It's my time

I, like my fellow blogging friend, should be using this as a tool to promote the Dooryard Arts Festival in Woodstock from Aug. 12-16 sure to capture the hearts and minds of anyone and everyone - but I won't encourage people to take in concerts by Ross Neilsen and the Singing Bridge Orchestra, visual displays by Jody Coughlin, Jody Denny and other people not named Jody, outdoor workshops and much, much more in this blog.
Nor will I use it to direct people to Friday's edition of the Bugle-Observer, which can be found at www.canadaeast.com, where the paper features a front-page story regarding 702 Main and a column by RiVA's own Amy Anderson.
I actually need to write about a journey I'm embarking on.
A few mind-altering things happened to me recently regarding my health.
I was walking to the bar the other night, and my lower back hurt so much I had to stop and lie down to stretch it out.
I knew it was because of my weight.
It's something I've struggled with for a very long time. In the last two years, I hadn't gained (nor lost) any weight since moving to Woodstock. I ate poorly much of the time, but I walked every day.
Since starting my new job (and getting a car), I've starting eating more poorly than ever before (think fast-food drive-thrus) and I've used my wheels to propel me around town.
I knew I had put on weight since the last time I checked - but I had no idea how much.
My high estimate was 10 pounds...I was wrong.
The last time I went pants shopping, I was up a size, it made me feel ill, but I still was ok.
It was the horrendous pain in my back that through me over the edge, and forced me to take a stand.
I, despite an exceptionally busy schedule, managed to make time to attend a weight watchers meeting.
It was inevitable, I was going to have to step on a scale - something I hadn't done in at least six months. I was not looking forward to it. The last time I checked, I was dangerously close to a very scary number.
Not only had I reached the frightening poundage, I had exceeded.
I nearly broke into tears in front of a room of people. But I didn't.
I stayed for the entire meeting and listened to what they had to say.
It was really great, and I have been sticking to my points all week. Already I feel better.
I played a show tonight with the Singing Bridge Orchestra, who incidentally will be playing at the Elks Club on Wed., Aug. 12, as part of dooryard arts, and felt more like dancing and really got into singing and playing the trombone. More than I have in quite sometime.
A few days will tell how successful I've been...it feels great to be taking a stand.