Three Steps Forward.....No Steps Back!

One Last Entry...

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 00:58:36 GMT

I have now successfully transfered all my old AOL journal entries to Blog Spot, so I will be deleting both journals over here this weekend.

I wanted to leave this new address one more time where you can now find my journal:

http://lindapoohsthotfulspot.blogspot.com/

I hope to see you all over at my new place, I'd hate to lose touch with anyone. If you don't wish to follow me over there...that's okay. I just want to say that I have enjoyed crossing paths in this great big cyber world of ours, and I wish you magical moments & best wishes for your life. It has been an honor.

Many Pooh Hugs & Thanks,

Linda

Posting The Snags Here For Now!

Sat, 04 Oct 2008 23:31:56 GMT

I want to learn the ropes over at Blogger before I open a tag journal....so for now, since I already had these made, I'm going to post them here. Then, I probably won't do any more I get back from visiting Mandy. So, after this round, start checking the 2nd week of Nov, on Saturdays, for tags at my new home:

http://lindapoohsthotfulspot.blogspot.com/

Geeze, I sound like my tags are in high demand...I crack myself up!! :) I was in the mood for teddy bears one night, so these are the five I came up with....snag what you wish.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

New Journal Address

Wed, 01 Oct 2008 04:52:37 GMT

As most of you know by now, AOL is closing the doors on it's journals, and I'm heartsick, like everyone. I have been sad all day, because a huge part of my life is being ripped away. But just like most other big corporations, they don't care about the little guy once the money starts rolling in. They all just make me sick. I'm not happy to be moving my journal and learning new things, much less losing 4 years of entries. But right now, I'm too tired to even care about that, the only thing I worry about, is losing touch with everyone as this place disbands. For now, I went with Blogspot, but I'm a slow learner, so it took me all night to set it up! Here is the new address:

http://lindapoohsthotfulspot.blogspot.com/

I don't know if you have to join Blogspot to read it or not, but I'll understand anyone who doesn't want the hassle. I'll try to read a few journals tonight to get everyone else's site, and when I do, I'll add you to my new journal over the next few days

It has been a wonderful 4 year's....I cherish all the friends I have made here, and even a few that I lost. As soon as you all decide where your journal is going, please let me know so I can get your address to stay in touch. For now, my personal e-mail address will stay the same, but I will be leaving AOL. As soon as Marv & I decide what we want to do....I'll make sure to let everyone know, but for now, you can still reach me at: Linnpooh@aol.com.

Movin On......

What The Doctor Said......

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 04:59:02 GMT

My Doctor's appointment went well.....although my blood work did show that my thyroid is low and not functioning the way it should be. It explains sooooooo much, as I was having a ton of symptoms and not feeling very well at all. The biggest worry for me were the moments of dementia I have been experiencing, and with it running in my family, I was thinking the worst. I know as we get older, we all start forgetting, heck I kid about it all of the time!! But this was different, more foggy memory than no memory, and I haven't been sleeping at all. But it turns out....that is a symptom of low thyroid, as is insomnia, low energy, and depression. I had nine out of the ten symptoms.....that's what made him run the test. So, he put me on Levothroid and he wants to see me in a month, and then run the blood test again on Dec 1st. I hope this solves some of my issues....as it's been hard staying up about being displaced from my home, and positive about losing weight again, when I've been feeling so bad physically.

I did get on the scale at the office, and was down 5 pounds, which is good considering low thyroid makes you gain weight. I'm hoping that is why I put on an excessive number of pounds in the past 4-5 months, because when I got on the scale at home after buying my new one, I seriously thought the number was more than I deserved. Do you understand what I'm saying? I knew I had been eating off plan, but it hadn't been extremely bad, and I had many good days as well. The scales, to me, reflected times in my life when I had thrown caution to the wind and ate bad food 24/7. But, I didn't say that, because then it looks like I'm not taking responsibility for my actions. So even though I knew I didn't eat myself up to that weight, I accepted it. Now, though, I'm wondering....maybe I was right, maybe 10-20 pounds of that number was due to this thyroid issue? My Doctor said it is very possible, but not to count on it so I won't be disappointed and fall hard if the extra pounds are actually mine. Time will tell I guess. Personally, all I want is to feel better....the weight can be dealt with after that.

So, even though they found something wrong, it was a good apointment, because now they can fix it and I can start feeling better. It's a minor issue that has caused some major problems.....so say a prayer for me that the meds work.

Have a good Tuesday and I'll hope ya'll have a good mood day.....I've got Bon Jovi playing in my ear right now and that ALWAYS puts me in one :)

Another One I Love!

