Prayers to the Connecticut Families

This morning I was licking my wounds because I received a rejection letter from a company where I had turned in an application.  I was having the worst day and having a total pity party for myself.  And then I turned on the news.  And then I heard the most horrible disgusting story that I have ever heard.  And then I prayed for the all the children that were subjected to that horror and the families that are left to pick up the pieces.  And then I put things in perspective.  My last post was a story about remembering what is important in life.  I can’t lie, I do love that last story I posted and for about 5 minutes it did remind me of the important things in life.  But the next day I was back to thinking that my problems were the worst thing ever.  My problems are simply bumps in the road, all of our day to day "problems" are.  I hate hate hate hate hate hate that it takes something this awful to REALLY remember the important things in life.  I’m not going to go on and on, this post is not about me in any way.  But I will say this in all seriousness –Don’t sweat the small stuff - Treat everyday like it’s your last - Love every single person in your life to the fullest, even the ones that you aren’t that fond of or the ones that have done something to you that you swore you would never forgive.  They will be gone soon – sooner than you think.   I can’t imagine the feelings that 26 families are dealing with tonight.  They need our prayers.  Don't just say that those families are in your prayers, its easy to say that and never really take action.  Stop right now bow your head and say a prayer. 

The Mayonnaise Jar & Two Beers

This coming Friday is my last day at work and as I look to the week ahead I realize that I am still bitter and upset. To get my mind off of things I started messing around on the internet and I ran across one of my favorite stories of all time.  I originally saw this about 10 years ago but every time I read it I love it more and more.  Even though it isn’t entirely relevant to what is going on in my life at the moment, tonight it helped me keep things in perspective.  To remember the important stuff that holds life together.  Doesn't mean that I am ready to call the guy that decided to lay me off and sing Kumbaya, I’m still pissed and probably will be until I get a better kick ass job.  But for now this helped and I wanted to share:

The Mayonnaise Jar & Two Beers

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him

When the class began, he wordlessly picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls.

He then asked the students if the jar was full.

They agreed that it was...

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly.

The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls.

He then asked the students again if the jar was full.

They agreed it was...

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar.

Of course, the sand filled up everything else.

He asked once more if the jar was full.

The students responded with a unanimous 'yes.'

The professor then produced two Beers from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar effectively filling the empty space between the sand.

The students laughed...

'Now,' said the professor as the laughter subsided, 'I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life.

The golf balls are the important things---your family, your children, your health, your friends and your favorite passions---and if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.

The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house and your car.

The sand is everything else---the small stuff.

'If you put the sand into the jar first,' he continued, 'there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls.

The same goes for life.

If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff you will never have room for the things that are important to you.

Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness.

Spend time with your children.

Spend time with your parents.

Visit with grandparents.

Take time to get medical checkups.

Take your spouse out to dinner.

Play another 18...

There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal.

Take care of the golf balls first---the things that really matter.

Set your priorities.

The rest is just sand.

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the Beer represented.

The professor smiled and said, 'I'm glad you asked.'

The beer just shows you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of beers with a friend.

That's Life

Sorry that I haven’t posted in a while.  I’ve been a little out of sorts.  Not really sure what to talk about.  So here is a post to let you know that I am alive and still blogging.  I have fallen off the wagon with the jogging and eating right.  I am not proud of this by any means.  Any of you that were actually inspired by my earlier progress I apologize.  Life got in the way.  I’m not using it as an excuse.  I don’t even know what I’m doing.  I’m feeling a bit lost.  I have had a horrid couple of weeks.  I was stressed out when my work announced that it was going to lay people off.  That was 3 weeks of pure torture.  Just waiting and wondering.  Then a week ago Joe’s dog, Tiger, got worse.  He had been struggling for over 5 months to breathe normally.  The vets had tried everything - steroids, antibiotics, 2 surgeries, and countless examinations.  I can’t share this story with you without admitting I was not a very good dog mom.  I can never make that right.  That makes me sad.  I was NEVER mean to Tiger and I never wanted anything bad to happen to him.  I made sure that he had what he needed and that he had the best care that we could give him.  But I was usually complaining about all the noise that he would make or grossed out by how much he shed.  Looking back that was extra lame.  He was a good dog, so friendly, great with kids, always a happy little guy.  The last few months are when he and I actually started to bond.  But it was too little too late on my part.  Last week he was having so much trouble breathing that he was choking.  We rushed him to the emergency vet but after they took some x-rays the vet suggested that it was probably time to put him down.  That was like getting a ton of bricks thrown into my chest.  It was one of the hardest things that I have ever had to deal with.  I’m pretty sure it was one of the hardest things that Joe has had to deal with too.  It was so tough for me to see him so upset. Our furry friends become family and its so hard to say goodbye.  We stayed with Tiger to the very end.  R.I.P little buddy

