FAT (2)

You may recall the unFATtening project upon which I have recently embarked.

I deliberately did not weigh myself at the beginning of this project because frankly, I care little for how much I weigh, I am all about my size. I was also planning not to measure myself for a month after the initial measurements because I'd only be setting myself up for disappointment.

So far I have been really very good with portion control, eschewing snacks, not eating a single one of the dozens and dozens of muffins I have made for Don and Joe/Frank, walking to work and staying off the booze on week-nights.

Today my skirt was a little loose and when I put my hands on my hips (as I am prone to do rather a lot when standing) my waist felt a little smaller. So I thought it really couldn't hurt to just check my progress a teensy bit.

I dragged out the tape measure and Holy Goodness!

I have lost 2 inches (5 cm) from my chest and hips and 3 inches (7.5cm) from my waist! I have now checked this 4 times.

Of course I have no expectations that things will continue at this pace and there is still a very good way to go.

But what a pleasing outcome! I feel very encouraged to keep this up.

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no problems, just solutions

My Leprosy Foot is nowhere near better, but last week I'd really very much had enough of 1. wearing my runners everywhere and 2. people asking me why I was wearing runners everywhere.

I was desperate and determined to find a solution. Even if it involved old lady shoes. Even if it very much contravened the rules of the MSP (massive savings project).

And verily, I found some not-too old lady shoes with squishy insoles (on sale even!) - which do a stellar job of highlighting my cankles.



Then it occurred to me that I might be able to locate some super-squishy insoles which I could insert into my barely-worn loafers (the current insole feels as though it is crafted from concrete). And so I found some very squishy lambswool ones at a bargain price.



Sure, I still need the runners for walking to work and for any sort of distance, but at least I can cavort (okay, hobble) about the office decently shod.

In other footwear news, I have decided that I am totally and utterly over shoes with heels and have resolved never to wear them again (just like that period in the 1990s when I only wore men's shoes [infinitely less expensive, infinitely better quality, infinitely more comfortable]). Though at the current rate of Leprosy Foot healing this will be no great issue.

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election: fin

Last evening the whole fam¹ celebrated the State Election with hummus with lamb and pine nuts (Absolutely To Die For!), tzatziki and Totally Oz party pies and sausage rolls² and lashings of wine (or coca-cola if you are Joe/Frank, or water if you are Bessie - who has given up soft-drink for Lent).

Donaldo and I ventured out betimes (owing to Don's golfing commitments) to get our suffrage on.

On the way we stopped by our new local coffee joint (long may it prosper!) for brekkie.


Perhaps it is the child of the 70s in me, but I truly respond extremely well to this orange (and wish we had managed to obtain cast-iron cookware in the same colour-way).


Baked Beans. So! Very! Good!


Ex-boss from batshitcrazyorg was very, very high on the upper house ballot <shudder>. Call me deluded, but my hope is that the populace might one day realise the utterly revolting extreme rightwinged-ness entrenched in certain (dominant) segments of the NSW Labor party.

Any-hoo, we've a new Government and lets hope they are better than the last lot, because they could hardly be worse!


¹Our beloved Joan joined the celebrations.
²Truly, Villis Pies are the most magnificent in the whole entire multiverse, their sausage rolls are less superior, though still very good indeed.

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pretty

An autumn evening from the balcony.




Beautiful, beautiful colour.


Double rainbow! And yet there had been no rain.



What a lovely place we live in.

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stuff in my letterbox: nsw election

Apart from being inundated with the expected Verity and Jamie propaganda, we've received some interesting election related material in the letter-box¹ over the past week or so.


A personally addressed letter from Anne Summers citing Verity's various achievements on (primarily) women's issues. This was addressed to me and Don did not receive one (obviously the patriarchy does not care for such trivialities).


Letter from various union-types. This was addressed to both of us. I was thankful that batshitcrazyorg was not namechecked - else I would have been forced to set fire to it.


Pamphlet urging us to oppose the Glebe Social Cleansing (wut?).


The source of the out stickers on the Verity posters becomes clear! And the "authorized by" person operates a printing company - which might explain the superior adhesion qualities of the stickers.


I was feeling not too ill-disposed toward the Liberal candidate until I received the how-to-vote (addressed to both of us). Anyone who suggests I put a 2 in the Fred Nile² box earns last place on my ballot. Interestingly, Joan's candidate for the Libs had no direction to Fred in the upper house.

