It's Paul's Day!!!!!

Happy Birthday, Paul!!!
Know that you are loved!!!!

L.O.L. (Love Our Lurkers)

Okay. I admit it.

This hasn't had the appearance of a spanko blog for quite some time. That's only because I've been preoccupied with so much else... surgery... weight loss... work.

But still.... I'm one of 'em. Honest, I am.

And one day this blog will return to what it once was. The spirit will move me. I just know it. In the meantime, I see you.

Yes you....

I check my stats regularly and it amazes me that many of you still come around. Who are you, anyhow? No, I don't mean in REAL life but here in blogland.

Who are you?

Are you a spanker? Spankee? Switch?

What's your implement of choice? A crop? A flogger? A hand?

So anyhow, today is "Love our Lurkers Day" here in spanko blogland and it would be so very nice to hear from some new blood. So go ahead... Lurkers, be brave!! Leave a comment!! Say as much or as little as you feel comfortable with but please, say something!!!

I'm off spending the weekend with PK but I'll check in here and there.

I will be watching for you!

And yes, you matter to all of us out here!!

Three Positives

When it comes to losing weight, every little thing is monumental and has the potential of bringing tears to my eyes depending on the time of month.

Anyhow, there are three such "little things" that have happened this week that I thought I'd share.

1) The ticker has tumbled three more pounds. I keep hoping for another one of those 7 or 8 pound weeks but like I said the little things are monumental. As long as I keep losing, all loss is GOOD!!!

2) I have to leave the house in 40 minutes to take the pup for his "spa day." In the meantime I had looked at the clock and realized I could color my hair quick before I go. I have a lot to do today so I need to make use of every moment. Anyhow, the monumental event that has occurred is that while I'm waiting to rinse, I am sitting here wrapped in a towel. Big deal? Oh, yeah. I haven't had a towel - ANY towel - fit around me in ages. No more old, disgusting 5X hair coloring shirt for me. I think I'll throw it out.

And finally...

3) For a while now... probably about six weeks, I've been attempting this feat. Last night it finally happened. I was able to slide my original wedding band on and wear it comfortably. I had refused to wear it until I could put it on and take it off easily which happened last night. Adam was thrilled. I hadn't worn a wedding band in YEARS.

And this isn't monumental but something that excites the heck out of me. Years ago, I'd had a cappuccino maker. It long ago died. I think we threw it out. If we didn't, it is stored on some dirty shelf in the basement or something. Anyhow, I love Starbuck's Caramel Macchiato but I'm sure that it's got more sugar in it than I'm allowed and I had no idea if there was a caffeine free version. Both things - sugar and caffeine are big no-no's for me. I got on line and did some research. Last night I found a Mr. Coffee Cappuccino maker on clearance for a mere 20 bucks. I already had the sugar free caramel syrup. I picked up the coffee I needed. Grabbed a bottle of sugar free vanilla syrup and a jar of Smucker's sugar free caramel sundae topping and guess what I am sitting here happily sipping on at the moment?

Dang... life is not just good, it's EXCELLENT!!!! And I wish you all the same satisfaction that's in my world right now!!!

Ha! This is cool!!

Here's the latest going around blogland. Pretty nifty, if you ask me.

Offspring #One

Just recently my twin has posted about each of her children. Considering I've met LJ and Mollie in person, I especially enjoy reading what they are up to.

Then again, I've never met Theresa's Michael but I love reading what he's been up to also.

That has me thinking.

I have three children and I've never taken the time to brag about them much here in my blog.

They are all girls.

My oldest turned twenty five a few months ago. She's tall. Blond. Blue eyed. And very talented. Actually she's quite amazing.

Twenty years ago when she was in kindergarten we went to conferences to have our high hopes for her crushed by a teacher who supposedly was - and still is - considered to be an expert in education. She told us our daughter was slow. She told us she needed speech therapy. Math help. Perception help. If there was a special needs program, our daughter was placed in it.

I'll never forget the teacher's words: "She will always be below average and have to work hard just to get mediocre grades. Don't look for A's."

When we got home that night we discussed that she was to never know what that teacher had said, that we would work with her and encourage her to just do her best without us getting upset over all the C's and D's she brought home throughout elementary school.

It was bizarre.

We weren't expecting it.

In sixth grade she suddenly began bringing home B's and a rare A.

By the end of middle school she was ranked 23rd in her class of 200.

In high school she joined the yearbook staff and worked as one of its co-editors her junior and senior year. When she went off to college 800 miles from home, we knew by then she'd become a success at whatever she chose.

Again, she chose the yearbook only this time the stakes were much higher and she edited a book that was issued a very prestigious award from a very prestigious university in New York not just once, but TWICE. She also took in a few other personal awards for her photography and writing.

Proud?

You betcha.

And when she reached the end of her college years, guess who offered her a very good job? The university who she won the awards for. They know a good thing when it's in their hands. They held on to her.

She recently had a job offer which would have required her moving even further away from us but in the end she turned it down.

Why?

Because her university doubled her annual raise in order to keep her.

And guess who's coming home tonight?

The university is sending her to our area on business so we get her from late tonight until sometime Sunday afternoon with the exception of tomorrow evening when she has to take care of work.

I'm excited that she's coming because this will be the first year ever that she can't come for Thanksgiving. She's in a wedding that weekend. She'll be here for Christmas so I was okay with the whole Thanksgiving thing but this is a nice bonus.

Stay tuned. I'll be bragging up the other two offspring one day soon.

The Bad, The Good

How's everyone?

It seems like I just don't have anything to add to this wonderful community these days so I've not said much.

Life is going well. I'm back into the full swing of work. We're slowly regaining our sex life. The pup is adorable. The nest is empty. The weight is coming off but not without a price.

Most food doesn't set well when I do eat so I don't eat often. I miss being able to sit down and eat a piece of pizza or some other wonderful thing. I miss being in the mood for sex. Spanking. Blogging. It's just not there.

BUT.....

As pathetic as that may sound, there is so much more that is GOOD.

My back doesn't hurt.

My feet don't hurt.

Climbing steps doesn't take my breath away.

Adam does take my breath away when he brings out the Hitachi.

Adam bought an extension chord for the Hitachi because since we got new bedroom furniture it just didn't quite reach.

And you know what's best of all? Soon... very soon I get to see my second best friend in the world. Adam, of course, is my best friend. Any guesses as to who takes second place on my list?

PK? Is it okay that I told them?

Another fun and good thing in my life is the response I get when people see me who haven't been around in a while or when I tell someone about my surgery and show them a picture taken just 3 months ago. It's definitely fun to hear the responses.

The days are so much shorter in my neck of the woods and it won't be long before the snow is flying. I don't even want to think about it so why did I mention it?

Rambling. I'm just rambling.

Thanks for reading.....

I am Still...

...Losing weight but not much this week....I'm down 1.5 pounds.... I'll take it.... not a problem at all!!!

...in touch with that groove thing...

...in love with Adam...

...crazy about our pup...

...getting spanked occasionally...

...glad to hear from all of you...