2 days later……I get “the” call from my boss.  My stomach did 17 flip flops before I could pick up the phone.  I knew why she was calling, I knew what she was going to say - I was getting laid off.  I had 3 weeks to sit and think about what would happen if I got that call, what Joe and I would do, and how we would pay our bills.  And as lame as it sounds I was still not prepared to get the bad news, still surprised that my name was on the list.  I have had 5 days to process it.  It’s not any easier then it was the day that I found out.  I am in the “angry phase”.  I have been here for the last 4 days and not really seeing any end in sight.  But I think that it’s ok to still be upset.  Don’t worry I’m not going to blow up the building, I’m not that pissed,  just mad/hurt that it was easy for a VP to decide that it was better for the company if I was no longer a part of it.  There is good news - I met some really awesome peeps while I was there, some of which will be lifelong friendsJ

So to recap:

• This post is not a feel sorry for me post but one that reminds you to be nicer to everyone and everything because when they’re gone you will miss them and wish that you would have been a better person
• Corporations suck that lay awesome people off a week before the holiday season
• I am in need of a J.O.B. so if you have any ideas hit me up
• I am not in possession of explosives and have no desire to blow things up, specifically my office building
• I have cool freinds

 

Lash Extensions – The Aftermath

If you read my last post you know that my work is going through some tough times and is going to lay people off.  Since know one knows who is on the chopping block yet I thought it would be a good idea to try and cut out some unnecessary spending just in case.  First thing to go were my lash extensions.  They were fun for the last few months and I loved them but not a necessity.  Let me give you a rundown of the aftermath.  Once I was ready to go in for my 3 week fill I emailed the lash place to see what was the best way to get them off.  I was told that I could go in to have them removed or I could just wait until they all naturally came off.  I opted for letting them fall off on their own.  I started doing all the things that they tell you not to do when you first get them on.  I started wearing mascara and washing my eyes with my regular facial cleanser.  This method seemed to get all of them off in a few days.  I was warned by my lash lady that my lashes would seem to be shorter and sparse once the extensions came off but that is because I was use to seeing myself with the extensions.  I was fully prepared for this.  I was prepared that some of my lashes would be shorter or that I would see less than I remember.  I was NOT prepared for the fact that ALL my lashes are shorter and are way sparse.  I did a little Google research and general consensus is that it’s going to take a few months to get my lashes back to normal.  So for now I am wearing some natural looking falsies.  I have too.  If I don’t it looks like I have no lashes.  Not a good look for me.  Bottom line – extensions are great if you can budget $55 every 2 to 3 weeks for the rest of your life.  But if your like me and that is not in the cards just buy some of my favorite MAC lash primer and plump them up yourself J 

Since I didn’t get any suggestions from you on blog topics or questions that you want me to answer I will stick to regularly scheduled program.  But seriously if you think of anything please let me know – would love to hear your ideas, answer questions, or what you think about the blogJ

Terrible Tuesday – Hugs Needed

I’m not going to wait till tomorrow to let you know that I have been a failure this week.  Ok maybe “failure” is a bit harsh – maybe not?!?  Failure is how I feel.  Here's what went down…...this past Thursday at a company wide meeting it was announced that a round of layoffs are inevitable within the next few weeks.  Of course no one knows who will be affected so the only thing to do is wait and hope it’s not you.  So of course I have been stressedL (that just may be the understatement of the year) and I will say that is no excuse for not exercising as much and not tracking my calories but that is what I have done.  I haven’t gone completely off the wagon, I'm still making good choices for my main meals, but the snacks have crept back in.  And not an apple kind of snack.  Like a fun size twix and pretzels for a snack.  Also this past week I have only exercised 3 times insead of 6.  I’m human and I make mistakes – I've been trying not to beat myself up about it since I’m already freaked out about work stuff.  But easier said than done.  All I can promise is that next week I’ll do better, I have to do better.  This one week cannot erase all the good that I have been doing over the last 2 months.  So here is my question - how do you handle stress?  Any suggestions besides going home not exercising and eating pretzels?  

P.S....I need a hug.

Ay Dios Mio!

