What would you spend it on?

So...if you have watched the news or read the newspaper and spent anytime on the internet, I am sure you have heard of the economic stimulus package that the Pres and Congress want to do. Basically...the economy is headed into a recession (we are in a war...it's supposed to!), so to try to stop that from happening, they are proposing refund checks of some of our tax dollars.

Right now...the package basically says this. If you are single and don't make more than $75,000...and paid a penny of taxes last year, you would get $600 bucks back. If you are single and didn't make enough money to actually pay taxes, you would get $300 back. If you are married and jointly don't make more than $150,000....you would get $1200 back. Plus...you could get an additional $300 back for every kid you have.

So, I would be eligible to get $600 back. How much might you see?

The point of the money is to use it in the ecomony. So, what would you buy with the money you got back? I have heard some people around my office say they would get repairs to their car. One person said they would buy a couch that they wanted. One person said they would put it towards a family vacation. One person said they would buy a plasma lift (it's an entertainment center for a swanky plasma TV...I had to look it up since I still have an ancient old 19" TV that I owned in college!). But, most of all...I hear people saying they would pay off bills or save it. I am with those people. I know I am supposed to put it into the ecomony, but as soon as I got that check...I'd be sending that money right to my student loans...no question.

Would you spend it? Would you save it? Curious minds want to know.

Wednesday ramblings....

Happy Wednesday y'all.....wow, 3 days of at least one post each day. See...I go through spurts where I post all the time and then droughts where I say barely anything at all.

TV Update

I watched American Idol last night. I have shame, but I can't help myself...I love that show. And, I'll admit it...I love it for the trainwrecks and what not. Honestly, I don't care who wins (expect for Daughtry...I wanted him to win so badly, I could taste it)...but I do love watching people who think they can sing, but can't...or people who can't take the comments and go nutso. I should be above...a better person, but well...sometimes, I just can't help myself.

Moment of Truth is on tonight. I cannot get enough of this show. If you live under a rock and haven't heard of it...it's where someone answered questions while strapped to a lie detector and then on the live show, they have to answer some of them again...and if they answer the truth, they win $$$$. The premiere was last week...and had a guy on who basically put his marraige at risk for the chance to win some money. The thing I find interesting is that none of the questions are a surprise to the contestants because you have been asked them before...when you were attached to the lie detector. So, I guess...if I was ever a contestant...you have to decide if answering any of those questions is worth the consequences. Is it worth the loss of your marraige? your job? your relationship with a child? a parent? a friend? I wouldn't mind answering embarassing questions that much, but I would mind answering them if it meant that someone I cared about might not be in my life anymore. I guess sometimes you have to value some things more than money, eh?

I watched The Biggest Loser: Couples last night...well, the second half of it. I hate this show, seriously...I do. I watched it last night and was reminded why I loathe it so much. First off...I don't believe it shows healthy, sustainable weight loss. It shows people losing crazy amounts of weight in a short period of time. How is that supposed to help anyone at home? And...the message gets sent out there that the standard healthy loss of 2 lbs or so a week is horrible. When the audience sees someone get on the scale and losses 5 lbs...and then they say that it sucks and they are a loser, etc. What message does that send to people at home? Plus, it's a show more about strategy and game play than losing weight. If it was really about changing people's lives...they wouldn't vote people out. How does it really help someone to have them be there for a week or two weeks and then go home? Wouldn't it be a better show if everyone got to stay and then at the end of the show...the person with the most weight % lost...won??? Of course, but it would be less drama....and we know drama=viewers. Every once in a while...I give BL another chance...hoping I will stop hating it, but well...I don't. It sucks.

Politics Update

So...McCain won Florida...and South Carolina...and Giuliani lost Florida...where he put all his eggs in one basket. So, Rudy is dropping out...supporting McCain. Mitt Romney is still in it...but for how long? I like McCain...well, I would like him more if he wasn't so crazy in love with this war. I just can't vote for another "Stay The Course" person (not that I ever voted for Bush in the first place).

