Hi Ann,

How great that you made a contact lens appointment! How come you decided to do it now? I’ve been using the ones you leave in for a whole month (sleep in them too) and I can tell you it’s the best feeling to wake up and see the alarm clock, not have to search for your glasses and then get in the shower and not have to hold the bottle up to your nose to be able to read whether it’s the shampoo or the conditioner. Your eyes might not be as bad as mine, but I hope the contact lenses give you the same confidence boost.

Good luck!

Hi, Nienke!

I think contact lenses have been on my confidence-boosting wish list. I recall how much more attractive I feel without glasses. I just put it off for the past 3-4 months, just didn’t make time. I will probably not wear them all the time. Would have loved wearing them tonight at the work party.

They made a huge difference for me, hope it works out for you!

Thanks. I hope so too. I’m glad I worked mentally on the don’t-buy-into-the-fallacy-that-you-can-make-yourself-younger, as contacts could be part of that.  For me, I think it’s just believing that my eyes are one of my better features and they get hidden behind thick lenses.

Went to the beach today. Sprayed on sunblock before I left. Didn’t reapply at the beach, and apparently I missed a spot on the back of my right calf, and a little bit of skin at the top line of the back of my top, where I’m going to be burned. Hopefully not too badly. Otherwise a nice relaxing day and I talked myself into giving myself another rest night from the gym.

Heard from lots of friends over the past few days, which is always nice. It’s something I’ve worked on over the past year, being more connected. There was a time I was shutting myself off from people more. I’ll probably never be a terribly social animal; large groups are not my thing. But I think I was pretty much “on” last night at the party, felt fun and warm and others were too. Little pat on back. Not on the burnt spot. (ow)

Owy. Love spray sunscreen, but it is much easier to miss a spot. I’m loving on the nuetrogena cool mist right now. It feels cold when you spray, so it helps you know where you’ve hit. That and reapplying is refreshing.

Can we get a pic of you in glasses, then contacts? And are you going to work out with the contacts? I’ve been tempted to get some for convenience, but not having worn them in forever, I’m nervous about sweating with contacts in, if they dry out faster, that sort of thing that you don’t want to hit during a long run. And you could give me the insight into that.

Sorry about the crush. Puppy love is so fun, more so when it works out. Just watched the Notebook last night, highly recommend it, especially if you want to believe in love again.

Bree

Thanks, Bree. I guess I’m usually more careful about smoothing the spray on sunblock around, but didn’t take the time to be careful. It’s not so bad. Worst is when you’re burned in places where it hurts to wear a bra or shoes (tops of the feet, people, beware.)

I’ll work on the pic, just tried with my phone and I keep cutting off my own head. Self-decapitation is not a good thing.

I am not sure about working out with contacts. In my head I think I’ll be wearing them more for social engagements. Though I really do hate my glasses sliding around when I’m in class, and I often take them off and put them down close by, donning them only if there’s a new routine and I have to watch. I’d definitely have to watch the sweat and wear a headband probably.

I’m just too OLD for puppy love. It was really more than that to me, a slowly deepening friendship where I had hopes it could be more. It’s just so hard for me to see this woman behaving so blatantly and aggressively, showing me that she does NOT seem interested in who he is or what his needs are, only that she needs to feel adored and secure him. I wish I knew that he knew what he was getting into. 

I have not seen The Notebook, but maybe I’ll check it out. Thanks. I have to say, I’m not a terribly romantic type by nature.

You’re never too old for puppy love! And I firmly believe that you’re never married too long to have your heart race when his car pulls into the driveway, either. Love is fun, but lots of work. Sort of like being fit.

Bree

The Notebook is a great movie - but a tear jerker!  I always bawl at the end!!  It is one movie I highly recommend - I only own a few movies and it is one in my collection.

Another more recent release that is just as good is P.S. I Love You - don’t own it yet but will have my eye out to by the DVD.  Also a tear jerker.

(maybe we should start a movie review thread!)

