Chelle 42 yr old Pagan Witch, mom of 4, living in the MidWest
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Slow SundayMar 25 2007 16:38
::takes a breather::
Today is just a slow, relaxing Sunday. Catching up on emails (got my email program working again and even managed to find a way to recover my lost emails - yay!!) and also catching up on household stuff like dishes and laundry. *May* have to step out to store as we are low on dishwashing machine detergent but other than that, I'm sticking close to home. I am planning on hitting the gym tomorrow.
I wanted to share some recipes with you all. You can find them here:
Recipes
I run a yahoogroup that is called "Witchy_Weight_Loss" - for about 2 years now - and its just fellow pagans (mostly women) who are following their own plans for losing weight. We are pretty much each other's support system plus we share dieting tips, recipes, etc. I have been gathering all the shared recipes and putting them in the "Files" section for the group, which is the link I provided. The recipes come from a variety of sources, and the sources are given in the recipe. About 98% of the recipes also have the nutritional info available.
Anyways, wanted to share that with all my CC friends. And please, if you wish to join the group, by all means, do so! The membership is based on approval (that's my way of keeping the list as spam-free as possible) so just let me know that you are from the CC site!!
Anyways, back to the other stuff. I'm around here, somewhere, under the HUGE pile of emails!! LOL
Hope you are all having a great weekend! Yay the spring is here!!!!
Today is just a slow, relaxing Sunday. Catching up on emails (got my email program working again and even managed to find a way to recover my lost emails - yay!!) and also catching up on household stuff like dishes and laundry. *May* have to step out to store as we are low on dishwashing machine detergent but other than that, I'm sticking close to home. I am planning on hitting the gym tomorrow.
I wanted to share some recipes with you all. You can find them here:
Recipes
I run a yahoogroup that is called "Witchy_Weight_Loss" - for about 2 years now - and its just fellow pagans (mostly women) who are following their own plans for losing weight. We are pretty much each other's support system plus we share dieting tips, recipes, etc. I have been gathering all the shared recipes and putting them in the "Files" section for the group, which is the link I provided. The recipes come from a variety of sources, and the sources are given in the recipe. About 98% of the recipes also have the nutritional info available.
Anyways, wanted to share that with all my CC friends. And please, if you wish to join the group, by all means, do so! The membership is based on approval (that's my way of keeping the list as spam-free as possible) so just let me know that you are from the CC site!!
Anyways, back to the other stuff. I'm around here, somewhere, under the HUGE pile of emails!! LOL
Hope you are all having a great weekend! Yay the spring is here!!!!
3 Comments | Add Comment
Starting Again...Mar 23 2007 18:46
Well, I went back to the gym today, after not going for almost 2 months. It was strange to try and get back into the routine. For the most part I was able to do what I was doing in regards to weight amounts - I did less reps - and I got up to 18 minutes on the treadmill at 2.3 with a 1% incline, so guess I did ok. I am going to try and get back into it. I was going to get some new sneakers as well, however after we got the groceries we needed there wasn't enough 'extra' to get them, so hoping to get them next month.
Not much else has been going on. Rebecca was home on spring break this week - she goes back to school on Monday. We've been sleeping in later since I don't have to be up early to drive her to school. Kris got this week off from his tutoring as well, due to the spring break. I got my Incredimail mess cleared up. Had to do a complete uninstall then reinstall. I lost a lot of the stuff that was in my folders but it really couldn't be avoided at this point. ::sigh:: Oh well.
The referral for the nutritionist went through. I tried calling today however the person I need to speak to was out of the office for the day so they suggested I call back on Monday to schedule the appointment (since I'm coming in as a new patient). I haven't heard anything yet about the referral for the endocrinologist. I'm going to look up the information on the lap-band surgery vs the gastric bypass. I have heard a little on both from those who have had it done and overall, I'm liking what I hear about the lap-band a lot more. If I have a choice of which one to have done, I think I will go with the lap-band.
