Okay! I'm it! I've been tagged by Diane to participate in this, my first meme since I started blogging again.
What is a meme? Given ten minutes of internet research and my limited capacity to retain scientific terminology, here's what I've gleaned: The term was first used by ethologist Richard Dawkins in his book The Selfish Gene to describe a kind of cultural gene; a mental virus if you will, which propagates and permeates and evolves our culture through a process of behavioral natural selection.
That's as far as I got before my eyes started to cross.
For our purposes, we'll define it as a blog-based chain letter.
This particular meme calls for links to my 5 favorite personal blog posts according to the following rules:
Link 1 must be about family. Easy. Since my early blog was primarily family related humor, I picked one of my favorite stories.
Link 2 must be about friends. I haven't written much about friends, but this got a laugh out of its subject, my friend Kim.
Link 3 must be about yourself. Well, it's all about me, right?
Link 4 must be about something you love. I love writing and this is short-short was inspired by an interruption during my writing time.
Link 5 can be anything you choose. This is a short story length fiction piece based on a real story and was a cathartic exercise for me. I've not tried to have it published, but many people have emailed me to say that they could relate.
Now, who to tag? See, this is exactly why I never volunteer to be a Pampered Chef hostess, either, because I just don't know who to ask.
I'll get back to you on who to tag. Maybe I'll tag 20 random blogging strangers.
Here are two fun words to add to your vacab cache:
groodles
pronunciation: grood-uhlz (or, like oodles and noodles)
definition: According to my trusty Balderdash cards, it means leftover food. However, I've not been able to confirm that definition through any but the "urban" dictionary, so I guess it qualifies as slang. I did find that there is a designer breed of dog called groodle which is a cross between a golden retriever and a poodle. There is also the spoodle and the labradoodle, if you're into designer dogs. I've always called a cross-bred dog a "mutt;" now, I feel like I should feed our own dog, Pumpkin, premium food.
For our purposes, let's go with groodles as leftovers.
Which brings me to my next word:
ramfeezled
pronunciation: ram-feez-uld
definition: exhausted
I think these two words go perfectly together:
"What's for dinner, Mom?"
"Groodles."
"Groodles?"
"Yes, groodles, I'm ramfeezled."
I don’t make New Year’s resolutions. In the past, I’ve called them New Year’s resignations, as I resign myself to another year of falling short of my own potential. Classic underachiever, don’t you think?
This year, however, I’ve decided to throw away my old convictions and set a goal worthy of a good self-flogging on December 31, 2008. Er…I mean, to set a goal that is lofty, yet attainable, even for a sloth like me…uh, well…you know what I mean…to give it my best shot!
Those of you who are registered “members” of Gooblink know that I went on a diet a while back and I promised to keep a diary of my progress. I was so disgusted at myself for getting fat that I knew this time would be different and I’d find the will to lose it and boy, did I!
I lost my will, that is…but I gained ten pounds.
Last spring I reasoned that what I lacked was support. You know, a group of like minded individuals working towards the same goal. Armed with new fervor, a renewed sense of purpose, I joined Weight Watchers. The first meeting had me so pumped and ready that I was sure this was my ticket to size 6 jeans.
It was Weight Watchers, all right. I sat at each meeting and watched while everyone else lost weight. After 10 weeks I’d lost 4.9 lbs. That just wasn’t fast enough for me, so I dropped out and gained my 4.9 lbs. back in about 4.9 weeks.
Over the summer, one of Chuck’s business acquaintances mentioned that he’d bought his mom a Nutrisystem package for Mother’s day, but she didn’t like the food, so he had a whole box of stuff to give away. Chuck asked me if I’d want to try it and I jumped at the opportunity. We’d been accosted by ads for NS for the past several months; all these super skinny women talking about how they feel so sexy and energetic and how easy the program was to follow, and men who boasted that their wives didn’t think they were disgusting anymore. I’d watch longingly and think, gee, I wish I had her body. Chuck would watch longingly and think, gee, I wish Cindy had her body.
