And Still Another Year End Closeout

Is it just me or does it seem that 2011 was a really long year? Winter, here in the south was horrible--lots of snow, ice and unseasonably cold temperatures. Most days, I wore more layers than an eight-layer fruit salad. I looked like the kid brother from the Christmas movie A Christmas Story after his mom had dressed him up for school. Remember that scene? Also, didn't it seem that there was a lot of natural disasters last year? From the earthquake and tsunami in Japan to extreme flooding in Asia, it was hard for me to watch the news some days. Then came the middle of April when huge thunderstorms triggered violent tornadoes in the southeast where I live. Luckily, my property received no damage except for some broken tree limbs and a few frayed nerves belonging to one MA Fat Woman and one stressed out Ralphie (my new cat). Early summer brought a new job for me (yay) of which I have now been laid off from (not so yay). I also began toying with the idea of putting a book together and getting it published (yay). After months of research, editing, more research, conversations with Sister, still more research, more conversations with Jenn of Cabbages and Kings who was pursuing the same goals and a weeklong kick of reading English Grammar Books about capitalization and semi colons, it was done. My first manuscript! Reflections On A Middle-Aged Fat Woman is now available for purchase in paperback and ebook forms. (BIG YAY!) Also, during the late summer, we welcomed the newest cat to the family, Wally, who is quite a character and fits right in with this wacky family of mine. In fall, Mom and I took a drive up the Blue Ridge Parkway and had a wonderful time. We visited Grandfather Mountain and Mount Mitchell, which is the highest point east of the Mississippi. We ate good and made lots of memories. Health wise, I'm still on this side of the dirt and that's all that matters. I did lose 20 pounds which is good but I still need to lose more so I can become the Middle-Aged not so Fat Woman. I hope to maintain a fitness program that lasts longer than six weeks; I'm sure that would help with the weight loss. I can't really remember what else I was supposed to be working on this year. My memory seems to be forgetting what it is supposed to do. Oh well, I'm sure it will come around and I'll think of something! Happy New Year!

Goodreads Book Giveaway Reflections On A Middle-Aged Fat Woman by Gianetta M. Palmer Giveaway ends January 10, 2012. See the giveaway details at Goodreads. Enter to win

We Have A Winner

Actually, we have several winners! I'm going to send everyone that took the time to leave a comment a signed copy of my new book. So, Drama Queen, Mrs. Gray, a Melissa that went to school with me and Ruby don't take your love to town, watch your mail, because the middle-aged fat woman is on the way. I'll be contacting each of you personally to get your address! I'm also going to be giving away more signed copies on Goodreads. And if you didn't win this go round, don't fret, because the book is available for purchase on Amazon, B&N, Kindle, iTunes and about everywhere, I guess. Like one of my childhood friends said, "My son thinks it's cool that I know someone with a book for sale on Amazon." You know what? I do too!

Rudd's Christmas Farm

***Enjoy this classic holiday post*** A holiday tradition that many people in southern Ohio enjoyed throughout the years was a visit to see the lights. Actually, it was called Rudd Christmas Farm and it featured almost a million lights by the time it closed in 1999. The light display was nestled in the hills of southern Ohio near the Shawnee National Forest in a town called Blue Creek. I knew Blue Creek because that's where my Granny and Uncle Tommy lived. Each year after Thanksgiving Mr. Rudd would flip the switch and the twinkling lights would fill the nighttime sky with a dazzling display of electric sunshine. If you were looking for plastic Santa Clauses or mechanized Frosty the Snowmans then this light display wasn't for you. Rudd Christmas Farm celebrated the true meaning of Christmas, which was the birth of Jesus. Some years he would have live animals on display and a manger scene was usually set up in the barn. We usually went to see the lights on Christmas night. We had spent the day at Granny's house--eating and running down all of the batteries in our new toys. As darkness began to close in it was time to load up in her truck and drive over to see this year's display. I don't know how we managed but we always seemed to fit 23 people in Granny's truck, plus a wheelchair. The drive to see the lights was an adventure by itself. It was a couple miles back a curvy road with a large stream on one side and a big drop off down into a gully on the other. Throw in some icy weather and a couple tour buses and you got yourself a happening situation. Once we unloaded and made our way through the display it was time to meet Mr. Rudd. Both Mr Rudd and my Granny had had large families. He didn't know who you specifically belonged to, but he knew you were one of Margaret's kids' kids. Greetings were exchanged and Christmas carols were sang with full-bellied gusto. It was a good time. I guess the event that stands out the most about my visits to Rudd's Christmas Farm was the year he did something special for my family. Due to horrible weather and a death in the family we were unable to view the lights on Christmas night. We had several family members that didn't make it to Granny's house until well up into January. Granny placed a phone call and asked if Mr. Rudd might turn on the lights for a few minutes so we could witness the majesty of his display. Not a problem, he told my grandmother, come on over. Now, that's the true meaning of Christmas. Merry Christmas from my family to yours! Gianetta

