me, Mike Hyland at Hong Kong Disneyland, 5 months before Grand Opening

I can’t believe 5 years have passed. Since then I’ve been back to Hong Kong for another 2-month stint in 2006, spent 6-weeks in Paris in 2007, toured Madrid and Barcelona in 2007, been to 4 Super Bowls (7 total) and so much more (WDW Moms Panel, Disney Parks Blog, Twitter, Facebook, and so much more.)

Super Bowl XL in Detroit  and trying to look deep in thought in Paris 2007.

What kind of a mom would I be if I didn’t bring out the baby photos!?! (Please don’t click away – these are worth seeing and there’s not very many of them.)

This is one of my favorite pictures of Jefferson. Total action shot!!

Here’s a photo of Ashley- my very first dog. She lived to be 14 years old and was quite a girl! She was an awesome dog.

And then came Mikita in December 2007.

And following Mikita’s arrival was the re-friendship with Mike.

I’ve had some really wonderful life moments shared with you here on the blog. I’ve been struggling lately trying to figure out where it goes from here. I have to be honest, I’m confused with all the advice I read on blogging and the “rules” they establish for bloggers and realize I don’t fit into this realm, based of what they consider the “right” way to blog. I blog about everything in my life – my dogs, my man, my friends, my work life, my home life… everything. Yet the “experts” say I should have a niche and focus. This thinking has me all confused and wondering if I should even continue on.
But I will. I enjoy this, even if it’s not what a blog expert says it should be. I hope you continue to read my blog. It will be what it has been for the past 5 years – a blog about my life. A blog about what I do, who I am, what makes me happy. I don’t write this for advertisements so I have no guiding light other than my heart. I hope you continue to stop by once in awhile and enjoy what you see.

While I was tossing and turning one of the bizarre thoughts that entered my mind was hoping I would find some of my family recipes that I’ve lost over the years. Two in particular came to mind – my grandma’s “Fudgies” and my Aunt Theona’s doughnuts. I had the recipes for many years on note cards I kept in a small green plastic container – which is nowhere to be found. I was really thinking this morning about Aunt Theona’s doughnuts. I wondered how many people in this world have probably never experienced the pleasure of eating a homemade doughnut. Doughnuts are so readily available and pretty cheap, why would you go to the trouble of making them at home? Once you’ve tasted one, you’d understand. My aunt’s doughnuts were so darn delicious!
The whole point of this story is – I was up at 3am thinking about how people don’t eat homemade doughnuts and then the wackiest thing happened when I opened today’s paper.  Look at what was on the front page of today’s Orlando Sentinel:

You  have got to admit this is WEIRD!!

Maybe now I’ll find that recipe.  Really weird!

I’ve got so many photos to upload and so many different posts to share stories with you coming up.  But for now, because I’ve just arrived back home and am trying to get caught up on unpacking, laundry, etc… plus dealing with a house construction mess (more to come on that, too) – I’ve got my hands full for the next few days.   Here are some pics to share tonight – and know there are many more to come.

Oh – and did I mention that I had NO cell phone service or email availability during 90% of the cruise?  No checking email, no looking at messages,  - just old fashioned enjoyment.

My lifelong battle with my weight has been a war since high school. I am like most women – a yo-yo of weight gain and weight loss. It’s pretty much been consistently cyclical for me, too. I’ll be in fairly good shape for a year or two, then the pounds slowly pile back on – 5 pounds at a time.  Next thing you know, I’m 25 -30 pounds from my ideal weight.

And that’s where I’ve been almost all of 2009, up 20 pounds from where I should be. It took a visit to my doctor for my yearly exam to knock me into reality.  His words cut through me like a knife in a chocolate cake. (had to do a food joke.)  I sat in his office and he said “Leanne, you’re fat.” Oh. I teared up. He called it “tough love”.

I knew I had been gaining weight. None of my tailored clothes from my 2005 trip to Hong Kong even came close to fitting.  Shopping for pants had become a nightmare when I would see the size I was needing to buy. I would completely have to suck in my stomach to get my pants buttoned. There was no room in the legs for a pinch of material – every pair was skin tight. 

I would avoid any glance of me in the mirror. I hated my fat self. And I think what was hardest to understand was how did it happen?  I don’t eat junk food. I don’t eat fast food. I avoid fried foods unless it’s a rare occasion. I hardly ever eat sweets – except Biscoff cookies when I’m on a plane. Yum.  Yes, I drink, but I don’t believe a glass or two of wine brought this on.

The great news: Today, after 4 weeks of serious dieting and bringing back exercise into my life on a consistent basis – I’ve lost 16 pounds.  I wish I’d lost this before the camping trip but at least I’m getting in shape for the cruise.

It hasn’t been easy by any stretch of the imagination.  For me it boils down to calorie counting and carb control.  I scaled back my daily calorie count to between 1,000 – 1,200 each day. Some days even less than that.  I also cut out breads, potatoes, rice and pasta.  The hardest part there was bread. I love bread!  But to lose the weight I had to give it up.  The good news I can go back to it in moderation when I reach my goal.

