Just when I thought it wasn’t safe to go outside, an amazing thing happened this morning.  THERE WAS A SUNRISE!  I’m seeing blue skies and a SUN!  Oh happy day!

I think the sun’s appearance is a gift from God because today is the day I finish ALL THAT YOU ARE–the last in my Moretti family series!  A double reason to celebrate!  I’ll post the book’s cover soon.

Boise has been under what’s call “inversion” for two weeks now.  Dictionary.com explains Atmospheric Inversion like this:  Meteorology. a reversal in the normal temperature lapse rate, the temperature rising with increased elevation instead of falling.

So what that does is trap in the city air and keep it grounded with us folks living in Boise rather than disappating up into the sky and moving on.  Boiseans call this phenomonen “inversion”.  I say let’s call a spade a spade–PEOPLE! It’s SMOG.  As a former L.A. girl, I know smog when I see it. 

Every winter, this inversion hits and when it does, I start to go bonkers.  A gray blanket lays over Boise with near zero-vibility.  It’s damp and bone-chilling.  The sky is thick with brownish-gray.  It may rain.  It may snow.  It may be foggy.  But blue skies–f’getaboutit.  I have only seen the sun for 1 hour in the past two weeks. Enough already! 

I’ll be finished with ALL THAT YOU ARE this week so I’m celebrating.  I’m going to L.A. (Santa Monica Beach!) and then the following weekend Scottsdale, Arizona.  It’s time to soak up some rays and start feeling human again.  I’ll post photos after the events!

I’m pretty faithful about walking at least 2 miles a day and doing sit ups.  I use a treadmill at home in a workout room with an exercise ball and weights, with a bench.  When I was single, I was obsessive about Gold’s and was there at least five days a week lifting and doing a cardio.  I fell in love, married, ate my way 20 lbs. heavier, then got a reality check on my cholesterol level which came in way too high.  It was a sobering moment.  I dropped the weight so I wouldn’t have to take any drugs.  I’m such a space cadet, I have a hard enough time remembering to take a daily vitamin and fish oil–much less something that would keep my heart healthy.  I opted for the old fashioned way–exercise. 

As a yo-yo dieter from the age of 35 to 45, (I never gained during pregnancies or afterward) I learned something when I lost 60 pounds three years ago.  The mathmatics of weight loss is simple–eat less, move more.  Dr. Laura says that and she’s right.  Previously, I’d joined all sorts of programs, went to meetings, measured food, etc., but when I decided to give up all fast food, diet pop and candy–something happened.  I’d drop a pound here and there without even doing anything.  Then I got serious and figured all that money I was saving on junk food could be spent on a trainer.  I worked out for a year with Joe at Gold’s.  The man was ex-military.  Nothing like having a guy bark in your ear you’re a noodle if you can’t pump the iron so many reps.  I was dang svelte back in those days.

These days the smell of fast food turns my stomach.  Although once in a while, a Taco Bell taco surpreme beckons.  I’ve given in a few times.  I think I’ve had a Big Mac twice in four years.  Now I’m softer and not so toned as the gym days and it’s okay.  I’m not training for anything other than good health.  I let the gym membership go, but manage to drag myself onto the treadmill pretty much daily.  I find I feel tons better when I walk.  The great thing about having a home gym is that my husband mounted a TV/DVD player on the wall for me.  I’ve watched THE TUDORS Season 1, Seasons 1-4 of LOST, and I’m getting into DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES–but had to take a mini-break since THE TUDORS Season 2 arrived yesterday.  I think if you have a show to look forward to, it makes you want to get out there and work out to it.  At least that’s how it is for me.

Anyway . . . give walking a try.  It’s good for you.

Oh the days of summer . . . where are you,  my darlings?  I miss your heat on my skin as I wear shorts, a tank top and flipflops.  Sigh.

I don’t make New Years Resolutions.  I used to, but haven’t in too many years to count.  I don’t need to quit smoking or go on a diet, so there’s no point in saying as of January 1 I’ll do something.  I’ll either do it last June or October, and it won’t make a bit of difference about doing it in January if I don’t feel like it. 

The one thing I’d like to challenge myself with, however, is to take everything in my life as a blessing from God, even if I think the situation or person or whatever sucks.  And that’s my resolve for the next however many years I live to see January 1.