Feelings of Loss

Saturday I slipped into my favorite, best fitting pair of jeans. I don't wear them often because they're getting a bit too far onto the threadbare side. They hung on my. The waist was still not a bad fit, but the rest just hung. They are so baggy in the seat now, as well as the front. I couldn't believe it. I didn't think I'd lost that much weight in the last couple of months, but wow!

So, I went in to have a health screening at OU today - part of their Healthy Ohio inititiave. Guess what? Not only was my blood pressure wonderful (113/64 - take THAT Monkey Girl!) but my weight was 198 and change. I've finally slipped below that danged threshold. The question now is, can I keep going? I don't ever expect to be 110 and a size 5 again - my body's changed as I got older AND had two kids - but it feels good to get some of that extra off. Size 18's fit better and don't look as sloppy on me. Heck, I'm almost in a size 16 now.

Being diabetic, with lower back issues, this is a great thing. Psychologically, since the smaller sizes now fit better, it's a great thing. Not everyone was meant to be tiny, but my smaller frame isn't quite so lost and my face has more definitly in it. Losing something never felt so good.

Scrapbooking Software Giveaway -- New Winner

Well, it's been over a week and unfortunately our announced winner hasn't gotten back in touch with me. Since that's a long time to wait AND my winner's code is only good until Halloween, we drew a new winner this morning. :-D Here are my lovely assistants, pulling the name:

So, who's name did they pull from the mug? Why Andrea Stern, of course! Fortunately, I know Andi, so I'm pretty sure she'll get in touch with me for her prize. It'll be really interesting to see what she creates with her prize! And once again, a big thanks to all of you who checked the contest out and a bigger thanks to those of you who entered!

Melinda

New Blog

I promised that my next post would have to do with writing, and it does. I've started a separate blog just for Laurel Reufner, the name I tend to write under. You can follow along in my writerly adventures over at Laurel Reufner's Lair.

It just seemed like it was time to have a dedicated space just for those types of posts. I'll still write about whats going in with my writing here, but the Lair is just for Laurel Reufner and what I'm up to under the pen name. Please, pop over a check it out sometime.

Melinda

We Have A Winner!!!

While the turnout for my giveaway wasn't all that great - only 4 of you took the time to enter - I still had fun. And a lot of you stopped by to check out the blog. (Thanks!)

So, just minutes ago my youngest daughter drew the winner of the software package.

I nabbed her as she was coming in the door from OU's homecoming parade. Mr. Incredible and her had participated in one of the units.

Ah, but you really want to know if you won, right? So, without further ado, here's the winner:

Congrats, Missy! I'll be in touch with you by late afternoon tomorrow with the codes you'll need to download your goodies. I hope you have as much fun with the software as I've been having.

Next post will be about reading and or writing! Promise!

Scrapbooking Software Giveaway



We're coming down to the homestretch on the software giveaway. The wonderful prize package contains the download code for My Memories Scrapbooking Software PLUS a $10 gift certificate to their shop. Personally, having gotten to try it out, I think it's a pretty sweet deal. I mean, come on, it'll take you just a few minutes, there aren't a lot of hoops to jump through, and you get some cool FREE software if you win.

I've had so much fun with this software. Recently I made 13 personalized binder covers for my writing club at school. I'm thinking of doing a "book cover" for my NaNo novel this year as well. While the possibilites aren't limitless, they're pretty wide open.

To enter, you need to go to the original post, My First Giveaway, and leave me a message at the bottom of the review letting me know which scrapbooking kit you like the best. (Click here to go to their website.) That's it! Easy peasy!

I'll draw a winner before by noon on Saturday and send them a notification.



My Memories Wednesday Challenge

The My Memories blog apparently has a weekle challenge. This week's test was to use at least one frame on your page. I thought, "What the heck. It's not like I'm going to do anything particularly constructive this afternoon." ;-) Also, I hadn't done anything with the photos from Monkey Girl's birthday party yet. Here's my offering:

Flash Fiction - Ripples

The truth is that I really wanted to do a post this weekend, but it's been crazy around here with an influx of fresh veggies. (Post, with pics, coming soon!) And since it's now after 12:30 and I need to be awake and at work in the morning, I'm posting this really, super short piece of fiction inspired by a contest that I want to say was being held by maybe GQ magazine? Anyway, the challenge was to write a short story in exactly 78 words. Here's my super short flash fiction piece, coming in at 79 words with the title...



Ripples

Randolph heard a thud before realizing he’d been struck. Lying there, he felt the last of his life draining away until the last drop was gone.

The speeding car never stopped. Never paused. The woman driving was too last in her own pain over a lover now gone.

Her little care plunged into the turn far too fast. It slid from the road, careened down the steep embankment, and smashed against a tree before stopping. She died smiling.

(The above image was lifted from National Geographic's Photo Of The Day site. Click the image to follow it home. :-) )