Karen Whiddon

Here in north Texas, we got snow. Snowmaggedon, Texas style. The snow that started falling yesterday and continued to fall all day and into the wee hours of the morning, broke all records for this area.

We got – wait for it – 12.5 inches! I’ve lived here since 1978 and have NEVER seen this here (I’m from up North, as they say here, and was used to snow in Colorado, NY, and MA). My husband has lived here his entire life and has never seen anything like this.

You should have seen my poor dogs! I took a ton of pictures and need to upload them from my camera. But I took these from my cell phone.

We lost half of one tree and possibly another. I was outside and heard the loud CRACK when the tree broke from the weight of the snow.

All the schools were cancelled. Even my work was delayed. So I’m here, drinking coffee, playing on the computer.

I made a wonderful Italian sausage soup last night in the crockpot for dinner. Easy peasy too. I did this:

1 can frozen lima beans
1 can chicken broth
1 can cream of mushroom soup
onion – diced
garlic – 2 gloves, chopped.
oregano and basil to taste
pepper to taste
1/4 cup white whine
1/2 cup water
5 pre-cooked chicken/spinach sausages (I got these at Sam’s Club), sliced.

It was yummo! Husband loved it.
I’ll post more snow pics later, after I’ve uploaded them. I’ve got to go write.

My apologies to both the midwest and the east coast, because I totally understand that this is normal for you and that you’re heartily sick of it, but here in Texas, we’re not.

So…. That said, this morning IT SNOWED!!!!!

And it’s still snowing. Right. Now.

The weatherpeople are saying it will snow off and on ALL DAY today until midnight tonight. We’re supposed to get 2-4 INCHES!!!

Let me tell ya, folks. Around here, that never happens. The last time we got this much snow in one winter was 25 years ago!!!

I even got to wear my ugly snow boots (yes, they’re crocs).

I’ve been taking a break from the gym. No, not from exercising or working out, just from the actual environment. Now don’t get me wrong, I love my gym. It’s small, I see the same people there every day at the same time, and though it has been crowded since New Year’s, I still only rarely have to wait for a machine.

Instead of going to the gym, I’ve been walking my Boxer dog. And doing push ups and crunches and squats and lunges at home.

It’s been nice – in a way. I get to enjoy the chilly weather, my dog gets exervise, and I burn calories. Win-win.

I’ll go back to the gym next week. For now, I’m reveling in the difference!

I’ve come to the realization that I’m obsessed with food. The more I try to cut calories to lose weight, the more I think about food.

Weird, that. But I constantly think about what I could cook for dinner. Where I can eat out on the weekend. What I’m making for lunch.

And so on. And when I treat myself, it is such a guilty pleasure. Like this past weekend, my husband took me for breakfast at IHOP. Sinful decadence.

I really need to get a grip on this food obsession. All that sweating and working out at the gym – I can’t blow it just because I’ve decided I love to eat. Sheesh.

Why does it have to be so hard?

Ok, rant over.

Yes, it’s Super Bowl Sunday and yes, I’m very excited to watch the game later today.

That said, last night I took a trip into trying to relive my youth (along with thousands of other middle-aged women) and went to see Davey Jones (from The Monkees) and David Cassiday (The Partridge Family).

Now, in case you’re too young or too old to remember these shows, both of these gentlemen were teen idols, back in the late sixties, early seventies. David Cassidy was on the cover of Life Magazine in 1972 (as he took pains to tell us) and on several others. Very, very popular (and cute, or as I’d say then Foxy). I even had a poster of David Cassidy on my wall. Yep, I was hot for him back then.

Now, not so much.

First off, the concert felt awfully lame. Both these men are now in their sixties, or about to be (David Cassidy is 59 I believe) and I think they both have had work done (as in plastic surgery, ie, face lifts – especially Cassidy). I don’t know this for a fact, but I’d bet money on it.

The low point of this concert was watching Davey Jones flash his “Man Boobs” at us. Seriously.

The most amusing point was how so many women my age or older – rushed the stage, screaming and waving their hands about.

From David Cassidy’s multiple equipment malfunctions – guitars not working and out of tune – to the posturing and strutting about on the stage – to Cassidy’s ridiculous covering of Cream and various other artists, while doling out an occasional Partridge family song to the screaming (??) women, the thing was sad. Pitiful, actually. Not like the Eagle’s concert, where they had a new album to promote but still performed generous previous hits. AND the Eagles were, as always, fantastic.

This wasn’t even in the same league and, while I know it’s not fair to compare David Cassidy or Davey Jones to a band as wonderful as The Eagles, the least they could have done was play more of the hits that made them so popular. I had the albums. I know.

