Who Knew?

Did we ever see it coming? Well, with all her money, she had to resort to buying something besides shoes at some point!



(Please, no libel lawsuits. It's a joke, people!)



So anyhow...it's a good day. David is already working his contacts and updating his resume, so I have a good feeling that he's going to be back in the workforce in no time. :) I admire his determination. He's not sitting around feeling sorry for himself. Just one more thing to add to the list of wonderful qualities!

No other big news. Going to David's tonight for dinner. It's always good to give him a hug!

Shout outs to Holly who is getting her wisdom teeth out today, and to Jessica, who finds out what the sex of her baby is going to be!!

The 10 Pound Challenge....so far, it's me, Kim, and Denise. Any others joining in? We're just trying to get 10 pounds off by January 1st. No real rules, just providing encouragement! I thought I might send encouraging emails every Monday, so if you want to get in on the fun and try to shake 10 pounds off, post your email address (or email it to me if you'd like to keep it to yourself) and I'll add you to the list! (Don't worry, I won't spam you!)

I hope everyone has a good day!

The Wait is Over

So David got good news and bad news. The good news is that he isn't moving, but the bad news is that he is unemployed. But I really admire his spirit-he's been making calls all evening and getting his resume out there. He's not sitting around feeling sorry for himself. I'm so proud of him!

So thanks to everyone who has been so supportive...now we just need to hope he finds a great job! Anyone with any contacts in the mens shoe industry, please let me know!! (Or shoes in general...I need him to work somewhere with a woman's line!) He was an account manager for all of Texas, so he's got a lot of experience!!

Have a great evening, and thanks again to all!!

Waiting

Today is the day David finds out the news of his job. However, it's not looking good. He spoke with a colleague last night and her job was "eliminated". Apparently all the Account Managers are being eliminated, so it looks like he may be losing his job. But you never know...maybe it will turn out really well! Please send him good thoughts around 4pm.

I had a really good workout yesterday. We worked arms and I am feeling it this morning!! But I am really working hard to get my momentum back, so the stiffness reminds me that it's progress. Kim has proposed a challenge, and so I say let's lose 10 pounds by January 1st! She's working with a trainer now, too, so we can do it!! What do you say, Kim? And if anyone else wants to join the challenge, let me know! We'll do it together! (We CAN lose weight through the holidays!)

David made dinner last night, and let me tell you...that man can cook! He grilled pork chops, made homemade mashed potatoes (his secret low-fat recipe just for me!) and a yummy salad. Oh, it was soooo good! We watched "The Jacket" (Adrian Brody and Keira Knightly) and let me be sure to not recommend that one. I wasn't impressed. Interested premise, but not a very good film. The best thing was that David kept telling me how glad he was that I was there, so I felt like I was helping him keep his mind off the stress of work.

So that's it in a nutshell. Hope everyone has a great day, and thanks so much for all the support! :)

Weekend Review

I know I pretty much blogged it all yesterday, but even though I am worried about David, I did have a lovely Thanksgiving. I missed Gran so much, but Joseph joined the family for the day and we had so much fun! He stayed long after everyone else left. We napped, we took a walk, we ate more turkey...it was a great day! and Joseph, I love you so much and am so happy you could be with us! No matter what, you will always have a place to spend the holidays if you want one! :)

Friday afternoon David and I went to see Walk the Line. Pretty good movie. We had fun and just enjoyed each other's company.

Saturday night David and I had dinner at Angela's house with her husband Tom and our friend Kim Williams. It was wonderful and David and I had such a good time!

Sunday I had lunch with Kevin and Robbyn. For those of you who don't know about Robbyn, she is amazing. She had a quadruple organ transplant over 5 years ago and is the only person in the country to live that long after a transplant of that magnitude. I know some really amazing people. Anyhow, she is doing well and as always, is in great spirits.

So now David and I are sitting and waiting to see what will come of the meeting on Wednesday with his upper management. Please cross your fingers that he doesn't get relocated. Seriously folks, this guy is everything I could hope for and I am not ready to face that big of a change with him.

Post-Turkey Update

For all concerned, my turkey came out very tasty, and Thanksgiving came off perfectly. Aside from missing my Gran terribly, it was a great day. My friends all kept wondering if David and I were going to spend the holiday together, and we did not. It's still too soon (only 7 weeks, people!) so I was fine with that. We saw each other Friday and Saturday, so it was all good.

I am totally starting over with WW. Since my Gran passed away, I haven't been able to get myself back on track, so rather than struggle with having gained weight, I am starting fresh. I'll get a new weigh-in card and start over. So I am going to really need some encouragement. I promise to post my weekly results again, as if I hadn't lost anything already. So any words of support you can spare, I really need them.

David's company is preparing for a reorg, and he has a meeting Wednesday. He doesn't know how things will shake out, and there is a possibility he may be relocated. I am really hoping not. Some of you know my history with relationships, and I have been through some especially tough stuff so finding David has been a blessing for me. I know I shouldn't count my chickens before they hatch and all, but I am really nervous about this. I really, really like him. He's an amazing man and he makes me happy. I'm so afraid that he'll have to relocate and since we've only been dating a short time it won't make sense to try and have something long distance. I'm going to hope for the best and accept whatever happens.

So that's it for now. I hope each of you had a great holiday! :)

Giving Thanks

I'm going to take a cue from The Blonde today...

Things I am thankful for:

* The freedom to say whatever I want
* My friends and family
* David. I am VERY thankful for David. :)
* Having a bed to sleep in and a roof over my head.
* Chocolate

That's not everything, but it's a few things. Tell me what you're thankful for!

After I get off work, I am going to go home and cook. David wants to come keep me company, and I am excited to see him as always. He is feeling better, too, so maybe we won't be so sniffly and sneezy today. I have a few pies to make and a turkey to dress, so it's going to be great to have him over while I get stuff done. Besides, he's an AWESOME cook and might lend a hand with the turkey!

All my friends have been after me to talk to David about Thanksgiving and what he and I will do. We've been dating about 7 weeks, so it seems a bit soon to have a holiday with each other's families. We haven't discussed it at all, and I'm fine with that. My family will be over at noon, and Joseph is coming a little later and we're going to have a meal together. So I have lots of things I am looking forward to doing tomorrow, and I am sure that at some point David and I will either chat or see each other. So it's all good with me!

David and I are having dinner at Angela's on Saturday night so she and Tom and Kim Williams (and maybe a date for Kim?) will get to meet David, and that's probably enough meeting people for one weekend. :)

One more very important thing...

Happy Birthday Dad!!!!

Everyone have a safe holiday! I probably won't blog tomorrow, so check back over the weekend!

The Agony of the Allergies!

Still fighting these dumb old allergies, and now David is dealing with his too. He came over for dinner last night and after we ate we spent the evening laying on the couch coughing and sniffling. Really romantic, huh?

So not much news. I did work out last night, but I am just not sure how that's going to go tonight. I am exhausted.

So that's it for today. Have a good Tuesday!

The Story of the Romantic Dinner

Funny story about the dinner I was making Friday night...true to the way things generally go, it didn't go without a hitch. But it does make for a funny story!

So I was busy preparing dinner Friday evening...chicken, a lovely salad, appetizers, and a very tasty dessert. About 7pm I get a call from David to tell me his plane landed safely. And one more thing...Dallas Love Field was on "lockdown" and no one was being permitted to leave. He didn't know when he was going to be over, but we figured he would be delayed an hour, so no biggie. I was behind schedule anyhow, so it was just fine. He said he would call when he heard anything and I got back to getting things ready. I set the table, made another run to the store, took my shower and thought things were going along fine. Then he called again. Now the rumor was that there was a bomb scare in the parking lot. Great. Still no idea when he could leave, and they were charging $6 for a beer at the Chili's in the airport. What a crock! So now it's going on 8:30, and the chicken is still doing it's thing in the oven and I am getting things wound down as far as preparations go. about 9:15, things are pretty much ready when David calls to say that the word on the street was that there was an unattended bag that looked suspicious and they were waiting for the bomb squad to arrive. Apparently those guys aren't sitting around ready to go at a moment's notice, so it would be another hour. And David is so patient but frustrated. Can you imagine being stuck at Love Field for an evening? I don't like to go there anyhow, but to be stuck there? Forget it! By now the news is beginning to report that there is something going on out there. I already know, people!! My boyfriend is stuck out there and I am spending all evening cooking for him! So a little after 10 I get the best call of the night...he's on his way over!! So I pop the appetizers in the oven and put the chicken on a plate. Everything is rolling along. When he gets over to my apartment, I was so happy to see him! He changed out of his suit and we ate the appetizers and enjoyed some wine. When we were ready to eat, I asked him to carve the chicken, only to find that after 2 hours in the oven, the damn bird wasn't cooked all the way through. Yes, it appears I may have a faulty element in the oven. We put the chicken in for another hour to let it finish cooking, but we were both so tired that we weren't hungry any more, and decided we'd call it a night.

Yeah, really romantic dinner.

But the best part of it was that he was so appreciative of my efforts and went on and on about how special it was that I had done that for him. I swear I wasn't trying to serve him the salmonella special!! How embarassing!

And that, my friends, is the story of the romantic dinner.

A special note to the jackass that intentionally left the bag at the airport and then called in a fake bomb scare...you're a jerk and I hope they lock you up for a while! Not only did you jack up my evening, you jacked up a lot of people's evenings. Okay...done with the rant.

The rest of the weekend was good. Saw the new Harry Potter movie, played darts Saturday night (which is really tough with my useless finger right now!), and got lots of rest. My allergies are still acting up, and I had to miss the Saints and Sinners show at Trees last night. I am ready to feel better!!!

So have a good Monday! Thank goodness it's a short week!

Allergies are Not Romantic

I am one seriously congested girl today. I am hoping that this junk clears up before tonight. Otherwise I am going to have the sexy phlegm going on while cooking dinner tonight, and quite frankly, phlegm is not sexy. Not even a little. And especially not when it's the person preparing dinner.

