Heavy Thinking

Watching Biggest Loser tonight had me in tears.  I carefully hid those tears as I had company watching with me but there were tears.  It was makeover week and the five contestants got all fancified and then saw their spouses/significant others.  So it was a little emotional but that wasn't what brought the tears.  No, it was the thought that I don't have that significant other to share my accomplishments.  I don't have a partner supporting me through the struggles in life.  I normally don't dwell on my single status, "It is what it is", but there are days when alone can get really lonely.

On the flip side, I don't know if I am ready for a relationship.  I have been alone for so long that I don't know how I would fit someone else into my little world.  I suppose when the person is right, the pieces will fit.   At least that is what I tell myself.

Back to The Biggest Loser, it is at this point in the season where I start to feel really fat.  I look at the ladies getting closer to my own weight and I start thinking, "Do I look like that?" I don't mean that in a rude way but honestly, I teeter-totter between the 190's and 200.  Yes. I just announced my weight. And while I think these ladies look fabulous and I am so happy for their success, I look at every detail and it is a wake up call to me that I really need to work on myself.  Then I hit the fridge because for some reason this show make me want to eat. 

What I need is to have a plan.  Something concrete to help me lose my weight.  To help me feel better about me.  A long time ago, I posted about "Project Me".  PM got lost in the chaos of the last six months.  I need to get back to that.  Get back to making myself a priority.  Hopefully I can make myself get there sooner rather than later. 

Tonight, I will start by going to bed with the plan to take the dog for a long walk in the morning.

Worry, worry, worry

Does it sound like I'm worried?  I am.  A good friend is having a CAT scan in the morning.  He had a lump on his side and his doctor isn't sure what it is all about.  My thoughts immediately go to the most horrible of things...CANCER.  I am worried.  I am hoping it is a simple thing.  Something that can be cared for easily.  I will try to focus on other things.  I will try not to worry.  I am lying.  No matter how busy I keep myself I will still worry.  After all, it is what I am good at. 

Sunday in Pictures...

Finished a Crochet Hook Caddy for my ex brother-in-laws niece.

Made a soap bag...

 No-Bake Cookies....



Made these super easy and delicious oven-fried-pork-chops...

I can't take credit for the picture.  It came from the link above.

Now we are watching one of our new favorite shows...

Once Upon A Time on ABC

Have a good evening!

Thankful Thanksgiving

I am thankful for..

FAMILY...they are always there, no matter what. 

MOM...for loving me unconditionally. Calling me often - even when it drives me a little nutty. Supporting me and pointing out the positives in my life when all I see are negatives.

DAD...for his unconditional love. Sharing his hobbies with me. Making me laugh. Letting me tease him and get away with it. Always putting his families need above his own.

SISTERS...for knowing me well enough to not have to ask, "What's wrong?" and letting me tell them everything that is.

 

BROTHERS...for being protective but not obnoxiously so.  For demonstrating that there really are some decent men in the world.

 

FRIENDS...for laughing with, crying with, and simply being there.

 

MY SON...for everything. My world. My life.  My heart.  The best part of me.

 

 

 

A Global Thing

Austin, Andrea, and I were watching an episode of "The Big Bang Theory" in which the gang was eating Thai food.  Unanimously, we decided to order Chinese food.  Using the laptop, which was made in China, we looked at the menu and called in the order on my cell phone - also made in China.  The three of us piled into my car - made in Mexico, and drove to the strip mall where we parked in front of the Mexican Grocery store.  We then walked to the Chinese restaurant.  Leaving the restaurant, Andrea started speaking Spanish, while Austin answered in his best German.  I will end this post with what little I remember from French class - Au Revoir.

The week begins...

I had a pretty good weekend.  Didn't do so much that I felt overwhelmed.  Didn't do too little that I felt lazy.  I was able to strike the perfect balance.  Friday night was a birthday party for my nephew, Michael.  He is seven.  It was also his mom's birthday.  Saturday I did some crafty stuff and then went to another birthday party.  This one for my nephew, Trace. He's six.  Saturday night I took my sister to see "Breaking Dawn, Part 1".  She loves the Twilight movies.  I don't really care for the acting, but she really wanted to go and she did have a birthday on Friday.  It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. 

On Sunday, I went to Lowe's and bought a new Christmas tree.  Pre-lit.  The idea of putting lights on my old tree was putting me in an anti-Christmasy mood.  I went cheap.  Only $88. 

THEN....I spent the afternoon doing laundry, crocheting scarves, AND watching Tony Stewart win the NASCAR race AND the become the NASCAR champion for his third time.  If you don't watch racing you may not understand how awesome his winning really is.    Jo knows...

And now the week begins and I am so thankful it is only a three day work week.  I spent all day today looking at spreadsheets and placing orders.  Tomorrow will be more of the same. Probably Wednesday, too.  I so look forward to turkey, ham, and all of the fixings on Thursday. 

Tonight I should be going to the Cardio Pump class but I'm not.  Just don't wanna. Instead, I'll run up and down the stairs a few times.  Sounds like a good trade off.

Is it just me...

Or do the days feel like they are getting longer and longer. 

Maybe I just have too much time on my hands.  This morning before work, I started and experiment to see if the metal straws one can get at the gas station really do keep the drink colder longer.  Really.  WAY too much time on my hands.

The result: They are both the same.  It's doesn't really make a difference.  I still like my metal straw though.

My friend Maiken came over today and guided me through Pinterest.  My cousin is right, "It's crack."

For dinner, I made my super easy Stir Fry.  Brown the meat of your choice, add a bag of frozen stir fry veggies, and a sauce of your choice - I used Panda Express Kung Pao Sauce. Then I added some peanuts.  I think it took all of 15 minutes. 

