Saturday, December 31, 2005

Church cancelled

The weather is awful today and there's some flooding. Pastor cancelled church for the first time ever that I remember. I think what may be going on is our speaker today, Brent, lives in the North Bay where the worst of the flooding was. He may not have been able to make it. But it's sad. I was dressed and everything when I got the call from Oscar.

Happy New Year anyway, everyone.

2005 book list

Here's a list of all the books I read this year. All of them were good except the last one.

The Rising by Tim LaHaye & Jerry Jenkins (book 13 in the Left Behind series)
Till We Have Faces by C.S. Lewis
Under the Banner of Heaven by Jon Krakauer
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
The Bible - one year reading program (.pdf file)
Into the Wild, by Jon Krakauer
The Exorcism of Anneliese Michel by Felicitas D. Goodman
The Regime: Evil Advances by Tim LaHaye & Jerry Jenkins (book 14 in the Left Behind series)
Dr. Atkins' Diet Revolution by Dr. Robert Atkins (1972 edition)
Babylon Rising by Tim LaHaye [Note: It was an awful book and I gave up almost halfway through. I couldn't get past the implausible storyline.]

Friday, December 30, 2005

Lemmings suck...

And I always run into them.

What is it that makes otherwise rational people to start believing the PETA and PCRM propaganda when it comes to the Atkins diet? You can quote studies until you are blue in the face, and they will still cite PETA as a "scientific" source. And if PETA says it's bad, then it must be. The only answer I can think of is that PETA feeds into their preconceived ideas. Those ideas cannot be challenged, and they will grasp at straws to prove Atkins unhealthy, no matter how crazy the source they cling to.

I too once had questions about Atkins. I had question about the diet and how Dr. Atkins died and everything. I had heard the PETA propaganda, too.

But I didn't stop there. I asked questions, looked at other sources, read the book and demanded answers to all my questions.

Lemmings don't ask. They listen to someone saying what they want to hear, and they stop. It must be right. They blindly follow a vegan nut group. They've lost their curiosity.

But hey, if they're right, then time will tell and I will die from this way of life or at least have a zillion health problems related to my high fat intake. The proof is in the low carb pudding, so we will see how unhealthy this way of living is.

In the meantime, the lemmings still drive me crazy. Jesus was despised by most people in his time, and is still hated by many today. So was Dr. Atkins with his groundbreaking nutritional advice. So I guess when people jump on me I'm in good company. It just sucks being a minority who it's okay to hate. Thankfully though, I'm too strong willed to ever be a lemming.

I have Dr. A to thank for giving me my life back, and giving me a diet I can sustain as a way of life. I will never back down from that.

If you still think the Atkins diet is unhealthy, I urge you not to be a lemming. Read and research the whole story. Don't blindly believe what PETA tells you. Here's some research abstracts to get you started, including two from the American Heart Association.

Thursday, December 29, 2005

A Look Back at 2005: Blessed Stability

A Look Back at 2005: Blessed Stability

This year continued my bad co-modding luck. In January I was booted as a co-mod at About.com’s Depression forum because I’m "homophobic." I’m not, but Nancy has to label me something to salve her conscience. Oh well. Her loss.

Official starting weight for 2005 was 166. I'm hovering about 145 as I write this, so that’s about 20 pounds gone. Yippee! But my weight loss did come to a screeching halt in May this year; I was doing well before then. Since May I've only lost about a pound a month. I gained 2.4 pounds in November, and lost 2.2 in December! Right back where I started! This year I hit my one year anniversary for both starting exercising (February) and starting Atkins (March). I am now just barely within a "normal" weight range for my height, gender, and bone structure.

I continued writing the devotions for The Helping Hand this year. I love this "side job."

In March I spoke at church, giving the long version of my testimony. It was pastor's week off, so I volunteered to be the speaker.

In April I bleached my hair and then dyed it blue. I have been growing my hair out and letting the blue fade to green in preparation for bleaching it again and dying it pink this time (I got tired of the blue). The chlorine in the pool wrecked my long dyed hair, so shortly after dying it I had to have it cut short. I figured I could swim and have short hair, hidden under a cap, or not swim and have long hair. I like swimming sometimes so I had the hairdresser cut it short.

Also in April I started blogging on Blogspot rather than the simple blog I'd set up at home. This enables me to post from any computer, anywhere, and lets people add their comments to my entries. Way cool!

The mandatory overtime (that no one is really complaining about) started in April and now we’re in December and it hasn't stopped. My overtime consists of one 12 hour shift a week. One week that will be Sunday, and the next Monday, and so on. One person was hired, but let go after they didn't "work out." It was stupid. We all mess up, sometimes big, but they let him go. Anyway, it works out to 44 hours a week, 8 extra hours per paycheck. I can't say I don't need it.

In May Abby disappeared and was gone for four days before showing up across the street meowing at me for food. Stupid cat. It's the only time she’s ever gotten out since I moved to the new apartment in 2003.

Also in May was the Bay To Breakers race. I equaled my best time ever – 1:37 – by carbing up the night before, the morning of, and during the race. I felt so different from last year when I didn't. Definitely need more carbs when doing something this intense.

Since I had lost my state ID card during the race, and they take time to be replaced, I had to get a passport so I could go on the cruise to Alaska in May. Things were dicey for a while, but I managed to get a rush passport the day before I left.

The cruise ran from late May to early June, one week. We left from Seattle, sailed to Ketchikan, Juneau, and Skagway, then turned south again to Victoria, BC. It was cool. Dad paid for my sister and I and him and his girlfriend to go to Alaska. I'd prefer the Caribbean, but hey, it was a free trip.

I became an aunt in July when my brother Rob and his wife Julie adopted baby Jebadiah. I know Rob is not legally related to me, and baby Jebadiah is not blood related to Rob, but I don't care. I'm still an aunt. :)

I also started an Atkins forum in July. In was short lived on Delphi when Gunter played God one too many times and delisted both my active forums. The Atkins forum moved to Forumer, and the Sabbath keeping forum was swallowed up in the already existing Seventh Day Baptist Yahoo group.

In August I went to General Conference in Michigan. It was really awesome like always. I love getting out of my little ghetto here and meeting people from all over the world. As Conference was starting, John Conrod, who has helped me moderate my Sabbath keepers' forum, died from complications related to MS. Rest in peace, John.

At the end of August I served as Maid of Honor at my sister's wedding. April finally married Renato.

In October I finished the "Bible in the year" project a full 2 ½ months early.

April made her TV debut in November on Move This House on A&E TV. My sister on TV. So exciting! She did great, but there was a lot of nervous laughter on her part.

Also in November Jean-Luc started a private Yahoo group for survivors of Kathi's ExWitch to discuss how to start a forum for ex-Witches, the original purpose of EW before it became primarily evangelism. The Yahoo group is now mostly dead, the forum is up and running, and we'll just see how things go from here. I suggested "The Moon and the Son" for a name, and they ended up naming it "The Son and the Moon." Jesus should get prominence in the name.

All in all, a fairly stable year. I'm in the same job, same apartment, with the same cats. :) This will be my third Christmas (just over two full years) of living in the same place. And it's my own apartment, not shared with anybody except my two cats, so it's doubly cool. Anyone who knows me well know how important (and elusive) stability has been to me. I even get stressed out when my daily routines get disrupted.

{primarily written December 21, 2005, with various edits}

Wednesday, December 28, 2005

Could you pass 8th grade science?

You Passed 8th Grade Science!

Congratulations, you got 8/8 correct!

Thanks to ALa.

Just when you thought it couldn't get any worse...

The Waffling Anglican tells us about NBC's newest attempt to portray Christians in a bad light. If this is a representative of Christianity, I got really lucky with the church I wound up in! The priest is addicted to painkillers, his wife is addicted to martinis, and his son is gay. Does NBC think this is "normal"?

The Waffling Anglican's post
send an e-mail to NBC
NBC's official site

RMR test

I had this test at the gym today. It costs $50 and stands for "Resting Metabolic Rate." It's how many calories your body burns at rest - if you are just sitting around like a bump on a log, not eating or exercising or doing anything. It's how many calories your body needs to keep you breathing and your heart beating, etc. Eating raises metabolism because it takes calories to digest food (I think I read that about 10% of what you eat is burned this way), and exercise raises metabolism. So this is a fasting test. I couldn't have my morning coffee, vitamins, or protein shake until after the test, nor could I exercise.

Anyway, all that to say my results were 1610 calories, down from 1870 a year ago. I knew it would be lower because I've lost weight, but I was hoping it wouldn't be too much lower. 260 calories lower...bleh.

Tuesday, December 27, 2005

Dumbbells!