That's it for today. Just a short little complaint about feeling crummy. Hope everyone else is having a good day! :)

Beware...Complaint Ahead!

I don't feel great today. I had to cancel dinner with Grampa last night in case I have something other than allergies. I am pretty sure it's due to the weather we've had...high winds, crazy temperature changes...all of this makes for a congested me. My throat is a little scratchy due to the drainage, but I'll be fine. I am trying to drink lots of liquids. I refuse to get officially sick! However, I did go home last night and slept pretty much all evening. I talked to David for an hour or so, though. He's so wonderful! We were going to take the day off together Friday and go hiking and have a picnic, but he has to fly to San Antonio for the day on business so we're going to hike another day. He won't tell me what he is planning for the picnic. He wants that to be a surprise. :) I LOVE surprises!! He's such a great guy...I feel really lucky we found each other. I know we've only been dating for six weeks, but it's just going really well. Anyone familiar with my dating history knows that this is a big achievement! So send good thoughts that this continues on as it is!

Onto other news...I am getting my hair cut tonight my hairstylist extraordinaire Christy! I am providing dinner for her and haircut/color aside, it's going to be so great to get caught up with her! :) It's always nice to spend time together!

Tomorrow night I am making dinner for David. Any suggestions on what to make would be greatly appreciated! I am prepared to go all out for this because I want to wow him with my culinary skills, so PLEASE submit recipes! I really want it to be special!

That's it for now...have a great day everyone!

A Lovely Evening

As a celebration of being stitch-free, Dave took me out to dinner last night. We went to the Olive Garden and had a great dinner. Afterwards we stopped at Target and he got logs for his fireplace and we went back and watched Spiderman 2 and enjoyed the fire. It was a very nice way to celebrate my stitch removal!

So tonight is my dinner date with Grampa. How about that...dinner dates two nights in a row, each night with a great man! :)

Tomorrow night after working out, Christy is going to cut/color my hair. YAY! It needs some help! It's been a while since I had a haircut so this is a great thing! I won't be doing anything drastic or really different, but my hair grows so fast it just needs to be trimmed up and textured. And then there are the gray hairs, but we don't have to talk about them!

So that's it for now. Have a great day!!

The Finger Saga Continues

The stitches are out! My finger has been liberated! :) I don't have to go back for more x-rays for another month, but the doctor says everything looks like it's progressing normally. (It still looks pretty ugly, but it's much better!) It even looks like my nail is trying to grow in! Yay!

So that's the latest on the finger. All is well!

Ein Deutches Requiem

I had a lovely evening last night. I had dinner with my parents and then went to TWU to hear the choir perform Brahms' German Requiem, which they performed in English. (Odd for me to hear, but I got over it.) It is, by far, my absolute most favorite piece of music ever. It's also very special to me and I have some emotional attachment to it, but it's so beautiful. I know the Alto line backwards and forwards, so I hummed along quietly and thought all the words in German. It was wonderful! What a great evening!

I get the remainder of my stitches out today!! David is taking me to dinner to celebrate my stitchlessness. Isn't that sweet? (Yes, go on and make gagging noises. I know it's silly to the rest of you...however, I don't care!) In other good finger-related news, it looks like the nail is trying very hard to grow in, so I think I'll be ok! :)

That's about it for today. Can you believe the Cowboys pulled it off at the end of the game last night? Who saw that coming? Blonde, I know you must be incredibly bummed!

Have a great day everyone!

The Holidays Have Arrived...In the Form of a Potluck Meal

You always know the holidays are here when your office has a potluck luncheon. We are having ours today, but in an effort to lose weight this week, I brought my lunch and am planning to skip the fatty foods. (Go me!) The company even sprang for the turkey and side dishes! But I am strong and will overcome any desire to participate.

It was a really nice weekend. I had dinner with my friend Kevin (we went to Outback...yum!) but I was so sleepy after a big dinner that I went home and went to bed. Saturday I went out to my Gran's gravesite with Mom to put flowers there. It's the first time I had been out there since her service. The headstone is there now, and it looks very nice. It's very peaceful out there, and someone put windchimes in the tree. It was windy Saturday and even though I normally don't care for windchimes, they were soothing. It was a nice visit and not as hard as I thought it would be.

Then we took my 10 year old cousin to her school carnival. We didn't stay too long because Mom and I needed to get home. Mom had plans of her own, and David was coming back to town and coming over, so I got home and picked up the apartment. When David got there, we chatted for a while and then he layed down and took a nap. He woke up around 7-ish and we decided to go out to dinner, so we went to the Melting Pot (my favorite restaurant!). We had such a good time! I can't help myself...I'm nuts about this guy! :)

Sunday I was lazy and slept in. I skipped WW because I just couldn't face the scale. So instead, Mom came over and we planned our menus for the week, and I feel good about it. I am going to have a great week and get lots of exercise in. I feel really in control right now, so I am going to run with that!

I had dinner with Angela and Kim last night to get caught up. Kim got a new car over the weekend...congrats girl! It was fun to get caught up, and we decided that we're going to get together soon so they can meet the new man! Kim is now single again and on the market, so if you know and nice guys, pass his pic along to me so that I can screen it for Kim! (She's awesome and needs a really great guy!)

Oh, my finger is healing up pretty well. I don't' have it covered today because having the bandage off feels better and it seems to heal faster when it can breathe! So I brought stuff to cover it in case anyone gets grossed out. It's still not pretty, but it does look MUCH better!

So that's it in a nutshell. I stayed up too late at Mom and Dad's, so I am sleepy this morning. Tonight I am going to hear the Brahms Requiem at Texas Wesleyan (My Alma Mater!). It's my very favorite piece of music. It will be so nice to hear it!

Have a wonderful day! Hugs to everyone!

Friday!! Yay!

It's been a long week! I've had to deal with feuding co-workers, my handicapped finger, and incredible soreness in my legs from my Tuesday workout, so I am glad to see Friday arrive! (Although I am working out again tonight, so we'll see how THAT goes!) My finger is doing well, but it's such a hassle doing anything. I get the rest of my stitches out Tuesday so maybe that will make me feel better.

The bandage on my hand is getting smaller!!

David comes back into town tomorrow and I am looking forward to that. :) I need to do laundry and clean the apartment so that everything will look nice. I also need to get a haircut so that I will look nice. Actually, I have a few personal maintenance things to do so maybe I will try and get some of them done before tomorrow afternoon. (eyebrow waxing being high on the list!) Maybe I should get a manicure, too (on the 9 fingers that aren't injured!).

So no big news other than that. Going with mom to visit my Gran's gravesite tomorrow morning. The headstone is in place and I want to take Gran some flowers. I know she's not there anymore, but it makes me feel comforted. I always used to bring her roses and she loved them, so I still want to do that for her.

I might go with Joseph to a film festival tonight. I have to workout and I don't know if I can make it in time. We'll see how things go. And Sunday I am getting together with Angela and Kim Williams (I know 2 Kims, both with last names beginning with "W"!) to catch up. We haven't been able to do that in a long time!!

One more very important thing...

Happy Veterans Day! Thanks to all our soldiers...active, retired, reserves...thanks for all you guys do! :)

Have a great weekend!

A Newsworthy Post

I'll start today by getting the complaining out of the way. My legs are so sore!! Walking is slightly painful right now. This is what happens when you take a week off from working out. I'll never do that again!

And now, the big news for me.

So about 5-6 weeks ago I met a really great guy. His name is David and he's probably the nicest guy I have ever met. I have kept his name out of the blog because every time I meet someone and then talk about him, it goes south quickly, so I have maintained a low dating profile for a bit. However, as of last Sunday, we are officially exclusive, so I figure it's time to mention his name here so that I can start including him in my weekend recaps. For instance, he travels on business frequently during the week, and although he was not due back until this coming Saturday, he drove back up here from Austin over the weekend just to see me. :) He's wonderful, and I think there is a lot of good potential with him, but I am wanting to take things very slowly and carefully...no rushing the relationship! So now you all know who David is when you come across his name in future blog entries.

And that's my big news!

Not much else to report, except that Grampa and I had a great dinner at The Black Eyed Pea. We had an awesome visit and I am truly grateful for the time we spend together. We talked about him missing my Gran and how he's missing her. I think the holidays are going to be tough for us all, but the nice thing is that we are close and we can lean on each other.

So I hope you all have a wonderful day! Remember that Friday is just a day away now!!

Ah, the Soreness!

I worked out last night! (Yay!!) Instead of walking, we did a heavy duty leg workout (lunges, leg presses, leg extensions, etc) and I am feeling the burn today, my dear readers! But it's a great thing! It's always motivating to feel like I am making progress.

There is nothing of note going on today in my world. Excpet that it's Dinner With Grampa night!! (Which is always wonderful!) So that's news. That and gas prices are $2.18/gal by my apartment. That's definitely news!

So have a wonderful day!

Vote Today!

This post begins with a PSA for my fellow Texans. Be sure to vote NO on Constitutional Amendment 2. This is the amendment that will ban same-sex marriage. Whatever your feelsing on this issue, what place does the government have in telling YOU who you can and cannot marry? SHould the government be forcing it's values down YOUR throat? And if this passes, what else will they decide for you? Passing this amendment simply chips away at our right to make a very personal decision. While I am not gay, I do believe that anyone should be able to marry whomever they choose. And please, if we're going to tak about keeping marriage a sacred institution, can we take a look at some of these celebrity marriages? (Uh, hello Britney Spears and the 56-hour Vegas marriage!) So I ask all of you in Texas to get out and vote NO on Amendment 2.

Now, back to my regularly scheduled blogging. :)

I am going to work out with Jacqueline tonight. I didn't get to work out last week due to the finger. (No weight lifting and no running since that forces blood to your fingertips which can cause swelling...and trust me when I say we just don't need that!) So we're going to walk tonight. Good thing, too...I need to get back in the groove. Yeah, I'm still having some trouble but I just refuse to give up. I've come too far to turn back now!

Tomorrow night I am having dinner with Grampa. It's nice to get back into my regular routine! I was all messed up last week. This darn finger!

