Recently in My Health & Well-Being Category

This is probably not going to be a politically correct entry, so those who are easily offended may want to stop reading now.

"Grey's Anatomy," helped me put my thoughts together about how much I despise cancer.

The show, which has become increasingly annoying in this season, had three, count them, three cancer storylines packed into one terminally ill episode.

This was probably not the episode for a woman who recently lost her mother to cervical cancer to watch.

Izzy Stevens, also known as the "TV doctor who gets on my last nerve," just found out she has brain cancer. A family of three, way-too-pretty siblings also are trying to decide if they should remove their stomachs to avoid their relatives fates of a horrible death to an aggressive stomach cancer.

Let the whining of the beautiful people begin: "I don't want to die, what about the trips I've planned. . . blah, blah, blah. My hair is way too shiny for me to die. . .blah blah blah."

Anywho, my favorite part was the sibs detailed descriptions of their relatives painful cancer deaths. They went into the weight they lost, how they couldn't eat and how much pain they were in. They talked about watching them waste away and being helpless to do anything about it.

I hated them for describing such a devastatingly personal experience that was so close to home.

I hate cancer.

You guys haven't been subjected to any cute kid stories for a bit.

Today is the day.

My niece, Aisha, is 7, and my little diva in training.

When I saw her this weekend, she had a surprise for me. "Auntie 'Chele," she said, "Look."

She smiled big to show me her two front teeth were missing.

I asked her, "Aisha, who stole your teeth?"

She laughed, and shook her head at her crazy aunt.

I told her we should call someone, and file a report for her missing teeth.

WIth the patience of someone talking to a small child, or someone they don't think is playing with a full deck, Aisha explained to me that her teeth came out naturally, as baby teeth do, and they they were growing back already.

Wide-eyed, I said, "Really?"

She shook her head vigorously and showed me, opening her mouth to point to her small, pink gums and the tiny piece of white budding up on them.

"Tttthe?," she said. I think she meant, see, but it came out funny, as she was pointing to the new tooth with her mouth open and trying to talk.

She's just adorable.

It's been 24 hours since I last had a soda.

I am dying for one.

Just a sip.

Just a taste.

I want the cool, refreshing taste of a Pepsi. It is my favorite soda and comfort. It's my personal reward for any and everything.

Had a good day? Have a Pepsi.

Worked out like I was supposed to? Have a Pepsi.

Went to the evil grocery store? Have a Pepsi.

It's Monday? Have a Pepsi.

No more.

The soda is one of the things making me fat. So, I had to let it go.

It is not easy. I miss it already.

But I am sticking to this. I have a goal. I have discipline.

And lots of iced tea.

(P.S. - I'm doing the spring "Biggest Loser," 12-week challenge. Stay tuned.)

Is it just me,or is saying that you're going to do something almost certainly means you won't?

I was thinking about this because of all the conversations I've had and been part of that included the fatal "going to."

You tell a friend, "I'm going to start going to the gym more."

It sounds really good. I think it makes you sound like you really are going to do it.

But we all know it leaves you lots of wiggle room NOT to do it.

I sometimes wonder if we say stuff like this to people knowing good and darn well we aren't planning on doing anything.

I'm going to. . .buy groceries, learn a new language, be a better friend, clean out the garage, work longer hours, eat less carbs. . . whatever it is, this phrase helps us impress people - but doesn't hold us to actually doing it.

We should. We know we need to.

But we don't.

My point?

I'm been telling folks how I was "going to" do lots of stuff to get back on track with my weight loss.

I've said I'm going to. . .

work out more

eat less

be a better gym buddy

cut out sodas

actually go to the gym

eat out less

eat healthier

go to the grocery store. . .

How many things have I done on this list?

Uh. . .

Well. .. .

One.

I went to the grocery store yesterday, after about three weeks of stalling and eating out for almost every meal. I couldn't really afford it, but I used my would-be grocery money to eat out and avoid shopping.

Sad, huh?

That's it. I'm really going to do more. Really.

I'm serious.

Does anyone else struggle with this one?

Hello?

Bueller? Bueller? (80s movie reference. . . )

There's no other way to say this.

I miss my mommy.

In the weeks since she died, I've been busy - almost too busy to think about the enormous nature of my loss.

Gentle reminders of her are all around me, whether its in the way my apartment is decorated with family photos (a page right out of my mother's decorating book), or how I deal with my sometimes mischievous cats, which she called her "furry grandchildren."

I miss her so much right now. It has been a difficult few weeks. I really could use her strength right now.

What are you supposed to do without your mother?

I ask myself this question all the time, because the world seems a lot less safe without her around.

