Weight Loss Total and New Diet

Oh, I am sooooooooooooo excited!!  I got up this morning and was doing some ironing when Dennis came to tell me he had just got on the scale and has lost 10 lbs. since his surgery.  I was really happy for him!!  Then his next statement was this, "Go get weigh yourself to see how much you've lost!"  I got nervous :o)  Since I hadn't weighed in for two weeks I wasn't sure what my total would be but I knew I'd lost some.  I finished my ironing and went back to the bathroom and got the scales and laid them on the floor.  Finally, I got brave enough to step on and tada!!  I've lost 13 lbs in three weeks since I began dieting!!  I'm so happy and excited.  Now if I can just keep it up.  That was very encouraging to me and don't think I'll have a problem continuing on this journey.  I know I won't be losing 8 lbs. every two weeks, but that's a good start, I think!!  Today we started a new diet that we saw in one of my magazines.  Usually I'll read a diet and there's so many things in it that I don't care for, but this one was different ~ I liked all the things on the menu.  Here's what it is:

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The 3~Day Probiotic Power Cleanse

Probiotics experts helped create this special low~cal, probiotic~spiked plan.  It's desgned for quick results over a short period of time.  Drink as much water and tea as you like while following the menus.  Add other very~low~cal and low~sodium extras (spices, herbs, vinegar) as desired.

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Breakfast

Choose one daily:

1 cup high~fiber cerl layered with 1 cup no~sugar added probiotic yogurt and 1/2 cup berries

or

2 scrambled eggs, 1/2 cup vegetables, 1 cup no~sugar added probiotic yogurt and 1/2 cup berries

Lunch

4 oz. cooked lean protein (such as chicken breast, fish or tofu), low~sodium seasoning to taste

2 cups salad greens

1 cup raw vegetables

2 Tbsp. lite dressing

Dinner

3 oz. cooked lean protein, low~sodium seasoning to taste

2 cups raw or steamed vegetables

1/2 cup brown rice, whole~grain pasta or baked sweet potato, 1/2 tsp. olive oil

Snack

Enjoy once daily

1 cup no~sugar added probiotic yogurt with 1/2 cup berries

What exactly are probiotics?

They're health~promoting live bacteria found in certain yogurt, Kraft Live Active snack bars and over~the~counter supplements.  Probiotics bolster the trillions of healthy bacteria that live naturally in our digestive tracts to aid in digestion, increase vitamin absorption and fight disease.  They also block belly fat, cut calorie absorption, tame hunger and beats bloating!!  You are supposed to lose 7 lbs and 2" in 3 days.  I didn't do any measuring this morning, so I won't know how many inches I lose.  Also, since I've already been dieting for three weeks not sure how much I'll lose in these three days.  We'll see!!  For a tip if you're interested, for our yogurt we bought LaYogurt Light Probiotic.  They have several delicious flavors.  Unfortunately, they don't have no sugar added down here that we could find.  So, if you decide to do this, let me know!  I'd be curious to know how it works out for you!!  I'll be letting you know in three days if it didn't anymore for me.  Happy dieting!!

My True Tale of Exercising

Since I started trying to diet, I've decided to try to walk outside several times a week.  Now, I'm not sure if you remember or not, but I've got one little feisty dog who I always take on my walk.  Well, maybe I should rephrase that last sentence ~ she usually takes me on the walk :o)  She may be small but she's mighty!  Up until earlier this week I had been walking at dusk or right at dark as it's cooler.  But things have changed and now I'm walking during the day or no later than dusk!  I told Dennis since I hadn't walked yesterday I was going out today as soon as I finished dinner.  So, I grabbed a biscuit to take to Coco while I put the leash on her and off we went.  I just walk here at the compound and since it's a very large piece of property it works good for me.  I try to walk for 30 minutes at a very brisk pace and that's about 6 ~ 7 times just around the area I've chosen to go.  Well, today as we were going around on our adventure we got to the pavilion down at one area of the school.  As we were walking, something quickly got our attention and Coco instantly began pulling me into the pavilion.  I looked and there was a very, very large, ugly, enormous, humongous, huge (any other words I can put here?) iguana!!  So, being the good pet owner that I am we went charging after the critter with Coco in the lead.  The iguana tore off around the corner and I could hear it trying to claw it's way up on of the walls.  So, I took Coco and ran around the other way.  Iggie decided to crawl up on top of one of the air handlers for the a/c right then.  The pooch sniffed and found it, grabbed ahold of it's long scrawny tail and pulled it down while I screamed and hollered.  Even though it's warm here today, I hadn't even been sweating, but that didn't take long to change as I witnessed this tug of war!  I laughed and was scared to death at the same time of that critter!  Finally, after pulling and tugging on Coco's leash somehow she lost her grip!!  Off we went again on our walk.  When we got back to the pavilion the next trip around I was instantly pulled in there again and much to my chagrin Iggy was back on top of the air handler!!  Aaaarrrrrhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!  Coco once again tracked down the scent and found the tail and pulled until Iggy couldn't hold on and down it tumbled amid the screams and hollers once again!  The pooch would hold on to it and then take a break.  This probably went on for maybe 5 minutes.  I thought to myself if we could just get to the house and get Dennis' attention.  Good 'ole Coco this time kept her grip on Iggy and we got to the house.  I pounded fervently on the window and after what seems like minutes (which it really wasn't) Dennis looked out.  I asked him to go grab my camera and it wasn't to quiet as I asked.  So, here you have my excitement for the day!!