Anyhow, that's it for today. Have a good one, everybody!

And the Doctor Says...

Surprisingly, I got 5 stitches removed! I get the rest out next week, and then follow up again in a month to check the progress. He seems to think the fingernail will grow back, but he isn't sure if it will look as lovely as my other nails. That's ok...as long as I have something to work with! (I can get a tip put on if I need to) The bone in the tip of my finger is pretty well smashed so he said it's not worth doingsurgery on it. It might heal up slightly crooked, but not enough that anyone would notice. So all in all, a good report.

Whew! I'm relieved!

The Finger, Continued.

So I went to my doctor on Friday and sufficiently freaked him out enough with my finger. As a result, I am seeing a hand specialist today at 11am. I am guessing he'll decide when the stitches can come out. The two on the under side of my finger are healing up very well, and I bet they come out soon. The ones on top? Probably a whole other story. We'll just see what he says. I'll feel better when I know what to expect.

Fairly uneventful weekend. Got to see Andy and Melissa and Kaylee Saturday night. Kaylee is so precious! She's about a month old now, and has gained two pounds already! :)

So that's it for now. I'll report on the doctor's visit later. Ugh!

Paris is Burning

There's been a lot of mention of the Paris suburb of Clichy-sous-Bois lately. Lots of racial tension there which has resulted in violence and mayhem. I can't begin to write how sad this makes me. My impression of Paris is so different from those images on the news. The Paris I saw was a wonderful mix of different people who were so kind to me and Kim. Hopefully the violence will end very soon and people can focus on the real problem and how to fix it.

Mom and I went to dinner last night since Dad was going to a football game with his cousin last night. We went to Macaroni Grill, and it was quite tasty. (They've added some very yummy low fat items to the menu!) Then we went back to my place so she could help me wash my hair since Frankenfinger prevents me from doing so. What an inconvenience this is! I am going to the doctor today so that he can look at it. I am hoping to have the stiches out fairly soon, but I'm nervous about my fingernail. We'll see what happens!

Joseph is playing rugby in Austin tomorrrow, so good luck to the Dallas Diablos!! I am crossing my fingers he doesn't damage himself TOO badly tomorrow! :)

I am going to try and see Capote this weekend. I hear great reviews!

Everyone have a great Friday!

Nothing New

I don't have any big news. My finger hasn't rotted and fallen off yet, so that's good. It still looks pretty gross when the bandages are off, but I keep it covered and save the public from looking at my horrible disifgurement. I go to the doctor tomorrow so we'll see what he has to say.

I took it easy last night and laid low with the parents. Went to dinner and the grocery store, then cleaned the finger and went home to get a good night's sleep. The hydrocodone helps! (I only take 1/2 because that's strong stuff!

So anyhow, nothing new. I'll post tomorrow about what the doctor says.

Have a wonderful day! :)

Me and My Sexy Finger!

Yeah, this whole finger injury thing? Not much fun at all! Today it's really not feeling very pleasant. Last night we changed the bandages on it and I had to look at it. It's gross!!! I kept having to sit down because looking at it was making me dizzy. And I can tolerate a lot of things! (Apparently not the sight of my own stitched up finger!) But it's sickening to look at. I am going to the doctor on Friday for follow up and a referral to a hand specialist if needed. Fun stuff!

Mom, Dad and Grampa and I went to church last night for the All Saints Day service. This is where we remember those we've lost over the last year, so we remembered my Gran. It was a beautiful service and the choir sang Faure's Requiem. (It was wonderful!)

Right now my finger is throbbing and now my head is starting to ache, too, so I am going to go find some Motrin. I can't take the hydrocodone here at work. Ugh!

My Gory Halloween Story (seriously, this is kinda gross)

So I was running an errand while out with my mom last night and we decided to stop for coffee. (My treat) I got out of the car and was walking towards the building when I was jerked backward because my finger was shut in the door. I didn't even know I had done it! I opened the car door and my first thought was that I had pretty much cut off the tip of my finger. I calmly walked in to Starbucks and got napkins and directions to the closest ER. Mom had to drive me there, and after getting checked in, the shock started to wear off and my finger (right index) was throbbing. (Not to mention there was blood on my favorite Born shoes and my Kate Spade bag!) They got me back, took x-rays and determined that I have crushed to bone in the very tip of my finger and ripped my fingernail off. Fortunately, I did it just above where the nail grows so I will "probably" have a fingernail again. I am going to be optimistic about this. They stitched the nail to my finger so that the nail bed will keep it's shape for when my new nail grows in. Nice, huh? I got 6 stitches on the top of my finger and another 2 on the bottom side. The anesthesia is wearing off so it feels not so good right now. My finger, when I saw it last night at the ER before they dressed it, looks horrible. I am absolutely afraid to remove the dressing tonight when I have to clean it. I can feel it swelling and it's going to look nasty. I have to wash and re-dress it this evening, so pray for me that I don't pass out. This thing looks like Frankenfinger. Don't worry, no pics will be posted.

I hope everyone else had a better Halloween!!

A Fresh Start

Happy Halloween!!

I have decided to try to refocus on my WW program. I've been having trouble for about a month now, and soI am recommitting myself. I opted to not weigh in this week to give myself a fresh start. So I am probably going to need some encouragement from you, my friends. I've lost 77.5 pounds and I refuse to quit now. So I am absolutely going to do it right this week! :)

I had a pretty good weekend. Went out with Joseph and Dima Saturday night. I enjoy their company so much! :) I got to have dinner and catch up with Angela and Tom last night. It's always such a treat to spend time with them! I've felt a little worn out with stress, but I got a good night's sleep last night and feel much better today.

Tomorrow night is an All Saints service at church, where everyone in the congregation who passed away over the last year is remembered by name, so my Gran will be remembered. I'm going to that tomorrow night. The choir is singing Faure's Requiem which is a beautiful piece of music and I cannot wait to get lost in the sounds of the choir. It will be a wonderful evening.

Also, a big shout out to my cousin Jen. I'm thinking of you, girl!

For all my other friends who stop in to read my daily ramblings, have a good Monday!! I'm glad you dropped by! :)

It Has Arrived!

Friday!! It's been a long time coming!! This week has been so challenging for me...I am looking forward to running with Jacqueline tonight to get rid of some of this stress!

I want to just relax and enjoy myself this weekend. Saturday night I am going to Joseph's to hang out and watch movies and relax. That's just what I need! :) His friend who works at a french bistro is going to bring a fabulous dessert for us to share, so movies, good company, and creme brulee...is there anything more wonderful than that? :)

So I am going to relax and have fun this weekend and try to imrpove my attitude. It's going to be a good day! :)

Darn Allergies!

So today I am stuffy and my eyes are watery (don't worry...not another breakdown, just allergies!). I want to stay home and sleep so badly, but there is just too much to do right now at work. Ugh!

I had dinner with Grampa and Mom last night. After the day I had, Grampa made me a martini when I got to his house and that was a big help! :) We went to Mimi's Cafe for dinner and then went back to the house to visit. It just feels so good to spend time with him, and especially yesterday.

When I got home, I took a hot bubble bath to help me relax, and then I went to bed around 9pm. I needed the sleep desperately. I was just so worn out. I have decided that today will be a much better day. No crying episodes at work.

So that's it for now. I'm still not very awake, so I am going to get some coffee. Have a great day everyone! :)

It Finally Happened.

As many of you well know, I've been going around for the last month talking about how I kept waiting for the big sobbing breakdown over losing my Gran. I don't have to wait anymore. It happened today. Here. At work. I hate that. I don't cry at work.

Except today I did. And it sucks.

I wasn't having a stellar morning to start with, but then around 9am, I just lost it. And wouldn't you know it would happen with a bunch of people in my cube. And they're all wonderful people who wanted to hug me and comfort me, but all I could think about was running out of my office and out the door and never looking back. One woman even kissed my head. Yeah, I don't want some crazy woman with red lipstick kissing my forehead. That didn't help anything. But I thanked them anyhow. They all understood why I was so broken right then, and after a few minutes they finally left me alone to sob. I couldn't go to the ladies' room because I wasn't about to let anyone see me like that. So I sat and cried off my mascara. By the way, I look like shit now. Even 4 hours later, I still look like I cried recently. Mostly because of my makeup. I will not be leaving the house again without my makeup bag. I just had powder and gloss with me. Doesn't really help right now, huh?

So anyhow, that explains my morning mood in my earlier post. I'm better now, but still feeling quiet and a little sad. I guess this is just part of the process. I miss Gran.

Blah.

That pretty much sums it up. Blah. I am having allergy trouble this morning, so I feel stuffy and sleepy. I didn't sleep very well last night, which always surprises me after a leg workout. After the workout I ran out to Kev's to pick up my laptop. We grabbed some dinner and I hung out for a bit but I kept falling asleep on the couch so I came home. I figured I would go right to sleep when I got in bed, but no. And when I did finally fall asleep, I feel like I kept waking up throughout the night. This is driving me nuts. So today I am a little grumpy and pretty much would love to have just stayed home by myself. I promise to try and get over myself.

I don't have any real news, just the usual stuff. I am going to perk myself up and have dinner with Grampa tonight. That's always a good thing. :) I know that if nothing else, that will make my day!

I hope everyone is starting their day out better than me! Have a good one!

Late Night Coffee Run

So around 8:30 last night Joseph called and we chatted for a bit and then decided to meet for coffee. I love spontaneous plans! I threw on my jeans and headed out. We hung out at Starbucks for a while until a friend of his met us out there, and then we went to a place called Jasmine's for tea. We spent some time just being silly and laughing and it was a great time.

I am a little tired today, but I don't mind. I will eat a good lunch and then be ready to run this afternoon with Jacqueline. She's doing so well after her breakup! Her ex is still acting rather childishly, but it's all proving to her that calling off the wedding was the right thing to do.

I am determined to stay on track with WW this week. I am working really hard to stay focused and get back on my losing streak. I absolutely will have 85 pounds off by Thanksgiving!