I tried making a Rustic Peach Pie using the pie filling a canned earlier this fall.  It didn't work so well.  I ended up scraping it off the stone-ware, putting it in a small casserole dish and baked it that way.  More of a mixed up Peach Cobbler. 

If you stayed with me this long, then you deserve a little laugh.  My son tried to shave his neck hair last night, he not only shaved the neck hair but about an inch of his hair in back, plus a funky little line about an inch higher than that.  Yes, my son is 17.  I tried getting picture last night - this is what happened:

I tried to sneak another but thought it would be rude and embarrassing.  He tried to wear a hat all day at school, and tomorrow I will take him in for a haircut. 

I am working on a menu for next week and am looking for easy meal ideas.  If you have any ideas,  please share. 

This and That

I started work again yesterday after my vacation and all I can say is" "Really People???"  I really do not like the first couple of days back. 

I signed into Pinterest tonight.  Now I just need to figure out how to use it.  I added two boards and two pins but the pins went on the wrong boards.  I couldn't figure out how to move them to a different board, so I deleted the board.  Please, please, please share with me how to use this thing.

My dog who hates wood floors, very carefully made his way from the back door to the rug in the living room, then back out again.  I would say he "tip toes" but I am not sure dogs can do that.  He looked a bit sheepish, unsure, and scared.  As he walked from the kitchen, through the dining area, and into the living room, he kept as close to the wall as possible.  When he made it to the rug, he still looked like he wasn't sure if he was safe.  Silly dog!  I don't know what it is about these wood floors that terrify him so.

I am addicted to Papa Murphy's Gourmet Chicken Garlic Pizza.  I really could - and have - eaten the entire pizza myself.  If I get it with a thin crust I can pretend it isn't bad for me.

Picture from Papa Murphy's website.

This is what I ate while watching The Biggest Loser.  Yes... I really did do that. Not the whole thing though, I shared. 

As you can see, my brain is still having trouble staying on one subject. 

Too many thoughts....

to just focus on one.

1 - I love Cap'n Crunch Berries. I feel like I kid when I eat them for breakfast with a glass of chocolate milk.

2 - I don't understand the whole "Occupy" protest. What the hell are they protesting? Everything? Nothing? So confused.

3- I am really tired of the whole Penn State / Sandusky scandal.


4 - I love "On Demand". I will be able to go to my exercise class at 8 pm and know I can catch up on the TV shows I missed the next day. I won't be able to use "Bones" as an excuse not to exercise.

5 - I have no idea how to "do" the whole relationship thing. I will probably be single for the rest of my life.

6 - I love watching "The Biggest Loser". I used to hate all reality television but my friend, John, got me hooked on it last season. Now I don't miss an episode. Another reason to love "On Demand".

7 - I eat unhealthy things while I watch The Biggest Loser, while telling myself that I should get up and exercise instead.

8 - I think I have lost the ability to focus on one thing. My mind goes in too many directions at one time.

9 - I used to be able to read a book in a day. Now it takes me almost a week because I fall asleep.

10 - If I could get a "re-do" on anything in my life. I would go back and get a degree in Secondary Education. Now, I already have too many student loans to pay off from going to a stupid school I will not name and a son who will be starting college (hopefully) in the next two years. Ergo, I can't afford more education for myself. 


*** All images are from Google Images   ***

Settling in...

Now that the boxes are put away, the decorations are hung on the wall, and the furniture where it should be, we are finally starting to settle in. 

I have been trying to get back into a walking routine.  It should be easy as I have some really great walking paths close by. I also went to a Zumba class at the high school.  They have 4 classes each week in the evenings. Two days are Zumba and I am not sure what they are doing the other two days but I intend to find out.  I can't use distance as an excuse not to go as the high school is a block away.  I could walk if I weren't a sissy afraid of walking alone at night. 


Picture from a morning walk last week.

I haven't taken pictures of the new place but I did get some pictures of my new sofa.  It is a tad shorter than most sofa's which is good because we don't have a ton of space.  I am hoping to get the matching loveseat before the end of the year. 

I am not a big fan of the pillows it came with.  Maybe I can find some that match the quilt I throw over the back.



This is how it normally looks.

 I have get to go back to work tomorrow.  After 9 work days off, I really, really don't wanna.  It will be good though to get back into a good routine.  If you haven't noticed - I really like routine in my life.  At least when it comes to work and exercise.  For me, it makes the things I don't want to do a little easier to get through.

Now that things are settling down a bit, I hope to get back to blogging on a regular basis.

The last box...

or almost last box, was put in the attic today.  I have one of those attics with the fold down ladder, it is so cool (according to my nephew).  Anyway, the last few boxes were put in the attic, stuff was hung on the walls and after a week of unpacking and organizing, the new place is starting to feel like home. 

I need to do some rearranging in my bedroom (why does the bedroom get done last?) but that is about it.  I may actually have ONE day of my nine days off of work where I am not unpacking, decorating, washing, or laundering. 

While at the post office yesterday, getting my mail box key, I was treated to a dose of postal humor.  I grew up in this town and the post office used to be right downtown.  For some reason, I always think it was moved into the city office buildings.  Nope.  It was moved across the street from the hospital.  The humor of this didn't hit me until I was talking to the postal worker behind the counter about my troubles finding the post office.  With the barest hint of a smile, he said to me, "Now we're by the hospital.  Makes a short trip if we have a troubled employee."   Hilarious.  At least to me.

Keeping this short but will post more about the move and new place soon.