So, I got the box of food – minus the program instructions, mind you - tried the food and it was awful. I was famished the whole time and 3 meals a day of food that doesn’t require refrigeration is just wrong. Defeated, again, I decided a lifetime of Meals Ready to Eat (MRE) just wasn’t my cup of tea.
But, you know me and my convictions…
Back to my New Year’s resolution for 2008; since I’m a glutton for punishment, I’ve decided to make this year be the year that I lose 50 lbs. 70 lbs is my ultimate goal, but given my current age (44) and the fact that I’m not as active as I used to be, it may be a bit unrealistic to think I can get back to my high-school graduation weight. At this point, I’m just looking to get back to my pre-fourth-pregnancy weight.
So far this month, I’m down 5 lbs.
How, you might ask? I decided to give Nutrisystem another shot, and signed both Chuck and myself up for the program. This time, I got the program instructions and what I found was that the MREs are just a small portion of the plan. We’re supposed to supplement with dairy, fruit and veggies. Duh! That makes sense.
We’re 10 days into the program and I haven’t felt hungry, deprived or even a small tinge of buyer’s remorse. The program isn’t cheap, but given the drop in our dining out budget (I track our spending with Quicken), I think it’s going to work out to about the same monthly expenditure. The biggest budget savings I expect to see will be reflected in the business register. Chuck dines out nearly every day and by bringing his NS lunch to work with him, he’s no longer spending that money.
Anyway, I feel very positive. I think this time will be different.
I don’t make New Year’s resolutions. In the past, I’ve called them New Year’s resignations, as I resign myself to another year of falling short of my own potential. Classic underachiever, don’t you think?
This year, however, I’ve decided to throw away my old convictions and set a goal worthy of a good self-flogging on December 31, 2008. Er…I mean, to set a goal that is lofty, yet attainable, even for a sloth like me…uh, well…you know what I mean…to give it my best shot!
Those of you who are registered “members” of Gooblink know that I went on a diet a while back and I promised to keep a diary of my progress. I was so disgusted at myself for getting fat that I knew this time would be different and I’d find the will to lose it and boy, did I!
I lost my will, that is…but I gained ten pounds.
Last spring I reasoned that what I lacked was support. You know, a group of like minded individuals working towards the same goal. Armed with new fervor, a renewed sense of purpose, I joined Weight Watchers. The first meeting had me so pumped and ready that I was sure this was my ticket to size 6 jeans.
It was Weight Watchers, all right. I sat at each meeting and watched while everyone else lost weight. After 10 weeks I’d lost 4.9 lbs. That just wasn’t fast enough for me, so I dropped out and gained my 4.9 lbs. back in about 4.9 weeks.
Over the summer, one of Chuck’s business acquaintances mentioned that he’d bought his mom a Nutrisystem package for Mother’s day, but she didn’t like the food, so he had a whole box of stuff to give away. Chuck asked me if I’d want to try it and I jumped at the opportunity. We’d been accosted by ads for NS for the past several months; all these super skinny women talking about how they feel so sexy and energetic and how easy the program was to follow, and men who boasted that their wives didn’t think they were disgusting anymore. I’d watch longingly and think, gee, I wish I had her body. Chuck would watch longingly and think, gee, I wish Cindy had her body.
So, I got the box of food – minus the program instructions, mind you - tried the food and it was awful. I was famished the whole time and 3 meals a day of food that doesn’t require refrigeration is just wrong. Defeated, again, I decided a lifetime of Meals Ready to Eat (MRE) just wasn’t my cup of tea.
But, you know me and my convictions…
Back to my New Year’s resolution for 2008; since I’m a glutton for punishment, I’ve decided to make this year be the year that I lose 50 lbs. 70 lbs is my ultimate goal, but given my current age (44) and the fact that I’m not as active as I used to be, it may be a bit unrealistic to think I can get back to my high-school graduation weight. At this point, I’m just looking to get back to my pre-fourth-pregnancy weight.
So far this month, I’m down 5 lbs.