My Mom sent me dumbbells for Christmas and they arrived today! Yay! They are 10 lb. orange ones, like these, only orange and 10 lbs. :)

I am so thrilled! Now I can do weights at home while watching TV. :) Woohoo!

New Year's Resolutions, 2006

1) To get down to 142.

2) To maintain my weight at no higher than 147. When I do go above, to get stricter with carbs again and get back on track.

3) Do more work with weights to increase muscle mass
OR
Get my body fat down to 23%.

Or both. :)

4) Continue eating low carb, but play with my carb and fat grams to better fuel my time at the gym.

5) To do daily devotions using Our Daily Bread at least 5 days a week. To use the Web site until they start sending me the printed version.

Monday, December 26, 2005

New Year's Resolutions check, final check

Here's the resolutions I made for 2005.

The full post is in italics below.

To do one of two things:

1) Either get down to 155 pounds OR Get my body fat down into a "normal" range for my age.

Or both. :)


I made 155 easily. I'm currently hovering around 145, so that goal was met.

As for body fat, I think I was shooting for 23% (need to be more specific in the future), which I didn't make. My last two times being tested for body fat were 26% and 24.5%, down from 29.3% at the beginning of the year.

Still, I only had to make one to fulfill the resolution, so I'm calling it met.

2) Run the first two miles of the Bay To Breakers race before slowing down to a walk.

Done. Two miles is technically the first water stop. I was hoping to make it to the bottom of the Hayes Street Hill - just over two miles in - and that was what I did.

So goal met. :)

3) Do more work with weights to increase muscle mass.

A resolution that anticipated maintenance. But it is my resolution for 2006 as I work to maintain.

4) Continue going to the gym at least 3 days a week.

I was doing great until overtime got in the way. After that, I made Thursdays into grocery day. I make it to the gym 1-2 times a week now and I really hate that. I really thought this one would be easy.

5) Continue eating low carb, but play with my carb and fat grams to better fuel my time at the gym.

Another resolution that anticipated maintenance. So this is something to tweak in 2006.

6) Let go of those who hurt me this past year and give them wholly over to God for HIM to deal with as He best sees fit, and not as human justice desires.

I don't think I will ever make this one. Why even bother to try? *sigh* Only God Himself can take away that bitterness.

7) To read the Bible cover to cover this year. I have a "Bible in a year plan" already printed out.

Done. Finished October 11.

So #1 made, #2 made, #3 not applicable, #4 failed, #5 not applicable, #6 failed, and #7 made. That's 5 resolutions - 3 accomplished and 2 not accomplished. That's 60% which pretty much sucks. I need to focus on making more resolutions I can accomplish, lol.

How Christmas went...

A little more detail about my time at Doug and Jane's. Dinner Christmas Eve was sandwich stuff. Jane had regular and low carb tortillas and we loaded them up with mayo and roast beef and cheese and I had tomatoes, too. I had two large ones. Yum!

The next morning I had about a cup of egg nog (about 50g carbs - yikes!) and everyone had breakfast together - scrambled eggs mixed with sausage and bell peppers. Atkins-friendly and yummy. I had one bite of Jane's muffin to get the taste without all the carbs.

Then we opened presents. I had three presents from Doug and Jane, but only the skirt fit. The white hoody was too tight under the armpits, and I already have the Atkins For Life kit, though I really appreciate the thought. If I didn't have it I would have been thrilled.

On my way to work I stopped at Carrow's and they were closed, so I got no special dinner. Today I want my special dinner instead of the lunch I brought. But I will be good.

I'm wearing the skirt Jane gave me today. I left the other two items with her, and I forgot my stocking that had several little things. She had even put sugar free candy in mine instead of regular!

Still planning Christmas at home tomorrow morning.

Oh, speaking of home, the two bowls of cat food were completely empty when I got home last night. I was only gone 36 hours! What a couple chow hounds I have!

I gave the kitties Trader Joe's "Tuna For Cats" last night as a little treat. Their Christmas treat of tuna will be tomorrow when I open my prezzies.

My Vicki box still isn't here. I guess I was the one to get the box that was held up by weather and will be arriving at work tomorrow, while I'm home celebrating. Bleh. Oh well. Who cares?

Sunday, December 25, 2005

Excuse me while I scream

Well this has been a sucky Christmas day.

So I arrive at Doug and Jane's house yesterday. Within a few minutes of arriving my eyes are itching and I'm sniffling and sneezing. Everybody (including me) assumes I'm allergic to something in the house, which is weird because I've been to their house lots of times before. Everything in that house is something I've been exposed to with no problem. Jane gives me her last Claritin tablet, which helps a little. We have wraps for dinner - cheese, meat, and tomatoes for me on a low carb wrap.

I get up this morning still sneezing and sniffling. I try some daytime cold medicines, but none of them can target my main problem - the runny nose.

I stop at Carrow's on my way to work. Who ever heard of a restaurant closing Christmas Day? That's a prime time for people to go out. I don't have the energy to hike over to Denny's, so I decide to make do with what I can scrounge here at work. What a lovely Christmas dinner! :-p

I run across the street to the gas station and get coffee and cold medicine. The cold medicine is working all right, but it has the same effect as the Benadryl, even though I don't see diphenhydramine listed in the ingredients. So now my symptoms are mostly under control, but I can barely stay awake as a type this.

I'm trying to get tomorrow off, or at least partially off, even though it will mean losing 4 hours of overtime pay since I'm slated to work 12 hours.

I am so hating life right now.

Well, Merry Christmas anyway, people.

Saturday, December 24, 2005

Merry Christmas Eve!

Just a quick note to wish everyone a merry Christmas eve! I'll be at church this morning, and then straight to Doug and Jane's house to spend the night. In the morning they said they'd feed me breakfast and stick me on the train to work. My personal Christmas celebration will be December 27. The 26th is out because that's a 12 hour day for me. So I'm skipping the gym on the 27th and sleeping in and opening prezzies!

I'm leaving the kitties two full bowls of food this morning so they won't go hungry.

Bye all! Have a great Christmas, and I'll be back with an entry on Christmas Day night.

Friday, December 23, 2005

PC Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Please accept with no obligation, implied or implicit, our best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low-stress, non-addictive, gender-neutral celebration of the winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, or secular practices of your choice, with respect for the religious/secular persuasion and/or traditions of others, or their choice not to practice religious or secular traditions at all.

We also wish you a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset of the generally accepted calendar year 2006, but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures whose contributions to society have helped make America great. Not to imply that America is necessarily greater than any other country nor the only America in the Western Hemisphere. And without regard to the race, creed, color, age, physical ability, religious faith or sexual preference of the wishee.

By accepting these greetings you are accepting these terms. This greeting is subject to clarification or withdrawal. It is freely transferable with no alteration to the original greeting. It implies no promise by the wisher to actually implement any of the wishes for herself or himself or others, and is void where prohibited by law and is revocable at the sole discretion of the wisher. This wish is warranted to perform as expected within the usual application of good tidings for a period of one year or until the issuance of a subsequent holiday greeting, whichever comes first, and warranty is limited to replacement of this wish or issuance of a new wish at the sole discretion of the wisher.

Wednesday, December 21, 2005

Jews Against Anti-Christian Defamation

No, I'm not joking. This organization really exists...

From their Web site:
Jews Against Anti-Christian Defamation was organized because we recognize that Christians are the last remaining obstacle to the moral deconstruction of America, because attacks on Christians are motivated by hatred for the values they espouse.

http://www.jews4fairness.org/

Thanks to ALa for pointing me there.

How evil are you?


How evil are you?

Thanks to ALa for the quiz!

Shortest day of the year

Yep, it's the shortest day of the year, and the actual minute of the solstice, just about as I type this (around 10:30 a.m. Pacific). The good news is the days start getting longer from here!

Tuesday, December 20, 2005

Haven't been posting as much...

I know I haven't been posting as much. I've been updating the archives with old journal entries, especially the first half of 1996, during which a ton of stuff happened. I've just got part of April left to do, but April was a busy month! I'm not typing all of my journal up, just certain select parts of certain select entries - the things I want to remember, and want you to know. Hence, my relative silence with new postings. To access the entries, there is a drop-down list. Please remember that April isn't finished yet.

Sunday, December 18, 2005

"Christmas" vs. "Holiday"

The annual war is on again, with schools and liberals all over the nation banning Christmas in favor of a joyless "Happy Holidays" while singing rewritten carols under the "holiday tree."

Get over it people. I grew up in a fairly non-religious family (we didn't even go to church Christmas and Easter), and we said Merry Christmas, and put up a Christmas tree, and listened to traditional carols. It was just part of growing up in America and had no religious overtone to it. "Merry Christmas" was just what you said, and my sister and I woke up Christmas morning and got lots of presents.

