the Real Senior Moment. What a change.

And, I think it is really a GOOD THING…

Now, I hate to be too corny, but here I go…

Change. I really am blessed with the wonderful life I have. What a change from where Paul and I were 31 years ago. While WE'VE have really changed, I would NOT change anything for the life we share today. We are a blessed couple and truly blessed parents!

I also am blessed with the relationship I have with God. I am so glad I met Him at an old-fashioned Pentecostal altar this summer 26 years ago. He changed my life so completely. Talk about change…

Change. There was a time that “change” for this mama simply meant another diaper. Now it is life changes. And the types of diapers that I had to change can also be indicative of some of the life changes. There are some that are really foul and everybody knows about it. But, just like the diaper, you got to change or face further dire circumstances.

Think about it: The “diaper rash” of life is truly a pitiful place to be…

(And, while I am at it, let me clarify something, too. For those politically savvy friends of mine, I am NOT talking about the Obama-type of change. I know you all knew that, anyway, HAHAHA) SO...

Change. Yeah, it’s all good…

One Month Down...

I have really wanted to post an “update” on the old weight issue, but felt so incredibly vain or even silly doing so. First, it isn’t really anybody’s business / does anybody really want to know anyway. Second, I feel those people who read my blog are in “my sphere” and will say encouraging words whether they mean it or not, and lastly, I feel people will be cheering me on / fussing at me for my real thoughts in the matter.

After my first month at Curves, on the Kathleen’s Instead-of-Lapband-Procedure New Eating Agenda, I lost a grand total of 11 lbs and 6.5 inches.

Now, I know that is great, I know that “losing is better than gaining”, I know that “you have to start somewhere”, I know that “you didn’t put the weight on over night and you can’t take it off over night either”, I know that “to lose weight too fast means you’ll just gain it all right back”, etc etc etc. I know all of the platitudes. I’ve said them myself, or have already heard them.

But, the fact of the matter is, I have been very, very good, and I honestly was hoping for more drastic results. There, I’ve admitted my human-ness. In the entire month, I only “cheated” twice. Once at Andrew’s going-away party where I ate fried food, though I still measured them out. Second was another weekend when we went to San Marcos to see Matt and Adam. I ate “real” food all day instead of the protein drinks for two meals, however, I still ate only what I am supposed to eat, like salad and fruit and protein, AND I only ate the correct amounts. Another reason I felt I should have “lost big”, was I was really sick for about 3 ½ days with a bad stomach virus, and didn’t eat much at all.

Another issue with my “diet” is that I truly only lasted with liquid only for about 10 days. It was the pits, and if truth be known, after the initial big weight loss the first week, I started gaining, because except for the protein drinks, the broths, soups, and Gatorade-type drinks are loaded with sodium – I mean really loaded. For example, one day, I had two “Soup on the Go”, the non-lower sodium version, and those two little 11-oz containers had more sodium than I needed for the entire day. Back to plan B, C, or D.

I have modified my regimen to drink two protein meal-replacement kind of drinks for breakfast and lunch. For my other 2 snack times, I have fruit or raw veggies or I still have a soup or something, but the reduced sodium kind. I know that I need to keep my protein level up to maintain losing weight, too.

I LOVE Curves. It is fun, I’ve made “friends”, and it makes me feel like I’m in control or something. (we all know I’ve never been really in control of anything, but FEELING like you are is good). I have set some short-term and long-term goals – nothing too outrageous – and am working towards them.

Like most other “issues” in life, the Battlefield of the Mind is the greatest obstacle. I have my mind made up, and I know THAT is way more than half of the battle.

One month down…

11 lbs down...

It’s a long and arduous journey, but...

“it’s gonna be worth it all !!”

A heck of a way to celebrate

It began quite innocently on Wednesday the 2nd. Like most mornings, unfortunately, I woke up not feeling quite all right. Not bad, ya know, just not right. I really do yearn for the days I can wake up and feel good. Went to work, just not into things like I usually am. Then about lunch time it started. I couldn’t stay out of the toilet. Barely made it home after work. Just couldn’t even leave to go to church.