Exercise is also a top priority.  I walk no less than 2-miles at least 6-days a week.  On a good day I’ll even jog a bit.  And I got back in the groove of hitting the gym at least 3-days a week for weight training. I can already see a difference in my arms and waist.  My legs, not so much but they’re improving, too.

I’m in my 40′s and believe me folks – losing the pounds as you get older is definitely harder to do. Cutting back to 1,000 calories a day is pretty drastic but it’s what did it for me.  In the beginning days I did feel faint at times but it wore off. And I do crave pretzels and chips with hummus. I will indulge  in those foods again – no doubt whatsoever.  And I’ll have stuffing with gravy on Thanksgiving, too. But I’ll be cautious and do so in moderation. 
I’ve got to look good for this 7-day cruise in December!

Pictures to come soon.

It was 6th grade when I picked out the trumpet as my instrument.  But it wasn’t my first choice.  I remember my family loaded into the brown station wagon (complete with side paneling) and drove to the “Band Wagon” store in College Park to select my instrument.  We left with a saxophone.  And then came back a week later to get the trumpet.  I just couldn’t figure out the reed of the sax.

In junior high at my first day at summer band camp I was extremely nervous.  I didn’t want to embarrass myself in front of all those other students I didn’t know.  I remember the band leader, Mr. Taylor and the band room – with multiple levels with a door leading outside to the practice field.  Mr. Taylor wanted to know our playing abilities so he had us all play a few solo bars of Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline“.  I was in the 2nd row so I had lots of time to get mentally ready. I sat there and worked out the finger chart and just hoped it would come out right when I played.  Not to brag, but I was terrific! It earned me respect from Mr. Taylor and bolted my confidence.  I have always loved the song “Sweet Caroline” ever since.

I stayed playing the trumpet when I joined the band at Edgewater High School. There was a huge difference in talent from junior high to high school. Big difference. I went from the big man on campus to the little fish in the pond. But it was all the fellow band friends that made the experience so much more.  I had the best time in band – made wonderful friendships and shared so many good times from the parades, football games, concerts, competitions, and parties.  I was a band geek and loved it.

Fast forward a couple decades later andwe’re now middle aged people. How is that possible?  This past weekend was one of the first reunions for multiple classes of the Edgewater High School Band Alumni.  It was so amazing to reconnect with people I haven’t seen in 20+ years.  What was interesting – some people looked exactly the same as they did in school and others, well, I had to peek at their name tags to figure out who they were.

One of the coolest things about the reunion brunch was that they had members of the current high school band come out and play for us in the hotel.  I think we all shed a tear when they played the Alma mater and I lost it on the fight song.  It was a flood of memories sparked by those songs.  Band days for me were such a fun and exciting part of my life. Being in band was such an experience.  Band taught us discipline and respect and time management.  Hours and hours of rehearsals paid off on the football field, in the concert halls and at the state competitions.

I was a band geek – and damn proud of it!

Tim Parmer and me – we both played trumpet

Teri Walls Ford (flute) & Joe Brecht (clarinet)

Dawn Serra & Ginny Davies (& Dawn’s son)

My senior year Drum Major photo.

I want you to know how much you meant to all of us. You were sweet, innocent and the nicest person I’ve ever met. I sit here with tears streaming down my face because I can’t believe you are gone. I didn’t even get to say good-bye to you. I think our last hallway conversation was a joke about our unexpected “couples massage” in Beijing .  You and I always had that to laugh about. 

I sit here and think back about all the great times we shared and the occassional ”year-long” meetings we had to attend. Remember the 12-hour Day in the Life in Hong Kong? Holy Cow! 

You were such a bright spot in all our lives.  Your glowing spirit and sweet personality made you a friend to everyone.  No-one could ever say a bad word about you.

It’s just not fair that God took you away from us so early in your life.  Why can’t he take the evil people?  Why does he take you at such a young age?  I guess if there’s any consolation, your illness happened quickly so you didn’t have to suffer for a long time. Still, it hurts.

I’m glad I wasn’t in the office today when word spread about your passing.  I just couldn’t have handled all of the emotions and tears that I’m sure were present. Everyone loved you – everyone adored you – everyone respected you.

I think about all the wonderful things you have given us.  My life is better because you were a part of it. I will miss you dearly. I will miss walking by your desk and shooting you a quick smile – just to say hi.   I will miss you smiling back. 

Rest in peace Derek. 

Derek at the Great Wall of China – 2005

Our tour group in Beijing in 2005.  Derek is bottom row, far right.

Rick, Derek and me at the Great Wall of China

Derek and I shared a wonderful post-event dinner at Disneyland Paris at the 15th Anniversary celebration

One of my most favorite pictures of Derek – watching fireworks in Hong Kong with Angie.