As promised I amd going to let you know how my first Zumba class was this morning.  It kicked my a$$. When I was on the way to the studio I was thinking this is going to be a welcome vacation from jogging on the treadmill.  It will be nice to not have to work so hard to burn calories.  HAHA Joke is sooooo on me.  That workout is no joke (If your a follower of my blog you I know I say "is no joke" a lot)!  It starts out kinda easy for the warm up then the instructor (Vanessa) starts working us like we are training to be in the Latin Lover Salsa Competition.  Side note - Vanessa is beautiful, gorgeous, tiny, Latin hottie with one of the best bodies and butts I have ever seen. She has a J Lo booty.  But she's nice so I can't hate her.  Damn.  The people that take the class too are really nice too andd they are all different ages and sizes.  Yay!  So I didn't feel too out of place.......until the booty shaking started.  There is a lot of butt shaking in Zumba.  Vanessa's booty shaking was in time with the music mine was not as well calculated to say the least.  While I was trying to shake my butt at the appropriate time and then try to stop the shaking when it was not booty shaking time the song by Destiny's Child "Bootylicious" was running through my head.  Especially the lyric "I don't think your ready for this jelly".  I don't think any of those women, and one brave man, were ready for my spastic booty jelly shaking.  So not only was it a hard workout I looked like a complete idiot doing it.  I know this because there are mirrors that line one entire wall in the work out room.  I was trying to avoid looking in the mirror the whole class for fear if I saw what I looked like I would have to grab my stuff and make a b-line for the door.  But of course I did catch a couple of glimpses.  I can describe what I looked like as a cross between Elaine's dancing on Seinfeld and Napoleon Dynamite's mad dancing skills.  Not pretty.  BUT it was fun and as awkward as I felt and looked I will be back for more.  Zumba is only twice a week so I will still be jogging.  I'm no where near where I was a few weeks ago with the C25K, but I'm not giving up!  The next Zumba class is this coming Thursday so at 6:30 when the class starts do me a favor and listen to the song "Bootylicious" and think of me trying to get my jelly under control.

Weigh Day Wednesday – Whew

Sorry this is one day late – someone that lives in my house that is obsessed with cars took over my computer last night to look at car crap stuff.   Here's how yesterday morning went down  - I feel like I dodged a bullet – after my Maggiano’s dinner on Saturday I was fully expecting the worst.  But was pleasantly surprised when I weighed and lost 0.4.  Not quite ½ a pound but I’ll take it and be happy with it.  I need to mix up my exercise so I’m going to try a Zumba class on Saturday – Oh Lord watch out.  I’ll let you know how that goes for sure! 

Any of you have any questions for me?  I'll gather up all of your questions and do an Q and A post.  Or do you have any topics that you want me to blog about?  Makeup tutorials? Hair tutorials?  Although I only know how to do big giant Texas hair so I'm guessing probably no on the hair tutorial, Ha!

Men and Food

This past weekend the hubs (Joe) and I went out to eat a few times – which I am not proud of by the way and I know that my Wednesday weigh day is going to suck – I mean suck.  I didn’t go nuts but I definitely ate a few things not on my new plan.  Yesterday I was back on track and getting ready to microwave a Lean Cuisine while the hubs was heating up the most awesome smelling left over pasta from Maggiano’s.  He started to talk about how much weight that he thinks he needs to lose and I began to get a little bitter.  Now let me preface this by saying that I do not think that he needs to lose weight and he is MORE than supportive of me.  He NEVER speaks about my weight and treats me like I look like a super model.  I’m the only one in the house that is uncomfortable with how I look.  But as he is going on and on about his stomach I am getting more and more agitated.  I kinda snapped – not in a crazy way – in a sarcastic jokey kind of way.  This way I could make my point without picking a fight.  The conversation went something like this:

Me – You have no idea what it’s like to be on a diet or worry about your weight

Hubs – I have to watch what I eat

Me – Seriously?!?  When?

Hubs – Well…….

Me – Have you ever had to weigh your food? (the scale was out as I was weighing food at the time putting snacks in portioned controlled baggies for the week)

Hubs – No  (he’s looking at me like I had 10 eyeballs)

Me – You ate fast food 3 times last week for lunch and pizza for dinner one night and are still wearing the same size pants this week

Hubs – Yes

Me – When we go out to eat do you ever not order something because of the calories/fat?

Hubs – No

Me- I have been consumed with my weight since the 4^th grade and have been on some sort of diet for that long

Hubs – You’re right I have no idea what any of that is like

I was not trying to make him feel bad and the conversation was a lot more playful then it sounded above.  He left to go eat his pasta – it was probably a good idea that he left the room cause I might have wrestled him for it.  But it got me thinking of the differences between men and women with food/weight.  I’m not going to get all preachy and talk about society and the pressures that are on women to be thin.  We all know about it and have heard it a billion times over.  I’m not using that as any kind of excuse either.  I’m talking about sitting with my husband at a restaurant and watching him order whatever he wants.  Not giving a thought to the fact that the chicken alfredo he is going to eat has over 1000 calories in it.  Or that a chimichanga (his favorite) is not only a burrito filled with cheese but is deep fried topped with more cheese.  If I ordered that stuff, even if I only ate ½ of the portion, I would be one of those people that are so big that they can’t get out of the front door.  Before I order anything I mentally add up the calories/fat/carbs that are going to touch my lips.  Even 2 months ago when I was having a day where I just didn’t care what I ate I was still mindful of how “bad” the dish was that I just ordered and then felt guilty after eating it.  I know that I am not alone.  Most women I know do this.