Well, I found the coolest post from an atheist (linked from ALa's blog). He says to keep Christmas; "holiday" is what offends him because it's original meaning is "holy day," and he doesn't believe in the concept of "holy."

Read his post here:
Weighing in on the "War on Christmas"...

Which of Santa's Reindeer Are You?

You Are Prancer

You are the perfect reindeer, with perfect hooves and perfect flying form.

Why You're Naughty: Because you're Santa's pet, and you won't let anyone show you up.

Why You're Nice: You have the softest fur and the sweetest carrot breath.

Thanks to ALa for the quiz!

Friday, December 16, 2005

Productivity

What a crazy busy day! The church Christmas party is tomorrow AND I'm trying to make lunches. I cooked a 5 pounds leg of lamb in the oven, cut it and portioned it for lunches next week, fried up tofu and added that, and then threw frozen veggies on top of it all.

And I made that cottage cheese dessert. I had whipping cream and unflavored gelatin. So I added one packet of flavored Jello and three packets of unflavored gelatin to the whipped cream, then added the cottage cheese. I took a finger dip and it tastes good. We'll see how well the gelatin holds the whipped cream together. It will be my dessert while everyone else is eating sugary stuff. There's can't be more than 30 or so carbs in the entire bowl, and I won't be eating the whole thing, lol.

I also tried to make mashed potatoes out of cauliflower. Even after using an electric beater, it still has the consistency of rice. Oh well. I put it in a baking dish and put slices of cheese on top, and will bake it tomorrow at church during the Bible study before lunch. Hope it comes out okay.

I'm having a light beer now. I'm soooo stressed out. I hate cooking.

Unexpected exercise

Got some unexpected exercise when I missed my bus stop on the way home from the grocery store, got off when I noticed my error, and then proceeded to get lost. :-p Don't know how much I wondered around before I found my apartment building dragging $77 worth of groceries behind me in my Pullman bag.

Thursday, December 15, 2005

Christmas Cake Recipe

This was sent to me by e-mail and too good not to pass on. You'll LOVE this cake!

Thought you might enjoy a copy of my favorite Christmas cake recipe:

1 cup of water
1 tsp. baking soda
1 cup of sugar
1 tsp. salt
1 cup of brown sugar
lemon juice
4 large eggs
1 cup nuts
2 cups of dried fruit
1 bottle Jose Cuervo Tequila

Sample the Cuervo to check quality. Take a large bowl, check the Cuervo again, to be sure it is of the highest quality. Pour one level cup and drink. Turn on the electric mixer. Beat one cup of butter in a large fluffy bowl. Add one teaspoon of sugar. Beat again. At this point it's best to make sure the Cuervo is still OK, Try another cup...just in case.

Turn off the mixerer thingy. Break 2 leggs and add to the bowl and chuck in the cup of dried fruit. Pick the frigging fruit off floor. Mix on the turner. If the fried druit gets stuck in the beaterers just pry it loose with a drewscriver. Sample the Cuervo to check for tonsisticity. Next, sift two cups of salt, or something. Who giveshz a sheet. Check the Jose Cuervo. Now shift the lemon juice and strain your nuts. Add one table. Add a spoon of sugar, or somefink. Whatever you can find. Greash the oven.

Turn the cake tin 360 degrees and try not to fall over. Don't forget to beat off the turner. Finally, throw the bowl through the window, finish the Cose Juervo and make sure to put the stove in the dishwasher.

CHERRY MISTMAS (I might have sent you this recipe before, but if I did I don't remember)

The NEED to SPEED my loss

Cutting out the Atkins' bars for the rest of the month. I'll make due with watered down protein shakes since I can't afford the RTD ones and I have plenty of the powdered kind. Today I mixed one scoop of Atkins chocolate with 2 scoops of Keto banana. Guess I need to switch back to eggs and bacon, too. *sigh* I so much prefer the bars.

Wednesday, December 14, 2005

Still 145

145 for 3 days in a row, no fluctuation. I'm hoping these higher readings will head down. I know the new scale weighs me heavier, so my current goal is to get down another pound so I'll be where the old scale used to weigh me.

I'm serious when I asked for prayer. I want to lose something after TOM! For once. I've been a really good girl!

So far 3 weigh-ins on the new scale. The first weigh-in was under 145. The next two were over. Tomorrow is my official day, so everyone pray it's under 145! Well, I'd like it to say 135, but I'll settle for "under 145," lol.

I was a good girl and worked out today! 20 minutes of weights, and 40 on the elliptical. I should have gone for 45 since I missed my train by mere seconds and ended up waiting 15 minutes for the next one.

Carbs are shaping up to about 37g today.

Headcovering

This was mentioned in the comments section of the post below by somebody and should be addressed. First, the reason for headcovering comes from 1 Corinthians 11:3-16.

There are four main strains of thought in Christianity regarding headcovering.

1) Christian women should cover all the time. (We are to "pray without ceasing.")
2) Christian women should cover only in church (since the passage refers to a church service).
3) Christian women's covering is their hair.
4) Only married women should cover (since it denotes submission to one's husband).

I tend to fall under option #1 as I am single and cover pretty much all the time. (Not that I am fastidious about it, and perhaps I should be.) I believe the covering denotes submission not just to one's husband, but to any male authority. In my case, that would be my pastor and any man functioning as an elder in my church. This isn't a bad thing, since we are Baptists and tend to be fiercely independent. People generally don't care what you do as long as you aren't blatantly involved in a grievous sin.

I believe the passage refers to two coverings - a natural covering of hair, and a second covering that the woman chooses to put on. Verses 6 and 10 seem to indicate that there is a second covering in addition to the hair.

"If a woman be not covered, let her also be shorn" (v. 6). The use of the word "also" indicates something other than hair. Otherwise it reads, "If a woman be not covered with hair, let her also be shorn." How can she be shorn if she doesn't have any hair to sheer? It only makes sense if it is talking about a second covering. It is saying that if a woman fails to wear a covering, it is as disgraceful as if she shaved her head.

I did some Googling and found the following links about it:

http://www.muhajabah.com/christianveil.htm
This is a Muslim site, but the person seems to have a fairly good grip on the topic.

http://covenanter.org/JCalvin/commentaryonheadcoverings.htm
John Calvin's commentary on 1 Corinthians 11

http://wendysmodestdress.com/id27.htm
Wendy's testimony. Scroll about 1/4 way down past the links. The links are excellent, too! Wendy takes things a step further by only wearing dresses.

[Edit: Here's another post on headcovering.]

Tuesday, December 13, 2005

I need chocolate

TOM came for a visit last night so today was the typical I-need-chocolate day. I tweaked around with FitDay to try to work in a MiniCarb bar and still not go over 40 carbs. I'll have to have the pot roast. I wanted the chicken. Oh well. My calories are sky high because the bar is 185 calories (12g of fat,but only 5g net carbs), but darnit - it's TOM. I need chocolate.

PC Christmas in the Workplace

This makes the rounds every year. :) If it isn't a sad commentary on the state of America today, I don't know what is.

---

Subject: Christmas Party
FROM: Pauline Lewis, Human Resources Director
TO: All Employees
DATE: 4th November
RE: Christmas Party

I'm happy to inform you that the company Christmas Party will take place on December 23rd, starting at noon in the private function room at the Grill House. There will be a cash bar and plenty of drinks! We'll have a small band playing traditional carols...please feel free to sing along.

And don't be surprised if the Managing Director shows up dressed as Santa Claus! A Christmas tree will be lit at 1.00p.m.

Exchange of gifts among employees can be done at that time; however, no gift should be over $10.00 to make the giving of gifts easy for everyone's pockets.

This gathering is only for employees! The Managing Director will make a special announcement at the Party.

Merry Christmas to you and your Family.

Pauline
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
FROM: Pauline Lewis, Human Resources Director
TO: All Employees
DATE: 5th November
RE: Holiday Party

In no way was yesterday's memo intended to exclude our Jewish employees. We recognize that Chanukah is an important holiday, which often coincides with Christmas, though unfortunately not this year. However, from now on we're calling it our 'Holiday Party'.. The same policy applies to any other employees who are not Christians. There will be no Christmas tree or Christmas carols sung. We will have other types of music for your enjoyment.

Happy now?

Happy Holidays to you and your family,

Pauline.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
FROM: Pauline Lewis, Human Resources Director
TO: All Employees
DATE: 6th November
RE: Holiday Party

Regarding the note I received from a member of Alcoholics Anonymous requesting a non-drinking table...you didn't sign your name. I'm happy to accommodate this request, but if I put a sign on a table that reads, "AA Only", you wouldn't be anonymous anymore!!!! How am I supposed to handle this? Somebody?

Forget about the gift exchange, no gift exchange allowed now since the Union Officials feel that $10.00 is too much money and Management believe $10.00 is a little cheap.

