All me, all the time

Blogging sure is an egocentric endeavor, yes? It seems all I do is talk about moi-self here, but I guess that's the point of blogging to an extent. I could go all political, religious or uber-opinioned about issues of the day (and maybe I will sometime), but for today with my little weight loss blog, talking "about the author" is okay. I hope. There are real things going on in the world besides Leslie's Excellent Adventures. Reminds me of that joke: "Alright, that's enough about me. Now let's talk about what YOU think of me!" I'm aware, and I care about what I know about. But I'm not about foisting an agenda here, other than one of solidarity with other bloggers trying to be as fit and healthy as possible. Hmmm...I think I'm feeling a little guilty about my caterwauling of late.

Optimistic, determined, cheerful, bordering on perky, essential Leslie continues to emerge from the sugared, 'roided , chemically altered version of myself that has suffused my reality this last week. Today feels gloriously like the first day of the rest of my life, in that: 1) I'm OFF the f-ing steroid once and for all; 2) I feel enthusiastic and grateful about simply existing again (my usual default setting; and 3) today is a sanctioned day of down time due to the 24 inches of snow that is already piled up outside and continuing to fall.

Lots of snow, and I have a few pictures to prove it - taken from the warm dry confines of my breezeway, through the front door and from the bay window in the kitchen:

Wish I could photoshop out the reflection of the door in this:












The local news teams are beside themselves with excitement over the Biblical and historical proportions of this storm. Turns out it's the first time in the history of Philadelphia/SE Pennsylvania weather record-keeping that we have had (already) 2 snowstorms in one winter with accumulation of over 20 inches. It certainly is a first for me, growing up in Florida! I never cease to be amazed by snow, though having lived here now for 25+ years, I do find the related difficulties with driving, parking and getting around to be a pain. I did get out this morning early, hoping to hit an AA meeting - but cars couldn't park in the area because it was part of a 'Snow Emergency Route'. So rather than park far away and traverse the depths of the white with 2 screwy knees, I threw it in reverse and came home. Been doing laundry, cooking, reading and messing with the dog.

Tom and I watched an excellent movie/documentary that many of you may have already seen - Food, Inc. It is an expose of how our nation's food supply is controlled by a handful of huge corporations that put profit ahead of consumer health, safety and welfare of workers, and the livelihood of the American farmer, as well as the environment. Quite jolting and makes me more determined to buy local, organic, and in-season products. I highly recommend this.

We have other movies to watch over the course of the day, but right now the Villanova basketball game is on. Villanova is getting trounced by evil Georgetown, so I'm glad my youngest son isn't here because his mood would be foul. That boy takes his sports SERIOUSLY, and he's a big 'Nova fan.

I'm feeling much less irritable and angst ridden today, and binge thoughts, for now, are absent. I've had 3 consecutive clean days which is probably helping my mood as much as coming off the steroids. All things must pass, as George Harrison wisely named one of my favorite albums of all time. I knew all week that I was as off as I've been in years and that it would *probably* pass. But when in the depth of the murk, it can feel as though one is never going to be the same or come through unscathed. I'm reminded of yet another AA nugget of wisdom: "Feelings aren't facts." They are just feelings, and not necessarily indicative of reality or truth. Just because I felt like a total loser didn't mean I was one. So - the light at the end of the tunnel is around me on all sides now, and I'm okay.