Motivation

Dillypoo has a motivation problem. I can't seem to get out of bed in the morning to do my two miles.

It's cold outside!

No matter how good my intentions each night, the morning cold that hits my toes at 6:00 a.m. drives me deeper under the covers.

I'm thinking about joining a gym for the winter so I can exercise in warmth, but that would mean getting up another 30 minutes earlier. My motivation hasn't dipped quite low enough for measures that extreme.

I need to get this worked out because I know that if I don't keep up the exercise, my jeggings and size 6 Levi's won't fit.

And that's simply unacceptable.

So I'm laying out my warmer work out clothes and heading to bed early. The thermostat is simply another reminder that there's still some distance to travel and this journey towards a healthier Dillypoo isn't over.

Cleaning Holiday

The Professor is on a cleaning binge this weekend.

This isn't necessarily a bad thing as we tend to live like unsupervised ten-year olds most of the time.

However, I've been in vacation mode since 5:00 p.m. last Tuesday. Cleaning house was pretty low on my list of things to do this weekend.

I did my Big Purge earlier this summer while he was in Germany, but I'm happy to see he's on the band wagon for thinning the amount of crap piling up around here.

I haven't been completely useless, though. I ran the vacuum, emptied the dishwasher and cleaned off my desk. I even helped load an old sofa in the truck to take to the Goodwill.

Never let it be said that Dillypoo didn't do the least she could do to help out around the house.

I'm pretty sure I'll catch some grief soon for blogging instead of scrubbing, though.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Stella!

The Professor and I have a new addition to the family! Everyone, meet Stella:

After weeks of searching, we found our sweet girl at the local animal shelter the day before Thanksgiving.

She was a stray and somebody had been mean to her, but the abuse must've been an isolated event because she has the sweetest temperament and is very loving. She's even getting along well with the cats.

She's a bit underweight, has a cold (not uncommon for shelter dogs) and stitches from being spayed last week, so we're taking her to the doggie doctor for a check up in the morning. But we think she'll be fine with a little time, love and kibble.

We took her to my parents' house yesterday for Thanksgiving and she spent most of the time sleeping in front of the oven:

When she wasn't getting toasty in the kitchen, she was being spoiled with hugs, kisses and table scraps from everyone in the family.

It's been awhile since I've seen that contented smile on The Professor's face. He and Stella have both had a rough couple of months. I think they'll be good for each other.

Turkey Trotting

Guess what Dillypoo did this morning.

It involved freezing my fanny off on a holiday morning when I would normally be sleeping in.

And it meant I was able to eat pie this afternoon without feeling guilty.

What Dillypoo did this morning was participate in the Turkey Trot 5K!

And I not only got up early in freezing, drizzly weather to earn my pie, but I ran the entire course!

This was my third 5K event this year. I walked the first two and I planned to walk most of this one after running for the first mile or mile and a half.

I've never run longer than that before. I even studied the event route beforehand to figure out where I should stop running and begin walking.

But something happened once I got going. Being up front in the crowd with other runners was different than being in the back with the walkers. Instead of being engulfed by the chatter of hundreds of people, I was mesmerized by the sound of a thousand sneakers hitting the pavement.

I passed the point I'd planned to start walking without realizing it, and then I saw the two mile marker.

I'd run more than half the course! I was breathing OK and decided to keep going.

Could I do it? Could I run more than three miles?

As I kept pace with the other runners around me, I started to get emotional. Was I really going to do it?

I couldn't feel my thighs, but that could've been the cold. The temperature was definitely dropping. I kept repeating to myself, Keep going...You can do this!

And suddenly the course turned and I could hear the announcer, loud music and the crowd. They were cheering!

I could see the finish line! I DID IT!

I ran the entire course! And I did it in 32 minutes and 41 seconds!

I almost cried with joy but it was so cold, my tears froze before they could roll down my cheeks.

Pie Baking Extravaganza

Dillypoo is on vacation for the next five days. Yippee!