NO GIFT EXCHANGE WILL BE ALLOWED.

Pauline.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
FROM: Pauline Lewis, Human Resources Director
TO: All Employees
DATE: 7th November
RE: Holiday Party

What a diverse group we are! I had no idea that December 20th begins the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which forbids eating and drinking during daylight hours. There goes the party! Seriously, we can appreciate how a luncheon at this time of year does not accommodate our Muslim employees' beliefs, perhaps the Grill House can hold off on serving your meal until the end of the party - or else package everything up for you to take home in a little foil doggy bag. Will that work?

Meanwhile, I've arranged for members of Weight Watchers to sit farthest from the dessert buffet and pregnant women will get the table closest to the toilets, Gays are allowed to sit with each other, Lesbians do not have to sit with gay men, each will have their own table.

Yes, there will be flower arrangements for the gay men's table, too.

To the person asking permission to cross dress - no cross dressing allowed.

We will have booster seats for short people. Low fat food will be available for those on a diet. We cannot control the salt used in the food. We suggest those people with high blood pressure taste the food first. There will be fresh fruits as dessert for Diabetics, the restaurant cannot supply "No Sugar" desserts. Sorry!

Did I miss anything?!?!?!?!?!

Pauline.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
FROM: Pauline Lewis, Human Resources Director
TO: All F****** Employees
DATE: 8 November
RE: The &^%$(*^$ Holiday Party

Vegetarian pri*ks!! I've had it with you people!!! We're going to keep this party at the Grill House whether you like it or not, so you can sit quietly at the table furthest from the "grill of death", as you so quaintly put it. You'll get your f&^#% salad bar, including organic tomatoes, but you know tomatoes have feeling, too. They scream when you slice them. I've heard them scream. I'm hearing them scream right NOW!!

Hope you all have a rotten holiday * drink, drive, and die!

The Bitch from HELL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
FROM: John Bishop - Acting Human Resources Director
DATE: 9th November
RE: Pauline Lewis and Party

I'm sure I speak for all of us in wishing Pauline Lewis a speedy recovery, and I'll continue to forward your cards to her.

In the meantime, Management has decided to cancel our Holiday Party and instead, give everyone the afternoon of the 23rd December off with full pay.

{Later note: Here's Snopes' article on it.}

Monday, December 12, 2005

Kathi in a wheelchair?

I have a policy of pretty much not mentioning or writing about Kathi because God said not to say anything bad about her. But...this entry isn't badmouthing her so I think it's okay.

I heard today that Kathi was in a wheelchair because of that joint disease she has. If this is true, it's very sad, and the sort of thing I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy. My Dad is in a wheelchair and has been since before I was born. So I know how much it can limit one's activity (and in some cases, give an excuse for not doing something - but that's another post).

Anyway, I hope it's not true, but my source was reliable and knew Kathi up until fairly recently, so I suspect it is. :(

{Later edit: Here's the proof.}

Death by Caffeine

Find out how much coffee/soda/tea you'd have to drink to off yourself:

Death by Caffeine

Got mentioned in another blog!

Blonde Sagacity mentioned me when she took the Narnia quiz. :) Anyone know what "H/T" means?

Sunday, December 11, 2005

Church youth group publishes nude calendar

Just when I'd thought I'd seen it all. First there were the ladies of the Women's Institute posing nude. Now it's German Christians!

Youths reveal racy Bible calendar

A German Protestant youth group has put together a 2006 calendar illustrated with erotic scenes from the Bible.

Full story here.



Related stories:
Curate is defrocked for calendar
Vicar's support for nude calendar
TV priest backed over calendar
Cathedral choir strips for calendar

Exercise and Carbohydrates

At church about a week ago, Rachel was there and we talked a little about carbohydrates and exercise and how low carb eating effects exercise. I admit I am not eating enough carbs to run long distances. But now I think I understand things better.

See, I can, very easily, walk for an hour on the treadmill or do an hour on the elliptical. That's not a huge deal, even at under 50g a day. So I think it's how fast a body can turn what's available into fuel that matters. Carbs are easy fuel and easy to turn into energy. For long, hard exercise, they are essential to doing well. This is why I "carbed up" before the Bay To Breakers race this last May. On low carb my body can't make the conversion of fat to energy fast enough to keep up with the energy demanded.

But at a lower intensity (such as walking), it's much easier for my body to make the conversion fast enough to deliver the energy I need. And that's why I can do a lower intensity exercise for an hour or more.

Friday, December 09, 2005

The Chronicles of Narnia, the movie opens!

The Chronicles of Narnia, "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" opened today and I was there! It was a good movie. My biggest complaint is the same as my complaint with Lord of the Rings - they departed from the book when there was no reason to except to make the movie more exciting. Frankly, I'd rather have a more boring movie that stayed closer to the book. The one change I did like is when the Queen returns the day after killing Aslan (and having his mane shaved), she's wearing his mane hair around her shoulders. That was a nice touch.

The movie also practically skimmed over the "deeper magic" aspect when it was so big in the book. I felt this took away from the Christian meaning of the film, and the true meaning of the book. Lewis was writing Christian alagory.

All this said, the movie is worth seeing, and worth seeing on the big screen. It's PG, but don't take little kids. Some of the monsters would be really scary to them, and probably the big battle scene, too.

I hope Disney does more movies like this.

Here's my previous posts on the matter (will not open new window):
Narnia Quiz, May 3, 2005
brings explanation of my results on the Narnia Quiz, May 4, 2005
Two Pre-Screening Reviews, September 12, 2005
Moviefone web site with movie trailers, October 27, 2005
Official movie site and first sighting of commercials, November 21, 2005

Thursday, December 08, 2005

Gift card!, take 2 (the pictures)

Here's some pictures taken last night at the dinner.

Left to right: Jon (supervisor), Brad (daytime network control operator), Davina (Saturday evening operator), Lisa (overnight operator), Victoria (evening operator)


Lisa, Jon, Brad, Davina, Victoria


Brad, Lisa, Davina, Victoria

Wednesday, December 07, 2005

Gift card!

We had our annual staff dinner for my department at Applebee's tonight. Jon outlined some of the stuff that happened the past year, including current and future changes. I wish I would have had a notebook. I've had a hard time keeping up with all the changes lately.

I ordered an Atkins-freindly dinner, subbing the potatos for a second helping of veggies, and giving Brad my garlic bread.

At the end of the dinner, Jon (our direct supervisor) did something he has never done before. He handed little pouch gifts to each of us. When we opened them we found Starbucks gift cards! He had neglected to write in the amount of the card on the enclosed gift tag, so we asked him. He said $15. :-D I have never gotten any kind of bonus working here before. This is so cool!

Tuesday, December 06, 2005

Staff dinner

No exercise today. I had to run into San Francisco to get my mail and mail a Christmas package for a secret Santa thing. Now I have to get my sister's package finished and mailed.

I remembered that Wednesday I have a staff dinner so I can't count that day (having no idea of calories and carb count at the restaurant). I will give away my garlic bread and sub the potatoes for more veggies. Also will get shirmp and/or steak and eat clean.

Monday, December 05, 2005

If you think YOUR church is bad..., take 2

Another abomination, this time at a Catholic church, and one near me. (Now that scares me.) This was much longer ago, though. Hopefully they have not repeated this travesty. Why do these things always happen in either New York or California?

Clown Mass

Archives are in correct order...finally!

I finally found someone with the correct javascript code to get my archives not just in a dropdown, but also in reverse order, newest to oldest. So no more having to go to the bottom of the list to find more recent posts. The year 1990 can sit at the bottom, where it belongs.

Thanks for Brent Roos for the code.

Sunday, December 04, 2005

I've been slammed...

Recently, this was posted on another blog regarding me.

---

Listen, I find intra-Christian politics boring as can be, but I have noticed a slight change in my visitor statistics lately, so I thought I would clear a few things up before the next inquisition.

The nasty emails were annoying enough last time; this time, I would like to make sure my nasty emails are at least for the right reasons.

I was recently invited to join a "support group" for "survivors" of a certain online ministry. The mission statement talks about a place "where these survivors can heal and can begin to grow again."

Let's get some facts straight:

1. I didn't leave active participation in that ministry because of corruption or some such nonsense. Actually, I think they are a pretty nice bunch of people. I pray for them regularly, and wish a few would keep in touch.
2. If you are letting an online ministry dominate your life to the point where you need an online support group to deal with your online quibbles, then you need to start spending more time with your "real life" flesh and blood community, and a lot less time online.
3. If you left that online ministry over two years ago, and are still spending nearly every waking moment obsessing over how ill-treated you think you were, then something gone seriously wrong.

The internet is a wonderful thing, but the moment it starts consuming you and superseding face-to-face relationships, you need to take a step back and reevaluate. It's dangerous ground.