Anyways, hope everyone is having a good day. Take care. :)
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Mar 19 2007 16:40Good afternoon everyone~
Just dropping in to say "hi" and let you all know that I'm here. Been lurking for the most part, and last week I wasn't around much at all. My husband's (Wes) b'day was on Weds, and I think that's the only day we didn't have something to do or some place to go. On top of everything else, my email program decided it didn't want to work anymore about 2 days ago, after the latest Windows update (which I have it on auto update) so been back and forth with the tech support trying to get it working again! LOL
I have to admit, even though I'm not going hog wild on food or anything, I'm having a very hard time trying to get back in the swing of things like I was before with my food logs, water for the day, exercise and everything. Ever since the crisis at the end of January between my husband and I, I just haven't felt the same. I've been trying, but ... I don't know. I still want to lose the weight, I know I need to lose it, I feel more miserable now than I did before about how I look and feel, yet just can't seem to get motivated. I just feel so "dead" inside, you know?
I saw my doctor beginning of this month - he is referring me to a nutritionist and an endocrinologist. He also wants me to seriously consider having the surgery (lap-band). I am not ruling it out - just want to exhaust all other options first. Will keep you posted.
I met my biological sister on 3/11. She is so great - I felt like I had known her forever! We talk once or twice on the phone each week, and pass on emails and such. She gave me a bunch of pictures of different family members, including my biological mother. It just seems so surreal. I can't really explain it. However I am *so* glad she found me. Now that I know her, I can't imagine her not being there. Her husband is really nice too - fun to talk to - and her son is pretty smart! He participates in Tae-Kwon-Do tournaments and does really well in them!
I'm still working through the loss of my friend, Dawn. I mean, logically I understand she is gone, but every once in a while I'll come upon an old email of hers (we were in some yahoogroups together) or something else pertaining to her, and it just doesn't seem real, or right. She was so young, and had so much to live for, and going for her. I feel so bad for her husband and small children. I did find out that the baby is a girl, named Ireland. Such a pretty name.
::sigh::
Ok... gotta go deal with this email thing. UGH.
Will talk to you all later!!
::hugs::
Just dropping in to say "hi" and let you all know that I'm here. Been lurking for the most part, and last week I wasn't around much at all. My husband's (Wes) b'day was on Weds, and I think that's the only day we didn't have something to do or some place to go. On top of everything else, my email program decided it didn't want to work anymore about 2 days ago, after the latest Windows update (which I have it on auto update) so been back and forth with the tech support trying to get it working again! LOL
I have to admit, even though I'm not going hog wild on food or anything, I'm having a very hard time trying to get back in the swing of things like I was before with my food logs, water for the day, exercise and everything. Ever since the crisis at the end of January between my husband and I, I just haven't felt the same. I've been trying, but ... I don't know. I still want to lose the weight, I know I need to lose it, I feel more miserable now than I did before about how I look and feel, yet just can't seem to get motivated. I just feel so "dead" inside, you know?
I saw my doctor beginning of this month - he is referring me to a nutritionist and an endocrinologist. He also wants me to seriously consider having the surgery (lap-band). I am not ruling it out - just want to exhaust all other options first. Will keep you posted.
I met my biological sister on 3/11. She is so great - I felt like I had known her forever! We talk once or twice on the phone each week, and pass on emails and such. She gave me a bunch of pictures of different family members, including my biological mother. It just seems so surreal. I can't really explain it. However I am *so* glad she found me. Now that I know her, I can't imagine her not being there. Her husband is really nice too - fun to talk to - and her son is pretty smart! He participates in Tae-Kwon-Do tournaments and does really well in them!
I'm still working through the loss of my friend, Dawn. I mean, logically I understand she is gone, but every once in a while I'll come upon an old email of hers (we were in some yahoogroups together) or something else pertaining to her, and it just doesn't seem real, or right. She was so young, and had so much to live for, and going for her. I feel so bad for her husband and small children. I did find out that the baby is a girl, named Ireland. Such a pretty name.
::sigh::
Ok... gotta go deal with this email thing. UGH.
Will talk to you all later!!
::hugs::
6 Comments | Add Comment
Passing of a FriendMar 02 2007 16:26
Wes and I just found out that a good friend of ours passed away last
night due to complications from delivering her second child. I am numb
and still in shock right now. I don't even know what to think or feel
or anything else right now. She was the one that introduced Wes and I
to each other. If it wasn't for her, we probably wouldn't have met.
