The IKEA Phenomenon

Every day gets us one day closer to the IKEA grand opening. If you have never been to an IKEA before, this is a fun place to shop. You can get some good deals and it really is different than a lot of stores. But from someone who has been to an IKEA, please allow me to share some thoughts. IKEA will not close the day after their grand opening, so don't rush to get there the first day! As a matter of fact, I plan to wait until at least October to go. That way, all the people who are swept up in the hype that the newsmedia keeps pumping up will have had a chance to go and be amazed by the store. Anyone who knows me is well aware that even a trip to a crowded Wal-Mart just makes me really grumpy. My waiting until October is better for us all. My other thought is this...it's a furniture store, people. It won't make the world a better place, it won't bring peace to the world, and it won't restore harmony among our neighbors. Perspective, please!

Which brings me to something else important. My friend Anne has been suffering through unbelievable headaches for the last four months. She's seen 9 doctors and is going to a neurologist tomorrow. To top things off, her boyfriend (seems so trivial to call him that...they are very serious and have been together for quite a while) is in the reserves and has been called up to go to Iraq at the end of the year. I won't go into past history, but this girl has already had a tough time in life and still manages to have a very positive attitude. So please send her good thoughts, too!

Now on to my normal trivial stuff. I am so sore from working out last night! Jacqueline worked me out hard, and I am really feeling it today! We're going to start sprint training on Friday. I told her that at some point I wanted to start running, and apparently that will start Friday! (Just small intervals on the treadmill...I'm just starting out and she doesn't make me do anything that will actually kill me!)

Going to go see Gran tonight. She's doing well and I am so proud of her attitude!

Oh, and Happy Birthday Rich! (That's Christy's fiancee)

Update on my Grandmother

I just got word from my mom that my Gran (for those of you who are fairly new to the site, Gran is what I call my grandmother) is out of ICU and doing well. Her spirits are good and there is almost no detectable damage from the minor stroke she had. (It's so minimal they almost couldn't find any!) Her doctor wants her up at least 3 times a day, and that's good too. The more she is up, the easier it will be for her.

So thanks again for all the prayers and well wishes. They're working!

Hurry Up, Cool Front!

They say tomorrow we won't get out of the 80s!! I'm so excited about that! (Too bad it's only for a day, though.) I am really ready for slightly cooler weather. Aren't we all ready to feel like we're not going to melt every time we walk outdoors?

My Gran is doing much better. Her spirits are good, and she seems to be feeling a lot better. I am hoping that she'll be out of the ICU soon, however the staff there is absolutely wonderful and they take such good care of her. I want so badly for her to get back to her routine of PT so she will be able to get up and walk and then go home. If she could just get out of bed on her own and get herself moving around, she could be out of the care facility in no time. Thanks to everyone for their prayers and well wishes. Please continue to send her good thoughts!

In other news, tonight it "Leg Night" at the gym, so rest assured there will be soreness and a couple of aches and pains tomorrow, but it's worth it. :) After I work out tonight I am going to Christy's to walk with her. We're going to take her dog, Mugsy, for a walk. I'm so proud of Christy! She's lost 5 pounds! (We are ALL doing so well!) I forgot to give Angela her shout out from Sunday...she lost 4.5 for a total of 20 pounds now!

I think that's about it for today. Everyone keep cool and have a good Tuesday!

The Weekend Update

It's been a busy weekend! I had drinks on Friday with Angela and Kim Williams, who is a new a fabulous friend! (She has an upcoming birthday so we will continue to celebrate her fabulousness!) Saturday, all my stress from the week caught up with me and I slept until 11:30am! (I never do that anymore!) So I got up, went to work out, ran some errands, and then had dinner with Kevin. We went to see Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, which I thought was just ok. Cousin Jen came by for a bit...poor baby was having a bad migraine so I gave her some of the stuff I take for it and it seems to have helped!

Sunday, however, was a very up and down day. My Gran has had another heart attack, although this one seems to be much smaller than the one from last February. I spent the morning with her, then went to the gym and then to Weight Watchers, where I lost another 2 pounds for a grand total of 65.5 now! (Yay!!)

I got to have a drink with Christy last night, and she is doing well. She has a birthday coming up!! (And so does Rich, although I am not sure of the date of his, so Happy Birthday Rich!) It was nice to catch up with her and just hang out. We're going to walk together this week, and I am looking forward to seeing her new dog, Mugsy.

So it's been a busy weekend. Please keep my Gran in your prayers. I am so afraid she will get depressed and discouraged. She's been making such good progress, and I want her to be able to get home, even for just a little bit.

Have a good day, everyone!

How Did You Find Me?

Just a quick question for all my wonderful visitors: I just added a site meter and it's interesting to see how many people stop by to read my ramblings! I would love to know who you are and how you found me...just for fun!

So if you feel so inclined, drop me a comment and say hello! (especially all of you visiting from outside the US!)

Have a good day, and I hope to hear from you all!

I Thought Friday Would NEVER Come!

It's been a long week! I'm tired, and slightly grumpy, but it's all good...it's Friday! I don't plan to do much this weekend because I need the rest. Work has been particularly stressful, and I don't see the end in sight right now, so I am going to relax as much as possible over the weekend. Perhaps I need to look into getting a massage. I'm still sore from the Tuesday workout, and tonight is arms night with Jacqueline, so I am going to be useless after the trip to the gym!

Mia and her husband Brian head out on vacation tomorrow. They're going to Cozumel, so hopefully everything is in good shape after the hurricane hit there. (I hope the water is nice and clear!) I know I just went to Paris last month, but I would love another vacation! A weekend down at the coast would work...just somewhere relaxing. I do, however, have a girl's trip planned for January. Angela is going to Salt Lake City and she is going to have a double room, so she invited my mom and I to come up for the weekend. My mother does extensive genealogy research, and that's the place to go to get detailed information, so while mom is researching Angela and I will be shopping. :) I know SLC isn't the excitement capital of the US, but it will be snowy up there and honestly, it will just be nice to get away!

That's it for today...no big news. I think I'll buy myself something this weekend...I just don't know what yet.

Getting Back to My Roots

As I looked in the mirror this morning, I noticed that my roots are growing out...badly! It is time, my friends, to get those grays covered! The advantage to having your hairstylist as your best friend is that you get your hair cut for free in the comfort of your own kitchen. The disadvantage, though, is that you are at the mercy of her schedule. And where she is working right now charges way more than I want to pay, so at best I don't know if she can do a cut and color within the next week. And folks, it's getting to be a desperate situation. However, when that day comes, I have elected to go back to a lovely coffee brown with no highlights. That's my natural color anyhow. I realize just how important this is to everyone, but it was a big deal when trying to do something to my hair this morning and realizing the roots are grown out and the ends are thrashed! (I need about 1-2 inches taken off!!)

I had a discussion with Mia this morning about how much time and money we put into self-maintenance. The haircuts, the eyebrow waxing, the shaving, the skin care, the personal trainer...it gets expensive and very time consuming. Sometimes slightly uncomfortable, too. But for all the complaining, I like doing that stuff. It's nice to do all those things that make you feel good, and the end result is worth it! The manicures, the pedicures, the facials...all of it makes me feel better about myself, so you can rest assured that my money will continue to go to all those things. What do guys do for maintenance besides a shave and a haircut? Do any of you get manicures or facials? I would love to think at least a few of you take the time to do something like that on occasion!

If only I could win the lottery to support my self indulgences!

The Two Hour Workout

So I got to the gym at about 4:30 yesterday so that I could get in a good 30 minutes of cardio before working with Jacqueline. I got on the treadmill and really got going...pushed myself hard and was just dripping sweat, when Jacqueline comes over around 4:50 and reminded me that I was supposed to work out with her at 6, not 5. She was absolutely right...I totally forgot! And then she reminded me that we were doing legs and not arms yesterday, so I needed to crank my workout down a few notches. Talk about relief! So I finished my 30 minutes on the treadmill and moved over to the exercise bike and did another 30 (very relaxed) minutes on the bike while I read a magazine. (By the way...new magazine called Shop Etc...it's GREAT!)

And then it was time...

We started at 6pm on the dot, and she said she would superset me. Sounded productive to me, so we went right to it. Now I learned that a superset seems to be doubled repetitions for me and fewer breaks, so I worked my butt of for a solid hour, and finished with a set of lunges, which I was able to do almost all the way without stopping! (or falling over out of pure exhaustion!)

So when I got home last night I was a waste of flesh. I was exhausted, but it felt like I had really accomplished something. After two hours, I had better feel like I accomplished something! But I slept like a log last night and am a little sleepy this morning, but it's all good!

So that was pretty much my evening. Working out and going home. I was going to have dinner with Christy, but she had to cancel. I think that may have been for the best! I was so tired I could barely move last night. Tonight I am going to go see Gran. I'll give an update tomorrow!

The Joy of Old Friends!

I had dinner with my friend Michelle last night, and we had such a good time! We go all the way back to elementary school, and it was wonderful to get together and revisit some good times. She's going to organize a dinner and invite some of our old friends and I am really excited about that!

Tonight I'm having dinner with Christy, and it seems like I haven't seen her forever too! It's Souper!Salad! night for us. :) I'm heading right to the gym after work since it's Tuesday with Jacqueline tonight! (This translates to sore arms!) Christy works until 7, so that gives me plenty of time to get a good workout in. I need to beg her to cut my hair again...it's getting heavy and my roots are showing, so time to touch up the color as well!! (I'm too young to battle gray hair!! I'm only 33!)

In other news, I read that Colin Farrell is trying to stop the release of a rather intimate video he made. Can I just say one thing to every celebrity who puts a "special moment" on video? ANYTHING YOU PUT ON TAPE CAN COME BACK AND BITE YOU IN THE ASS! Hasn't anyone figured this out? And seriously, I don't want to see Colin Farrell's business. So there's my rant about people who don't think about the consequences of their actions.

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

I saw Elvis!

If you've never heard of Elvis T. Busboy, you are missing out! My friend Kevin and I went to see him play at the Greenville Bar & Grill Saturday night, and he was fantastic!! Great bluesy-rockabilly type of music, and this guy has an amazing set of pipes! (and very good technique, I might add...this coming from a girl with about 13 years of vocal coaching) And I really liked the Greenville Bar & Grill! Great crowd...very friendly people.

