Lost and Found

Dillypoo lost her sense of humor a few days ago. It wandered off during a temper tantrum last Friday.

I caught a glimpse of it on Saturday when I spotted a nun throwing a green frisbee in the park, but it disappeared again as soon as I left the house for work Monday morning.

And then today, as suddenly as it departed, it came back. I'm not sure what triggered it's return, but around 2:00 I found myself smiling again.

And my coworkers seemed to stop cowering in my presence.

I haven't had mood swings like this since I had hormone producing girl parts.

Is it possible for a uterus to grow back?

Weigh Day Update: I lost again! Another 1.4 pounds for a total of 34.4. That news definitely helped raise the happiness flag a bit higher today.

Just for you, D!

Dillypoo Bakes

Once upon a time, when I had more time for hobbies and goofing off, Dillypoo used to bake cakes for family, friends and a few paying customers.

My first ever cake was the groom's cake for my ex-husband at our wedding. It was chocolate and I decorated it with sugar frosted grapes, chocolate covered strawberries and ivy I snipped from my parent's house. It was one of the few fond memories I have of that event as the union lasted only three years.

I'm pretty sure my baking skills had nothing to do with the demise of the marriage, though. I blame that on other mitigating factors, including football and his being too short.

But I digress.

My first cakes were mostly decorated with fresh flowers and candied fruit. It was a very natural technique inspired in part by Martha Stewart circa 1988 (and it was a great way to disguise my lack of skill with a piping bag). I once made a green wedding cake decorated with raspberries and fresh herbs:

After my brother and sister-in-law began having kids, I decided I needed to take some classes. I was pretty sure Pokemon and Power Rangers would be difficult to pull off with maraschino cherries and flower petals.

I've since mastered Barbie, bowling ball, space alien and choo choo cakes:

I've frosted and sculpted cake mixes into towering baby bottles, boobies and wedding cakes. I've even made a bleeding armadillo groom's cake:

Some of my favorites have been for family. I celebrated my brother's 40th birthday with headlines:

And murdered Barbie at my niece's request for Halloween:

There have been the occasional disasters along the way, like the infamous Cat Spit Cake I made for a neighborhood party. After finishing my masterpiece I ran upstairs to dress for the party, leaving the cake on the kitchen island. When I ran back down 15 minutes later, my cats had licked half of the cake completely clean of frosting. Having no time and no back up plan, I whacked the cake in half and hoped that my drunken neighbors wouldn't mind.

They didn't.

Most of my cake decorating is limited to the holidays these days, although I've been experimenting with sugar cookies. I didn't enter my Wicked Hot Chili Cookies in the Pillsbury Bake-Off this year, but I may look for another contest.

This trip down a sugar-coated memory lane was inspired by Cake Wrecks, the hilarious blog about professional cake disasters, and The Professor's lament yesterday that my recent blog posts haven't been very entertaining.

In the immortal words of Queen Marie Antoinette, "Let them eat cake!"

Dillypoo Dramatics

Dillypoo was quite the drama queen today.

I fussed. I yelled. I cursed. I threw more than one temper tantrum.

The stress level at work is beginning to show cracks in my usually solid demeanor.

But throughout today's trials, I tried to remember the reality check list posted in one of my co-worker's office:

Will this "emergency" matter in 10 minutes?
Will this "emergency" matter in 10 months?
Will this "emergency" matter in 10 years?

I had several emergencies today and the only question that deserved a "yes" answer was the first one.

Which helps put things in perspective.

Especially when I start threatening innocent bystanders with my wand.

Random Thoughts on a Tuesday Night

I spilled a piping hot Starbucks venti latte all over my desk on Monday. My work binder still smelled like vanilla today.

I'm wearing a bathrobe as I blog tonight. A bathrobe. In September. Fall blew into Texas today with all the bluster of a cool, October day. And it was fabulous.

Somebody left the refrigerator door open all weekend at the office and I had to toss my jar of mayonnaise. I have nothing to make tuna sandwiches this week and no time to get to the grocery store before Saturday. Guess I'll be eating a lot of bologna this week.

I've been listening to Harry Potter again on my iPod. Harry keeps me sane while I work insane hours.

The Professor and I looked at bicycles last weekend but I'm still a bit hesitant to take that leap. He suggested a tandem bike, but after the harrowing ride he took me on at Mammoth Cave National Park in July, I think not. I may ask my mom if I can borrow her bike and see if I like it.

I spotted pumpkins outside a grocery store this evening on my way to Weight Watchers. I love pumpkins!

It's Weigh Day and I lost another pound for a total of 33! I'm finally below 170!

The Four W's

My life revolves around the Four W's: Work, Walking and Weight Watchers. I fear the Four W's are making Dillypoo a dull girl. Or at least a dull blogger.

A sampling of things I have forgotten or not done in the past month and a half:

I haven't seen my parents in two weeks. Daddypoo finally stopped by my office (on Thursday, I think) to make sure I was still alive:

He brought me a skinny latte from Starbucks. Skinny lattes from Starbucks are an excellent way to keep Dillypoo among the living.

I haven't sent Harlequin Cat her fantabulous prize:

I'll do it soon, though. Promise.

Before Christmas.

Hopefully.

For the first time in more than 30 years, I forgot my BFF's birthday. It was last Monday. I remembered the day before and I remembered early that morning, but then I went to the office.

