Every week I resolve to get back to a more regular exercise schedule, and every week there is some excuse. Two weeks ago there wasn't time because my son was home. Last week there wasn't time because of yearbook deadlines.

My Type A husband walks the dog almost every night. I usually walk with him only once a week, because I don't get the kind of strenuous exercise that makes me feel the best when I walk at the dog's pace. However, I've decided that walking is better than nothing. So several nights this week, I took my 3 pound hand weights and walked with my husband and Rascal. It's not ideal, but it's better than nothing!

Tonight I was supposed to swim. The neighborhood pool officially opens this week. But there was rain and thunder all afternoon. When it was time for lap swim, the weather had settled down, but the life guards had closed the pool for the day. Perhaps I'll have better luck tomorrow.

It was sure good to have another O in the house, even if it was just for a few days. My husband, daughter and I returned home from graduation on Sunday because we had to be back at work and school on Monday. Our son had to finish packing and close down the house he had rented, so he came home on Monday. He left again on Saturday, visiting cousins on the way to his summer job at a Christian sports camp in Missouri. He will be a middle school boy's counselor and basketball coach.

While he was home I fixed a lot of Type O food. It was good to cook a leg of lamb and have someone to share it with. One night I cooked a pound of ground turkey and a pound of ground beef. We each made our own tacos. The As had quite a bit of turkey left over, but we Os wiped out almost all of the beef. I cooked portabella mushrooms, acorn squash, artichokes and lots of other vegetables. I didn't try anything new. I just wanted to treat him to some of his old favorites in the few days he had at home.

Of course it was wonderful to see our Strong Son walk across the stage and receive his diploma. Of course we took lots of pictures. Of course we were very proud of him. None of that has anything to do with the Blood Type Diet. However, I will tell you about breakfast at the hotel and graduation parties.

When you are a Type O and you don't eat wheat, you will not find anything for breakfast in a hotel. If you go to a really big breakfast buffet, you might find eggs and fruit. But almost all breakfast food is made from wheat. I always pack my own breakfasts when we travel. I ate in the room, while my daughter and husband went down to see what the hotel was serving. They came back quite disillusioned, and I went to the store this afternoon to buy things that will be better for them for breakfast in the morning.

When you are a Type O and you are on someone else's schedule, be prepared - take snacks. I had tossed a bag of walnuts in my camera bag when we left the hotel this morning. I was so glad I did. We didn't eat lunch until nearly 2:00. I shared the walnuts with the rest of the family, and all of us were content until it was time for our meal.

Our son had been invited to several graduation parties. We went with him to two of them. For lunch we had a taco salad buffet. This suited me just fine. I could build my own without chips or cheese. My Type A daughter could build hers without beef or peppers. For dinner we had Mexican food again. This time it was a fajita buffet. They served both beef and chicken, so all of us had plenty to enjoy.

The food was good, but the most fun was meeting SS's friends and their parents. It was a wonderful, emotional day, filled with awards, laughter, and good-byes.

Our Strong Son graduates from college tomorrow. I'm typing this from the hotel computer center. Graduation is early tomorrow, so this will be a short blog.

We ate dinner tonight with SS and his two roommates. It was a restaurant that serves meat, vegetables and salads. SS ordered meatloaf and green beans. One of the roommates also ordered meatloaf and vegetables. The other ordered talapia. The one that ordered meatloaf ate every bite of his own meal plus half of the talapia. I didn't ask, but somehow I know that meatloaf guy was an O and talapia guy was an A.

I ordered a chopped steak with broccoli, squash, and carrots. The menu noted that the steak came with gravy and mushrooms. I told the server to leave off the gravy. Evidently the chef couldn't bear the thought of sending out a plain chopped steak, so instead of gravy, he topped it with melted cheese. It was a mixture of neutral mozzarella and avoid cheddar. I could have sent it back, but I went ahead and ate it. It was very good, and the vegetables were outstanding.

Progress reports went out at school yesterday. My journalism class is an elective. No one has to take it. You would think that since the students have chosen to be in the class, that they would be motivated to do well. But this semester, such is not the case. I have three students who are in danger of failing journalism.

I thought perhaps I should look at myself and fill out my own progress report.

Regarding exercise, I'd have to give myself a C. Maybe a C+ but certainly a C. Since I started the Blood Type Diet, I had exercised 5-6 days a week. It had been Type O oriented strenuous exercise. This spring, as I've prepared to put our house up for sale, I just haven't always found the time. I've gotten really high quality exercise only 3-4 days a week. I can tell the difference in my muscle tone. I can tell the difference in how I handle stress. Some days if I've worked hard cleaning or packing, I just can't find the energy or motivation to pick up the weights at 10:00 at night.

Regarding eating, I'd give myself an A. Frankly I don't know how my body could have handled the emotions and stress of the past 8 months if I hadn't stayed true to the BTD. I avoid avoids as stringently as I have since I started the BTD. I'll admit that a few nights lately, I've yielded to the craving for something crunchy and eaten too many rice or rye crackers with ghee. But I shun wheat and dairy as ardently as ever, and my meals are still meat and vegetables. When we eat out, I search the menu for beneficials and neutral. I give the BTD credit for the energy I've had to do two or three times the work I usually do in a day. I also give the BTD credit that I never had a cold all winter, and only had one stomach upset.

Regarding cooking I'd give myself a B. I haven't tried many new recipes. I'm probably in danger of boring my husband with too much repetition of familiar and easy menus. I haven't cooked smelly foods like onions and liver since we put a for sale sign in our yard. I miss them!!! I haven't cooked many things that require a long time in the oven, because I never know when the phone will ring and a realtor will be bringing someone to look at the house.

Regarding my spiritual life…hmmm…this is tough. Maybe a B. I've been faithful to personal Bible study and worship at church. I've done all the right things. But my mind has been divided. I have worried too much, and not trusted God enough. I have tried on way too many occasions to seize control. I haven't always been patient or kind, much less loving. Perhaps the lesson I haven't learned yet, is that in times of stress and upheaval, I must rely on God more and myself less.

Regarding blogging, certainly a C-. I've neglected you terribly. I write blogs in my head all the time, and run out of hours in the day to type them in. But I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. This busy season of life is drawing to an end. Time to think and time to write will return in a month or two.