LOVED IT!

I can't stop dancing around, and can't stop thinking of how awesome this was. I tell you the way they put this together was genius. It was a great night. I am very tired but running on adrenaline.

A son with a permit....

Remember this book? I do. About 1987 on my 16th b-day I took this test and passed and 22 years later so did my son Stephen. So weird to think he is legal to drive or I should say learn to drive. Wed before we were leaving for FL. trip we wentr to the registry and when he passed he said I don't expect you to let me drive home b/c I know how stressed you are already b/c we are flying in two hours. He had a really good point though I did get to St. Agnes parking lot and said he could from there. It is about 2 miles and a really sharp turn onto our Street from Boston St.. He did well but was way to close to the curb for my liking. I am going to stick to having his father take him b/c my stress is too high and I really do not want to freak the boy out. Besides going with the driving instructor I would go with Nana T who had nerves of steel back in the day. lol I will keep it posted in the summer when it comes time for his road test. My my time flies....he was just learning to ride his first big wheel...lol

Velveteen Rabbit

On our "date" the other night Michael and I went to Barnes and Nobels and to Starbucks after dinner. I spotted my most favorite kids books besides The Polar Express. I love to sit in the book store with the new book smell and see all the possiblities there are out there to read. I don't enjoy reading but I do like a good book now and again. Short stories are more my style. I loved when the kids were little and when I had daycare kids and worked int he school and would read to them. I love to get them into the book. Well I reread the Velveteen Rabbit in a comphy chair while Michael looked at some travel books. As my eyes filled with tears I got up and felt like a kid again. I love that story. I love just how loved it makes you feel. I have read it to the boys years and years ago and would now...BUT lol that would be freaky...lol lol lol I do love to read out loud to kids and love to share the passion for a good kids book. Go read this book it is sooo wonderful!

Define Whiney Woh....

Here goes...a "whiney who" is someone who willingly knows and chooses to do a certain thing....by choice now BUT has to make the biggest fuss and issue about what they can or can not do. So many of the post grads at the H&W class Phase 3 mind you are moaning and complaining about all the whahhhh whahhhh things they "can't" have. Well the director of the program put it to them nicely and said feel free to "do what you want" we here at this program are giving you the best possible program and tools to loose and maintain for life. When you choose to be apart of this program this was told to you. If you choose not to that is your perogitive BUT you have come this far and made this much progress why NOW would you have the need to rebell. I am 100% on her side I tell you. Three weeks ago I left class thinking if I have to hear one more "I can't blah blah" I was gonna rip my ears off. How about I said today we say we can have x,y & z. Be happy about what you CAN do. I also said remember when you could not walk to far without getting winded and NOW U CAN! so that is a CAN that far out weighs the I can't eat an entire pan of brownies per say. AHHHHH so frustrating I tell u. I need the class of non whiney wohs.....As of Feb 24th I think it is a Tuesday that is my very last class. I still ck in once a month with the nutrist. and the exercise dept. for the next 2-3 years. After 1 year it goes down to every 3 months. So I will still be very much connected along with the monthly support group meetings for people 8 months out of the program for maintence. Hope all the whiney wohs get a grip and put things into proper perspective.....by then

I got crack a lackin.....

