I’m sorry to have left my throngs (three) of regular readers in the lurch for so long. I had no idea it’s been nearly a month since I updated. Unfortunately, there’s been nothing of note to write about. I’ll give it my best.

I’m pretty jazzed about the weather here in the Mitten. This has been the nicest April in a number of years. We’ve had steady temps in the 60-70 degree range for the last week or two and that suits me to a tee. Very unlike our usual season of frigid temps, spiking 80 and 90 degree days, bookended by massive snowfalls and flooding. I’ve taken to walking the dog in the evenings and on weekends, getting her used to a mile or two jaunt where the Husband and Boy are more likely to go for the quick fix. She shows her appreciation by remaining glued to my side whenever we’re in the house together. She prefers to be outdoors these days, though. She has a spot she lies in where she can see most of the yard. She’ll look very still but on closer inspection you can see her nose constantly working on the smells. She’s a sniffer, my dawgie.

Honestly, I’m totally in love with my dog. I thank Husband all the time for letting me have her, but I’m honestly a little pissed that he made me wait so long. Why didn’t someone tell me I was dog people? Having a dog is awesome! Yes, there are now new layers of highlights to all of my clothing, and the whole poo issue is rather nasty. But how can a person not be in love with a creature that misses them soooo muuuuch every single day! If I leave for an hour, it’s like I’ve been gone for days. If I’m out of the house, she walks from room to room looking for me. I am her people. It could only be cooler if she did anything useful at all. She doesn’t bark or fetch or play with toys. I can’t even get her to consistently lay on my feet to keep my toes warm. But boy, she is good at the lovin’.

Things are going well on the weight loss front. I’m missing our WW leader, who has had her baby and now is banished until she loses her baby weight. (I’d have to look into the legality of that, if I were her, but I’m not.) We have a temporary sub until May, then a more semi-permanent sub. I don’t care for the temp sub. She is stick thin and bird like in her appearance, where our usual leader was built more like a woman. Also, Ms. Temp only lost 20 pounds on the program. I’ve said before, I don’t think that’s enough to make you qualified to stand up and talk about the struggle. I’m fighting the good fight to lose 100 pounds and I’m supposed to believe you know what that’s like? (Which is probably why they have special meetings for members who have large amounts to lose. Unfortunately, they don’t have one in my area at a convenient time. I guess that means I’m stuck with stick woman.) But the guy coming in next month is a man and he was our leader’s leader (our grand-leader?) so he should be good.

Anyway, I’ve hit a couple of milestones and managed to get through Easter without gaining weight. I bought some new summer duds, as most everything I had was too big. I’m especially pleased to notice myself (finally) losing inches around my middle. (Makes me wish I’d measured myself at the beginning.) I’m trying to focus on things like that so I can get a real idea of what my body is doing. I don’t want to be bad-body-image-girl and think I’m fatter and/or thinner than I am. I just want to appreciate the work I’m doing and the progress I’m making. (I’ve lost around 15 pounds this year, which puts me almost on target for the 60 pounds I’d hoped for in 2006.) Easter was difficult and went on a little bender, but I’m picking myself up and dusting myself off and going back to doing what works. No harm; no foul.

As usual, with the warmer weather, there’s a flurry of activity coming up. We have Husband’s birthday tomorrow and a fun get-together with friends next weekend. It’s barbeque season, don’t ‘cha know? Work is deathly slow, so hopefully I can commit to keeping in touch a little more. I’d like that, wouldn’t you?