Holiday Weigh Day Update

Dillypoo was a bit anxious about weigh day today. Last week was a challenge with two Christmas parties, the office pot luck lunch, an afterwork meeting and a festive Friday filled with food and booze:

I knew I would exceed my allotted Club WW points:

Although I didn't think I'd go over quite that much.

But it's the holidays and it was only one week, right? I figured the fun I had would be worth the 2-3 pounds I'd gain. I can work that off pretty quickly so long as I leave the parties in the past and return to healthy eating habits and running like a crazy woman.

Even so, I was still nervous as I headed towards my meeting. I've been gaining and losing the same 2.5 pounds since October:

I hoped I was still under goal when I stepped on the scale. I may even have crossed my fingers for good luck as I prepared for the worst:

I was, to use an expression from my friend down under, gobsmacked!

Yes, I gained, but it was less than 2 pounds and I am still under my goal weight!

I am so ready to tackle the family gatherings this weekend.

Twas the Night Before Weigh In

Twas the night before weigh in, when all through the house

Not a nibble was missing, for me or a mouse.

The cookies were Ziplocked in baggies with care,

In hopes that Dillypoo soon would be there.

The Professor was nestled all snug in his bed,

While visions of sugar-plums danced in my head.

I carefully opened some new gingersnaps,

And Stella caught crumbs as they fell in my lap.

Then all of sudden there arose such a clatter,

I drew back from the cookies to see what was the matter.

Away from the kitchen I flew like a flash,

Tore back up the stairs and checked on my stash

Of holiday treats tucked above and below

My desk and my purse and the fake mistletoe.

When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,

But my guilt-laden Conscience, with a gasp and a tear.

With a wave of her finger, so lively and quick,

I knew in a moment it wasn't a trick.

Or maybe it was and my mind was insane,

'Cuz she whistled and shouted and called me bad names!

"You glutton! You fool! You sweets loving vixen!

You moron! You numskull! What have you been fixin?

Go out to the porch! To the bins by the wall!

Grab the sweets and the cookies, grab the snacks, grab it all!"

My inner-child started pouting and wanted to cry.

I wanted my treats, the candy and pie.

But up to the house-top my Conscience she flew,

With a sleigh full of guilt and admonishments, too.

I tried to ignore her and stay quite aloof,

But she pestered and nagged like a bothersome goof.

I pushed her aside and was turning around,

When down through the chimney she came with a bound.

She was stylishly dressed, from her head to her foot,

Her clothes were designer, including her boots.

A bundle of fruit she had slung on her back,

She looked like a vegan with recycled sack.

But her eyes how they twinkled! Her dimples how merry!

Her cheeks were like roses, her nose like a cherry!

Her droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,

And her smile revealed teeth as white as the snow.

I envied her look, her style and svelte sheath,

And fairies encircled her head like a wreath. 

She had a small face and a tight little belly,

That looked nothing at all like a bowl full of jelly.

She was healthy and trim, a jolly cute elf,

And I laughed when I saw her in spite of myself!

A wink of her eye and a twist of her head,

Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.

She spoke no more insults, but went straight to work,

And replaced all my junk with veggies and fruit.

Then laying a finger aside of her nose, 

And giving a nod up the chimney she rose.

She sprang to her sleigh then gave me a whistle,

And away she flew like the down of a thistle,

But I heard her exclaim as she drove out of sight,

"Happy weigh in tomorrow, and to you a good night!"

How to Wrap a Cat

Meowy holidays!

'Tis the Season

The Professor and Dillypoo decorated our tree last night:

We keep the holidays pretty low key. A simple Norfolk pine with a single strand of blue fairy lights and a smattering of silver and white ornaments.

It's a far cry from the lollapalooza of Christmas decor Dillypoo used to dump on our home. Somewhere under the staircase are boxes and boxes of artificial garlands, colored lights and several hundred Walt Disney ornaments.

Yes. Hundreds. Dillypoo used to obsessively collect Disney ornaments.

I used to start decorating the day after Thanksgiving, draping the house with lights, greenery and ribbon. The tree alone took a solid three days to finish.

And then I'd go shopping.

I'd buy gifts for The Professor, my family, friends and co-workers. I'd buy gifts for myself, just in case Santa forgot something. I'd spend money I didn't have on things nobody needed or really wanted.

The Professor would shut down during December, watching in dismay as I went berserk with tinsel and glitter. He didn't understand me and I couldn't understand his lack of enthusiasm for everything red and green.

It caused tension between us.

A few years ago, The Professor tried inserting some sanity into my crazy. He suggested we draw names as a family. We tried it, but Dillypoo's Christmas insanity is genetic. My family rebelled and a secret gift exchange circumvented Christmas morning.

It was around that same time when Dillypoo started her new job. After working insane hours from Labor Day until Thanksgiving, I was too tired to spend days decorating the house and putting up a tree laden with Mickey Mouse and his friends. I left the garlands under the stairs and my hundreds of ornaments in their boxes.

But I continued my excessive shopping, going into debt and arguing with The Professor.

Two years ago he finally convinced me and my family to forgo exchanging gifts with each other and focus on the kiddos instead. And for two years, The Professor has been more lighthearted during the holidays while Dillypoo secretly pouted.

This year I'm finally coming around to his way of thinking. After years of forcing my traditions of holiday excess on him, I'm learning to appreciate his more subdued approach to celebrating the season.

Last night we decorated our little pine tree together, an activity I always did alone. And tomorrow we're going shopping together to buy gifts for two children on the Salvation Army Angel Tree.

I still kind of miss shopping and buying gifts for everyone, but I'm also glad I won't blow my budget. This year I'm applying another blogger's rhyme (thank you, Liz) while selecting gifts for The Professor: something he wants, something he needs, something to wear and something to read.

I've been mulling all of this for the past few weeks, dreading Christmas and the stress leading up to December 25. Until now.

Honey, after 20 years I finally get it. It's not about the lights and gifts under the tree. It's about being together and celebrating family and love and each other.

Merry Christmas! I love you.