We are still getting details, so things are a bit sketchy right now. From what I am understanding, she had the baby 2 weeks ago and after the delivery she went unconscious, then into a coma. They felt she had massive brain damage, so they allowed her to pass last night. I am understanding that the baby (gender unknown at this time) is fine and home with her husband. It is also believed that her death *may* have been due to negligence on part of the doctor.
For the last month or so she and I had been playing email tag. She wanted to talk to me and we could just never coordinate. I didn't even know she was pregnant - that's probably why she wanted to talk to me, to tell me she was expecting. Now I won't be able to talk to her again.
I just feel so.... numb.
We are still getting details, so things are a bit sketchy right now. From what I am understanding, she had the baby 2 weeks ago and after the delivery she went unconscious, then into a coma. They felt she had massive brain damage, so they allowed her to pass last night. I am understanding that the baby (gender unknown at this time) is fine and home with her husband. It is also believed that her death *may* have been due to negligence on part of the doctor.
For the last month or so she and I had been playing email tag. She wanted to talk to me and we could just never coordinate. I didn't even know she was pregnant - that's probably why she wanted to talk to me, to tell me she was expecting. Now I won't be able to talk to her again.
I just feel so.... numb.
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My Awesome News!!!Feb 23 2007 21:22
OK.. I have been trying for the last 5 days to get this written and every time I start I get side-tracked, so come hell or high water I am getting this post written and posted!! So there.
On Thurday afternoon (2/15/07) I got a letter from a woman in TX saying that she was looking for her sister that was born in 1964 and given up at birth for adoption. She gave some general info (nothing specific) and said that she believed I was the sister she was looking for. Now, for those of you that aren't aware, I was given up for adoption at birth - closed adoption - and I didn't find out I was adopted til the summer before I turned 21 (my b'day is in November). Anyways, she gave her email address in it, however the name she used to sign off the letter used my biological mother's name, so I was kinda sure that she was right - that I was/am the sister she's looking for. I sent her an email about an hour later (when I got my wits about me) and asked her some questions, to confirm that it really was me she was looking for. Anyways, on Friday, I also got another couple of emails from a friend of hers who also works for an adoption agency (Susan), and she was helping her look for her sister. Her email had very detailed info that left no doubt in my mind - I am the sister she's been looking for. I called up Susan and spoke with her for about an hour. Come to find out, my sister (who is now 45 yrs old) has been looking for me since she was 12! Yep, you read that right - 12 years old. I was floored. Still am, actually. So Susan tells me she will write to my sister (who's name is Dawn - another Dawn!!) and let her know she spoke with me and give her my phone number and stuff. When neither one of us heard from her on Saturday, she left a message on her phone, and emailed me to tell me.
Well, on Sunday morning I had a voice message on my cell - from my sister! I was amazed. She wanted to talk to me. She wants to get to know me, she is really excited. She also sent me an email to tell me that she had to go to work and would try calling me again later on Sunday PM, when she got out of work. Well, around 5:30 or so, she calls back, and we ended up talking for 2 HOURS! We found out that we have a lot in common, and we get along great. We are already talking about getting together for lunch and stuff. I am so excited - and totally floored!! She sent me some pictures in the mail which I got yesterday and there is a resemblance. And the things they say about how people in the same family carry similar likes and dislikes - its true. Even though I didn't grow up with her (or my other 7! siblings - one of which is deceased) I have a lot of things in common with them too! Totally amazing.
She said that some of my siblings know about me, some don't. She said she will tell them as she can, when the time is right. She said our sister knows as much about me as she does so she will probably tell her soon. Some of my brothers know very little to nothing about me. My biological mother is still alive, and says (at this time) that she doesn't really want to meet me or get to know me, however Dawn said that may change. She isn't sure how she will tell her - or if. She will play that by ear. I told Dawn that I have no ill feelings towards her and I respect her wishes. I am not mad at her for giving me up. I understand how hard a decision it was and that she must've had good reasons at the time. Whatever they were/are, I don't hate her, I'm not mad at her. Come to find out, when I was living in MA, I was about 4 or 5 towns away from her. So close....
You know, once I found out I was adopted, I would wonder how I would take the news if I was to find my biological mother (family) if I ever did find them. Now I know. For years I felt like an orphan. Now Dawn tells me "well you're not an orphan anymore". And it's the most awesome feeling.
Will keep you posted.
