Since I’ve resigned myself to wearing glasses, I decided to look into buying less expensive glasses online so I can have a wide variety of eyeglasses as fashion statements. I’d heard that there were online companies that sell prescription eyeglasses at great prices and I was determined to find a reputable one. I got lucky on my first try.

The site has changed a little since my first order but the selection, quality and prices are still the best. I love that I can search by color, shape, price, style, and type. I love that my whole order ships for just $4.95. I love that I can have any pair of prescription eyeglasses sunglass-tinted for an additional $4.95. And I really love the huge selection of $6.95 eyeglasses. Of course, when my reading vision does start to deteriorate, Zenni Optical offers bifocals from $23.95 and Progressives from $28.90.

With such great prices, there’s no reason not to buy cute glasses for every holiday. There’s turkeys for Thanksgiving, snowmen or snowflakes for Christmas, pumpkins or black cats for Halloween, and hundreds more holiday themes. Let’s face it, we all spend more money on ugly Christmas sweaters just to wear one time, so why not some festive eye wear for the holidays?

Zenni Optical doesn’t sell expensive brand name frames. They make and sell their own brand. They don’t spend a lot on advertising because they figure if they concentrate on providing the best product for the best price, happy customers will spread the word. And we do! Every time I get new glasses, I show them off at work. My co-workers and my bosses have been checking out Zenni Optical’s site and a couple have started a Favorites list.

The only downside to buying from Zenni Optical is the time it takes in the morning to decide which pair of glasses I’ll be wearing. Pink glasses with my purple blouse? Red frames with the black jacket? Purple glasses with my yellow sweater? Decisions, decisions…

Of course, no job is perfect and this one is no exception. The worst part of my job is the facility itself. It’s a beautiful building, clean and spacious. The floor, though, is a pain, literally. The floor of our building is concrete covered in carpet or tile. If you have never walked on a concrete floor you may not understand this. The fact is, walking on concrete all day causes more pain the feet than anything I’ve ever done. There are times when it feels that the bottom of my feet are bruised.

I’ve tried scheduling more pedicures with extra massage but my feet still ache. The only thing I’ve found that really helps is good arch supports for shoes. No amount of soaking or massaging after the pain starts even comes close to arch support inserts. Most days my feet don’t hurt at all and when they do hurt now, it’s minor and nothing like it was when I first started my job.

I’ve also picked up a few tips about shoes while searching for a solution to my foot pain. Specifically, shoes that are very rigid and don’t twist and bend give the best support. That would explain why one pair of lightweight, comfortable sneakers put me in pain the fastest. Also, when it comes to work shoes, comfort is more important than fashion. Always.

Now that my foot issues have been solved I love my job even more. I do hate that my job keeps me from blogging the way I used to do, but I’m going to try to make time for blogging in the future. I miss expressing myself this way. I miss interacting with those who stop by here. I even miss telling the whole online world about my achy feet!

My mother hates to be sick and just wants to be left alone when she is. For three days she kept telling us to just stay home, no visits, because she was so nauseous from the pain medicine she was taking. The doctor switched her meds and she’s doing so much better.

My mother and her roommate have been telling the nurses they’re going to sneak out and head down to the Italian Festival to play bocci ball. Yesterday they joked about having to get out soon for their Alaskan and European cruises. Tomorrow they’ll be teasing about going to Disney!

I’m just happy that my mom is getting back to her old self. I hated seeing her in so much pain and even more, seeing my dad worry about her so much. Honestly, though, I’m going to miss being here once my mom gets home. This has been a really wonderful working vacation.

If anyone is interested, the workout I love best is T-Tapp. No, it isn’t based on tap dancing. Or any kind of tapping. It’s a workout devised by Teresa Tapp. And it works!

I’ve tried many exercise programs. I had a trainer once and I did get firm. I’ve done Callinetics and Calisthenics. I’ve walked. I’ve jogged. T-Tapp workouts, though, are the best fat burners I’ve found. So I’m sticking with them.

The only issue I’m having is that Nick took my little VCR for his room so I have to do my workouts in the living room. I’d much rather do them in my bedroom, away from giggling kids.

