tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55646858598697478102024-03-05T13:00:05.995-05:00Holley's House<b>“If you go home with somebody, and they don't have books, don't fuck 'em!” John Waters</b>Holley Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02938123435712583518noreply@blogger.comBlogger934125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5564685859869747810.post-76282448966073351602019-03-22T23:04:00.000-05:002019-03-22T23:04:27.247-05:00test postI've been unable to access this blog for SO LONG. Who knows if this post will even work, just giving it a whirl! My last post was when Captain Howdy was a kitten and he's a robust 3-year old. I've moved, am living in sin with a handsome man, and I've gotten out of debt completely. Life's good, I'm disgustingly happy, still working at la biblioteca since 2000. Let's see how this test post goes!<br />
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Holley Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02938123435712583518noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5564685859869747810.post-61741281771054817902016-01-08T12:32:00.001-05:002016-01-08T12:33:34.513-05:00new year, new kittenYou may or may not have noticed a picture of Binky on the sidebar. It's still there, and will remain, if you care to go look.<br />
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We had a magnificent run, she and I. I got her in the fall of 1997, I believe, as a tiny little ball of fluff only weeks old. She was with me from about my sophomore year of college until just this past July. I'm 38. I'm tearing up just typing it. She consoled me through some of the worst years of my life, through a lot of strife with my parents, depression in grad school, and my first (and I'm proud to say, only) deeply broken heart. I miss her terribly.<br />
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<span id="goog_1047725824"></span><span id="goog_1047725825"></span>Wasn't she beautiful?<br />
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In early September, my sister in law texted a photo of a kitten and not much else, other than he was 5 weeks old and I folded like a wet cardboard box. I've told people for ages that I live alone but, until Binky was gone, that hadn't actually been true. The day I had her put to sleep and I came home from work to what was then a TRULY EMPTY HOUSE was an eye opening moment in the pet ownership department. I had talked to her. She had talked to me. I don't believe it mattered to either of us that we had no clue what the other was saying (though we seemed to understand each other just fine).<br />
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So my friend CVH and I picked up another little ball of fluff only weeks old and I named him Captain Howdy. Yes, after the demon from The Exorcist. When he's REALLY bad, I call him Pazuzu and post it on social media with the hashtag #captainhowdythatsnotverynice. I enjoy it. And I enjoy him. He's chewing up everything I own, including my hands and feet, and I'm loving every minute of it.<br />
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Welcome to Holley's House, Captain Howdy!Holley Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02938123435712583518noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5564685859869747810.post-85413392171291237082016-01-06T11:05:00.000-05:002016-01-06T11:05:24.147-05:00Movies and Reading of 2015Boy, was I off the pace for reading this year! One year it was 170, this year 44. I've had a lot of fun though. And I read some really great books in amongst the erotica ;-) <br />
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Unfortunately, I also gained a lot of weight. Enough to affect the fit of my clothing. I've been wearing a lot of leggings and skirts because I can't get into my pants and I am NOT buying bigger clothing. I said last year was the year I was going to get down to my goal weight of 180 and I failed miserably. Epically. Unequivocally. <br />
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Moving on, I'm going to reach my goal this year. It's time to get it done and finally get my Edgar suit removed. It'll put me in debt for the rest of my natural life and I'll look like I was attacked by a shark for a while, but I haven't worked this hard just to wallow around in pounds and pounds of empty skin. I started last year off at 214, got down to 202 midyear, then skyrocketed back up to my current 226 at year's end. My self esteem, not to mention my arthritic knees, have suffered. Time to turn it around! <br />
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Books of 2015</h2>
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<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">44. Interview with the Vampire by Ann Rice</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">43. Outcast: A Darkness Surrounds Him by Robert Kirkman et al</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">42. The Only Child by Guojing</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">41. The Walking Dead: Book 12 by Robert Kirkman et al</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">40. The Walking Dead: Book 11 by Robert Kirkman et al</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">39. The Walking Dead: Book 10 by Robert Kirkman et al</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">38. Buttercups & Daisy by Elizabeth Cragoe</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">37. Last Things by David Searcy</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">36. 30 Days by Christine d'Aho</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">35. Kitchens of the Great Midwest by J. Ryan Stradal</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">34. A Head Full of Ghosts by Paul Tremblay</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">33. The End of Overeating by David Kessler</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">32. The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">31. Wabi Sabi by Mark Reibstein</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">30. Color by Victoria Finlay</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">29. The Voices by F. R. Tallis</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">28. Salem's Lot by Stephen King</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">27. Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">26. Unwind by Neal Shusterman</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">25. The Green Hills of Africa by Ernest Hemingway</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">24. Spinster by Kate Bolick</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">23. The Map of Lost Memories by Kim Fay</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">22. The Best of All Possible Worlds by Karen Lord</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">21. Something Like Winter by Jay Bell</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">20. The Forbidden by Frank Tallis</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">19. One Last Thing Before I Go by Jonathan Tropper</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">18. The Collector by Nora Roberts</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">17. Clariel by Garth Nix</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">16. 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do by Amy Morin</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">15. Don't Mess with Texas by Christie Craig</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">14. Shovel Ready by Adam Sternbergh</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">13. Wicked Waves by Sharon Kay</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">12. The Most They Ever Had by Rick Bragg</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">11. Outlander by Diana Gabaldon</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">10. The Night Belongs to Fireman by Jennifer Bernard</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">9. Chained by Night by Larissa Ione</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">8. Finding the Lost by Shannon K. Butcher</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">7. Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">6. Saga: Volume 4 by Brian K. Vaughan & Fiona Staples</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">5. The Yellow Birds by Kevin Powers</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">4. Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">3. Burning Alive by Shannon K. Butcher</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">2. Craft Fail by Heather Mann</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">1. Maplecroft by Cherie Priest</li>
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At the Movies 2015</h2>
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<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">17. Krampus</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">16. Star Wars: The Force Awakens</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">15. The Hateful Eight</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">14. Sisters</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">13. Crimson Peak</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">12. The Martian</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">11. The Visit</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">10. Auntie Mame (AL Theater)</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">9. Magic Mike XXL</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">8. Terminator Gynesis</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">7. 40th anniversary of Jaws in theaters!</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">6. Jurassic World</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">5. San Andreas</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">4. Avengers: Age of Ultron</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">3. It Follows</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">2. Into the Woods</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">1. Woman in Black 2: Angel of Death</li>
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Holley Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02938123435712583518noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5564685859869747810.post-41367076381947851392015-10-30T13:59:00.002-05:002015-10-30T14:07:59.027-05:00parking turtle<br />
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In the interest of Google indexing, I leave the following JPEG for everyone's amusement and use.<br />
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Holley Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02938123435712583518noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5564685859869747810.post-69088472995571730472015-04-16T17:12:00.001-05:002015-05-21T16:38:13.363-05:00unfortunate children's book titles<div style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: 'helvetica neue', helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">
By popular demand, I give you The List. I have shelved each and every one of these books at one time or another during my career. What you are about to read is not a lie. Check Amazon, I dare you. </div>
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The Love Affair of Mr. Ding and Mrs. Dong</div>
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One Tricky Monkey Up On Top </div>
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Licks of Love </div>
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Six Is So Much Less Than Seven </div>
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Little Lee Lee’s Birthday Bang</div>
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Charlene Likes To Make Noise</div>
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Something Is Growing</div>
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It Looked Like Spilled Milk</div>
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The Missing Piece Meets the Big O</div>
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Hop On Pop</div>
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What Do You Do With A Tail Like This? </div>
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Ernest and the Big Itch </div>
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Let’s Do That Again! </div>
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The Feel Good Book </div>
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Going Solo</div>
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The Great Snake Escape</div>
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Show & Tell Bunnies </div>
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Rain Romp </div>
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Ten In A Bed </div>
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Don’t Pop Your Cork On Mondays</div>
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Lunchtime For Purple Snake </div>
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Just Too Little</div>
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Naughty Nautical Neighbors </div>
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Just Enough Is Plenty </div>
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Six Is So Much Less Than Seven</div>
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Captain Underpants and the Attack Of the Naughty Lunchroom Ladies</div>
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Meet My Staff </div>
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How To Do Three Bears With Two Hands</div>
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Samantha’s Special Talent</div>
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Pants Off First!</div>
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How Did You Grow So Big, So Soon?</div>
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Tom Swift and His Big Dirigible</div>
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Upchuck and the Rotten Willy</div>
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Something Big Has Been Here</div>
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Magical Melons</div>
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What Aunts Do Best</div>
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A Squash and a Squeeze</div>
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The Very Noisy Night</div>
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The Best Toy of All</div>
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Have You Got My Purr?</div>
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There's a Wocket in my Pocket</div>
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Oliver's Milkshake</div>
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Two Girls Can!</div>
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The Shape of Me and Other Stuff</div>
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Inch by Inch</div>
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Can You Make a Piggy Giggle?</div>
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The Hungry Thing Returns</div>
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The Chick on the Thick Brick</div>
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Are You Ready to Play Outside?</div>
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Anna Shares</div>
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The Hole in the Dike</div>
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Ding Dong! Gorilla!</div>
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I See Kitty</div>
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Eat Up, Little Donkey</div>
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Runny Honey</div>
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Mr. Putter and Tabby Pick the Pears</div>
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Did I Hear a Hello From Above or Below?</div>
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Crunch Munch</div>
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Just Big Enough</div>
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I'm Too Fond of My Fur</div>
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Willie's Adventures</div>
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Your Daddy Was Just Like You</div>
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Too Noisy!</div>
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You Are (Not) Small<br />
Play With Me<br />
Tools Rule!<br />
On My Way To Bed<br />
The Incredible Shrinking Superhero<br />
Noisy Nora<br />
Miss Maple's Seeds<br />
A Big Guy Took My Ball!<br />
More More More, Said the Baby<br />
Rise of the Snakes<br />
Guess Who Bites<br />
Beware the Lizard</div>
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<br /></div>
Holley Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02938123435712583518noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5564685859869747810.post-14211849735727406212015-02-12T16:28:00.004-05:002015-02-12T16:59:18.243-05:00true story<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
Teen at the library: "My sister is turning 20. She's so old."
