Birthday Reflections

Another birthday, another year of life to celebrate.

It has been quite a journey since this time last year.  Last year was my first birthday without my Mom.  (Or Mommy-Mo, as I called her when I was little, for some reason.)
There have been many losses and disappointments this year, but my friends have NEVER let me down. 
Through sad times and happy times, stressful times, and laid-back times, my friends have always been there, to listen, to hug, to cheer me up, in essence, to be my friends.
My husband has also been there, even when I am not pleasant to live with, he has stood by me, and loved me anyway.  He's one special guy.  He'll always be my knight in smelly flight suit, my hero, someone who has FAR more patience with himself and me than I will ever possess.

This birthday has been resoundingly joyful.  My friends have showered me with love and good wishes, and some with gifts, and I am grateful for them ALL.  That my friends think enough of me to recognize my birthday, it means a lot.  I have gotten cards from family, too, and that is always special, especially when my brothers joke around with me.  They are special guys.  So intelligent, and so funny.  My sister is almost a second mom to me.  She's always seemed to feel responsible for me, and I think she's been overjoyed to realize that I can be responsible for myself now.  (Well, with Matt's help, and he is a big help.) She's always been there,  my big sister, to make me laugh, to take me fun places when I was a kid, to make life more fun.  Now that all of us have cell phones and unlimited text plans, I hear from my esteemed siblings more often.  It's a good thing.  All we got left is each other, as far as our original family goes.  We all have spouses, they have kids, my sister has grandkids, which she very kindly shares with me.  (It's a lot of fun  to be silly old Auntie Katie!)
I also have "library kids", "church kids", and "Perlgirl kids".  These are all special to me, also. 

My community and my coworkers, our library customers, the Friends volunteers, my St. Paul's family, everyone in my daily life, I feel blessed to know.  I am very grateful for a job that lets me serve this community. I may not always agree with the politics of my adopted state, but the people are really good at heart. Even the ones who violently disagree with your politics or religion will be right there helping out when you need them.  They may succumb to the rhetoric of the hateful politicians at times, but their actions usually spring from love.  They will help if you need help, and not care about anything else right then.  Makes me wish they'd see how their political rhetoric hurts some of their neighbors, but well, those habits are hard to break, I know. I pray for them.  And for myself.  And for those out in the world that are just plain hateful all the time.  They need our prayers most.

My family at St. Paul's have been a source of solace and strength for years. A week without being in church just feels so WRONG, because I don't get to spend time with all of you. Singing with that choir is one of the greatest joys in my life.  You all are phenomenal.  Scott Raab, your talent and your musical knowledge, and the love you have for all of us and the cathedral are special treasures in this life.  The clergy at St. Paul's have always been special to us; Canon Susan, and Father Tim Sean especially in recent years, but Dean Justin, and Deacon Marilyn have been important in our lives, also.

My Twitter friends are also very dear to me.  Ron Perlman, Michael Ornstein, my fellow #PerlGirls, Fantastic Negrito, Ben Watkins, Tommy Day Carey, Shaun Cunningham, Doug Jones, and so many others who interact with me on a regular basis, but Ron and my Perlsistas especially, have pulled me through some tough times.  I love you guys, I really, really do.  You make me laugh, you help me keep a song in my heart, you remind me that love is still out there, no matter what.

Mike and Nancy Rogers are special treasures.  Two better friends you will never find.  You two are so very dear to both of us, you will never know.  Thank you for coming to share my birthday with me, for your friendship and your good fellowship.  You are very, very loved.

So, as I look back on this birthday just ended, I look back with great joy and gratitude.  You all have made my whole life beautiful and filled with joy.  I am SO grateful to know each and every one of you. 
Thanks again to Ron Perlman, Linda O'Leary, Jana Lynn Waller, Paulette Horn, Fiona Dotter, Mallory McCreary, Anne Dallesandro, Mary Stolfa, Kelly C Reeves, Sabrina Quintofiore, Marie Therese Hansen, Patti Helps, Christina Boulard, Ben Watkins, Tommy Day Carey, Shaun Cunningham, Doug Jones, Xavier , Michael M. Ornstein.  You are all VERY dear to me.  Kisses and hugs.