9 Comments | Add Comment
Weight Loss Graphics by Me :DFeb 16 2007 11:36
Just wanted to let you all know that I have been making graphics on my Paint Shop Pro. These are motivational and progress graphics that people can use for weight loss. (I'll also be making other kinds of graphics, including pagan -- just haven't gotten them done yet.) If anyone is interested in checking them out, the site is:
Tags By WillowRaven: Weight Loss Graphics
Here's one of them that I made:
I'll be making them in "sets", so you'll be able to use the same style as you progress through your weight loss.
If you'd like to use them, just save them on to your computer. If you could, link back to my site. (If you aren't able to, no worries.) Oh, and yes, I designed the whole site too, including the html coding for it, which I am *loving*!!
Check back often because I'll have more up there of different styles.
Enjoy!!
Tags By WillowRaven: Weight Loss Graphics
Here's one of them that I made:
I'll be making them in "sets", so you'll be able to use the same style as you progress through your weight loss.
If you'd like to use them, just save them on to your computer. If you could, link back to my site. (If you aren't able to, no worries.) Oh, and yes, I designed the whole site too, including the html coding for it, which I am *loving*!!
Check back often because I'll have more up there of different styles.
Enjoy!!
8 Comments | Add Comment
MnenosyneFeb 15 2007 10:06
Warning: this post will cover some of my personal beliefs which I understand may not be shared or understood with others. That is ok. They are my beliefs and I am not trying to force them on anyone else. Just writing to get it out there to maybe help myself understand.
For the last 3 days, this particular goddess (Mnenosyne) has been showing up. She is the goddess of memory, and one of the Nine Muses. I think it is quite interesting, as I have been exploring past lives and reincarnation as a personal 'research' project, as I am really wanting to remember my past lives. In the last week I have also had some very strange, vivid, very lifelike dreams that have been all over the board - one was a fairly modern-time dream, another was during ancient times, another was 'otherworldly'... and I wake up wondering if they are really just dreams, or if somehow my request to the Universe to help me remember my past lives is being answered. Also, one of my matron goddesses is Cybele (also spelled Kybele) and I have been doing some more research on her and have been intrigued and surprised about some of the things I have discovered. I am also finding out information about Kubaba, which is the goddess she 'came' from before being known as Cybele/Kybele. Anyways....
I went to the doctor on the 12th - very thorough examination (including the annual GYN exam) and I have to say that I am quite pleased with him. He took all my questions and concerns quite seriously, didn't blow me off. I told him about the symptoms I am having and the difficulty with losing weight, and even brought print-outs of my logs (food, activity, weight) to show him. He even said that I am showing 'classic symptoms' for hypothyroidism. He ordered up bloodwork (for that and a few other concerns) and he wants to see me in 2 weeks to discuss JUST the weight loss issues, including the thyroid concerns and, if necessary, refer me to a nutritionist. Usually they allot 15 minutes per appointment, and he said to put me in a 30 minute block for the appointment on the 26th. I am very happy to have a doctor that really listens. My husband went in with me and he was happy as well. He also checked my legs because they tend to change color (normal pink color to sometimes a purple color) - the doctor said that it's most likely a circulation problem and mentioned Renaud's Syndrome, which can have a variety of reasons for why it occurs. He also said he noticed a spot on the edge of my cervix that was a little darker, but couldn't tell if it was the natural darkening of the muscles in that area, or something to be concerned about, so he did the whole PAP thing too, so something else to worry about. ::sigh:: So anyways... I'm now in a "hurry up and wait" mode for the bloodwork results and the 26th appointment.
I'm working on getting back on my food, water and exercise plans. I got in 6 waters yesterday (woot! improvement from the almost NO water I was doing for the last week or so) ... and my food yesterday was around 1800 cals, so again, doing good. Just don't understand why I showed a gain of 3 lbs when I stepped on the scale today? No matter... drinking my water now and going to try to get in 8-10 today. Baby steps to get back. We haven't had the extra $$ for the gas to get to the gym (so this sucks big time) so I know I'm gonna have to do a little backtracking when I'm able to get back there.
The word for today is:
Hope you all have a wonderful day today!!