I am cracka lackin from Katie...lol
I live: on a steep hill but love our house. just not the hill. I would LIVE in Maui or some place warm if M and the boys would move.
I work: but have much fun entertaing and creating memories that last a lifetime.
I smell: of garlic....ewww b/c I made lots of food todya with chopped garlic. lol
I listen: when people talk b/c I can not stand whne people only have seem to listen or care.
I hide: my weight loss journal even though the men in the house know what I weigh and what I weighed but still it is not out in the open.
I walk: fast, even befoe I lost weight. I am speedy walker,I dislike being behind someone who walks too slow for my liking.
I write: to express my feelings.
I see: with my glasses on or my contacts but I need new ones all of my others are gross.
I sing: aweful in Mass but still do it b/c singing praise is prayer with song. I know my kids are mortified..lol
I can: cook and bake my days away and be happy as a clam...though I do not like clams..lol JK
I watch: a lot of hockey and Lax in the spring but so don't mind b/c it is for my sons.
I daydream: before I fall to sleep to get to sleep.
I want: to live in Hawaii.......
I cry: for people who are suffering
I read: when I have too.
I love: my sons and husband and feel blessed to be loved.
I rode: to Florida and MB South Carolina in a mini van and was much happier than flying, I also took Amtrack for 36 hours once home from FL...M said NEVER AGAIN...lol so I take planes but HATE it.
I sometimes: get OCD about things...ok ALWAYS..lol no that is not true
I fear: that this country could be hit again by terrorists
I hope: that my boys are happy and healthy always
I eat: tons of foods from the land....healthy
I drink: only water
I play: Wii Fit....it is so cool
I miss: Nana T being around like she used to be. She doesnt knwo anymore. IT IS SO SAD : (
I forgive: but I have to work on forget part. I try but I am ITALIAN
I drive: so very carfully, I have my CDL but no longer use it...with age comes fear I guess.
I lost: 128 lbs so far...MORE TO GO? OH YEAH THERE IS!
I dream: of a world of Peace.
I kiss: my hunny b/c he has great lips.
I hug: so tight I love those boys
I have: the urge to clean....cook and bake often,
I remember: the smallest of details when it comes to things.
I don't: drink or smoke...no no b/c Paula (my mother) did enough of that for a bunch of people
I believe: in Faith, Hope and Love the greatest of these Love...the greatest gift given by God Our Father
I owe: my health to the team at Salem Heart and Wellness
I know: I WILL walk and help contribute to the end of Breat Cancer, it will not beat us WE will beat it.
I hate: when pople spoonge off others.
I wish: the world were a more peacful place.
I wear: clothes that are way too big but I have been doing better these days with that issue
Maybe I should: move to a warm place but can't.
People would say that I'm: a person who really cares..I hope....or OCD with cleaning...lol
I don't understand: why the world has to be so aweful in a way.
My past is: what made me the person I am today.. I DID OVERCOME AND WILL COME OUT VICTORIUOSLLY!
I get annoyed when: Snow comes
Parties are: when I cook up a storm and feed others.
Tomorrow: is Sunday, I love Sunday........I will be taking the first of many training walks.
Never in my life have I: smoked a cigg or pot....not EVER and will NEVER
When I was younger I: worked lots to make cash to do things that were not afforable.
When I'm nervous: I have t odeep breath or I will go nuts.
My life is not complete without: love from the boys and Micahel
If you visit my hometown: you would see it changed so much but if you visit my hometown now as an adult you will see it is a great subrub saught after and with the BEST Ice Cream around...lol GO RICHARDSONS.....
The world could do without: peole who commit hanis crimes
If I ever go back to school:I would want to study exercise phisiolgy and then learn how to spell it...LOL LOL LMAOF I crack me up...I hope I do u too...LOL LOL LOL
And, by the way: You know the drill...get crack-a-lackin'!

Feel free to get crack a lackin yourself....

50* Sunday ..we hope and 5 miles...

Off to Breakheart Reservation tom morn early to do a 5 miles training walk. Since the weather is going to be nice that is the plan with my 3 day walking friends. I do 2-5 a day on the treadmill but we all know that does not compare to land. The roads have differnt balance issues and we need to aclimate to that when doing the 20 miles a day. I really hope for warmth and look forward to making these miles count.
I look at this as yet another leg of my weight loss journey, I should say life journey. You know those surveys in the e-mails? Well one question was "who inspires you?" I can say now WITH MUCH PRIDE>>>>>ME, MYSELF...really I am so proud I inspire me

Lots of good foods to feed my body

I eat these 4-5 items everyday. I have about 7 items that I rotate. I love the crackers crushed up in the yogurt o% Fage (fayah) Greek plain no fat, Some may say it is a bland type of eating but my taste buds have done a 180 and these items are really yummy to me. He its been working for some time now. I now use Wii Fit to weigh me and I am now down 126 lbs since 4/29/08. Yesterday I saw a neighbor at the gym with her daughter who is studing to be a personal trainer and they both came up to me and said we were not sure if that were you and then we saw it was. OH my. So the daughter and I got to talking and if I were 21 again I would so go to school for what she is going for.(Melissa was a student of mine on the bus way back when, so weird she is now in college) It sounded so interesting and I have this new found love of exercise and whole food nutrition. Ah to be 21 again...lol I would have an infant.....I must say that I feel even better than I did at 21 now at 38. Now that is an awesome thing. Hey! ; )