Oh, and Ron, I had two margaritas, a steak dinner, and a big piece of chocolate cheesecake.  See, I followed your suggestions.  Love you bunches!

Musings on a Friday Night In the Not So Big Town

Tonight was a special Friday night for me.  I got to meet someone in person that I have only ever "spoken" with online!  It was very nice to meet Mary, who is every bit as warm and funny in person as she is online.  Her grandson Ryder came along, and he is a sweet little guy.  Typical two almost three year old, but well behaved as that age group goes.  And so cute!
We all met up at Back Door BBQ in OKC for dinner.  Matt was along, of course, and he was glad to meet Mary, too.  
 It was a very nice time of good food and good company.  Someone was having a birthday celebration at the restaurant while we were there, and they sure had some great singers at that party!  Best "Happy Birthday" I've heard in a long time!
Here's Me and Mary and Ryder in the parking lot after dinner.  (Poor Ryder was having his neck tickled over Grandma's shoulder by silly old Aunt Katie.)

Once Matt and I got home, I relaxed for awhile and then headed out for a short walk.  (.85 of a mile instead of the usual 1.78.)  I could hear the high school band playing at the stadium.  (When the wind is just right, the sounds from the stadium carry over to this side of town.)  Friday night lights and football games already.  My thoughts are with one member of that band whose mom is in the hospital right now.  Praying for her recovery and for the family as they deal with yet another in a series of many battles with cancer.  She is such a brave warrior in that battle.  One of the last poems I put in this blog was for her.  She's the most Christ-like Christian I know.  Gentle, accepting, loving, and never thinks of herself.

As I turned the corner onto our street on my way home, I saw our house for once all lit up with the proper outdoor lights, and the front windows all lit.  It felt so good to be walking toward home.

Since May, my husband and I have been trying to alter our diet and exercise habits in order to help him keep his diabetes and his high blood pressure under control, and in general make ourselves healthier.

Here is how I am doing right now.
I average over 10,000 steps a day.  I am eating fewer calories than I burn.
I have lost 19.8 pounds since May 7, and 26.8 pounds since January.
I take two walks daily, or use the elliptical once and walk once, or use the elliptical twice almost every day.
My measurements have come back to more normal proportions.  (38-29-37- I have a waist again!)

More importantly, I have more energy, I feel better, and I feel better about myself.

My weight was stuck around 145 for a long time, but now has crept lower, 141.2 this morning.  Appears to be a bit stuck there for now, but will go down again, I have no doubt.

I recently had to order another one of Michael Ornstein's "Blue Sweater" art t-shirts. Both the others I own are too big now!  Those are my "lucky shirts", they have gotten me through doctor's appointments and two tornadoes safely, so I HAVE to have one I can wear somewhere besides around the house.

This was me, wearing the size XL shirt in May, right after we started the diet.

This was me in July, a few pounds heavier than I am right now.  I will have to get a decent picture make of me this week and see if I can add it in later.  Right now, it's late, I just got off the elliptical, and I look horrible. Skinnier, but horrible.

The clothes that have gotten too big to wear at all are not of the sort that could be altered.  Some garments it just isn't practical to try.  I have plenty of things I saved from thinner times that fit now and are still in style.  (Well, as much as I am ever in style, rather frumpy library denizen that I am...)

The green dress that I have always loved, and that hasn't fit in years now fits again, so I will be getting some pictures made in it soon!

Here is a quick shot of me in this dress late last night.  I haven't been able to zip this dress in I don't know how long, and now it fits well!