Which I left 15 hours later:

I missed this week's episode of Ruby. I don't watch much tee vee (like I have time - hahahahahaha), but Ruby's weight loss journey is an inspiration and I try and catch her show every week. If I can remember when she's on.

I think it's Tuesdays.

Last night The Professor and I missed an art thing and party because Dillypoo completely forgot about it. I was at the local Super Target reorganizing the aisle order on my iPhone's Grocery IQ app about the time all the hipsters were gathering in Dallas.

I'm relying on the weekends to recharge my batteries, though. Catching up on sleep, laundry and errands are the only plans I have. Well, that and walking in the park with The Professor:

And blogging.

Shrinking Dillypoo

Two weekends ago I went shopping for something special to wear on Gallery Night. Since cleaning out my closet a few weeks ago, my wardrobe has been pretty much limited to $20 Costco jeans and $10 t-shirts from Target.

I just can't justify buying a closetful of clothes that (hopefully) won't fit in another month or two.

But buying one outfit for a special occasion seemed reasonable, and I found myself at the mall rummaging through the new fall fashions and summer clearance racks. It was while in a dressing room with dozens of tops in sizes that haven't fit me in years that it hit me:

I am actually losing weight and returning to a healthy, normal size.

I teared up a bit in Mr. Dillards women's department.

It was tempting to buy everything I tried on in smaller sizes, but I kept to my budget and walked away with only two new things.

I wish I'd asked The Professor to take my picture Saturday night in my new togs, but we were both too busy to think about anything more than getting through the evening (which turned out to be wonderful if a bit wet - it rained for five straight days).

Maybe I can get a snapshot taken this weekend. I'll wear one of my new size smaller outfits.

Weigh Day Update: I lost 1.8 pounds this week for a total of 32! I'm less than a pound away from weighing less than 170. Wow!

What Time is It?

When I crawled out of bed Wednesday morning, I found The Professor already dressed and preparing to leave for school.

Dillypoo: "Why are you up so early?"

The Professor: "I always get up at 6:30 on Wednesdays. I have an 8:00 class."

Dillypoo: "It's only 6."

The Professor (lengthy pause): "Oh."

We're both working a little too hard these days.

I spent most of today thinking it was Wednesday. That's what working 40 hours in three days can do to you.

And if you thought The Professor and I didn't have enough to keep ourselves busy, we also run an art gallery and this Saturday is the biggest art event of the year.

I have to be perky and able to converse intelligently (or at least semi-sensibly) with Fort Worth's art lovin' party crowd.

Dillypoo may need to channel her inner wino. It'll make a good excuse if I start babbling incoherently.

See Saw Again

I wish see saws were an effective way to lose weight. I gained .2 pounds this week.

I think I'm working too many long hours. Even though I'm exercising (yay me!), I'm having a hard time keeping my diet balanced. It's too easy to grab a 2 point bag of crackers or 1 point slice of cheese than it is to slice a cantaloupe or bake some chicken at work.

But I'll keep trying.

Tomorrow I'm packing grapes and strawberries to take to the office with me.

Candy Apple Massacre

As you may have guessed, The Professor is a teacher. He is a Professor of Art at one of the local universities. He is passionate about his students and goes to great lengths to keep his lessons and classes interesting.

Including massacring a bag of apples in pursuit of a fun still life for his drawing students.

He is currently on his second batch of red sugar water boiled to the hard candy stage. The first batch burned.

The kitchen is still a little smoky, but he did manage to produce a few candied apples:

Can you tell which ones were dipped with the overcooked syrup?

Purple Armadillos

My Dad called last week to say he'd brought me a souvenir from his recent trip to Mackinac Island and that he'd left it in The Professor's care. I had several people in my office at the time and was juggling three I.M. conversations and had another call on hold, so his message didn't really register at the time.

The Professor was already in bed when I got home late that night, but I found this sitting on the desk:

It made me laugh. After a busy 14 hour day at the office, I really needed a giggle. Only my dad would buy a gold trimmed, purple armadillo.

Dad always knows how to make me smile, especially with random gifts of dubious taste and humor. He gave me this sculpture a few years ago:

I love it, but sadly it is not one of The Professor's favorite pieces of art.

Dad and I have a lot of things in common, our sense of humor just one of them.

My first year of college, Dad and I roomed together in Los Angeles. I was a freshman at Loyola Marymount University and he was there on a three-year work contract. We made perfect roommates. We liked the same kinds of foods (bologna sandwiches, fresh strawberries and See's Candies) and neither of us got too fussed if the vacuum cleaner was run only once a month or so.

Much to my mother's horror. She and my brother came to visit at Christmas and I think she spent most of that week restocking our kitchen and cleaning.

That was more than 25 years ago, but I remember that year rooming with Dad fondly.

Thanks for brightening a very busy week, Dad. I love you!

Weigh Day Update

I worked too late last night. Which left me in a stupor most of today. Which makes it difficult to blog sensibly.

My eyes are drooping, I'm thinking about all of the things I haven't done and wondering what I have to wear to work tomorrow that doesn't need ironing (nothing).

And yet, it's Weigh Day and I lost again this week. Another .2 pounds gone for a total of 30.4!

And that makes me happy.

That and the thought of the coming three day weekend.

Congratulations to Harlequin Cat! You're the fantabulous winner of the measuring spoons. You're welcome to swing by on an astral flight and collect them, or just email me your address and they'll be waiting for you when you return from your next trip.