Saturday afternoon was filled with swimming at Angela's pool...which is my most favorite retreat EVER! Her backyard is so restful for me! She invited her friend Kim, who is absolutely fabulous! We are planning a martini night for Friday, and I am looking forward to getting to know her better. It's always nice to meet new single female friends! She's about to celebrate her 40th birthday, so we need to do something fun for her. :)

And great news from Weight Watchers yesterday...I lost 2.5 pounds for a new grand total of 63.5 pounds!! I'm only 11.5 away from my 75 pound goal!! (Trying to get to that goal by Labor Day...then I'll set another goal after that) And a big shout out to mom who lost 1.5! She's doing so well and I am very proud of her. :)

Tonight I am having dinner with a friend that I haven't seen in a while. My friend Michelle, whom I have known since elementary school, and I ran into each other at a Halloween party last October, and I finally found her email address and decided to email her. She has a really nice husband, and two absolutely precious kiddos (she sent pictures and they are so cute!). Last time I saw her before that was when I lived in Seattle and they were up visiting her brother in law, so I had her and Dave and some neighbors over for dinner and it was good to see them then. I'm eager to get together with more regularity!

That's about it for now. I need to get some coffee to get my day started!

Ladies Who Lunch

Today is Friday, and I'm having lunch with the girlies. Holly, Mia, Jen (my cousin and I share the same fabulous name) and I are meeting my mother and my little cousin Ashley for lunch at Tin Star today. Have you eaten there? FABULOUS food! I love it! After lunch, I get to hug everyone goodbye and be off for the rest of the afternoon, which thrills me endlessly. I'm going to help take Ashley to an indoor rock climbing place, so we'll see how that goes. I'm not climbing, I'll just be her spotter. Then after "Leg Night" (love those lunges!), I am going to take her to Barnes and Noble for their big Harry Potter release party tonight. Tomorrow we're all gathering at Angela's for an afternoon swim, so that will be fun.

Christy has a birthday in a couple weeks..Yay! I have to figure out what to get her...maybe a gift card to Express or Target. I know she loves both! I'd like to take her to the Melting Pot since it's our favorite place. We'll see what the finances look like.

So I almost ended up with a dog last night. There was a knock at the door and when I looked through the peephole, there was a hot guy out there. My first thought was of what my mother always says..."When you get that weight off, guys will be knocking down your door!" Was this true? Has this guy heard I've lost 61 pounds? Why did I change into my workout clothes already? Damn! So when I opened the door, he was holding a really sweet little dog. Apparently, hotguy had rescued the little sweetie and was trying to find it's owner. I told him if he didn't that I would take the dog and help find it a home, but he must have found the owners. Just as well...Cleo would have been oh so mad at me!

So that's it for me! Have a good Friday and I'll post again soon!

There's (probably) going to be a hockey season this fall!

It was good to hear that we're going to have a hockey season this fall. I know that the players have to formally vote on the agreement, so barring any snafu, we're set! However, I'm still mad at both the players and owners, so I don't know if I will go to any games this year. Yes, by me not attending any games in person, they'll really feel punished I'm sure! (But it's the principle!) But needless to say, it will be nice to see some hockey. I hear they have been adjusting some rules, so it looks like OT won't be as long and painful as it's been in the past! (Thank God!)

My arms are sore today from my Tuesday workout! I pushed myself pretty hard Tuesday, so I guess it was bound to happen! I am hoping to see more drastic results on the scale this week since it's been a pound here and a half pound there...I sure would like to see a little more come off this week! (I've been REALLY good!!) At least Sunday isn't too far away!

I'm taking a half day off tomorrow to go take my little cousin to an indoor rock climbing place. (She's climbing, not me...I'm her spotter) Hopefully it will wear her out! She is rather energetic and is a bit exhausting. I'm not used to having kids around like that, so it's driving me a little nutty. Plus, she's a constant chatterbox and I do tend to like my quiet time! I'm taking her swimming Saturday over at Angela's (who is graciously hostessing a girls' swim party for the afternoon!) and we're taking healthy snacks and going to get some sun! (It will be nice to have a real tan rather than a fake tan!)

Anyone been to the Austin City Limits Music Festival? There is a slew of bands I would like to see, so I am planning to go. If you've been I would love to hear your experiences! I'm so excited...I'm going to get to see Oasis!! (and Wilco, and Franz Ferdinand, and Blues Traveller, and...oh, too many to list!!!) Kevin is interested in going, and if anyone else wants to caravan down there, let's make it a party! September 23-25th, babies!!

That's it for now...going to eat my fruit and my yogurt and get my day going. Here is one of my favorite Paris pictures...


Have a good Thursday!!

Hooray for Humpday!

Welcome to the middle of the week!! It was a crazy drive to work this morning...BAD traffic! Ugh! But it's going to be a good day because it's Wednesday! (Two more days to payday, too!)

I'm sore from last night's workout...my arms feel a bit spaghetti-like after lifting weights, but it's nice to feel progress! After I worked out I went to Angela and Tom's for dinner. I had a very tasty whitefish, and that girl makes any salad a special treat! She took a bag of lettuce and turned it into a culinary delight...she needs to be a chef! By the time I got home, I was full of salad and feeling very sleepy!

Tonight I am going to go see Gran and check on how she's doing. I hear she was not in a good mood last night, so I will go and cheer her up! :)

Everyone cross your fingers that things go well with the space shuttle launch this morning!

Oh, here's a random picture...

This is Kim and I having a pint in an English pub. Cheers to all our friends in London!

The Champion of Putt-Putt

We took my 10 year old cousin to play Putt-Putt last night, and I actually had a good time! I haven't done that in years, and I had a blast! I won by one stroke, so I crowned myself the mini-golf queen. :) I'm going to have to get a group of friends together and go do that again sometime. That was too much fun. :) My cousin, Ashley, isn't as easily amused as I am. I think she was bored after about the fourth hole, but she'll have to get over herself. I guess being 10 and having to hang out with your relatives is SOOOO not cool. However, Friday we are going to an indoor rock climbing place and I think she is pretty pumped up about that. And then we're going to go to the Harry Potter party at B&N that night and she seems to think that will be cool as well, so maybe she'll be okay about hanging with us. Gee..I thought I was at least marginally cooler than that! Nothing like a 10 year old to put you in your place!

After Putt-Putt, I went home and changed clothes and headed off to the gym. I worked out HARD, and I am feeling very good about that. (I was sweaty and icky afterwards!) Tonight I work with Jacqueline and it's arms night! (Woo-hoo!) Afterwards I am going to Angela's for dinner...she's grilling fish. :) (Angela is an incredible cook!) A dip in her pool after a hard workout will be nice.

I had my mid-year review today at work, and it was just wonderful, so I am feeling quite happy about that. I'm also feeling a little inspired to try and take on some new things here, so we'll see how that goes and what things present themselves.

For some reason, I am really missing being in Paris today. I've been home for one month as of today, and I would love to go back. It was just a perfect vacation! (I was looking at my checking account online and saw some of my charges I made in Paris, so I think that's what is making me miss it)

Yo...peace out.

Ah, Mondays.

Good morning! I hope everyone had a great weekend!! Mine was pretty busy, but good. I worked out on Friday night with Jacqueline, and it was a good one! Yes, there were lunges involved, and I'm still a little sore today, but it gives me a feeling of empowerment. I worked out like a fiend yesterday morning and that made me feel even better! Saturday was busy...saw Gran, and she is continuing to do well. My 10 year old cousin, Ashley, is staying with my mom for 2 weeks, so it's been exhausting keeping her busy. She's a good kid, but she doesn't know how to entertain herself, so she gets a little whiny when no one will play with her. I took her swimming at Angela's yesterday and I am hoping it helped wear her out a bit, but you never know with her!

Speaking of yesterday, I lost another .5 pound for a total of 61! I had a hard time last week, and I ate a few things I shouldn't have, but this week is already starting out better and I am going to do well this week!

Mia and I saw "Guess Who" this weekend at the dollar theater, and we laughed our heads off! That movie was hilarious! (Total brain candy, but very funny!) I didn't think I was an Ashton Kutcher fan, but he was funny! After the movie, we thought about going dancing, but opted for drinks and a snack at Fox and Hound in Lewisville. After that we went back to her house and just listened to some cds and had a couple drinks. It was a nice wind down to a busy week!

I hope everyone had a good weekend! Have a good Monday! (or at least I hope everyone gets through their Monday succesfully!)

El fin de semana!

(For all you non-spanish speakers, that means "the end of the week")

For a short week, it's been a long one! However, today has been a good day. Nothing special going on, just having a better day today. Mia and I ate our lunches together and laughed and enjoyed ourselves. We have a 2:30pm afternoon appointment in the breakroom to de-stress together, and I am looking forward to that.

Tonight is legs night. Don't get excited, fellas, it just means that Jaqueline and I are working my lower body at the gym tonight. Sadly, this includes those lunges. Man, those KILL me! But at least I know they are working! After that, I may just need to go home and collapse. That is, if I can walk to my car in order to get home!

Tomorrow night is movie night! (YAY!) Mia has generously volunteered to make chicken enchiladas for dinner...she's a very good cook, so that sounds tasty to me! (and she will make them Weight Watchers friendly!)

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

Terrible Events in London

How awful it was to wake up to hear the news this morning. More terrorist attacks in the world today, and having just been in London a month ago, I am feeling very shaken up. I missed those attacks by a month exactly. Kim and I would have been on the train heading into the Waterloo station. Certainly we would have been stopped before reaching London, but now I can't help but think of all those people that we might have passed on the street, or the smiling officer outside New Scotland Yard who gave us directions to Buckingham Palace. I bet they are all having a life-changing day today. I wonder now if I passed through any of those stations. King's Cross sounds familiar to me, but I can't be sure. I'll have to look at the Tube map at home. But it makes me so sad. Everyone there was so friendly to us. And I say a little prayer for Kim's friend, Kevin Pope, who was so willing to take us walking all over London and made it an even more wonderful experience. I hope he's ok.

So today, rather than babble on about my usual trivial things like did I lose a half pound, or my arms are sore from working with my trainer, I would just ask that you send good thoughts to our friends in London. They surely thought of us when New York was attacked.

And hug someone today...I think the greatest defense against all the meanness in the world is compassion for others in the world. If we love one another, we are less likely to commit acts of hate on each other. (I guess it's just the optimist in me)

London in 2012? Really?