B-day recap

Thanks to all of you who sent the well wishes for my b-day yesterday. In the am aftre the house emptied I enjoyed a long spa bath with epsone salts and bubbles in the jetted tub I said we did not need. HA I am so glad he got it now. btw it is like a swimming pool to me now since I dropped the weight..lol then I enjoyed some Passion Tazo Tea...love that stuff. Watched the crap snow come down thinking I have to get S at school, got a call early he got out at 1 instead of 220. Dropped him off got ready for work and off I went. I hate to drive in the snow but hey I had to do it. I did an awesome b-day party for Zoe and had lots of fun with 18 6 years olds. The mom was so impressed and happy offered my a $20 tip BUT we can't take tips so I asked if she would donate it to a cause and she said she would. Just wish I could of taken it for my breast cancer 3 day cause but once again can't take tips. So I freated with Pam about driving in the snow. We were gonna go to the gym after work but I was not staying out later than needed to drive again in the snow. I got a call from the BILs singing me a happy b-day..lol put them in speaker so Pam can hear. lol
Got hugs from Paula and Michelle B who also have the same b-day. I was so excited M stopped by...so miss her. So happy to see Paula too. My night ended with laughs from Tom on Facebook and about 25 mins of Wii Fit. Then off to bed to find a really sweet card from M on my pillow and a gc to buy a new bathing suit for Fl. He so said I want you to pick it out I did not want to pick one out and not have you likeit. See after 19 years knowing me he gets it. LOL So that is the b-day recap. I really do not ever make a big deal of my b-day except for 20 years ago in 89 when I told Nana T I WAS going to school on my 18th b-day b/c Pope John announces ur b-day on the loud speaker and I HAD to be there. Well my cute Plymouth Horizon Pwder blue only one year old got reemmeeeed about 4 times by 4 seperate cars b/c of black ice. So now u see why I HATE to drive in incimant weather? UGH....that was so sad when that happen.

Another blast from the past

So Ryan comes to me last weekend and says "I really want a rubix cube" I was like huh? where did that come from. Well did you know these days no store has them? We had to order it off Toys R us the website, Not avlbl. in stores. Ok so we wait and yesterdya it came. First off I have always hated them, second I really don't see the need to focus and focus to get frustrated for so long but hey he wanted it and had his own cash to get it. He is enthralled with it and can't wait to get home after curct. training to use it again.

~Happy 16th Birthday Stephen~

Today our first born turns 16. WOW where did the time go? He is so happy to go get his permit. We are going to try today after school, I hear that it is not easy on a Friday afternoon at the DMV so Monday may be our better option. Before I get him from school after I work I am going to head out to get him not a cake but 4 canolies, his favorite. I know he will so eat all 4! HE WILL.....HAPPY BIRHDAY to my baby,,,,lol yes he still is and always will be my baby. They both will be....lol

Rest in Peace Capt. Rick Cashin

It was sad watching the news last night to hear of a State Trooper from the Danver station was killed on Rt 1 in Saugus. Two men came to mind and it sent chills down my spine thinking of these two men and the familes. Well my premis was correct., I am deeply hurt to say, this man was one of the two that came to mind. Ryan had him two years ago as a Lacross Ast. Coach. He had lots of passion for the kids and the sport. He treated them fairly and if you wern't so good at it he took the time to show you the way. Ryan goes to school with his son and the other sons is Stephens age. He has two older daughters also in their late 20's. He put a lot of time, effort and love into his community and it is truely a tragic loss for not only his family but the Tri-town too. Please take a moment in your hearts for him and the others he left behind, tonight at dinner we did. Rest in Peace Capt. Cashin.

many birthdays....

This weekend the Rafts celebrated Papas birthday, Stephens, Mine, Auntie DD, Auntie Vanessas, and Owens...And yes if MIL sent me the pic of the cake I would of posted it. It had all our names on it. lol We have a lot of b-days end of Jan and Feb. Then MILs is in March. I smelt the cake just to see what it smelt like. No need to taste. I did have some wonderful raw almond and dried blueberries with a few chopped spirullina bits...yup...thye looked and said what it the green stuff...Some tried it and DID NOT like...but I LIKE ...so that is all that matters...lol smelling food these days makes it fine. I smelt a Dunkachino (they are back) that Dana had at work. I recall back in 2000 when building this house (stress city) I drank many of those and packed on the weight as for Michael his stress lead to dropping many lbs. Not a fun time but with the Grace of God and our love we got through the many challenging days. Smelling food helps b/c I can get the jist of the food and I really dont need/want the food. I was told at post grad class today "whatever it takes" lol if that helps then smell away...lol So a GREAT big Happy b-day to all those mentioned. This year Stephen will be the BIG 16 on 1/30....wow has the time flown by....