It also got me thinking about clothes and shopping.  Joe needed new jeans so last week we went to Dillard’s.  When he was trying them on he asked me to grab him a different size.  I know that men’s sizing goes up pretty big but I was a bit taken back when I saw that they went up as far as a 42.  Maybe I’m in denial but it seems to me that proportionately a women size 14/16 is far smaller than a 42 in men’s.  I could be wrong.  It would not be the first time.  So as I was waiting for Joe to come out of the fitting room I started to look around at all the different size men that were shopping in that department.  There were some pretty big guys shopping in the regular men’s department able to wear the same thing as a scrawny guy.  Misses and Plus sizes are a completely different story.  Prior to this post I looked up what the average size of a woman in America is and its between a 12 and 14.  Misses sizes usually go up to a 14/16 and the dept is ginormous most of the time right in front when you walk in.  Plus sizes on the other hand are shunned to the back of the store.  Like a plus size woman has leprosy and can’t mingle with the rest of society when shopping.  The clothing in the “Women’s” dept is a really special treat in a barfy kind of way.  Usually there are 3 giant no shape shirts to choose from with the most god-awful prints complete with sequins oh and some elastic waistband pants.  I fall right in between Misses and Plus.  Some stuff is too tight for me to wear in the Misses dept and some Plus size stuff is too big.  Here's my question why not have a department more like the men's - have a wider range of sizes so the average size woman is not on the high end of the spectrum?  Just a thought. 

Just seems to me that men have it easier with food and shopping!  Ok my daily rant is over.  Back your regularly scheduled program with my next blog post.  I promise to cut it with the ranting.

 

20 Questions

I recently got one of those emails from a friend that asks a bunch of random questions. The whole point is to hit reply all and give your answers. You get to know a little more about everyone on the email. I thought it would be fun to share my answers with you and then you copy and pasted these in the comments field and let me know your answers.