Christmas Eve Rituals

Some of my fondest memories around the holidays occurred on Christmas Eve. It wasn’t the actual event that was so much fun but the preparations up to that special day. My Dad would always help in the decorating of the living room. There are certain decorations that had to go in a specific spot each year. We always had red and green crepe paper chains that ran across the ceiling of the living room. We would take branches from the bottom of the Christmas tree and place them on the mantel above the fireplace. We had a fabulously colored gold and shiny tinsel looking thing that hung from one of the doorways. My job on Christmas Eve was to always set out the different food-laden bowls in the living room. We always had a bowl with various nuts, mainly walnuts. We had a specific bowl for the fruit, mainly navel oranges that we ordered from the FFA each year. And you can’t forget about the cheese plate. (Which was my favorite.) Both sets of my grandparents would come to my house each year for Christmas Eve dinner. My dad’s mom and my step-grandfather, both affectionately known as Mamaw and Papaw, as well as my mom’s mother and her brother, also known affectionately as Granny and Uncle Tommy. You needed to make sure you called Mamaw “mamaw” and Granny “granny”, or they’d let you know about it. We would have a very big meal and then get to open our presents from our grandparents. I always knew what I was getting. Mamaw gave up buying us presents when we were really young. Instead, we were given money to go buy ourselves a present, which you had to wrap and then open in front of Mamaw. Granny had so many grandchildren that all she could afford was usually a dollar bill and a pair of socks. I didn’t mind because I always knew that I would get a new pair of dress socks for Christmas. Christmas Eve also meant something else too. That night the furnace got turned up to almost 80. Both grandparents were extremely cold-natured and we would have the fireplace going full blast and the furnace wide open. I loved it! I swear that was the coldest house I have ever lived in. The furnace had two vents—one into the living room and the other into mom and dad’s bedroom. There was an exhaust pipe that ran up through the ceiling and on out to the outside. The pipe was right beside my bed and I would hug it (it was warm) before I burrowed into my bed covered with about 15 quilts and blankets. It seemed we were in bed relatively early and we tried to stay awake so we could monitor the comings and goings of the busy bees downstairs as they readied the living room for Christmas morning. I’m not sure what time they got to bed but everything was always perfect. Our Christmas Eve dinners were always a lot of fun and something that we looked forward to. Sadly, several of the key players are no longer with us and they are deeply missed. We have a new tradition for Christmas Eve that we started after we lost Dad. I’m not sure why, but now we always go out for Chinese food.

New Book Giveaway...Contest Ends Soon

There's still time to get your comment in! I'm having a contest and giving away a couple of my books signed personally by me, the MAFW! How cool is that? Very cool, I'd say. HEY! You can laugh all you want to but I'll have you know that I am very serious when it comes to signing my name. In fact, I have been practicing my autograph since 4th grade. It's changed a bit--I've had to ad the MAFW part to it, but I've had the old Jane Handcock perfected for a very long time. It goes something like this: Oh, wait! The only way you can get it is to order a book from me or wait to win one. Either way, you'll come out a winner! Anyhow, all you have to do to enter the contest is to leave a comment about why you want an autographed copy. That's it! Quick and easy. I'll pick the winner Christmas Eve and announce it on the December 26th. (I can't announce it on Christmas because I have a special post for that day.) Again, just leave a comment about why you want an autographed copy of Reflections On A Middle-Aged Fat Woman the book and I'll pick two lucky winners to receive their very own signed copy. (Also available in Kindle and other eBook formats.)