And for my dems...Hillary and Barack are fighting like children on the schoolyard. It's kind of pathetic. Poor John Edwards is the kid that no one will play with. I gotta wonder how it is going to shake out for the final candidate since Hillary and Obama keep shifting back and forth...in terms of momentum. Obama did get a huge endorsement from the Kennedy family....but Hillary still has Bill and his charisma and political power on her side. The primary for NY is next Tuesday...and I will be voting. I have no problem saying who I am voting for...it is Hillary Clinton. I like her. Her experience is unmatched...and I am very impressed with what she has done in a short period of time for NY. I think she is a powerful woman...with smart people by her side. I think she understands politics and how to get things done. I don't dislike Obama, but he's not my choice. His lack of experience is troubling. And...as time moves on, I don't trust him. It's hard to swallow his "CHANGE" platform when a lot of his campaign is old school politics. And...it's also hard to swallow his anti-lobbying front...when his campaign has been run by lobbyist. If he is the dem candidate standing when it comes to a national race...I'll support him, but right now...he just isn't the best of the best in my opinion.

So, I think that's it for now. I do want to post an update on how I am doing on my 2008 goals...so keep your eyes out for that. Hugs all!

lent sment...

Happy Tuesday all!!

I went for another run yesterday. I get out of work an hour early on Mondays and Fridays, so I got home...strapped on my shoes...got my workout clothes...and headed out for a quick run. I did a warm up walk for about a mile...then ran...jogged rather for 2.5 miles and then did a cool down walk for about 3/4 of a mile. It was a nice day to go out for a run because the weather was a little warmer....it was in the mid-30s. I am hoping to get another run out of the way during the week...and then run to dad's again on Saturday...and increase the distance to at least 4 miles. The 5 mile race I want to run is at the end of March, so from today...I have 60 days until it's go time. I am pretty sure if I keep on pace, I'll be ready. I have to accomplish two things...I have to increase the distance I am running...and increase the speed of which I run. I'll work on the distance first...then the speed.

Let's see...what else is going on??? Oh, Lent is coming up. I have to decide what I am going to do for Lent. Lent starts on 2/5 and goes until 3/23. Now, I am not Catholic, so Lent isn't a requirement for me, but I usually do participate. I like the idea of giving something up for 6 weeks with a higher purpose.

Now, I usually always give up candy and pizza for Lent. One, it usually helps me say no to eating them...and two, it's a great health conscious thing to do. One of my favorite candies in the world is the Cadbury Mini Eggs, so if I give up candy for Lent...I am not tempted to eat my body weight with those little suckers. And pizza...is always something I love. If it was at all healthy, I could eat pizza for breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert and never grow sick of it.

I have been thinking if I want to give those things up again...because in essence, I have given them up since mid-September already. I haven't had a slice of pizza or a piece of candy since mid-September. So, do I really need to give it up completely for another 6 weeks? Well...I guess I don't, but why not? It's not going to hurt me to be without pizza and candy for another 6 weeks. Plus, it might help since I am starting to transition out of the weight loss phase into the maintenance phase.

But...I think I might do something else for Lent too. It's not giving something up, but increasing my commitment. I think I might put more $$$ in the offertory plate at church for those 6 weeks...and commit to going to church each week. That might be a nice addition to giving up the pizza and sweets.

I don't know...I have a week until I have to decide...but that is what I am thinking.

It's Monday....what do ya know?

Hello to all out there on the internet....how's your Monday treating you so far???

Of course...we know what I talk about on Monday morning...the WEIGH-IN!

I have always had my weigh-ins on Mondays....no matter what diet I have been on. Well, once I had them on Saturday mornings and learned what a big idea that was. I would weigh-in on Saturday...eat off plan on the weekends and spend the rest of the week trying to play catch up so that the next weigh-in wasn't botched....then I would start that whole vicious cycle all over again. So...many many moons ago, I decided that was just craziness and changed my weigh-in to Mondays...to keep my focus on the weekends because I couldn't be Ms. Cheaty-Pants during the weekend if I had to weigh-in bright and early on Monday morning. And...it worked well. This last round of fitness, health and weight loss....I'll be honest, I haven't cheated or gone off plan once...not once. I went to Florida on vacation...and celebrated the holidays...on plan, etc. So, the need for Monday weigh-ins has kind of diminshed...because I don't need to have a looming weigh-in in order to stay on plan.

But, weighing-in on Monday still has its advantages. The main one is that it gives me a reason to be chipper and optimistic on a Monday morning. So, for that...I still like weighing on Mondays.