Me: </blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<a href="http://t.co/eJLb3nyx63">pic.twitter.com/eJLb3nyx63</a><br />
— Rita Meade (@ScrewyDecimal) <a href="https://twitter.com/ScrewyDecimal/status/565980994256535554">February 12, 2015</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>Holley Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02938123435712583518noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5564685859869747810.post-66745911492092064472015-01-06T13:14:00.001-06:002015-01-06T13:52:08.733-06:002014 stuff and thangsI just said to a coworker, this is why I keep up with things. I've felt this whole year like I haven't lost any real weight because it just looked like the scale wasn't moving. But looka there! 30 pounds. Not too shabby! Only 30 more to go, then I'll have to sell an ovary or a kidney or something to get a tummy tuck. I've secretly considered starting a GoFundMe or Kickstarter, but there are people with cancer out there trying to get chemo and I don't want to steal their thunder. On the other hand, there are lazy people getting out of credit card debt too, so it bears thinking about nonetheless. Anyway, I'm patting myself on the back and looking forward to reaching my weightloss goals this year. VSG was one of the best decisions I've ever made for myself!<br />
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<b style="line-height: 19.6000003814697px;">2014</b><br />
<span style="line-height: 19.6000003814697px;">January 6 - 238.2</span><br />
<span style="line-height: 19.6000003814697px;">February 3 - forgot</span><br />
<span style="line-height: 19.6000003814697px;">March 3 - 242.2</span><br />
<span style="line-height: 19.6000003814697px;">April 7 - 241.4</span><br />
<span style="line-height: 19.6000003814697px;">May 5 - 237.4</span><br />
<span style="line-height: 19.6000003814697px;">June 2 - 235.9</span><br />
<span style="line-height: 19.6000003814697px;">July 7 - 225.4</span><br />
<span style="line-height: 19.6000003814697px;">August 4 - 221.2</span><br />
<span style="line-height: 19.6000003814697px;">September 1 - Away From Home</span><br />
<span style="line-height: 19.6000003814697px;">October 6 - 213.0</span><br />
<span style="line-height: 19.6000003814697px;">November 3 - 209.8</span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 19.6000003814697px;">December 1 - 209.6</span></h2>
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</h2>
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Books of 2014</h2>
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<ul style="line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 1.25em;">
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">102. Cold Pursuit by Toni Anderson</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">101. The Bottom Line by Sandy James</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">100. Sprinkles on Top by Kim Law</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">99. The Martian by Andy Weir</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">98. Lucifer's Rogue by Colleen Gleason</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">97. The Maverick's Red Hot Reunion by Christine Glover</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">96. Sweet Southern Betrayal by Robin Covington</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">95. The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">94. The Walking Dead: Book 9 by Robert Kirkman et al</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">93. The Walking Dead: Book 8 by Robert Kirkman et al</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">92. The Taking by Dean Koontz</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">91. Bound by Night by Larissa Ione</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">90. Heroes Are My Weakness by Susan Elizabeth Phillips</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">89. Irresistible Force by D.D. Ayres</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">88. Carrie by Stephen King</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">87. The Walking Dead: Book 7 by Robert Kirkman et al</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">86. Saga: Volume 3 by Brian Vaughan and Fiona Staples</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">85. Saga: Volume 2 by Brian Vaughan and Fiona Staples</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">84. Gentlemen Bootleggers by Bryce T. Bauer</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">83. Far From the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">82. The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">81. This Is the Story of a Happy Marriage by Ann Patchett</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">80. Saga: Volume 1 by Brian Vaughan and Fiona Staples</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">79. The Walking Dead: Book 6 by Robert Kirkman et al</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">78. The Walking Dead: Book 5 by Robert Kirkman et al</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">77. Working in the Shadows by Gabriel Thompson</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">76. The Quick by Lauren Owen</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">75. Acceptance by Jeff Vandermeer</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">74. The Husband's Secret by Laura Moriarty</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">73. The Magicians by Lev Grossman</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">72. Nothing...Except My Genius by Oscar Wilde</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">71. Serpent of Venice by Christopher Moore</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">70. Close Your Eyes, Hold Hands by Chris Bohjalian</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">69. The Girl in the Road by Monica Byrne</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">68. Orphan Train by Christina Kline</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">67. House of Small Shadows by Adam Nevill</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">66. Through the Woods by Emily Carroll</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">65. The Walking Dead: Book 4 by Robert Kirkman et al</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">64. I Have a Bad Feeling About This by Jeff Strand</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">63. Authority by Jeff Vandermeer</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">62. The Walking Dead: Book 3 by Robert Kirkman et al</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">61. Carsick: John Waters Hitchhikes Across America by John Waters</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">60. The Walking Dead: Book 2 by Robert Kirkman et al</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">59. Seven Years to Sin by Sylvia Day</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">58. The Marriage Act by Liza Monroy</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">57. Surprise Offense by Carole Halston</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">56. Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">55. Where'd You Go, Bernadette? by Maria Semple</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">54. Dragon's Egg by Robert Forward</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">53. His Wicked Games by Ember Casey</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">52. Cree by H.J. Bellus</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">51. The Aviator's Wife by Melanie Benjamin</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">50. Rule Breaker by Lora Leigh</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">49. Rules of Summer by Shaun Tan</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">48. Little Blog on the Prairie by Cathleen Davitt Bell</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">47. Hope Ignites by Jaci Burton</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">46. The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">45. It Had To Be You by Jill Shalvis</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">44. The Mane Event by Shelly Laurenston</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">43. Annihilation by Jeff Vandermeer</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">42. The Walking Dead: Book 1 by Robert Kirkman et al</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">41. The Word Made Flesh: Literary Tattoos from Bookworms Worldwide by Eva Talmadge & Justin Taylor</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">40. Night Film by Maria Pessl</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">39. The Last of Us: American Dreams Volume 1 by Neil Druckmann, et al</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">38. Hope Flames by Jaci Burton</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">37. Fangoria presents Dreadtime Stories: Volume 1</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">36. Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">35. Four Weddings and a Fireman by Jennifer Bernard</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">34. Mr. Rosenblum Dreams in English by Natasha Solomons</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">33. Allegiant by Veronica Roth</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">32. D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths by Edgar and Ingri D'Aulaire</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">31. Drive by Daniel H. Pink</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">30. House of the Stag by Kage Baker</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">29. Insurgent by Veronica Roth</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">28. Desperately Seeking Fireman by Jennifer Bernard</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">27. Divergent by Veronica Roth</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">26. Orphanage by Robert Buettner</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">25. To All a Very Sexy Good Night by K.A. Mitchell and Josh Lanyon</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">24. Breaking Point by Pamela Clare</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">23. Snowbound with Dr. Delectable by Susan Carlisle</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">22. Just for the Summer by Jenna Rutland</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">21. Code of Honor by Radclyffe</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">20. Temptation by Kathryn Barrett</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">19. Hot Buttered Yum by Kim Law</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">18. Hip Check by Deirdre Martin</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">17. Breakaway by Deirdre Martin</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">16. The Life List by Lori Nelson Spielman</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">15. Take Over at Midnight by M.L. Buchman</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">14. Captain Blood by Michael Blodgett</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">13. All I'm Asking For by Brighton Walsh, Christi Barth, and Kat Latham</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">12. Something Like Summer by Jay Bell</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">11. Goin' Someplace Special by Patricia McKissack and Jerry Pinkney</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">10. The Silence of Our Friends by Mark Long, Jim Demonakos, and Nate Powell</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">9. Knowing the Score by Kat Latham</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">8. Hard As It Gets by Laura Kaye</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">7. Ready Player One by Ernest Cline</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">6. Holiday Games by Jaci Burton</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">5. Hold On My Heart by Tracy Brogan</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">4. The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place: The Interrupted Tale by Maryrose Wood</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">3. Born Wild by Julie Ann Walker</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">2. Icebreaker by Deirdre Martin</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">1. Power Play by Deirdre Martin</li>