---

I tried to reply with the truth of the matter. My comments were summarily hidden to prevent others from reading the truth.

I will post them here now, where they will get an ever wider audience than if the original comment had been allowed to stand. She was kind enough to send me my comments back, along with a nasty e-mail telling me to "back off." *sigh* Oh well.

---

Ok, let's do get a few things straight. I didn't start the "support group," Jean-Luc did and he invited me.

The group is focusing not on griping about the past, but looking forward to the future. Almost every post from every participant is either generally chit chat of the "getting to know you" type, or has to do with planning Jean-Luc's new forum. We're currently at the point of voting on a name, since the forum can't be set up without one.

You wouldn't know this unless you could READ the messages of course, which you can't because you opted not to join the group, so you really have no right to gripe about something you have never seen and know nothing about.

For your information, we asked you to join because we wanted a Catholic's input into how the forum should be run, to avoid what happened at EW. We were trying to be more inclusive. Instead, we only get slammed.

And I reiterate, every time we have IMed about EW is because YOU brought it up, not me. Who's the one obsessing here?

---

She called this "offensive" and hid it, but people need to know the truth - her post is nothing but assumptions about a person she has never met (me) and a forum she had never seen or read. She is going totally by the description of what is on the front page, which is very different from what the forum very quickly became. It is made up of people who have left or been made to leave EW; it is not a forum to gripe about those experiences. She needs to stick to writing about what she knows about, not what she thinks she knows.

There were no nasty e-mails from me so I have no idea what she is talking about there. I did e-mail her after she hid my comments, but not before.

She later deleted the entire post, but not before I had copied it here. She got really pissed and told me her post was her intellectual property and I had no right copying it. Still, her post was up a few days for all the world to see before I found it and told the truth and forced her to take it down.

And let me add that she really doesn't know the first thing about Jean-Luc or the group if she doesn't know that we have been exhorted by J-L (publicly) to pray for EW. It's right in his very public blog. It was also posted to the group.

She'll blame me for this little spat. I simply point out that she was the first to publicly accuse me of these things. I am merely defending myself against her baseless accusations.

If you think YOUR church is bad...

This is why the Episcopal Church in America is dying. The first ever "Clown Eucharist." Trinity Episcopal Church in New York has gone to the dogs.

John at ExPagan has all the info., including links to the Webcast of the service. You can see the whole thing, in mime, from beginning to end (if you can stomach that much). Some people seem to have thought this was a Halloween service rather than a clown service and dressed accordingly.

This is one of the most God-awful things I have ever seen. Do they really consider this worship of the living God?

I disagree with John's discussion of the validity of the Eucharist. He's a staunch Catholic so nothing that isn't Catholic is valid.

But this...this "worship service" is just scary.

More here from an Anglican.

Gina also blogged about it after she saw it here. Check out her comments.

Honorable Mention

People are finally making fun of me. Was using keyword search on blogs to see what came up, and I've been mentioned here (link #4). I don't know whether to laugh or cry.

Atkins song, take 2

Here's another Atkins ditty, this one written by Brad and posted in the comments section of the Thanksgiving (2005) entry:

Skinny Mini Slender One
had to lose weight, and got it done.
Now there she sits a slender beauty
keeping weight off a daily duty... =-P
Washboard abs and fat is down
Now that Atkins was no Clown.
The Atkins diet you'll see what it can do.
Naysayers must face your words ain't true.

Scream about it and say it's wrong
Proof is in the pudding. Check the carbs!!
That Atkins, he was right all along.

Accident Thursday

I was in an accident Thursday night coming home from work. Yuriy drove me from work to the BART station to catch my train. As we were turning onto the main road, another car was coming toward us and didn't stop. He hit the back side of the car, drove around us, and sped off as fast as possible!

Yuriy drove me the rest of the distance to a little drop off spot near the BART station. We both got out and he surveyed the damage. The only damage was a broken side tailight. It was pretty dark, but I couldn't see any other damage. A piece of a car was lying in the street where the accident happened, and we figure it must be from the car that hit us.

Nothing like an accident to start your weekend! :-p

Forgiveness and Purpose

This was a wonderful little essay posted to a private Listserve I belong to. I asked permission to post it publicly because it speaks of the need to forgive - and the difficulty in forgiving - those who have hurt us. I did not write it and have stripped the author's name in accordance with their wish to remain anonymous. The author is Christian; beyond that I will not say more.

I have left the grammar and spelling as it was originally written.

---

Any one who knows me knows that I left EW with alot of hurt and humiliation. I was so bitter for so long. Like J-L I went back to my former self. I felt that it was the last nail in my "christian" coffin. I had been hurt by christians all of my life. Not just little hurts, but hurts that last a life time. I went out badmouthing EW and christianity in general.

Over the last few months, things have been starting to change for me. It was like lightbulbs flashing in my head. The first was "why should I let them send me to hell with them?" The only person that was getting hurt here was me. OK they hurt me, OK they are pretend christians, why would I allow them to control my spirit and where I am? SO I gave my heart back to God. Once the anger over christianity was gone, there was nothing left to fight against and it was just between me and my God.

I know we have all heard the "forgive as God as forgiven us". I know that I have heard this my entire life, but it never clicked before last week. I know that I have sinned. I have cursed God, I have called on demons, I have lived in ways I know I should not. Are my sins any worse than their's? To me it might seem so, because it is so personal, but in the large scheme of things, no they aren't. It just doesn't seem logical for me to sin because they are.

I have found myself to be as much of a hyprocrite as they are. While I have sat back and spent most of my time judging them as their actions and proving to myself that they arent' real christians, I have failed to act and behave as I know I should. I have not treated people with the same love and respect that I have judged others for not giving to me. To any of those here that I have hurt with my attitude, I am sorry. Just know that I am human, but I will work on it here as I am doing IRL.

That being said, I think that a new forum where everybody is welcomed and shown the love of Christ, reguardless of where their paths are, is what God would want. Honestly, I have been involved with an Ex-christian site. This site is all about anti-christianity. I don't want to be anti anything. That includes EX-EW. Then it would seem as if there is another purpose here as opposed to the purpose God would have us be. The purpose of "showing the world the love of Christ", should be first of formost.

Thursday, December 01, 2005

To which race of Middle Earth do you belong?

Numenorean
Numenorean

To which race of Middle Earth do you belong?
brought to you by Quizilla

38% of people get this result. The next one down is Rohirrim with 19%.

Top Ten Taggings (Tagged, take two)

I'm sitting here wondering how far back this tagging thing goes, so I started following blog links back.

You will remember I was tagged by Gina.
Gina was tagged by Bonovox.
Bonovox was tagged by Laura.
Laura was tagged by Philippa.
Philippa was tagged by David.
David was tagged by Michael, who seems to have originated it.

I tagged Veronica.
Veronica tagged Emily_Nz.
Emily_Nz tagged Audrey.
Audrey tagged Cynthia, who broke the chain. :(

Wednesday, November 30, 2005

Larry King interview with Robert Atkins

Just came across this tonight.

Aired January 6, 2003 - 21:00 ET

LARRY KING, HOST: Tonight, Dr. Robert Atkins, the world's
most controversial diet guru, criticized for years. He may
have been right after all. He's here for the hour and he'll
take your calls. Dr. Robert Atkins next on LARRY KING LIVE.
It's always good to see him. We've been interviewing him
many, many times over the years, locally in Miami,
nationally on radio and now with us on television and radio
via CNN. Dr. Robert Atkins is a cardiologist and founder of
the Atkins Center for Complimentary Medicine. His books
have been number one on the "New York Times" list often.
His new book is "Atkins for Life." There you see its cover.
"The Complete Controlled Carb Program for Permanent Weight
Loss and Good Health."

Full transcript here.

Bitch and Moan

Why can't I lose weight after Thanksgiving? Why am I so far above 145? I would give my eyeteeth to be 145 again. Why does my body hate me? I've given up bread and kept my carbs below 40g a day and still nothing. :(

Truth be told, I'm afraid to weigh myself. I did a day or two ago - at night - and was 152 and change. I'm afraid to take an official morning weight.

TheFatManWalking.com

In case you wondered whatever became of Steve, he's currently in Oklahoma. :)

http://thefatmanwalking.com

Previous post on this:
July 24, 2005 - TheFatManWalking.com

Tuesday, November 29, 2005

More overtime

Brad's wife just had surgery so he is taking a couple days off. I was asked to work 12 hours tomorrow to cover half his shift, and then boss Jon said 12 1/2 and that I need to come in at 10:25 a.m. *yawn* I need the money so I always agree to overtime. I'll work pretty much any shift as long as it's not on the Sabbath. So I'll be working about 48 hours this week. I need the money bad so I can't really complain. I'm sure not getting to spend much time with my cats, though. Poor Xena was all over me this morning as I sat in my computer chair.

