All posts by donnapatjc

60+ Disney-Phile Working to be in the best shape possible for our next family trip to Walt Disney World. Pushing forward in spite of health issues to be the best me I can be.

Energized at Last

Day 153 in my efforts to get healthier to meet Mickey

My plan for today was to do the big grocery shopping on my own, after work, in subzero temps.  And I did it.  It took me over an hour to get all the things on the list.  And the good news is I had energy to spare.  I felt great.  My knees didn’t ache.  My hip wasn’t screaming.  By back was fine.  I have to tell you 37 pounds ago, that would not have been the case.  Thanks to this journey I’m getting my life back, and I like it!

Once I got the groceries put away, I prepared lemon-pepper shrimp with brown rice and steamed broccoli for dinner.  People, it was delicious!

Meet you at the Kingdom!

Winter Wonderland Woes

Day 152 in my trek to meeting Mickey

Today’s plan was to batten down the hatches and make it through this impossibly wintry day.  The temperatures this morning were subzero with wind-chills in the ridiculous range.  Then it warmed up to above zero at about noonish so the snow could begin.  At 2:30, my boss said to go home before the weather got any worse.  So I drove through whiteout conditions on ice covered roads.  I literally inched my way home  To quote a cartoon that I saw on Facebook this morning, “My face hurts.  Why do I live in a place that makes my face hurt?”  I know there has to be something wrong with being so crazed about driving in this weather.  It points to a lack of faith…or…is it common sense?

Anyway I made it through, and I am home.  I can heat up some roasted red pepper and beef soup for dinner with a nice crunchy bread.  And then just because we have them, I will boil us each (Mike and I) a Vollwerth’s natural casing hot dog or two.  Oh, yeah, we are comforting eating tonight.  Plus we’ll have plenty of fresh veggies to compliment the meal.

Jarvi, out.   Meet you at the Kingdom!

Things Are Looking Up

Day 151 in my trek toward Mickey

1) Fever…gone!  Hallelujah!  I still feel exhausted, but the fever has not returned.

2) Stomach-still some issues.  But it is definitely getting better.

So my plan for today was to go back to work, stay sugar-free, eat healthy and put some extra steps in my day.  Mission accomplished.  Mischief managed.

It is several degrees below sanity outside here today.  It’s the type of day that just getting up and out the door, making your way to work, putting in your day, hitting the grocery store for a bit, and traveling back home feels like a MAJOR accomplishment.  So I feel good about this day.

I had to hit the grocery store, because we literally had nothing in the house for dinner but three bread crusts and a half stick of oleo.  🙂  It’s lousy to be sick for so long.  You eventually run out of food.

Anyway…things are looking up here at the Jarvi household.  Slowly, but surely, we are feeling better.  PTL!

Meet you at the Kingdom!

Sick and Tired

Day 150 in my fight toward better health and Mickey

Still fighting a fever and upset stomach.  My plan for today is to stay sugar-free and to eat as healthy as possible and to rest up.  I hope for a better day tomorrow.  I’m sick and tired of being sick and tired.

Meet you at the Kingdom!

Set Back

Day 149 in my struggles toward meeting Mickey

My plan for today was to hit the ground running this morning.  Into the 2015 fray, no looking back, forward motion.  Then I woke up with a fever and a very upset stomach.  It’s been a rough start to 2015 for the Jarvi household.  We seem to be picking up every possible bug going around.

So I stayed home and spent the day in bed and in the bathroom.  I’ll do my best to take care of myself today, and I will hope for a better tomorrow.

To quote one of my favorite movies, Tootsie, “I just have to feel this way until I don’t feel this way anymore.”

Meet you at the Kingdom!

Encountering Mickey

Day 148 in my quest to encounter Mickey

Today my plan was to research and figure out where I will meet up with Mickey in October, so this is it.  On October 14, 2015 (Lord willing and the creek don’t rise) I will meet up with Mickey in the Magic Kingdom at the Town Square Theater.  I am so-o-o-o excited when I envision it.  Me: “Thank you, Mickey, for inspiring me to get healthier this past year!”  Mickey: Silently nods head and shakes my hand.  Me: “Mickey, you have been a true friend.”  Mickey: Silently nods and rocks back and forth from foot to foot.  Me: “OK, g’bye, Mickey.”  Mickey: Silently gives me a hug and waves goodbye.

I guess it’s a good thing they aren’t allowed to talk.  How would they ever do the voice, right?

Meet you at the Kingdom!

Facing the Music

Day 147 in my disco-dance to Disney and my marvelous mate (the British word: mate, as in friend) Mickey.

Today’s plan was to assess the damages.  Now that the holidays are behind me, I had to face the music.  Yes, I was careful, more careful than I have ever been during the holidays.  BUT I was far from perfect.  So I bucked up my courage and stepped on the scale this morning.  After all, I need to know where I am, so I can dig back in, right?  I was so nervous.  Would this be my first gain in nearly 5 months?  Would I step off the scale in tears after swearing up a storm?  Would I have to break out the next size up…again?

Wonder of wonders, miracle of miracles…I actually lost weight over the holidays!  Woo hoo!!!  Now I am down 36.8 pounds from the beginning.  That’s another 3.5 pounds since I weighed myself on December 11.

I am so chuffed.  It makes me want to keep on keeping on.  So come on 2015, let’s dance!

Meet you at the Kingdom!

Setting Out to Set Up

Day 146 in setting out to meet up with Mickey at the Magic Kingdom

Today’s plan is to head to the church…on my day off… with my darling Mike at 6:00 to re-set up Damascus Road.  I still have a cold but feel a bit better today.  He still has the lingering cough from the flu.  But the gear is waiting, and so we’ll go.  *sigh*

It will be the first time I’ve attempted to move around more since I got sick.  It will feel good to get out of the house, and I will be able to relax once I know the gear is ready for Sunday.

Meet you at the Kingdom, Friends.

Happy New Year and We Begin Again

Day 145 and day 1 in a new year

Happy New Year!  Today marks a new year. A year ripe with potential. My plan for today is to reaffirm my goals for this quest to meet Mickey in as healthy a state as possible.

1 Remain sugar free

2 Make the healthiest possible food choices at each meal

3 Walk more…and more

4 Move around more each day, at work and at home

So tomorrow when I wake, I begin again.  I won’t be sad to wave goodbye to the holidays and all the goodies all around.

Into the fray…meet you at the Kingdom!

Happy New Year’s Eve!

Day 144 in my march to Mickey

December 31, 2014–May all your troubles be left behind with the old year, and may all the love and good fortune that you’ve had this year come along into the new year with you, dear readers.  I wish you health, love and fulfillment.  And most of all I pray for God to bless you and keep you close.

My plan for today is to rest up as much as possible and take care of this cold.  I had some bookkeeping tasks to take care of today, which ended up taking me about four and a half hours.  That is behind me now, and I will kick my feet up with a cup of tea.  Then I hope to nod off after the tea is gone.

Thank you for hanging in there with me this year.  I look forward to tackling my health in 2015. And I look forward to meeting you at the Kingdom!