Alright...enough history about my weigh-ins...like you all really care. lol So, how did I do? I am also a daily weigher...and the scale wasn't moving a lot this week. I have had 2 pretty big weeks behind me, so I wasn't surprised...nor upset by it. Most of the week...no movement at all...and then on Saturday...it showed 1 lb. So, this morning...I woke up and hopped on the scale...and it showed that I lost 2 lbs this week!

How exciting??? That means...I have lost a total of 60 friggin' pounds since starting this whole journey. I am happier than can be... I still haven't ordered my 50 lb reward yet...I am going to order a cheap mp3 player on-line this week. And, I get to buy my 60 lb reward too...which is a MVP movie program through Hollywood Video. I used to work there, so the idea of paying for movies...just seems wrong, but it's okay...I EARNED it!

I don't have much left to lose...I have a little pudge on my tummy I would like to erase and some jiggle on the inside of my thighs that I could live without, but that's basically it. And, if I never lost another lb...I would still be a happy, happy girl.

In a couple of weeks...it's going to be time for me to start transitioning from weight loss mode to maintenance mode...and I'll be honest, that terrifies me. I know how to lose weight...I know how to gain weight....maintaining...that is something I am definitely going to have to learn how to do. I feel ready though...and hopeful! This is the last time I am doing the whole lose weight/gain weight game...and I mean it!

I think I can, I think I can....

Hi all...I hope everyone is having a fabulous weekend....at least, so far.

What have I done today? Well...I got up at about 7:30am (which is completely sleeping in for me), had breakfast, watched a little bit of a movie and then got dressed and got ready to head out for my run of the day.

As I said yesterday....I planned on jogging from my apartment to my dad's place today. I headed out at about 9:45am. It was cold this morning, but not too cold. It was in the high 20s. It felt pretty gosh darn cold when I started, but after about 10 minutes or so, I warmed right up. Anyways....so, how did it go? Well...I warmed my legs up with a walk for about 5 or 10 minutes and then started jogging. I decided to just keep going as long as I could. I ended up running for 33 minutes. Holy Bejesus...I didn't think I had that in me. I thought I could run 10 minutes...maybe a little more. I kept making deals with myself...run 10 minutes...okay, now run til the end of the street....now run until the circle in town...now run until I get to the hospital. I stopped a half mile from my dad's house so I would have time to cool down, etc. I ended up running about 2.5 miles...so obviously it wasn't a super fast run, but who cares...it was a run!

I feel so good about getting it accomplished. I'll be honest...when I started out on the run, I was nervous...I was afraid. I have never been a runner, so I wasn't sure I could do it. And now..I know that this race in March can happen. I went to google maps and figured out different routes I can take to add distance to the run time...until I get up to a nice 5 miles.

Whoo hoo. Running is something I CAN do now and that's awesome. I am really looking forward to next Saturday and doing it all again.

Enjoy your Saturday night y'all.

Random Update....

Happy Friday Everyone! This week has kind of dragged on...which is strange since I had Monday off and all, but still. I am glad it is Friday. It's been a few days since I have posted...or maybe more than a few days. It's interesting since sometimes I am in a post numerous times a day mood...and sometimes, I don't feel the need to post for a week or so.

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I have seen people post all about Heath Ledger dying all over the internet. I think it's tragic and horrible...just like everyone else (except for that jerk on Fox News Radio...who said Heath died because God is punishing him for playing a gay cowboy. *grumbles*), but I am not going to speculate about how he died...what happened, etc. I feel so sorry for his family who have to go through this while the paparazzi and news media are in their face 24/7. I can't imagine how horrible that must be. His ex-fiance returned to NY with their daughter and instead of being able to come home in peace...she came home to a flood of cameras and microphones. That's a shame. But, it's how society works...and I will admit it...when I see a new article on the internet about the story, I click on it and read it. So, I hate it...but I am also part of the problem. So sad...really. Star Jones...who I actually loathe...wrote a great article about it. I hate to agree with her, but well...I do. That's all I will have to say on the subject because even though he was a celebrity...I didn't know the man, I doubt you did either. And in the grand scheme of things...my opinions on someone else's tragedy just don't really matter now do they???

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Speaking of my mom...I have been dreaming a lot lately. Well, I imagine I always dream this much, but I have been remembering them more. She's been present in my dreams lately...and it's been nice. I have been dreaming about family adventures and the whole family is there...mom...dad...my brother, etc. What is particularly nice is that it just seems normal that she is there. It could be a dream that we are all going grocery shoppping and she is just part of the family group. I like it...and there isn't any sadness about it. So, I hope these kind of dreams continue...so I can continue to have warm family moments with her...if only in my dreams.