Atkins song

Richard posted this on his blog and I wanted to post it here.

SONG OF THE DAY: Maybe this is a bit behind the trend - but if they can use the "Chipmunk Christmas Carol" about hula hoops to sell DVD's of "The Sopranos," I can put new lyrics on it for health reasons:

Mister Atkins, he has said....
To lose weight, do not eat bread.

Carbohydrates, they can be....
Adding to obesity.

Eat lean meat -- and eat fish, too.
Protein foods are good for you!

If you'd rather wind up dead....
Eat lots and lots of bread

November gain

Weighed myself last night to see if I'm anywhere near my pre-Thanksgiving weight. I was 152!?! Even accounting for food I'd eaten, that's still 150! How the heck did I gain over 5 pounds, pounds that now won't come off?!? I've been REALLY good. Why won't the weight come off?!?

I've been dieting and I gain in November?!? WTF?!?

Monday, November 28, 2005

"Other blogs" list now a drop-down

The "other blogs" list in the left hand column is now a drop down to save space. The name of Brucker's blog had to be shortened because it made the list run into the main body of the blog. So the "Annotated Skeptic's Annotated Bible" is now simply "Skeptic's Bible." These will NOT open a new window now, so be careful when navigating to other blogs. You will need the back button to return here. I'm hoping there's a way to change this, but I'm still working on it.

Added a new blog to the list today, too. Jean-Luc and his ExWitch Australia blog (no relation to the ExWitch here in the U.S. that burned me).

Tagged

I've been tagged by Gina to write about the ten people who've influenced me the most outside of God and family members. I will just note that all these people/groups are positive influences. I could name a few who have irreparibly harmed me, but why give them print space? Here goes, in no particular order:

1. The folks at CH Refugee: They have helped me through many hard times and given me encouragement to strive to reach for God.

2. My church: They have been there for me through some of the roughest times.

3. My pastor: He showed me the grace and mercy of Christ at a time when the only god I could see was mean and vengeful.

4. author Philip Yancey: He's taught me a ton about God and suffering.

5. InterVarsity Christian Fellowship: Until I could find a church of my own, they were the only church I had at first. They were there for me in my very early day of being a Christian.

6. Hamilton Square Baptist Church: This was my first church as a Christian. They taught me a lot of things that I still believe today. I believe that God led me to that church because it was what I needed at the time.

7. Charles Scott: He is my Canadian friend who witnessed to me over the Net and was a major influence in my decision to accept Christ.

8. Dr. Robert Atkins: Through his books I began to understand how carbs effected my body in bad ways. I managed to lose 60 pounds and have stable energy through the day.

9. The people at About.com's Weight Loss forum: they have given me encouragement to stay on track and reach my goals.

10. Eleanor Godzak: A family friend who has known my family longer than I have.

Ok, I tag Veronica.

Sunday, November 27, 2005

First day of the rest of my diet

Well, today is the first day of the rest of my diet. LOL. Seriously though, I had lunch around 4 and now it's 7:30 and I'm barely hungry. Lunch was veggies and tofu and meat. Breakfast was an Atkins shake, and post-workout snack was an Atkins bar. No more sandwiches for me. If I want anything like that it will have to be with lettuce. I will do better.

Buying off-plan foods

After doing great on Friday, I sucked on Saturday. I had TWO sweet alcohol beverages - a Cosmo and a Tropical Blue Lagoon. And a huge glass of wine, but the carbs aren't too bad in that.

I have got to stop bringing in these sugary drinks. These are things I've bought while on Atkins. I need to stick to just wine and lite beer.

Today I am recommitting myself to this WOL. We'll see what ultra low carb does for me.

I did make it to the gym today - 30 minutes elliptical, 15 bike, 20 weight, and then I got to work early so I walked down the street to the entrance to the airport and back - about 19 minutes. Now I'm ready for a nap!

Thursday, November 24, 2005

My sister's on TV!, take 2

Here's the link to the program about them:
Move This House - April and Renato

THIS is why I low carb

The new scale was a pound heavier this morning. It said 144.4 and the old one said 143.2. 143.2 is a loss from my starting weight this month of 144. For now I'm taking the median of the two readings. But I will show a gain this month because of the new scale.

Oh well.

God, I feel horrible today. Every time I pig out on carbs the resulting blood sugar crash is just...bleh. Every time I do this I'm reminded how much better I feel low carbing. I'm kinda looking forward to getting back on plan tomorrow. But oh man...the carbs taste sooo good.

Oh, I decided to cut the bread for a while. I bought Romaine lettuce hearts and can put meat and cheese in between them. I think my weight may be stalled either from the bread or just too many carbs in general. Sad because now that I'm not addicted to white bread anymore, I now have an addiction to 100% whole wheat.

I managed to get ahold of an old Atkins diet book from 1972. It's fascinating how the diet has changed in the last 30 years - and I've only read 1 or 2 chapters! I heard on the Atkins board about someone reading an old one and they were doing it wrong because it was 30 years old. So I decided to buy a used copy and someone on Amazon found me a used 1972 copy in like new condition. :) $3.50 including shipping and handling. :)

Happy Thanksgiving!

Just a quick note to wish you all a

Happy


Thanksgiving!

Wednesday, November 23, 2005

Made it to the gym today. Did 20 minutes on the stairmaster, 18 on the bike, and 15 on weights. FitDay says 207 calories.

Carbs are a little higher today because I had a 9 carb South Beach bar before my workout. I figure the extra carbs won't hurt me before a workout.

Tomorrow is a pig out day which means I have to go to the gym Friday to burn off the glycogen. That means no time to cook so I guess I'll just use salt-laden, processed meat next week.

Have to shop for next week's groceries tomorrow. Got paid today and have just enough money to food left after rent and bills and medication. God, I hate it that medication has to come out of pocket, even though I get reimbursed part of the cost when I turn in the receipt. Did I mention I buy all my medication from Canada? :-p But $123 for 100 tablets isn't bad. I currently take 1 1/2 tablets per day. Without the meds I am a total bitch. I know I am because I went undiagnosed for nearly 20 years.

Oh, my Dr. Atkins' Diet Revolution came today. It's the old 1972 book. I was told the new diet is different from the old so I wanted to get an old copy. Got more music from Amazon today too, so I'll put it on my iPod tonight.

Weight held steady at 144.4 today. I can live with that. When I am on plan I consistently come in under 145. Tomorrow is my official weigh-in.

Skinny mini!

I'm skinny mini. Here's a pic I took this morning. Look at my flat tummy. I didn't even need to suck it in to do that! The jeans are about a size 8, by the way. Scale this morning said 144.4, which is within normal range for my height and build.

Tuesday, November 22, 2005

Calendar

Oh yes, I forgot to add that I added a Bravenet calendar to the site. Anyone can see my schedule if they so wish.

Free Calendar from Bravenet.com Free Calendar from Bravenet.com

It's also in the left hand column, near the bottom.

Archive list now a drop-down

If you scroll slowly down the left side you will see that instead of a lengthy list of this blog's archives that take up tons of space, there is now a drop-down list. All the archives can be accessed from that list, but it takes up a LOT less space. I was directed to the page with the instuctions today. Yay!

Scale Woes

My new scale doesn't like me. It weighs me more for starters. Last night it was 0.8 higher than my Weight Watchers scale, and this morning it was 0.4 higher. So the new scale told me 144.4 this morning and my old one said 144 even.

It said my body fat is 29.8% and body water at 49.2% (which is at least within "normal" range according the the scale). At the gym my last two body fat tests were 26% and 24.5%. Frankly, I'll trust the gym because all the scale does is test body fat in the legs and waist, where I carry more fat than the rest of me. I have no doubt my body fat IS that high in the lower part of me. :-p

Anyway, the new scale says 144.4 today, and with that, I have to get going.

Monday, November 21, 2005

The Chronicles of Narnia, take 2

I saw a commercial for this movie for the first time yesterday (or was it today? - I'm getting senile in my old age, lol). It looks really good! I can hardly wait!

It opens on Friday and I aim to be there opening day!

Drop-down boxes - I need help!

Does anybody know how to make a drop down box for my archives, like the one on this blog? I tried looking at the source code, but it didn't help, and of course I can't see her template.

It would make things soooo much more compact to have a drop down since my archives have grown pretty extensive, and I have plans to add a some old hand written journal entries of really important events in 1996.

Anybody know the code to use?

HELP!

Sunday, November 20, 2005

My Tanita scale came!

My Tanita body fat scale came!

From the Amazon page:

Features:
0.2-pound graduations
2.25-inch, 2-line display shows weight and body fat percentage
Determines weight and estimates body fat and body water with safe, low-level electrical pulse
Stores data for two different people
0.1% body fat graduations

Here's a picture.