And then today we had the pamphlet which changed everything...


Okay, not really.

Tomorrow, we'll be indulging in our usual electoral feasting and celebrating the end of these clowns.

Remember fellow NSW-ish-imaginary friends: Vote early! Vote often!


¹As an aside, I was shocked to learn via Phil and Smila that in the US it is illegal to put anything other than actual mail into a letterbox! Instead, this material would be placed on the doorstep - freaky!

²Ultra-ultra-ultra right wing "christian" for the un-initated.

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treasures

During her less-extremely-horribly-ill times Mom has been on a bit of a decluttering frenzy. She is very keen to pass the heirlooms along to us, which is really very lovely of her.

And so it came to be that there were four rather large boxes for collection at the post office.



We've already received the gorgeous china and family silver and now it was time for the glassware.

There was so very much glassware! Which, being in a very tiny flat, we have nowhere other than the garage to store.

After the unpacking (and mad props to shipping company in the small Pacific Northwest town in which Mom lives for their utterly magnificent packing job) I decanted the contents into one of the large boxes and, prompted by the overflow, we decided that we should probably keep some of the glasses out of the box to actually use.



Once, I would have thought this quite fussy, but now I am really rather fond of it and look forward to regular use.

We're now contemplating acquiring some sort of small china cabinet so we might have the china and silver accessible because it is ridiculous to have such lovely things and hide them away.

Amongst the goodies was a quite wonderful small wooden chest to store some of the previously shipped silver and various Donaldo baby treasures - such as hair from his first haircut! and prints of his tiny baby feets!



And a sword!

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msp

This week we've decided to shake up our whole manner of living (see previous FRP post).

As part of that we've also decided to focus on a MassiveSavingsProject [MSP] for the next 12 months.

To that end, the cost of every bottle of wine we don't drink and every weekday lunch we don't buy will be transferred into the newly opened Saxobank¹ high interest savings account. Is a v. nice, tangible reward for Being Good.

Hopefully this (and good health [no moar Dr billz plz!]) will enable us to take that trip around the Rivera we planned a good while ago (but which Life interfered with).

¹not its real name

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confronting

As part of my FAT reduction project I forced Donaldo to photograph me in my underwear.

I won't be sharing the horrifying (and mismatching bra+undies) images with you, but, through the magic of photoshop, please be utterly aghast at my silhouette - I know I was. You'll thank me later for not sharing the real thing.


ZOMG! Those thighs!

Also as part of the FAT reduction project (FRP), I took some measurements:

41 (104cm) ZOMGWTFBBQ!¹
33 (83cm)
41 (104cm) ZOMGWTFBBQ!¹

Ackk!! Though I guess I should be glad that the hourglass is still intact.

This week, I have attacked the FRP. I have walked to and from SaltMinesLimited (round trip of 7km) each day. I have eaten a proper breakfast of healthy cereal. I have consumed a lunch of a capacity of no greater than 350ml. I have not consumed non-healthful snacks post-work or in the evenings (or indeed, at all). There have been no seconds/thirds/fourths. There has been No Winez During Week Nights (which also forms part of the MassiveSavingsPlan[MSP]).

I feel pretty chuffed with my efforts - but the very, very long haul is to follow.

¹It was only upon conversion to metric that I realised the full horror.

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crafting for sanity

We've discovered that elderly teenage boys are in dire need of long-ish pants rather than boxers for lounging - lest we all poke our eyes out! ZOMG! The Horror!

I'd estimate that I've had this fabric for around 8 years. Originally it was intended for lounging pants for Joan, but we purchased way too many lengths of various fabrics and eventually grew tired with the making of pants.


I bought way too much of this tape many years ago from kikki.K for precisely this purpose.

Truly, lounging pants are one of the quickest sewing projects in the land.


Please ignore the mismatched plaid at the arse. The sides and front are perfect, but matching plaid all over is hard!!

And, verily, our eyes are safe until washing day!

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FAT

Regular readers may recall that I mentioned recently that I was Piling On The Chub.

Unfortunately since that post there has been a good deal more Chub Piled On.

So very much Chub that I have been forced to acquire some size 14 (US size 10¹) garments so I do not go about naked. Today I was forced to purchase size 14 jeans from Kmart (they were inexpensive [$19], and I desperately needed a pair) and they were quite snug.

