You may be the heavyweight champion of the world, You may be a socialite with a long string of pearls

***MY SPELL CHECK STILL DOES NOT WORK***

Friday night was fun. My family celebrated my birthday with me. I had a really great time! We went to Niko's Southside Grill which was once THE Southside Grill, the best restaurant ever, and a birthday MUST. The restaurant was purchased by Nicko about a year and a half ago. This was the first visit since the switch. While, as I said, I had a great time with the family Southside is not the same!

Saturday was also a good day. I got a lot of little things done Saturday morning in a relaxed manner and I got a nap in. Then Scott and I went to the Battlefield to get some exercise and enjoy this 60 degree day!

Here are some pictures of our great adventure:

Where is Kozmo

WOW...What a DAY!

Scott's favorite Path

Crouching Molly Shaking Kozmo

My Boys!

Came home and had leftovers for dinner. I made these great Rachel Ray Sun Dried chicken roll ups. Here is the recipe! VERY GOOD and worth a try!

THE YEAR OF MOLLY UPDATE

I went to church this morning. I went alone and I went to Grace Episcopal Church which is about 2 minutes from our house. This is significant for two reasons:

1. In the past I felt it necessary to link my spiritual path with Scott's. In other words I avoided the Episcopal church (the church I grew up in) because I knew that hw felt it was "formal". For that reason we often go to a Methodist church. I ended up making a huge sacrafice here because I was not as happy in this church, which seemed too"casual" to me! No disrespect to others...it was just not right for me!

2. The Methidist church that we went to had a lot of connection with Scott's family. This was comforting at first but then became difficult. Family members would often "invite" us back to "their"church. This bothered me because I felt that, if I accepted this invitation, I would be going to church for them, not for me. As our visits became further and further apart we were often greated with comments like, "WOW, what are you doing here, it is not a holiday." or "Nice of you to join us". As a side not here I do have to stress that none of this was done wit malice, instead a misguided snece of humor.

Going to the Episcopal church felt VERY good. Very warm and very much like home. I left feeling a little more connected and with a resolve to return. And as an added bonus, Scott indicated that he would like to join me next week.

I mark today as a significant step in the right direction of furfilling The Year of Molly!

Take Care

But you're gonna have to serve somebody, yes indeed
You're gonna have to serve somebody
Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord
But you're gonna have to serve somebody
-Bob Dylan

You know it feels good to be alive

Workouts are going well.

I did yoga Monday, Tuesday and this morning. I did the 30 minute Yoga Now Tuesday morning and I did the 50 minute Yoga Now this morning (keeping in mind that I will not be doing cardio this evening b/c of the Moc's game). I am starting to "see" and "feel" the effects of doing this regularly which has been the little nudge I need to get my butt out of bed at 6:30 to do the yoga!

Monday and Tuesday I went to the BX and did cardio. I enjoyed Monday, I did 30 minutes on the eliptical and then walked the track for 30 minutes. The fun part of wakling the track was that it was over the basketball court and there were Middle School basketball games going on. It was so much fun to watch. Tuesday was not as good an experince. I got thirty minutes in on the eliptical and brought my Blogland Book Club book, Water for Elephants, with me (the discussion has already started and I STILL have not finished...I am a SLOW reader!) in hopes of riding the bike and reading. Well...the bike would not work and then the treadmill would not work. I left frusterated. I should have stayed and walked the track, but I did not.

With the BX I have to keep in mind we pay $20 a year and the "mission" of the place is NOT focused on the cardio room. It is just SO much easier to walk across the street to the BX than to drive 15 minutes to the busy gym!

I do plan on hitting the busy gym this weekend to get in some longer workouts!

Thinks are going well medicine free. I feel very strongly that the yoga, cardio and blogging are really helping with this process.

As I mentined in my lasy post I have given up chocolate for lent. I have also decided to give up soda, really Coke Zero...I was probably drinking two a day. In addition I am going to be very midful during this season. Mindful of myself and my health, spirt and finding a stronger inner peace.

Take Care

I was alive and I waited, waited
I was alive and I waited for this
Right here, right nowThere is no other place I want to be
Right here, right now
Watching the world wake up from history
-Jesus Jones

You can be sure, That it will only get better

Weekend in Review:

Friday: Happy Birthday to me!

Got up and did my Yoga Now video and then went and met Momma for the BEST blueberry pancakes in town at Artetha Frankenstein's! Worked for a little while and went to lunch with my Dad. Went home after a little more work and took a nice birthday nap. Then S and I went out to eat with his brother and sister in law at PF Chang's, a place I had not been. I really enjoyed it!

The best part of my birthday was going back into the bedroom after my shower and seeing two little boxes on the bed...my sweet husband got me a necklace and a watch! He ALWAYS surprises me when I least expect it...how can you not love that!

Saturday: GO recycle MOCS!

Got up and hit the BiLo to get food for Super Bowl festivities and also for a new recipe I am going to try tomorrow night.

