I think I have a case of the Mondays...

I seriously do think I have a case of the Mondays. I just feel blah today. In reality, I shouldn't. I should feel a case of the non-Mondays. I have tomorrow off work...and Friday off work for the holiday...so, I should have more perk in my step for a 3 day work week. But alas, I don't.

I woke up feeling EXTRA tired this morning. I snoozed my alarm a good 20 minutes later than I usually do...and then ran around like a mad woman getting myself ready for work...because no matter how early or late I sleep in, I will be at work on time. I just didn't wanna get outta bed. It felt like one of those days where you just wanna spend the whole day under the covers watching good, but cheesy 80s movies. You know what I am talking about. I know you do.

My energy level and mood probably isn't helped by the fact that this weekend I ate a bunch of sugar filled, salt filled crappy food...and didn't workout like I usually do. So, I kind of have a "crap food" lazy hangover. My tummy hurts today...not used to said crap food...and I also didn't drink as much water as I usually do.

Back on track I am. Eating healthy, good for me food. Drinking lots of water. No soda touching said lips. No matter how tired or cranky I am...I will go to the gym today after work...and will go again tomorrow....and again on Wednesday...and Thursday. You get the point.

Yawns. But still...total case of the Mondays. Monday, you can officially suck it.

A Belated "I Love My Daddy" Post

Ah, a week where I get to sit at my desk....and not on the go in training. Let me tell you, if nothing else...it makes me appreciate my usual work responsibilities and schedule.

I blogged yesterday with an update on the time in Vermont, but what I didn't do is say anything about Father's Day, which is unfortunate. So, I am going to take the opportunity to do that now.

My dad is seriously one of the most amazing human beings on the planet. He's been one of the most supportive people in my life. He has always assumed the best of me...and helped and encouraged me on any goal I have wanted in life. He would do anything for me...and I mean anything. I could call him from halfway around the world and if I needed it, he would drop everything he was doing and come and help me out. He's one of the most dependable and solid people out there...and one of the most caring and supportive.

Growing up. I thought that was normal. I thought everybody had that...ok, not everybody, but I thought it was more normal than not. I can remember vivid as anything...something in college that made me realize that maybe my dad was much more special and rare than I thought. My friends and I would do something with our full length mirror....to share who we loved and people we were frustrated at. It was basically a love/hate board. We'd right the people we loved up on top...in red...and write the people we loved or were frustrated with on the bottom in black. It was kind of our way of venting. If a professor was being a royal prat...on the black list. If a friend went out of their way for us...on the red list. One day, I realized that my dad was on the red list...and throughout the year, I think everyone we lived with had their dad on the black list at one time or another.

My dad is still and will always be on the red list....very much loved and appreciated. A belated, but heartfelt Happy Father's Day to him (it wasn't belated in person...just on the interwebs).

Love ya Dad!

It's been a while...let's catch up!

Hey all there out on the interwebs....I'd been forever and a day since I updated. OK, it's been a little over a week. This last week was brutal at work...but in a good way. I was going to a week long training and the time suck was out of control. My alarm was going off at 4:30am... was at work by 6am...driving to the training...training all day long...driving back to the office and not home until about 7pm. I was glad I went to the training, but good lord...I was SO exhausted by Friday afternoon (Ok maybe by some time on Thursday...I was just faking perkiness and being awake on Friday).

I don't want to not update about my trip to Vermont though. It was horrible. Just dreadful. Completely kidding. It was amazing. Complete awesomesauce. I was SO glad I went. I wasn't sure I was going to go...and a great friend convinced me to go and let me stay at her place for the evening on Saturday.

I headed up to Vermont on Saturday...early afternoon...11am or so. I got into Burlington at about 1pm. I made pretty good time...and yes, I am still a speedy devil from time to time. I went to visit a friend (the one who was letting me stay with her). She was bummed because she had to work and couldn't hang out with everyone all day long. It was so great to see her...and made me feel silly and stupid for letting so much time go by between when I've seen her last.

The events for the day....was going wine tasting and chit chatting...going to a local bowling alley/sports bar just to kill time and more talking....and then on to dinner for shocking...more chit chatting and catching up. After that, we went downtown to the bars and met up with people...and just hung out until the wee hours of the morning.