I used to be a morning person. All of my energy seemed to come alive in the morning. I could think better, focus more sharply, and felt energized.

Not anymore.

I’m not sure what has happened (maybe it’s getting older), but a lot of mornings I feel like I’m in a stupor. A daze. Can’t think, can’t focus, and have zero energy. And writing? Pffffft. I try though, but it’s like swimming through sludge.

Yesterday I really wanted to outline my current book in progress. I tried in the morning. No go. I was busy at the day job, but after I got home from work (yes, I skipped the gym), I sat at the kitchen table and re-read my synopsis and it was like – Wow. This is really interesting. I did a bit of preplanning and then it was time for supper and all, so I put it aside to work on this morning.

Right. I might as well have planned to go jogging or something.

I got nothin’.

So in an hour I’ll be trudging off to the day job (it’s Friday at least!) and bringing the synopsis with me. Hoping to get time to work on it while my brain appears to be functioning, which is less and less these days.

Hmmm. Maybe I need the B12 shots instead of the subligual tablets.

This is one of those mornings – like yesterday – where I can’t get going. I have my current work in progress in front of me. I type a few words, tweak here, there, but nothing concrete. And, despite being on my third cup of coffee, I can’t wake up.
That might have something to do with the gray, overcast, yuckie weather. Dunno.

I worked out last night for an hour and could barely keep my eyes open later to watch the ten pm news. I did managed to shed that pesky two pounds that I put on from eating Mexican food on Friday night. Yay, me!

Now if only I could whip this book into shape.

Back to staring at the page.

It’s Thursday. I’d cheer, but I’m way too tired. I’ve worked out every day this week so far and my legs are sore. My arms are sore. Even my back and stomach and chest is sore. But – I’ve lost two pounds this week since last week. I’m back on track. And, even though I read about it months ago and my daughter even recommended it to me, I’ve just now discovered the wonders of Laughing Cow Cheese wedges. 35 calories per wedge, I’ve been spreading them on six triscuits with a bit of thinly sliced turkey meat on top and having that for lunch. Cheese wedge – 35 calories. 6 Triscuits – 120 calories. I add a dill pickle (5 calores) and 4 strawberries for dessert (50 calories) and I have a wonderful, filling (and aethestically pleasing) lunch for a grand total of 210 calories. I can even add a small salad with 2 tablespoons of fat free dressing for an additonal 25 calories. Yummm. I’m full and when I’m full, I’m happy.

I started out to write about my writing process. Every morning, I sit down to write early. I check email. Check blogs I frequent and online groups and social networking sites (dogster, facebook, myspace). Then I “HAVE” to play one game of spider solitaire and one game of Freecell (don’t ask me why) before I can write.

Then, as I’m getting started, I remember I need to do my blog. That’s right. THIS blog. So I do that.

Then finally, I settle down to write. Without pushing myself, at home every morning, I can get three pages. Easy peasy. If I get to write at the day job (which I do when it’s slow), I can pick up a few more or a lot more.

I calculated that I need to do 4 or 5 pages minimum a day – EVERY DAY – to meet this deadline. So I need to pick up the pace. But I refuse to put myself under pressure just yet – there’s plenty of time for that later. The book is due May 1st. I won’t start stressing until March or April .

It sure would be nice to be him.

The book is going well! And when the book is going well, I’m happy. It makes all the other aspects of my life better. Sounds rather dramatic, but writing is so integral to what I am and who I am that when I’m not doing it, life sucks.
When I’m not doing it well, life really, really sucks. And when it’s going good, that’s like a trip to Disney World! It even balances out the often incredibly long hours spent at the day job.

It’s supposed to start raining today and rain all day tomorrow, with the possibility of ice and freezing rain Thursday night. Nice. Not. I love snow but can do without ice.

Yipeeee! The book finally came together. Or is coming together. Whatever. I am now up to page 14, the characters are starting to make sense, and I can move forward.

Some days, I just love my life. (Especially when the writing is going well!)

Yesterday started out good and went downhill fast. The day job can do that to you – turn on you like a pet grizzly and sink its claws and teeth into you and shake you until you’re shattered. And so it was yesterday. Between the stupid, annoying people who were out in abundance yesterday, and a certain co-worker’s unmotivated temper tantrium, the day sucked! I didn’t even go to the gym. I went home and worked out, though it’s never as intense as it is at the gym.

But House was on last night and that was good. And today is a new day, right? All is well with my world, but then I’m not at the stinkin’ day job yet, am I?

Amazing how sometimes it all goes together so seamlessly and other times, I feel like a split personality. Such is life, I guess.

But the important thing (at least to me!) is that I’m finally moving forward on the book. Nothing can wreck that, right?