I have to confess that I was disappointed to find out his morning that Paris will not host the 2012 Olympics. I was looking forward to seeing familiar places, although I am sure I will see familiar sights in London. It's just that I spent to much time in Paris and it's close to my heart. London will do a great job, I am sure. But Volleyball under the Eiffel Tower? Fencing at the Louvre courtyard? How wonderful it would have been to see those places again. I suppose I'll just have to go back to Paris and experience those things all over again. :)

I am so sleepy today! After I got finished a great workout with Jacquelyn, I went to get a new tire and then went home and fell asleep in my chair. I woke up about 8:45 and made a salad, ate that, and then went to bed. I didn't sleep very well, and I don't know why. Stress? I had a very stressful day here at work yesterday, so that must have been it. Hopefully today will go better!

I'm glad it's Wednesday...that means that the week is about halfway over, and I can start to think about relaxing over the weekend. I just don't feel like doing much. I feel like I have been running all over the place, and I really just want to take it easy. I'm going to see Gran tonight, so that will be nice. Hopefully I will get to hear about her latest therapy accomplishments!

Have a good Wednesday!

It's a Tuesday, but it feels like a Monday!

Ugh...Couldn't the holiday weekend have been just a little longer? I wasn't ready to come back to work!

I had a nice weekend. Didn't do too much. Mostly because I was so sore from my workout Friday, but I finally felt like exercising yesterday, so I got back to it. I'm working with Jaqueline today, but it's an arms day...hopefully no lunges!!

No big news really. Gran is doing very well...she is close to being able to actually get herself into a standing position on her own, and that will be a very big step in her recovery! My cousin Jennifer got a job (right on, girl!), and Mia got a promotion (woo-hoo!).

I had dinner with Angela and her husband Tom last night. I think I am still full this morning! I am going to need to work my tush off this week to compensate! (We went to Posados for dinner...YUM!)

That's the news for now. I hope you had a good weekend!

Finally!!

It's official! I have now lost 60.5 pounds!! I lost 1 pound this week at WW, butprobably more than that because I had gained last week but opted to not know how much. :) So big celebration! I would get up and do a happy dance, but my legs are STILL sore from working with my trainer on Friday! I may have been the last person in the world to find this out, but lunges HURT!! I am going to try and walk tonight to work through the soreness. Man, my thighs have been killing me!! But it's a good hurt...I know I am being productive and building muscle, and that's what I want to be doing.

Nothing too new and exciting to report. Saw Herbie Fully Loaded Friday night. Cute movie, but not an award winner. I am boycotting War of the Worlds because I am sick to death of Tom Cruise. So maybe I can find something else worthwhile to see. I watched Cold Mountain on DVD. That didn't end like I thought it would. Interesting movie, though.

Tomorrow I am planning to take it easy. I'm feeling a bit worn out and would like to relax. What is everyone doing fo the 4th?

Whatever you do, be safe! :)

Holiday weekend

TGIF!!

Today is a short day at work. We close the office at 1 pm today! Right after work I am heading to the gym to work with Jacqueline. We're working my legs today. I have a feeling that I am going to be pretty sore tomorrow! Although I worked out hard at the gym last night...45 minutes on the treadmill (at a pretty hgh speed I might add!) and then 15 miutes on the bicycle. I was tired! I slept like a log last night. Well, until Cleo woke me up at 2am when she was growling at another cat on the patio. The was having a big fit and pounding on the sliding glass door with her paws trying to get at the other cat out there, so I got up and tossed a glass of water out there on the other cat and she bolted out of there, so then it was back to a peaceful sleep. However, 5:30am came early this morning! (I'm working 7-4 now) It's pretty quiet so far this morning, and I am hoping it will stay that way.

Nothing too big planned this weekend, just some errands and lots of relaxing! :) I bought some stuff to grill my own burgers at the picnic area of my apartments, so I may do that for myself this weekend.

I weigh in on Sunday, and I am really looking forward to it! I've done really well this week, and have exercised 4 days already. My goal was 5 times this week, and I can totally do that!! I probably won't post tomorrow, but you can bet I will be posting on Sunday!!! I'm still trying to break the 60 pounds off goal! My next goal is a total of 75 pounds off by Labor Day. I think I can do it!!

Have a great Friday everyone!

Thank goodness tomorrow is Friday!

I'm ready for the weekend!

Going to go talk to my school advisor tonight (yay!) and start making my school plans. But after that, I have a hot date with a treadmill tonight! My team at lunch at Via Real today, and although I stayed pretty healthy with my lunch choices, I ate a little bit of flan and now I am very full and sleepy!

I'm still a little sore from working with Jacqueline on Tuesday, but we work my legs tomorrow and I am happy about that! I've been feeling pretty good about myself, and yesterday when I went to go see Gran I stopped at the Subway on Bryant Irvin road and the cute Subway guy was a little flirty. He couldn't possibly be old enough to buy me a beer, but it was flattering just the same. :)

I am looking forward to a laid back weekend. I don't have any holiday plans except for a possible matinee on Monday with Mia and Kim, and some errands to run on Saturday. What is everyone else doing for the holiday? The Tarrant County Demorat group is having a picnic on Saturday, but I have too much to do on that particular day.

I hope you have a great Thursday!

Hey, that wasn't so bad!

Good morning, friends! I am alive and well after my first session with my trainer! I really like her and think she's really going to motivate and encourage me. We worked my upper body last night, and although I am a little sore this morning, I'm not near what I thought I would be! However, when we work my legs on Friday, I am betting it will be a different story! But as for today, I am a little tired and sore, but feeling quite proud of myself. Oh, Mom and I took my monthly photo to compare my progress, and it's pretty amazing! I'll have that posted by the weekend. It's a bit humbling to post that, but after losing about 60 pounds, the pride in what I've done far outweighs the trepidation of posting a picture like that.

I'm going to go see Gran tonight and I am looking forward to it. When I saw her on Sunday she was able to scoot herself around and sit on the edge of the bed by herself, and that's HUGE! She's really making progress! Tonight we are going to get her in her wheelchair and she's going to show me around the facility. I think this week they are going to work with her using a walker, and the sooner she does all this, the sooner she can go home. I have to confess that I wasn't sure that was going to happen for a while, but I really believe she has renewed courage and strength and this woman IS going to go home!

Going to walk tonight with Mom when I get home and I am looking forward to that, too. It's been a good week so far, and I am looking forward to a nice long weekend!

Have a great Wednesday!

There's no going back now

Well, today is the day: I begin with my personal trainer tonight at 6pm. I think I might die, but I will give it a shot anyhow. I was up at the gym and did about an hour on the treadmill and was so tired last night I could hardly hold a conversation with my mother on the phone when I got home. Needless to say, this trainer (henceforth known by her name, Jaqueline) is going to make mush out of me tonight. I guess I should warn everyone that tomorrow I may not be able to move on my own! However...I am looking forward to the results that will come of this, so it's a good thing. I'm just nervous about it since I've never worked with a trainer before.

Man, I am a little sleepy today! I need to start going to bed earlier. I just get so wound up at night trying to get stuff done that I don't pay attention to the time and end up getting to bed later than I would like.

I really don't have much news today. Oh, Happy Birthday Richard!!

Okay, that's it now. Have a good Tuesday!

Happy Monday!

Wow...the weekend was too short! I need more time to relax! I did have a chance to just veg with Angela. We celebrated my birthday and she took me to Applebee's for dinner. We had a nice evening. And big news for her...she's down a size in her clothes, so GO GIRL!! I'm so proud! I think she may be about 5 pounds away from her goal weight!!

I am having some "Me" time tonight. Going to go home after work, go work out, then come home and relax. I am starting with my trainer tomorrow night, and even though I am a little nervous, I am really looking forward to it. I think it will help me boost my weight loss and maybe give my confidence a shot in the arm as well.

Dan went to a concert last night and then got rear-ended on the way home. He's ok, but apparently his truck, although still driveable, is messed up in the back and his seat is even a little loose. What a way to end a weekend! Fortunately he's ok, but his neck is sore. Poor Dan! His wife is going to be afraid to let him out on his own again!!

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

Oh, one more thing...I am going to post (at some point this week) my side by side pics of me when I started Weight Watchers and me at my current weight. It's fun to compare...I have a long way to go but it's neat to see how far I've come! In the meanwhile, here's another Paris picture... It's the view of the Arc de Triomphe from the Eiffel Tower. I love this picture!

I think I have to skip the scale today

I had a few too many drinks last night and am feeling a bit puffy today, so although I am going to Weight Watchers, I am going to have to use my "No Weigh In" pass...I had a few too many vodka tonics last night. (Feeling a little crunchy today, but I am chugging down water like crazy!) I am glad my birthday week has passed and things can get back to normal. I am ready to be back on track, for sure!

Mom and Dad have been in Beaver's Bend all weekend so I have been checking on the house and feeding their cat. It's been a pretty ueventful weekend over all, which is nice. I am going to see Gran this morning. I saw her yesterday and she is doing well. Today she wants to get in her wheelchair so we can roam around the care center where she is staying right now. I am going to try and get back in time to go work out before WW at 2:30. After WW I am going to Angela's house to swim and hang out with her. I love going over there...we just relax and chat anf sometimes we both fall asleep out there (they have a wonderful back yard and very comfy patio furniture!).

So that's my plan for the day. Have a relaxing Sunday and just look for any weight loss updates next week...there won't be a report today!

Fabulous Friday!

Good morning everyone! I guess I just woke up on the right side of the bed or something, but I am in a great mood today! There is a brand new Starbucks by my apartment that was giving away free coffee this morning (yay for a free grande non-fat sugar free vanilla latte!), I am wearing my "skinny" jeans, and I am having a good hair day! Can a girl ask for more? And on top of that, I am having a birthday dinner with my very good friend Stephanie tonight, so I am really looking forward to that, too. We took my Grampa out to dinner last night to celebrate his 86th birthday, and we had a wonderful time. He is doing so well, and so is Gran! She was up and walking a little bit during her PT yesterday, so I believe that she may be going home in the fairly near future! (That's my favorite birthday present!!)