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At the Movies 2014</h2>
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<ul style="line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 1.25em;">
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">16. The Hobbit: Battle of Five Armies</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">15. Rifftrax: Santa Claus</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">14. Rifftrax: Anaconda</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">13. Annabelle</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">12. As Above, So Below</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">11. Guardians of the Galaxy</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">10. Maleficent</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">9. Neighbors</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">8. Godzilla</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">7. Oculus</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">6. Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2)</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">5. The Single Mom's Club</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">4. 300: Rise of an Empire (2)</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">3. Winter's Tale</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">2. Robocop</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">1. Ride Along</li>
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Holley Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02938123435712583518noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5564685859869747810.post-60312956853704337112014-09-18T11:08:00.001-05:002014-09-18T11:20:10.960-05:00Southern Reach<img src="http://www.mcnallyrobinson.com/images/Authors/southern_reach_trilogy.png" height="114" width="320" /><br />
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Look at those beautiful covers! Be amazed with me! But it doesn't have to end with the visuals... If you want to be REALLY amazed, read this trilogy. It is hard to explain in the most glorious way that I, as an avid reader and librarian, can express to you in typed words. My most on target praise? My brain feels bigger, like maybe my gyri and sulci (don't be impressed, I looked it up) are even more ridged and folded. Perhaps the influence of Area X? Is this my brightness talking?<br />
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Anyway, the Southern Reach trilogy! We enter the story with the 12th expedition into Area X, a mysterious area cordoned off by unknown means (a la Under the Dome) from the rest of the country for decades. The first expedition reported an Eden-like paradise reclaimed by nature. Every expedition after that suffered a horrific fate: suicide, mass slaughter, lethargy, cancer etc. The 12th expedition is made up of the Psychologist (the group leader), the Biologist (our narrator), the Surveyor, and the Anthropologist. When you sign up for an expedition, you lose your name and become your job.<br />
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Area X's pristine natural condition is immediately creepy and only becomes more so as you get additional background details from the Biologist. By the time you come to the "topographic anomaly," shit is getting real. Strange creatures mixed in with the mundane, hypnosis, conspiracy, unknown and unseen forces, mania, insanity, weird unfocused biblical fervor...all the good stuff.<br />
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I've read descriptions like "if J.J. Abrams, Margaret Atwood, and Alan Weisman collaborated on a novel, this would be it" and Lauren Beukes described it as "a little Kubrick, a lot Lovecraft," but I would also have to throw in some Jack Finney, the 2009 movie Moon starring Sam Rockwell, maybe something like The Mist, The Shining, The Thing (menacing things, real and imagined, at a distance and then devastatingly close). <br />
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I certainly do understand that I'm rambling not a little bit, but this trilogy is so hard to pin down. It's dark, meandering, philosophical, haunting, ecological, horrific, conspiring, and so many of my other favorite adjectives. There are no easy answers, not even really any answers in the traditional sense of the word. If you like an A+B=C story, you *might* have trouble here. If your idea of a great story is one that is so complex and nuanced (if you enjoyed playing Myst!) that it almost gives you a headache, then we need to be friends. True story.<br />
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Anyway, congratulations to you Mr. Vandermeer! You have created a stunning world that I would gladly vacation in....as long as I could avoid the Biologist. And Grace.<br />
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To bastardize a movie and sum up my feelings:<br />
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Ghosts (maybe) and aliens (maybe) and monsters (definitely), oh my!<br />
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<a href="http://www.jeffvandermeer.com/">Jeff Vandermeer</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.powells.com/biblio/18-9780374104092-0">Annihilation</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.powells.com/biblio/1-9780374104108-1">Authority</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.powells.com/biblio/18-9780374104115-0">Acceptance</a><br />
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If you are in the Birmingham, Alabama area, <a href="http://www.churchstreetshop.com/">Church Street Coffee & Books</a> stocks them! That's where I bought mine!Holley Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02938123435712583518noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5564685859869747810.post-77940066360033140302014-07-03T15:05:00.004-05:002014-07-03T15:08:43.148-05:00the horror of it all<img src="http://moviesmyway.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/TheChangeling.jpg" height="400" width="262" /><br />
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Most of my friends know I'm a fan of horror movies, books, and nearly anything else I can get my grubby little hands on. This morning Fangoria posted on Twitter asking what your favorite NYC-set horror movie was. I had to look up a list (shame face) and from that list I selected <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0063522/?ref_=nv_sr_1">Rosemary's Baby</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087332/?ref_=fn_al_tt_2">Ghostbusters</a>, and <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1060277/?ref_=nv_sr_1">Cloverfield</a>. <br />
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Then I started thinking about great 1980's horror, funny and otherwise. Ghostbusters is funny, of course, but now I'm watching <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0095304/?ref_=nv_sr_1">High Spirits</a> (starring Peter O'Toole, Steve Guttenberg, Bevery D'Angelo, Jennifer Tilly, Peter Gallagher, Daryl Hannah, Liam Neeson, et al) and I love it almost as much. Most people have never heard of it when I ask and that is a crying shame. Another one on the comedic side was <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0094721/?ref_=nv_sr_1">Beetlejuice</a>. I miss Michael Keaton in good roles. More of the funny, gross favorites include <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083907/?ref_=nv_sr_1">The Evil Dead</a> and <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0106308/?ref_=nv_sr_1">Army of Darkness</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087363/?ref_=nv_sr_1">Gremlins</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0090887/?ref_=nv_sr_1">Critters</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087799/?ref_=nv_sr_1">Night of the Come</a>t, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0091630/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1">Night of the Creeps</a>, and <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087800/?ref_=nv_sr_1">A Nightmare on Elm Street</a> (am I the only one who thought Freddy was *such* a comedian?).<br />
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My scary favorites include <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080516/?ref_=nv_sr_2">The Changeling</a> (starring George C. Scott). Watch it too early in life and you'll have a lifelong fear of wheelchairs. Along those same lines is the original BBC version of <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0098672/?ref_=fn_al_tt_2">The Woman in Black</a>. Rocking chairs may no longer be comfortable for you after this. <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0084516/?ref_=nv_sr_1">Poltergeist</a> was discomfort-making but not exactly scary. Definitely creepy. (I will whisper a secret: I've not watched <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0078767/">Amityville Horror</a> (1979) yet. Don't tell anyone. I did watch an excellent documentary about it called <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1727523/?ref_=nv_sr_1">My Amityville Horror</a>. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED) This may also be a dissenting opinion, but <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080761/?ref_=nv_sr_3">Friday the 13th</a> got much scarier once Jason somehow grew up and donned the hockey mask. <br />
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I loved me some <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0094862/?ref_=nv_sr_1">Child's Play</a> back in the day. This also caused me to avoid my friends' Teddy Ruxpin obsessions like the plague. I can neither confirm nor deny that I made them put such toys away when I spent the night at their houses. In the spirit of sharing, enjoy this:<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="215" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/zY1xtnnMr2c" width="320"></iframe><br />
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Fun, but not particularly scary: It's hard to believe that <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0090605/?ref_=nv_sr_1">Aliens</a> is an 80's flick. That movie has aged SO well. No list would be complete without <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0081505/?ref_=nv_sr_1">The Shining</a> though I found the book much much scarier than the film. The original <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0089175/?ref_=fn_al_tt_2">Fright Night</a> wanted to be scary and kinda failed but still did a better job than <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1438176/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1">the remake</a> though Colin Farrell definitely hit my radar as seductive vampire more effectively than Chris Sarandon. <br />
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And speaking of hot vampires, Kiefer Sutherland's David in <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093437/?ref_=nv_sr_1">The Lost Boys</a> was responsible for both my very first crush and my very first naughty dreams at the tender age of 10! It was love at first bite. I'll let you work out the morality and ethics of that. I'm a <strike>mostly</strike> well-adjusted <strike>usually</strike> law-abiding citizen now so no harm, no foul.<br />
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There's no telling what I've forgotten and/or left out. These are just what popped in to my head. If you stumble upon this and have any input, comment and share it!<br />
