Not Quite There

I've been in Weight Watchers now for a month. Consistently I have managed to shed a mere pound each week, but it is hard won. I know the waistline has crept up since chemo - that wonder weight-loss program - which has ended for the most part. So now I must behave and pay attention to eating healthy.

What a problem it is to follow this program. The majority of their success comes from encouraging people to eat lots of raw fruits and vegetables, which I cannot do. I spoke with our rep right away to see if there was anything out there that would help me come up with fiber substitutes that would help me when I get the munchies but not add poundage.

I asked a second time, but so far, no one seems to know - or care - about my particular battles. After all, if you can't eat fruit and veggies, you are not eating healthy, right? I mean, even the nutritionist at the cancer clinic gave up on me. Basically I can tolerate processed junk food fairly well. But anything with a touch of fiber causes me to spend hours in a bathroom regretting the ingestion. Sigh.

I listen to the awards that are announced each week, and am happy for the people shedding 5 lbs, 10% of body weight, etc. They can eat all the carrots and apples and celery they want. I would love to be able to eat those things. I drool at the idea of crunching into a fresh stalk of celery. Man, that would be great. But I know better. No, my poundage comes off by simply not eating as much. Half portions. Smaller dishes. Skip a meal. I am pretty sure I will fold if someone doesn't tell me how to not feel hungry by day's end.

I am not quite 5 pounds down. You would think all this starvation would melt off the weight faster. But I guess I put it on slowly, and it will have to come off the same way. Phooey. I would way rather just eat what I want and not noodle around with points and pieces. Well, nothing ventured, nothing gained. Or lost. Besides, I go with my friend, and I don't want her to think I am a big baby! I'll just have to suck it up - or in this case, NOT suck it up!

So regale me not with tales of feasting and decadence. Let me shrivel in peace. Give me a good 9 months before tempting me with delicacies. At least. Then we shall see.

Stepping In

Linda is not yet back from her Mother's funeral services in Iowa. She has a few classes that I will help out with, but I have never taught these courses before. Linda directs me via email to her handouts and gives me a thumbnail sketch of what to cover. This is not my area of expertise, but I will do my utmost to make sure these students know how to find what they need for their research.

I know Linda must be having a difficult time being in unfamiliar places and dealing with family and stress and loss. I do not wish to add to her angst. The professor is used to Linda teaching about how to construct search queries, not just showing students where to find resources and how to best manipulate the interfaces. In undergraduate classes, the professors teach that kind of information literacy skill. In grad school, students often have not been in class for a long time and have forgotten many things - not to mention that everything has changed.

We struggle through it together. What a wonderful experience to work with students who pay attention and really want to know so they can get on with their work! Even if I know nothing about the subject at hand, I supply the process, and they supply the terminology. Together we progress. Not bad for a last minute sub.

Snowstorm Prediction

Every day the weather threatens us with a ton of snow. A veritable blizzard. Ice and wind and impossible travel conditions. It sounds scary. We watch the dark blobs of bad weather move across the map and sympathize with the weather person standing in a blinding snowstorm telling us how bad it is somewhere else.

Now they are telling us it is our turn. Drew is delighted. They cancel school. A day off! But the weather never antes up. It spits a drizzle of white, barely anything to be concerned about. The wind blows a bit and roads have some slushy gunk. Cars drive slowly, but despite a few accidents, you are not prevented from getting to work.

Its something of a disappointment. I too was hoping for a day off - even though I have just had days off. But I come to work and it is business as usual. We have had white stuff in the air practically since the first of December, but no major snowfall. Nothing measurable in feet. Or really even in inches.


Never mind. Every winter has its own rhythm, and this one is not ornery. I can live with that. I just hope Drew's school doesn't assume that the next dire prediction is wrong and ignore any oncoming systems. Better safe than in a ditch.