I feel so very blessed tonight.  I have good friends, a wonderful husband, a nice home, a job I love, coworkers that make my job more fun than work, a church family that is loving and supportive and all the things church is supposed to be, and I have music.  It is a gift and a privilege to be able to sing.  I don't have a great voice, but it is pretty darn good.  I have my health, and I am finally doing something positive to keep it.  By the way, this dress is a favorite for Holiday recitals, but I think I only fit in it for one recital in the past.  Perhaps it will make another appearance this Holiday season.
That's all for this Friday Night in the Not So Big Town.
All my best from Moore, Oklahoma
Katie

Birthday Thoughts

So the day when I am officially another year older has arrived.  I was afraid it would be a day I would struggle to be cheerful, because the local weather hyenas started howling this weekend about "blizzard conditions" in the metro today. (Well, there are monsoon conditions here so far today, maybe, but not one snowflake so far.  Northwest is another story!)   As someone who grew up in the land of sunshine, orange trees, droughts, smog, and traffic, the thought of a blizzard is depressing.  Being trapped in the house for long periods of time is not my idea of fun. ( Don't get me wrong, we have a nice house, and lots of things to keep us entertained, and we DO still enjoy each other's company, but I am somewhat claustrophobic.  The very idea of not being able to go outside if I feel like it gives me the willies!)

The day itself, however, has been full of blessings.  First off, no snow, just rain.  (We NEED rain, and I can drive in rain.)  I got out early and got all the groceries bought, and my allowance and gas money out of the bank.  The groceries came in under budget thanks to coupons, and putting them away didn't take too awfully long.  Stew is in the crock pot for a nice, cozy birthday dinner.  (With sourdough bread to toast in the broiler to go with it!)  All the cleaning is done, so now if we get stuck in the house, it will be in a fresh, clean, good-smelling house. 

An especially nice blessing is having my voice back to just about normal.  I have been so afraid it was gone for good, but the mid - range is back in place, and I am Go! for any and all singing that needs to be done!

There have been really special birthday wishes sent to me today.  I forget how many dear people that I care about also care about me.  My Facebook feed has been overflowing with loving good wishes.  Most of these are folks I have either met face to face, or have corresponded with for so long, that we feel like we've known each other forever.  There are family wishes in there, too.  MY big brother, and NOBODY else's, is the only of my siblings on Facebook, and he always greets me there, as well as sending a card.  I got a sweet post from one of my nieces - in- law, too.  One of my Facebook friends who is also on Twitter sent me a nice birthday tweet, and so did an actor/artist that I follow.  The icing on the birthday cake of this day though, was a nice, short, 'happy birthday' from a busy man that I admire.  It was the perfect topper for a day that turned out so much nicer than I was afraid it would.

Throughout the day were little reminders of how blessed and how precious this life is.  There were lots of nice people at the base today, from the gate guard to the cashier and the bagger at the commissary who were cheerful and helpful in spite of the yucky cold wet weather.  Those that looked at my ID card even wished me a happy birthday.  (Nice to know they actually look at the darn thing when I go to the trouble to have it out for them!)
My dear husband had a sweet little gift for me when he got home.  A while back, I had lamented that one pair of my full size sewing shears had just disappeared.  He replaced them today with an even nicer pair.  A small thing, perhaps, but so very thoughtful and attentive of him to remember my lamentation over "the good scissors".
There have been other "birthday presents" that we have bought together.  Like this fabulous new computer that I got right after Christmas because the old one up and died.  (It was only five years old, which is about 110 in computer years...) I got a Nook HD+ on Friday because the old Nook Color, while still working, is getting harder and harder to keep charged when using the Wi-Fi.  This new one will let me watch Netflix on the go on a screen that is much more watchable than my phone.  (Needs Wi-Fi connection, but that is cheaper than the data on my phone when it goes over the contract limit!)   I can also be environmentally responsible at church and download the service bulletin to the Nook HD+, and not have to use a paper bulletin.  (Quieter during the service, too!)  I have also acquired a Bodhran and an istructional dvd to help me learn to play it.  I intend to do so.  I've wanted to learn for awhile now.
So, this birthday is a LOT better than I feared it would be.  Thanks again to all those who have made it so.
All my Facbook friends and family, (you know who you are!)  Also, Anne Lower, Michael M. Ornstein, Ron Perlman, Mary Stolfa, Anna Cathy Wells, and Fiona.  (Rusty, I know you are sending good wishes, too, but I also know you are buried in job training! ;-) ) Phyllis C., commissary cashier extraordinaire, and Matthew Douglas Amistead, husband who goes above and beyond the call for me!