Tomorrow night I am having dinner with Grampa. I missed last week because I wasn't feeling good. I come from a family of germophobes, and whenever you're sick, you don't bring the germs around. You stay home!! (Which is fine, because who wants to spread germs and either get sick or make someone else sick?)

So other than that, I have zero news. Nothing big going on, just the usual stuff. I am loving the cooler weather! I am finally getting to wear some of the scarves I bought in Paris last June, and I have gotten more compliments on my scarves! I love it when people say "where did you get that?" Then I get to reply, "I got it in Paris!" I love saying that!!

Have a wonderful day everyone!

Castles ARE Allowed!!

So while I was out hiking at the lake this weekend, I saw a very odd sign. Well, the sign itself might not have been so odd, but a part of it struck me as very strange. Here's the sign...

The sign itself is just a sign with the name of the hiking trail on it. Here's the odd part...

It appears that hiking is ok, horses are not ok, but castles are permitted? What does this mean? I never once saw a castle while hiking. I was slightly disappointed about that. But perhaps next time I go hiking I will bring my own. Very strange!

So my WW was definitely NOT a success. I had a very small gain. I'm just having a hard time right now. One of the big keys to WW success is writing everything you eat in a "journal". I haven't been very good about that for the last month, and I think that is part of my problem. I don't know why I've been so resistant about doing it. It's not a pain, it's not hard or time consuming. So in an effort to really get myself back on track, my mother and I are going to fax each other copies of our journals every afternoon. This makes me accountable and will hopefully really keep me in line with that. I'll let you know how it's going. I'm going to have 85 pounds off my Thanksgiving no matter what! (Because I want 100 pounds off by January 1st!)

Jaqueline and I worked out at my complex Friday night. We went running, did lunges, and step-ups and I was worn out afterwards! I like having my sessions outside when the weather is that lovely! I am wondering about this week...I sure would love to run outside again!

So really other than that, there's not any big news. I did see Elizabethtown Friday night. It was good, but a couple of places were hard for me because of recent family events. But it was a good movie...even Kevin liked it. :)

So that's about it. Hope you all have a great Monday!!

A Very Long Week

Finally it's Friday! I shouldn't complain since I was off Wednesday, but I wasn't feeling good. But I am loving the weather today and wish I didn't have to come back from lunch! It would be nice to have a fireplace on nights like tonight, but I don't have one. :( I'll just snuggle with my kitty and bask in the warm glow of the TV.

I got invited to a Halloween party for tomorrow night, but I am going to pass. Not feeling the Halloween vibe...and I don't have a costume, so no biggie for me. Halloween hasn't ever been a big deal to me. I used to participate in a haunted house that my friend Kevin always took great pride in, and that was ALWAYS fun! We don't really do that anymore, and since then Halloween just seems like another day. I even bought candy for trick-or-treaters last year and didn't get a single knock on my door. Bummer! I'll probably go to my parent's house for dinner this year. Which is a happy alterntive to sitting home waiting for nothing! :)

It's a slow and quiet day here at work. I am going to see a movie with Kevin tonight and I don't know what we're going to see. There are a few things out that interest me, but I think they're mostly chick-flicks. Although I do want to see Flightplan (Jodi Foster). We'll see what else is showing, though.

I hope all of you have a great weekend! Too everyone in Hurricane Wilma's path, please be careful and go somewhere safe! (Thanks for reminding me of the correct name, Dad!)

One more quick prayer...I got news from my mom that my cousin Jen's mom has cancer and has been given a negative prognosis. Please keep her in your prayers/good thoughts!

Hugs to all of you and have a wonderful weekend!

A Day of Rest

I was in the office for about an hour yesterday and then decided I felt crummy so I headed home. I slept for most of the day and was glad I was feeling better, but I make a lousy patient and felt very cooped up so I took myself to a movie last night. I saw In Her Shoes. I love this movie. It moved me in a lot of ways and there was a lot I found that I could identify with. Some of it was hard because parts of it take place in a nursing/assisted living home and I found myself tearful and missing my Gran, but I thought it was a very good movie. It may be a little "chick-flicky" for you guys, so I would recommend it for the ladies. Just go alone and experience the movie.

So after the movie I stopped by Mom and Dad's for a bit. I am finding that I am really missing my Gran right now and was getting a little bit teary, but I'm ok. I just miss her. I think Mom does, too.

Tonight I am going to my friend Michelle's for dinner. Michelle and I go way back to elementary school! She's married with two kiddos now and it's always a treat to catch up with her. We laugh and have such a great time!

So that's about it for me today. I still feel kind of blah, but better than yesterday. I hope it's not a reaction to my stupid old flu shot!

Everyone have a great day! :)

I Don't Enjoy Getting Shots

So I got my flu shot yesterday...OW! The shot itself wasn't so bad, but my arm hurt a bit for the rest of the evening. I hate shots more than I can say. I know it's a small needle, etc, but I just really despise getting them. (My parents can certainly attest to that!)

Tonight it leg night with Jacqueline. I am really looking forward to burning some calories! I'm going to get there about 30 minutes early to spend time on the treadmill and try and burn off a few more. Then after I am done and showered, I am going to Joseph's for a bit. We're going to hang out and relax. I love going over there, but dang! Having to take the tollway eats up my change and I hate scrounging. I have resisted the temptation for years to purchase a TollTag, but I broke down yesterday and ordered one online. So in just a few days I won't have to worry about that any more. It will be nice to just zip through the tollgates and not have to stop and throw change in the basket-like thing. I was coming home on the tollway last night and felt like I had to stop way too often. Ugh! (Wow...I can complain about something for DAYS, can't I?)

Work is dragging today. I feel a little tired, but I shouldn't. I got a decent night's sleep last night, so I guess it must be the weather. It's supposed to get chilly again this weekend!! I love wearing jackets, and I bought a bunch of scarves in Paris back last June, so I can't wait to wear them! I also ordered a bunch of stuff from The Gap and Old Navy, so they should be in soon and maybe I can wear some of the new sweaters this weekend!

Obviously I have no real news to discuss today. I'm feeling rather cheerful and happy today...and very chatty, apparently. I'll put a stop to the nonsense now. I hope everyone has a great day!

Good News at WW

I had a good weigh in yesterday at WW! Now, last week I used my No Weigh In Pass, but I got on the scale anyhow and the news was not good at all...throughout everything that had happened over the two weeks prior to that, I had eaten a bunch of food at that was really bad for me, and it showed up on the scale. (to the tune of 7 pounds....I'm not proud of that at all.) HOWEVER...I got on the scale yesterday and lose 5 of that, so I was very pleased! (2 more to go and I'll have gotten all of that awfulness off of my body!) So I am feeling good about that.

It was a quiet day yesterday, but I needed that. I got to bed nice and early and slept well, but I am not feeling great today. Whatever it is I'm sure will pass quickly. I don't feel sick, just don't feel great.

I get my flu shot today and as much as I hate getting shots, I'll be glad to get it. I get one every year (except last year) and I generally don't have any problems with the flu.

Here's a great quote for the day...

In every soul there is locked away an adventure. It may be as small as a walk in the park or as grand as climbing a mountain. The key to happiness is unlocking that adventure and bringing it into the light. Go take that walk in the park or climb that Everest and see what joy and further adventures it brings. A life void of adventure is an empty existence and one full of regrets.

Have a good Monday!

It's Friday and I Couldn't Be Happier!

TGIF! Seriously!

First things first: It's Denim for Dollars day at my office. We're wearing jeans for a $5 contribution to fight breast cancer. Be sure to donate this month to help find the cure!

Last night I had dinner with Grampa (his night to buy!). We went to Applebee's and had cocktails and dinner. I love that he recognizes the importance of a good drink before dinner! He theorizes that after 15, 500 martinis you become immortal. I love this man! After dinner we went back to his house and watched some tv and visited. When I was leaving, he told me how much he enjoys our weekly night together. For my Grampa to say this, he must really mean it. He is very loving, but not a big "huggy kissy" kind of man, so this meant the world to me. I'll break my neck to get there and spend the evening with him for the rest of both of our lives!

On the way home I stopped at Target to get a few groceries and then came on home. I have been a tired girl, and I am still sore from my Wednesday workout. I am working out again tonight with Jacqueline and I just might die. Seriously, if she super-sets me and then we sprint in between, it might be the death of me. It's been a long week and I am worn out!

Tomorrow, Mom and I are planning to hit a couple of resale shops. I really need some fall clothes but don't really have the $$ to spend on a lot of new stuff, especially since I seem to change sizes (going in the smaller direction!!) with a good deal of regularity. This is exciting, and a pain in the pocketbook. What I really need to do is buy a belt!

Also, Mom told me that they got a shoe catalog from Nordstrom's for me at their house. She saw some shoes that would be perfect for my Salsa dancing, so I may need to take a look. Heck, it's a shoe catalog from Nordstrom's...of course I need to take a look! I actually need a couple of pairs of shoes for fall/winter, as I have been the queen of flip-flops this past summer. I need some really great fall shoes. I am really wanting to buy more feminine shoes (certainly my foot-loving friend will be happy to read that!)...I catch myself leaning towards Dr. Martens and some of the more chunky Mary-Jane styles, and I am ready for a change. I bought a great pair of Steve Madden Mary-Janes, but they're not the chunky ones...they're very feminine and sexy! :)

I did a little online shopping this morning and bought a few things from the Gap and Old Navy, so I am looking forward to some new fall things. I know I am needing to save money, but I had a $75 gift card to The Gap and Old Navy was having a sale. What can I say...I am a shopaholic! Now I need a littel bit of fall makeup and I'll be happy! (Hey, I haven't bought any MAC recently, so I am long overdue!)

I think that's it for now. Have a fabulous Friday!

It's All Greek To Me!

I had dinner with Christy last night and we met at a little Mediterranean cafe on highway 26 in Hurst. I had never eaten that kind of food before, but I have to tell you that is some GOOD STUFF! We got a few appetizers and shared and she brought a bottle of wine (it's BYOB) and it was fantastick! Dolmas, hummus, calamari, falafel...everything good all on one table! And then we had what was essentially baklava with cashews for dessert. We've decided that we may have to make that our every other week treat! It was so much fun catching up with her and laughing and just having a great time.