It was so wonderful to see people again. Some people I haven't seen since the 10 years we graduated college. It was great to see where people had gone with their lives....many were married...had kids. It was so interesting to see what careers people chose. Some people...exactly what you imagined and some people doing things I never would have expected.

What meant the most to me...is just reconnected with people. You know those people that you don't get to SEE a lot, but once you get together...it is like nothing changed. You go back to that great, wonderful, supportive relationship that you had back in the day. I definitely have some of those people in my group of college friends. Those people that are "your people."

It also made me a little sad that I haven't been very good at keeping in contact with people from college and high school. It's always something I need to work on. Sometimes the outwardly confident person that I am....just isn't there internally. I definitely am going to be better at it...and make sure that another ten years doesn't go by without me seeing people that I just adore.

One of my favorite things too....was on Sunday morning...getting to spend time with my friend's kids. She has two absolutely adorable children. And...she is just the best mom. It was great talking and playing with them, but also watching my dear friend as a mom. Another friend had her son with her on Saturday as well...and loved playing with him too. I adore kids....pretty sure I don't want any of my own, but I sure love playing with other people's.

All in all...a great weekend. I am so happy and grateful for the people who put it all together. We had a great time reconnecting and just remembering a really wonderful time in our lives.

P.S. If you are my friend on Facebook....there are pictures there. They are fabulous. We all look fantastic...and just chuck full of happy. I don't post pictures here...ya know...to keep the stalkers at bay, but you know where they are at.

Heading to Cabot Cheese Country

It's Saturday morning....and sooner rather than later, I am heading to Vermont for the weekend. A few people I graduated from college with are getting together this weekend, so I am gonna head up...and hopefully see some old friends.

It's amazing to me that I graduated from college 10 years ago. Crazy bananas. A decade ago? That seems unreal.

I loved being in college. It was truly one of the best times of my life. I really figured out who I was...and what I wanted to do with my life when I was there. I made some great friends and even though I am not great at keeping in touch with people for the most part, I think of that group of friends often. I know I wouldn't be a social worker without my experiences at Trinity. I know I wouldn't have the same political and social justice views. I know I wouldn't feel as strongly about women's rights issues. I truly came into my own...when I was in college. Of course, some things I would have done differently....but not many.

So....a short weekend away for me and then I am back into town on Sunday night and heading into a very long week at work. I am going to a week long training. I am really excited about it, but also dreading the long commute each morning and the long days sitting in conference rooms.

Hope everyone has a great weekend. You know...those two people who read here.

P.S. Did you know the Red Sox totally swept the Yankees....AGAIN...this last week? Because if you didn't...they SO DID. Just saying...

Update on health/fitness and my skinny pants fitting!

Wow...I haven't updated in a week. Bad Shelley. I just don't think a lot of note worthy stuff has been going on in the world o' Shelley.


In terms of health and fitness, I am happy to report that I am about 5 pounds away from my final goal. To be honest, if I never lost another pound again....I'd be perfectly content...however, I still want to make it to my goal and then this time MAINTAIN. I worried that once I got back from Washington DC and my cousin's wedding...that my motivation (mainly to look as good as possible in a dress) would be gone and I might find myself returning to old, bad habits. Luckily, that was not the case. The wedding was at the end of April...and since then, I've just kept on trekking. I've been happy that things that would be set backs in other attempts...I found ways of working around them this time. My elliptical broke...which is my main and favorite form of exercise. Instead of letting that stop my exercise routine, I started going to the gym and exercising on their sweet elliptical machine.

I also had some opportunities where bad, evil eating really could have happened. I had a nice dinner out...where I could have easily gone off plan. I've had numerous instances at work where someone brought in yummy bagels or homemade cake...or other things that are there just to tempt and torture me. I've resisted...and been rewarded for it.

So, I am venturing into that maintaining time again. Just read back...I don't know how many months ago...the last time I started maintaining...it scares the crap out of me. I just don't feel like I have a good grasp on how to actually do it. Losing weight...good grasp on that...good at that. Gaining weight...good grasp on that...sadly good at that as well.

I do though...think I am the most hopeful I've been in a long time about maintaining my weight loss this time around. Why? Well...one, I didn't completely slide of the mountain this time when I gained some weight. I gained 15 or 20 pounds...and then put the brakes on. Every other time I've gained weight, I've ALWAYS...put all the weight and a few of its friends back on. I'd end up back at the starting line...having to do it all over again. I was able to get my head back in gear...and turn things around before all that good hard work had been undone.