Tomorrow I'm rising at my usual time to begin my day with a two mile run and walk. Then I have to take my car in for a check up. After that, The Professor and I have appointments for hair cuts. Then I'll run a few errands, pick up my car and head to the parental units' house to start cooking.

I have four pies to bake before the rest of the family shows up to help cook Thursday's feast. 

It's tradition. The family gathers in Mom's kitchen on Wednesday evening, I pass out recipes and everyone cooks a dish to serve on Thursday. I get to direct the activity (boss everyone around) and bake the pies.

I love baking pies. I love baking anything, actually, but pies at Thanksgiving are tradition. I bake my pies from scratch, but I don't make my own crust.

Dillypoo has issues with pie crusts. Issues that Pillsbury has worked out just fine.

I'm baking a sour cream apple pie, cranberry pear pie, pecan pie and pumpkin pie during tomorrow's pie baking extravaganza. These pies will contain real sugar, butter and cream. I do not cheat on the pie baking. 

I run instead so I can eat them without guilt.

Which reminds me. I signed up for the Turkey Trot 5K. The weather is supposed to be terrible, but I plan to go unless it's absolutely pouring down rain.

I have to earn that slice of pie!

The Potato Resistance

Dillypoo's family has spoken. There will be no messing with the mashed potatoes on Thanksgiving.

Mom and I didn't get a chance to go through recipes together as I'd hoped, so I spent last weekend sorting through them alone trying to figure out where to cut the fat. But after the potato resistance, I was feeling a little discouraged (and a bit afraid) to change anything else.

It took several telephone consultations with my traveling mother, but I think I finally came up with a menu that will look and smell like year's past but introduce some new flavors, specifically VEGETABLES.

So here's the menu:

• roast turkey with bread stuffing
• Daddypoo's mashed potatoes
• sweet potato casserole
• baked squash
• green beans with mushrooms and crispy onion flakes
• steamed corn
• orange cottage cheese salad
• maple cranberry sauce
• bread and dinner rolls

The sweet potato casserole, baked squash and green bean recipes are new this year, but they look really tasty. And I'm tweaking the recipes for everything else. Chicken broth, herbs and spices will replace most of the fat.

Except in the potatoes. I even bought whole milk to go with the butter.

It's my little artery clogging, fanny-enhancing gift to you.

She's Not The One

The Professor and I went to the animal shelter to check out the dog we saw yesterday. After much discussion (and beer), we decided she was, indeed, The One.

Except she'd already been adopted by the time we got there today.

So the hunt continues...

Dogs, Hallows or Horcruxes?

I've been trying to blog about Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows for over an hour, but The Professor keeps interrupting.

He decided to finish the beer in the fridge tonight, which means he's chatty. If you've ever met The Professor, then you know that once he starts drinking, he can't shut up.

Right now he's curled up on the sofa with a cat, pestering me with questions.

The Professor: "Do you think that dog today was The One?"

Dillypoo: "Maybe. We need to go back tomorrow and see her again."

The Professor: "Will she be your dog or my dog?"

Dillypoo: "She'll be our dog, but mostly your dog."

The Professor: "If you run with her every morning, then she'll be your dog, not my dog."

Dillypoo: "She'll be your dog."

The Professor: "Do you think the cats will adjust?"

Dillypoo: "Yes, the cats will be fine."

The Professor: "So do you really think that dog was The One?"

If I'm really quiet, maybe he'll fall asleep and I can get on with my movie review.

In short, I really, really liked Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1!

Dillypoo likes all of the Harry Potter movies, but I'm one of those rabid book fans who gets irritated when the films deviate too far from the printed page.

And director David Yates in particular annoyed me with his interpretations of books five and six. I wasn't too keen when I heard he'd been hired for book seven.

But he finally got it right! Some of the things I enjoyed the most (WARNING: SPOILERS):

Chapter One: The Dark Lord Ascending. This scene was almost exactly as I imagined it in my head when I read it, and Ralph Fiennes as Lord Voldemort is terrifying right from the start. "Nagini. Dinner." Yeah, goose bumps.

