Let’s talk about the weather

Some days here are so gorgeous, it makes up for any rain, cold, or general dampness.  It’s a beautiful day, a little breezy, but sunny, warm and dry.  The clouds float by my window like starchy cotton balls, and most people are carrying their jumpers.

England does have some weather, but not as bad as it would seem.  What makes it horrible in my estimation is the price of heating fuel and a general lack of insulation in many homes.  Sometimes it feels like there’s no place to escape the chill.  I wore gloves and a scarf indoors last year, and I am not looking forward to breaking them out again.

I think I bore people in the States with my talk of the weather.  I bore myself with it sometimes.  “Yes, yes, it’s cold and damp.  Just like last time we talked.”  “Oh, raining again?  Not a surprise really.  It’s England.”  “Humid and in the 70s with an afternoon drizzle?  Sounds like you don’t need a weatherman to tell you your summer forecast.”

When my husband would come during the winters back home, he rarely went outside.  Inevitably, when he’d go out for his once or twice a week venture outside our little studio apartment, it would snow.  Or he’d be met with heavy winds.  Sometimes nature would be decidedly cruel and both would happen. 

At the time, I thought this had to be the coldest he’d ever been, and excused his seasonal agoraphobia.  Having wintered in his parents’ flat with the single paned 8 foot windows, soaring ceilings, outdoor (flush) loo, and the boiler that only comes on a few times a day, I know now that he knew cold.  Maybe he just never knew what it was like to be snugly warm when it was absolutely grim outside.

London doesn’t allow you to have a fireplace or fire-stove.  It’s meant to keep the air clearer, but I am beginning to question the wisdom in it.  Wood can be a carbon neutral fuel source, and can be a great boost to meagre gas boilers in buildings designed to be heated with fire (albeit a coal grate).  I am hoping we can move somewhere in the UK where we can freely burn wood to keep ourselves warmer and drier in the winter.

It’s a little telling that on such a beautiful day I am thinking about winter and being cold.  Maybe it’s just the slight autumny smell to the air the past week or so that has made me realise it’s coming quickly, and a lot sooner than I am used to.

Metre Impaired

Mr. Yumicho has the day off today, and even though it’s 1:20 here on the island, he’s not awake. I’m not complaining or anything, but I am treating this like a regular day, just a bit quieter.

I want to apologize for my lack of metre in my poem. I am not a poet. Poetry to me is often beautiful to behold, but beyond my abilities to compose in anything but formless semi-prose form. It’s not that I don’t like writing it. I do, and I often see it as a puzzle to fit things together. Mr. Yumicho blames my metre impairment on my (likely) tone-deafness. I think it comes from the same place my general klutziness and inability to dance comes from: my total lack of rhythm.  Recognising my total lack of talent, I still jump on the chance to write it, and use silliness as a cover.

Weighing myself this morning, I hit a new low. Well, to be fair, I’ve been lighter than this before. I mean I was only 6 pounds 8 ounces when I was born…and there were all those other weight loss successes that gradually turned into weight gains. Sometimes I do doubt that this time will be it, but I think the fact that I’ve pretty much stuck with it for well over a year really works in my favour. Maybe it’s not the slow weight loss that does the physiological change needed for sustained maintenance, but the change in thought. No, not good habits. Weight loss isn’t a habit you want to learn. Ideally, you shouldn’t need to be on a diet your whole life. After writing a comment on another blog, I realised I am really good at losing weight.  I suck at maintaining weight loss.  I’m talking more about the ability to recognise that we can’t have everything everyone else is having, that indulging in food isn’t a reward, and no matter how unfair it is, I will likely have to monitor my weight and adjust what I eat for the rest of my life.  Those sort of lessons sort of cross the weight loss and weight maintenance transition.

Warning!!! LOW CARB DANGERZZZ!!!

Janey had a tummy that grew and grew
Dieting for her, though, was nothing new
Before giving up, she tried The Atkins Diet
Soon her kidkneez asploded
And caused quite a riot

Xavier had always been a bit fat
The “Freshmen 15″ added to that
To low carb he turned to solve all his woes
But his bones soon all crumbled
From his jaw to his toes

Billy had a panniculus that waved in the wind,
After South Beach his fat pants went into the bin
Ignoring those who were so much smarter
For all those lost inches and pounds
Were all made entirely of water

Danielle wasn’t that fat or even chubby it seems
But she wanted to fit into the dress of her dreams
She skipped bread, rice, potatoes, and sugar too
Soon her doctor had to break it gently
Her arteries were clogged up with goo

Brett thought he’d be more fit by eating just meats
He used to lift weights and do other feats
I say “used to” because he can’t any longer
His muscles were all eaten away
By his reckless quest to grow stronger

If you eat too much meat you will be filled with regret
But on what to eat you really needn’t fret
Ornish has some answers to be had
As does Weight Watchers and Oprah
Which are never a fad

Remember that low carb is just a cheap trick
You eat fewer calories before your body gets sick
All that fat and protein will soon catch up it’s true
It happened to Aunt Sheila
And it will happen to you!

Gratitude list

I used to do these all the time, but I haven’t in a few months.  Before this one, they were always private. The idea behind these lists are simple: It’s hard to feel bad when you are grateful.  At the best of times, it will re-enforce a good state of mind or totally lift you out of a funk.  In the very least, it lightens a bad mood significantly.

Things I am grateful for today:

• My husband-Funny, smart, loving, sweet, charming, handsome.  He’s my best friend and partner in adventures.
• My cat-Hot damn I love this feline.  Not a day goes by that he doesn’t make me laugh.  Not a day goes by that he doesn’t melt my heart.
• Good coffee-I am not sure if I could easily manage the morning without it
• Being in the UK-It’s about time.
• Good books
• Good games
• Good TV
• Good Films
• My family-Even when things are strained
• My friends-Thanks for not outgrowing me
• Our bed-Admittedly I didn’t like it so much at first, but now I can deal with it a lot better.  I like the extra room
• Low carb-And those fierce low carb warriors fighting for better knowledge of nutrition so what’s accepted as dogma is replaced by common sense
• Material extras such as the computer, PS3, TV, etc… They make life easier and more fun.
• Morrisons-Great store.  Just wish it was closer
• The UK itself-My home of my heart.
• Little cafes that supposedly serve breakfast all day
• Libraries
• Fuzzy socks
• Japanese style slippers
• The colour of our thick duvet cover
• Going to the National Gallery
• Meat, cheese, and veg
• Twinings Fresh and Fruity Cranberry and Sanguinello Orange Herb tea
• Our little realm
• Our rose plant “Petunia”, Our basil plant “Basil”
• The coffee pot that needs babysitting.  It makes great coffee so I can forgive its screw ups
• When people help each other
• Cheese
• Fitting into smaller clothing.  Favourite jeans, I have my eye on you.
• And as always, other stuff