My name is Suzanne and I was addicted to McDonald's. The first step is admitting you have a problem right? Yeah, McDonald's is supposedly bad and America is obese - but their fries have the some awesome drug in them and they have mastered the Coke formula. That just kept bringing me back- back multiple times a week.
And then I hiked around Peru (see last post). When you are bent over, gasping for air, covered in sweat - AND being easily passed by people that are twice your age - you take a moment (well, you are already taking a moment - but you think).
So, on the side of a mountain in Peru, I decided to kick my addiction. I would rather climb mountains in my 60s than eat with Ronald McDonald a few times a week. I am proud to say that this week was my 2 month marker of not eating or drinking ANYTHING from McDonald's.
I have been tested multiple times - even had to drive my brother through the drive-through and sit in a car while he ate is order. I still crave it from time to time - and eventually I will probably have it again - but I don't need it anymore.
Friday, November 18, 2011
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
So I have this fear....
So I really don't like heights (okay, snakes aren't that high on my list either) - but I am truly scared of heights. I have occasionally gotten the rebuttal that I am already really tall and other jokes about not liking high places when I am over 6 feet myself. Maybe it is more the fear of falling than the heights - but you don't have to worry about the falling if you don't go up high.
I have recently tried to push myself out of my comfort zone so that I try new things. 3 things come to mind that I have done:
1. Gone skydiving (some say jumping out of a perfectly good plane).
I will NEVER do this again. While the falling was scary initially, my weak stomach and tendency towards motion sickness took over after a few seconds. As much as people would love to hear that I tossed my cookies on my jump instructor - I held it together until almost 30 after the crash landing, and then felt sick the rest of the day. Not my idea of a good time.
2. Hiked up an extremely steep mountain in Peru.
I loved Peru - and actually encourage everyone to go. As an additional excursion in Machu Picchu, you can high up Waynu Picchu - which is the mountain closest to the ruins and in background of most of our pictures. You need to be part goat to climb this - and even though my family raises goats - I do NOT have the the stability or stamina of a goat that is needed to easily climb this mountain when you are already several thousand above sea level (at the base!).
Needless to say, switchback paths with little or no safety measure if you were to lose your footing, was again, not my idea of fun. But, when in Peru... So I finally made it to the top - thinking there would a lookout platform. Americans, this is no Stone Mountain. At the top, you climb a ladder (think sticks tied together) to the top of a steep rock - which is the peak of the mountain. People were actually walking around on it. I climbed out - well inched out on my butt - just so I could say I did it. I was visibility shaking, I did look over, and then promptly climbed back down. I am glad I did it - but I wouldn't do that again either.
(That is right - I climbed to the top of that pointed mountain and this picture is taken from high up on a side of a mountain already!)
3. Cleaned my skylights on my porch. So after you jump out of a plane and summit a crazy mountain - climbing on your house seems like small beans. To make it interesting a used a ladder that was twisted and never quite rested on all 4 points. The windows got cleaned, and I my heart still raced a little bit.
I have recently tried to push myself out of my comfort zone so that I try new things. 3 things come to mind that I have done:
1. Gone skydiving (some say jumping out of a perfectly good plane).
I will NEVER do this again. While the falling was scary initially, my weak stomach and tendency towards motion sickness took over after a few seconds. As much as people would love to hear that I tossed my cookies on my jump instructor - I held it together until almost 30 after the crash landing, and then felt sick the rest of the day. Not my idea of a good time.
2. Hiked up an extremely steep mountain in Peru.
I loved Peru - and actually encourage everyone to go. As an additional excursion in Machu Picchu, you can high up Waynu Picchu - which is the mountain closest to the ruins and in background of most of our pictures. You need to be part goat to climb this - and even though my family raises goats - I do NOT have the the stability or stamina of a goat that is needed to easily climb this mountain when you are already several thousand above sea level (at the base!).
Needless to say, switchback paths with little or no safety measure if you were to lose your footing, was again, not my idea of fun. But, when in Peru... So I finally made it to the top - thinking there would a lookout platform. Americans, this is no Stone Mountain. At the top, you climb a ladder (think sticks tied together) to the top of a steep rock - which is the peak of the mountain. People were actually walking around on it. I climbed out - well inched out on my butt - just so I could say I did it. I was visibility shaking, I did look over, and then promptly climbed back down. I am glad I did it - but I wouldn't do that again either.