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<br />Holley Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02938123435712583518noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5564685859869747810.post-7996142954900437132014-06-21T15:47:00.002-05:002014-06-21T15:48:41.199-05:00the trying-to-be incredible shrinking womanI'm working really, REALLY hard on the new me, which also entails trying to reach into my own gray matter for what ails me. As anyone who has read my once yearly update (shameful!) here knows, I had a vertical sleeve gastrectomy (VSG) September 7, 2012. Here's what that looks like:<br />
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<img src="http://thinforlife.med.nyu.edu/files/thinforlife/u2/LAP_SleeveGastrectomy.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></div>
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Late 2011 through May 2012, I was dealing with some hellascious knee problems that resulted in me, at the ripe old age of 35, using a walker to get around because my knees would not support me. Here I am in May 2012, 5 days out from having my right knee scoped (5 days before THAT, my doctor took 29cc of fluid off my knee so I would quit contemplating blowing my own brains out):</div>
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So, about 3.5 months after this photo was taken, I went under the knife again, driven finally by desperation and pain, the desperate measures so often found at the end of desperate times. I lost 100 lbs in about 10 months and have lost another 20 in the time since then. What I didn't know until just here recently, when I joined a VSG support group on Facebook, is that there is a "honeymoon" period that lasts anywhere from 8-12 months after surgery and that is when you will get the majority of your weightloss accomplished. After that, your appetite, hormones, and body catch up to you and you feel relatively normal again. </div>
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I pissed that away. I made no attempt to exercise (like I was told to by my surgeon, my nurse, my nutritionist, Marvin the Martian, my cat, my brain, and everyone else on the planet who knew more than I did), I was weak and got tired easily because I could only eat about 1/2 cup of food at a time, didn't deal extremely well with the cold in my newly (somewhat) de-blubberized body, and just generally felt like I was losing weight so quickly that it couldn't possibly matter that I wasn't exercising. And my knees. Oh yes, my beautiful, didn't-know-they-were-even-there-anymore, painfree knees! I was pain-free for the first time in several years and it was like a narcotic, that absence of pain. Here I am this past March, at the Public Library Association conference in Indianapolis:</div>
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I always take the stairs when they are available. I can run up the stairs from the basement to the 2nd floor at work and barely even breathe hard. I can walk anywhere I want to go. I'm developing biceps for the first time in recent memory. I have collar bones!</div>
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I weigh myself every Monday morning and record that weight here and on Fatsecret.com. At my 1 year surgersary I noticed I hadn't really lost any weight, looking back over my entries. I'd steadily been buying smaller clothes, month after month, so the numbers just didn't really set in until I was consolidating my Weight Loss Journey sidebar section here on Blogger for 2013 from every week down to one entry per month, getting ready for 2014. It was an eye opener. All that to reiterate, I pissed away my honeymoon period. I've been stuck in the mid 200's for over a year now and there's no one to blame but myself. </div>
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But as I began with, for about the past (almost) 2 months I've been exercising 45-90 minutes per day, different exercises everyday and doing pilates (or as I like to call it, rolling around on the floor and grunting) my rest days or when my knees just don't feel up to doing anything. I threw/gave away all the non-complex carbohydrates in my house. If I want to snack, it has to be something I make. Very little processed foods. In my fridge right now are protein shakes, eggs, and fresh fruit and veggies. The freezer has fish, chicken, soy products, veggies, fruit, and ( <strike>not</strike> sorry) vodka. I do make popcorn for snacks but it's the plain kernels, with a teeny bit of coconut oil, thrown in a brown paper sack, and microwaved, sprinkled with a little bit of salt, not Orville's sodiumfest. </div>
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I've lost about 7 pounds in that time, but my measurements haven't changed all that much. I'm going to be patient though, because I know how my body has always been. Pre-surgery, it usually took 8-10 weeks of supreme effort before I saw any real results, so now that I'm back to pre-surgery hormones and whathaveyou, I anticipate it will be the same. I'm eating between 80-100 grams of protein and 800-1100 calories per day and burning (according to an app, soooo grain of salt and all) 3800-4100 calories per day, so those numbers are fine. I'm not starving myself, just eating high protein, low calorie meals, so no one (as if anyone is reading) panic.</div>
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Okay, I've said it and said it and said it and said it, but this time, I MEAN it. I'm going to start writing here again. Pre-Facebook, I used to love it and tried to sneak it into my day whenever possible. I miss that. A lot. And it was good for me to get all the daily effluvia out of my head and give it you (possibly nonexistent) guys. I need it and it's good for me so as I've rededicated myself to my weightloss journey, I'm rededicating myself to Blogger. As if that isn't enough, I also recently joined Twitter because, you know, I'm impulsive like that. And I'm SO addicted to it so feel free to find me there @HolleysHouse. </div>
Holley Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02938123435712583518noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5564685859869747810.post-16666435124929668852014-03-05T15:57:00.001-06:002014-03-05T15:57:08.417-06:00lemme tell you some sad storiesWell, sad to me, at any rate. It should be sad to the world, like other sad things, but really it's a symptom of many wrong things.<br />
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1) A young man (junior high or high school, I am now decrepit enough that it is becoming hard to tell) came up to the desk and said he was writing a paper on Mary Shelley and had to have an autobiography. I told him that outside of a book of her collected letters, I didn't think she'd written one. He looked sheepish and said something along the lines of well, I just need information about her. After a quick clarification of whether he did, indeed, need biographical info or criticism of her work, we set off for the biography section. No luck, so I took him over to the literary criticism section. There were several about Frankenstein, of course, but there were also 2 very cool looking books about Shelley and her life in relation to Frankenstein. I handed him one, took the other for myself, and instructed him to check the index for information specifically about Shelley. He turned to the table of contents, flipped a couple of pages, then declared it, this book about Mary Shelley, contained "nothing" about Shelley. I looked at mine, showed him all the entries just about her, then he flipped to the back of his book and hemmed and hawed a little more. I took his book from him, turned to the index entry (which took up nearly an entire page on its own, beautifully indexed under her name by topic even), and showed it to him. He decided to take that book. I am continually AmAzEd by the people, teen and adult, who don't know how to use an index. Or a dictionary for that matter. Hell, most of these kids can't even use the copy machine because they are used to just clicking an icon for the printer. We had one middle school aged kid trying to use the phone at the front desk. She picked up the receiver and put it down several times, never dialing. Finally, when asked what was wrong, she said it was making a funny noise. That's not a funny noise, sweetie, that's the dial tone. <br />
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2) Let's have a lesson in the use of an automatic flushing toilet. You sit down, or you hover. You do your business and tidy up. You get up, refasten your clothing, CHECK TO SEE THAT THE TOILET FLUSHED COMPLETELY, FLUSH THE FUCKING TOILET IF NOT, then depart to continue your day. I have to be here 9 or 10 hours a day and do not appreciate having to wipe up and flush your piss and, thank god only occasionally, your shit. Every automatic toilet has a manual flush button. Shocker, I know. Look for it. Use it. I mean, I get it. There's one toilet in our bathroom that flushes if you bat your eyelashes too hard. It's out of sync with stall use. I understand. But still, look back over your shoulder, notice if you've pissed all over the toilet seat. Wipe it up. Did everything go down? If not, use the button please and make my working life just a tiny bit better.Holley Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02938123435712583518noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5564685859869747810.post-28296078584337895132014-02-13T08:38:00.000-06:002014-02-13T08:38:00.306-06:00uncle!Fortunately, I haven't been too adversely affected by our frosty weather here in Birmingham, Alabama. The first time, I was already at home when everyone else got stuck. My mother was stuck in her car on the interstate for over 24 hours. It made me a nervous wreck, but I was a wreck sitting nice and warm in my pjs in a comfy recliner in a house holding at a stead 70 degree temp. The next time was kind of a dud, as is this one, sort of. Plenty of snow (for us!) but the temps never really dipped below freezing and the sun has come up on what should be a nearly 50 degree day. <br />
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All that being said, I'll finally cry winter uncle. I want to go outside without a coat. If I wanted cold temps on a regular basis, I would move to an area where I could enjoy such a thing. Like many of my friends, I'm ready for spring. I want to take a walk in the sun, unencumbered by a coat or sweater. I want my power bill to be less expensive. The usual. Of course, in the interests of full disclosure, I'll be able to do that (probably wearing flipflops) next week. Our bipolar weather is legendary. It makes me VERY happy that I don't have sensitive sinuses. I have plenty of friends really suffering as we pinball between warm and humid, cold and humid, warm and dry, and cold and dry. <br />
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Also, I believe I'd have an easier time getting myself motivated to get more exercise. Nothing has been holding me back previously except...well...me. It's not even an excuse. I was doing fantastically for a while, then it just got uncomfortably cold for me, my knees and hips ached, the works. <br />
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I've got plans for myself this year, though. Big plans that require a not-so-big person. So it's time to stop moping with myself and remake some good...no, great habits. I've had them in the past so I know I can have them again, maybe even on a more permanent basis this time around!<br />
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Here's hoping anyway!<br />
hHolley Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02938123435712583518noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5564685859869747810.post-82905104419609097132014-01-02T14:00:00.001-06:002014-01-10T07:13:03.481-06:00A Stellar YearI didn't watch as many movies, but I read WAY more books and I lost a shitload of weight. <br />
