Exercise and me - kinda like oil and water

I hate exercise! And that's hate with a capital H-A-T-E! But, I really want to lose some weight. I'm so tired of feeling like the Michelin woman. This weekend I joined two different things and I'm going to do them simultaineously.

1. Traineo.com my page is here --> http://donnaj71.traineo.com/
2. The womens health challenge at www.womenshealth.gov

I am determined and somewhat excited. I finished the book I was reading (The Red Hat club - 5 Donna stars!) and started the next of my books in the sisterhood realm I'm in. I'm reading DIVINE SECRETS OF THE YA-YA SISTERHOOD BY REBECCA WELLS. I'll add it to my side bar. I'm curious to see if it's as good as The Red Hat Club. But, as part of my challenge above I will not let myself read a "fun" book unless I'm on my exercise bike. I wasn't feeling good today so I only did 15 minutes but I can totally see myself getting a lot more exercise once I get into this book more.

DEATH TO FLAB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Blue dog

My Blue girl was sick last night. I was up all night, every hour, going back and forth from outside and back in. It was like having a baby again. I really thought she was going to die because she was throwing up white foam and the little bit of food she ate. She was also shaking and pacing and whining a lot. It just broke my heart when she looked at me with those sad brown eyes.



I heard white foam usually meant the dog got ahold of antifreeze. I'm not sure on that but I did pick up a book today on vetrinarian procedures and emergency treatments. So maybe next time I'll be a little better informed. Last night I just did a little googling and ended up giving Blue some Pepto tablets in pieces of hotdog. I also kept trying to get water down her. By 10 am she seemed to stop pacing and gagging and laid down to sleep. During the day today she drank 3 bowls of water. I felt so bad for her. I'm so glad she's okay now.

I was so glad she seemed to be resting okay before my lunch date with my friends. I would have had a hard time leaving her otherwise. She was happy to go snuggle in her kennel though. I had a great time with Cheesy-G and Sp-linda again and Baby A is getting cuter!! I didn't think it was possible! Her mom said she's been keeping her awake all night. I know the feeling! We had a great visit and CG and I hammed it up. Next time I'll have to get SpLinda!





I gave my copy of the Red hat club to CG even though I wasn't quite finished. I knew there was another copy at the literacy council. I went there right after and found a bunch of great books. That's where I got the book on vet care. I also found a good book on sewing and a book called "Ireland" that looks great and a few more poetry books. I was in hog heaven! I love that place. So now I'm reading this huge hard cover version of the Red Hat club and it's a weird shift.

I was coming home just in time to swing by and pick up Jared after school. We had a coffee date. We couldn't go without Blue girl though. They always have a treat for her. She was so happy to see her boy and it was good to see her acting normal again even though she wasn't quite her spunky self.

Oh, Ry got an A on his science project/report! I'm so proud of him!

Quote of the day

"To Accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe." - Anatole France Nobel Prize-winning author

Just when I started to doubt myself and my abilities I came across this quote in some mail. It came at a good time. I go through times when I seem to be so ambitious and then I fall for a time and am plagued by "what ifs" and self doubt. I talked to someone who was a nurse and she said some things that weren't specific but I got the impression that she didn't like her job. She said it was hard work, which I knew, but she seemed to be trying to warn me, against what exactly I'm not sure. Then I started thinking, WHAT IF I can't do it.......WHAT IF I'm not smart enough......WHAT IF I'm just wasting time and money doing this?????? Then I volunteered to help at the health fair at the literacy council and I really enjoyed myself. I talked to several people in the health field and I noticed the sparkle in their eyes when they were talking. I realized then that these were the people that love their jobs and love helping people. I am doing this for that reason too. So I'm ready to get started and to stop doubting myself. I'm ready to put everything I have into becoming a nurse. I stopped procrastinating about getting that shot I need to volunteer at the hospital and got that done yesteday. It wasn't even that bad!
I'll clip this quote and keep it handy for future plunges I'm sure to have.

Gwen Frostic

I have been finding these really neat books while working at the Literacy Council in the used bookstore. I am attacted by the neat artwork that looks stamped on and the wonderful verses. I found a few more today and I looked up the author/artist. Click the title above to visit her site. I wish I could have had the chance to meet this lady before she died. She must have been such an interesting person to know. It's just amazing that she was so observant of nature and so patient and talented to be able to transform a block of wood into such a beautiful work of art. They even have rubber stamps and note cards with her art and poetry available on that website. I hope I can find all of her books. I certainly love the collection I have now.

Quote of the day

Night time is really the best time to work. All the ideas are there to be yours because everyone else is asleep.
— Catherine O'Hara

That is so true. I am my most creative in the evening after everyone is sleeping. I think your mind is just too busy juggling all the things you have to do during the day that by the time you get to sit down and enjoy some quiet rest your mind comes alive with idea's you just couldn't hear through all noise before. I have started planning my quiet time. If everyone isn't asleep I take a book to my bathtub and escape for a while. Ahhhhhh, just thinking about that makes me relax a bit.

What is love?

Written for Riley Alexander


Love is... Limitless. It can't be measured or bound.
Love is... Obvious. People see me and they know I love you.
Love is... Violent. I will fight for you.
Love is... Endless.

If you think I don't love you, you are just wrong.

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants

I just finished this book and I'm going to pass it on to a friend. This is going to be my next traveling book (fitting since it's about traveling pants huh?) I wish everyone would read this book. It really touched my heart. I had a hard time getting into at first but after I did I couldn't put it down. Read my comment at the link above (just click the title) If you are interested in reading it just let me know and I'll share it with you too. I have a few people that are interested in reading it so hopefully it will come back to me each time so I can share it again.

This book is not available at amazon.com which I thought was weird. I found it at my local Barnes and Noble store in the teens section. Here is a link to Barnes and noble.com Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares
It can also be found on Ebay.

It's worth the read!

I'm going to start reading the second book in the traveling pants series soon but I kinda got into a new book that's been hanging out around here for too long. The Red Hat Club by Haywood Smith. See the link on my side bar. This is also one of my bookcrossing books. I guess I'm straying from my normal comfort zone of Mystery books to read some books about friends. I don't know why.