1. What was your favorite food when you were a child?
• Um Pasta (it still is my favorite food by the way) – I use to eat cold spaghetti for breakfast before school.  I may or may not have had a bite of cold pasta last week before running out the door for work.
2. What’s the #1 most played song on your iPod?
• This one surprised me.  I went to my iTunes account and looked up the song that I have played the most.  It’s a song called ‘Sunrise’ by Simply Red.  I heard this song on XM Radio one day….I have no idea if it’s a new song or an old song cause I have never heard XM play it again. 
3. What are some of your favorite quotes?
• "Just when the caterpillar thought the world was over, it became a butterfly" – Unknown
• "The first time someone shows you who they are, believe them.”  -Maya Angelou
4. What’s your favorite indoor/outdoor activity?
• Surprise surprise - I do like outside if I'm on the beach laying in a hamock drinking a pina colada.  My favorite indoor activity would be cooking.
5. What chore do you absolutely hate doing?
• This is an easy one – cleaning the shower.  I can’t stand it.  It’s so annoying.  Thank goodness Joe likes to clean it.  I knew I married him for a reason.
6. What is your favorite form of exercise?
• I really want it to be running but I am SUCKING at it.  Every since I had the flu my heart is just not in it anymore.  It’s really been bumming me out.  I’m still doing it every day but haven’t progressed at all.  I love to dance but until I lose like 50 I will not be setting foot into any kind of dance class.
7. What is your favorite time of day/day of the week/month of the year?
• Day – dusk.  I LOVE dusk.  Right after the sunset.  Just thinking about it makes me smile.
• Day of the Week – Friday.  I guess for obvious reasons.
• Month – December – I love the holidaysJ
8. What’s your least favorite mode of transportation?
• This one was a tough one.  I like to drive short distances but anything longer than an hour and a half I want to jump out of the moving car just to get out.  I use to love to fly – but it such a cattle call now that I can’t stand it.  I’m not a fan of crowds or being pushed and shoved.  I loathe any creepy stranger sitting next to me on the plane that feels the need to “stretch out” and put some body part up against mine, someone that forgot to take a shower for the last 2 years or is trying natural deodorant.  So flying super sucks too.  Maybe I need to give trains a whirl?  Or win the lottery so I can fly first class. 
9. What sound do you love?
• I hate noise so hmmmmmm……not sure?!?  When I was a kid and we had a wood burning fire place and I use to love the sound of the fire and the wood popping.  You don’t get that now with gas fireplaces.
10. If you could paint a picture of any scenery you’ve seen before, what would you paint?
• The sun setting along the ocean – most beautiful thing I have ever seen
11. If you won the lottery, what is the first thing you would do?
• Book like 10 back to back cruises
12. Which celebrity do you get mistaken for?
• I’m way too awesome to get mistaken for some used up celebrity.  Just kiddingJ  I haven’t been told that I look like anyone.
13. What would you name the autobiography of your life?
• Seriously?!?  Ha!  This is like “who’s on first”.  I really would name it “Seriously!?!” I say it all the time and it pretty much sums up everything good and bad
14. Have you ever had something happen to you that you thought was bad but it turned out to be for the best?
• Going on a blind date when I met my husband.  I was not really looking forward to it, cause let’s face it when are blind dates ever a good idea?  But thank God I didn’t cancel.  Thanks Tamara for setting it all up, and thanks Mom for not letting me talk myself out of it!
15. What was the last movie, TV show or book that made you cry or tear up?
• The TV show “Revenge”.  There was an episode where one of the characters dog diesL  So sad.
16. What’s the hardest thing you’ve ever done?
• Divorce.  Even though I was married to Satan and divorce was actually a gift - the process is heart wrenching.  My entire life flipped upside down.  Rhonda if you are reading this I thank you for every minute of every day that you were there for me.  I couldn’t have gone through it without you.
17. What’s the best gift you’ve ever received?
• When I was growing up my parents always told me that they would never buy me a car.  I would have to earn the $$ and get one myself.  I had a job and was saving.  For my 17^th birthday my parents sent me on a treasure hunt to find my present.   Side note - I LOVE treasure hunts!  The clues led me to our neighbors house where there was a used (but new to me) car in the driveway filled entirely with balloonsJ
18. What was the first thing you bought with your own money?
• Hmmmm – trying to remember.  Oh ok I got it…..I was 15 and received my very first pay check.  I went and bought a new bottle of Escape perfume and a wallet.  My best friend at the time had spent the night after we went shopping.  She went to pack her bag when I was helping my mom and stole my stuff.  I know that’s what happened cause the perfume and wallet were on my bed and when she left the were gone.  Of course I asked her about it and she swears she didn’t take anything.  We broke up after that.  I get pissy just remembering that story.  We were best friends for over 2 years.  Lame!
19. When was the last time you were nervous?
• I'm not a big fan of work meetings - so anytime that I have to be on one with peeps that I don't know I get a little nervous. 
20. What story does your family always tell about you
• Well my family ALWAYS teases me about how girly I am.  So mom my loves to tell the story about how I potty trained myself when I was 18 months old cause I hated being dirty.  I started checking out everyone else using the potty and so I just started using it too.  Probably TMI for a Sunday afternoon but that is the only one that I can remember right now.  Oh and my sister Colleen teasing me about my big hair – saying it’s so big that it gets to cast its own vote in the election. 

Weigh Day Wednesday - Blah!

Well well well.......I am so disappointed.  I don't even feel like posting tonight since I don't have anything nice to say I should just shut it and not say anything at all, but a promise is a promise.  Here is the run down - I didn't gain but I didn't lose either.  I have no idea what the eff is going on.  I stopped eating Lean Cuisine's and so much processed food.  I have been cooking things like grilled chicken and brown rice.  I am exercising 6 days a week burning 240 calories each session.  I log everything that I eat.  The only thing that I can think of is that I had one cheat meal this week.  I read an article written by Bob Harper from Biggest Loser where he said that its actually good to have one cheat meal a week - without going crazy.  I made homemade pasta on Saturday and had a small piece of tiramisu.  I didn't go crazy, I didn't eat anywhere near what I would have 2 months ago.  I didn't have an entire cheat day just one stinking meal.  I ate really well the whole day prior to the cheat.  Unfortunately sitting here bitching about it isn't going to change anything. But losing at this snails pace is messing with my head.  I hope that things will turn around next week - if not I may blow up my scale.

Wednesday Weigh Day on Thursday - Oops!