Before dinner, though, I worked with Jacqueline. My legs are sore today, let me tell you! I was a bit fatigued from all the outside work I had done the day before, so I wasn't up to par yesterday but I still got one heck of a workout in! We lunged outside and I did probably about 65 lunges. That in addition on all the squats and leg presses...man, I am tired today! But I have a very special dinner date tonight. I am going to have dinner with Grampa, and he insists it's his turn to buy. Who am I to argue, right?

So that's the news for today. Have a good Thursday!!

Community Day in Review

So yesterday was our Community Day. I spent my time sanding, painting, and hauling branches to a dumpster and let me tell you, it was hard work! The rain helpd off until the end of the day, so we managed to get most everything finished. We were a very tired and sweaty bunch when it was finished! I wish they would have our appreciation dinner the next day so we could all look nice, but no...we have to go to the Omni looking like the last rose of summer! And Holly really is right...it would be nice if they could do a little better than hamburgers or grilled chicken for us!

When I got home I was happy to get out of my sweaty clothes and clean up! I went over to Mom and Dads for a bit, and then Mom and I ran a bunch of stuff up to Goodwill. Then on to Walgreens and then home. I got back in time to watch my favorite show...Law&Order: SVU. I love that show!

Tonight is leg night, so I am preparing for a beating! After my workout I am having dinner with Christy, whom I have not seen in forever it feels like, so I am excited about seeing her. :)

So that's about it for now. Have a good Wednesday!

Seriously, No News!

I got home from work yesterday, chatted on the phone for a bit, sat down to decide on dinner, and woke up in my chair at 9pm. So yeah, I didn't get anything done last night! Shame on me! I had planned to make dinner and go work out, but didn't do either.

Today is Community Service Day at work. I'll be out of the office for the day working at the Salvation Army doing all kinds of stuff, but mostly sanding so that another team can follow behind and paint. (We're refurbishing the outside of the building) And then when all is said and done, we're having a company wide dinner at the Omni Mandalay Hotel close to the office. I don't mind...it's nice to get away from the office for the day!

So that's it for now. Have a good day everyone!

Back on Track

So I made it to my WW yesterday. I used my "No Weigh In Pass" which means I went to the meeting but chose not to step on the scale. I do know for a fact I have gained a couple pounds, but I know why and I am getting myself back on track now. I am absolutely going to have a good week and get those pounds off of me. My short-term goal is to have a total of 85 pounds off by Thanksgiving, and I think I can do that. That's only about 7.5 pounds in 6 weeks, so this is totally do-able. My biggest problem has been that I haven't written everything down that I've eaten, which makes me lose track and then it all goes downhill from there. In my meeting yesterday we talked about the things that keep us anchored and focused, and a handful of women in my group said that I was their anchor/inspiration. I swear I thought I would cry! I don't think I've ever felt like an inspiration, but I guess we never know how our actions influence other people, do we?

In other news, I got to see Andy and Melissa's new baby yesterday. She is so tiny and precious! Her name is Kaylee Jane and she is so quiet and sweet! However, Andy has some serious bags under his eyes! Melissa should be in the hospital for another day or two, and then it's home they go. Very exciting for them!

That's about it for my news. Everyone have a good Monday...hugs to you all!

The Beauty of a Lazy Day

It's been so nice today...just being lazy and doing the things I want to do. I had brunch with Grampa and had a lovely morning. Mia and I were going to go see Joseph play rugby today, but it turned out he wasn't going to be playing so she and I opted to hang out and wander around Target and marvel at the fun fall clothes. Both of us had plans that fell through at the last minute, so we're going to go out to dinner and hang out for a bit. (I'm waiting for her to get ready as I write this)

Tomorrow I am having brunch with Joseph and Eric and then off to WW. I know, I haven't gone to a meeting in two weeks, but I am for sure going tomorrow. I've had a hard time lately, so thank God for the workouts! (I ran/walked for 4 miles yesterday!! I'm so proud!) My jeans are fitting a bit loose, so that's encouraging. :)

Joseph and Eric came over for dinner last night and then we went to the gay bar and Jen and Craig met us out there. We had a really fun time, but I had a bit of a realization that I may be getting a little tired of the bar scene. Joseph and I both are feeling the same way about that.

So anyhow, everyone have a fun Saturday night!

Welcome to the World!

Just a quick congratulatory note to Andrew and Melissa Hsia!! They (well, Melissa did all the work!) just had a baby girl today, and mother and baby girl and doing wonderfully!



Just had to share happy news!

Yes, I'm a Liar.

I didn't get my pictures uploaded as promised. Please do not pelt me with rotten fruit if you see me out and about anywhere. I am going to shoot for Saturday to get that done. I went to support local music last night...Saints and Sinners played an awesome set at the Ardvark Bar in Ft. Worth. Pretty cool venue, I might add. The band before them was a beating for me to listen to, though. Actually the band was fine, the lead singer was terrible! They did a cover of Kelly Clarkson's "Since You've Been Gone" and I thought I would die. I should have stepped up on stage and offered to finish the song for them. Man, the suck-o-meter was off the charts! But all was good in the world when my Saints and Sinners boys got on stage! (And big thank you to Brian for putting me on the list!!)

Tonight I am having Joseph and some of his friends over for dinner and then we're going out for a bit. Tomorrow Joseph has a rugby game and I am going to go cheer for him. I've never been to a rugby game so this should be fun. I love hockey and from what I've seen on TV, rugby looks like hockey on steroids. Should be interesting!

Saturday night is looking pretty laid back. I'm waiting to hear back from Christy to see if she wants to have a little dinner, but if that doesn't work out I may just stay in and veg. It's been a long week! The idea of making dinner for myself and eating on the patio just seems like something nice to do for myself.

What is everyone else doing this weekend? Whatever you do, have fun!

Hugs to everyone!!

Wednesdays with Grampa

So I took my Grampa to dinner last night, and we had such a good time! We went to Mimi's Cafe and just talked and laughed and really enjoyed ourselves. My Grampa was instrumental in the aviation/engineering field back when everything was new. He helped to invent the predecessor to the "little black box" that is in all the cockpits now, and he even flew to Palm Springs with Howard Hughes for a milkshake! This man has great stories to share! We went back to the house and watched some TV, and talked a little more. He's doing well, but he says that mid-afternoons he starts to feel a little lost. But he's doing ok and is trying to figure out his new routine. I know he'll be fine. He let me take him to dinner on the condition that he buy next Wednesday, so I told him it was a date! I'm glad we're getting to spend time together like this.

I got my "Wow!" award at work yesterday and managed not to slip and fall on the CEO. I have pictures but didn't get them uploaded, so I will do that tomorrow. Besides, I haven't posted any recent pics and I need to do a side by side of my before picture and a current picture. I know I keep saying I'll do it...it's hard to look at the before picture now. But I am looking better these days, so I'll try and do that tonight so you can all see my progress.

Tomorrow Jacqueline and I are going running outside for my session, and with the weather as nice as it's getting, this should be great! I say that now...tomorrow may be a different story!

I talked to my cousin Jen last night. She's getting hit left and right with tough news. This past weekend, her father's house burned down (everyone is ok, thank God!) and then yesterday she got the news that her mother has cancer. Her mother is a breast cancer survivor and a very strong woman, so we are all praying for her to continue to be strong. Apparently the breast cancer came back and has spread to her lungs. She is having more tests done today, so we are hoping for a plan of action very soon. So when you say your prayers or send good thoughts out, please think of my cousin Jen's mom. (And Jen, too...she needs strength!)

So that's it for me for today. I hope everyone has a great day, and hugs to you all!

What Have I Gotten Myself Into?

So when I told my trainer I wanted her to work me harder, apparently I was smoking crack that day. Oh my gosh, I am about as useful as spaghetti today! We worked legs last night, and I am one sore girl! And when we work out on Friday, she's meeting me at my apartment and we're going running on the trail in my complex. I think I have some sort of disease where I can't shut up, so I just keep blurting out these great ideas about how we should work me out harder! Seriously, I'm glad we're going it, but I spent a majority of my week with sore arms/legs. At least it feels like progress!

I was so proud of myself last night...I got a lot done around the apartment. I still have some stuff to take to the Salvation Army or Goodwill, but other than that the place looks good! I am having some friends over for dinner friday night and would like for things to look decent. I think it's time to clear off some of the plants on the patio. I don't always do well with plants, even though I love them. Christy is wonderful with plants! I wish I had her green thumb!

Other than all that silliness, no news. I am having dinner with Grampa tonight, so I am really looking forward to spending some quiet time with him.

Have a good Wednesday!

Dragging a Little Today

I had some trouble sleeping last night, so I am dragging a bit today. I need to get it together because it's leg night tonight!

It's been a very busy day today with work. Spent most of my day in a training class, so I feel like I can't seem to catch up and am constantly interrupted. I think I need to lay low tonight and soak in a hot bubble bath after I work out. Maybe a manicure/pedicure/facial will be in order. Tonight is Law&Order SVU, so you all know where I will be at 9pm! (Parked in front of my TV!)

I am getting some crazy award tomorrow at work for going above and beyond for one of our member hospitals. It's funny to me because (and I'll spare you the silly details) the whole thing is just part of my job. I didn't think I did anything out of the ordinary, but apparently our employee recognition committee thinks so, and now I get to accept an award from the CEO and a $50 gift certificate to the place of my choice. Honestly, I'd rather not have to walk down the grand staircase to accept an award, as I am a bit clumsy and will probably fall on the CEO and make an enormous ass of myself. Nice, huh? I guess this means I need to do some laundry and ironing tonight. Wow...I sound so domestic!

I am having dinner with Grampa tomorrow night and I am looking forward to it. Mom had lunch with him today and says that he is really looking forward to it as well. Tomorrow will be the first Wednesday I haven't spent with Gran in a long long time, so I need this time with Grampa. I'm still waiting for all the reality to hit me and to have this huge tearful breakdown, but it hasn't happened yet. I get weepy over little reminders, though. Sometimes when I look at my watch (which used to be Gran's watch) I just stare at it for a moment and miss her. I hope I make her proud.

