I typically hate the way I look in pictures. Especially since I always look fat.
But I’ve come to the conclusion that I am fat. This is what I look like. So why not showcase me?
I’m not morbidly obese or anything. Just way more plump than I ever thought I’d be. I am shrinking slowly though. Mainly because I am making a concerted effort to eat less and exercise more. It’s simple. In theory anyway.
It is much easier being fat and unhappy than working to lose weight. That laziness is what brought me to my present girth. I’m trying to change that.
I guess we’ll see what happens. Acknowledging that you have a problem is one of the first steps to correcting said problem, right?
Speaking of problems… I’ve been at a loss recently for things to Blog about. Can you tell?
This image was on a wall adjacent to a parking lot in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, a quirky little town where we spent all of about two hours during our Oklahoma-Arkansas motorcycle tour. To me, the town felt like a cross between old town Ellicott City, Maryland and Deadwood, South Dakota. Except there was art everywhere. Lots of eclectic shops, too, which we did not even bother to peruse since I had all of about 4 square inches of extra space in my backpack.
I’m no art aficionado. But if there’s any art I like, it is art with a sense of humor.
Look closely at the words surrounding St. Caffeina’s halo and you’ll see that it reads “double grand mocha no whip.” (HINT: click on the image and you’ll get a closer look.)
It struck me as funny for some reason. Not “ha-ha” funny, mind you. Just interesting.
I’d love to have the talent to do something like this.
It would have been fun to spend more time in Eureka Springs, but we still had miles to go before we slept. So back on the bike we climbed…
I finally decided to update the “places I’ve been” map. Actually, it is just the US states I have visited. My list of other countries is woefully short. But that’s cool, because I really enjoy seeing the different areas of the US.
All good things must come to an end, as the old cliche goes. Today is my last Summer Friday. The company I work for has this program where, during the summer, we get every other Friday off. As long as we work four ten-hour days during that week, or an extra hour (roughly) every day for the nine previous days. (I usually do both anyway, but that’s beside the point!)
For various reasons, they extended it through the end of October. Which is cool. But today is the last day.
Anyway, knowing that I didn’t have to get up at the crack of dawn this morning, I stayed up until the wee hours getting the rest of my New England pictures ready for a Flickr upload. CLICK HERE if you want to see them.
Hubby and I spent another relaxing weekend in West Virginia. Quite a change from last year, and the year before that, and the year before THAT when all we did was work, work, and more work.
Now, all we seem to do is sit around enjoying the cool little house we built, riding our motorcycles, and eating.
Speaking of eating… it seems like that was the highlight of our weekend.
Saturday, we hopped in the car and drove about 30 miles east to Capon Bridge, West Virginia. A small town about 20 miles west of Winchester, Virginia on US 50, Capon Bridge is home to El Puente, a yummy little Mexican restaurant. A place we didn’t discover until recently that serves quite tasty Mexican food. (NOTE: As I suspected, “puente” means “bridge,” which explains the drawing of a bridge incorporated into the restaurant’s logo.)
Sunday morning, we made the 45-minute drive to La Vale, Maryland, a smallish town just west of Cumberland, where there are quite a few dining options. Chain restaurants, mostly. Like Bob Evans’, which is where we ate. They serve up a pretty good breakfast.
Later, we hopped on the motorcycles to explore more of West Virginia’s back roads. It was mid-afternoon when we ended up in Paw Paw, West Virginia. Of course, by then breakfast had worn off. When we stopped to gas-up, we noticed a little Italian sub shop place called Anthony’s Jr. It looked like an okay place, so we went there for a late lunch/early dinner and had cheese-steak subs, which were really quite good. In fact, they were the best cheese-steak subs either of had had in quite a while.
That was our weekend. It makes for a pretty boring blog post, but we enjoyed ourselves nonetheless.
I stumbled across a well-written story on CNN, written by a woman, describing a motorcycle road trip. Imagine that. AND their trip included the Blue Ridge Parkway, which made it very reminiscent of the trip Hubby and I took in late 2007. Even down to the picture of Mabry Mill that accompanied the article. (The one shown here was taken by Hubby.)
Speaking of CNN… some of their headlines kill me. Especially the teaser-type ones they use on their “latest news” list. Like this one: State official resigns over underpants dance. Of course, I had to read the story. Boy, people can sure be stupid.
Post Secret is one of those blogs I read periodically. I even have a Post Secret book. In case you aren’t familiar with Post Secret, and even if you are, you should watch this video. I think it was made to promote some appearances by Frank Warren, the guy that came up with the idea. It’s an entertaining way to learn more about the Post Secret project, how it came to be, and how big it has become.
Some of the secrets people submit are heartwarming. There are just as many, if not more, that can be heart-wrenching. So read the blog at your own risk. If you have a propensity for depression, avoid it all together.
ToadMama fans who are interested in photography–taking pics, not just looking at them–might be interested in the Digital Photography School Web site I stumbled across. I haven’t spent a whole lot of time there, but it seems to be chock full of interesting stuff like Portrait Photography Tips. And not just your average, everyday run-of-the-mill tips everyone likes to share, but cool things like Posing Tips – Waistlines, Thighs and Bustlines. And Give Your Subject Space to Look Into. I’m going to have to set aside a whole day to absorb the info Darren Rowse, the dude behind the Digital Photography School, has chosen to share.
The very last “gem” I’ll share is this goofy site I found that sells all kinds of frog stuff (like the lovely Frog Poop pictured). It is The Frog Store.
How about frog clothing with the dual purpose of celebrating frogs and telling the world about God? Like this shirt? Or this one?
There’s even a Useful Frogs category, which toadally restores my faith in humanity. The site owners know some of their stuff is a bit ridiculous, but also take time to point out USEFUL stuff like: this set of 6 froggy candles, and the CD holder, and this nite lite.
Those who know me can tell you I have my share of tacky froggy stuff. And if I stumbled across some of this stuff in a store, I’d probably buy it. I don’t know if I’d go on-line to buy a bunch of frog tchotchkes, though.
I have to admit, there was an interesting dice game on the site. And some fun wallpaper border. I might even buy this doorbell if I thought it would fit on our front door (it amazes me how many people knock instead of ringing the bell).
Here’s some more Eureka Springs art.
