Recently in My life Category

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.

I'm fat - or so it was said by a child at a birthday party I went to recently.

The party was at one of those evil places all adults dread - the ones with loud arcades, screaming bowling allies, disgusting eateries and the obligatory cage of plastic balls kids like to jump in.

It was hell basically, but I was doing it for my MS (main squeeze) and his daughter - both who I'm crazy about.

Anywho, one of the children at the party told MS's daughter that I was fat, and laughed about it.

MS's daughter got mad at her, and said, "Don't say that - she's nice."

I do appreciate my little buddy sticking up for me. However, being "nice" is the kiss of death for any fat person.

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.

I have a stomach infeaction which I think is food posioning, so I missed the first "Biggest Loser" night.

Nice.

It has not been pretty. I have been out all week. I hope your lives are going better than mine is right now.

I'm going to do it.

I signed up to be part of a local 12-week "Biggest Loser," competition.

Isn't this exciting?

I've tried Weight Watchers, eDiets.com, Curves, NutriSystem, various crash and home diets.

According to my waistline, those methods were not at all successful.

With this program, I'm hoping there will be no "fat girl in spandex" moments for the world to see, or tears over not being able to have snacks.

I'll be on a team with 10 other fatties, and we will compete against other teams of fatties for prizes, and the ultimate goal - weight loss.

(Whatever - I am fat, and I can call other people fat. Get over it. )

I went to the meeting Monday to learn more about the program.

Sharon Naomi Canty, 55, died Dec.23 at her home in Newport News, Va., after a brave battle with uterine cancer.

Born Dec. 3, 1953, in Norfolk, Va., she was the youngest daughter of Vernon and Naomi Blount.

Sharon was best friend and loving wife to Reginald McCoy Canty Sr. for almost four decades. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, friend and neighbor. Sharon enjoyed shoe shopping, reading romance novels and spending time with her husband, children, grandchildren and other family members.

Her two favorite holidays were Halloween and Christmas, times when she could decorate the house and front yard with lights.

She loved to cook and spent more than 20 years in the culinary arts as a chef at several kitchens at Colonial Williamsburg in Williamsburg, Va.

In addition to her husband, Sharon is survived by three daughters: Debbie A. Downs and her husband Bryan, of Newport News, Va.; Michele D. Canty, of York, Pa.; and Regina M. Foertsch and her husband, Rick, of Alexandria, Va.; her grandchildren, Jason, Aisha and Kaiya Downs; other close relatives, and her good friends and neighbors in Prince Court, Newport News, Va. She was preceded in death by her son, Reginald McCoy Canty Jr., in 2000.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Sharon N. Canty's name as a Gift in Memory to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22718, Oklahoma City, OK 73123-1718 or online by clicking here.

Her family would like to send its heartfelt thanks to all who have offered their support and condolences during this difficult time. They are humbled by the charity, and very grateful for all that has been done.

At more than 279, I'm heavier than Oprah.

In this AP story, Oprah talks about how she is mad at herself for letting herself get to this point - AGAIN.

I swear I feel like Oprah is writing about me in this story. (Except I don't have as much money as she has, or the extensive wardrobe of the Chicago-grown diva.)

She talked about trying to get an outfit together for the new President's bash in January.

Oprah had one thing in mind, but doesn't think it will fit. How many of us know that feeling?

I was cleaning out my closet last week - A.) Because I need to get rid of some stuff and B.) Because I can't fit a lot of stuff in it.

I tried on one of my favorite shirts. Not only does it not fit, I couldn't even get the buttons close together.

I wanted to cry. I threw the shirt in the charity pile with several others.

I keep trying to tell myself I'm blessed to be alive and healthy. Weight loss is a process, and it will take time. That process will have its ups and downs.

It's true.

I have not weighed myself since late October, mainly because I fear what the scale will read.

You see, the scale is your friend when you're losing weight.

You step on with the confidence of knowing the reading will be less than it was the last time you took this particular adventure.

You're excited about every weigh in, because you can feel your progress, in the clothes that are not as snug and see it in the cheeks that are no longer as chubby.

This is not the case with me. The scale is not my friend.

As reporters, we're not supposed to voice our political views.

Some believe it makes us less objective, and not able to tell both sides of some stories.

This is a historic election for our country. With that in mind, I can, however, show you this video.

Again, I can't tell you how I feel about this historic election, or who I supported.

Please don't ask.

Thanks for understanding my position.

Standing in front of the church with flowers in hand, I wasn't thinking about my juicy arms, back fat or other jiggly parts.

I was in awe of the love between one my dearest friends, and the man she chose as a husband.

I thought about us graduating from high school. I thought about Sharon visiting me in college. I thought about when her son, and my God son, T.J. was born.

And I couldn't stop crying.

But these were good tears. They weren't the ones Sharon and I cried together over the ones who weren't worthy of our affection, over opportunities lost or life's other disappointments.

I felt like my heart would burst from the love I was feeling for my friend and her new husband.

Yes, you're reading the right blog. Yes. I'm feeling OK.

I've got an an attitude to cover my fear of looking fat in my dress when I get to the suite where everyone is getting ready.

I know, I'm obsessing. I can't help it.

While we're in the mirror, another bridesmaid, Shirley, tells me how she's not feeling good about showing her back fat when we stand up at the front of the church for the wedding ceremony.

What? Shirley can't be any more than like a size 12.

But she's really nervous about how she will look in her dress, too.

Thursday was one of those days at work.

Amen, brother. I feel your pain, but my computer was not the source of my frustration.

Thursday was a day of working with difficult co-workers who get on my nerves, and those for which I know the feeling is mutual.

(In my office, my co-workers would probably tell you that I'm that difficult co-worker. I've embraced my inner bitch, so I'm OK with that assessment.)

Anywho, Thursday was stressful - to say the least - and I really needed to do something to let it go.

Enter my newest gym buddy, Jess, and more than an hour of cycling class. (We're working together to fight the fat! Check out her blog.)

Yes, you read that correctly. I biked for more than an hour Thursday.

And it felt great.

It's mocking me.

From it's plastic cover and its place hanging on the closet door, the pretty, beaded and strapless dress, is taunting me.

It is not happy with me almost having a panic attack every time I think about what my fat back an turkey arms will look like in it for my friend's October wedding.

No, that's not enough.

It's like, "Hey, big girl. I know you're stressed about how you're going to look in this dress. You should be. You're going to look a hot ghetto mess!"

Then, I hear its evil laughter.

It's mocking me.

These are the confessions of a plus-sized bridesmaid.

On my way to physical therapy Saturday, I called my dad in Va.

He and I usually chat on Saturday about whatever explosion-filled, gory, scary or stupid movies we've seen lately or trade family gossip.

This Saturday, I had some bad news.

One of his favorite comedians, Bernie Mac, died.

in my duties as a doting aunt. I have not posted cute pictures of my nieces and newphew in at least a month.

My apologies.

They're growing up so fast. I found these older shots of them on my computer. They are soooo cute.

This is the youngetst, Kaiya, with Thumper. I think she was about 1 here.