Mon, 29 Sep 2008 06:39:15 GMT

Today, I chose a song I love to sing, because it reminds me that when you have a great love, you can make it through anything, no matter how bad it is. I love Marv so much, and holding on to him during rough moments over the past 30 years is why I'm still here today. It's just a great song! This band is probably listened to more by Mandy's age group, but hey....I like them too, and you're as young as you feel, right? :) The song is called "Ocean Wide" and is was recorded by "The Afters". I LOVE, LOVE, it!!

The band "The Afters", was founded by Joshua Havens and Matt Fuqua, in 2000. They both worked together in a Starbucks coffee shop in Mesquite, Texas, where they played for customers before deciding to form a band. Later, they added Brad Wigg and Marc Dodd, who were also employed with them at Starbucks and called the band "Blisse". They changed their name to "The Afters", and continued to play local clubs in the Dallas area until they were discovered and signed to a label in 2002. They just put out their 3rd CD entitled "Never Going Back To Ok". They do a lot of fast music that isn't for everyone, but if you sort through their songs, they also have some other great stuff, including a few Christian songs, one of which is "All That I Am", and it's one of my favorites they do. I also like "You", Love Will Make You Beautiful" and finally "Beautiful Love", which if you watch "One Tree Hill" you may have heard :) Check those out sometime when you're surfing You Tube....I'm sure they are there.

( If the video won't play, try refreshing the journal page)

I know ya'll probably get bored with these music days of mine, but I hope you enjoyed this song anyway. If you listen hard, you may hear me singing it this afternoon when I go to my Doctor's appointment, because the CD is in the car, and I love to sing at the top of my lungs when I drive :) Have a great day.....make it count :)

Added Election Tag....

Sat, 27 Sep 2008 20:50:03 GMT

My friend, Dana, let me know about Chuck Baldwin, who represents the Constitution Party, so this tag is being added to the ones below, for her, and anyone else who may be voting for him. Here ya go, Dana:

Saturday Snags

Sat, 27 Sep 2008 05:36:02 GMT

Here's a few tags I made this week....snag what you wish. I was a bipartisan Pooh Bear with election tags, so there is one for each side :)

They are simple, but I have fun making them :)

Guess What Is On TV Tonight??? :)

Thu, 25 Sep 2008 20:18:54 GMT

Tonight, at 9:00....it's the 2 hour 5th season premiere of Grey's Anatomy!! Did ya'll know I kind of like this show?? Heehehe.

Yesterday, we had a great family day....Marv & I took my Mom & Dad to Frankenmouth, which is a little German town in Michigan, about 3 hours from where we live. We usually make the trip once a year but missed it last time, so it was really nice to go back there again. They have the world's largest Christmas store, and boy, I wanted to buy stuff!! We lost all of our Christmas things and I saw so many new ones that I wanted to get, but until we move back to the house, storage is obviously a problem. So, I just settled on a few trinkets for the apartment and something for my nieces & nephews. Every Christmas, Marv & I buy them an ornament or decoration to go with our gift to them, so it was fun to have such a selection. I would tell you what I picked out, but since a couple of them read my journal (waving to Julie!) I better not :) Bronner's Christmas Lights, Christmas Ornaments, Christmas Decorations -- Bronner's Christmas Wonderland World's Largest Chri...

The town has a lot of shops, arts & crafts, and are famous for their chicken dinners. We ate at The Bavarian Inn, which is our favorite. So, while the food is not very diet friendly, I did make some choices that I know helped me out. The big thing there is family style, which Marv, & my parents went ahead & got. But I just ordered a 2 piece plate dinner, to limit my portions. That way, if I took seconds from their family bowls....I had to justify it to myself. But I didn't!!! Yeah me! I also said no gravy for the potatoes, nixed the stuffing, and turned down the dessert....I feel very happy with, and proud of, myself :) I'll admit I had to make a lot of stops to sit down, as it's hard to carry around this weight, but I made the decision not to get a wheel chair since it was only for one day, and I know I really need the exercise. So did a lot of walking which was good for me and it felt good to get out of the apartment!! We took Abby to Connie's for the day, and boy, was she ever tuckered out last night from playing with the the kids & Connie's dog's.....she never moved an inch all night, zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!!!! Bavarian Inn of Frankenmuth – Restaurant, Lodge, Shopping, and Fun!

That's it for me, and tonight at 9:00......you know where I'll be, wating for that thorny ole Rose to leave town :)

At the end of the day faith is a funny thing. It turns up when you don't really expect it. Its like one day you realize that the fairy tale may be slightly different than you dreamed. The castle, well, it may not be a castle. And its not so important happy ever after, just that its happy right now. See once in a while, once in a blue moon, people will surprise you , and once in a while people may even take your breath away

~Grey's Anatomy

From Caterpillar To Butterfly

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 04:59:56 GMT

I came across something I wrote three years ago, and thought it worth re-posting. I had my head on very straight at that moment, and reading it again reminded me what I'm made of. What is reflected in the words below didn't go away forever, it just got a little lost and misguided. But I'm back on the right path now, and I will remember to keep being patient this time....it doesn't matter how long the journey takes, it's simply about the walking. While I know that I said no looking back, I'm going to bend the rules when I feel it is something positive, which reading this was for me! So, here is an old post of mine, now come back to life.