Two...I am hopeful because I have been losing weight the slow and steady way this time. I am still pretty regimented and controlled when it comes to losing weight. I am a rules person. If there is a rule, I follow it. So, I am not someone who usually deviates from whatever plan I am on. However, the way I was losing weight was much less severe than what I did a year or so ago. I have been eating a wide variety of foods...not like before. I think that is very good for me. I still don't regret the way I lost weight last time, but this time around...I knew I needed something that mirrored the real world a little bit more.

So, as I near the dreaded maintenance land again...I feel more prepared. One, I probably still have a month or so left before I am officially there(I've been losing a pound and change each week, so 5 lbs will probably take a month). I plan on putting structure and rules into maintenance. I plan on continuing my exercise routine. I plan on continuing to journal what I eat. I plan on continuing to steer away from my problem foods (i.e. pizza). I plan on giving myself a weight range...and not freaking out if I am a pound above or below the exact goal number, but knowing I need to do something if my weight strays outside that range.

Anyone else out there had any success strategies they want to share with me about losing weight and then maintaining it? I'll take all the advice I can get...because in reality, it's all trial and error...and with each attempt, I learn more about what works and what does not work for me.

My thoughts on the Tiller slaying

I know I am late to the discussion since everyone and their mother, brother and second cousin has responded to this, but I wanted to add my 2 cents.

I was so saddened to hear the news that Dr. George Tiller was shot and killed on Sunday by what can only be described as a pro-life extremist.

Tiller was one of the most controversial doctors who performed abortions because he was one of the few doctors willing to perform late term abortions. I hate the idea that late term abortions exist in the world, but they do...and Tiller was one of the few who would actually perform them.

I have been reading the internet, watching the news and reading some updates on Twitter about all of this.

A few thoughts:

1) This person who committed this horrible act does not represent the majority of pro-life people. It's no secret that I am pro-choice. I believe that abortion should be legal, safe and accessible. I long for a day when the world no longer needs abortion, but that is not the world I live in. I know many people in my life...that are pro-life. They believe that abortion is murder and should not be sanctioned by the government and paid for by insurance. I can understand and respect their opinion, even if I disagree with it. Most pro-life individuals are horrified at what Tiller chose to do for a living...and feel that it should be stopped. However...most also believe what this man did in shooting Tiller is just as wrong. This was a horrible act from an extreme individual...that in my mind does not characterize the majority of people who define themselves as "pro-life."

2) I was immediately reminded of a conversation I once had with someone when I was in college. He was a vegetarian and a radical one at that. At that point, I was not a vegetarian...but very interested in the lifestyle, especially from an animal rights point of view. I can remember being horrified leaving the conversation. He talked about how human beings are numb to the bloodshed of animals on a daily basis to feed their "thirst for flesh." He spoke about how human blood would have to be shed in order to wake them up to what they were doing. I was like..."umm, what?" He was completely serious. He said that he had to prove to the masses the value of an animal's right to life and the only real way to do that was to take the lives of humans who so mercilessly kill animals without a second thought. Scary. I think sometimes people get so wrapped into an issue that they stop seeing the totality of it. He was unable to see that if you think murder of an animal is wrong...that includes humans. I imagine it is the same for this radical pro-lifer. And, that sentiment that the murder is somehow justified because it is protecting the innocent life. The animals or the unborn babies are being murdered....so it is acceptable to murder the guilty parties who are responsible. *shakes head* Scary stuff.

3) A lot of people are taking a broad stroke and attacking religion as a result of this henious action. That just doesn't sit well with me. I am a religious person...and also pro-choice...and also would never consider murdering someone who disagreed with my world view. I think most people who define themselves as pro-life are probably also Christian. They usually go hand in hand. However, I do think this action had little if anything to do with God. One, the guy shot him while Tiller was in Church. To me, that shows his level of respect for God and the people who choose to believe and worship him/her. Religion isn't the problem. Those people in that church...I can guarantee you...do not condone what happened to George Tiller. It's not living as Christ would have wanted. That's not the example he set.

My heart breaks...and I fear the backlash on both sides. My heart and prayers also go out to Tiller's family and the community. Obama asked for people to find a common ground when it comes to abortion...but actions like this just show how much of a continental divide there truly is.