Unfortunately, the crazy critter didn't die and crawled off and that left Coco barking fervishly for her catch!!

My Dieting Journey

Three weeks ago today, I had to drink this nasty stuff for an x-ray to be done the following day on my kidneys.  I thought since I had to go to this extent that I'd just go ahead and start on a journey that I should've went on long before now :o)  If you've never had to diet and can eat whatever you want without gaining weight, I am soooooooooo happy for you.  But sometimes with me, I forget about self-control when it comes to good food! haha!!  I am not a person to get on the scale every day while dieting.  No way!!  That can be very discouraging.  After I had dieted for the first week I got on the scale to see what the results were.  Oh, man, was I ever happy ~  I had lost 5 pounds the first week.  Then the second week I didn't get on the scale as I was a little bit skeptical after I had eaten some pasta :o(  BUT tomorrow morning, I'm going to weigh in.  I can't wait to see how much more I've lost.

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Nasty stuff!!

Today for dinner I made veggie stir fry with chicken.  Oh, boy, was that ever tasty and delicious.  Dennis said he wants that for dinner every Sunday now :o)  I sprayed Pam in my frying pan instead of using oil to cook the stir fry and that did wonders.  The chicken I did on my George Foreman grill so that was good, too!!

 I've been eating lots and lots of this (chicken cooked of the George Foreman)

 and lots and lots of this. . . . . .

 and then lots and lots of this!!

So, together with all of these goodies and exercising it sure is helping!!  Tomorrow, Dennis and I both are going on a three day Probiotic diet.  More to come on that!!

My Favorite Obituary

Last night, I asked myself what obituary I have read over the years is my favorite. I didn't have to think very long.  The following obit, which was published by an unknown author, has made me laugh out loud every time I have read it.  I hope you enjoy it.

Pillsbury Doughboy

Please join me in remembering a great icon.  Veteran Pillsbury spokesperson, The Pillsbury Doughboy, died yesterday of a severe yeast infection and complications from repeated pokes to the belly.  He was 71.

Doughboy was buried in a slightly greased coffin.  Dozens of celebrities turned out, including Mrs. Butterworth, the California Raisins, Hungry Jack, Betty Crocker, the Hostess Twinkies, Captain Crunch and many others.

The graveside was piled high with flours as long-time friend, Aunt Jemima, delivered the eulogy, describing Doughboy as a man who "never knew how much he was kneaded".

Doughboy rose quickly in show business, but his later life was filled with many turnovers.  He was not considered a very smart cookie, wasting much of his dough on half-baked schemes.  Despite being a little flaky at times, even as a crusty old man, he was still considered a roll model for millions.

Toward the end it was thought he'd rise once agan, but he was no tart.

Doughboy is survived by his second wife, Play Dough.  They have two children and one in the oven.  The funeral was held at 3:50 for about 20 minutes.

Notes:

---The Pillsbury Doughboy is an advertising icon, created by Rudy Perz of the Leo Burnett ad agency in 1965

---The Doughboy was originally named "Poppin' Fresh"

---The Doughboy has appeared in over 600 commercials, and is the mascot of the Pillsbury Company

---A few of the prominent funeral service attendees are pictured below:

 

Happy Anniversary Brett ~ 5 Years

Dear Brett,

I cannot believe it is five years ago today that you left on a journey in your life starting out in the United States Air Force!!  Five years!!  In some ways, it seems like it was just yesterday but in many, many other ways it seems like 50 years ago.  I'll never forget this day . . . . .

