I have been after Rick for quite some time about his eating and lack of exercise. I'm generally not a nag but gosh, I want to keep him around for a long time so I nag him to get healthy. I know he gets tired of listening to me so this year for Valentine's day I told him that my gift to him was to take him to Litton's so he could have a nice fat juicy cheeseburger and red velvet cake. I also promised him that I wouldn't say anything about the calories and fat he would be consuming today. We hadn't been to Littons in probably 10 years. They used to have the biggest, best hamburgers around. Their red velvet cake was to die for.

I have really been trying to watch what I eat and the thought of going to Litton's was totally stressing me out. I obsessed about it all week. They never used to have any healthy food. And their red velvet cake is so good, how could I resist? But, it was my gift to Rick and I wasn't going to cancel out on him.

So, we went. They did have a grilled chicken salad which was mediocre at best. Rick did have his cheeseburger which was a lot smaller than it used to be and that too was mediocre. We decided to forgo the red velvet cake. So, all in all, it wasn't bad at all. I was so stressed about it and it was nothing. I'm pretty proud of myself because I really wanted a cheeseburger but when Rick said it wasn't that good, I felt better.

Tonight we are going out with friends. We will have too much wine, I'm sure. I'm a little stressed about that. But it's a rare occasion that the four of us can go out together so I am hoping to just forget about the calories and enjoy us all being together.

My wish for myself is that someday, I will be able to live my life without constantly obsessing over how many calories are in every morsel I put in my mouth.

I'm her person

My friend Leeann's horse passed away this morning. It was a tragic thing that never should have happened and I am sorry for their loss. You see, her pain is my pain just like her joy is my joy. Its tough seeing her so sad. I am her person and she is mine.

I was talking to my friend Christy today. She is getting married in April and they want to start trying for children right away. She fears that there will be difficulty getting pregnant and then when she does, maintaining the pregnancy. So, they've decided that when she does get pregnant, she and her Rick will each have one person to tell and then hold off on telling anyone else until after the first trimester. And she told me that I am her person! I was like, really? Me? I'm your person? seriously? There comes a point in every friendship, I think, where you think about how close your friendship is. I mean, I feel very close to Christy, and I know that she feels close to me, but her person? Wow. I am honored.

I hope you all have your person. I couldn't live without mine. It's rare that you have a friendship where they know all there is to know about you, good and bad, and they still will call you their person. I treasure those friendships.

Have a happy night.

These are the days that try men's (or women's) souls.

Sienna told me today that she has been laid off from her job effective immediately. A year ago, I would have said, It's okay, you'll just find another. Today, I can't offer that bit of encouragement. The unemployment rate just keeps climbing. Now, both of my girls are unemployed and I am like, what the heck?! How are people supposed to make a living? I'm worried. Chanel is in California and though I am not sure whether she is planning on living out there or not, California has double digit unemployment rates. Like the highest in the country along with Rhode Island and Michigan. I don't think California is the place for her to be, but where is?

You know what the crazy thing is? We are busier than ever at my job. People may not have enough money for the light bill, but they are making sure they have enough for their psychiatrist. People are so stressed out these days, they need to see their psychiatrist now more than ever. Sad times.

So, I don't know what Chanel and Sienna are going to do. I don't know how to fix it for them. Just keep praying, I guess.