Well, ask and ye shall receive. Someone just shared photos from the retirement party. I had to be snapped standing to the skinniest little dancer! Wow, was I showing that much cleavage? I had a sports bra on underneath that top as it is a little low cut. See geeky glasses.

Girl, give yourself some credit, you’re a cutie! You’re arms look great, you are much smaller than you let on, and when you’ve got it, flaunt it!

Thanks for sharing!

Bree

I agree with Bree - you look great!!  I am so not comfortable in sleevless shirts yet, but you should certainly feel confident wearing them!!

Thanks, gals. I still feel that photos draw my eye to every flaw. You can’t tell this from the pic, but I smelled great too. I have a friend who’s a fragrance freak and she pushed me to rush out and buy this Bronze Goddess spray body oil, has a great clean beachy fragrance, and it felt perfect and light for summer. I just wrote her a note today thanking her for all the girlie advice she’s been sprinkling my way. I take what I can use and pass on the rest, but it’s been fun playing.

147 this morning. Just a number but I’m still wowed to see the 4 in the middle column. I was exhausted after class and slept for quite a while, feeling unable to get up or move. Wow, and I’d cut out the gym since last Wednesday, too, so I was giving myself a break on the overwork. But job pressure, personal drama, and a few sleepless nights have taken their toll. Plus I headed out without my wallet this morning (it was in the little bag I took to a restaurant last night, not my regular purse, and I forgot that) so there was no stop at Starbucks or elsewhere for post-class coffee.

After I did finally get up, I made a library run, then had a very indulgent 4pm late lunch, which will serve as dinner as well. I then went shopping, bought a few new top and skirt coordinates outfit, same style as I’ve been wearing a lot of, just in different prints and medium rather than the loose large skirts I’m still wearing. THEN I tried on jeans. I put on a pair of size 10 petite Lee jeans. They were snug to get closed, but I could breathe. I just couldn’t tell whether they looked good on me. In the triple mirror, I didn’t think they did much for the dorsal side.  Asked a sales clerk for her opinion. She was nebulous as well, so I didn’t get them. But, I could put on my goal size pants. I went all the way out to JC Penney to try some of the St. Johns Bay jeans (blue and black). They went on, rather snugly, and the average was too long but the last pair of petites shrunk to too short, so I didn’t buy yet either.  But, wow, I feel encouraged, except for the big muffin-top of flab that appeared.

Things are okay. I made a big fool of myself this week, but I’m getting over it. I’m assessing why my feelings got so out of control, and upon review—I’ve simply been through a lot over the past year and a half, so if I got a little possessive and protective of a male friend, I guess there are worse things to admit to myself.  I’ve been so tired, but I hope that’s temporary. Tonight’s got to be hair touch-up night; I’ll feel better without those white roots. And rest and read.

Hey Ann!

Great picture. 

Contact Lenses? Highly recommend them! I’ve worn them for well over 20 years and wouldn’t be without them!  Working out with them is fine. (and I am a BIG sweat-er!) Mine are daily wear ones.  Even though I take them out every night and put them back in every morning ... doesn’t mean I like them any less!  And yes! it makes a big difference in the “me”.  I just feel better without glasses.

Highly recommend The Notebook also! One of my favorites. I’ll have to look into the recommendation of P.S. I Love You!

Being tired can REALLY take it’s toll. So, regroup, rest up and continue onward. You’re doing great!

Cleda

Thank you, Cleda! I just wish the contact lenses could make me see perfectly. Apparently at my age, I need bifocals (at least you can’ tell they’re bifocal glasses) and contacts can only correct part of my problems. So if I wear the contacts I can drive but I can’t read menus. I didn’t anticipate that little wrinkle, and will have to talk to my doc about it when I go back for the follow-up. So much for looking cute, but sitting in a restaurant unable to make out the menu or read my novel. I can read fine without my glasses, but not with the contacts in.

I’ll have to get The Notebook then. I glanced on the library shelves for it but didn’t see it. My romantic tastes are more like Jane Austen (love with a good dose of social satire)—nothing like Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet to make one ‘patient’ with the opposite sex. I think people either grow towards each other, or they don’t.