I went to work out last night but it was late and I read the hours wrong at the gym and got there as they were closing. So tonight after dinner I am going to work out, and then first thing tomorrow morning. I start with my trainer on Tuesday and I am so eager to start with her! I've never worked with a trainer and I am optimistic that I will get the results that I need. How exciting! It feels good to make this kind of commitment to myself.

Had to empty out all the cabinets because the complex is doing the bug spraying thing. So putting my kitchen and bathroom back together will be my late night project tonight, but I don't mind. I'm going give the apartment a good cleaning and then schedule a carpet cleaner to come in and really give the carpets a good once-over. The carpet is ok, but after living there three years there is a little traffic dirt, so it will be nice to get that taken care of.

Here's me at the Eiffel Tower. My hair looks silly because it was very windy up there, but I like this picture because I was so happy at that moment. :) Actually, I look like a dork, but who cares! I was in Paris!!!



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

The end of the week is near!

I had a great birthday! Thanks to everyone who wished me well yesterday! :) I had a great day, beginning with my decorated cube here at work, my wonderful lunch that Holly set up (not to mention the card and flowers she gave me...so sweet!), and dinner with my parents at Mimi's Cafe. I also signed up for my trainer, and the ass-whipping begins next Tuesday. I told her I have never worked with a personal trainer before, so it should be interesting! I'll keep you informed. I am, however, going to go work out tonight. I have been meaning to work out the last few nights, but with all the birthday fun I haven't had a chance. Now I NEED to go after some of the fun things I've eaten over the last few days!

Today has been good so far. We're training a temp here at work and I think she's doing well. She seems bright and has a good personality...she'd be a good fit with the team, I think. Other than that, nothing else is new with me. Hope everyone else is having a good day. It's my Grampa's birthday, so we're going to go see my Gran tonight and then take Grampa out for dinner. (Gran is doing well...they think with some work she may be able to start using a walker in about a week...please say a prayer for her!)

Have a wonderful rest of the day!

Happy Birthday To Me!!

It's the 4th anniversary of my 29th birthday today!! I'm finally not feeling depressed about it, so I will be able to enjoy the day. My super fantastick co-workers have decorated my cube with twinkle lights and confetti, so it looks very festive in my cube. :) Tonight I am having dinner with my parents and Christy, and then after that, I am actually going to try and work out. (Went to the Melting Pot for dinner last night, so I need the exercise!!!)

Holly has arranged a birthday lunch for me today, so it is really going to be a good day. Thanks for everyone who has had to contend with my annual Birthday Crisis...I am much better now! :D

So I hope you have a wonderful day! I know I will! :)

Smaller Jeans

So I went to pick up a new pair of jeans last night and the only ones I liked were a size smaller than I wear, but I figured just for fun I would see just how much too small they were, so off to the dressing room I went. Much to my surprise, THEY FIT!! (And I can breathe in them!) So you better believe I bought them! I'd been in a funk all day, but that really helped my mood!

I also took that potentially painful but much needed step last night, and joined a gym and am waiting to hear from my potential trainer. Yes, I am voluntarily seeking out someone to push me to work out harder. I think I need it, as it's too easy for me to decide to stop walking when it gets too hot outside. So if you talk to me and I am groaning and complaining, just remind me that it will help me get to the desired result that much faster!

Tomorrow is the birthday, and I am going to eat with Mom, Dad, and Christy. Everyone wants to know what I want to do this weekend, but I just don't know. Man, getting older is hell...and I'm not old!!

Anyhow, have a good Tuesday everyone!

Back in the Weight Loss Groove!

Well after a free for all with my diet in Paris, I am happy to report that I have lost another 3.5 pounds for a grand total of 59.5!! (Why is it that every time I am about to hit a big number I end up a half pound short?) I was hoping to have 60 off by my birthday, and I think that essentially I have done it. (The b-day is Wednesday, so I am going to give myself credit for being close enough!) Mom lost 1.5 and Angela lost .5, so we're a big bunch of losers this week...and it's a good thing!!

I think I am feeling better now. I was feeling really low on Friday but I'm doing better. Ended up staying home Friday and sleeping. Apparently I really needed that! Maybe I'm still catching up from Paris. Dad has been in bed sick all day, so it wasn't much of a Father's Day for him. We're going to celebrate another night this week.

Hope everyone had a good day!

Post-Vacation Blues

I think it's hit me that vacation is over. It's kind of sad that all those months of planning and preparing are over. It was such a great vacation!! Hopefully things will work out and Christy and Rich's wedding will happen in Vegas. That will be a nice getaway!

I'm just having one of those really icky days...not feeling so great and I am having my annual birthday issues. Ugh! I keep thinking that maybe I might just want to let this birthday pass quietly...no big fuss or anything. Maybe I'll feel differently about it after I am not feeling so icky.

Going to a toga party at my apartment complex tonight. The main motivation is that the best toga wins free rent for one month. Otherwise, I could care less. I'd really like to stay home tonight and sleep, but I invited Christy to go with me and I really want to hang out with her. We've both been so busy lately it will be nice to get to hang out. Now I have to figure out something for a toga.

Oh, anyone interested in seeing the pics I have uploaded can post a reply here with their email address. I think I've sent the link to most everyone whose email address I have. I still have to upload the pics from the digital camera, but I have a handful of good pics uploaded so far.

Anyhow, hope you are having a good Friday. I'll blog more tomorrow.

Getting back into the routine

Back to work today. I have to confess that I would like to have been anywhere but here today. I just wasn't ready to come back. But it's good to see everyone. I like my co-workers very much, just not ready to be back.

To catch everyone up on my week, I hung out on Monday, saw my Gran on Tuesday and then went to see the Palace and Mosque exhibit at the Kimbell Art Museum. Got a call on Tuesday night that my Gran wasn't responding so they took her to the hospital. Mom and I drove up there and stayed with my Granpa until about 1am, and then I went back up on Wednesday morning. She is doing much better but it seems she may have some kind of kidney infection. No word on how she is today, but no news is usually good news. So now it's Thursday and thank goodness the weekend is just about here. I am dragging Christy to a party at my apartment complex tomorrow night. She told me today that Rich's travel agent friend may be able to swing a very good travel deal for the Vegas wedding and I am very excited about that! I'm really looking forward to the wedding. Christy seems so happy and I think the two of them will have a wonderful life together. :)

So that's been my week so far. I forgot to mention that the day I left for Paris I went to Weight Watchers and had lost another 2 pounds for a total of 56! (My suitcase weighed 53 at the airport-I've lost more than my suitcase weighed!) I weigh in again on Sunday and will post the news. I am trying to have 60 off by my birthday (the 22nd!) so we'll see how it goes!

I've had a few people ask about the plan for celebrating my birthday, and I just don't know yet. As it gets closer I just don't know what I want to do. Man, I'm not ready to have another birthday! I've had 32 already....do I have to have a 33rd?

Speaking of birthdays...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOM!!! I LOVE YOU!!!

Back in Bedford

Well, after a long 10 hour flight, I'm home! Our last night in Paris was fun...we had dinner at the Mexican restaurant we liked, then drank a bottle of champagne and then headed out to the Champs-Elysees to see Paris at night. After we left the Arc de Triomphe, we were walking down the street and a couple of guys came and started talking to us. The offered to take us dancing at a club very close to where we were, and we agreed. We got in there and had a beer or two and decided these guys were getting way to touchy feely so Kim user her foot as an excuse to get us out of there gracefully. We got out of there and no sooner than we had left that club, we were getting hit on again by a couple other guys. We just opted to stay on our own and by this time we were getting tired so we headed back to the hotel to pack up and get some sleep. We had such a good time and it was hard to leave such a wonderful place! I'll definitely be back to Paris!

I'm going to take a couple days off from blogging...I got back to work on Thursday, so I will probably blog then. Thanks for reading, and as soon as I have pics I will post them.

Saturday June 11, 2005 3:25pm

It's been a busy last few days! We saw the Palace of Versailles yesterday, and it was incredible! The gardens outside are hundreds of years old, and just as they had been initially designed. The palace inside was exquisite, and perhaps a little gaudy, but I have decided that's just how the French do things. What they call beautiful, we as Americans would look at and say, "yikes! that's just too much!" (Except for Donald Trump...his apartment seems to reflect the decor of the French royalty) Last night, we had dinner at the Hard Rock cafe. I had a good old burger and fries and a beer. As much as I love Paris, I do miss home. :) Today we actually made it to the Louvre! I think it may have been one of my very favorite parts of the trip. I can say I have seen the Mona Lisa and the Venus di Milo, as well as the Winged Victory. After our two hour tour, we decided on a meeting place and I headed off to rent a headset and wander the Louvre. I saw Napoleon III's apartment and some of it's furnishings, and then went through the halls of the Italian and French painters. I know sometimes I get emotional, but sitting there among paintings that date back to more than 300 years before Christ and admiring the beauty of everything around me made me feel a little emotionally overwhelmed and I misted up just a little bit. I can't believe how fortunate I am to have seen the things I've seen. The French make history accessible in a way that I never imagined. I have walked where kings and queens have walked, and I have seen the very places that they were beheaded. I've seen the Obelisk that stands in the Place de Concorde that is over 3000 years old and came from the Luxor in Egypt. (This should mean something to Dan Brown fans) And even more importantly, I have met so many people that have gone out of their ways to be so welcoming and kind. There is a little shop on the Rue de Rivoli called Mod Shop. The owner's name is Cristine, and she was wonderful! She wrapped up all the gifts we bought there, and she even gave Kim and I silver Eiffel Tower pins as her gift to us. (We took her picture!) The crepe guys on the street like to greet us in their broken English, so we (try) to speak to them in our meager French. And everyone smiles and somehow it all works out just as it should.

Tonight, we are going to have dinner at the Mexican place we like so much, and then on to drinks at Fouquet's on the Champs-Elysees. Apparently it's where all the celebrities go when they are in Paris, so we're going to have a drink there to say we've been. Then we will walk the Champs-Elysees and see Pairs lit up at night. I can't think of a lovelier way to end the vacation I never dreamed I would have. Will I come back to Paris? Absolument!!

So my next blog will be upon my return to Bedford. That makes me sad, too. Just people watching here has made me think about how things are at home versus here. Here's what I have learned:

1. No matter what you may have heard about Parisians, they care about other people. Twice I have seen an elderly person fall, and there was no shortage of people rushing to help.
2. Americans get too busy to even say hello sometimes. Here, when you see a friend on the street, you are greeted with enthusiasm and a kiss on each cheek.
3. Appreciate everything. There is beauty where you least expect it.
4. If you say "I'll do it tomorrow", you may never have the chance, so do the things you want to do now. It seems that the French have figured out that life is to be lived.