Then Scott and I proceeded to spend about three hours sorting all of the recyclables in our basement, loading them into a truck, taking them to the center and unloading them all. THAT was a workout in and of itself.

Went and "pre-gamed-it" at Chili's before The Moc's game. This was a BIG one against Davidson, who killed us less than two weeks ago. In the first half of the game it looked as if we were going to meet the same fate, but they came back and actually won the second half by 17...but that is pointless when you loose the first half by 24! We were all proud of their effort and glad to see that they did not quit. It also gave everyone hope that, when we play well, we can beat this powerhouse in the tournament!

Sunday: GO GIANTS

Cooked most of the day...both my famous 8 layer Mexican dip and I also tried a new cookie recipe. I made black and white cookies with a red velvet batter from Rachel Ray's Every Day Magazine. This was my first attempt at icing (anything) and I don't think that I let the cokies set long enough before I iced and a mess insued...they tasted quite good...they did not LOOK good.

The game was a lot of fun. I like the Manning's, that was my only tie to either team, so I was happy the Giant's won! Had a great time with family and ate WAY too much!

Today: Got up and did Yoga for the Upper Body. Another good one. I realized tat I need to get a strap, so I am going to look for one online today. Scott did the yoga for back care on Saturday and liked that one too!

Going to the BX tonight to get some cardio in. Doing the regular plus a little extra for last night plus a little extra for all the chocolate I will eat before lent starts!

I changed my profile picture again...although the last one did inspire me to grow my hair I thought I looked snooty!

Take Care
Molly
(is anyone else's spell check not working?)

You and me together
Through the days and nights
I don't worry 'cause
Everything's going to be alright
-Alicia Keys

The good life, let's go on a living spree

****WARNING****
I could not get the spell check to work, please ignore any typos that you might find!

Doing well...

Surprisingly few "jitters" from stopping the meds. Sleeping a lot better which is odd and I think my stomach is FINALLY getting straightened out!

Yesterday was a busy day with no workouts (as planned). I did load and unload 23 boxes of picture frames, so I do feel as though I got some strength training in :).

Hand bells was good last night. I thought I was going to have to kill Mom b/c she was not going (she is currently obsessed with Hillary Clinton, more later) and it turned out OK b/c the choir director filled in for her and we had no one else missing so our director got to, get this, direct! Yea, no counting ladies!

This morning I got up and woke Scott up (not on purpose) and asked if he wanted to do yoga with me and we sis the Yoga Now 10 minute Morning Enigizer. I enjoyed that time with him. Then I went on to do Abs Yoga for Beginners:

GREAT video! Loved it...basic but hits every part of your abs and deeper core muscles. This one is a high reccomendation. AND I got to look at Rodney for 25 minutes...NICE!

I am going to email Rodney's website this afternoon and ask for a suggestion for a better lower body for beginners, I'll let you know, what I find out!

Not going to get my traditional cardio in tonight. Hopefully all the jumping around I do at the Moc's basketball game tonight will count for some thing :).

Little bit of randomnesss:

My family has always been democrats and has really always backed the same canidates. This Presidential election is different. My parents are supporting Clinton, I am supporting Obama and my sister was supporting Edwards. Yesterday afternoon she sent the link to his speach in New Orleans yesterday and I think that it is worth looking at. I am very impresssed with him and hope to see his name come up as a VP or attorney general! The link.

Finally, I am happy to report that Koz seems to be doing very well! I have him on deer wet food and vegetarian dry food and I am thinking of changing him to the vegetarian wet food. He is such a great dog!

Take Care
Molly

I close my eyes and imagine, the good life
Is the good life better than the life I live
When I thought that I was gonna go crazy
-Kanye West

Another turning point A fork stuck in the road

Follow the yellow brick road...

Steps:

1. Got up this morning and did yoga. I did one of he new DVD's, Lower Body Yoga for Beginners. Let me TELL you this is NO beginner workout. First of all it was led by Suzanne Deason, not my beloved Rodney and she does things that we practiced (as in literally tried) in my intermediate class. And it was off the entire time (as in the voice track did not match the poses) and it moved faster than any video I have ever worked with. I am here to say do NOT get this yoga DVD:

I really want a lower body DVD....I am going to have to look for other options b/c this one is just unreasonable. REGARDLESS...I got up and struggled through this advanced DVD at 6:30 this morning.

2. Went to a cool stationary store in town and got a journal this afternoon.

3. Turned the TV off at 9:00 last night (inspired by the fact that the State of the Union was the only thing on!) and read by Blogland Book Club Book, Water for Elephants.

4. Did OK today without taking and meds. I know that this is because I still have a lot of them in my system. Tomorrow will probably be a lot harder and I have another appointment with the counting hand bell ladies.

I have more steps to take.