The Thing About Birthdays So Close To The Holidays

I was doing some holiday shopping recently and got behind a group of people that included a grandma, daughter and several grandkids. The mall was so packed it was hard to get past them as they paused to window shop so I just fell along behind them as they lingered near several stores that catered toward a younger clientele. The stores that seemed to capture their attention the most was the Disney Store and the Build-a-Bear Workshop. When the family stopped first at the Disney Store the children went absolutely bananas. "Oh, Granny, can we get a princess dress? Oh, Mommy, can we get a movie? Pleasssseee. It's almost my birthday. Pleeeeeeazzzze." The daughter looked toward her mother who just shook her head and gave her an 'I don't know' look. "No, honey. Not today. It's almost Christmas and you're going to get lots of presents from Santa and your Aunt Susan and Aunt Alice." I watched the children frown slightly as they processed this information so they stopped looking and continued on through the mall. What was surprising was that the kids accepted what their mother had told them and hadn't pitched a royal fit. When we arrived at the Build-a-Bear Workshop the excitement started all over again. "Granny! Mommy! Can we make a bear? I just love teddy bears, don't you? Oh, please! Cam we make one, please? My birthday is in TWO days. Pleeeaaase." Mother and daughter exchanged another look and this time the grandmother said, "Sweety, you're gonna get lots of presents for Christmas." "I know, but they won't be for my birthday," one said with a pronounced frown. At that moment, an older gentleman walked up and everybody just squealed, "Grandpa!" "What's going on?" Grandpa asked. Granny and daughter informed him about the shopping they had done and wondered where he had been. "I've been sitting on that bench over there with all the other old guys," he said with a chuckle. "I saw ya'll over at the bear shop and wandered what you was fussing about?" "Well, the kids were wanting some things for their birthday," said the daughter. "What's wrong with that?" he asked. "Dad, they are going to get tons of presents for Christmas. They do every year and we have this same conversation every year." "That's a load of crap. It seems to me that it isn't the kids' faults that they were born so close to Christmas. Go ahead, get 'em what they want and I'll pay for it." My thoughts exactly!

Get Your Free Copy Today

Wow! I'm finally glad the twelve days of dieting are over. Nothing ruins the holiday spirit more than trying to watch what you're eating this time of the year. I did lose three pounds though, which is pretty good. I've had a ton of stuff going on and it's been crazy to say the least. But, what I have been waiting to do is have a contest and give away a couple of my books signed personally by me, the MAFW! How cool is that? Very cool, I'd say. HEY! You can laugh all you want to but I'll have you know that I am very serious when it comes to signing my name. In fact, I have been practicing my autograph since 4th grade. It's changed a bit--I've had to ad the MAFW part to it, but I've had the old Jane Handcock perfected for a very long time. It goes something like this: Oh, wait! The only way you can get it is to order a book from me or wait to win one. Either way, you'll come out a winner! Anyhow, all you have to do to enter the contest is to leave a comment about why you want an autographed copy. That's it! Quick and easy. I'll pick the winner Christmas Eve and announce it on the December 26th. (I can't announce it on Christmas because I have a special post for that day.) Again, just leave a comment about why you want an autographed copy of Reflections On A Middle-Aged Fat Woman the book and I'll pick two lucky winners to receive their very own signed copy. (Also available in Kindle and other eBook formats.)

Book Giveaway...I'm Giving Away Two Signed Copies

Wow! I'm finally glad the twelve days of dieting are over. Nothing ruins the holiday spirit more than trying to watch what you're eating this time of the year. I did lose three pounds though, which is pretty good. I've had a ton of stuff going on and it's been crazy to say the least. But, what I have been waiting to do is have a contest and give away a couple of my books signed personally by me, the MAFW! How cool is that? Very cool, I'd say. HEY! You can laugh all you want to but I'll have you know that I am very serious when it comes to signing my name. In fact, I have been practicing my autograph since 4th grade. It's changed a bit--I've had to ad the MAFW part to it, but I've had the old Jane Handcock perfected for a very long time. It goes something like this: Oh, wait! The only way you can get it is to order a book from me or wait to win one. Either way, you'll come out a winner! Anyhow, all you have to do to enter the contest is to leave a comment about why you want an autographed copy. That's it! Quick and easy. I'll pick the winner Christmas Eve and announce it on the December 26th. (I can't announce it on Christmas because I have a special post for that day.) Again, just leave a comment about why you want an autographed copy of Reflections On A Middle-Aged Fat Woman the book and I'll pick two lucky winners to receive their very own signed copy

Twelve Days Of Dieting...Year III...Day 12

On my twelfth day of dieting my body said to me: 12 disappointing weigh-ins 11 times the MA Fat Woman has told me to pick up her new book 10 minutes of walking 9 times I've cheated (ate at Olive Garden) 8 glasses of water 7 slimy salads 6 sugar free Jello cups YOU LOST 5 POUNDS (all water weight) 4 protein shakes 3 low-carb bars 2 hunger pains... ...and a Thank goodness, that's over! There's always next year! Now, let's eat!

Twelve Days Of Dieting...Year III...Day 11

On my eleventh day of dieting my body said to me: 11 times I've been told to buy the MA Fat Woman's new book 10 minutes of walking 9 times I've cheated (ate at Olive Garden) 8 glasses of water 7 slimy salads 6 sugarfree Jello cups YOU LOST 5 POUNDS (all water weight) 4 protein shakes 3 low-carb bars 2 hunger pains... ...and a Boy, howdy! You can do it! Just think how much better you'll feel.