All this may seems so corny to everyone else, but this trip has been an eye opener for me. I'm coming back a little different than when I left...and I don't mean with a funny French accent (although it may take a day or two to stop saying the few things in French that I have picked up). Life keeps reminding me of all the things that mean the most, so I can't wait to hug each and every one of my friends and family when I get back. I love you all and I will be home tomorrow.

Love,
Jennifer

2:12pm On Thursday

Wow...it has been a busy week! My legs are tired and my feet are sore, but I am having the time of my life! It has been a bit since I had a chance to really update things, so here goes...

Yesterday we started early and headed to the Gare du Nord station where, as has been par for the course, we got a little lost trying to find our train to London. We got there, but it was a challenge. The couple of people I tried to ask for help indicated they did not speak English, but so,ething tells me they just did not feel like it. No worries! We found the train with time to spare, and off to London we went. It was a two and a hlf hour ride, with about twenty minutes of that going under the English channel. (my ears were popping like mad underneath the channel!)

When we got to London (Waterloo Station..ironic!) it was nice to speak the language! We got a map and headed off to Buckingham Palace to see the changing of the guard. Sounds easy, yes? Not so nuch. True to form, we got turned around and had to ask directions. The first woman I found to ask was very cheerful, but man...she had some stereotypical English bad teeth! I could not stop staring at her mouth as she spoke, but she was as nice as could be. We walked across Westminster Bridge and past Big Ben and the Parliament building. ("Look kids...Big Ben, Parliament!") Then we saw all kinds of war protest signs that were interesting, so I took some photographs of that to show you all. Oh, and guess what? We got turned around again! This time over by the New Scotland Yard, where a very pleasant (no joke...he was super nice!) gentleman with an AK47 told us we looked lost and asked how he could help. Don`t worry...he works there. I am not taking to just findin random folks with guns to ask directions. He pointed us in the right direction and this time we made it, but just as the changing of the guards began. There was a parade, and then they open the gates and the guard marches in. I couldn`t see very well, but I was able to snap a few pictures, so you can get the general idea. From there, Kim called her friend Kevin and he met us at Big Ben and took us to an outdoor cafe in Covent Garden for lunch. Form there he showed us around Piccadilly Square and the West End, where we each had two pints of English beer in an English pub. (Hey Kevin, I remembered all that!) I think it was the St. James Tavern. Kevin told us that there are still pubs in London that women are not allowed to enter. Yeah, Kim and bristled at that one! From there we went to Harrods. That place is amazing! I can`t begin to describe it, but they truly do have everything there at a price you would never get over! I bought a few souveniers there, but not too much! (Christy, I also picked up shoes for you in London...they are so cool!) That about wrapped up the day in London since our train was to leave at 7:45, so we thanked Kevin and off we went. The train ride back was in 1st class, and what a treat! Champagne, wine, dinner served to us...so spoiled!! We were totally exhausted by the time we got back (11:30 Paris time) that we absolutely crashed out. We were set for the Louvre today, but we rescheduled since we were so tired. (Louvre on Saturday morning) We went to the Musee' d'Orsay this morning and saw lots of impressionist/post impressionist paintings. We`re going to do some souvenier shopping today, and tonight we have dinner reservations so we will get all dressed up and go out to dinner. Tomorrow is the trip to the Palace of Versailles and I am excited about it since we talked about it in my history class.

I am finding that the most useful thing to bring on a vacation like this has been a backpack...forget the purse! It has been a great vacation so far, and I try not to think about it ending soon. If you ever dream of Paris but are concerned about not speaking the language or people being impolite, fear not! The people continue to be kind and helpful and I am happy to be here. However, there is no place like home!

Until tomorrow,
Jen

I met my Waterloo!

7:20pm London Time

This is a quick post from the London Waterloo train stattion. It has been a great day but I am so tired! To bring you up to speed, we saw the Eiffel Tower yesterday and had a bottle of wine below it as I wrote out my postcards. We also walked along the Champs Elysees and did some shopping. Today started early as we took the train to London where we saw the changing of the guard, Big Ben, Parliament Square, and much more that I will have to write about later, as our train is now about to board. I will update in more detail tomorrow, as we are going to the Louvre for the day and I am sure we will have much to blog about! All is well but my feet are quite sore!

Love,
Jen

Day Three: Much Walking!!

It was an eventful day on Monday! We got up and ate breakfast at the hotel, and then set off for our guided tour for the Louvre. Sounds simple enough, right? It is when you read the map correctly! I have voluntarily relenquished any map reading duties over to Kim. Not only did I read the map wrong, I read the address wrong so that when we did get to the right street, we walked many blocks in the wrong direction. So we have rescheduled the tour of the Louvre for Thursday. That was a big embarrassment, as I don't ever get turned around like that when there is a map involved! However, I am in a foreign country and was only operating on about 4 hours of sleep. (Jet lag is HELL!)

So we learned how the Metro system works here, and it is incredibly cool! Tough to figure out at first, but once you get the hang of it, it's easy! We took the Metro to Notre Dame and went through the cathedral, and it is beautiful beyond words. I got to light a candle at Notre Dame and say a prayer for Gran...Mom and Dad, be sure to let her know. It was a very moving experience, and one I will never forget. You can take pictures in there and most of them are good...some are quite dark, though. From there we took Les Car Rouges (the red bus) and saw the major highlights: Arc dr Triomphe, Champs Elysees, Eiffel Tower, and lots more. We're going back today to do that, and then take a cruise on the Seine River. We just bought a bottle of wine and are going to enjoy it under the Eiffel Tower. (That's where I'll be writing out all my postcards, too!) Lots more walking today, but I am enjoying it tremendously. We ate dinner at a Mexican restaurant last night and the food was great! The margaritas are different, but still very good. We were serenaded by the band, who told us we were very beautiful...they didn't say that to any of the other ladies! I got to speak a little Spanish to them...lots of fun! I am getting more comfortable using the French that I know, and people here are very very nice to us, regardless of what you hear people say about the French. They appreciate it when you greet them in French and they like to talk to you in English when they can. Many of them seem interested in the fact that we are from Texas, and one woman said it was her dream to visit our great state. We had crepes after dinner, and WOW! Very yummy! I had one with Nutella and whipped creme..my body went into sugar shock! I can't do that again, but it was so good! (Nutella is a chocolate hazelnut spread)

I finally slept a full night and I am feeling good today...minimal soreness in the legs, but the walking I was doing at home has helped. Kim is still limping a bit, but it's because of the scrape on her foot form the night before we left. Check out her blog for the story on that. I think that will do it for today. Have a wonderful day and I will blog again tonight about the events of today. I am taking lots of pictures and cannot wait to share them!

Love,
Jen

Bonjour du Paris!

Hello from Paris! The first thing I must say is that the keyboard is very different, so if you see typos in my post, please forgive me!

After a very long flight with less sleep than I would like, we got to Paris without any trouble. We were disappointed that they did not stamp our passports...I will ask for a stamp when we come back from London on Wednesday. We were so excited to get to our destination that we zipped through customs and hurried to meet our American Vacations guy. He was very nice, and asked us if that was all our luggage. That was when we realized that in our haste, we forgot to pick up our luggage so back in we went and got our bags and headed off. We didn't have much time to soak everything in as our guy walks fast and we had to work to catch up with him. Didn't get to observe much of the airport because we practically had to run to keep up, but he was very nice and helpful. The drive to the hotel was interesting. It's very industrial looking until you get into the city where it is a very interesting combination of old and new. We are feeling a bit turned around, but have been able to find a friendly place for croissants and coffee. The don't speak English there, but we are all getting good at charades! The front desk guy at the hotel is funny. He gives interesting directions but so far they have gotten us where we have wanted to go. There are lots of restaurants and pubs in our neighborhood, but not much is open on Sunday so we have rested and walked around some to get familiar with the area.

Tomorrow we are going to the Louvre for a guided tour and we are both looking forward to that. It's about 5:30pm here right now and we will look for something interesting for dinner...we are now armed with our French phrasebooks so hopefully we can do a better job of communicating with the waitstaff. Most places seem to have a vegetarian option, so until I am better acquainted with things I am going to join Kim in the world of vegetarianism...never a bad choice!

Our hotel is funny...the elevator barely fits one person and a suitcase, and the room isn't too big but has a balcony and interesting view of the street. We are a half block from the Folies Berger. The weather looks much like Seattle today...gray and cool, but it is a welcome change from the Texas warmth we have been experiencing.

That's about it for now. Since we are so close to the hotel I anticipate posting daily, so I'll post again tomorrow. Hope all is well back home!

Love,
Jen

Au Revior, mes amis! Voyez-vous bientot!

Well, in less than 36 hours I will be at the airport getting ready to go. I can't believe it! I've been planning this trip since last October, and now it's here. I feel a bit of nervous excitement, and the anticipation is killing me!! Having a happy hour with my co-workers, and then off to my parents to pick up the digital camera. Then after that, some quality time with Christy, and then home to bed! I have much to do tomorrow and not a lot of time to do it in. (I have weigh in at 8:30am tomorrow!)

I won't have time to post tomorrow, so the next post you see will be from an internet cafe in Paris. I need to get a lot of things wrapped up today, so I apologize for the short post. I'll blog from Paris most likely at the end of the first day there (don't forget the seven hour time difference), so just check back periodically for new updates.

Please pray for safe travel for me and Kim. Until the first post from Paris... au revior!

The Day After Tomorrow!!

It's starting to feel surreal...I'm leaving for Paris in two days! I still have much to do...finish packing, get the apartment cleaned, etc. It's getting down to the wire!! I wonder what it's going to feel like the minute I catch my first glimpse of Paris? There is an internet cafe that seems to be fairly close to the hotel, so I am hoping to be able to let you know all the news of Paris while I am there.

I can't even begin to tell you how ready I am to be off work! It's been relentless, and honestly, if the vacation weren't coming up, I would need to take a week for myself anyhow! However, our VP says my team has managed the server issues so well that they are buying us lunch tomorrow. It's so nice to be appreciated!