Chapter Four: The Seven Potters. I was so happy they kept this! Dan Radcliffe's characterization of himself playing other characters as Harry was fun (did you catch the expression on his face as he hugged Bill from behind before they took off on the Thestral?). And we got to meet Mundungus Fletcher!

Chapter Twelve: Magic is Might. I actually liked the scenes at the Ministry of Magic better in the film than I did the book (a first for me) and the actors portraying the trio in disguise were terrific. I just wished Harry had taken Madeye's eye from Umbridge's door.

Chapter Seventeen: Bathilda's Secret. I actually jumped out of my seat and I knew what was going to happen! Very creepy.

Chapter Nineteen: The Silver Doe. Of course, if Yates got this scene wrong, the entire fandom would've been pounding on his door. It was perfect.

Chapter Twenty One: The Tale of the Three Brothers. The animation was completely unexpected but worked and I loved Hermione's narration of the story.

Chapter Twenty Three: Malfoy Manor. Bellatrix unhinged is a frightening thing to behold. She stole the scene.

And I really liked that a lot of dialog came straight from the book. It was a nice nod to Jo Rowling's writing that her words could flow so well from book to screen.

The things I missed but I'll forgive (sort of):

• Dumbledore's back story. Maybe they'll work it in during the stay at Shell Cottage in Part 2?
• Harry's disillusionment with Dumbledore. It's touched on briefly at the wedding but they never go back to it.
• Harry's obsession with the Deathly Hallows.
• What are the horcruxes??? The trio still doesn't know what they're looking for. I bet Harry figures it out by "seeing" them in Voldie's mind in the next film. Lame.

I've seen the movie twice and I'll probably see it again.

Yeah, being a grown up is fun!

Countdown

Dillypoo is giddy! Only three more days until:

I have my ticket for the midnight show. I'll be seeing the seventh movie with seven friends.

Because seven is the most powerful number.

And I have a ticket to see it again on Friday. By myself. I'll sit in the middle of the theater with a bag of popcorn and a diet Coke.

Because I want to. Taking a day off from work to see a movie twice is one of the perks of being a grown up.

Stay in school, kids!

I'll take my wand to the midnight show. And I may wear a hat. Which means you don't want to sit in front of or behind me.

Accio popcorn!

Holiday Warning

Thanksgiving is a little more than two weeks away and Dillypoo needs to prepare.

No, I don't need to clean the house (although that's not a bad idea) and I don't need to sharpen knives (also not a bad idea). What Dillypoo needs to do is prepare the family:

This year's feast is going to be on the lighter side. I want to overhaul the menu and get rid of the unnecessary calories.

Mom, we're getting together this weekend to look at recipes and figure out were we can cut some fat.

Daddypoo, mashed potatoes made with fat-free sour cream and Butter Buds can be just as flavorful as those made with two pounds of butter.

Let's change up the traditional fare for some foods that won't hang on our hips until New Year. Maybe we'll eat more like the Pilgrims and have a fresher, more bountiful assortment of side dishes. I'm pretty sure marshmallow topped sweet potatoes didn't come over on the Mayflower.

We'll keep the turkey but saute the vegetables for the stuffing in broth instead of butter.

We'll fix fresh green beans with minced garlic and onion instead of making that cream-soup and canned bean casserole.

We can make Grandma's pineapple salad with sugar free Jell-O and fat-free cream cheese.

And maybe we can have a loaf of hearty, whole grain bread instead of dinner rolls.

Let's get creative. We can do this! There's no reason we have to eat a week's worth of calories in one sitting.

But don't worry about dessert. I'm not messing with the pies.

That slice (or two) of heaven will be our reward for keeping dinner healthy.

Versatile Dillypoo

Casey over at Poodleism thinks Dillypoo is versatile!

I lurv Casey. She's not only a blog buddy, but my neighbor at the office, too. She keeps me in stitches with her funny, sunny commentaries about life, pop stars and poodles. If it weren't for Casey, I wouldn't know who Nicki Minaj is (although I'm still a bit fuzzy).