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I don't know if I have mentioned it before...I probably have, but I am interested in running a 5 mile race in the end of March. Ok, let's be clear...I want to jog a 5 mile race. I have never been a great runner...even though I can run on my elliptical machine forever. So, it's a goal I have....to continue training and be ready by March. I have gone out and jogged around my neighborhood and what not...in hopes of building up my tolerance. So far...it is jog some...walk some...jog some...walk some. Each time, I build up a little more of the jog time. The race is in the winter time, so I am running outside...I figure, I have to get used to it, eh? It does make it hard because sometimes it is just too cold to run. I really wanted to go out for a jog on Monday since I had the day off work...but it was so cold...only in the single digits. I don't have access to a treadmill...so when the outside doesn't work with me, I am stuck. Tomorrow though...it's on. I am going to jog/walk from my apartment to my dad's house...which is just over 4 miles. I don't care if it is cold. I don't care if it is snowing like nuts. I am going! Wish me luck!

Alright...that's it for now. See, I don't update all the time, but then when I do...I give ya more than just a line here or there.

It's Monday: It's Weigh-In Time!

I have the day off work, but that doesn't mean I had the day off work when it came to weighing in.

I forgot to update last week...my bad...I lost 5 lbs last week. Who knows how that happened. It's the most amount of weight I have lost in one week since I started this whole program. I pushed the exercise...and got back into my pattern of eating since being on vacation, so that might be it, but who knows.

How did I do this week? Pretty good. I lost 3 lbs this week...for a total loss of 58 lbs. I am surprised at the loss since I ramped up my exercise this week...and did some different things. I wondered if it would slow things down a little bit, but it didn't. I did circuit training twice...went out for jogs (in the freezing cold) twice...and did the elliptical twice. So, I think varying thing around...probably helped.

I am getting better at the jogging...even though I will admit, I am not a great runner. I want to run a 5 mile race in March, so I am slowly increasing my endurance, etc. I wish it wasn't so cold today...because I would go for another run. I have been running outside...and with it being in the single digit temperatures today, no outside for me.

I also got a new ab program that I ordered off the internet over the weekend. I haven't tried it yet, but it is on the agenda. I am happy with the weight loss, but I still need a lot of toning and shaping that my abs need...stat!

Alright, I am off...to finish some cleaning in my room and puttering around the apartment. Sounds exciting for a Monday off work, eh?

MLK Quote

The question is not whether we will be extremists, but what kind of extremists we will be... The nation and the world are in dire need of creative extremists.

-Martin Luther King Jr.

an update on a cold Sunday afternoon....

Hi to all of the internet...and by all of the internet, I mean the 4 people who read here. *winks*

I noticed I haven't updated in a while...I kept meaning to, I even had things to say, but then never got around to writing anything up and then by the time I did...the feeling had passed, etc.

I did go shopping this past weekend...I have desperately needed to buy some new clothes. Old Navy was having a HUGE sale...where things were 75% off. I went in just to look around and bought a bunch of stuff and it only set me back like 60 bucks. I also went to Target and bought a bunch of their clearance items and some T-shirts. I don't like spending money, but I felt good getting some items to add to my wardrobe.

Old Navy and Target are still having their sales...since I went through this weekend as well (but didn't buy anything this time...had a smidge of control), so if want to buy tons of clothes for only a little bit of money...check them out.

Oh...who is off work tomorrow for Martin Luther King Day? I am. I think it should be a National Holiday and everyone should get it off. It's ridiculous that not everyone has the day off. *grumbles* But since I have free time tomorrow...I will update more and let you all know what is going on with my life.

politics is personal....

If you know me, you know that the personal is always with me. I am starting to get worked up about the political shananigans coming this year. There are so many issues which are close to my heart...healthcare...the war...poverty...women's rights...the environment. Hmmpf, my heart desperately wanted Al Gore to run for President, but well...he wasn't taking my calls and didn't get to hear my desperate plea.

I am always looking for small and big ways to get involved in political issues. I know that I can't change the world overnight, but I can do little things that make a difference. One thing I like to do is look at where I shop. I will admit to shopping at Wal-Mart, but I don't like it. I look to support local farmers and businesses. I also like to buy from companies which support environmental efforts.