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Winning.<br />
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IN THE BOOKS 2013<br />
166. Just a Taste by Deirdre Martin<br />
165. The Cult of Celebrity: What Our Fascination with the Stars Reveals About Us by Cooper Lawrence<br />
164. Christmas Curiosities: Odd, Dark, and Forgotten Christmas by John Grossman<br />
163. The Medic's Homecoming by Lynne Marshall<br />
162. Tactical Strike by Kaylea Cross<br />
161. Personal Assets by Kelsey Browning<br />
160. Hit Hard by Amy J. Fetzer<br />
159. Chasing Stanley by Deirdre Martin<br />
158. Hot Ticket by Deirdre Martin, Julia London, Annette Blair, and Geri Buckley<br />
157. The Penalty Box by Deirdre Martin<br />
156. Kitten's First Full Moon by Kevin Henkes<br />
155. The Girl Who Loved Wild Horses by Paul Goble<br />
154. Total Rush by Deirdre Martin<br />
153. Fair Play by Deirdre Martin<br />
152. Body Check by Deirdre Martin<br />
151. The Firefighter by Susan Lyons, P.J. Mellor, and Alyssa Brooks<br />
150. By Design by Jayne Denker<br />
149. Getting Rowdy by Lori Foster<br />
148. The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion<br />
147. Spice & Wolf: Vol. 1 by Isuna Hasekura<br />
146. The Joy of Pain: Schadendreude and the Dark Side of Human Nature by Richard H. Smith<br />
145. Ken & Thelma: The Story of A Confederacy of Dunces by Joel L. Fletcher<br />
144. Under Heaven by Guy Gavriel Kay<br />
143. Sexy Devil by Sasha White<br />
142. Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson<br />
141. How to Tame a Wild Fireman by Jennifer Bernard<br />
140. Empty Net by Toni Aleo<br />
139. Trying to Score by Toni Aleo<br />
138. Taking Shots by Toni Aleo<br />
137. Hunter's Heart by J.D. Tyler<br />
136. Bare It All by Lori Foster<br />
135. Wool by Hugh Howey<br />
134. Run the Risk by Lori Foster<br />
133. Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Life, Death, and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity by Katherine Boo<br />
132. Stealing Home by Jennifer Seasons<br />
131. Black Moon by J.D. Tyler<br />
130. Savage Awakening by J.D. Tyler<br />
129. Black Magic by J.D. Tyler<br />
128. Primal Law by J.D. Tyler<br />
127. One Sweet Ride by Jaci Burton<br />
126. Thrown By a Curve by Jaci Burton<br />
125. Playing to Win by Jaci Burton<br />
124. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green<br />
123. Last Call: Hurricane by Moira Rogers<br />
122. Last Call: Kamikaze by Moira Rogers<br />
121. The Children of Green Knowe by Lucy Boston<br />
120. Lover At Last by J.R. Ward<br />
119. Lover Reborn by J.R. Ward<br />
118. Shanghai Girls by Lisa See<br />
117. Lover Unleashed by J.R. Ward<br />
116. Lover Mine by J.R. Ward<br />
115. Elantris by Brandon Sanderson<br />
114. Lover Avenged by J.R. Ward<br />
113. Lover Enshrined by J.R. Ward<br />
112. Lover Unbound by J.R. Ward<br />
111. Lover Revealed by J.R. Ward<br />
110. Lover Awakened by J.R. Ward<br />
109. Lover Eternal by J.R. Ward<br />
108. Dark Lover by J.R. Ward<br />
107. Taking a Shot by Jaci Burton<br />
106: Zara's Tales: Perilous Escapades in Equatorial Africa by Peter Beard<br />
105. The Shining by Stephen King<br />
104. Changing the Game by Jaci Burton<br />
103. Wear Your Dreams: My Life in Tattoos by Ed Hardy with Joel Selvin<br />
102. The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman<br />
101. How to Marry a Millionaire Vampire by Kerrelyn Sparks<br />
100. The Gettysburg Address: A Graphic Adaptation by Jonathan Hennessey and Aaron McConnell<br />
99. Hollywood Scandals by Gemma Halliday<br />
98. Doors of Perception by Aldous Huxley<br />
97. Soon I Will Be Invincible by Austin Grossman<br />
96. Sex, Drugs, and Gefilte Fish: The HEEB Storytelling Collection edited by Shana Liebman<br />
95. Famous Last Words by Jennifer Salvato Doktorski<br />
94. Gunpowder and Cinnamon by Eli Brown<br />
93. Quiet: The Power if Introverts in a World that Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain<br />
92. The Perfect Play by Jaci Burton<br />
91. Freefall by Jill Sorenson<br />
90. Ready Player One by Ernest Cline<br />
89. Thrown by a Curve by Jaci Burton<br />
88. Dare to be Dirty by Savannah Fox<br />
87. How My Summer Went Up In Flames by Jennifer Salvato Doktorski<br />
86. Diamonds in the Rough by Portia Da Costa<br />
85. The Maid's Version by Daniel Woodrell<br />
84. I Dream of Danger by Lisa Marie Rice<br />
83. The Dirty Girls' Book Club by Savannah Fox<br />
82. Smokin' Hot Firemen by Delilah Devlin et al.<br />
81. Playing the Part by Robin Covington<br />
80. State of Wonder by Ann Patchett<br />
79. Dream a Little Dream by Susan Elizabeth Phillips<br />
78. Wedding Night by Sophie Kinsella<br />
77. Frank's Independence Day by M.L. Buchman<br />
76. Daniel's Christmas by M.L. Buchman<br />
75. One Fine Fireman by Jennifer Bernard<br />
74. Un Lun Dun by China Mieville<br />
73. Styx's Storm by Lora Leigh<br />
72. Beyond the Dark by Angela Knight, Emma Holly, Lora Leigh, and Diane Whiteside<br />
71. Spook: Science Tackles the Afterlife by Mary Roach<br />
70. Game On by Tracy Solheim<br />
69. Let's Explore Diabetes with Owls by David Sedaris<br />
68. Lawe's Justice by Lora Leigh<br />
67. Lion's Heat by Lora Leigh<br />
66. Defending Jacob by William Landay<br />
65. Bengal's Heart by Lora Leigh<br />
64. Shifter by Angela Knight, Lora Leigh, Alyssa Day, and Virginia Kantra<br />
63. Mercury's War by Lora Leigh<br />
62. Nobody's Baby But Mine by Susan Elizabeth Phillips<br />
61. Hot Spell by Emma Holly, Lora Leigh, Shiloh Walker, and Meljean Brook<br />
60. Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach<br />
59. Dawn's Awakening by Lora Leigh<br />
58. Tanner's Scheme by Lora Leigh<br />
57. Harmony's Way by Lora Leigh<br />
56. Megan's Mark by Lora Leigh<br />
55. Kiss of Heat by Lora Leigh<br />
54. The Man Within by Lora Leigh<br />
53. Tempting the Beast by Lora Leigh<br />
52. The River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt's Darkest Journey by Candice Millard<br />
51. Stories From Jonestown by Leigh Fondakowski<br />
50. A Cowboy for Christmas by Lori Wilde<br />
49. A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole<br />
48. Wait Until Dark by M.L. Buchman<br />
47. I Own the Dawn by M.L. Buchman<br />
46. Thrill Ride by Julie Ann Walker<br />
45. Code Name Verity by Eizabeth Wein<br />
44. The Last Runaway by Tracy Chevalier<br />
43. Gateway by Frederik Pohl<br />
42. The Burn Palace by Stephen Dobyns<br />
41. The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde<br />
40. Why Can't I Be You by Allie Larkin<br />
39. The Engagement by Chloe Hooper<br />
38. Picasso at the Lapin Agile and Other Plays by Steve Martin<br />
37. Savage Hunger by Terry Spear<br />
36. The Cowboy and the Princess by Lori Wilde<br />
35. Bellwether by Connie Willis<br />
34. Cowboy Crazy by Joanne Kennedy<br />
33. The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell<br />
32. Luscious by Amanda Usen<br />
31. Rev It Up by Julie Ann Walker<br />
30. Sex and the Single Fireman by Jennifer Bernard<br />
29. I Own the Night by M.L. Buchman<br />
28. What the Librarian Did by Karina Bliss<br />
27. Hot for Fireman by Jennifer Bernard<br />
26. The Fireman Who Loved Me by Jennifer Bernard<br />
25. In Rides Trouble by Julie Ann Walker<br />
24. Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter<br />
23. Hell on Wheels by Julie Ann Walker<br />
22. Death's Heretic by James L. Sutter<br />
21: Betty Page presents The Librarian by Logan Belle<br />
20. The Captive by Scott O'Dell<br />
19. The Age of Miracles by Karen Thompson Walker<br />
18. The King in Yellow by Robert W. Chambers<br />
17. Bossypants by Tina Fey<br />
16. Where'd You Go, Bernadette? by Maria Semple<br />
15. Ready Player One by Ernest Cline<br />
14. Wanton West: Madams, Money, Murder, and the Wild Women of Montana's Frontier by Lael Morgan<br />
13. Aftershock by Jill Sorenson<br />
12. Long Black Cadillac by B.A. Tortuga<br />
11. The Boy in the Suitcase by Lene Kaaberbol & Agnete Friis<br />
10. River Road by Suzanne Johnson<br />
9. The Wettest County in the World by Matt Bondurant<br />
8. Return to Willow Lake by Susan Wiggs<br />
7. Tallie's Hero by Sara Luck<br />
6. Brides of the West by Victoria Bylin, Janet Dean, and Pamela Nissen<br />
5. Saving the Rifleman by Julie Rowe<br />
4. Danger Zone by Dee J. Adams<br />
3. Among Others by Jo Walton<br />
2. Naughty or Nice? by Sherrilyn Kenyon, Patricia Ryan, Kathryn Smith, and Carly Phillips<br />
1. Beautiful Darkness by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl<br />
<br />
AT THE MOVIES 2013<br />
25. Desolation of Smaug<br />
24. Catching Fire<br />
23. Thor<br />
22. Ender's Game<br />
21. Gravity<br />
20. The Conjuring (9/23)<br />
19. Riddick (9/8)<br />
18. We're the Millers (8/18)<br />
17. The Conjuring (7/21)<br />
16. Pacific Rim IMAX 3D (7/12)<br />
15. The Lone Ranger (7/5)<br />
14. Man of Steel (6/23)<br />
13. Star Trek: Into Darkness (6/16)<br />
12. Evil Dead (6/9)<br />
11. The Great and Powerful Oz (6/1)<br />
10. Epic 3D (5/28)<br />
9. Star Trek: Into Darkness 3D IMAX (5/22)<br />
8. Iron Man 3 3D IMAX (5/7)<br />
7. Scary Movie 5 (4/27)<br />
6. Evil Dead (4/7)<br />
5. The Host (3/29)<br />
4. Dark Skies (3/17)<br />
3. Breaking Dawn Part 2 (2/28)<br />
2. Identity Thief (2/9)<br />
1. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2/3)Holley Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02938123435712583518noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5564685859869747810.post-80364190686706991912013-03-30T15:22:00.000-06:002013-03-30T15:22:51.018-06:00the la boring tar pitsDue to my recent glutting on the tv show Big Bang Theory combined with how godawfully slowly this day has gone by, I have serious ponderings about the time space continuum and relativity. Unfortunately, I don't have the corresponding vocabulary and/or background in theoretical physics to either voice or answer my own questions. That's some sort of feedback loop the likes of which may just confound Dr. Sheldon Cooper.<br />
<br />
If I didn't absolutely know that the full moon passed me by a few nights ago, I'd swear it was on it's way tonight. Or someone hung out the psychiatric shingle in front of the library today. <br />
<br />
It's slow, Slow, ssssslllllloooooowwwww and I'm mucho bored. I've done paperwork until my eyes are blurry and irritated and I can do no more. I've filled in calendars, cleaned up dirty toilet paper, made more coffee than is served at Waffle House, watched gross people dig around in the candy dish, answered a million questions that all seemed to go this similar directions "do you have 1040 tax forms? yes. you do? yes. so you really do? yes. i just can't believe you can say that without looking. i can." and still have to stop by Walmart on the way home. <br />
<br />
I took 4 and a half days of staycation last week in an attempt to recharge my solitude batteries and it has been sucked away most aggressively since Tuesday. I didn't even know that was possible. It makes me think some deep thoughts like, am I burning out after only 17 years? I don't want to be that crotchety middle-aged librarian so popular in myth, much less a crotchety old one. I've got a shitload to go before retirement is an option and there's nothing I'd rather do. That is the crux of the problem. I adore my work, but I get so tired of it so easily nowadays. Am I broken? People get on my nerves like they have never gotten on them before, and they're not even new people. They are regulars that I've seen and dealt with for YEARS and they are only now trying to be the last straw? How does that even happen?<br />
<br />