I am having some trouble with my diet right now. I think it's all the stress I've been under, so I am working like crazy to get back on track. I've missed my last 2 WW meetings, so I absolutely cannot miss this week. Thank goodness I've been working out!

One more important reminder...it's Breast Cancer Awareness Month. One of my favorite blogs is chock full of wonderful ways to support breast cancer research (Blonde, you are awesome for sharing all the info that you do!!). I'll try and borrow some of her links and if you are in a position to help, I hope you choose to do so. It's such a worthy cause!

Have a wonderful day and hugs to everyone!

Ah, Mondays!

So I'm back at work today. When I came in, there was a lovely sympathy card signed by my entire team and filled with beautiful sentiments. I truly love the people I work with! It made my eyes well up just a little, but it also made me smile. I miss Gran, but I know she is happy and well now. :)

It was really tough when the alarm went off this morning. I haven't been on a very consistent schedule for the last week. In a way, it's good for me to get back to work. I need to get to the gym tonight, and I need to do laundry and clean the apartment. Everything seems to have been neglected for the last week. I am having dinner with Grampa on Wednesdays now, so I am looking forward to that.

I had brunch with Joseph and some of his friends yesterday and we had a very good time. It was fun to get out and laugh like that, and I needed it!

My WW meeting leader, Sally, is moving to Michigan. This makes me very sad for many reasons, because she has been such an inspiration and a cheerleader for me. However, her husband has become very ill and they are moving to be near their family. I'm really going to miss her!

I think that's all the news for today. Its good to be back with some regularity! Have a good Monday!

Back in the Swing of Things

It's been a tough week with WW...people have been bringing lots of food by, but none of it is anything healthy, so tomorrow I am going to the meeting, but not weighing in. I've had enough bad news for a while! But I have been working out and I am trying to get back on track.

I sold my old car today...YAY! I have a friend whose son will get his license in January, and my old Civic will be perfect for him. I cleaned it out this morning and thought of all theplaces I have been in that car. Mostly I thought of driving all over Seattle in that baby. And then the long, LONG drive home from Seattle! I'll miss her, but I am happy to send her to a loving home. And I can still visit her from time to time. :)

I don't have any big news today. I am feeling good and have a real sense of peace about everything. I miss my Gran, but I know she's with me in spirit, and that makes me smile.

I hope everyone is having a great weekend! Hugs to you all!

A Sense of Normal

Today was the day we laid my beautiful Gran to rest. I was waiting all day for this to be when I just broke down and lost it, but that hasn't happened yet. The funeral was lovely, and I am sure that my Gran would have been pleased, but would have told us we were all foolish to make such a fuss over her. (and she would have most definitely used the word foolish!) We were so pleasantly surprised at the turnout of people. And three of my dearest and most special friends came out to offer their support, so a very special thank you to Mia, Joseph and Kevin. Words simply cannot express how much it meant to have you share this day with me. My Grampa summed it up perfectly: It was a sad and happy day today. My Gran always used to say that if we felt a breeze on the back of our necks at the funeral it was her. When we stood in the sweltering heat at the grave, Joseph lifted my hair off my neck as my cousin, Jen, asked me if I could feel it...a strong breeze came from nowhere, and I know it was my Gran doing just as she promised me. It was a small sign I had been hoping for all week, so it was a special moment for me. I feel peaceful right now, but I have my ups and downs. I am looking forward to getting back to some sense of normal. My Wednesdays were always spent with my Gran, but my Grampa and I are going to start having dinner every week. He's a great man and I love him so much.

It was good for me to sit down and read all my friends' blogs and see that there are other things going on in the world. I miss my daily interactions with so many of you. Don't be surprised to hear from me in the next few days as I start to re-enter the real world again. Everything has been such a blur. My cousin and I are going to get together when he gets off work tomorrow night and hang out. His wife is out of town and I think he may be feeling lost like me. It's a strange feeling when you truly don't know what to do with yourself and you don't know what you need.

So forgive me if I digress from time to time and talk about my Gran. I really like to keep things silly and fun here, but she is such an important part of my life. I know my last few posts have been downers, but things are looking up. I also want to say thanks to everyone who has so kindly offered condolences. I appreciate every kind word and thought more than I can ever say. Please know that I thank God for you all. You have helped me through a very painful time for me. And Blonde, I appreciate so much the connection we share. Thank you again for your support.

Tomorrow Mom and I are making cookies to take to the nursing home staff as a thank you. If you could see the love and respect with which they treated my Gran, you would love them as much as I do. :) How nice to know there are people like that in the world!

Have a wonderful day and hugs to each and every one of you out there!

Remembering My Gran

Edwina Christian Moller
1919 - 2005


Edwina Christian Moller, 86, passed away peacefully Friday, Sept. 23, 2005, in Fort Worth with her family at her side.

Memorials may be made to the Salvation Army.

Edwina was born Sept. 22, 1919, in Stambaugh, Mich., to John Christian and Eleanor Kelly. She trained as a pediatric nurse in Chicago, where she met her husband, Robert. They were married for 64 years. Together, they traveled extensively throughout the United States and many foreign countries. She loved travel, reading, needlework and, especially, her beloved kitty, Cozy.

Survivors: Husband, Robert Moller; daughters, Gail Moller Stewart and her husband, Frank of Bedford, Ann Moller Hungerford of Fort Worth; son, Robert Moller and his wife, Goldie of Cedar Park; grandchildren, Jennifer Stewart of Bedford, Darren Hungerford, Craig Hungerford and his wife, Jennifer of Arlington; great-granddaughter, Ashley Hungerford of Arlington.

Published in the Star-Telegram from 9/26/2005 - 9/27/2005.

A Prayer Request

I lost my Gran tonight. I feel a little lost and so oddly enough, this is what I chose to do. I need to write about her just a little.

She was a smart, independant woman. She traveled the world and saw things most of us could only hope to see in our lifetime. And she was warm and loving. Her last words were "I love you", and they were to me. I held her hand when she passed, and it was a peacful, beautiful moment. I am very lucky to have shared that with her.

So please, when you say your next prayers, thank God for his mercy. She isn't suffering any more.

I think I won't be blogging for a few days. I'll write again next week. Thank you to all of you who have kept my family in your thoughts for so long. I love you all.

Enjoying the Day, In Spite of the News

I got to sleep in this morning, and it was wonderful! (This means I didn't wake up until7!) I turned on the news and was greeting with all the info on that terrible bus crash. For those readers not in the DFW area, that crash was just a few miles south of Dallas. Top it off with the doom and gloom reporting of the the hurricane looming and the irrational craziness of everyone rushing to buy gas and water, it's like a madhouse here. I even got info on what to do in an emergency from my apartment complex. People, I think we'll be ok. I picked up some food last night but only because there's a chance if we get any storms we might lose power, but I doubt it would be for very long. I am ready to get on with fall!!

I am going to the gym in 30 minutes. This is the one I am dreading: Jacqueline promised me one heck of a workout. I'm scared! I'll let you know what that means if I can move later.

Tonight is Salsa dancing night!! I'm excited about that! I can test out my new moves and see how it goes! Hopefully I will get some pictures and then you all can laugh along with me!

That's it for now. Everyone have a great Friday!

My Friday

I am taking the day off tomorrow, so this is like Friday for me here in the office. I was originally going to go to the ACL Music Festival, but the tickets sold out and finances dictated that it was better to stay home. But I am ok with that! I am looking forward to taking it easy.

Tomorrow I am sleeping in a little bit, but I am seeing my trainer at 1pm tomorrow. I have been fairly warned that she is going to work me very hard, so I am to eat a good lunch. I hope I don't die! I am salsa dancing tomorrow night and I am really looking forward to that!! Still planning my wardrobe...I want to look festive. I have a great pair of (smaller) black pants and a great top that are the best candidates so far. I think I'll put my hair up to keep my neck cool...this salsa dancing makes me very hot! (It's one heck of a workout!)

I've been going to bed at 9 every night, and it's been a good thing. I am finally catching up on my sleep and feeling more energized. (Jacqueline could tell on Tuesday that I wasn't in my best condition!) It's amazing how not getting enough sleep can affect you! I'm going to work out tonight...my hamstrings are sore and I need to get them moving!

Have a good Thursday everyone!

Pointless and Silly

Saw this on another blog and thought it would be interesting to share:

7 Things I Plan to do Before I Die
1) Visit the Isle of Man (where my family is from)
2) Learn to play acoustic guitar
3) Be down to my ideal weight
4) Finish school
5) Own a BMW
6) Get good at Salsa dancing
7) Learn to walk gracefully in heels

7 Things I Can Do
1) Sing
2) Name all the states alphabetically
3) Tie a knot in a cherry stem with my tongue
4) I can multi-task like a pro
5) Make phenomenal chocolate chip cookies (mom's recipe-YUM!)
6) Make friends in any situation - I'm very outgoing!
7) Run for 2.5 minutes on the treadmill. Not a lot for most people, but an accomplishment for me right now!

7 Things I Cannot Do
1) Draw
2) Tolerate closed minded people
3) Say no to chocolate
4) Find my way around a foreign country...I seem to get lost a lot!
5) Pass by a MAC counter without stopping to look
6) Bunjee jump. I don't even want to try it!
7) Keep my plants alive. Those poor babies, I am bad luck for plants!

7 Things I Say Most Often
1) "Right on" or "Right"
2) "However"
3) "Perhaps"
4) "Fabulous!"
5) "Jacked up" (as in "that is so jacked up!")
6) "Whatever"
7) "Hello, friend!"

7 Celebrity Crushes
1) Adrian Brody
2) Johnathan Rhys-Myers
3) Benicio del Toro
4) Andersen Cooper
5) Jason Lewis
6) Trent Reznor
7) Joe Niewendyk

7 Things That Annoy Me
1) Slow drivers in the left lane
2) People who don't keep their promises
3) Constant lateness
4) Lack of consideration for others
5) Bad grammar/spelling
6) People who have to "keep up with the Joneses"
7) Bad service in restaurants

This was harder to do than I thought it would be!

