Kid to animal craziness...

The other day, during the morning craziness, as everyone was leaving the house.  I happened to catch site of my chunky gray and white cat, Mackles. I saw something that struck me.  And I felt it necessary to get down on the floor and take a closer look.

It seems that someone had taken an orange marker and drew on the cat. (Side note, I couldn't resist adding the hat.  It is winter and I figured he may be cold.  This is just picture magic, not anything the cat actually wore.)

Naturally, I ask the cat "Did someone draw on you?  Who did this to you?"  From behind me comes the answer, "Not me Mama!  No, I didn't write on the cat!"

I look up to see Olivia looking down at me, and something catches my eye.  A splotch of orange on her chin that perfectly matches the cats new orange.  Hmmm.... I don't need CSI to tell me who drew on the cat.

I can just picture what this cat did.  I'm sure he was laying down near her as he like to do.  She probably came up to him with the marker and started drawing.  Being McMackles, he most likely sniffed at it while pulling paws out of the little cat artists' direct line of contact.  Then, when she tried to grab him, he may have finally run.  Or, he only got away because they needed to leave for school.  

*Olivia declined to have her picture taken as she is embarrassed to have this story on the web.  I did try to get her to pose for me though.

I was thinking, what did I do to our loving trusting pets as a kid?  I did take a cheerleader outfit off of a doll and dress my cat up in it, and then let him outside.  It was kind of funny to chase down a black cat in a red and white cheerleader outfit.  I'm sure that was a sight to see.

Randomness to the tenth degree..

I challenged myself to write ever other day, and then, in the first week, skip a day.  I'm sure you're upset.  Or not.  Whatever.

No, really.  I thoroughly did not want to do my project yesterday for school.  So, this whole weekend I found ways to postpone and procrastinate.  I went shopping (finally got an iphone). Except, there weren't any in stock, so it should be in tomorrow.  I am moving into this century.  Whoo-hoo!  Actually, it's probably a good thing they didn't have one, because then I most likely wouldn't have finished my project because of how much playing I will be doing when I get it.

I also updated my music library on itunes and loaded my ipod up further.  This only took about 2 hours.

I caught up on Facebook.  And was invited to Pinterest.  So, I went.  I am not sure what to do with Pinterest and am not sure that I have the time to add to my online time.  However, I already have 4 followers.  If you use Pinterest, tell me what you use it for.

I did laundry, I cooked (a little) on Sunday.  I shopped on Amazon with my gift card.  I talked to my mom.  I talked to my brother.  And I finally finished my project.  I feel better about myself now.  Like, maybe I can finish this school thing.  I better!  I'm really looking forward to quitting being done.

Have you ever wondered how they invented yogurt?  Did someone say, "Hmmm, look, this milk is chunkier and maybe if I add some sugar and fruit, this will be good."  Thanks, Mr. Yogurt!  I am assuming that yogurt is named after the first person to make it.  I may have to google this and check Wikipedia, because I'm probably wrong.

We had a snow storm and I had to shovel.  We dressed up and went outside.  The girls lasted 5 minutes before Mia took her gloves off.  Then, they went inside and I froze myself while shoveling.

EXTREME CLOSE-UP WAAAAA! (Quote from Wayne's World for those of you who didn't figure that out.)

Yes - I am taller than I seem.

We have our Valentine's Day outfits ready.  Well, at least one of us does.

The Necklace...

So, I've been waiting to write this post for awhile.  I told myself I would write this story when I hit a goal.  I hit that goal (later) and now get to tell my story.

This necklace was a gift to me.  For Christmas, about 3 years ago, I was given this pretty necklace by my brother.  It says something on it about sisters, and my little sister was given the same necklace.  (I know the picture is blurry, but the necklace is small, understated and special.)

When I opened the gift, I remember thinking that it was pretty.  A cute little necklace.  But, there was a nagging little piece of me, wondering.

Would it fit?

 This may not be a normal thought, at least when it comes to necklaces.  But, my neck was fat.  Most necklaces like this would look like a choker on me.  And, well, it's obviously not a choker.  I started to get angry.  Not angry at myself (logical choice), but angry at the necklace for not fitting, and angry at my brother for giving me this gift that just threw back in my face how fat I was and how nothing pretty fit me.  Instead of feeling bad about my weight, or deciding to change, I took offense to the gift.  I may have said something snarky to my brother about the necklace as well, trying to make him feel bad for giving me this gift that triggered my insecurity, and made it glaringly obvious that I had a weight problem.  It's always something like this that peels back the veil of denial and shows you reality.  Reality was a problem.

I have now lost 25 lbs.  Oh, yeah, you read that right, 25 lbs.  I have also lost 10% of my body weight.

And now, unless I'm wearing a turtle neck, I wear that necklace.  It fits.  It lays exactly where it's supposed to.  It's pretty.  And my brother hasn't given me many gifts, probably because of the way I reacted to this gift.  I really love this necklace.  And I love that I can wear it now, and every day.  Thank you, Derrick for the pretty necklace and please know that I treasure all the gifts you have given me.

And now, some pictures of 25 lb. lighter me (Mia felt it necessary to join in the pictures with me):

No flash

With flash

I'm linking up with the ever popular Grumpy Grateful Mom for Good News Friday.