Twelve Days Of Dieting...Year III...Day 10

Hey! It's the MA Fat Woman here. Have you picked up my book yet? If you have, then I say, "way to go." If not, I say, "What are you waiting for?" On my tenth day of dieting my body said to me: 10 minutes of walking 9 times I've cheated 8 glasses of water 7 slimy salads 6 sugar free Jello cups YOU LOST 5 POUNDS (all water weight) 4 protein shakes 3 low-carb bars 2 hunger pains... ...and a Boy, howdy! You can do it! Just think how much better you'll feel.

Twelve Days Of Dieting...Year III...Day 9

Don't forget to pick up my new book for yourself or somebody special. On my ninth day of dieting my body said to me: 9 times I've cheated (ate at Olive Garden) 8 glasses of water 7 slimy salads 6 sugar free Jello cups YOU LOST 5 POUNDS (all water weight) 4 protein shakes 3 low-carb bars 2 hunger pains... ...and a Boy, howdy! You can do it! Just think how much better you'll feel.

Twelve Days Of Dieting...Year III...Day 8

Have you picked up a copy of my new book yet? It makes a great gift! On my eighth day of dieting my body said to me: 8 glasses of water 7 slimey salads 6 sugarfree Jello cups YOU LOST 5 POUNDS (all water weight) 4 protein shakes 3 low-carb bars 2 hunger pains... ...and a Boy, howdy! You can do it! Just think how much better you'll feel.

Twelve Days Of Dieting...Year III...Day 7

My book is now available for sale on Amazon in paperback and in ebook form on the Kindle. On my seventh day of dieting my body said to me: 7 slimy salads 6 sugar free Jello cups YOU LOST 5 POUNDS (all water weight) 4 protein shakes 3 low-carb bars 2 hunger pains... ...and a Boy, howdy! You can do it! Just think how much better you'll feel.

Twelve Days Of Dieting...Year III...Day 6

On my sixth day of dieting my body said to me: 6 sugar-free Jello cups YOU LOST 5 POUNDS (all water weight) 4 protein shakes 3 low-carb bars 2 hunger pains... ...and a Boy, howdy! You can do it! Just think how much better you'll feel. HEY! It's Christmastime! Don't you need an extra gift for Uncle Fred or "the take the present and pass it game?" Give a copy of my new book; it makes an excellent gift. PLUS! It's now out on the Amazon Kindle!

Twelve Days Of Dieting...Year III...Day 5

Looking for that perfect gift? Check out my new book; it makes an excellent gift and a great stocking stuffer. On my fifth day of dieting my body said to me: YOU LOST 5 POUNDS (all water weight) 4 protein shakes 3 low-carb bars 2 hunger pains... ...and a Boy, howdy! You can do it! Just think how much better you'll feel.

Twelve Days Of Dieting...Year III...Day 4

Have you ordered my new book yet? It makes a great gift for yourself or somebody you love! On my fourth day of dieting my body said to me: 4 protein shakes 3 low-carb bars 2 hunger pains... ...and a Boy, howdy! You can do it! Just think how much better you'll feel.

Twelve Days Of Dieting...Year III...Day 3

My crazy neighbor, Miss Merlethem Shatz, caught me outside today as I was putting up my Christmas lights. She said she had been watching me through the window and I looked like I could use a snack. Now, I'm always up for a snack, but she brought me one of those yucky tasting low-carb bars that usually results in a mad dash to the bathroom upon consumption. I'm nothing if not neighborly, so I ate it and...well...it works great in my song. Don't forget to buy a copy of my new book. It makes a great gift! On my third day of dieting my body said to me: 3 low-carb bars 2 hunger pains... ...and a You can do it! Just think how much better you'll feel.

Twelve Days Of Dieting...Year III...Day 2

I did really well on my first day of dieting. I finished off the no-bake cookies. (Now, I won't have any temptations!) Now on to day 2... Don't forget to pick up new book; it makes a great gift! On the second day of dieting my body said to me: 2 hunger pains... ...and You're gonna do great! Just think how much better you'll feel.

Twelve Days OF Dieting...Year III...Day 1

I had so much fun last year doing the Twelve Days of Dieting and since I'm nowhere near where I want to be I'm going to do it again! I know it's hard to diet during this time of year (Tell me about it. I just baked no-bake cookies.) but I figure if I try to be on a diet, I won't eat as much. Okay, I'm not fooling anyone, but I have lost 20 pounds since March. That has to count for something, right? Please join me as I continue my quest to become the MA not so Fat Woman. I'm sure you've heard the holiday classic The Twelve days of Christmas. Well, my version is The Twelve Days of Dieting. Check back for added days and don't hesitate to sing along! Don't forget to pick up my new book; it makes a great gift On my first day of dieting my body said to me, "You can do it, just think how much better you'll feel..."