I'm here!!!

And the journey begins!

Because I know that I am blessed to have so many loving friends and family supporting me on this journey and because writing sometimes helps me to understand my feelings, I have decided to keep a blog of my journey . . . so here goes . . my first attempt at a blog, so please bear with me!


So at 3:32 P.M. EST today, I took off on a journey.  It's a journey I have made many times before, but different.  The similarities are that it's once again a journey of weight loss.  The difference though is that I'm making it a priority this time.  I'm spending time, money, and my vacation on it.    I'm allowing my friends and family (and coworkers) to hold me accountable for it.  Because I need it.  And because I want it.


My flight from Harrisburg, PA to Charlotte, NC was uneventful.  Quick and easy.  It wasn't long after boarding my flight from Charlotte to LA that I met my first star :)  I was sitting next to a 16 year old girl who was one of the 'tributes' in the Hunger Games premiering this week.  For those of you who have read the book, she was the female tribute from District 10.  She was traveling out for the premier and her first red carpet experience.  How cute!  I, of course, humored her and asked for her autograph for my little cousin who was the one who told me all about the books to begin with!  She was tickled to sign her first real autograph!


Upon arriving at LAX (which honestly was a lot easier to get around than I had assumed) I only had to wait 15-20 minutes for my shuttle to pick me up.  Then we got to loop around the airport about 6-7 times as he waited for others to be picked up :)  But as I love to people-watch it was an interesting ride.  I guess I always thought people in LA would be glamorous -- yeah, not so much.  They're ordinary just like me!


Once we left the airport it was only a 20 minute ride to my hotel (Ocean View Hotel) in Santa Monica.  I had a nice conversation with my shuttle driver, George, who like everyone else upon hearing what I was out here for, had to give me his advice on how to lose weight :)  It's funny and although I know I am guilty of it myself, people love to give their two cents worth on what worked for them when you tell them you're trying to lose weight.    I think one of the biggest lessons I've learned this go round is that you don't really make any true progress in weight loss until your mind is made up.  Until you've had enough.  And I've had enough.  So, unfortunately, no matter how much advice you get or how many 'hints' people want to share with you, until you've made up your mind you're ready, it's futile. 


So, back to the journey.  I checked in and went up to my lovely OCEAN VIEW room with a king sized bed and a balcony that overlooks the Santa Monica Pier and infamous Ferris wheel and the beach -- can't wait to see it in the daylight! I'll definitely upload some pics!  Then I journeyed around the corner for some pizza -- it's funny, I feel almost as if I'm eating my last meals these two days! Even though I don't want to feel that way because it's not like I'll never have pizza again.  Pizza in the right amount, the right time, and the right frequency can actually be good for you.  But still -- I have to laugh with every sip of soda I take! 


I brought the pizza back to my room, and here I am.  I'm looking forward to getting up tomorrow morning and going for breakfast on the beach with some bible reading.  Then going on a tour of LA . . . . so in light of the fact that it's 3:10 AM according to my body, even though the clock only says 12:10 AM, I'll catch you on the flip side!!   Thanks for joining me in this journey!


Cyndi