I used to hate being around people, then I started public service and discovered I loved helping them, not I seem to be on the other side of some sort of bell curve that I don't appreciate being on. I was not consulted, or asked, or warned for that matter. Perhaps it's living alone and liking it, perhaps too much, though I certainly don't want a roommate again. I can't even imagine having to put up with a significant other at this point, much less a casual acquaintance. Maybe I need to take a meditation class, dig around in my own head a bit. Maybe take it seriously and let someone else dig around in my head a bit.<br />
<br />
<br />Holley Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02938123435712583518noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5564685859869747810.post-14025669800249520772013-01-17T12:53:00.000-06:002013-01-17T12:53:41.800-06:00coming out of the fat closet<br />
<br />
Oh no, I'm not quite there yet, but I'm working on it. <br />
<br />
I've lost a little over 70 pounds in the past 4 months and I am quite proud of that. I've run into a couple of people whom I haven't seen since I had surgery or since early on afterward. They smile, give me a thumbs up. I smile, give them a thumbs up back. Some sidle up to me, speaking out of the corner of their mouths, "You look great! How do you feel?" Real quiet, whispering.<br />
<br />
I feel great. <br />
<br />
I'm proud of myself for making a tough life decision about my health and following through with that decision. <br />
<br />
I'm not ashamed that I couldn't just do it on my own. <br />
<br />
I'm not ashamed that joining a group didn't help. <br />
<br />
What it ultimately comes down to is: I'm not ashamed. There's no need to whisper. There's no need to catch me alone.<br />
<br />
I had a vertical sleeve gastrectomy, not a back alley abortion, nor am I conducting a seedy drug deal. If you know about my surgery and would like to comment on my appearance, do so...no need to be shy. If you didn't know about my surgery and think I have cancer, you'll be just as relieved as I am for that not to be the case. Though hopefully my hair loss WILL slow down so that won't become a completely common place reaction. I've only had a small handful of people ask me if I'm sick, thank goodness. <br />
<br />
I'm delighted to talk about it with anyone who'd like to know more about it. But anyway, I just wanted to say that, to get that out there on the table.<br />
<br />
Hi, my name is Holley. I had weight loss surgery and I'm not ashamed. Neither should you be. Claim that decision for yourself, own it, be proud of it, benefit from it. I know I'm planning to.Holley Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02938123435712583518noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5564685859869747810.post-14513522750439589172013-01-09T17:42:00.001-06:002013-01-09T17:42:58.995-06:00keeping resolutionsThe key to this one, specifically, is having something to blog about. Epic fail. Nothing is going on with me and nothing especially entertaining is going on at work, outside of my general annoyance with tax forms right now. I can't write about that every day. Well, I guess I could but I'd be tired of myself long before anyone else had a chance.<br />
<br />
I seem to be in some sort of slump right now. I'm unable to concentrate on any of the 8 books I have to read this month. That's going to suck come book group/contest judging deadline. I can't find anything to watch on television since I finished the available episodes of The Walking Dead, Game of Thrones, and True Blood. I keep returning to Keeping Up Appearances and the Vicar of Dibley so I can listen without watching while either quasi-napping or playing Words with Friends or checking Facebook. I'll beat you to the punch and admit that I'm working on breaking my FB checking habit. At least reducing it a little.<br />
<br />
It's just when I get off work, I want silence and solitude. I don't want to go out. I don't want anyone to ask me ANYTHING. I don't want to talk on the phone. I don't want anyone to want anything, or want to know anything, that I may be able to provide. I'm getting grumpy because I'm not reading, but I can't concentrate on reading because I'm grumpy and unsettled. <br />
<br />
WTF?Holley Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02938123435712583518noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5564685859869747810.post-50028437039480607532013-01-05T16:02:00.002-06:002013-01-05T16:02:51.880-06:00lemme tell you my favorite time of year<br />
<br />
I have a couple of them here at the 'brary, led quite strongly by junior high/high school exams in May and December. And when I say favorite, I really mean one of the inner circles of hell. <br />
<br />
But hey, don't mind me. After all, my occupation is listed as <a href="http://www.forbes.com/pictures/mkl45jilg/9-librarian/">one of the least stressful jobs this year</a>. (along with medical records, T. Let me know how you feel about that, as I know you will read this)<br />
<br />
My second most favorite time of year is tax time, which apparently starts (for us) in November. Guess what folks? Even if I had your tax forms in November, while legislation is being decided in case you don't watch the news/listen to the radio/read a newspaper/have a pulse, I can't put them out until after the first of the year. Now the deluge has begun. "Why don't you have tax forms?" "When will they be here?" "Why are they late?" ...and the like. People, I have as much control over the when and how of your tax forms as I do over global warming and world peace. In fact, I think I just may have MORE control over world peace than I have over tax forms. I ordered the damn things in August. AUGUST, people. Just as soon as the ordering was ready, I ordered. My part is done. Quit making me personally responsible for your tax forms. You know where you can get them RIGHT NOW if they're available? A little thing we like to call the internet.<br />
<br />
"You have until April. Back the fuck off." <br />
<br />
That's what I want to say. <br />
<br />
I didn't, of course. But I thought it REAL HARD.<br />
<br />
That is all.Holley Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02938123435712583518noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5564685859869747810.post-20749444477477055922012-12-26T14:00:00.000-06:002013-01-03T11:54:42.075-06:00the end of year roundupit's time a) to stop saying I'm getting back up on the blogging horse and f*&king do it and b) condense my sidebar items in preparation for 2013. It's a small housekeeping item, so bear with me. I like to be able to look back at this kind of stuff, so I'm dragging you one or two (or zero) people with me.<br />
<br />
My weight loss efforts:<br />
<br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px;">
February 2008: 386.4</div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px;">
<b>2011</b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-size: small;">February 7th: 268.8</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-size: small;">March 14th: 276</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-size: small;">April 4th: 273.4</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-size: small;">May 9th: 281.4</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-size: small;">June 6th: 275.6</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-size: small;">August 8th: 288</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-size: small;">September 5: 288.2</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-size: small;">November 14: 312</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-size: small;">December 12: 322.4</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px;">
<br />
<b>2012</b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px;">
January 2: 329.6</div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-size: small;">August 13: 325.4<br />August 20: 325.2</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-size: small;">August 27: 327.0</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-size: small;">September 3: 314.2</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-size: small;">September 7: Gastric Sleeve Surgery</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-size: small;">September 10. 305.8</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-size: small;">September 17: 301.8</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-size: small;">September 24: 299</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-size: small;">October 1: 294.4</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-size: small;">October 8: 289.6</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-size: small;">October 15: 286.0</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-size: small;">October 22: 287.4</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-size: small;">October 29: 286.2</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-size: small;">November 5: 280.0</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-size: small;">November 12: 276.8</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-size: small;">November 19: 275.2</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-size: small;">November 26: 274.8</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-size: small;">December 3: 269.6</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-size: small;">December 10: 265.8</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-size: small;">December 17: 266.8</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-size: small;">December 24: away from home</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">December 31: 262.6</span><br />
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
BOOKS OF 2012
<br />
<ul style="line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 1.25em;">
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">75. In the Garden of Beasts by Erik Larson</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">74. The Shadow of the Torturer by Gene Wolfe</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">73. The Moviegoer by Walker Percy</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">72. The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">71. Marshall's Guard by Isabo Kelly</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">70. Dead-Eye Dick by Kurt Vonnegut</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">69. Stay by Allie Larkin</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">68. Heart of Danger by Lisa Marie Rice</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">67. Bite by Sean Michaels</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">66. Black Heart by Holly Black</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">65. Girl of Nightmares by Kendare Blake</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">64. Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">63. Sara and Eleanor: The Story of Sara Delano Roosevelt and Her Daughter-in-Law, Eleanor Roosevelt by Jan Pottker</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">62. Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">61. The Night Strangers by Chris Bohjalian</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">60. Bad Boys Online by Erin McCarthy et. al.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">59. Red Shirts by John Scalzi</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">58. The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">57. Locke & Key Volume 2: Head Games by Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">56. The Outlaw Album by Daniel Woodrell</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">55. John Dies At the End by David Wong</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">54. Dearly Departed by Lia Habel</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">53. Drive by James Sallis</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">52. Crossed by J.F. Lewis</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">51. Seraphina by Rachel Hartmann</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">50. Unexpected by Lori Foster</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">49. The Case of the Missing Marquess by Nancy Springer</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">48. Locke & Key Volume 1: Welcome to Lovecraft by Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">47. Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame-Smith</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">46. The Wave by Susan Casey</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">45. Blood, Bones, & Butter by Gabrielle Hamilton</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">44. Warriors 1 edited by George R.R. Martin</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">43. The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">42. The Great Escape by Susan Elizabeth Phillips</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">41. Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">40. Dream a Little Dream by Susan Elizabeth Phillips</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">39. The Secret of the Great Pyramid by Bob Brier</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">38. Nobody's Baby But Mine by Susan Elizabeth Phillips</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">37. Railsea by China Mieville</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">36. Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">35. The Paris Wife by Paula McLain</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">34. The Enchantress by Michael Scott</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">33. Enticed by His Forgotten Lover by Maya Banks</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">32. The Gatecrasher by Madeleine Wickham</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">31. Georgia's Kitchen by Jenny Nelson</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">30. Amped by Daniel H. Wilson</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">29. Dragon Shift by Alice Gaines</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">28. Crazy for Love by Victoria Dahl</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">27. The Ritual by Adam Nevill</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">26. The Lifeboat by Charlotte Rogan</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">25. The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place: The Unseen Visitor by Maryrose Wood</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">24. The Sisters Brothers by Patrick DeWitt</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">23. The Duchess Who Wouldn't Sit Down: An Informal History of Hospitality by Jesse Browner</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">22. The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place: The Hidden Gallery by Maryrose Wood</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">21. A Good and Useful Hurt by Aric Davis</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">20. Extraordinary, Ordinary People by Condoleezza Rice</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">19. Fifty Shades of Gray by E.L. James</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">18. Crucible of Gold by Naomi Novik</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">17. The Cailiffs of Baghdad, Georgia by Mary Helen Stefaniak</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">16. The 27s: The Greatest Myth of Rock & Roll by Eric Segalstad</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">15. Surprise Offense by Carol Halston</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">14. T-R-O-U-B-L-E by Sable Hunter</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">13. Room by Emma Donoghue</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">12. The Reader by Bernhard Schlink</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">11. The Hangman's Daughter by Oliver Potzsch</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">10. Night Road by Kristin Hannah</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">9. Blackdog by K.V. Johansen</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">8. The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">7. Willpower: Rediscovering Humanity's Greatest Strength by Roy F. Baumeister and John Tierney</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">6. War Horse by Michael Morpurgo</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">5. Farmer in the Sky by Robert Heinlein</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">4. Graveminder by Melissa Marr</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">3. Stay by Ally Larkin</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">2. Deep Cover by Sandra Orchard</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px;">1. Burning Up by Angela Knight et al</li>
</ul>
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<span style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<div>
<span style="line-height: 19px;">AT THE MOVIES 2012</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="line-height: 19px;">Les Miserables</span></div>
<div>
<span style="line-height: 19px;">Cique du Soleil: Worlds Away</span></div>
<div>
<span style="line-height: 19px;">Wreck-It Ralph</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 19px;">Sinister</span></div>
<div>
<span style="line-height: 19px;">Paranormal Activity 4</span></div>
<div>
<span style="line-height: 19px;">The Possession</span></div>
<div>
<span style="line-height: 19px;">Madagascar 3</span></div>
<div>
<span style="line-height: 19px;">Paranorman</span></div>
<div>
<span style="line-height: 19px;">Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days</span></div>
<div>
<span style="line-height: 19px;">The Campaign</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 19px;">The Dark Knight Rises</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 19px;">Magic Mike</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 19px;">Men In Black 3</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 19px;">Brave</span></div>
<div>
<span style="line-height: 19px;">The Raven</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 19px;">Cabin in the Woods</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 19px;">Mirror, Mirror</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 19px;">The Hunger Games</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 19px;">The Lorax</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 19px;">Jack & Jill</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 19px;">The Woman in Black</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 19px;">Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 19px;">The Devil Inside</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 19px;">Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol</span></div>
</div>
Holley Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02938123435712583518noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5564685859869747810.post-18649553910667339592012-10-17T16:42:00.003-05:002012-10-17T16:42:50.965-05:00movin' right alongSo, I'm 6 weeks out from surgery and 43 pounds down. 43 down, 100 to go. It's gonna happen.<br />
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Just so we're clear, here's what I had done:
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<img src="http://leadgen.media.live.s3.amazonaws.com/cms_page_media/15/gastric-sleeve.jpg" /></div>
I feel good, my energy is mostly back. I haven't gotten back to sleeping through the night completely, but I'll get there. I really believe that as soon as the weather figures out that it's Fall and my house stays cool at night that the sleeping issue will get a bit better. After all, what was keeping me up the most were issues of digestion and all that has settled down to at least 98% normal. <br />
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Week 7 starts next Monday and I'll be on the lifetime maintenance diet, which means I get to eat whatever I want, in small amounts. Right now I can eat lean chicken, turkey, fish, or seafood. I haven't been craving beef or pork as much as I thought I would, but I'm REAL tired of chicken, turkey, fish, and seafood as that's all I've been eating since week 4. Before that, I got tired of strained soups and soft foods, so progress has been made certainly.<br />
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Things that happened pretty much immediately include my knee pain practically disappearing, my plantarfaciitis going the same, and my carpal tunnel settling down. I assume those issues will continue to subside and if nothing else resulted, I'd be happy with than as those contributed to a lot of my chronic pain. I still don't walk for exercise a whole lot because that's about the only thing that aggravates my confounded knees but I do ride my recumbent bike a lot. I have a post surgical followup with my surgeon on Election Day and I expect to get cleared for swimming and maybe some aerobics if my knees will manage it. I still have some twinges of pain in my abdomen from time to time if I'm twisting or bending while lifting something so I know there's still some healing going on in there. I don't want to do anything to jeopardize how good I feel right now. I'm really looking forward to starting back to pilates but it's definitely too soon for that right now. I do a couple of crunches after my post-cycling stretch, but those muscles are ready for any serious squishing and I'm not going to try for another couple of weeks. My post surgical instructions said no strenuous exercise for 6-8 weeks, so I can hold out on trying for another 2 weeks. <br />
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No regrets! Moving forward from here!<br />
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How you doin'?Holley Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02938123435712583518noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5564685859869747810.post-78457440038216491542012-08-28T20:31:00.000-05:002012-08-30T12:31:09.915-05:00broccoli carbs Imagine my disappointment to learn that, according to the app I'm using to keep a food log, my one cup of steamed broccoli has almost 10 grams of carbohydrates. Go on, imagine it. I'll wait. <br />
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My second day of presurgery, low carb eating and I'm....I don't want to say miserable or uncomfortable, but it's easy to see that I was more addicted to them than I imagined. I'm selecting from a food list provided by my doctor, so I don't have many concerns on that score but I'd really love some cheese dip and tortilla chips about now. One of my friends on Facebook mentioned having a craving for margaritas and now that's been a recurring thought ALL. DAY. LONG. The salt, the tequila...I can almost taste them in the air. Oh well, there's low fat string cheese and natural almonds in my lunch box for a snack on the way home after work. I shouldn't really be eating this late at night, but if I don't snack there'll be consequences. And I'll have to take full responsibility for them.<br />
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Who knows how Labor Day will go. I've had several requests for outings, but if I still feel as wishy-washy, willpower and craving-wise, as I do right now I really believe the smartest thing for me to do would be to stay home. It could be that I'll get over the hump of this by week's end and feel stronger and more confident over the weekend but from where I'm sitting now, it seems unlikely. Especially knowing I have those two clear liquid days coming up next Wednesday and Thursday. I haven't been exercising because I don't want to be any hungrier that I am just sitting on my ass.<br />
<br />
On the bright side, I learned about a protein powder today in the flavor of Peanut Butter Cookie. Unfortunately, I also learned they were out of stock. Trust me, when they get back in stock, I'll do my part to buy them out again. I can imagine a Frosty Chocolate and Peanut Butter Cookie protein concoction inventing itself in my Ninja as we speak.<br />
