Spa Day

A few years ago, I created a tradition for our family... Spa Day. Every December 26th, all the female members of my family are treated to a day of spa comforts. None of us can afford to go to an actual spa, so I play beautician and give them facials, foot baths, manicures, paint their toenails, foot massages, etc. This year, I actually remebered to pull out my camera (which by the way is now working). So now you can see pictures of a rare Nofziger ritual (lucky you).

Grandma Nichols (L) and Grandma Nofziger (R)

Gorgeous Grandmas

Here's my transformation...

Before... "mad scientist" look

After...

Alas, poor camera, I knew thee well!

I believe my treasured camera has died. Until my techno-wizard brother arrives home from work, I will not know the final prognosis. This is a tragic moment. I am terribly attached to my camera, and I don't know what I'll do without it.

The camera was working this morning, but as I was taking pictures this afternoon it died mid-picture, lens still out... like when animals or people die, their eyes are still open.

Alas! There shall be great mourning, weeping, and gnashing of my teeth!

Merry Migraines

We have everyone over at our house for Christmas. This calls for a migraine... or two. Let's just say that I'm not used to lots of noise and I have some very talkative family members over. Pass the Advil, please.

Bodhran Bliss

To find out more about the bodhran, click here.

My mother and father got me a bodhran (with case and tipper) for Christmas. It probably won't arrive until Thursday, but I am so excited. I am always thrumming, banging, and drumming on things, so apparently my parents thought it would be a good thing to get me a percussion instrument. I hope they still think that after I've been playing my bodhran for a week...

To hear what a bodhran sounds like, click here.

Ten Fingers

My family and I were laughing over one of my blonde moments last night whilst playing Uno.

About a month and a half ago, I went to a concert with some friends. One of the performers did a beautiful classical guitar piece. I leaned over to my friend Kate and whispered,

"Wow... it's like he has ten fingers!"

Kate turned her head and gave me a puzzled look. Then I realized what I had said. I leaned over again and whispered,

"Nevermind."

We both giggled uncontrollably and received queer looks from the people sitting around us. Of course, I made the mistake of retelling my vapid moment to my family, and they never cease to remind me of it.

Give me a break!

I was just reading my new Reader's Digest and read that Martha Stewart has a new book out, entitled The Martha Rules: 10 Essentials for Achieving Success as You Start, Grow, or Manage a Business. Here are the first three essentials...

Essential #1: You must be a control freak.
Essential #2: You must have absolutely no conscience.
Essential #3: You need to be comfortable with lying and cheating.

Of course, Ms. Stewart is the perfect example to follow in the business world. I can't think of anyone better...

This book looks like the perfect Christmas gift for the budding entrepreneur in you life.

Oh, and don't forget to read the small print on the back of the book: "WARNING: Following the instructions in this book may cause temporary (or terminal) incarceration."

We all weighed in today -- Mom lost ten pounds, Jeremy (my younger brother) lost sixteen pounds, and I lost a total of fourteen pounds. Our first two weeks are over, and we can begin to add more wholesome carbohydrates back into our diet.

Just had to throw this in...

Since last Friday I have lost 11 pounds! Hurrah! All the torment is worth it. When I get to my goal weight I'm going to post before and after pictures for you to see the difference. (May take a while, though.)

It's Cold Outside

Yesterday was sunny and melted most of the snow. However, it is really cold outside right now. Eight degrees Farenheit! That's... let me see...

8 + 40 = 48, and 48 * 5/9 = 26.6 with a repeating decimal. We'll round that up to 26.7. For the final calculation, 26.7 - 40 = -13.3

So it is about -13 degrees Centigrade right now at my house. BRRR! I have to get outside and drive to work in a couple of hours!

First Snow

We finally got our first snow here in north Texas. Not much to speak of, but at least my classes were cancelled this afternoon. People in the North would probably call this "freezing rain" or "sleet," but it's the only snow we get in the South.

Eat, drink, and be merry, for tommorrow we diet.

Everyone in my family is a bit on the pudgy side -- even our pets. Tired of this, my mother recently decided to put us all on a diet. (I actually agreed with her, though I knew it wasn't going to be easy.) So yesterday we began the South Beach Diet. For the first two weeks, we must abstain from sugar (this includes fruits, honey, jello, you name it) and carbohydrates (breads, pastas, rice, potatoes, etc.).

"So what do we eat?" I asked Mom, "Grass?"

We can have plenty of meat and vegetables... well, some vegetables are taboo, such as carrots. (I am told they have lots of sugar in them.) The whole thing sounds a bit absurd to me; I am quite skeptical about it, but when you have been overweight all your life, you can tend to be a bit on the desparate side. I need to read the book so I can understand just why I am putting myself through this torture. If it really does work (and make sense) then I won't touch sugar. Whatever it takes!

Temtation is glaringly obvious when you watch what you are eating. Monday, my English professor brought pizza and several classmates brought cookies for our last-week-of-school "party." Of course, I couldn't touch a single thing, and had to be content with my diet soda. Then today my boss brought donuts to work. I don't usually like them, but just knowing I couldn't have the donuts made me want them. However, all I have to do is remind myself that unless I take some drastic steps to reduce my weight, I will be trapped in my own body and be unable to do the things I love (such as travelling, hiking, camping, etc.). Self-discipline is also a necessary part of the Christian life... something a free spirit like me has always found difficult.

"Blessed is the man whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty."
- Job 5:17