It was important for me to be at work Thursday because the two bosses were going to be out of the office for most of the day, so I pulled myself out of the bed and went. Thankfully, it was incredibly slow because I felt very light-headed all day long – the proverbial “woozy”. Then about 2 o’clock the gags and the pukes started. Again, I barely made it home. I was really friendly with the toilet by now.

Friday, America’s Independence Day, the 4th of July. No, we don’t have really big plans, but I DEFINITELY planned to spend the weekend scrapbooking. The house was clean, the dinner bought, and I had pictures and great paper, and IDEAS. I couldn’t wait! Well, I spent the entire day, feeling like I had been run over by a truck. I hurt all over. I got up, took a shower, put on clothes and laid on the couch ALL DAY. The only activity I had was moving from one end of the couch to the other because my body hurt so badly and my legs were cramping constantly.

Melanie and David Hauser came for dinner that Stephen and Paul cooked. I did go to the table, but just couldn’t stay very long. Back to the couch. Soon it was dusk and every one went outside for fireworks that Melanie had brought. I got up and went to the glider on the porch. I couldn’t see very well. I tried one of the rockers. Still not a very good view of the festivities. So I went and sat on the porch steps. Not as comfortable as my sore body wanted, but I could see better.

About this time, Calla, our 12-year old, temperamental, cranky, generally old-woman-type cat sauntered up to get her back scratched. I scratched her neck, her back, and then her neck again, then stopped. She meowed, and moved around and I scratched her neck again. I stopped. And she turned around and BIT ME right on the thumb. I slapped at her and she didn’t quit – it was like she couldn’t retract her fang – it was embedded deep into my left thumb. IT HURT. I moved her head to get it out, she looked at me and meowed once more.

I went inside to the bathroom. There were about 6 puncture wounds all bleeding quite a bit. I pushed on them to get the bleed more, then I washed the area with lots of soap and water and then poured peroxide on everything. I was still bleeding, so I wrapped a bath rag around my thumb and went back outside for the rest of the fireworks. I can assure you though, IT HURT.

Saturday: I really didn’t sleep very well. I know it sounds really wussy to say my thumb hurt all night long, but it did. I woke up this morning with my thumb really swollen, and a long red streak from the puncture wounds to my armpit. The tenderness of the area was something similar to a deep fresh bruise. I was shocked. I fiddled around the house a little, and got dressed and Paul took me to the Urgent Care center where they were shocked that the bite was only hours old. The doctor said the cat must “really have a dirty mouth”. No, duh. This cat licks her butt and rolls in the dirt. He said that the infection was in my lymph system and needed to be closely watched.

Anyway, I got two high-powered shots: 1) an antibiotic, and 2) a steroid. Then the doctor gave me prescriptions for more of the same and told me to watch the streak and if it got worse to go to the ER and make sure I contacted my Dr on Monday.

Well, it is now Sunday night, and if you could see my hand and my arm, you would know that the FIRST thing I am going to do tomorrow is call my doctor. The streak is very dark, pronounced, and swollen now. The swelling is not only in my thumb, but also all over the back of my hand, into my fingers, and around my wrist. The redness is everywhere the swelling is. And the swelling is VERY tender. That is what is so strange, and makes this so miserable.

Miserable – that is exactly the word I want to use. Sounds very whiney, very pity-partyish, but is just the right word. I can’t sit because the two shot areas are quite sensitive and one’s even bruised. I’m tired of lying down because I’ve been there off and on for 5 days, and beside that, I can’t lay on my left side because it hurts my arm and hand. Whaa-whaaaaa. Miserable.

Can’t wait to hear what good ole Dr Maribeth says tomorrow…

Oh yeah, there was a very bright light in here somewhere – I GOT A LETTER FROM ANDREW!!! He’s happy, but homesick, yet doing very well!!!

And finally, hope you had a Happy 4th!

One Post Script: It has been a long and expensive Monday. The good news is that Calla did not knick the bone when she bit me;the bad news is that I'm not responding to the antibiotic like I should. They changed the meds, gave me another shot, plus a tetanus booster, and told me if things weren't better tomorrow, I would need to have my thumb lanced and drained, or else it wasn't going to start healing. I can't believe all of this!

Melanie asked me if I needed to have a serious talk with God to see what I had done to warrant this "attention". Thanks Melanie.