It's hard to believe that a caterpillar, crawling around clumsily, can become a beautiful creature, capable of flight......but it happens. Once a caterpillar starts spinning a cocoon, it begins the greatest change in its life.....but it doesn't take place overnight. It's a lengthy process and the caterpillar must work very hard, it doesn't always comeeasy to him either.....he has many things that try to derail his journey. He must worry about birds eating him and humans stepping on him.....but still, he inches along, never giving up. He knows what he wants and is patient enough to wait until he achieves it.......after all, becoming a beautiful butterfly is worth all the time and effort.

Just as the caterpillar, we have a goal before us of changing our lives.... of shedding our outer shell and transforming into something new....something beautiful. That change will require a lot of time, patience and hard work......so why is it we expect it to happen by tomorrow? Wouldn't it be nice if after you identified a change you'd like to make, you could just snap your fingers, and the change would occur instantly? Unfortunately, it’s rarely so easy as that, despite what diet product marketers tell us. But, most of us are impatient. We want things to happen right now, if not yesterday....we aren't satisfied to even wait for tomorrow. We're so accustomed to instant puddings, instant coffee and instant winning lottery tickets, that we expect to change ourselves instantly as well.

I've been seeing that trend a lot lately and it makes me sad. So many wonderful people constantly putting themselves down for "not arriving at their final destination", the day after they start the trip. The reality is, we need to be thinking in terms of months and years, not days and weeks, when it comes to achieving permanent lifestyle change and weight loss. Each ounce is an ounce closer to being that butterfly. It’s great to get enthusiastic about making a change, but allow yourself to accept whatever outcome occurs each week, even if you get no results to show for all your efforts. In truth, the result you'll get most of the time will be that you learned something that will help you in the long run.......knowledge is power!

If the change you wish to make takes one year or five, that’s OK. The time is going to pass anyway, so you might as well make sure that you're in a better spot in five years instead of a worse one. You may look back on yourself a year ago and think, “I didn't get very far this year at all.” That’s OK. It doesn't mean you failed. For most big changes, a year is too little time.....look back at yourself now from five or ten years ago. Notice any differences? People overestimate what they can accomplish in a year, but they underestimate what they can accomplish in five years.

So let's be patient with ourselves......and kind. Let's make the full effort and do whatever it takes. But, if you slip and fall, don't beat yourself up.....just get back up and try again. All that it means is that we're human......not that we are a failure. Look at the big picture and celebrate that 2 ounce loss.....it's two ounces closer to getting our Butterflywings! WE CAN DO THIS!!!!!

A Phenomenal Song...and One of my Favorites!

Mon, 22 Sep 2008 10:43:48 GMT

Happy Monday! I hope you all had a wonderful weekend.......I sure did. My hubby surprised me with a new 120 GB i-pod, since my 20 GB was full and I couldn't add any more music to it. See, sometimes whining can be very lucrative ::wink::

Today's music offering comes to you from a female artist that I dearly love.....her name is, Jude Johnstone. She is a cross between country & folk, and I find her delivery of slow songs, absolutely haunting. I have all 4 of her CD's so it would be too many to name all the ones I love. But, if you aren't familiar with Jude's work and want to listen to some, probably my very favorites besides the one I chose today are: "The Nightingale", "In This House", "Old and Gray", "The Hereafter", and "When Someone Speaks Your Name". You can listen at: Jude Johnstone :: Bojak Records

I chose "Wounded Heart" though, because it is hands down, my favorite song she does, and no matter how often I hear her sing it.....she still slays me each and every time and it usually moves me to tears. She originally wrote this song for Bonnie Raitt, who recorded it on her album " Silver Lining". The only Youtube video with Jude singing it is with scenes from "Army Wives", who, btw, have recently discovered and started using a lot of her music. I hope you enjoy!

(If the video won't play, try refreshing the journal page)

Wounded Heart Lyrics

Wounded heart I cannot save you from yourself
Though I wanted to be brave
It never helps
Cause your trouble's like a flood
Raging through your veins
And no amount of love's enough
To end the pain

Tenderness and time can heal
A right gone wrong
But the anger that you feel
Goes on and on
And it's not enough to know
That I love you still
So I'll take my heart and go
For I've had my fill

If you listen you can hear
The angels' wings
Up above our heads so near
They are hovering
Waiting to reach out for love
When it falls apart
When it cannot rise above
A wounded heart