SATC is the Most Truthful Show Ever

I am, and will always be, a very big fan of Sex and the City (SATC). I think this show provided a good insight into what it's like for us single gals. I say this because over the last week, there have been two incidences in which life has imitated art very closely. The most recent one involving my trainer. She was telling me last night that she and her fiancee have officially broken up. But it's how he did it that really hurt her. She was in the middle of training a client on Monday and she went up to the front of the gym for something and he puller her aside and told her he needed to come by and pick up his stuff from her house because they were over. Now really, is this how you would want someone to treat you? This reminded me of the SATC episode where Berger breaks up with Carrie on a post-it note. She then runs into his friends at a club and says a few regretful things, and his friends tell her that guys do things like that because women cry about breakups. And then Carrie makes the most important point: A woman wants an ending to a relationship to honor what they had together. So for my trainer, a two year relationship that was headed towards a wedding was ended with a two minute conversation about picking up his stuff from her garage. As you can well imagine, it was hell for her to try and get through the day. And as if it needed to be more insulting, Doug (her ex-boyfriend) told everyone at the gym before she even got there. So she was the last to know. Classy.

So this brought to mind some of my biggest relationship concerns, which can pretty well be summed up as a fear of the unexpected. Guys, when you date someone, if you need to break up or have a concern, talk to your girlfriend. Be open about things. Yes, she might cry and feel sad, but have enough respect for what you had to tell her in a private moment when you can talk about it. You can feel better about yourself down the line when you realize you did it the best way you could.

So onto a far less serious topic...I watched Dancing with the Stars last night, and I just LOVE John O'Hurley! (Who wouldn't love Mr. Peterman from Seinfeld?) I love the dancing and I really think John got shafted when they didn't win the original competition. I tried to call in my vote, but the phones were tied up and I couldn't get through. I never watch this kind of stuff, but I really enjoyed this show immensely! (What a dork, right?)

I worked out last night (leg night) and I am sore today! I bet tomorrow will be worse! I am taking the day off on Friday and we are going to work out at 1pm. I have been warned to be ready because we're going to push me very hard...interval training and super sets. I wonder if I'll be able to move Friday evening? I'm going salsa dancing with the class, and I hope I'll be able to get my groove on!

That's it for today. Have a great day. Sorry I started out a little preachy, but my trainer has become a friend and I hate when my friends are hurting.

Not Much to Report

It's Tuesday and it's not an exciting day. It's been busy at work and I didn't sleep well last night so I am tired.

I've just been overwhelmed at work with my regular job duties and then adding on the fact that I am heading up the Katrina Relief stuff for my division, I am swamped! We've managed for secure and deliver beds to 19 people who were sleeping on the floor of their new homes. We've also collected tons of housewares and we're still trying to get more for the families we've "adopted". It's good feeling to do this for others. Hopefully if I am ever in that position, people would be willing to help me, too.

Friday night is Salsa dancing! My class is going to a restaurant for dancing, and the instructors will be there to dance with us and have a great time. I've been really enjoying the classes and it's great exercise. My last class as a level one beginner is Saturday, and then I am moving up to level two. If I end up staying with this for a while, I'm going to buy some super fun salsa dancing shoes. They also have a competitive dance team and that might be fun to think about in the future. I'm not anywhere near that level right now...I'm just tying to learn the steps!

I think that's it for today. There's not much going on besides work. Tonight is leg night with my trainer. I really like her. She was engaged to the owner of the gym, but the recently called off the wedding because of some issues they wanted to work on. It looks more and more like they're going to break up, and she promised me that she'll continue to work at the gym. I hope so! If she goes anywhere else, I will too! This woman gets results out of me! But I really admire how she made such a hard decision (calling off her wedding). I think it might have been the best thing. I like the owner of the gym a lot, but no matter how wonderful someone is, if it's not going to work, you can't force it.

So NOW that's it for today. Have a good Tuesday everyone!

Monday Always Comes Too Soon

I'm never ready for Mondays to roll around! Hope everyone had a good weekend. My parents made it back from the coast and they had a lovely time.

Friday night I went out with Joseph for dinner and we met Mia. Her husband's band (Saints and Sinners) was playing later that night, so we went out to hear them and had a great time. Saturday was Salsa lessons (always a good time and a hard workout!), and then Saturday night Angela and I went to dinner. We went to Ama Lur at the Gaylord Resort. Good food! We ran into a coworker and had a glass of wine with them and really enjoyed ourselves. I got her the 2nd Bridget Jones movie as a birthday gift so we watched most of that.

Sunday I went to go see Gran, and she isn't doing great. She is just feeling yucky and not motivated to do her therapy at all. I am starting to think that she may not walk again, but I am hoping that isn't the case.

Also, great day at WW! I lost 2.5 more pounds for a total of 77.5 now!! I'm so excited about that!!

So that's it in a nutshell. Michael had to work Saturday night, so I am hoping to hear from him today.

Have a good Monday everyone!

The Morning After

I had the best date I've ever had last night! Here's the recap:

Michael and I had a great time last night! We met up at Sherlock's and had drinks (I got there a little early to have a drink to take the edge off...he was running a little late so I had two. I no longer had an edge at all, but that's a good thing since you guys know how worked up about this I was!) We talked non-stop for quite a while. I have no concept of time since I don't wear a watch so I am not sure how long we sat there, but after a while there was a band getting ready to play and we couldn't hear each other any more. So we decided to walk over to TGIFridays. As he was closing out the tab, the unthinkable happened: I was touching up my lipstick (MAC of course) and dropped my lipstick tube. So I start looking around for it on the floor, and he turns to see me searching and wants to know if I'm ok. So I explain casually (trying to hide my utter panic that I have just lost my MAC lipstick) what happened, and before I know it he's down on the floor looking for it! He was so sweet about trying to help me find it. We never did and I was very dismissive about it...but I liked the fact that he was such a gentleman about it!

So we walked over to Fridays and it was good because we could hear one another again. He was hungry so he got an appetizer, and we sat there for a while longer. After a while he excused himself to the men's room, and when he came back he walked up behind me and started rubbing my shoulders. He then proceeds to find the one area in my shoulder that no one ever manages to massage correctly (until now!) and the muscle is just in knots, so he suggests maybe if I wanted to go back to my place he would be happy to massage my shoulders. I am never one to turn down a massage! So back we went to my apartment. (When we left I was laughing and said I couldn't believe I lost my lipstick, and he offered to go back and find it for me! I said not to worry about it, but isn't that sweet?) So we're sitting on the couch at my place and we're still talking about anything and everything as he's really working my shoulders. (He has the strongest hands!) Both us of soon realize it's now 1:45am and we both go to work early. However, he has asked me out again, and he also invited me to go see Styx and Kansas with him and his friends - don't know when that show is but I told him we'd see and that it sounded like a lot of fun.

So that's it in a nutshell...probably the most fun I've had in forever. We never had a lull in the conversation. I can't wait to see him again!

A Day Like Any Other Day...

Except that I am having drinks with HotGuy tonight! I am taking off a half day to do some personal maintenance. (Eyebrow wax, touching up my haircolor, etc.) I wonder, do men realize the money and effort that goes into preparing for a date? I actually enjoy the process of getting ready to go out. I'm a makeup junkie (anyone who knows me realizes the understatement there) so putting my makeup on is my very favorite part. I get the most stressed out about what to wear...it's hard to look good without looking like you're trying. Well, it is for me, anyhow.

So there's my drama for the day. I am leaving work at 11 so I can go spend time with my Gran today. She was doing okay last night, but she's still feeling down. If I had to live in a nursing home I'd be depressed, too.

I am going to pick up a new pair of shoes for tonight as well. I need something strappy with a heel that will go well with my super awesome jeans.

I'll report in tomorrow with the details!!!

Tired Tuesday

I learned a very important lesson last night: don't work out so darn late!! I went to the gym later than I usually do last night, and found myself unable to go to sleep at a normal time. Since Mom and Dad are out of town ths week, I have been going over there to feed their cat and check the mail, etc. I went by last night to check on the cat again and sat down to check my email. I ended up surfing the net until 11:30 over there! So now I am sleepy this morning, and getting up was definitely a chore!

No big news last night. I had a great workout last night. I'm really able to push myself a lot harder thn I used to. However, I tried not to totally fatigue myself, as tonight is "Leg Night" and we all know the drill...I'll be sore and tired tomorrow. :) (Funny, but I really look forward to that!)

So after such an eventful weekend, today's post is a little empty. Nothing spectacular to report. There is shoe shopping in the works this week because I need new shoes for my salsa dancing class. (Feetman, I should make you go with me...I want something strappy and sexy!) I always like it when I actually NEED to go shopping! I am thinking I probably need a new shirt or something too. I do try to find ways to justify my shopping habits.

So that's it for now. Hope you all have a great Tuesday!

Superfabulous Weekend!!

I hated for Monday come! I ended up having a really good weekend! Friday night, Joseph came over and we went out to a gay bar in Ft. Worth and had a really good time! I don't know what it is about me, but I attract gay men like some kind of magnet. (I got offers from a couple of them to plan lunch and a trip to Sephora together!) But the best part of the evening for me was finding the one straight guy there...he's one of the dancers and this guy is incredibly hot! So hot, in fact, that I kept wondering if it was too dark and maybe he wasn't getting a good look at me! But we talked for a long time and then he had to get back to work (I wasn't going to be tipping him), but he came back again later and we talked more and then we traded email addresses - I don't just throw my phone number around to every hot guy I talk to, you know! And when I left he gave me a really nice hug. :D So I figured he was being nice to the one girl in the whole place, but he's already emailed me twice and apparently we're going to set up a coffee date. (He now actually does have my number, so we'll see if he actually calls) But even if he doesn't call, it was fun just talking to him. He lived in Switzerland for a while so we traded Europe stories, and he says he wants to hear all about Paris. I'm trying not to get too hopeful, as my dating track record isn't so promising, but we'll just see how it goes! :)

So then I went to salsa class on Saturday, and Blonde, you are so right! That was more fun than I imagined it would be, and I am thinking this is going to be something I'll be doing for a while! It was more exercise than I thought, and when our instructors demonstrated some dancing at the end, that was the clincher for me...I really need to find a partner and get good at this!