We have wii

Know Fear at Big Daddys surprise party rockin on....so not like him

For a HUGH surprise....so not Michael to do something on a whim he came home last night with wii, rock band and a slip to let me know he is picking up wii fit on Sunday at the store. Stephen will be the big 16 on 1/31 and my b-day is 2/3 so he said this was for our b-days AND Ryans too. Ry was like dad my b-day is in June...LOL So for a second M looked generous...lol lol JK....Last night we were having cutes Jenny and her family over for dinner and she was going to bring her system here so we could mess around since Know Fear got addicted at Kristens Big Dadddys surprise party. He was rocking on and it is so not him. So out of his character but he did awesome and was liking it. He cracked us up with his expresions. So they jammed for hours, I shouted to lower the volume. Yup loud music no need. lol and I ask you why don;t they make a soft rock kind of magic 106.7 version for people like me who love to shower the people you love with love...lol Jalina was in a belly laugh when I would sing my so called church music. After we came up to have dessert I put the computer on my playlist and they all said it was like being trapped in an elavator. AS IF...lol How sweet it is to be loved by you boo....lol So KUDOS to my main squeeze he always ceases to amaze me. He was just so proud of his surprise something we really did not expect. Just yesterday at Traders Joes S went into game stop to look at used stuff and price it out b/c he had it in his head he was gonna buy it with his earned cash from the electrician job that pays awesome I might add. But he got his 16 b-day surprise....I will have to post pics but I do have one from last Sats party of Know Fear...lol

John S has a REALLY good point...watch and see....

http://msunderestimated.com/2009/01/21/daily-show-what-differences-between-bush-obama-video/

I love this saying

"When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, I used everything you gave me". Erma Bombeck

A good goal to keep in mind....

I am with me everyday...so I don't see it like others do...but I just did with these....

I look in the mirror and don't see wow that is a hugh differnce 110 lbs. I see me everyday. I get reactions from people and they are like you don;t look like you, or you look so differnt. I guess b/c I have been with me all this time..lol So seeing the side by sides I can now see what a diffenrce 110 lbs down makes. I am feeling wonderful and blessed to be well into this journey. I am happy that I can be healthy and strong and be able to fly all day long without wanting to sit. I was very active as a heavier person but hurt sometimes and needed to rest more often. I am on my way to my goal weight and maintaining it. I want to say thanks to all of those who continue to support me in this. It will be a life long struggle b/c I will always be that heavier person inside, M always made me feel beautiful regardless: but have to learn daily how to acpert that I have done something positive and I have done this to feel and look better. Help or no help...I have done this.....
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btw I have bones.I was told that the new pink shirt was also too big for me. I still strugle with the size I get b/c I don't want things to fit too snug! J took like two inches of the sirt and said see not snug...too big..I guess from now on I will have to take people with me b/c I do it like before over size to not look snug. I will learn AND..lol I can see my bones....now thats weird...It is really the little things that make a big difference.Both of those other pics was the beg of this journey, I was down 10 -15 lbs in them so imagine 10 -15 lbs more than what was there...gesh

It had to be done.....I feel like I am losin something more than lbs...

Spent more than 2 hours today with 3 piles of clothes being sorted. One for the St. Vincent box at church, one for a friends mother and one just junk that really can't go to either place. I now have like 6 items in my closet now. Well that is how it feels. I was wearing the hugh clothes and looking folish so I was told. lol I did get some really cute things from the Lands End cards I got for Christmas and a few new items on my own but I am loosing more so some are now big but not too big, still can wear them. It was weird purging some things I have had for so long. I really like some of the capris I have got over the years for Fl. trips and dressy stuff I wore on the Disney cruise or just to events in the warmer months. I tried on an outfit I LOVED and I could of fit another person in with me. That I can say is awesome that I remember wearing it to a 40th b-day party and it was tight and now it could be made into curtains. I think we are cnnected to our clothes no matter large ones or small. I did have to stop wearing over sized things. It is so slwo at BAB that I won't be buying too much soon with the slowness of making the cash but also I don't want to buy too much b/c then it gets big on me....not a bad thing. I already bought 3 new pairs of work pants...I have to buy those b/c I wear them more so than not. I wish the TV show what not to wear would give me the cash without being on the show...lol now the closet is empty so really Clinton and Stacey would not have much to throw away in the metal 1970 trash can....We had that on the side of the house growing up....Plus I would so not be able to follow the "rules" I hate when they make a person wear things they are just not comfortable wearing. So off to take two bags to the box at St. Agnes and 3 bags to my friend for her mom. Even if she does not like some of the stuff she too can donate them to the box. oh and I do have on a very heavy new fleace shirt on b/c it is still sooooo soooo very cold....burrr...

If you have time read this story......

