Why am I so tired and other thoughts . . .

I spent Friday and Saturday at a water polo tournament out of town and Sunday recovering. Now this recovery time would make sense if I had been playing, but since I was merely a spectator, cheerleader and chauffeur . . .

 

One of the most important things I’ve learned from my Weight Watcher’s leader (besides the fact that the meeting leader has a tremendous impact on the program working—which surprised me) is about reasonable goal-setting. Therefore, my goal from now until the new year is not to gain weight. I’ve lost 30 lbs. and I want to be reasonable about what I can expect during the holidays—especially since I am a baker and making and giving seasonal treats is important to me and to my family. I set the same goal on vacation this summer and actually ended up losing, but even if I hadn’t I wouldn’t have felt badly.

 

I cannot wait until Wednesday morning—whether my candidates and issues win or lose at least the incessant phone calls and junk mailers will stop. Since I voted by mail three weeks ago, I am particularly uninterested in what anyone has to say.

 

I am way behind on PhotoShopping the tremendous number of water polo pics I am taking—fingers crossed I get caught up this week. The thing with sports photography is that you are so far away from the action that you need to, at minimum, enlarge and crop the shots for them to be worth anything. This is truly a labor of love for me though and I cannot tell you how happy it makes me to get a message from Facebook that, “X has made your photo his profile picture.”

Also, I was pretty thrilled the other day when somebody’s grandma told me she’s always stealing my photos of her grandson and posting them on her Facebook. I was even more thrilled to find this shot of her dear grandson, affectionately known as “Polar Bear,” in my recent batch—as you can see, he (blue cap) was more surprised than the goalie that the shot went in; I immediately sent it Grandma’s way.

What do you do that is a labor of love?

Comments

[kcinnova]

For the past 2 months, chaperoning the marching band events -- and reserving our section in the stands at football games, preparing cups of cold water, picking up the many pizzas -- those have been labors of love.
That said, I'm relieved that tonight's Halloween parade was our last official event. I'm about to get my weekends back!

[kellyg]

Love that picture.

I, too, will be very happy to see Wednesday and for the same reasons. The political ads here have been particularly nasty. I'm so tired of being told why I shouldn't vote for the other guy. Tell me what your candidate will do once in office, what he believes in, what he stands for, etc., etc. etc. I thank the Tivo Gods daily that I can zip through most of that $#&@.

I'm not surprised that the Weight Watchers meeting leader has a lot to do with the success of the program. That was my experience with WW and why I've been reluctant to try it again. The meetings really felt like a waste of time. I remember one meeting around the holidays when the leader kept reminding us not to overeat and if we really had to have the calorie laden desserts to make sure they were just "tastes". I kept thinking "Lady, if overeating at the holidays were my only problem, I wouldn't need to be here."

Anyway, none of this has anything to do with the question you asked. The volunteer work I do for a non-profit organization is definitely a labor of love. Most of the time, I really enjoy it. But this has been one crazy week and the work has just added to that craziness. But I know I would miss it if I stopped volunteering.

[Janet]

I cook things Dave will like, and I don't mention (until yesterday) his snoring to him (his son took a video of him sleeping [and snoring] and I told him he always snored. He was like...I do??? Why didn't you say anything? I replied...I figured you knew LOL!). I listen to friends complain about the same things over and over. I walk my dogs in the rain.

Congrats on your weight loss!

[Smalltown Mom]

My labor of love is working at the elementary school.

[Little Miss Sunshine State]

This sounds corny, but I am making scrapbook pages. I've done a lot from when my kids were little. I've also done a lot of our vacations. I promised my daughter that I would make a scrapbook for her of her best photos from college and Sorority.

[green girl in wisconsin]

that is a great photo! Love action shots!
Ugh, the phone calls. I am so bloody sick of the politicking.

[Brightside-Susan]

I actually did the same thing back in the day. Both softball and soccer photos which my husband put on a team website and I collected for each player into an album for the end of the season. I know it is a lot of work but very appreciated.

Now I am focused on finding all the perfect little gifts for the holidays. Each item has to be just right (and in budget.)

Also, I make food for the drama kids during tech rehearsals. They usually go from 3-9 or 10 pm.

[busy bee suz]

Love that shot Jenn, and I love that you enjoy taking and editing them too.
(what version of PS do you use, and was it hard to learn?)
I understand getting tired just watching...that is my life story with all the softball tourneys.
Labor of love for me? Cooking for my peeps and scrap booking. I enjoy one more than the other, but I do it all for them.

[Kelly, The Glass Dragonfly]

30 pounds is awesome!! Your idea for adjusting your goals sounds perfectly reasonable...actually it is smart thinking.

Labor of love?? I don't know, right now I'm working on figuring that out.

[Fannie]

I live less than a mile from a state line. I get to hear and see ads X 2. Will be so glad when it's over!!!!!

[Heather]

Often it seems my labors of love are as mundane as making sure they all have clean underwear and dishes to eat from.
But my most interesting lately was knitting my spider-lover a stuffed tarantula.

[allmycke]

To never, ever stop believing that my students can do better even than what they believe themselves.
I've had numerous students who couldn't believe that they would achieve anything what-so-ever. They have since finished High School and I'd like to think I had a part in that.

[Jenrantsraves]

My labor of love are the videos I make and put on my blog (new one should be up tonight sometime). I know Dylan will love watching them when he is older.
Boy do I hear you on the tired thing. I'm having my thyroid checked on Wednesday.

[JCK]

Congrats on 30lbs. That's a labor of love, too. And, wonderful to set that realistic goal for the holidays.