I finally got to exercise last night and it felt really good to get out and walk! I am looking forward to doing it again tonight and just getting in some fresh air. I just grab my iPod and my armweights, and off I go! It was nice weather last night around 8:15, so I am going to shoot for the same time tonight.

Visited with Gran and Grampa last night, and Gran is doing very well! She looked good and even had a little makeup on! It's so good to see her looking well. Now if only she could get up and walk, she'd be back in business.

I think that's about it for now. Gotta get more work done. Have a good Thursday!

Prepping for Paris

3 days, my friends!! I can't believe it's getting so close! The vacation of a lifetime is finally within reach!! Man, I'm so sorry for all my friends having to put up with me right now...I've got to be annoying to be around right now, being giddy about leaving and all! Work has been so difficult and I've been thinking that I need this vacation more than anyone I know...until yesterday. Now Kim needs it more than anyone else I know. She got the most unfortunate news that June 30th is her last day at her job. Aren't reorganizations grand? As bad as that news can sound, there are a few upsides to this: She can finally feel free to date the "CuteBoy" co-worker that she is very interested in, and secondly, she can make the career change of her choice. We decided last night at OTB that the world is truly her oyster now, and who knows what doors will be opened up for her. She's an HR person, so she has many contacts and will more than likely have something lined up by the time the end of June rolls around. But Paris is much needed for us both now.

Tonight I'm absolutely going to exercise. I'm going to see Gran, but when I get home I am putting on my walking shoes and heading out the door. I need to try and exercise as much as I can before Saturday since I am weighing in Saturday morning instead of Sunday...kind of cuts my week short by a day! I'd like to get one pound off this week to make 55 pounds off before I go. (Might be tough to do after OTB last night, but we won't talk about that.)

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

Necessity of Vacation

I know it's a short week this week, but it's already feeling long. It's been so busy here at work, and I am feeling burned out. I think I am just in serious need of this vacation. Thank goodness it's only 4 days away! I'm also having a bit of a headache, so I am feeling kind of cranky today. My co-workers are feeling just like me, so we're a fine group today. (We're shorthanded by 3 people in a department of 8...not a good day for us!)

I began the packing process last night, and for me it really is a process. Many outfits must be planned! Who knows what we'll end up getting to do, so I want to look good. I also don't want to look like crud in any of my pictures, so hence the careful planning. I bought some large bags that you put your clothes in, seal, and then squeeze the air out of and it takes up MUCH less space in the suitcase, so now I can pack even more! I have to pick up a couple more bags on my way home tonight so I can get everything in there. It looks like I can fit everything I want to take! (Very exciting for me!) Anyone who knows me knows that I tend to overpack. Besides...I have to be able to take my makeup. I have a special bag for that, though. (Hey, if you spent as much money on makeup as I do, you'd understand!)

So anyhow, I am going to work on shaking this headache off. Have a good Tuesday!

Now the countdown REALLY begins!

Paris is only 5 days away now! I can hardly believe it! I am going to start making decisions about what to wear tonight...I need to really try to pare down all the stuff I tend to pack when I travel!

Saw The Longest Yard today...it was pretty good, I thought. Somehow, Michael Irvin looks right at home playing a convict. Oops...did I say that? Anyhow, it's a good rainy day flick. Not my favorite, but not too bad. :) I am going to pick up Angela at the airport this afternoon. We were going to swim today, but with the rain and all, I think a good visit will be fine.

Oh, I forgot to update yesterday, but I lost a pound at weigh in! Yay! Got that .5 pound I gained off, and this week I am determined to get in 5 workouts to ensure a loss on the scale. I have to weigh in on Saturday this week because I will be on vacation for my normal weigh in day.

I think that's about it for now. Not quite ready to go back to the grind tomorrow, but only 4 days and then I'm off for a while!! Have a good rest of the holiday!

I'm actually having a productive weekend!

It's been busy, but I've been getting stuff done. Only 6 days to Paris now, and besides starting to think about what to take, I cleaned out my closet (6 bags to Goodwill, thankyouverymuch!), took out the trash, and started that deep cleaning thing I do before taking a trip. I like to come home to a clean apartment after being gone. Mostly because as soon as I get home, it will look like my suitcase exploded all over, and it takes me a few days to get unpacked and settled in again. Cleo (aka the Grandkitty) is going to stay with Mom and Dad for the week, so she'll come home spoiled and grumpy. The grumpy goes away after a few minutes, but as cats do, I tend to get punished for upsetting the routine. But she has a good time with her grandparents...she gets canned food all the time (yes mom, I know you feed it to her every day!) and she gets to rule the house. Mom and Dad's cat, Little Bit, just does his best to tolerate her...she bosses him around, too.

Went to Kim's last night with Mia and we watched French films...good stuff! We watched Happenstance, which was an excellent film. Audrey Tautou (I bet I spelled her name wrong) is in the film, and if you've seen her in Amelie, you'll enjoy her in this as well. Nice, happy film. We watched about half of a French musical, but we all agreed it wasn't the best. We were all getting sleepy, too, so we called it a night. What a relaxing evening!!

I have my weigh-in three hours from now. I am hoping it will be better than last week. I was careful of what I ate and got a little more exercise in, so it should go much better. I'll update this afternoon and let you all know.

Until then, continue to enjoy your holiday weekend!

The Longest Week...EVER!

Thank God it's Friday!! This week has lasted an eternity! We get off at 2pm today and I am one happy girl. It's already been a beating here today...server trouble...STILL!!! I am so grateful that it's a long weekend. :)

Christy is cutting my hair tonight and I am also quite happy about that. It's so long right now it's hard to do much with it. And it's so thick it gets really hot in the summer, so trimming it a bit will be so nice. Plus, I want to look my best in paris! (8 MORE DAYS!!)

My friend Cindy's daughter, Sarah, graduates high school this weekend, so big shout out to Sarah! (Congrats, girl!) She's graduating from my alma mater (go Trojans!). I can't believe I've been out of high school for 15 years. Funny...I don't feel old!

So other than that, no big news today. It's going to be a good weekend...lots of sun and relaxation! Weigh in on Sunday should go better this week, so I will post some good news on Sunday!

Enjoy the rest of your day!

Isn't it the weekend YET??

Man, this week is just dragging! I don't know if it's because it's been a rough week in the office or if I'm on the big Paris countdown, but whichever it is, it's a whipping!!

I went to visit Gran last night. She was sleeping really hard so I stayed for 45 minutes hoping she would wake up, but she was out like a light, so back home I went. Today she is getting her hair done at the salon in the nursing home, and she is looking forward to that. I think it will be a boost for her spirits. Mom is taking off a half day to be with her at the salon, so I am looking forward to a good report.

Tomorrow, since it's the day before a holiday, we will be getting off work early and I am really excited about that! A three and a half day weekend! That's awesome! Going to a party at Kim's on Saturday, and I am picking up Angela at the airport on Monday afternoon, and then we're going to take a dip in her pool. (Hopefully it will be much warmer than on Tuesday!) Other than that, I need to spend some time deciding what to take on my trip. This is my last weekend before leaving!! (Wow...that's been a long time coming!)

So anyhow, have a good Thursday!

Oh, and Holly...I may take you up on your offer to hang at the pool!!

One more thing...9 DAYS UNTIL PARIS!!!!

10 Days to Paris!!!

It's really coming up fast! I can hardly wait to go, and I am very ready for a vacation!

Last night I had dinner with Angela, and we had such a good time! We ate dinner at Souper Salad and then went back to her house to swim. The pool was FREEZING!! So the swimming didn't last very long, but we dried off and visited until about 11pm. It ws nice to just sit and chat. Since she left the office, we haven't had as much time to get together and we're just going to have to do better about that.

Tonight I am going to visit with Gran. I understand the weather is supposed to get crummy, so hopefully it will be okay for me to drive over to see her. Mom says Gran is really depressed, so I am hoping to cheer her up. Roses are always good for that, so I am going to take her some.

I have a lot of stuff to wrap up before I leave town, so I'll be kind of swamped over the next few days getting things done. Bear with me if you are trying to get a hold of me and you don't hear back right away...so much to do!!

One more thing...I have a birthday looming on the horizon (June22), and it's looking like we're going to go to Monica's in Deep Ellum. Not sure of the day yet, but you'll get an email from Mia Emmert with the details once we get things squared away. (Monica's is very affordable for everyone, so I won't do the far pricier Melting Pot this year...although it is SOOO good!)

That's all for now! Have a good Wednesday.

10 DAYS TO PARIS!

Monday carrying over into Tuesday

What a day! And it's not even noon yet! Still having server issues at work, but then on top of that, I am angry at AMEX Travel Services. I had ordered a travel card last week (5/17) and got a confirmation number as well as an email. I noticed today that the charge had still not been posted to my checking account, so I called AMEX to check on the status. Apparently, because I didn't put a # in front of my apartment number, it got declined and no one called to tell me this. So after getting transferred three times, I finally managed to just place an order for another one. However, I had to pay a $10 fee to have it expedited. I argued this, but was told no one could waive that for me. We'll see about that...they haven't heard the last from me.

I'm having dinner with Angela tonight and swimming some laps in her pool...that's going to be a nice way to unwind! Christy is cutting my hair Friday night...yay! I found a new 'do that I want, so I'll post a picture after she cuts it.

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

Not a big fan of Mondays

I woke up this morning and really just wanted to stay in bed. I didn't have to come in until 9am, so I got to sleep a little later than normal, which is really nice. But this means I am stuck at work until 6pm, which isn't my idea of fun, but that's ok. I can get a lot of stuff done that way.

When I came in this morning, I was bombarded with calls because we had a server migration this weekend, and apparently no one tested anything, so nobody can access our new company website. Not a good way to get started! So it's crazy with all that going on and trying to get things up and running again. I am crossing my fingers that everything will be repaired by early afternoon. Fortunately, everyone I have talked to has been very understanding so that's nice...nothing like being yelled at for something you can't control!

So tonight, I am going to go for a walk and then help my mom paint the ceiling in the hallway. That way I get some exercise and help get some stuff done at my parents house.