I need to figure out my cardio routine. There is NO excuse here. There is a cardio room, that I am a member of 400 yards from my house. So...here is the plan:

Monday - AM: 30 minute Yoga Now PM: BX Cardio 45 minutes

Tuesday - AM: Yoga for Upper Body PM: BX Cardio 45 Minutes

Wednesday - Rest

Thursday - AM: Yoga for Abs PM: BX Cardio 45 Minutes

Friday - AM: 30 Minute Yoga Now*

Saturday - Sports Barn: Cardio and weight lifting

Sunday - AM: 50 Minute Yoga Now PM: Sports Barn Cardio

* Unless or Until I find something other than the Advanced yoga for lower body.

I am going to journal a week about the food before I make any goals or statements about what I am eating or what I am going to eat.

Take Care
Molly

Time grabs you by the wrist
Directs you where to go
So make the best of this test
And don't ask why
It's not a question
But a lesson learned in time
-Green Day

OWWWW WEEE baby, you make me wanna walk like a camel

The straw that broke the camels back...

At 3:34 this morning, after three days of hell I decided that I was done (again).

Thursday I went to the head shrinker. I told him that I have been grumpy lately, because I have...

...Being grumpy is especially hard for Scott because I tend to hold in my grumpiness until I explode...usually on him. Prime example...we were learning a new song at hand bell practice and the ladies to my left were counting a different beat than our director who was playing on my right...I just about put my bells down and walked out...it KILLED me...

...and his answer was to put me on Abilify (in addition to the prozac). Abilify is my straw. That medicine was made by my own personal devil to torture me! I have been nauseous and constipated (I know TMI but that combo is absolutely AWFUL) as well as MORE anxious and tired, BUT I can't sleep!

So at 3:34 this morning I decided I am going cold turkey (again). I am going to become a behavioral medicine machine and follow every and any suggestion I have gotten. I got my yoga DVDs in, so it is yoga five times a week. I am going this afternoon to get a journal. I WILL blog more often and I will get my cardio in. I am also going to re-focus on eating smaller more frequent meals (to keep my blood sugar stable) and drinking more water and less wine. And I will read and write more and watch less TV.

My soccer number was 8...so i have decided (with a little inspiration from George)

2008 is THE YEAR OF MOLLY:

I WILL be selfish
I will LEARN how to take care of my body naturally
I will tell people what I think WHEN I am thinking it
I will take control of MY health

My first step is the plan...I will have it in writing, for the blog, tomorrow!

Take Care
Molly

Who's in charge here, where's my Captain's wafers?
Don't go around hungry now, the way you eat that oatmeal pie,
Makes me just wanna die, baby,
OWWWWYou make me wanna walk like a camel.
OWWWW WEEE, walk!
Southern Culture On The Skids

If you like the way I'm thinkin' baby wink at it

Randomness:

I have been a little down. I have to tell you that Heath Ledger dying has really hit me hard. I am not quite sure why. 10 Things I Hate About you is one of those cheesy movies that I love to watch and that is my only real connection to him...other than the fact that I loved Dawson's Creek and Michelle Williams. I think that a little bit I worry about the fact that he probably accidentally overdosed on multiple medications and I myself take multiple medications....any way, I am sad.

I got up Tuesday and Wednesday mornings and did a 30 minute Yoga Now video. Had to DRAG myself out of bed. I even went to bed early. I think that I am, for the first time in 31 years, really beginning to be effected by my *ahem* cycle, and I am attributing it to that. Slept in 'till 7 this morning and enjoyed every minute...back up at 6:15 tomorrow morning. I ordered a Yoga for Back care for Scott and another set for me that targets specific areas for me. I would like to do yoga four mornings a week. And yes, I am in love with Rodney Yee.

I work for cashmere. In case anyone else is also unreasonably obsessed with this fine fabric J CREW has a VERY good cashmere sale going on as part of their Final Sale right now.

The Mocs Basketball team is falling apart. Our sixth man learned the same lesson I did on the soccer field...in that the first offence is never caught...the second is. He is sitting out an important game Saturday because he threw an elbow. Our backup point (was playing 3/8 of the game) has a dislocated clavicle and one of our big men has a torn ACL. They might try and rehab it and see if he can make it through the season. The team was kicking butt and taking names, but recently when 0-2 on a road swing and then started falling apart.

I have managed to loose 5 pounds...all from eating less and moving more daily. As I have said before I want to take these changes slowly, so next week I am going to start adding cardio in the evenings to the morning yoga routine.

I have also changed my photo in hopes of inspiring my to reaching my ULTIMATE goal...growing my hair out!

Take Care

So what I've got a short attention span
A coke in my hand
Because I'd rather have the afternoon, relax and understand
My hip hop and flip-flops it don't stop with the light rock
A shot to mock you kinda puts me in the tight spot
The hype is nothing more than hoo-ha so
I'mDeveloping a language and I'm callin' it my own
So take a peek into the speaker and you'll see what I mean
That on the other side the grass is greener
-Jason Miraz