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I've had several people ask me if I'm scared or nervous and I can't really say that I am. I've been reading about, preparing and stocking for, and thinking about this since April. I've got lists and motivational books and charts. My friend KT has backed me up on a point with which I feel comfortable: I have my shit together.<br />
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I told her about some of the YouTube videos I'd briefly looked at. There was a lot of discussion of contant nausea, not being able to eat, not knowing what to eat, and just general confusion. But I know what to eat, was informed about the common causes of nausea after this surgery, and have no underlying health issues other than arthritic knees. <br />
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I can do this.Holley Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02938123435712583518noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5564685859869747810.post-6537052305605429212012-08-24T13:55:00.000-05:002012-08-24T13:55:14.979-05:00here we goSo, I have my surgery date...it's September 7th. I'll be getting <a href="http://www.yourbariatricsurgeryguide.com/gastric-sleeve/">the sleeve</a>. <br />
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My no/low carb diet before surgery starts next week on August 29th and my clear liquid diet starts on September 5th. I'll be on the clear liquid diet for 2-3 days after surgery, then full liquids, then creamy liquids, then soft foods. I should be able to work back up to regular foods (as tolerated) in around 6-8 weeks, if I'm remembering correctly. <br />
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I'm nervous and excited but most of all, I'm simply READY to start this new adventure. If everything goes as planned, I could be down to where I'm supposed to be within the year. Here's hoping!Holley Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02938123435712583518noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5564685859869747810.post-50001024092023005152012-08-14T13:27:00.002-05:002012-08-14T13:27:56.800-05:00the tall, tall, wagon So, I've been working pretty hard (for me, anyway) on getting back on the exercise wagon. After my knees went to crap, I fell off of it hard enough to know me out. It is SO hard to get back in the habit but my knees, while they will never be "good as new," are 95% pain free. There is no reason I can't climb, gently, back in the saddle and every possibility that once I do they will feel even better. Intellectually, I know this to be true. Trying to get out of bed early enough to make it happen is another story in a different language. <br />
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I'm here to tell you first hand that the downhill slide from active to sedentary is a steep one. I'm struggling with a fairly large knot of shame for the level of health I let slip through my fingers. I'm a big girl, but I used to have boundless energy and decent stamina for general daily tasks. Not I struggle home exhausted each night. No exercise or fitness of any kind will be taking place in the evenings unless a miracle occurs. If it doesn't happen in the morning while I'm fresh and lively, I just don't see it happening. I'll have to work up to it, that much is obvious.<br />
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I believe all these things are linked. If I can just climb back in to the tall, tall wagon, better things are on the horizon for sure. Four straight days of getting activity in, and counting!Holley Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02938123435712583518noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5564685859869747810.post-2897254803491830852012-08-13T15:24:00.000-05:002012-08-13T15:24:07.420-05:00who's ready for fall?Um, that'd be me. I'm so ready for some cooler temps, I could just spit. We've had a couple of cooler days here and it just whets the appetite for a crisp fall day when I can put a box fan in the window and call it a day. I really enjoy that time of year (spring and fall) when I have a month or two of power bills down in the double digits since I don't have to run the air/heat.<br />
<br />
Anyway, I still haven't received a surgery date and I seem to be on the acid blockers indefinitely. It's the only way I can tolerate the vitamins. My knee scope has healed fantastically! I won't be walking for fitness anytime soon, but I take short walks from time to time. I'm getting most of my exercise from a recumbent bike, plus I'm pretty active at work. My plantarfaciitis AND carpal tunnel have both decided to flare up recently so I've really been feeling like an old lady. Joints popping, limping, stiff and sore. Plus I hate sleeping in my wrist braces because I always have dreams that I'm tied up and in danger. It's distressing.<br />
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Other than being in a holding pattern, waiting for a surgery date, nothing's going on. I sleep, drive, work, drive, and sleep again. I'm usually too tired for anything else. Being down with the knee, and only for a few weeks, really seemed to mow me over. I was exercising so hard this time last year before all that began. I felt good and I WAS good, then it all went to shit so quickly. <br />
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Here's hoping I can get back that feeling of well-being and fun by the end of the year!Holley Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02938123435712583518noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5564685859869747810.post-68520660141968667802012-06-18T16:58:00.002-05:002012-08-11T15:31:44.151-05:00jumping june bugsand leaping lizards, and all that.<br />
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Lots of stuff has been going on and I've been far too lazy to post it here. We are SO busy at the library that I can't think straight most of the time, and that's a good thing, but I just fall into the house exhausted at the end of the day and pay no attention to poor blogger. Also, the blasted knees. After struggling along for so long limping on the left, it was the right that decided to really put the screws to me. <br />
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So I'm now I'm exactly a month out from having my knee scoped. The doctor smoothed out all the cartilage tears he could get to, but I have some areas of bone starting to wear through and there ain't no fixin that. So, all this to say, I've finally made the decision to have weight loss surgery. I've tried and tried and tried and tried again over the years, different methods, mentors, and motivators, and none of it has worked. Now my joints are giving out on me and I'm pretty much in constant pain of one kind or another. If the globe continues to turn and family genetics hold true, I've got a good 50-60 years of life left, and I'd rather not go through them feeling like this. I'm desperate and willing to do it, whereas 6 or 7 years ago this was a distasteful option for me. Now I'm ready, willing, and able. Ready for a new me and a new life, hopefully one free of knee pain and my CPAP machine (or so they say).<br />
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I'm having trouble with the vitamins right now. They gave me heartburn so I'm on generic Prilosec for another week, then I'll add the vitamins back slowly, one by one, to see if I can identify which one is causing all the trouble. After we get this little problem nailed down, it should move right along to scheduling my surgery. I'm terrified and excited, all at the same time.<br />
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Good or bad, I don't care. I just want my knees to stop hurting all the time.Holley Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02938123435712583518noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5564685859869747810.post-28316351549502447612012-01-16T08:06:00.000-06:002012-01-16T08:06:08.023-06:00new year, new meboy, does that title sound SO corny, like a crummy self-help title. but it's true. i can only speak for how i feel right here, right now, but i feel as if i've turned a corner. i'm feeling more and more each day like i did 8 years ago (was it 8 YEAR?!) when i was kicking ass and taking names at weight watchers. who knows why i've blown it since last summer and gained 60 pounds. focusing on the why of the past doesn't help me find the how of the future so i'm letting go of all that.<br />
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enter the new me: heavy, chronic knee pain, which i associate with the increasingly chronic tiredness and irritability. i'm ready to feel better, physically, mentally, and all other -ally's that apply. the knee pain is the most disheartening thing dragging me down right now. now that i have the image in my mind, it's very much like kirsten dunst's dream sequence in <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1527186/">melancholia</a> with the yarn. if you don't know what i'm talking about, that's another sad thing best left to another discussion. the most i'll say about it is find your local indie movie theater and beg them to get it if they haven't shown it already and you just missed it.<br />
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i just finished the greatest book i've had the privilege of reading in quite some time, Willpower: Rediscovering the Greastest Human Strength by Roy F. Baumeister and John Tierney. The book discusses willpower in general, not just for the purposes of changing your eating habits, and it was all information that i needed to hear. for instance, who would have guessed that making yourself sit/stand up straight consistently throughout the day is more likely to strengthen your willpower for resisting that fast food run than telling yourself what an awful idea that would be, how much fatter and uglier eating that doughnut will make you, etc. Also, and Dr. B has been prompting me of this for YEARS, self monitoring. Whatever it is you need to do (watching what you eat, stopping smoking, saving money), making a physical note of what you do is important. <br />
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so i downloaded a food/exercise journaling app on my phone. i have absolutely NO idea why this did not occur to me earlier, but Baumeister talks about it in the book and BAM, the idea was planted and implemented. i absolutely LOVE it! the search functions are great and the best feature, as far as i'm concerned, is that it has an imbedded barcode scan feature, separate from the QR code reader that i already have, so if i have a product to add to my food log that still in it's original packaging or i just want to check how much of my daily calorie allowance a packaged food will take up, scan the barcode and the nutritional info and serving size is right there on the screen. it's super easy to look up other foods and add your own as well. like ANY other monitoring vehicle, if you have a custom food to enter or write down, you have to add up the nutritional content of all ingredients and divide by the number of servings. that's true for any attempt to log your food for any program or app so i'm accustomed to that as a holdover from my weight watchers days. the app i downloaded is the Calorie Counter from Fat Secret. Fat Secret has a great website (<a href="http://www.fatsecret.com/">http://www.fatsecret.com/</a>) as well and the app, like any good app should, syncs any info so that whether i add my food or exercise on my phone or the website, it populates to both places without me having to worry about it.<br />
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i'm excited about it, and about how committed i feel about, so i hope this motivates someone to get out there and add some sort of new self improvement change to their life!<br />
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<br />Holley Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02938123435712583518noreply@blogger.com0