Oh...fabulous news! I bought the train tickets to London today! We're going to take the tran under the English Channel and hang out in London for a day. Kim knows someone in London, so we are working on getting a more personalized tour. I told kim as long as I get to see the changing of the guard, I'm happy!! How fun...getting to see a little bit of London through the eyes of a native! I hope it works out! :) Cool little bit about the train ride...going over we're in "2nd" class, but coming back we're in First class! We'll be served dinner and champagne in our "roomier, more comfortable" seats! How cool is that? (It was cheaper to do it that way!)

That's the news for today. Have a good Monday!

It was bound to happen

Well, it happened. I gained 1/2 pound this week. I have no idea how, though. Everyone says it's my body adjusting to all the weight I've lost, but it's very upsetting to me. This week I am going to make the time to work out as much as possible, and hopefully that will make the difference. Ugh!

I haven't done too much today. I did work out pretty hard, I visited Gran, went to WW, and had dinner with the family. No big news. Sorry for the uneventful post...just a little blue about the weight gain. Now my total is 53 pounds. Stupid old half pound!

Tickets in Hand!!

So Kim and I went and picked up all our travel documents this morning!! (Holy cow...we're going to Paris!) It was very exciting and lots of fun! We celebrated by having a lite lunch and then shopping at Target. Yes, shopping is a sickness for me...no need to lecture! So then it was home to relax on the couch. I have been watching my Friends DVDs that Dad bought for me. I love watching those things!

And that has been the extent of my lazy day. But now we have everything we need to go! Monday we'll be buying the train tickets to London. Man, I can't wait!! Two weeks from today!!!!

TGIF!!

I know I was off yesterday, but I am really glad it's Friday! It's been a long week and I am very ready to relax! Kim and I are picking up all our travel documents from Dillard's Travel tomorrow - 15 days to Paris!!! That's the scheduled high point of my weekend. I have nothing else going right now, and I am good with that! I am working until 6pm tonight (yuck!) and then after that I am hading home. I'll most likely grab something tasty for dinner and stay home and watch movies. I really need to clean the apartment and stuff like that, so I will do that tonight as well. Wow...I'm getting exciting in my old age!

So I have a birthday coming up in about a month...I was thinking a night at Monica's in Deep Ellum...lots of tasty food and drinks and salsa dancing. Then we can always head over to the Velvet Hookah for drinks! (I don't want to do the hookah, I just like their martinis!) Whatever we do, I want some dancing involved! I am feeling the need to shake my groove thang. :)

So as of today, Christy and Rich are getting married in Vegas. Oh, does this sound familiar? Yes? Oh yeah...because that was the original plan! This wedding has been all over the map about what they want to do. Vegas is great with me, but they want to do it in October and now I need to save for that, too. It's going to be a lot of fun, but this is a financially tight year with my Paris trip already! (Man, I really hope I get this promotion!) But it's going to be a lot of fun and I'm glad they are back to the original plan because it's what they really want. What am I going to do about a dress? I keep changing sizes all the time with my weight loss! What will I look like in 5 months??

That's about it for today. Have a happy Friday everyone!

Big Day at the Movies

So Dad and I went to see Episode III this morning, and we really enjoyed it! We started the day at 8am and had breakfast at IHOP. Then we went on to Tinseltown in Grapevine, thinking we'd get there early, but we didn't expect much in the way of crowds...we hadn't ever experienced any in all the years we've been going to see the Star Wars films. We were wrong this time! There was a long line that stretched to the end of the building! However, we had been smart enough to buy our tickets in person earlier this week, so we avoided all that and got right in and got what I believe to be the best seats in the house. The movie was great! Yes, there were some cheesy lines, but overall, I enjoyed it! I won't give anything away (Star Wars fans know how it ends, anyhow) but if you like the series, you'll enjoy the movie. I'm sad that there aren't any more to look forward to!

So after that, we had lunch at Subway and then I dashed off to get the long-expired registration sticker for my car. They look so different this time! (I think they look fake!) So that's done, and now I am going to go get copies of my apartment key made so that my folks can check on my apartment when I am out of town. (in 16 days!)

Just as an aside, you guys would be proud of me...at IHOP this morning I had 2 of the small pancakes, and I brought my own sugar free syrup. Laugh if you want, but I've lost 53.5 pounds and I won't let syrup de-rail my success!

I talked to Christy...we're having dinner tonight. Apparently, the wedding is on for October! (News to me!) So tonight we are looking through wedding magazines. Damn..I was hoping to be at my goal weight for her wedding!! But yay that we get to plan a wedding! Now I really have to hop to it to plan the shower! We have five months to get this thing together! This ought to be fun! :)

I visited with Gran last night, and she's cooperating with her PTs and doing her exercises! This is very good news for the family...we don't like having her in a nursing home, so anything that moves her in the direction of going home is a very good thing!

Have a great afternoon everyone! :)

A Lovely Evening on the Patio

After a long day at work, Dad and I had dinner at Don Pablo's last night, and then we bought our tickets to see Star Wars tomorrow...I can't wait!! 10am tomorrow!! Then we headed over to Best Buy to buy an armband for my iPod but I didn't find the one I wanted. However, my father was extremely generous and bought me a SATC dvd and two seasons of Friends...Thanks Dad!! We headed home after that, and then I came back to my place because I hadn't been home yet and Cleo needed some dinner! After a quick assessment of the pantry I made a run to Target to grocery shop, and naturally I had to buy a non-grocery item. I highly recommend the new cd by The Killers-it ROCKS! (Track 2 is incredible!) And after putting all the groceries away, I decided to relax on the patio...what a great decision! I took my iPod out there and a big glass of water and just kicked back and relaxed. What a great way to recharge...I've just been so busy lately that I have really needed to do that stuff more and more!

The night before I head to Paris, I think I would love to have drinks out on a patio somewhere...if anyone is interested, let me know and we can arrange something! Maybe the patio at On the Border? We can figure something out. I'd just love to hang out with everyone!

By the way...I am wearing a pair of jeans I bought on the 16th of April, and they are now entirely too big! They look stupid big, and I really don't want to buy anything else right now! Man...I love Weight Watchers!!! :)

I don't really have any other news. Tonight I am going to go see my Gran and then go home and exercise. Have a good Wednesday!

The Joy of Shopping

Last night after work, my mother and I went shoe shopping. I have managed to justify my need for shoes by reminding myself that I have no really good walking shoes for my Paris trip, so off to Nordstrom's we went. I had found what I wanted online and just wanted to try on a similar style for size purposes, but the ones the guy brought out were spectacular and VERY comfortable, so naturally, I bought them. I also bought the incredibly comfortable $109 sandals he brought out, too. (They really are amazing!) For most people, that would have been enough. Am I most people? Oh no...off to Dillard's we went from there. And yes, I bought yet another pair of shoes. They are these absolutely fabulous Doc Martens in a really cool Mary Jane style. They're a blackened burgundy color, and I am so in love with them! I did manage to stop with the third pair, so can I call that restraint?

I missed the Everybody Loves Raymond finale. I hope it was good...I wish I had seen it, but the mall was calling my name. Besides, don't I get to count shopping as cardio activity? My heart was racing while I was trying on shoes!

Tonight, Dad and I are having dinner and then going to purchase our tickets for Episode III. We're both off on Thursday to see the movie. I remember seeing it with him when it first came out in the theater backin the 70s, so this is our tradition. We're going to have breakfast first, and then off to see the 10am showing. I'm so excited! :)

I'm committing to exercise tonight. I've been a little relaxed about that and I need to get back into the swing of things. So on that note, I need to get some work done. Have a good Tuesday!

Finally! I had some time to unwind!

I had a great weekend! I got to spend time doing things just for me...which proved to be dangerous because I shopped like a maniac! I redecorated my bathroom, bought new clothes, a little bit of MAC, and spent some really good time with my grandparents. It was wonderful! My parents had a good weekend, too...they went up to Winstar Casino in OK, and Dad won over $2000 on a slot machine! He's so excited! He bought dinner last night at Saltgrass to celebrate.

Speaking of celebrating, I lost a pound yesterday! (My body does that...two weeks of bigger losses, and then a smaller loss, then back to the bigger loss) This brings the grand total to 53.5!! I would love to have 60 off by the time I head to Paris, but I am leaving in 19 days and that might be tough, but I am going to do my best!! I got lots of good tips in my WW meeting yesterday from people who have been and managed to stay on plan, and I think I can do it! I'm so excited! (19 days...holy cow!)

I went to see Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy Friday night, but my week caught up with me and I slept through the whole thing. Sorry, but I can't provide a review for you. However...I am off work Thursday so my Dad and I can go see the last of the Star Wars movies! That's our thing...we always take off and go see them together. We'll be seeing a 10am showing so I will posting my thoughts on it, but I won't give anything away. I hate when people do that!

One quick thing for those of you who have been so kind as to add a link to my blog on your site...I am still learning how to blogroll, so as soon as I have that mastered, I will add a link to your blog to my site. :) (and pictures...I'm working on that as well!)

Other than that, I have no big news. Have a good Monday!

Shopping and other joyful things

Whenever I am stressed or down, I have discovered that consumer therapy is very helpful for me. There's nothing like a trip to the MAC Cosmetics counter in Dillard's to make my world right. (Is it sad that they know me by name there?) Last night, I bought a new eye shadow and a lipgloss, and I am a happy girl today. :) It's a sickness, I know. Those of you that know me well know that my makeup drawer is a source of happiness for me. (And shame, when I think about how much I have spend on high-end cosmetics) I also bought some new sparkly flip-flops at Old Navy that might just be my new favorites. Hey, it's been a stressful week and I needed to treat myself!

Tonight, it's dinner and a movie and that may be it for me. I've just been so tired this week, and I haven't been able to catch a break. So tomorrow is MY day. I'm doing the things I want to do, and I'm having some "me" time. Let me tell you, I can't wait! I think there may be a little shopping involved, but it will most likely be limited to a shower curtain and a new pair of shoes. I am also thinking that a trip to Starbucks with a good book might be nice, too. I just need some quiet activites to relax me and help me get back in my groove.

Any movie suggestions from any of you? I haven't seen anything in a while, so everything is new to me!

It's amazing how tired stress can make you!

My interview went well yesterday, despite all my anxiety! Once I got in there, I was able to relax and answer the questions. If they don't select me for this, it's just not meant to be. :) However, after being so stressed all day yesterday, I was absolutely exhausted last night. I can't remember the time I felt so worn down. I wasn't ready to get up this morning, that's for sure. I'm going to let myself sleep in on Saturday morning. I haven't gotten to do that in quite a while.