Greenandmore.com is definitely one of those companies I would purchase from. They sell eco products and common household items as well. By purchasing from them, I am buying something that is made in an economically friendly way and that brings my heart joy. But, that isn't the only good thing about it. The company also supports environmental charities with the purchase of their products. And, they walk the walk...they aren't just talk. They follow environmental standards concerning recycling, not using plastic products, using 100% recycled cardboard, etc. I might pay a little bit more for something, but I sure would feel good about it.

Another thing I found on their site which is pretty cool is they have an environmental learning center. I believe in global warming and think climate control is a huge issue, but I know that I need to know more. My knowledge is only the tip of the iceberg. The site has tons of links to educational material. They don't seem like a company just out to make money. They seem like a company interesting in truly making a difference.

Ah, this post just makes me miss Al Gore more. Why won't he just be my President??

been a while...here's a recap!

Ah, it's been a while since I posted a blog. Well, I did make a new year's goal to blog everyday...phew! I have been a busy kid. Now, if only I had been able to blog about Britney being in drug rehab, then I would have been here in 2 seconds flat.

So, what's been going on with me...let's do a mini-recap:

Jan 1st: Went to see the movie Walk Hard. It was funny. You should see it. Then, my roommate ate something she is allergic too and I had to bring her to the ER. That is less funny, I do not recommend seeing it. She might be allergic to even another food. And it isn't silly allergies...when she eats something, she goes into shock and needs to go to the hospital.

Jan 2-4th: Back to work I go. I wasn't as crazy behind as I thought I would be. I was able to jump right back and and no crisis waiting for me. I did work like crazy though...but it's cool, cause I am a rock star!

Jan 7th: Whoo hoo..it's Monday, it's weigh in day. I lost another 2 lbs, which makes a total of 50 lbs lost. Holy Bejesus. I ordered my 40 lb. reward...an ab workout because my abs desperately need it. I am a little behind on my rewards...oh well. I came home from work and my roomie was sick...she actually started being sick on Sunday. She spent most of the night in her room.

Jan 8th: Roomie is still sick. I worked out like an animal on the elliptical. I am so happy I have her back. I was only going to do 25-30 minutes, but once I got going....40 minutes. I could have stayed on forever.

Jan. 9th: Roomie is still sick. She was supposed to go back to work, but called in sick. I hope she starts feeling better soon...for her sake and because I DO NOT WANT TO GET WHAT SHE HAS. She's sick. A friend at work is sick. My dad was fighting a cold the last week too. I have been bathing myself in anti-bacterial stuff. I refuse to be sick. Pouts. Oh...Hillary Clinton won the NH primary. This makes me happy. I don't care if you hate her, I like her. I think she's fabulous, has done great things for the state of NY and has the most experience of anyone in the race. Obama is nice and cute and has charm that goes on forever, but his experience...is lacking. And, my blood boils..

So...there ya have it. And now we are on the 10th....boring ol' Thursday. So, my new year hasn't been all that exciting. Other than giving people the evil eye who are sick...that's about it. How's your new year going so far?

Wife Swap

Did anyone else but me watch Wife Swap last night? I will admit, Wife Swap is one of my guilty pleasures. I love watching the two families just go bezerk. Holy bejesus...this was the first new episode in a long time.

So, who were the families? Well...one was a family who's main purpose is helping their daughter be a beauty queen. They say the word sparkle about every 4th word. The daughter has no rules. Her parents do her HOMEWORK FOR HER. She gets a Christmas present every single day to show how much they love her. The parents have spent well over $100,000 per year on her pageant activities. Oh yeah...she is 15...and looks a lot older and sexier than any 15 year old should.

And the other family...is a family of feminist. The mom is a pastor at a local church and she home schools her children because she doesn't want the misogynistic ways of school to effect her children. They are not allowed to wear makeup ever...and seem to only learn about women's history.

If you missed it...it was one hell of a ride. The pageant dad ended up trying to kick the feminist mom out of the house...and then calling her a feminist pig. He was horrible. The beauty queen mom...called the feminist daughter ugly and a geek. She also said that if people weren't interested in being beautiful...then they are a waste on the world. When the feminist mom forced the beauty queen to do her own homework...she spelled AMERICA wrong. She's 15!

It was classic...I had some shame about watching it, but no way was I clicking the channel. Sometimes...train wreck trash is just too good.