My sister's on TV!

She made her TV debut today on Move This House! on A&E TV. It's a new program where they move people from one house to another and decorate the new house and everything. April and her new hubby Renato were this week's people. :) It airs today, but I'm doing a 12 hour shift at work so I set my VCR to record it. Hopefully it will.

Saturday, November 19, 2005

Christmas is coming...

My sister sent me my Christmas and birthday presents this week and I'm seeing lots of Christmas commercials on TV. Also, most of my presents have to be mailed, so I'm beginning to feel the crunch. So I thought I'd begin to wrap presents; I did so, but had to stop when I ran out of scotch tape! (?!?) There was no more in the house. After that I dug the tree out of the closet and it's sitting in its box in my living room now. I'll set it up Thursday night when I get home from work. I also have to take the flag out of the window and get out those lights.

Now the holidays begin and they don't end until my birthday on January 11. Fun, fun.

And have I ever mentioned how much I hate the commercialism of Christmas and getting presents that I don't want?

I also messed up my right shoulder this week when waking up and stretching one morning. It's not getting better. I will see the chiropractor on Monday and get an adjustment plus a 1/2 hour massage.

I better get to bed. I have an early morning and 12 hour day at work.

Friday, November 18, 2005

Weight Blah

I've decided for this week and next to take my official weight on Thursday. For one thing, Thanksgiving will be off plan for me so I'll be way up on Friday. So I'm going with the 144.2 as my official weight this week. However, with my sodium lower than usual yesterday I was down today. :) 143.4 this morning. :) I could get to 140 if I could just get rid of the salt. Even on a good day I'm eating more than twice the maximum recommended.

My plan is to do some pretty serious dieting between Christmas and New Years, cutting calories, carbs, and salt and see where I am on Dec. 31. I'll be up on Jan. 1 because I'll cheat a little New Year's Eve with low carb pizza and champagne.

Hopefully the only binge days the rest of this year (fingers crossed) with be Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Three weeks after Christmas (Jan. 11) is my birthday and I will pig out on cake for that, too. ;)

Re: carbs. I was losing fine on 50-60g a day. I think my body is just happy where it is and doesn't want to go down. There's no guarantee that if I do reach 140 that I'll be able to maintain it. We'll see. I am looking forward to opening that bottle of dessert wine that is still sitting in my cupboard.

Anyway, I think once I get my salt down I should be able to get pretty close to 140, if only for a day or two.

Thursday, November 17, 2005

Which soldier type are you?

You scored as Support Gunner. Your a support gunner. You carry a big gun, and people generally call on you when in trouble. Your a strong person physically and emotionaly. You can take being on the front lines of any problem clearing paths for your buddies. You generally lead the way with your strong personality, hitting the problem with all the tact and grace of a freight train.

CLICK, Cha-chink...

DAKKA-DAKKA-DAKKA!!!

Support Gunner

50%

Medic

44%

Special Ops

44%

Artillery

44%

Combat Infantry

38%

Civilian

38%

Engineer

38%

Officer

31%

Which soldier type are you?
created with QuizFarm.com

The Pagan Origins of Christmas, a response

My response to a rant about the pagan origins of Christmas. First I posted a link to Snopes.com talking about the WalMart incident, since that is the first thing mentioned in the post. Then I decided to write another post on the topic of the pagan origin of Christmas, and my feelings toward Christmas as an ex-Pagan.

---

Let me just add that I don't care what Selena Fox has to say about whatever topic. She, Circle Sanctuary, and any involvement I had with them (I was published once in their publication, The Circle Network News, and once talked to Ms. Fox in person on the phone) is in the past. It has no bearing on who I am today or whether or not I choose to celebrate the birth of the Savior and participate in the annual ritual of giving and receiving gifts.

I choose to celebrate Christmas in the way I was raised (tree, presents), and to bring the Savior into it as well by remembering His Incarnation on Dec. 25.

I am an ex-Pagan who understands many of the pagan roots quite well, thank you, and choose to celebrate Christmas anyway.

Tuesday, November 15, 2005

145

I'm holding steady just a hair under 145. I think I am losing, if ever so slowly, because holding steady at 145 wasn't happening a few months ago. Friday I was 144.8 and today I was 144.6. Looking back in my journal I would occationally hit 145, but never stay there. Hopefully I will be staying there more and more. :)

The first time I got under 145 was July 29 (144.4), but then I bounced up and didn't see a number under 145 again until September 30 (144.4 again). I've been under 145 every week since then except one (October 7 I went up to 146.8). I also would have been up the first week of November, but I refused to weigh myself because I'd binged and was holding onto water weight.

Cross your fingers that my official weight this week will be under 145!

Exercise

No exercise today. I forgot I had an appointment. But the walk up the hill was sooooo easy. I wasn't even out of breath! That hill used to be the bane of my existence. It used to kill me it's so steep.

Photos that will never make the news

Found this is a forum. I could reach it without logging in, so you should be able to also even if you don't have a Hellphi account. These are photos of the war in Iraq that CNN will never show. When it asks you to log in, just enter as a Guest.

photos that will never make the news

Monday, November 14, 2005

Sunday, November 13, 2005

The Exorcism of Anneliese Michel, take 3

Found where the book can be ordered, and another article about it.

Article from the author's web site:
The True Story Behind "The Exorcism of Emily Rose"

And copies of the book can be ordered from them as well:
The Exorcism of Anneliese Michel

Weekend eating

I guess I did okay this weekend. I was hungry Friday and finally just said screw it and pigged out on some sugar free fudge covered graham crackers and a few other low carb things. But my calories were way over.

Saturday I had salad and a bowl of the soup at church, plus my sandwich. The soup seemed sweet so there was probably too much sugar in it. And the salad had apple slices. There were Oreos for dessert. I'm glad I brought sugar free Oreos from home.

Saturday night we went out to dinner at the buffet. I stayed with meat and veggies and salad and even found sugar free pudding for dessert. Diet Coke to drink. So I did okay there I think.

Decided not to exercise this morning. Instead I slept in and let Xena lick my face as I woke up.

Thursday, November 10, 2005

Took the plunge

Since it's payday I took the plunge and bought something off my own wish list (what better gifts for myself than the things I want?). I got new Tanita body fat scale. This one does weight in 0.2 graduations - like my current scale, and body fat in 0.1% graduations. Most scales just have 0.5% graduations.

Easlier this week I saw a woman reading the book from Tim LaHaye's Babylon Rising series, another fiction series, this one taking place in today's world before the rapure. She said it was about as good as the Left Behind books, so I ordered a used copy of the first book (of three) from Amazon for 1 cent. it's titled simply Babylon Rising. The notes say it used to be a library book. Shipping was $3.49, so $3.50 total. I can begin reading that when I finish the Annaliese book. I'm currently on the second to last chapter of that.

I'll Be Watching You

So says a song. I installed a site tracker today. It's better than a counter because now I can track exactly who comes here rather than just how many hits I get. You'll see it if you scroll all the way to the bottom of this page.

I'm watching you!

Tuesday, November 08, 2005

Which Fantasy/SciFi Character Are You?

Which Fantasy/SciFi Character Are You?

Devoutly dedicated to helping lead others to glory, you are a strong, supportive, and spiritual caregiver.

Summoned, I take the place that has been prepared for me.

Delenn is a character in the Babylon 5 universe. You can read her biography at the Worlds of JMS fansite.

Take the test.

More anti-low carb ignorance

From Tony's Weight Loss forum

In summary:
The ignorance starts with Kentucky in post #4 who thinks Atkins is bad for heart problems. I counter every arguement she has, so she keeps bringing up new ones. When I counter those, she starts insulting me. I just love people who have no facts so they resort to name-calling.

This was barely even a challenge. If I were her there's so much better arguments to bring up, but when you are ignorant of the topic, it's hard to intelligently attack it.

Election Day Craziness

BTW, I did win the auction on the 15 bars I didn't want, but oh well. One more box won't kill me.

Lesse. Went to the chiropractor this morning. Have another appointment in 2 weeks. This guy's really cheap - $25 for an adjustment, $45 for an adjustment with a 1/2 hour massage (by the massage therapist who comes in 3 days a week). Then I went to the post office to pick up a package they say they can't find, which probably means it doesn't exist.

Then I tried to find my polling place and was lost, so I just headed home to look it up on MapQuest. Then I voted and then I walked to the next major intersection, up the hill, and caught the bus to work. I did SO much walking. I have no car so I walked around, dragging my leadweight Pullman backpack behind me. Probably covered 2 miles easy. That's exercise, right? ;)

Oh, the chiropractor recognized me from 24 Hour Fitness. He goes at the same time of day as me and remembered my green hair. LOL I told him I was going to try pink next. I'm just waiting for the green to fade more and for the hair to grow out a bit since I need to rebleach the whole thing and that will be harsh on the hair that's already been bleached.