3. Cleaned my skylights on my porch. So after you jump out of a plane and summit a crazy mountain - climbing on your house seems like small beans. To make it interesting a used a ladder that was twisted and never quite rested on all 4 points. The windows got cleaned, and I my heart still raced a little bit.
I am Suzy Homemaker - hear me roar!
Friday, November 11, 2011
Halloween Horrors
I have been looking forward to Halloween all of October. As a child who grew up in the country, we did not go door to door trick or treating. My new house is in a great area that actually has a lot of younger children. I was excited that I would have trick or treaters for the first time in my new house!!
I probably spend 10 minutes trying to pick out the perfect bag of candy (and trying not to spend a fortune on it)! Then I sat through 2 weeks of looking at the bag and trying not to eat the candy myself - we all know that was a failure as I did treat myself to a few bites... everyday...
So Halloween finally arrives and to my amazement - people actually do Halloween on Halloween - we use to do it on the Saturday/Sunday closest as we had to have a Halloween Carnival or party at my church. After a day of work, I just can't motivate myself to get into my witch costume, so I didn't. I sit on my couch with my bowl of candy waiting and watching something on Netflix to pass the time.
Finally, there is a knock on the door - and my reaction is one of terror - what do you say back, how many little treats do I give them.... I am not sure why I panicked other than inexperience. My first visitors are the really cute kids from next door (very young) - and I said Happy Halloween and gave them a handful of candy (I am sure all of the parents are loving my portion control).
After the 10 round of visitors - this whole trick or treating deal has gotten really old. About every time I go to sit down - the door knocks again. And at this point, even though I bought a huge bag - my generous portion control is blowing through my supplies. I cut back on the portions because I am apparently going to be doing this ALL NIGHT. So much for the movie I was trying to watch and dinner I was going to cook and eat.
After about 2.5 hours after the first round of trick or treaters graced my door step - I turned out my lights and locked the door - I was so over this entire night.
To my many friends who live out in the country and don't get trick or treaters, I have 2 solutions for you. 1 - Come up to my house next year and you can do it for me because I don't see myself doing that again. OR 2 - Be like my dad, buy your favorite candy in hopes that you will get some visitors, fake disappointment when you don't as you eat all of the candy yourself!
I probably spend 10 minutes trying to pick out the perfect bag of candy (and trying not to spend a fortune on it)! Then I sat through 2 weeks of looking at the bag and trying not to eat the candy myself - we all know that was a failure as I did treat myself to a few bites... everyday...
So Halloween finally arrives and to my amazement - people actually do Halloween on Halloween - we use to do it on the Saturday/Sunday closest as we had to have a Halloween Carnival or party at my church. After a day of work, I just can't motivate myself to get into my witch costume, so I didn't. I sit on my couch with my bowl of candy waiting and watching something on Netflix to pass the time.
Finally, there is a knock on the door - and my reaction is one of terror - what do you say back, how many little treats do I give them.... I am not sure why I panicked other than inexperience. My first visitors are the really cute kids from next door (very young) - and I said Happy Halloween and gave them a handful of candy (I am sure all of the parents are loving my portion control).
After the 10 round of visitors - this whole trick or treating deal has gotten really old. About every time I go to sit down - the door knocks again. And at this point, even though I bought a huge bag - my generous portion control is blowing through my supplies. I cut back on the portions because I am apparently going to be doing this ALL NIGHT. So much for the movie I was trying to watch and dinner I was going to cook and eat.
After about 2.5 hours after the first round of trick or treaters graced my door step - I turned out my lights and locked the door - I was so over this entire night.
To my many friends who live out in the country and don't get trick or treaters, I have 2 solutions for you. 1 - Come up to my house next year and you can do it for me because I don't see myself doing that again. OR 2 - Be like my dad, buy your favorite candy in hopes that you will get some visitors, fake disappointment when you don't as you eat all of the candy yourself!
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