I didn't do much after that on Saturday. I took a nice long nap and then went to my parents for the evening. They left on vacation Sunday morning and headed down to the beach house on the coast, so I wanted to make sure I got to see them before they left.

Sunday I went to see Gran, and she's doing about the same. We visited for a while, and then I had to head on because I had Weight Watchers at 2:30, where I had some VERY good news:

I've lost 75 pounds now!!!

Yes, I have managed to hit the 75 mark only a week after I hoped I would! My next goal is to hit the 100 pound mark by January 1st. I work out enough, I should be able to do it but as I have learned, my body is going to do things at it's own pace. But I am one happy girl!

After that, I had a bunch of things to do, and after I got all that done, I ran my last errand, which was to take a dryer over to Joseph. So I did that and then we had dinner and went for a nice long walk. He is really getting in very good shape and is now playing rugby for a local team. I can't wait to go to one of his games and watch him play!

So that was my weekend in a nutshell. Hope all of you had a good one, too. Happy Monday!

Spicing Things Up

I am starting Salsa dancing lessons tomorrow and I am really looking forward to it! I've been needing something new and interesting, and I am thinking this will not only be fun, but good exercise as well. Now if only I had a dance partner!

Why does it always seem that when we have a short week at work, it inevitably feels really long? It's been a beating this week, but I think most of it has been the funk I've been in. (which I am coming out of. There are reasons for it, but I won't get into them here.) I'm just really glad it's Friday and that the weekend is here. I am looking forward to working out with Jacqueline tonight. It's arms night, and sometimes that's harder for me because I don't feel as strong in my upper body as I do in my legs. All the more reason to work my arms harder, right? I was going to have dinner with Christy tonight, but my girl is having allergy trouble and needs to lay low for the evening, which I totally understand. Maybe I'll just veg tonight. Starbucks has been hot guy central lately, but not so much the last couple of times I've been. Probably because I told several people and now I scared the hot guys away. That figures. I was thinking I might go up there and read and have coffee, but I'm not sure what I feel like doing just yet. I was up there last night and read the paper and had coffee, so I don't want to look like I have no life. Not that the barristas care what I'm up to, but I don't want to be THAT much of a regular.

So my weekend is now officially wide open. I'm going to find something FUN for me to do! Not sure what it is yet, but darn it, I'm going to have a good time!

The War on Spam

In an effort to reduce the number of annoying spam comments I get, I now have a word verification when you post a comment. It's pretty self explanatory, but just in case you wondered why I did it, now you know. Stupid old spammers!

Working My Way Back to "Normal"

Thanks to everyone who either posted or called me yesterday to check on me. I really appreciate it, and it made me feel very loved. :) I am doing better today. I got a good night's sleep, and Mom and Dad brought me dinner last night (and treated me to a tank of gas...THANK YOU!). I really am ok, just needed to have a little down time, you know?

I went to see Gran last night, and when I got there she'd had her hair done and put a little makeup on...she looked good! Her long time friend, Leigh, had come to visit so the three of us chatted it up like schoolgirls and I think it did Gran a world of good. After Leigh left, we watched some TV and just chatted about the news of the day. We had a very good visit, so I am thankful for one more good day with her.

Tonight I am going to workout after work and then go home and relax. For a short week, it's been a very busy one! We're still coordinating hurricane relief efforts here at work. We're trying to get our "Adopt-a-Family" program up and going so that we can start helping these families. I'll keep posting details about that here in case anyone has anything they'd like to donate.

I hope everyone has a wonderful day. Remember, tomorrow is FRIDAY!!

A Little Blue

Ever just go through a period of feeling really blah? I'm experiencing a little of that these days, and it's tough to shake. Some of it stems from having been on WW for so long and right now I am at a bit of a plateau, so it feels a bit frustrating. I know, I know...it's not about the scales, and really it's not that right now. I just feel like I'm not making any progress, which can't be true because I work out so hard and eat so carefully. I was talking to my trainer last night and she said that this is so very normal, and everyone goes through this. Somehow, though, it feels like it's just me going through this, and it's hard. I know it will pass, and I'm not giving up or anything, just contending with a speed bump right now.

Last night was quiet. Mom came by and we went for coffee. Starbucks was uneventful. (I sure am glad they built one by my apartment!) My workout was really good, and tonight I am going to go see Gran. She's really not doing very well. Mom saw her last night and said that she seems to be a little out of it, and just not feeling very well. My grandfather feels like perhaps it may be time to look into homecare options so that my Gran can just come home. She isn't able to do her PT, and the only thing she wants is to be home. I think it's going to be really hard for my grandfather to have her home, but it's something he really wants to do for her. I admire the way he takes care of her. I hope I'm lucky enough to find someone who loves me half that much.

So that's about it for today. Sorry to be a little less sparkly and upbeat, but I'll be more cheery tomorrow. :)

One very important thing I need to mention...

Happy Birthday Kevin!

I can't let one of my very best friends get by without a shout out! Have a good one, Kev!

Coming Back After a Long Weekend is Tough!

It's always nice to have time off, but it sure is hard to get back in the groove! It was a good weekend, but far too short to get everything done.

After getting off work at 11am Friday, I went home and did a few things around the apartment. Then I went off to meet Mia for lunch and we wandered the mall for a while. Then I met up with the family for dinner and then met Christy for a drink later on. It was so good to get caught up with her! We've both been so busy that we've not had time to get together. We called it an early night since we were both pretty tired! When I got home, I watched the news only to hear that there was a big need to get Pedialyte to the littlest hurricane evacuees, so first thing Saturday morning Mom and I get a bunch and took it to a relief center in Ft. Worth. They had lots of stuff, but are a little short on volunteers, so if you have the time, they need some helping hands!

Then we took my grandfather to breakfast, then on to see Gran. She's just still not doing so well. Her motivation has waned some, and she's very down. I don't blame her, but we don't know what to do to help her. It's a tough situation.

Saturday night, Joseph came over and we went out to Ft. Worth for the evening and had a blast!

Sunday morning included coffee at Starbucks, but apparently all the eye candy doesn't come out until later in the day. (Oh well!) Sunday was interesting. Kevin and I went to the roller derby. Yes, I now know where the local trash hangs out! It was really...interesting! But hey, now I can say I've been!

Monday was spent resting and I saw Angela and Kim Williams for a while. It's always nice to go to Angela's house. It's like a mini-vacation. :)

I didn't go to WW this weekend. I just needed a little break but I'm ok and on track, so please no lectures about don't give up. I'm not. I just needed a small break form the routine, but everything is fine. I am working out with Jacqueline tonight and it will be good to go work my legs tonight. I walked for an hour yesterday, so I haven't been slacking off.

Hope everyone had a good weekend!

Rolling Up My Sleeves and Getting Involved

I found the way to make a difference for Katrina victims. I am heading up my division's hurricane relief efforts at my office. We are about 65 people strong, and we're going to "adopt" several displaced families in the area. I am waiting to hear back from our CEO, but I can't wait to get this in gear and really help some people. I hate the helpless feeling I get from just watching the news, and now I can do something about it!!

Let's see...other exciting news...oh yeah! I get a new car last night! (Well, new to me) It's a 2002 Honda Civic, and I am one happy girl! It drives so nice, but more importantly, it gets very good gas mileage!! (Just in time!) I paid $2.99/gal last night and it made me sick to do it. I like what our president says..."Don't buy gas unless you need it". Okay...duh! Thank God for W's words of "wisdom"! (I'm going to end this political diatribe before it goes any further and I just get mad at him again!)

So tonight I am having dinner with the family and then meeting Christy for a drink. I am so looking forward to seeing her! We've not gotten together in a while so I am looking forward to getting caught up! Tomorrow night I am going out with Joseph. We've found a place in Ft. Worth he is interested in checking out, so I get to be the little straight girl at the gay bar! (It's going to be a lot of fun, and I don't mind one bit!)

So everyone have a safe holiday weekend!

Acts of Generosity

It warms my heart to see so many people doing things for others right now. My company is matching donations made to Red Cross, I hear about people in my company taking in refugees and helping them...it restores my faith in humanity. I have a ton of clothes to get rid of so I am trying to locate a local shelter to give them to so that people can have something clean and dry to wear. I was talking with a friend last night about how it's so hard to feel helpless...just watching the news is so hard because I can't just drive over there and help. So I am going to find ways to do what I can. If you can donate money to the red cross, please do it! Brian's band, Saints and Sinners, is trying to put together a fundraising show. As soon as I have details I will post it here and beg you all to come out and have a good time for a great cause.

Speaking of the band, they'll be having a show at the Lone Star Bar in Valley Ranch fairly soon. I need to get the dates from Mia, and I'll post that here as well. They're so much fun and I really like their music. They were awesome at Club Clearview last week!

On yet another note, important shoe sale alert:

Stockroom Sale
What: Shoes from Michael Kors, Anne Klein, Donald Pliner, United Nude, and more $29-$59.
Why: If the shoe fits …
When: Thurs.-Sat., 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Where: Steven Spodek, 5600 West Lovers Ln., Pavilion at Lovers Lane, University Park (214-350-3883).

This ought to be a great sale! With names like that and good prices, I suggest stocking up. I am guessing they are clearing out their summer shoes, but we can wear those into October here! I get off at 11am tomorrow, so I may need to check that out!

I am working out with Jacqueline tonight...it's arms night! (Woo-hoo!) We're working out tonight because she is going out of town tomorrow. I think I am starting to see more changes in my arms, so I am looking forward to pushing myself a little further tonight.

That's all of my rambling for today. Have a good Thursday!