 We took you up near Cleveland to spend the night and met you the next day at the MEPS building.  That's where it all began!!  I'll never, ever forget that day.  When we got back home, I went in your bedroom and fell across you bed and cried and cried.  Little did I realize where all this experience would take you in these five years.  You went straight to San Antonio, Texas for your Basic Training.  After graduation you stayed on there for your Tech School.  You wanted to come close to home for your stationing, but of course, that didn't work out that way.  You ended up in Tampa, Florida!  Wow, have we enjoyed visiting you and your family there.  We love Tampa!  What a beautiful place.  Your first deployment sent you to Dubai and your next one was to Afghanistan.  And now you're back there again!! 

 You've had to be away from your family this time about 8 months until you get back to the States.  But we're seeing light at the end of the tunnel, buddy!!  Hang in there!!  I know it's hard but you are one tough guy and will make it home very soon and we cannot wait!!

When you left, your baby was only 10 days old and Caden had just turned 3 years old.  What a great reunion it will be when you see those little one's.  I'd love to be there, too!  We'll see about that :o)  Just one more year and then you'll be out of the military.  In some ways that makes me sad, but with all the changes that you've seen and continue to see, I'll be glad when it's over.

Dad and I are so proud of you!!  At times it's been so hard for all of us, but especially you!!  But you've made something of yourself and we're not ashamed of you.  Keep encouraged.  The time will be here soon and we know there will be no more deployments and separations from your family.  Again, we're proud of you and thank you for all you've done for our freedom!!

Lots of love,

Mom (for Dad, too!)

Our 1st Annual ISC Extravaganza

I've been working on downloading these pictures on here since Saturday evening.  For some reason it went very, very slow!  But I hope you enjoy the next several posts from our 1st Annual International Student Convention Extravaganza which was held here on the School/Church grounds on Saturday.  What a great turnout we had.  We're thinking there were possibly around 1000 people who attended.  We ran out of food near the end and had to go to the local IGA grocery store to buy more.  We still ended up refunding a few people there money that didn't get their BBQ chicken dinners.  When we come up with the final total amount of money that was raised I'll be sure to post it on here.  Monies will probably drift in all week long.  Here are several photos I took near the beginning and as you go on to the following posts you'll see just some of the fun that I tried to capture.

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Some of the crowd beginning to gather in

 This was part of the game area

 This is Lloyd.  What a really nice young man.  He was born in Jamaica but his family moved here to Cayman when he was only around 4 years old.  He's a senior in our high school and is planning to go to college in Canada or possibly England to study to become a lawyer.  He is also very gifted in athletics!! 

 The men starting up their grills.  How do you like the closest one to the camera?  Click on the picture :o)

 The drink and dessert tent

 This was the main tent which had the BBQ chicken dinners and hot dogs

 Enjoying some scrumptious food ~ at least that's what we were told.  We never did get our chicken dinners that someone bought us :o(

 The two ladies there with Dennis were doing a drawing to give away prizes.  Local businesses gave us all kinds of goodies to use for prizes.  Everything I saw was really nice!!

A Hilarious Skit

Our good friends (teachers at our school) put on one funny skit about cell phones.

At times, Miss Blake could hardly talk for laughing so hard

There's A Bird, There's A Plane, It's....................

During the afternoon while the band was playing some good music I heard this guy!!  It was the Royal Cayman Islands Police.  Maybe they were looking for me :o)  Kind of hard to find me in the crowd!

Our School Band

Our band did sooooooooooo good! 

If only I'd know how to use the video on my camera :o(

Aunt Julia Performs At 102 Years of Age

Here she comes ~ "Aunt Julia".  To the right is her granddaughter, Heather

 Getting her situated on her chair while another helper tries to get her drum out of the crate

 Here she is performing!  She didn't just play the drum, but she also was singing!

 Dennis got tickled because she kept singing the same song over and over again!

 Finally, he sat down!  But at 102 years of age if you want to sing the same song over and over, go for it!  Her mind has really failed since I saw her last!  Her birthday was just in January.  She would ask Dennis what month it was and he would tell here February.  She said she just turned 102 years old and next month she would be 103!  Did we ever laugh. 

 Singing along with her

 Quite the lady!!  I'll be happy if I'm in that good of shape at the ripe old age of 60!!

 She is very, very well known all over the Island and people just love her.  We were so privileged to have her come one more time to perform for us.  Thanks, Aunt Julia!!



Jamaican Dialogue and A Skit

Miss Blake was doing some Jamaican Dialouge here.  I could hardly understand what she was saying.  It was almost like a dialect!

 Then our three good friends did another skit.  It was really funny!!  And let me tell you that they sure can act!!

This couple were doing a traditional Caymanian skit of years ago

Another Tour :o)

Here part of the audience is waiting for one of the many performances

 Now with these three ladies (who all happen to be good friends of mine) it's no telling what they were up to :o))

 The "grillers" still cooking

 And those selling drinks and desserts were still selling