I'm struggling with this weight loss thing, too. She was my biggest cheerleader when I had battles with my weight.

When I felt down about it, like I do now, she would help me put in perspective, and encourage me not to give up.

I'm the heaviest I've ever been in my life.

I know it's unhealthy, and I want to lose weight.

I don't know if I can.

I need some help. I'm just not sure where to look now.

I feel like I've tried everything.

Mom, I wish you were here. I need you.

You don't say.

Science is finally verifying what fat folks have known for a long time.

Sugar is addictive, and can be as bad as hard to kick as other addictions.

Again, you don't say.

I can't believe they needed a study to tell them this.

Have they ever talked to ANYONE who has been on a diet and had to cut out sugar?

It's hard, it sucks and it makes you grouchy.

Kind of like trying to kick a habit.

This would be our DUH! moment of the day.

Can't focus. . . Need more calories.

Vision fading. . Heartbeat very weak. . .

I can't stop . . . . . . thinking about food.

I'm so hungry!

This morning, one of my co-workers had to keep me from robbing a Pizza Hut.

God bless ya, Jeff.

Where I'm from, duct tape is the very fabric that holds life together.

With my dad at the helm, my family used duct tape for everything - repairing stuff, building stuff, holding stuff together, maintaining vehicles, kidnapping people. . .

(For all the FBI agents reading my blog today, that was a joke. . . or was it?)

Anywho, with my current "situation" duct tape has been invaluable.

It has helped me get around in my main mode of transportation since Jan. 5 or so, my computer chair and walker combo (shown here as exhibit A).

Yes, that is my Christmas tree and other holiday decorations in the background.

I'm not ashamed that it's almost March and they are still up.

They make me happy.

In my defense, I broke my ankle on Jan. 3, and didn't have time to take the down.

(And probably wouldn't have anyway, as anyone who knows me will tell you.)

But I'm getting off topic. This is all about the duct tape.

When you hurt yourself like this (the broken ankle), you need moral support.

Mine has come in several forms.

Jan. 29

My youngest niece, Kaiya, will be 3 next month.

She's a short little thing, with a mop of curly hair. This is her:

With her help, I was able to overcome some fears and get through a really hard task - climbing up the steps.

It's been about a week since my surgery. I went to the doctor's on Monday.

The surgeon is happy with how I'm healing. He said it looks like the bones are mending back together well.

You guys should see my x-rays. It's like I have "The Terminator's" ankle. On the left side, it has a long, metal plate that hugs the bone.

The plate is held in place by 10 screws along the bone. I have two other screws in the ankle, which have secured the other two broken bones in place.

It's kind of neat. Well, not the pain, the swelling and the whole, "not being able to walk, drive, etc.," thing, but the surgery of it.

The surgeons used staples (yes, staples) to close the wounds on both sides of my ankle. They have like a staple gun that they use for procedures. How cool is that?

What was not so cool was the removing of the staples, another highlight of Monday's appointment.

I was brave and handled it well (read: I cried like a baby, and wished some evil thoughts on the nurse who had to take out my roughly 18 staples. Thank goodness my sister Debbie was there to hold my hand.).

I made it up and down the 25 steps (my physical therapist counted them) from the curb to my apartment. I'm back in my apartment, using my computer chair and walker to get around.

I've got a family friend staying with me, so I'm not alone. I'm not in as much pain as I had been in, and that's a good thing.

I'm fighting off a bout of cabin fever, though. My cats have been huddling together too much. I think they may be plotting against me. I'll keep you guys posted on that one. (smile)

Well, not necessarily by you, but by someone besides my cats, my friends, my family and myself. . .

Yes, I would like to find someone who will put up with my diva-like behavior on a regular basis.

While I was surfing the web the other night, I found this Newsweek article on relationships.

I thought it was pretty interesting. Here it is:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20286081/site/newsweek/

I was in Philly this weekend, where I walked and walked and walked and walked and. . . well. . .you get the picture.

I went downtown to do toursit-type things, and to go to the Franklin Institute Science Museum. I went with to see the famed "King Tut" collection and show called, "Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs."

The items from King Tut's tomb were really cool. Here is his "I'm tough on Egyptian issues, but can still wear a skirt," face:

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Here's a shot of the banner outside the museum:

This is me and Jenni after we watched the IMAX film about the secrets of the pharoahs, and the freedom and diversity of Philadelphia:

For a walking workout at a Philadelphia museum in the form of the King Tut show, which is only in this area until September, go to:

http://www2.fi.edu/tut/index.html

Hi guys. I was out on Thursday, one of my usual days to put up new postings. I was a little under the weather. I'll be back soon with more diet fun and excitement. Thanks for checking the site regularly.

Stay tuned.