Covered

I really didn't want to go to the gym today. I wanted to sleep in and laze around until it was time to be at work. I decided against it and trudged my way east on 5-95 towards the I-95 S exit. I had just passed the I-95 N exit when...literally and instantly, a yellow Porsche was right next to me. As cliche as this next line will be..."It happened so fast", that I did not even have time to decide what to do next. He attempted to overtake me going at a speed of about 100mph (no kidding) and there was car in the lane to my left that was so close to my right front bumper that a motorcycle would have had problems getting through the space. The funniest thing (for lack of a better way to overstate the obvious) is that he NEVER SLOWED DOWN. This next part took all of 5 seconds to complete:
He just rammed the guy to my left and then proceeded to hit me and spin out behind me (engine catching fire for a moment...what?!), eventually hitting the concrete wall and landing in the emergency lane. $150,000 car...totalled. My coffee (which was in my right hand) splashed everywhere, but I managed to get it back into the cup holder (hands trembling). I was able to compensate my wheel just far enough to the left to keep my car from spinning out. I was able to pull the car into the emergency lane and put the hazards on and I kept my foot on the clutch so that I never stalled out. I did the obligatory "you're OK, you are not bleeding, the car is not on fire, you are safely pulled over" routine before calling in the accident.
I never doubted for a second the hand of God was on me this morning. My car ended up with very little damage compared to how hard I was hit. I drove it away from the scene. I am not hurt, not one little bit. No one in any of the other cars were killed...and that could have gone either way, because both people in the Porsche were hurt...3 broken bones is what was estimated. The kicker to end all kickers is that the guy that hit me was probably drunk. I mean, he was on his way home (at 7:10am) from the night before. EMS and the cop said he smelled like alcohol. No one can be up to any good with those odds.
WOW. Think about it and then just sit back in amazement.
100mph, 3 cars, 5 drinks, and I walked away untouched.
I am covered by the precious blood of Jesus and today my angels took charge over me and I was protected. In the midst of all that could have happened, I was at peace in my soul. And yes, my family flashed in front of my face momentarily when I first got hit and I have to be honest and admit that I am still shaken up over this. I don't even feel like I have been at work today, it feels more like a dream. I never did end up at the gym either. Next time I will just go and hope for something else.
Thank God for the people that put my little Honda Accord together. Thank God for not getting hurt. Thank God for my insurance company that has made getting these repairs done the easiest part of this whole ordeal. Most of all, thank God for the blood of Jesus that covers me every day and protects me mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and PHYSICALLY!
AMEN.

GO BILLS

Number 1 in the AFC East and one of only 4 (I think) teams still undefeated in the league. Keep kicking butt all over the nation boys...I am cheering you on!

Two-a-days

Getting back into a desirable shape has it's ups and downs. One thing I have noticed recently is that I have hit the dreaded "plateau". Thirty-five pounds are gone and not forgotten...but now I am stuck...right...here. As a result I decided to add Spinning classes back into my routine. That means that in addition to my regular morning workout, I added a Spinning class 2 nights out of the week. The first one last Thursday went really well. Then my alarm went off the next morning at 6:00am.
"Exhausted" is the understatement of the decade. It felt as if I had been dragged behind a bus and left for dead. It was one of the hardest things I ever had to physically do...attempt to get out of bed on 9/19/08. The pain in my crotch (excuse me if you will) was an entirely different experience altogether. I got wise to that and purchased a gel seat before yesterday's class. All I can say is "Thank you Jesus, for the person who invented those." I actually enjoyed the class and had ZERO trouble getting up this morning. The side effect is that I have noticed more changes in my body...yeah!
Side notes (In random order) -

• Chemistry class is going well. I think I aced the first test if he curves it, and if he doesn't, well, my score is none of your business. I am acing the lab.
• Why do people breathe heavily into the phone? Can't they hear the wind they are making on their end of the phone? I spent 30 minutes with the I.T. guy from payroll yesterday and it sounded like he was speaking to me from the Dania Beach pier. Pull the microphone away from your nose and face please.
• I am SO excited for the holidays! (Yep, already...I am)

Classic

I checked out this church last week and they played the "updated video" version of David and Goliath before the message and it reminded me of all the crazy spoofs the guys (Adrian and Jon E.) used to do at CRCC. I almost fell out of my seat so I had to share the love...

Weighing in...

I thought about how I wanted to title this blog entry and I kept getting stuck on "losing weight". I really despise that term. Every time the scale goes down 1 lb, I don't ever want to find that pound again. Historically and pathetically enough, I always seemed to find those lost pounds...many, many, many times over.
Well, I think that this time has been different. Getting into shape has never really been the issue for me. I could do it very easily, but, I would always find myself creeping back up that dreaded scale again. It was like an "all or nothing" ON/OFF switch that I would flip depending on how desperate I was at the time to either slim down or pig out.
Through this latest adventure (and what a ride it has been), I knew that I had to look at myself from the complete opposite angle...the inside. What makes an "all or nothing" person when it comes to food? The age old question. Each day I think I am getting closer to answering that question, although I know that only God holds the ultimate and complete answer. I have been wracking my brain since I realized I had a weight issue to answer that question and here I am 15 years later without THE answer. Since I am FAR from perfect this side of heaven, I know that will not 'arrive' if you will, until I pull up to the pearly gates.
Five months ago I was absolutely and unequivocally miserable. Climbing ever steadily UP and UP and almost completely away on the scale, losing a little piece of me along the way. I became almost unrecognizable to myself, isolating myself from the people, and feelings, and things I love. That seems like so long ago and so far away now. I pray that I do not forget the person I used to be because I don't want to go back to her. She was sad and angry and self-pitying...my own worst nightmare of me.
Today is a much better day and these are much brighter times. I can shop at Express now, albeit only in their tops, but the pants will come in due time. I enjoy getting dressed up for work, Publix, school, church. I look forward to going out again and seeing my friends. I don't spend all my hours obsessing over food and how bad I look.
I have gotten rid of 35 pounds to date. I weigh myself much less than I used to. I still enjoy every single thing I love to eat. I exercise 5 times a week. I like to look at myself in the mirror again and I am starting to stand up straighter.

Bring on the holidays...