The Days Of Christmas Passed

12/26/2005

OK --

I made it through Christmas with few problems. Sure, there were a few food items I wanted, but knew I could not have, so I just stayed away from them. Sure there were relatives and friends that unthinkingly offered me cookies, or a drink, or whatever. Were they trying to set me up for failure at that point ? I hope not, and I think not. I just do not think they were thinking about the situation. After all, why, after all the weight loss I've had (though mostly due to the stomach bypass surgery, still had involved some self-thought modification and will-power), why oh why would I want to put a cookie in my mouth and start right back down the road of eating incorrectly and over-eating junk food ??

OK, the ranting is over. For now.

I did get a wonderful surprise. After sending out a Christmas letter to friends and family, and in it stating that I was helping to organize a ReUnion of my college fraternity in 2007, I found out that my next door neighbor was in the same fraternity many years later ! It is indeed, a small, small world.

2005 is about over, and I'm about 155 pounds lighter than at the beginning of the year. Wow. That leaves me with about 80 - 100 to go probably, depending on where I level out at. Of course, there will probably be some cosmetic surgery on the stomach area, and / or more. Even that takes weight off, as they remove some of the fat in that area when they do it. By next Christmas, I will no longer be mistaken for Santa Claus, without lots of padding underneath. I started 2005 wearing 5XL, and recently moved down into wearing 3XL. I assume I will end up in 2XL, or so, due to a larger bone structure and frame, etc. So at this point, all my 5XL has been vanquished from the home, with 4XL next on the list !

I did get in trouble for not mentioning my cats in my Christmas letter, so here goes. They are fine. Still spoiled rotten, and still trying to rule the home. All are in the ages of 12 and 13 range, and in good health. Allie had a bout with a urinary tract infection, as well as her glucose level being too high ("off the charts") before I took my Colorado trip a few weeks back, but the Vet had her "good as new" when I returned. Tamara is my other diabetic cat, but has had no complications from it thus far, and has not been as difficult to regulate so far, as Allie has been.
Travis is still a mess, and often tries to help me type on the computer, or at least get in the way where I can not read the screen. Tootsie is still my cross-eyed psycho 6-toed furball, and the move to this house seems to have improved her disposition, even just towards me. Aggie is, and always will be, Daddy's girl. She thinks my bedroom is her room, and that she just lets me sleep on the bed nightly. If I am up late, she will even come and let me know it's midnight. I swear, she will come in just about midnight to the home office or the den, and meow at me incessantly, to come in to bed. Who says cats don't know the time ??

We had a wonderful company Christmas Lunch down at the Perryman Ranch. Wes and Coco, along with son Luke, do such a wonderful job at decorating the place, as well as food preparation.
We also had the beautiful music of Grady Nichols and his backup playing Christmas Music, and his trademark version of "Amazing Grace". It just helped make the day even more special, and the event more exciting for the employees. It's a trip to a country Christmas each year we have our company Christmas lunch there, and when we do the company Spring Picnic there as well.

This year, we even did the family Christmas Day at the ranch, which was great for the kids especially, with plenty of room to roam outside on a beautiful 50F day. I took the ham, some spinach souffle (from KAL's, of course), and some wine. We had about 40 for the day, and it appears all had a great time, and ate more than enough. I had paced myself well that day (I don't always) and had a protein drink and banana earlier in the day to get me through until Lunch without the starvation feeling, etc. Common sense can work well. I just avoided the dessert table completely, as well as mashed potatoes, bread, and some other items. I did have to sneak in a few of the homemade noodles though, and a bit of stuffing, among other items. I kept it all in moderation though, so no problems.

Here's hoping that 2006 is indeed, the Happiest New Year for us all !!!

Wally Trepp