I’m a day behind – sorry.  Yesterday’s weigh day was good – I lost 1 pound.  I know that it’s not monumental or anything but I had gained one during the week, I’m assuming from the lack of exercise due to being sick, so in actuality I lost 2 this week.  But from last Wednesday to this Wednesday just the one.  It’s going slow but I’m feeling good about it.  Every morning when I get on the scale I just keep thinking whatever the number says today by next week it will be lower and I will never see this weight again.  It keeps me going.  It keeps me from eating something lame – like today I had a work meeting during lunch where they of course ordered pizza.  Ugh.  Just once can anyone think outside of the pizza box and order something a teeny bit healthy?!?  I figured that the lunch would be more calories than I was willing to spend so brought my own.  I’m down 9 pounds since the beginning of September.  Not exactly where I wanted to be at a month and a half in but I’ll take it.  My jeans are so loose I can pull them on and take them off without unbuttoning or unzipping them.  I can feel my shirts getting looser.  I can tell some of the nuts that I was storing in my chipmunk cheeks have gone missing.  Again nothing monumental – just little things that I have noticed.  Next week if I lose another pound it will be time for progression pictures.  I’m still going back and forth on if I want to subject myself to public humiliation.  Thoughts? 

As far as the jogging goes.  I had to go back to Week 4 of C25K.  I am still not past being able to run longer than 8 minutes at a time.  I am not as disappointed as I was last week.  Everyday it’s getting a little better.  I’ll get back to where I was – it’s just going to take some more time.  What’s not helping is the cough that I still have.  I think when that is finally out of my system I will be back to jogging 20 minJ Send me some good juju!

Good News/Bad News Part II

I'll start with the bad news – I still have this stupid flu germ.  Definitely not feeling 100% yet – more like 70%.   I’m still worn down and coughing up things that I will not mention.  I’m not contagious – so all of my work peeps that are reading this do not worry.  I can’t spread my germs to you.  On a sadistic side note there are a few people that I wish I would have shared a flu laced lollipop with while I was still contagious.  Yikes that sounded horrible.  Oh well it’s how I feel today.  My workouts yesterday and today were tough.  I can only jog about 5 minutes before I have to stop and walk for a while.  Ugh.  I was so worried that this would happen.  Hopefully by the end of the week I will be back to where I was??  I hope so.  Ok enough whining!  I'm done.

 

Good news – the rest and new running shoes have done wonders for my ankleJ I jogged yesterday and this morning and it feels great! The new running shoes were worth every last penny! I had no idea that shoes could make that big of a difference. I got Mizuno Women's Wave Alchemy – they rock!

 

Hope you all had a great weekJ

Weigh Day Wednesday

This will be a short post cause I'm still sick and just typing this is zapping all the energy out of me.  Lame!  I went to the doctor today and she says I have a bad viral infection and all I can do it let it run its course and rest.  I'm resting - I really don't have a choice.  Anywho - I weighed this morning and I was down 1.4.  It's not as much as I would have hoped but considering the fact that I haven't been able to jog since Sunday morning I'll take it:)

Good News/Bad News

I'll start with the good news - my ankle feels better.  I haven't gone to the doctor yet.  A friend of mine that is a nurse suggested that I take some ibuprofen and ice it.  I did that yesterday morning after my jog and its doing better. 

Bad news - I'm sick and been in bed all day except to take a shower and that zapped all the energy that I had.  Needless to say there is no way that I can exercise.  But that is good for my ankle.  I have no idea where I picked up these germs.  But they need to take a hike - I hate being sick.

Houston We Have a Problem

I’m going to have to breakdown and go to the doctor.  Booo!  My ankle has been hurting pretty bad after I jog the past week and a half.  I thought the new running shoes that I bought were going to really help out.  No such luck.  While I’m actually jogging my ankle feels ok so I think the shoes have helped a little but they are not the full on fix that I was hoping for.  It’s after I get done when my ankle feels like it’s going to explode.  The pain is about an 8/9 on the pain scale.  Usually it will go away after about 30 minutes but today it lasted for over an hour and it's still not back to normal.  I don’t know what else to do but go to a doctor.  Cross your fingers that I won’t have to stop running while whatever is wrong with it heals.  I’m so worried that I will lose my little stamina that I have built up and have to start over.  I’ll keep you posted. 

 

Five Fun Topics for Friday

Where was I 5 years ago

1. Only had been in Colorado for a few months
2. Living with my mom
3. Unemployed
4. Depressed
5. Worried about the future

5 Things I can’t leave the house without

1. Pocket Cross – I have had since I was 14.  I put it on my keys so it’s always with me
2. Cell phone
3. Touch up powder
4. Lip gloss
5. Little tube of hand cream

5 Songs that get me jogging and shaking my booty on the treadmill

1. Single Ladies – Beyonce
2. What You Need – INXS
3. Black Cat – Janet Jackson
4. S&M – Rihanna
5. Back to the Hotel – N2Deep – This is my dork out song Check out this post if you don’t know what I’m talking aboutJ

