Our PC is home from the hospital – all healed and it looks like it’s sporting some new vicious security software. We haven’t yet had a chance to talk to friend John to get the full diagnosis but it’s good to have it back. Just being away from us for 24+ hours makes us realize how much we depend on it – for email, weather, sports, banking, blogging, Sudoku – most of which I can do on the iPhone but it’s not the same. Makes me wonder what I did back in “the old days” (pre 1997) when I didn’t have one at home. 
Had a productive day yesterday with the Girl Scouts in Rolla. Our realignment committee wrapped up our responsibilities of forming the new Girl Scouts of Missouri Heartland out of 5 legacy councils and most of the committee reports consisted of “turn over the rest of the decisions to the new CEO, COO, CFO and Board of Directors.” Whew! We met, ate, celebrated and were back in Springburg by 5:30. Best of all, I finished a baby blanket I was knitting and started another item – a cotton hooded baby bath blanket for the granddaughter of a friend – due to arrive at Thanksgiving.
My favorite part of the day was when I tried on a pair of khaki walking shorts that I hadn’t worn in a year – and they fit. I lost another 1.8 pounds this week so my 4-week total is 8.2. Each week I mentally prepare myself for the fact that I know I will plateau in this journey – and backslide – but thus far I have been super-diligent about counting points and logging them and that appears to be the key for me. Just another 1.8 pounds to go and I will allow myself to carry my awesome new purse I bought in June.
Last evening we watched Tarah and her fellow cheerleaders perform and then all gathered at Cindy’s for pizza. Now I need to go pick green beans from the garden for our dinner this evening – we’re celebrating Cindy and Annie’s birthdays with their menu choices – fresh green beans with new potatoes, ham and onions, corn on the cob, Mike’s fruit and yogurt salad with homemade granola and white sheet cake from the bakery. Oh – and plenty of frozen margaritas and Bud Light Lime. I think Devin is sticking to his bottle and a selection of Gerber’s finest foods.
If the rain holds off today it will be a perfect day to take the dog for a long walk and then spend some time in the pool with a good book. I just finished reading “Same Kind of Different as Me” which was a phenomenal true story of an international art dealer, his wife and a modern day slave and the power God has to work in our lives. Next on my night stand is “Three Cups of Tea” – another piece of nonfiction.