On my “must buy” list: a cheap VCR. They do still make simple VCR’s, don’t they?

The problem was that I stopped thinking about what I was putting in my body. I smelled pizza and ate it. I saw ice cream and ate it. I thought about buttered noodles with garlic and made it. Then I ate it.

Even when I decided to go back to my original plan to drop that last few pounds, I kept putting it off. So I ate and ate and ate. Now, I’ve put 20 pounds on that I’d worked so hard to lose. I feel like such a failure.

Don’t get me wrong. I’ve finally let go of my impossible expectations. I realize that my body is just the form that holds my true self. My body has nothing to do with who I Am.

I care about this weight for a few reasons, though. First, I do want to be healthy. I want to be able to crawl into my grandkid’s playhut tent or climb the sliding board at the playground and slide down. I can still do those things but if I keep eating unhealthy, I won’t be able to do any of that next summer.

Second, I really don’t have the time or money to spend on finding clothes to fit an overweight body. People of normal height and weight have no idea how difficult – or expensive – it is to find clothes that fit a body that isn’t within the “normal” range. I’m already short and dealing with that challenge. I dread having to find clothes that are made for a short fat person!

And so. On Monday I started back on my weight loss program. So far, I’ve done quite well. I made spaghetti for the family last night and didn’t’ touch a bite of it. I made Kendyll buttered noodles for lunch a few minutes ago and didn’t even taste it. We’ve even had pizza in the house and I was strong.

Yes, I’ve recommitted myself to this. The countdown to my 50th birthday in November has begun. I’ll be ready.

Jesse is the only person in the house who agrees with me that it’s just too cold here with A/C running 24/7. I prefer to turn it on for a few hours in the afternoon to counteract the sun shining in my front window. Instead, people keep turning it on all hours of the day and night. I walk around the house in sweater and fuzzy slippers because I’m so cold. Jesse is wearing a sweatshirt. He says I probably got a cold from being in this freezing house. I’m beginning to think he may be right.

I’d hit the Nyquil but I don’t think we have any. So I’m going to sit here and sniffle instead. Or maybe sip a Hot Toddy. Hmmm… Honey? Check. Tea? Got it. Lemon? Yep. Brandy? Brandy? Hey! Who drank my brandy?

ACHOO!

I’ve tried a handful of these remedies but haven’t been happy enough with any of them to buy a second bottle. So, do any of them work? Has anyone ever had any luck with them? I know plenty of people who didn’t see results with them so I really want to hear from someone who did see results. Anyone?

I’ve heard that Hoodia is not dangerous, doesn’t cause shakiness or headaches. I’ve also heard conflicting reports about whether or not it actually works.

Has anyone here tried it? What were your results? Waste of money, works okay or wonder pill?

I’ve decided that every week that I get out and walk at least 4 times, I’ll reward myself with something special. First reward will be an appointment for a facial. I’ve never had one before so that will be a real treat.

After that I’ve started a list with all kinds of things I’d like, some inexpensive and some more costly. I’ve listed books, CDs, my favorite mineral makeup, some cool Dansko shoes, a massage, a new watch, a pedicure and a Coach bag. I don’t know if I’ll actually treat myself with everything on the list but I’ll have fun picking something from it each week. And it sure keeps me motivated to get out and walk.

Let’s just hope the dry weather continues!

I’ve worn glasses for nearsightedness since 4th grade. I could never read when wearing my glasses though; I had to remove my glasses to read a book or write on paper but put them on to see the blackboard. My mom was like that for a long time, too. In fact, her eye doctor gave her half-glasses; he cut off the bottom half so that she had to only look down to read or up to see a far distance, rather than having to remove her glasses all day at work.

Anyway, I wear contact lenses when I’m going to be out but at home I use my glasses. That’s because I can’t see the computer screen with my contacts unless I wear those cheap glasses they sell at the drug store for reading.

As much as I want to have lasik surgery on my eyes so I won’t need glasses or contacts for distance vision, I’m afraid that I will need reading glasses for computer work or reading. I’m not sure which is worse. Maybe I’m just destined to have imperfect vision.