Anyhoo, by accepting the Versatile Blogger Award, I have to:

• Thank and link back to who gave me the award. 
• Share seven things about myself.
• Pass it along to seven blogs I've recently discovered and enjoy.
• Leave the recipients a note telling them about the award.

Thank you Casey for giving me something to blog about this weekend (and for being an awesome friend and office mate).

Now for seven random things about Dillypoo:
one.
I hate housework. I sometimes go weeks without running the vacuum cleaner. I figure it's time to sweep once the dust bunnies get to be the same size as the cats. (It's getting to be about that time.)
two.
I can wiggle my ears. That's not completely unheard of, but I can also wiggle them one at a time. That, folks, takes talent! And strange genetics.
three. 
I still have my tonsils and appendix, but I'm missing one stapes, a uterus and two ovaries.
four.
My dream vacation is to visit all of the sites associated with the legend of King Arthur. My second dream vacation is to visit all of the sites that inspired the Harry Potter series.
five.
I sold an ice cream cone to Dick Van Dyck while working at a Haagen Dazs ice cream store my freshman year of college. I think it was rum raisin, but I don't remember for certain. He is very tall, by the way.
six.
I like mindless entertainment. I have a subscription to People Magazine. It is total mind candy and I'm addicted. I'm also an American Idol and Project Runway junkie.
seven.
I squeeze the toothpaste tube from the bottom. The Professor squeezes the toothpaste tube from the middle, which bugs the crap out of me. I've never said anything, though, because he doesn't need another one of my neuroses to tease me about. I just even out the toothpaste tube every morning after he's brushed his teeth.

Now it's my turn to pass along the award to seven bloggers I like. This is a challenge for me for two reasons. First, I'm a lousy commenter on blogs and therefore don't have as many blog buddies as I'd like. It's something I'm working on. Second, most of the blogs I follow don't seem to be the kind of blogs that pass along blog awards, so we'll see what happens!

But, here are some of my favorites. A couple I've been following for awhile and a couple are brand new. I hope you check them out and enjoy them, too.

Fiona at A Reader's Random Ramblings... 

Donna at My Sweet Things

Lori at Funny Girl LoLa

Flartus at Flartopia

Dawn at Two for Joy (because she's been on "hiatus" for too long and needs to blog!)

Tracey at Confessions of a Fat Lady

Anne at Smaller Fun Pants

Retail Therapy is Expensive

It's time for another intervention. Since getting to goal and losing yet another size, Dillypoo has become a shopaholic.

Target, Marshall's, the mall....even Sam's and Costco. I keep buying new clothes!

My closet and bank account are beginning to show the strain.

Each weekend I tell myself, "Self, you will not buy another pair of Levi's and you will not step foot inside Dillard's."

But the inner child who has been denied candy bars and junk food for the past 23 months is finally getting her way...with my checkbook this time.

Dillypoo bought a black mini skirt this past weekend. A mini skirt! Me! The girl who wouldn't be caught dead in anything that showed my ankles much less my thighs.

And not only am I wearing skirts and dresses, but I'm also regularly removing the fur on my legs. (Although I draw the line at actually shaving. Dillypoo knows her limits and running sharp blades down my legs is just asking for a trip to the emergency room.)

I can't help myself. I'm still giddy with excitement about my new body and size. The last time I weighed 148 pounds, I wore a size 10. This time I'm a size 6.

When I wear skinny jeans or a short skirt, I don't have to suck in my gut to hide a muffin top. The rolls that used to bubble around my bra and waist band are gone. Tops cling to my torso because they're supposed to and not because they don't fit properly.

And the fact that I can actually wear skinny jeans is still somewhat unbelievable to me.

I definitely didn't visualize these results when I started this journey. Maybe that's why it's still so surprising to me.

And it's what keeps me motivated to keep up the healthy habits I've acquired. It's why I still rise at 6 a.m. each morning to run and walk two miles. It's why I continue attending my weekly Club WW meetings.

And it's why I will continue to blog.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad