Yes, Virginia, miracles Do happen.

BLOGNEWS. January 2010 Edition.


..............................."and the skies opened up, winged angels flew down from the heavens, and all around was heard "Alleluia!" "Alleluia" "Alleluia"............................. All this, Saturday, January 16th, 4 p.m.ish.


Local woman, M. T. took part in what can only be considered, well, a miracle. The incident took place in a local area gym this past Saturday. M.T. had willingly participated with her Beloved for what was to be her usual, run-of-the-mill, half-hearted effort of a workout. Very commonplace, quite lackluster, really.


She nonchalantly did all the upper-back and arm exercises previously instructed by her master, the infamous "K".

M.T. later admitted that after completing her upper body exercises, she would have honestly and happily returned to her home. But much to her chagrin, her Beloved, was not done HIS workout.


M.T. glanced over and saw the treadmill. She viewed it only as an easy means to pass the time. She figured about 15 minutes should fulfill the minimum requirement of what others would call a "workout." She hopped on, adjusted the volume on her new Ipod and started walking. 5 minutes passed. She adjusted the speed on the treadmill to 4.4 and was surprised to see her feet "jogging'. She did 200 steps or so of "jogging". OK enough of THAT, she thought and reduced the speed back down to a brisk walk. AH! MUCH better. 5 more minutes passed. Suddenly, a terrific, Latin-beat tune came on and without either hesitation or thought she put the speed back up to 4.4- now to 4.5.....GO FEET GO!!!! She kept her gaze down, watched her feet in amazement as they kept taking steps forward, again and again.....her breathing steadied, her pace naturally following the beat of the song, a grin, a swipe of her sleeve to wipe the sweat off her brow, BIG smile, a chuckle, and then it happened..........

......the skies opened up and angels appeared singing "alleluia" and our very own M.T. had what can only be categorized as a miracle. She jogged, non-stop for an entire song length. Happily dripping, grinning from ear to ear, without collapse, without fear, she ran.

Stay tuned for further updates as the saga continues.

This concludes our special report form BLOGNEWS.

The Oprah canundrum.....It is to me anyways.

A year or so ago, I watched an interview with Oprah Winfrey, cajillionaire (sp?) philanthropist, megastar, media QUEEN, political animal, Hollywood producer and actress, television mogul. Sans pareil, really, in the entertainment industry.

I was dumbstruck by a comment she made. When asked about how she feels "inside" about all the really important work she does, and all the important, influential people she meets, all the aide and money she donates to numerous charities, she looked square into the camera and said "I'd exchange it all if I could only be thin." Silence.

No matter how "others" perceive her, she always feels like she doesn't quite measure up......Oprah. Winfrey. Unfathomable.

I am on my way back "home" to my family for a celebration of my Mother's 80th birthday.

Feeling a bit Opraish about the whole thing......

I am not comparing who I am or what I do to Oprah (duh) but I do know how she feels "inside".

I am a confident, well-rounded, grounded woman. Secure in my values and thoughts and beliefs. I rarely second-guess my decisions and I like what I see in the mirror---mostly.

My family love me. But I am feeling a tad "fragile" these days. Funny how being with people who truly love you can bring out your innermost insecurities.......like being a little kid again and needing reassurances. I'm sure there are books devoted to this syndrome, but let's not go there.

I have to get over this. It is definetely foolish and screams of someone "navel gazing" and I HATE NAVEL GAZERS!!!!!!!!

Time to tuck in the muffin-top, and get on with it.

There now...............I feel better already.

Happy New Year-Happy New Quest!

Long time no speak. I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season shared with people who matter. I did.

One person in particular touched me this Christmas. "K" Thankfully, we're related, but even if we weren't, I'd seek her out and make her a part of my life.

K read my blogs faithfully- lifted my spirits when they were down- and tried her best to push me farther in my new quest for fitness with a gentleness afforded only to puppies and newborns.

She'd give me THE look across the table, usually littered with waffle remnants and maple syrup. (Yeah, I know, remnants, who am I trying to kid? ) "5 minutes?" she'd ask. I would try my darnedest to ignore her, or pretend to be enraptured in ANY conversation I could attach myself to, but she would simply caulk her eyebrow and quietly repeat, "5 minutes?"

I'd then acknowledge her with either a grunt or a nod and defeatedly go into my room and rummage through my tight-fitting wardrobe for something, anything, I could wear to, ugh, exercise in. Damn her!

With a spring in her step, and a marked determination in her eyes, she would gear up and coax me out the door. OK- more like push me out the door.

Now I was at her mercy. God Help Me.

HMPH. No yelling. No screaming. No looking up to the skies, or mumbling under her breath.

Pleasant conversation. Good advice on fitness. No judgements. HMPH. Who knew?!

Then.....................she said it. I knew it was coming.

"OK let's run now!" BURST goes my beautiful, pleasant exercise fantasy.

I begin to sputter, and heave. My deafening heartbeat is drowning out the car sounds all around me. My stomach is churning. IS that sweat pouring down the crack of my "behind'??? Take me now Jesus, I beg. Mercifully, my master, tells me to slow down and begin to walk again. "Good job!" she says, as she proceeds to wave at me and carry on RUNNING away from me. "Keep walking" she yells back.

I thank every God I can muster and carry on walking, thankful that SHE has ran up ahead and left me. Good riddance!

Suddenly I spot a tiny pink dot approaching. Can it be? No. Why on earth would the Master back-track towards me? Is it? OMG IT IS!!

With her rosy cheeks, and steady breathing (God I hate her) she sweetly asks if I'm ready to run again. AGAIN? RUN? Is she for real?

She was. Oh -so -sweetly mind you, but she was serious. And then she did it to me again and again.

I did not enjoy the exercise. But I did enjoy the experience. I enjoyed the fact that when my Master pushed me out of my comfortable little cushy box, I reacted and actually did it.

I miss her. Terribly.

She has taken to stalking me via the Internet with fitness and weight-training plans.

Imagine.

Without her gentle prodding, I don't know if I have the discipline to do it for myself, but in her honor, I will try.

Thanks Master.

PS. Got through Xmas without puffing-but it was VERY hard.

Crantini-induced "buzzes" scream for a side order of tobacco......so I opted for more crantinis until the craving passed.

Gee, I wonder if all alcoholics started this way??????