5 Fears

1. Going to jail for something that I didn’t do – I saw a movie when I was a kid about that happening and ever since then that has been a fear of mine.  I'd never make it in jail, I would get traded for cigarettes to be someones bitch
2. Being kidnapped – I don’t think I’m all that and on the top of the list for some psycho to grab but remember Silence of the Lambs and “put the lotion on”???  Yikes – the PC way to say it is that guy was into women with "curves".  I don’t want to end up as a lamp shade or something.  Also remember that the fastest I can jog is at 4.2mph I could never out run anyone. 
3. Bees – Ugh I absolutely hate bees.  I mean you are outside (and as you know that is rare for me) enjoying yourself and BUZZZZ a stupid bee right in your face ready to kill.  You know one of the reasons that I did not get married outside was because all I kept thinking is that I would be holding a giant bouquet of bee food.  I have read that if the world didn’t have bees then all life would die off in a matter of a couple of years.  Really?!? I’m game for trying it out
4. Any scary or sort of scary or a little bit scary movie or TV show.  Let me put this in perspective….when that show Unsolved Mysteries was on TV back in the 80’s/90’s I could not watch it.  It freaked me out so bad that I had to sleep with the lights on.  When I was in 7^th grade my cousins talked me into watching Nightmare on Elm Street.  I was so scared that I stayed awake totally frozen for the entire night.  The thought of that movie still scares me.
5. Going into the basement when it’s dark or actually any place that’s dark– ok so yes I sound like I’m 5 but the basement in particular is a scary place when it’s dark.  I remember when I was a kid and we had crawl spaces down there.  Isn’t that where all the crazy psycho killers put dead people??  To this day – and I really can’t believe that I am going to admit this – I have to hum the Smurf theme song when I start going into a dark place and can’t get to the light switch quick enough.  I have done this since the 80’s when that cartoon came out. 

5 Things that are rocking my face off this week

1. Baked Chicken Lean Cuisine – to me this is like a teeny tiny taste of thanksgiving- but the trick is that you have to take it out of the plastic tray after you cook it and mush it all togetherJ Trust me its awesome
2. Siri – I upgraded to iPhone 5 this past week.  My old phone did not have Siri and was on its last leg.  Siri rocks my face off.  It really is like having an assistant.  I’ve been making that girl work!
3. New running shoes** - I am putting an asterisk by them because I haven’t tried them out yet.  I got them after work today.  Today is the one day that I take off from running so I’ll let you know how they are next time I post.  My left ankle aches so bad after I run that I want to cry.  My brother is a runner and he suggested that I get new shoes.  Good ones – not like walk into Kohls and get some pink Nike’s like the ones I currently have.  But that meant that I had to overcome the extra super intimidation factor that I had about going into a running store.  I figured that the people working there would take one look at me and laugh me out of the store.  But the lady that helped me was the bomb and so sweet!  But let me tell you it's no joke in that store.  You don’t just walk in and buy some shoes.  She made me run on a treadmill so she could video tape my feet to determine the best shoe.  I was not prepared for this – I was wearing a dress today but I sucked it up and ran in a dress with people watching me.  I almost died of embarrassment.  But it was worth it.  This video showed why my ankle is killing me.  I rotate my ankle inward after I land on my foot.  Ouchy!  The sales lady had me try on 5 different pairs of shoes and after finding one that she thought would help she had me run again.  This time the video showed that my ankles remained straight.  Super Cool!
4. Sweet tea Mio – Love it!  I drink a gallon of water a day thanks to Mio!!
5. Pinterest – I heart Pinterest – you can find so many cool things/ideas/recipes/books/ on this site.

Weigh Day Wednesday

HowdyJ It’s Weigh Day Wednesday.  I am happy to report that I lost 1.8 this week.  I was talking to the hubbs about how slow this weight was coming off and he says “well you’re getting”…..um getting what?!?!  He swears that he wasn’t going to say “Old” but he was back peddling all over the place.  Says he couldn’t think of what he was going to say – ya right!  The truth of the matter is I am getting older and this will be a slower process but I’m cool with that.  Slow and steady wins the race – right?  I hope so.  I have NEVER in my life worked this hard to lose weight.  My MO is usually to try, and I stress the work try, to eat well.  All the while thinking of how I can cheat.  Or I exercise but eat like crap.  This time I am finally doing both at the same time.  No more pills, cabbage soup, or no carb diets for me.  I am learning how to be a normal person that eats normal portions.  Go figure.

