Hello Out There!

I went to the local quilt show yesterday and ran into some of my quilting acquaintances and friends who I haven't seen recently.  As I mentioned to many of them, I'm looking forward to a time when I have reached whatever weight I'm happy with, so I can cut back a little bit on the exercise routine and have a little more time for quilting.  If I had to pick one thing I miss most since embarking on this little journey of mine, I think it would have to be the time for sewing.

Otherwise, though, I'm doing pretty well.  I can't tell you how many pounds I've lost because I don't weigh myself--although the next time I visit my doctor's office, I'll be able to compare.  However, I've lost a few pant sizes.  And that's another thing!  I feel like I'm spending an awful lot of time shopping for things to wear.  Of course, it's not just the fun stuff either--it's stuff like PJs and bras and all those things that are necessary but too utilitarian to be exciting, especially since I know I'll likely be buying the same things again in a couple months. And since I don't plan to be wearing any of the things I've been buying for very long, I have to be smart about spending money, so I've spent time scouring a few thrift stores for tops and dresses and department stores for sales on the things I don't want to buy used.

Ironically, at my office, the staff haven't really had a place to hang our coats since they turned the coat closet into a medical library years ago.  After some off-and-on lobbying for a place to hang our coats, they've finally made room for us in a utility closet.  Unfortunately, though, I don't have a coat to hang in there because the one I had is too large now!  So I can see another shopping trip to the thrift stores is in my future because I really don't want to pay close to $100 for a coat that I hope won't fit next year.

Besides missing sewing, I also miss chatting with you, although until I have more fun things to show and talk about, I suppose I'll continue to be fairly silent.  My best guess at this point is that the diet and exercise routine will last a few more months before I get to a point I'm happy with.

I can tell you, though, that I feel a lot better.  Cleaning house and doing anything else physically active is a breeze.  Decorating the house for fall was simple as pie--which I can't eat.  And I hope decorating for Christmas will be equally painless and quicker than normal.  Maybe best of all, it looks like I've brought my blood pressure down; I purchased a blood pressure monitor to keep an eye on it, but it's well below the "worry" level and I've been able to discontinue the blood pressure medication I've been taking for the past few years.

I hope to spend a little time in the Sweat Shop today and if I get anything accomplished, I'll show you later.  In the meantime, for those of you who are playing around with scrappy projects, here's Mister Linky--please link up and show us what you're working on.