More From the Classifieds

Cabbage Patch Kid from the 80s. name Imelda. Original clown outfit. $5 Great collector item.
In case your kids are sleeping ok through the night ...

I have room for winter storage for small campers,boats,cars, ect. Reasonable and clean. Close to town.
Dirty, irrational boats need not apply.

Singing and Talking Spring Horse-Lucky has been well-loved and in ex cond. He sings and talks. Stirrups have 3 different foothold lengths for height/ages. $20
Think he comes with an invisible swordsman and a singing bush, too?

Keep your clocks ticking-Clock repair done locally.Howard Miller serviceman-Call Ron
And Ron is your code name?

love seat - green nice condition but missing back cushions. 34" deep, 53" wide, 27" tall
We should define 'nice condition'

The Thermos propane grill is gone. stop calling. Contact: (555) 555-5555
Now you're just tempting us to keep calling.

Little gems from Jessie

Every other day or so, Jessie shares quirky ads she finds in the classifieds. Oh, and she adds a bit of funny to them. Kind of like Jay Leno's 'Headlines', only from someone without a his huge chin and bad hair. I usually just laugh to myself (which makes my coworkers question my sanity, my laughing to myself) so I thought I'd start sharing them with you...

Sixteen inch boys and girls bikes for sale, excellent condition. $20 each
Bikes for infants? That's just silly.
I read that they were sixteen inch boys and girls for sale, and skipped over the bikes. :) $20 isn't bad, but the questions might cost you a lot.

Very cute baby bearded dragons for sale. $35.00/ ea. - HAVE LOTS!
Also, I'm interested in purchasing glasses as I'm nearly blind.

Wanted: small bales of hay for horses not rained on
Because wet horses don't eat.

Floral couch and coordinating plaid chair for sale. Decent shape. $75 OBO. Can email pics
Well, they coordinate according to Stevie Wonder or Ray Charles

Air-conditioner (window) to give away. Works great, it's too big for me to lift. Come and take it.
I don't think it's supposed to be *portable*.

BUNK BEDS WANTED!Prefer wood, in good shape, reasonably priced.
So you don't want this round one?

More to follow... show changes daily... please tip your waitresses..

Inspired by a Stranger

Ok, I want to make it clear that the following is not my blog post. But it's the post of someone blogging on http://sparkpeople.com. I LOVE this website because it promotes health and all its wonderful benefits. This particular member said a lot of things that hit home for me (especially as I'm struggling to fit into a wedding dress), so I wanted to share it with all of you.

Me and My Shadow

How does that song go? I was walking the other day and looked down at the sidewalk and saw this stranger walking with me. I stared at the image and for a brief moment I asked "Who the heck is that?" "This person doesn't have all those lumps and bumps of ugly fat on her that I do"... A brief moment, then tears came to my eyes as it hit me. This was ME.

I weighed myself yesterday. The scales said 141.6...I realized that I had now lost 70 pounds! Then I put on my gift to myself- a pair of size 8 Kymaro jeans I was saving for this moment. Never in my life have I worn a size 8. They look good, yes, I can honestly tell you that. Oh, the journey is not over, far from it with another six pounds to go in order to reach my goal and then toning up my body. All in good time, but for now I reflect on some of the things I have learned on this my journey of a million steps.

I have learned that the prison of shame and guilt that I had built was my own creation and that I had the power to tear it down, or to build it up. It is all up to ME

I had to learn to take personal responsibility for every bite of food that I put into my mouth, and that I had to eat healthy to BE healthy.

I had to learn that you either do IT (diet/exercise), or you don't -- there's no middle ground and that life is full of choices and I choose to be happier and healthier with mine.

I learned that I could acknowledge myself in ways other than eating. I no longer have to be an "emotional eater" to do that.

I learned to admit to myself that I was fat and unhealthy because I chose to overeat and I chose foods that were unhealthy and fattening.

I learned I just needed to find a diet plan that worked for ME. For me this is the idiot proof diet plan. Eating the right combination of foods, eating small portions knowing I will eat again in two hours, and eating healthy food was and is my key to success.

I learned that I am not a failure even though I may have "failed" when I dieted in the past.

I have learned that "temptations" along my journey are merely a test to my commitment. And, if I give myself the "gift" of an occasional temptation it makes the journey go much better.

I have learned that losing weight is not the end result but the beginning of a new chapter -- complete with new challenges, commitments and dreams! I have learned that the journey will NEVER be over for me, that this is just the beginning of another journey to a happier and healthier life full of mountains and valleys, but ... I will accept the hills and valleys and travel with them...with the knowledge that I CAN continue, and I CAN do this...

Confession, again.

Yesterday morning just after I got off the bus I noticed a lost-looking elderly couple. They couldn't figure out which side of the street a certain building is on. I happen to know which side that building is on. I tried to convey this to them.

It didn't go well.

I pointed and motioned. It somehow came out wrong. I'm sure they eventually found a competent person to help them out.

As I crossed the street I was reminded of my first desk job. I worked at Saia Motorfreight. I loved that job. It was cake. I worked with great people (and one wicked witch).

Sometimes people would call in to get directions to our building. I was forbidden to do so. I had to pass off the calls. How sad is that?

Hi, I'm Jessie. I'm a horrible giver of directions.