For the last 3 days, this particular goddess (Mnenosyne) has been showing up. She is the goddess of memory, and one of the Nine Muses. I think it is quite interesting, as I have been exploring past lives and reincarnation as a personal 'research' project, as I am really wanting to remember my past lives. In the last week I have also had some very strange, vivid, very lifelike dreams that have been all over the board - one was a fairly modern-time dream, another was during ancient times, another was 'otherworldly'... and I wake up wondering if they are really just dreams, or if somehow my request to the Universe to help me remember my past lives is being answered. Also, one of my matron goddesses is Cybele (also spelled Kybele) and I have been doing some more research on her and have been intrigued and surprised about some of the things I have discovered. I am also finding out information about Kubaba, which is the goddess she 'came' from before being known as Cybele/Kybele. Anyways....
I went to the doctor on the 12th - very thorough examination (including the annual GYN exam) and I have to say that I am quite pleased with him. He took all my questions and concerns quite seriously, didn't blow me off. I told him about the symptoms I am having and the difficulty with losing weight, and even brought print-outs of my logs (food, activity, weight) to show him. He even said that I am showing 'classic symptoms' for hypothyroidism. He ordered up bloodwork (for that and a few other concerns) and he wants to see me in 2 weeks to discuss JUST the weight loss issues, including the thyroid concerns and, if necessary, refer me to a nutritionist. Usually they allot 15 minutes per appointment, and he said to put me in a 30 minute block for the appointment on the 26th. I am very happy to have a doctor that really listens. My husband went in with me and he was happy as well. He also checked my legs because they tend to change color (normal pink color to sometimes a purple color) - the doctor said that it's most likely a circulation problem and mentioned Renaud's Syndrome, which can have a variety of reasons for why it occurs. He also said he noticed a spot on the edge of my cervix that was a little darker, but couldn't tell if it was the natural darkening of the muscles in that area, or something to be concerned about, so he did the whole PAP thing too, so something else to worry about. ::sigh:: So anyways... I'm now in a "hurry up and wait" mode for the bloodwork results and the 26th appointment.
I'm working on getting back on my food, water and exercise plans. I got in 6 waters yesterday (woot! improvement from the almost NO water I was doing for the last week or so) ... and my food yesterday was around 1800 cals, so again, doing good. Just don't understand why I showed a gain of 3 lbs when I stepped on the scale today? No matter... drinking my water now and going to try to get in 8-10 today. Baby steps to get back. We haven't had the extra $$ for the gas to get to the gym (so this sucks big time) so I know I'm gonna have to do a little backtracking when I'm able to get back there.
The word for today is:
Hope you all have a wonderful day today!!
6 Comments | Add Comment
Monday blah...blah...blahFeb 12 2007 07:02
Ok... it is too damn early to be up. UGH. It should be illegal to be awake at this ungodly hour. I have to take my daughter to school in a little bit, and then I am HOPING I will be able to fall back asleep. If my body decides that it's "wake up time", I think I'll go insane. Ok.. too late... already there.
I have my doctor's appointment today at 3:00 (kept thinking it wasn't until the 16th until my daughter looks at the appointment list on the fridge and asked me about the one I had written for the 12th). I am going to talk to him about this cold/congestion and my thyroid (insist that he put me on something! ::grin:: ) ... I'll add more later to let you know how the appointment goes. I'll have to remember to weigh myself before I go so I can see the difference between my scale and theirs. That way I can see (roughly) what I really was when I started the diet -- or on my scale. Does that make sense?
More later....
6 Comments | Add Comment
::waves::Feb 11 2007 11:33
I miss everyone!! I've been sick - still - and I am so embarrassed that I haven't really been following my food plan, or doing my waters, or even been to the gym in about 2 weeks. Been getting over being sick -- not sure what I have (the head cold is pretty much gone, still dealing with the chest congestion and been headachy, dizzy and lethargic lately). Not sure if I have a 'bug' or bad bout of depression. Spent about 90% of yesterday in bed, most of that time asleep. I just feel so wasted, physically and emotionally....like I got run over by a truck or something. I haven't had much of an appetite, and what I have eaten has not really been overly nutritious. I did step on the scale this AM and found I haven't gained anything. (In fact, I lost about 1/2 a lb.) I feel so bad, embarrassed, like a total sloth. I know I need to get back in the swing of things. I need motivation and don't know where to find it. (I know, I know - inside myself... part of the problem, I guess.) The stress I mentioned a few weeks back ended up going on for another week and half after that as I discovered it didn't end when I thought, and had to deal with it all over again for 2 more weekends after that. Maybe *that's* why I'm feeling so wasted? Who knows. I know I'll feel better when I know for sure, for certain, that that particular stress is gone and out of our lives FOR GOOD.