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/18/nyregion/18grunt.html?em&ex=1164171600&en

We have been members of PF since Dec of 08....We did not really go faithfully until the end of April of '08. At first I felt really self conscious even though it is known as the "no judgement zone". It is not like other Ken and Barbie gyms and does not tolerate lug heads as they say. So this man apparently violated the policy. I gues he no longer can go to PF b/c of his grunting. I no longer have any fears of the place and am not intimidated by the equiptment like when we were first members. Might I add I so get my $15 a month memberships worth, M does not as much as I do but I so do. Funny we were solicited by a new place Latitude that is like one block away and they wanted like $79.99 a MONTH introductry. fee for their gym. Ok so they have a pool but are you kidding me.....even if I had the 80 a month to give them and another 80 for M SORRY! u can take your high falutin upscale gym and shove it up your bleeeppppp........I can still get awesome results at the $10/$15 a month place. When we renue next time we are going to down grade to the $10 a month. Aparently for $15 we get unlimited use of the massage chairs that we have not yet used. Funny M was like where are they? LOL LOL see he did not even know that was why we paid the extra $5 a month. So we will stick with PF b/c we all know I don't grunt and I can;t say M does either...at least not in public....LOL LOL LOL

more from the snow front.....boy is it awefully frigid out there...

see below for winter updates..lol
Atleast this storm was not bad at all. Really we were so lucky. I can't even say it was 4 inches here. Yippie here. lol Ryan is feeling better to go to school tom. We did not let him out in the snow though to keep it at bay. I could tell he is in cabin fever mode. I did drive to the market and took S to Bobs Store to get a 50% off snowboarding jacket. He loves snowboarding and it is not cheep but hey he pays. He also has a snowsk8. ???? I had no clue what it was until it came by UPS. He had to order it through the net. It is like a sk8 board with no wheels, groves to push the snow and it looks like surfing when he goes down a snowy hill. He gets wood planks and has a jump thing and does "tricks", he is so narly dude..lol So this snow is making him very happy and his friend who has a flat back yard too. He loves coming here to use his thing on our back yard hill. We messed up some of his location when we put up the deck but hey he still has plenty of space. I wish I had the love of the snow but I don't. I wore snow boots to the store and felt like a weirdo walking in the boots. Hey I drove the 2 miles to the store..lol It was not too bad at all b/c of only 4 inches and the plows did an awesome job. The forcast looks like we are in for single digits UGH and more white crap Thursday. AGAIN! When is April going to be here? Now you know why we got married in April...my most favorite month evah! Except for the April Fools snow storm in I think 96 or 97 I have really never saw much snow in April......April where are you???????
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Both boys used the many Dicks GC's on snow stuff this week, snow pants needed b/c they grew hugh from last winter, snow shoe things that look like tennis rakets..lol to "hike" in our woods, I said just take some tennis rackets from the garage and tie them to the boots...lol and some air soft target and pistol thing that I do not really endorse but M had them get goggles and gear for that. So it was like Christmas yesterday at Dicks spending all the GC's....thanks to all who gave the Dicks GC's....they love that store...

"you sunk my battleship" kickin it back old school

Ryan stayed home from school today due to having a fever yesterday after school. He slept from 330pm till this morn and had no time to study for three tests. He said yesterday in school it was so hard to stya awake and he was all acky. I asked why he did not go to the nurse and he said b/c it is jr high and you don't do that. Oh ok Ryan. b/c only in the lower grades does one go to the nurse? I told him in the future he is to go ot the nurse if it is that bad. So his fever yesterday after school was 101.5, after adult rapid relese Tylnl. it went down to 99.9....I still felt today that not being in school would help him get better AND it is not recomemned to go to school with a fever so I did not want to chance it. Michael and I both had to work and he said he was going to be fine in the bed in our room watching TV. I called far too many times for his liking AND M came home at noon for lunch to look in on him. I got out at 1 so I could be with him. We can tell he is doing better b/c he ate some toast and had lots of liquid and tea with honey. So we have been playing some board games and kickin it back old school. His favorite is Battleship. We have the old school version not the new electronic. Not as fun with the tech. I like the lil pegs ect. He is now playing with Michael. He just took Stephen to a friends house to stay over, first time in a longgg time that he did not have to work tonight at the hockey rrink or tom. w/ Mr. Electrician. He said he'll miss the cash but is so happy to be going to "work on his bike" at Matts. I made it clear he is not staying too late tom. b/c we all know that the white crap is comin' yet again. Michael made his trip to the Home Depot to get yet another stash of ice melt/rock salt. Funny how people say oh that $50. worth should take you through the winter...AHHHH sorry to burst your bubble but that is ONE STORM on our hill...Dawn can vouch for me...she now knows the "HILL"////; p lol It takes many lbs like a 50 lb bag to do some of it. We should buy stock in icemelt. I swear I tell M that if we were in a townhouse commnty. our condo fees would be less than what we spend in icemelt...lol I bet.....So I hope that your snow falls are lovely ones. Happy Winter to all! Tell me when the tulips bud! purple ones that is......