How, you might ask? I decided to give Nutrisystem another shot, and signed both Chuck and myself up for the program. This time, I got the program instructions and what I found was that the MREs are just a small portion of the plan. We’re supposed to supplement with dairy, fruit and veggies. Duh! That makes sense.
We’re 10 days into the program and I haven’t felt hungry, deprived or even a small tinge of buyer’s remorse. The program isn’t cheap, but given the drop in our dining out budget (I track our spending with Quicken), I think it’s going to work out to about the same monthly expenditure. The biggest budget savings I expect to see will be reflected in the business register. Chuck dines out nearly every day and by bringing his NS lunch to work with him, he’s no longer spending that money.
Anyway, I feel very positive. I think this time will be different.
I don’t make New Year’s resolutions. In the past, I’ve called them New Year’s resignations, as I resign myself to another year of falling short of my own potential. Classic underachiever, don’t you think?
This year, however, I’ve decided to throw away my old convictions and set a goal worthy of a good self-flogging on December 31, 2008. Er…I mean, to set a goal that is lofty, yet attainable, even for a sloth like me…uh, well…you know what I mean…to give it my best shot!
Those of you who are registered “members” of Gooblink know that I went on a diet a while back and I promised to keep a diary of my progress. I was so disgusted at myself for getting fat that I knew this time would be different and I’d find the will to lose it and boy, did I!
I lost my will, that is…but I gained ten pounds.
Last spring I reasoned that what I lacked was support. You know, a group of like minded individuals working towards the same goal. Armed with new fervor, a renewed sense of purpose, I joined Weight Watchers. The first meeting had me so pumped and ready that I was sure this was my ticket to size 6 jeans.
It was Weight Watchers, all right. I sat at each meeting and watched while everyone else lost weight. After 10 weeks I’d lost 4.9 lbs. That just wasn’t fast enough for me, so I dropped out and gained my 4.9 lbs. back in about 4.9 weeks.
Over the summer, one of Chuck’s business acquaintances mentioned that he’d bought his mom a Nutrisystem package for Mother’s day, but she didn’t like the food, so he had a whole box of stuff to give away. Chuck asked me if I’d want to try it and I jumped at the opportunity. We’d been accosted by ads for NS for the past several months; all these super skinny women talking about how they feel so sexy and energetic and how easy the program was to follow, and men who boasted that their wives didn’t think they were disgusting anymore. I’d watch longingly and think, gee, I wish I had her body. Chuck would watch longingly and think, gee, I wish Cindy had her body.
So, I got the box of food – minus the program instructions, mind you - tried the food and it was awful. I was famished the whole time and 3 meals a day of food that doesn’t require refrigeration is just wrong. Defeated, again, I decided a lifetime of Meals Ready to Eat (MRE) just wasn’t my cup of tea.
But, you know me and my convictions…
Back to my New Year’s resolution for 2008; since I’m a glutton for punishment, I’ve decided to make this year be the year that I lose 50 lbs. 70 lbs is my ultimate goal, but given my current age (44) and the fact that I’m not as active as I used to be, it may be a bit unrealistic to think I can get back to my high-school graduation weight. At this point, I’m just looking to get back to my pre-fourth-pregnancy weight.
So far this month, I’m down 5 lbs.
How, you might ask? I decided to give Nutrisystem another shot, and signed both Chuck and myself up for the program. This time, I got the program instructions and what I found was that the MREs are just a small portion of the plan. We’re supposed to supplement with dairy, fruit and veggies. Duh! That makes sense.
We’re 10 days into the program and I haven’t felt hungry, deprived or even a small tinge of buyer’s remorse. The program isn’t cheap, but given the drop in our dining out budget (I track our spending with Quicken), I think it’s going to work out to about the same monthly expenditure. The biggest budget savings I expect to see will be reflected in the business register. Chuck dines out nearly every day and by bringing his NS lunch to work with him, he’s no longer spending that money.
Anyway, I feel very positive. I think this time will be different.
Stay tuned.
Copyright 2005, 2006 Cynthia T. Adams and Gooblink.com