While processing this dire development, I realised that I have never been this size in my whole life when not Extremely Pregnant. When I first hooked up with Donaldo I was a super-fit size 6 (US size 2¹). Bloody hell. I remember when I thought a snug size 12 (US size 8¹) needed extreme intervention. Bloody hell indeed.

All this chub is proving very, very,very physically uncomfortable and I Desperately need to do something about it.

My key Mucho Chubbo issues as I understand them, are:

1. Extreme lack of exercise because of stupid, broken pox foot
   
2. Portion control (I eat enough for someone who does manual labour for 10 hours per day. Sadly, I am sedentary to the max and my manual labour totals roughly 10 minutes per day.)
   
3. Way too many wines, way, way too regularly.
   
4. Ill health & hormones coursing through bod.

Did I mention that I desperately need to do something about this?

Come Monday (it will be alright ... holding you tight &etc):

1. I will manage/cut portions.
   
2. I will walk to work (and work through 3xtr3m3 foot pain) & get in some other exercise.
   
3. I will cut out the winez.
   
4. I will measure/weigh/photograph self to get a handle on how ghastly this is.

Hopefully that will go some way to holding back the size 18 (US size 14¹).

¹It very much speaks to my vanity that I need to qualify that.

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review

The week has been very calming, if not a little exhausting.

I've felt a good deal better about things and have not missed twitter (or metafilter) At. All. - which is a good, good thing (okay, I do very much miss keeping up with my favourite imaginary friends' doings - blog moar, people!).

The past few days in a nutshell (apart from SaltMinesLimited doings):

Tuesday: hand-sewed waistband back on skirt from which lining was ripped on Monday. Then ventured out to see The Hold Steady at the Metro. As always, they put on a wonderfully fantastic, very tight, show. Craig spoke between songs of having a soul-sucking office job at 30 and how he started a band (man) and how, eight years later, it has proved to be the most absolutely best job of his life (much food for thought). My foot is still recovering from all the exertion.

Wednesday: meal planning / grocery shopping / mucho-exhaustion. Crocheted Mom's blanket a bit. Read some genteel murders for a bit. In bed before 9pm (what pauvre, sad olde people we have become).

Thursday: Joe/Frank had Modern History essay due Friday - mucho proof reading & editing suggestions required (oh the HSC years!). Also made cottage pie - which was tres magnifique!

I'd very much like to learn how to balance the necessities of life with those things I'd love to do. I'd love to be about less chores, more crafting/cooking/reading/resting.

How on earth do people manage it?

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patsy cline

I had a bit of a breakdown on Friday evening. There was wailing and gnashing of teeth. There was a very good deal of despair.

I'd really like to make light of it, but I can't bring myself to do so - because it was rather serious.

What brought this on, you may ask? I have absolutely no idea. All I know is that I was utterly consumed with unhappiness (stupid brain).

So on Saturday I decided to take matters in hand:

I have resolved to obtain a referral to Iman the Mental Health Professional - primarily to refocus on the sanity and mindfulness &etc.

I have resolved to make positive changes in my life - which mostly means more doing actual things and less (tres addictive) mindless internetting. To this end:

I crafted a tote from an old dress


I experimented with Kerry Apple cake muffins (tied with cute ribbons)


I experimented with blueberry muffins for my lovely husband (who adored them)

I commenced crocheting an afgahan for Mom to warm her while she snuggles on her couch.

I read books (other than silly needlecraft murders) on the Kindle.

I snuggled on the couch and watched Grand Designs.

I researched fish tanks (so that I might be calmed by lovely, wee fishies)

I culled the blogs in my google reader (no, not you!) to those people I truly want to read.

I did not look at twitter At All (I'm thinking of cutting out teh twitter entirely - but am giving it a one month ban).

I resolved to blog more and composed posts in my head.

And it all felt pretty marvellous.


Tonight I ripped the torn lining from a skirt (to make it a little more comfortable) which I can now barely fit into and repaired my favourite umbrella ($5 and still keep-on-keeping-on after 3 years).

And I am starting to feel a whole lot better.

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fashion crimes

Although they are fabulously comfortable, when my foot-leprosy is cured I will cheerfully burn these shoes.



I'm currently wearing them everywhere - including all day at the SaltMinesLimited, because they are all that I can wear without extreme agony/limping. Stupid foot.

In other dermatological news, a dashing scar and all-clear from the biopsy.

In other fabulous news - is finally autumn! Hurrah!

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