Monday, November 07, 2005

Remember to vote!

Tuesday is the mid-term election in California. Please remember to vote! There's several propositions on the ballot.

Bars and Shakes and Other Stuff

Yesterday my 90 Chocolate Peanut Butter bars arrived. Today the box of 15 arrived and the 22 Chocolate Delight shakes. So I'm set for a loooong time to come, lol!

I ventured to weigh myself this morning and was back down to 145.6, so I'm holding pretty steady still. But I'm happy with that. Last night before bed I was 150.8. How did I lose 5 pounds overnight?!?

Tomorrow is voting day AND I have an appointment with the chiropractor AND some stupid person sent a package to my apartment so now I have to go to the post office to pick it up because of delivery confirmation??? Argh!!! I do not have time for this!

Sunday, November 06, 2005

Why I'm leaving Hellphi

Copied from another forum, where I was asked why I just couldn't reconsider and stay because everyone has problems with "rules about promos." I explained:

It doesn't have to do with "rules about promos." It has to do with gunter being an unaccountable god with no supervisor. Anyone have the e-mail of someone on the same level as him perhaps, who I could appeal to?

1) He is not content with *just* deleting promos, though he does take great glee in that.

2) He has now delisted TWO of my three forums, and the only reason he hasn't delisted the third it because it's dead. This was done out of pure spite, because he doesn't like me and because he can.

3) He really is just a power hungry nazi, worse than any other. "Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely." My dad taught me that as a kid. He was right.

So no, it's time to leave, after more than 6 years. They will never get another penny from me unless the power structure changes. Since that will happen about the time hell freezes over, I don't suspect I will do anymore than post on one or two forums where I have friends, as a Basic member, pasting in a link to my off-Hellphi forum.

If they want to treat their paying customers the way they treated me, then I will vote with my feet AND my wallet. I was going to sign up for Advanced. Gunter delisting my forums nixed any chance of that. How DOES he sleep at night? I will never understand people who take such obvious glee in hurting others simply because they can.

Victoria
http://atkinsweigh.Forumer.com

Halloween for Christians & Former Witches

Got asked about this, and thought I'd reprint my piece here.

---

People can celebrate Halloween any way they want. Some Christians can dress up and go to parties or whatever with no problem. Others can't. Same thing with Harry Potter. Some Christians (and their children) can handle it; some can't. It's a personal thing.

When I was a kid it was just a fun time to dress up and stuff my face with candy. I know it will never be that again - I'm not a kid anymore - but why can't I hope to be a "recovering Witch" and reclaim Halloween back to what it used to be, what it should be - a holiday to dress up and have fun? I even have an old Ren Faire costume I could wear.

At first I admit I was afraid of Halloween. I hid out in Bible studies or breathed a sign of relief that I would be working that night to keep my mind busy. Well, it's time to stop being afraid! I've been a Christian for almost 10 years and it's time to stop freaking out over a secular kids holiday.

I'm not totally "there" yet, but I'm making strides. Two years ago while helping out with a Halloween chat at EW, I got trick-or-treaters and scrambled to find candy to give them. Luckily, I had some on hand. I looked for a paper pumpkin, skeleton, etc. to tape to my front door at home, but couldn't find one. Maybe next year I will look harder.

Last year I had someone make me a Halloween themed sig with cats. This year I reused the sig and also placed a Halloween theme on my health and wellness forum. I went for grey, happy skeletons though, rather than something dark.

Those who believe that others shouldn't celebrate Halloween should not celebrate it themselves, but neither should they judge those who do. I will consider myself recovered from my past when Halloween becomes what it once was - when I can once again dress up and have fun. Perhaps someday I will get there...

Friday, November 04, 2005

Abby and that Damn Tube

I got Abby's tube back on her collar. I tried to do it two handed, one hand holding each half, with one hand holding the half attached to her collar. That didn't work too well. After chasing her around the house I finally scruffed her and attached it one handed, turning it until the half attached to her wouldn't turn anymore; then the other half screwed on well. Wonder how long it'll take her to get off this time and where she'll lose it. She's currently hiding from me on the bottom platform of the used beige cat tree.

Tossing out the scale (for now)

I refuse to weigh myself. Absolutely refuse to. I am so bloated right now, probably from too much sodium. So until I can get this extra salt and water out of me (and use up the "bad" food in the house), I won't get an accurate reading. :(

Thursday, November 03, 2005

From the Atkins forum, about aspertame

From the official Atkins forum, by Colette Heimowitz, who works for the company. I wanted to save the quote since this issue of whether or not aspertame is okay on Atkins comes up over and over.

Aspartame in moderation is fine. There are rare cases when someone is sensitive and will need to discontinue, but frankly, those cases are far and few between.

Wednesday, November 02, 2005

Still bloated

Back in my size 8s today, but they are tight when I am sitting.

I'm sore from my run yesterday so I decided to skip the gym today. Tomorrow I'm doing basic grocery shopping. I borrowed $20 from a co-worker. I'm just buying basics that won't hold out for another week - a small amount of tofu and meat for lunches, and spinach for salads. Maybe cheese for sandwiches. I think the sandwich meat and bread will hold out.

I'm going to try to not weigh myself until Friday and know I'll be up over last week's number, but oh well. My body hates me. Last week I was 144.

Be proud of me. Brad had a birthday this week and they keep the cake in the room I work in. It's covered with paper towels, but it's 10 feet away and I haven't had any except eating a few crumbs lying around.

My necklaces from Australia came yesterday. The are names done in silver plated wire. I got one for my sis for Christmas, one for the Secret Santa thing on a cat forum I'm on, and of course, one for me. The Website is www.andythenamebender.com. I'm wearing my necklace today.

Who really is the Antichrist?

We can find out. Using the agonizingly precise science of numerology, we can test the name of any person, place, or thing to tell you if it is the antichrist. Go ahead, try it. Maybe it's your neighbor. Maybe it's the president. Maybe it's YOU!

I am the Antichrist and I have proof!

Mathematical proof that Victoria Shephard is the Antichrist!

And with my full given name we get:

Mathematical proof that Victoria Sheri April Shephard is the Antichrist!

Tuesday, November 01, 2005

2.7 miles!

After binging yesterday I made myself go to the gym and run on the treadmill. I went 4.5-4.6 mph for 36 minutes, covering 2.7 miles. :) Felt great afterwards. Then I walked at 3 mph for 5 minutes to cool down, and then did weights for 20 minutes.

FitDay says I burned 287 calories. I finally found something on FitDay to enter for my running since they consider 4.5 mph as a fast walk. I went to the running section and found "Jogging, General," so I selected that. I think that more closely reflects the calories burned.

I think I will reset my goal to 145. That I know I can reach, but my body has just been fighting me tooth and nail since I hit 152 1/4.

Monday, October 31, 2005

Happy Reformation Day!

Reformation Day is a red-letter day in remembrance of the Protestant Reformation. It takes place on October 31 and is an official holiday in many countries. It coincides with Halloween, the eve before All Saints' Day.

More at Wikipedia.

The Atkins' Weigh is moving!

Due to circumstances beyond my control - and because I have had one too many run-ins with gunter the nazi promo deleter - I've decided I need more control over board content, etc. So I am moving to Invision boards. Please stop by and visit, sit a spell, and drop and read some posts.

http://atkinsweigh.3.forumer.com/.

Sunday, October 30, 2005

Ebay Auctions

I won 90 Chocolate Peanut Butter Atkins Advantage bars on e-bay. I lost a couple other auctions, but I didn't want to win all of them. I either wanted the 3 auctions for the box of 15 bars, or the auction for the 90 bars. So the 90 is fine. It's $117.50 including shipping ($1.35 per bar).

I also won 22 Atkins Advantage Chocolate Delight shakes for $28.83 including shipping ($1.31 per can).

One box of bars is still waiting. I hope someone outbids me because as long as I have the 90 I don't want the box of 15.

I think I'm "set" for a while!
I'm back. Gunter got on my last nerve when he used his god-like powers to mess with my forum. So I'm moving off Delphi, though I haven't decided where yet. I can't leave Delphi all together because I have friends at CH Refugee.

Anyway, yesterday I was up 4 pounds even though I stuck to my diet, and today I was up another 2 pounds even though I really didn't go crazy on my cheat day. I thought I did pretty well as far as what I ate. So I'm now almost 10 pounds away from my goal again at 149.8. I think I will just diet until the end of the year and then maintain at wherever I am at that time. It is clear that my body does not want to weigh 140.

I'm even considering going low calorie for a while and just dealing with the hunger.