Update on C25K – I got to the 3^rd workout this week which is to run 20 minutes straight – no walking in between like all the previous weeks.  I was convinced that I wouldn’t be able to do it – so much so that I freaked myself out and was actually anxious about it.  I got on the treadmill this morning and said to myself that if I couldn’t get through it that would be ok but at least try it out and see how long I could go for.  I had the iPod loaded up with my favorite songs and a little bit of gangster rap (one more fun fact about me – I like old school gangster rap….Ice Cube, NWA, and Too Short just to name a few).  Ha – bet you would have never guessed.  Anywho I start jogging and it’s not that bad and I was trying so hard not to look at the clock.  I finally gave in and took a quick look and I had been running for 10 minutes.  I was thinking that I just might be able to do this.  But then by the time I got to 12 minutes I wished for an earthquake, fire, black plague, anything that would get me off that treadmill.  But I kept going.  This is going to sound corny but all the encouraging comments and messages you have sent me were going through my head and that pushed me to do that last 8 minutes.  I was so happy when I realized that I had just jogged non-stop for 20 minutes that tears welled up in my eyes – I warned you early on in this blog that I am sappy.  6 weeks ago I could barely jog for a minute without wanting to stop.  Now check me out!  I do have to admit that I am a very slow jogger – I jog at 4.2 so that is not going to win me any gold medals – well maybe for slowest runner ever – but as my friend Tamara says – No matter how slow you go you are still lapping everyone on the couch!  So trueJ

Update on calorie counting – I’m still counting and staying within my range for the day but I’ve been hungry like the wolf lately and I’m not talking about the Duran Duran song.  You know when you see a movie and there is a bear standing up roaring and growling with its teeth exposed?  That's how I’ve been feeling around lunch time and I eat breakfast!  Someone at work cut in front of me in the microwave line a couple of days ago and then proceeded to heat up their food for 7 minutes.  I wanted to eat their face off!!
 

Me before lunch

Small Request

I have a small request - if you like my blog would you mind clicking the "Join this Site" button on the right of this screen?  It would be cool to see how many of you like my silly ramblings.

It's Been a While

There was a problem this weekend with this website and it wouldn’t let me postL  so I have a lot to catch you up on:

• Weekend was greatJ Too short but that is typical.  Joe and I had some family over this weekend for a big spaghetti dinner.  Spaghetti is like my super krypotine.  I wasn’t really stoked about making it – not because I don’t like to, I mean come on I’m Italian making sauce and meatballs is basically taught at age 3.  I felt like I couldn’t be trusted around it.  But I’m happy to report that I did goodJ  I made myself some Smart Taste pasta that has more fiber in it and only had a cup and a half.  I tracked everything – even my glass of wine.  My sister (evil temptress) brought a tiramisu cake – holy hell – I didn’t even know that existed.  But I had 3 bites and gave the rest of my piece to Joe.  My willpower is getting stronger and I’m stoked.     Pic from Sat

• I’m on week 5 of C25K.  Let me tell you it’s no joke this week.  I'm honestly not sure if I will be able to get through it.  This week is the first one where the workouts are all different.  Up until now the program has you do the same one all week then move up to the next one.  This week they start you off jogging 5 min then walk 3 then repeat twice.  That one was actually not that bad at all.  Then the next one is the one that I did today which is jog for 8 minutes and walk for 5 min repeat once.  That was a challenge.  I did it but I wanted to barf – just like you see on Biggest Loser when a new contestant has worked out for like 8 hours straight and they finally have all they can take and puke.  That was what I felt like at the end of the second 8 minute jog.  I will do that workout again tomorrow to keep up with my schedule.  But then there is the workout that I am supposed to do Wednesday.  Um…..gulp….after the 5 min warm up walk you are supposed to jog 20 min straight.  What the hell happened to adding a couple minutes every week??  I am perplexed that after jogging 8 minutes that all of a sudden 20 is the next logical step.  That is a crap sandwich.  Oh well.  I will try it. Every week so far I have thought that I wouldn’t be able to do it and I have.  Maybe this one will be the same – fingers crossed.
• I switched to jogging in the mornings instead of after work.  On the weekends as soon as I get up I hit the treadmill and usually have an easier time getting through the run then I do when I workout after work.  So today was the first day of that.  It wasn’t easy getting up and out of bed at 5:00am but it was so nice to just come home and chill.  I am catching up on season 1 of Revenge – woo hoo!!  Side note that show is awesome.  If you don’t watch it go to Netflix sign up for streaming service and watch all 20 some episodes until your eyes bleed - I'll wait while you sign up...tick tock tick tock.  Trust me you don’t want to wait for the DVD’s to come in the mail!!  It is that good.  Then watch season 1 of Scandal – even better than Revenge!  ABC feel free to send me a check for that glowing endorsement.

• I got a new treadmill – well it was used but new to me.  As you know my old treadmill had seen better days.  It wouldn’t maintain a constant speedL  I was looking on Craigs List and I see this postings from one of our neighbors selling theirs and its basically brand new.  We got it for $150 score!  Even has an iPod dock and speakers built in – double score! Here are some pics – ignore dungeon like basement.