Wes went to his disability hearing, and it seemed to go well. Both he and the lawyer felt positive about it. He could hear in as little as 2 weeks, or as much as 3 months. I am really hoping for the less amount of time, as it could really help! We had a snafu with the food stamps - almost got them denied on a review, still unsure as it is up to my new case worker's supervisor who won't be in til Tuesday. My case worker doesn't seem to think there will be a problem. I hope she's right. And it's all because I started that darn Avon! I told Wes that if it becomes too much of a problem, then I'll quit it because I'm not making enough to jeopardize the $150+ in food stamps that feeds the family. I'm lucky if I make $15 a month on Avon - and most to all of that goes back into supplies, catalogs, website cost, etc. It isn't worth it.
Took my son to his neuro appt on the 6th - same as before. Diagnosis of "severe migraines". She took him off one of the medications as she didn't think it was doing much good, and gave him refills on 2 of the others. We go back in 6 months. Although I understand he has migraines, I wish we were able to determine what's triggering them, instead of just treating them after the fact. We have tried seeing if certain foods, or things, are bringing them on and so far, nothing. We looked into food allergies - nothing. I feel so helpless, not being able to help him stop them from the get-go. On a scale of 1-10, his days average around a 4 or 5. He never has a day that is a 0 or 1. He has had some days that are so severe that he has given them a 15! He takes Relpax for the 'severe' ones, and Midrin for the mild to moderate ones. The Relpax knocks him OUT for 8 hours or more, and he will wake up about as pain-free as he is going to be (about a 2 or 3).
Anyways, going for now - will try to be around more. I am going to try and figure out how to get back on track. I do want to lose the weight, for the same reasons. I just need to get out of this 'funk' I've fallen in to.
::hugs:: and love to you all!!
Wes went to his disability hearing, and it seemed to go well. Both he and the lawyer felt positive about it. He could hear in as little as 2 weeks, or as much as 3 months. I am really hoping for the less amount of time, as it could really help! We had a snafu with the food stamps - almost got them denied on a review, still unsure as it is up to my new case worker's supervisor who won't be in til Tuesday. My case worker doesn't seem to think there will be a problem. I hope she's right. And it's all because I started that darn Avon! I told Wes that if it becomes too much of a problem, then I'll quit it because I'm not making enough to jeopardize the $150+ in food stamps that feeds the family. I'm lucky if I make $15 a month on Avon - and most to all of that goes back into supplies, catalogs, website cost, etc. It isn't worth it.
Took my son to his neuro appt on the 6th - same as before. Diagnosis of "severe migraines". She took him off one of the medications as she didn't think it was doing much good, and gave him refills on 2 of the others. We go back in 6 months. Although I understand he has migraines, I wish we were able to determine what's triggering them, instead of just treating them after the fact. We have tried seeing if certain foods, or things, are bringing them on and so far, nothing. We looked into food allergies - nothing. I feel so helpless, not being able to help him stop them from the get-go. On a scale of 1-10, his days average around a 4 or 5. He never has a day that is a 0 or 1. He has had some days that are so severe that he has given them a 15! He takes Relpax for the 'severe' ones, and Midrin for the mild to moderate ones. The Relpax knocks him OUT for 8 hours or more, and he will wake up about as pain-free as he is going to be (about a 2 or 3).
Anyways, going for now - will try to be around more. I am going to try and figure out how to get back on track. I do want to lose the weight, for the same reasons. I just need to get out of this 'funk' I've fallen in to.
::hugs:: and love to you all!!
5 Comments | Add Comment
::cough cough::Feb 01 2007 07:37
Just a quick note to let you know I am still around. I am dealing with day 4 of a head cold and just all over "blah". Wes has his disability hearing today at 10:30 AM and we are hoping he does not get denied. Please keep your fingers crossed.
I hope you are all doing well. Miss ya!! ::hugs::
I hope you are all doing well. Miss ya!! ::hugs::
9 Comments | Add Comment
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