I still feel really tired today. My Gran isn't doing as well as we would like. She's so unhappy being in a nursing home, but we just don't have any other options. My Grandfather is looking a little tired, but he's such a trouper and he is so dedicated to my Gran and making sure she has the best care.

I think I may try and get a manicure/pedicure this weekend. I need a treat!

Pre-Interview Jitters

Well, today is part two of interviews for the promotion I am working on. Today's interview feels more stressful, as I am interviewing with the VP over the Operations department, and also with the Supplier Relations manager. It should go well, but I'm feeling nervous about it. I have to wait until 3pm today to get that over with, so I have all day to stew about it. Ugh!

I saw Stephanie last night, and that poor girl is bruised and cut on just about every inch of her body. Thank God she wasn't killed! I am so glad she's ok. I hope that jerk that hit her feels guilty for the rest of his life, but the reality is that he didn't seem to feel too bad about not stopping to see if she was ok. What goes around comes around, so he'll get his in the end one of these days.

Going to go see Gran tonight, and I am looking forward to it. I haven't seen her since Sunday so I am looking forward to seeing how she is doing. Mom says that she is really down about being in a nursing home, and I don't blame her. However, it is a very beautiful place and the staff seems nice so far. I wish Gran could muster the energy to give her PT another try, but she just can't right now. Maybe one day soon.

I think that's it for now. I'll update later and let you know how the interview went.

2:06pm - 54 minutes to go. I am so nervous. I'm ready to get this over with!

Feeling like a superstar these days!

I must confess, it feels really amazing to accomplish a big goal, and getting 52.5 pounds makes me feel so good! :) Not to mention that my friends and family are spoiling me like mad! I have decided that the best way to use the special treat from Holly is to turn around and use that money to pay for a month of WW dues, so thank you so much for contributing to future success, girl! I still need to scan the latest monthly photo so you can see the difference. It's pretty amazing. Sometimes I can't see a difference in my body because I look at it all the time, but looking at the pictures really helps me to trck the progress. (That and buying smaller sizes in my clothes!)

After work today I am taking dinner to my friend Stephanie. She was in a very bad car accident on Saturday, and I am very lucky she is still with us. And even better, she just has a few stitches and bruises (and is extremely sore!) but she's in good shape. Her brother said that the only part of the car not destroyed was the drivers seat. Some jerk cut her off and clipped her car, which sent her into a concrete median, and the she bounced off that, rolled a few times and landed in a ditch. The jerk that hit her didn't stop, and no one got the license plate number. I hope he thinks he killed her and has to live with that for the rest of his life. So all this to say, I am going to take her some dinner and hug her carefully! I've lost enough people in my life, and I can't bear the idea of losing her, too. Fortunately I don't have to worry about that, but it's scary to think that I might have been close.

On to something more cheerful! 24 days to Paris!!!

An Ode to Holly

I need to start today's post with a big thank you to a special friend. Holly has been not just a great friend to me, but my own personal cheerleader through my weight loss. Today I get back to my desk to find a beautiful bouquet of daisies (my favorite flower!!) and a special card with another gift inside...$1 for every pound I've lost! This is way to generous, and she shouldn't have done it, but how special for me to get to celebrate my weight loss like this! I'm going to save that money for something very special...not sure what yet, but it's going to be great! But way more than that, I really appreciate her encouragement and her friendship. I am lucky enough to have someone like Holly in my life. As I have gotten older, I realize just how important it is to have a special group of friends that you know you can always count on. Thanks, Holly, for being one of those people in my life!

On another note, I interviewed for the Service Recovery Manager position this morning. It went well, and I have another interview on Wednesday. Keep sending good thoughts!

I didn't lose a half pound...

I lost 3 pounds!!! My grand total is now 52.5 pounds! I was so excited I just about cried! I've never had this kind of success before, and I am so proud! I've really learned to be disciplined, and it's paying off! Now I'd like to shoot for 60 pounds off by June 4th (the day I leave for Paris!). My Gran told me today how proud she was that I'm doing this, and it meant so much! Mom and I spent the morning with my grandparents, then on to WW. We're going to spend the evening relaxing and making dinner together. I'm going to give my mom a Mother's Day pedicure and back rub, too.

Not to dwell on this or anything, but holy cow! I can't believe I've lost 52.5 pounds! If I had anything else to blog about, it's out the window now...my weight loss is about the only thing I can concentrate on today!

And don't forget to hug your mom today!

I understand why we should savor every moment with the ones we love

I had a really good night last night, and I wasn't expecting it. To bring everyone up to speed, my Gran hasn't been doing as well as we would like. She hasn't been able to do her PT, so she still can't walk and it's very frustrating to her. She's been battling depression, and with everything he's been through in the last few months, I can't blame her one bit. My mother went to see her on Wednesday night, and it wasn't good. Gran was very confused, very disoriented and incoherent at times, so when I was on my way to see her last night I didn't know what to expect, and that can be a little scary. So when I got to her room she was sleeping, but she was a bit shaky in her sleep. I sat next to her and just asked God to be merciful. Then she woke up and was very lucid and knew where she was, what day it was... everything! We had a great visit! She's being moved to a nursing home today, which is a difficult step for our whole family, but my grandfather has visited the facility several times, checked the BBB for any complaints, done a lot of research, and he feels this is a safe place for her to be. We all wish she was going home, but my grandfather just can't take care of her by himself. (He's 85 and just can't do it) Gran told me last night that she wasn't scared, but that she was just "curious" to see how things would be at the new place. I love her so much and I hate this for her, but maybe more time for her body to recover will be helpful. As I rubbed her legs for her last night, her shaking really subsided, and I guess I like to think I was able to help her relax and rest. We talked about so many things, and I got a little weepy on the way home because I was feeling so grateful for such a good visit. I'm going to spend a big part of Saturday with her in the new place, and I thought roses would be a nice way to brighten her room. It's just a small something I can do for her that might bring a little cheer.

Still trying to make sure I get that .5 pound off. I haven't gotten as much exercise in this week as I had hoped, but I got in more than last week, so cross your fingers!

Have a lovely Friday everyone! :)

FYI...four weeks from tomorow Kim and I leave for Paris!!

Still worried about that .5 pound

Christy cut my hair last night...MUCH BETTER! (I hope it was .5 pound worth of hair she cut off!) It was just getting way too long and heavy to do anything with. It's so nice to have cute, sassy hair again! :) We ate dinner at Souper!Salad! (our favorite place!) and it was great! We were talking about things to do for my birthday next month, and she mentioned maybe a weekend trip to New Orleans. It sounds good, but I won't have been back from Paris very long and I don't know that I can afford a trip that quickly after returning. We'll see. I just want to do something fun with all my friends, so maybe a night out with everyone in town, and then Christy and I can go somewhere a little later on at the end of summer or beginning of fall. (I kinda like to be with my whole gang for my birthday...I need support from all my other 30-somethings!) I was thinking about dinner at the Melting Pot again. Everyone always has so much fun there, and the food is just delicious!! Then maybe going somewhere and dancing afterwards? That sounds like fun to me. Or even somewhere for drinks and socializing? I'll be discussing with my friends to see what everyone thinks. I just want my good friends with me, and we're fun everywhere we go!

Okay, so only 3 days to weigh-in...I have GOT get that .5 pound off of me!!

PS-Anyone know how to add a counter to my blog?

Creative ways to lose a half pound

I figure that getting my hair cut might help shed that .5 pound, so Christy is coming over tonight to join me for dinner and cut my hair. (Really, I just need a haircut, but it so happens that I am trying to get that .5 pound off as well.) We're going to eat at our favorite place, Souper!Salad! and I can't wait! We're such salad junkies! Or are we just two big nerds? Eh, could be either.

Mia came over for dinner last night and we went for a nice brisk walk. My apartment complex has a nicely landscaped creek running through it, and the trail goes around the creek so it makes for a very peaceful walk. I think I may try to start walking the creek in the evenings since it's so nice. I've been using the treadmill because I can crank up the incline and really break a sweat, but the fresh air is so nice! (However, the weather is a bit crummy right now...it feels a lot like Seattle out there!)

Special note...Kim and I leave for Paris one month from today! (30 days!!)

The 165sf Piece of Paradise

I bought patio plants yesterday evening, and I must say that my patio looks lovely! Lots of color...makes me want to spend more time out there! I sat out there last night and enjoyed the evening, and it was a nice way to wind down. Maybe tonight I will take a glass of wine out there with me. Actually, tonight my girls are coming over to have our long overdue "Makeup Swap". Everyone is bringing makeup/shampoo/misc beauty items to trade. We figure one girl's trash is another girl's treasure, so we're giving it a shot! :) (**special note...the swap didn't happen due to scheduling issues. We'll be rescheduling at a later date)

My company has just changed it's corporate logo, and we had a big unveiling party yesterday. I know some people don't care much for it, but I like it ok. It's simple...nothing fancy about it but it feels like a fresh start for the company. And best of all, they are giving us lots of new goodies! We got new badges today, and our new business cards come in tomorrow. We also got t-shirts and some fun little knick-knacks. And I ate a cupcake...man, it was good! So naturally, I worked out like a fiend last night to make up for it! (I MUST lose that .5 pound this week to make it an even 50 pounds!!)

I think that's all the excitement for now. Have a great day!

The Elusive Fifty

So I weighed in at WW yesterday...it was a great day! I lost 2.5 pounds! I was hoping to lose 3 to make it an even fifty pounds off, but I have to settle for 49.5 this week. (Please know that I am NOT pouting about this! I'm very happy!) But next week, I know it's going to be good news!!

I got to have dinner last night with some friends I had not seen in ages! My friend Andy and his wife, Melissa, who are expecting a baby, and my friend Robbyn. Kevin was there as well, and it was a lot of fun! We were celebrating Robbyn's 5 year transplant anniversary. She has a quadruple transplant 5 years ago (you may have seen her on the news when all that was happening) She looks great and is in wonderful spirits. She is having a hip replacement in the relatively near future, so she's a little slower getting around right now, but she's such a survivor! It was wonderful to see her!

So now I need to get some work done...we'll all be out of the office this afternoon to unveil our new corporate logo. can you believe they are spending a fortune on a new logo and tag line? Hey, it's time out of the office!