Moving Back Home

Happy May Day everyone!!!

Hey everyone out there on the internet...and by everyone, I mean the 4 people who might read here. LOL That's alright...I always say I write more for me than anything else.

I've made a decision...that when my lease expires in the end of June, I'm going to move back home with my dad. It's something I've been thinking about for a few weeks...maybe longer. I kept deciding one way and then another...and then changing my mind all over again. But, I finally bucked up and made a final decision.

The last year has been a tough one on me and my dad...we've had to adjust our daily lives in a way we had never hoped to with the loss of my mom. When she first passed away, I asked him if he wanted me to move home...and he said that I could, but that he didn't need me to. So, I resigned my lease and went on my way.

A little while ago, my dad mentioned that the offer for me to move home was still there. I think it was his way of asking me to move home...but without putting any pressure on. I started to mull it around in my head and weighing the pros and the cons. All in all...there are so many more pros than cons. One, I can save a lot of money....which I plan on putting in a savings account to buy a car/down payment for a house/get lasik eye surgery/ put towards my 401K, etc. I'll have a lot more money to be able to use for things...and put away. So, that is a huge advantage. It'll also give me a lot more time to spend with my dad...which is such a pro. We have been meaning to do a lot of projects around the house...and I was finding it hard to find the time, but with being home...that will be so much easier. I'll also be able to just hang with him a lot more...which I think will be good for both of us. My dad and I really get along...so, it'll be nice for both of us. I also think the house has probably been pretty lonely for him this past year, so if me being home can brighten it up, that'll make me feel good.

There are some cons...or things I need to be careful of. One, the idea of being 30 and living at your parent's house just doesn't LOOK good. I look like one of those mooch kids who grows up, but never moves out. I know that isn't the situation...but to the outside, it's how it looks. I also need to make sure the transition doesn't lead to me gaining some weight back. I have a horrible pattern of gaining weight when change happens and particularly when I move. So, I am going to make sure that does not happen. I've worked way too hard to just throw it all away. My dad and I talked about turning my brother's room into an exercise room...which will be great. I think I'm also going to rejoin the gym...so I know I always have a place to workout. And another con...is that I'll be really sad not to be living with my roommate anymore. She's one of my closest friends and I have really enjoyed living with her. Also, I know life is really stressful for her right now...so I hate that I added more stress to her life with my decision. If I could have an ideal world...and have both at the same time, I would.

My lease isn't up until the end of June...and now I am going to spend the next month and a half slowly moving myself back into my dad's. I wanna be "moved out" by mid June since our apartment complex is notorious for not giving much of a deposit back...so I want to make sure we get every nickle we can, etc. I figure if I bring some stuff every time I go to my dad's....it won't be such an ordeal.

Happy Thursday all....

Weekend Recap...

Hey there internet....I had some busy and exciting times this weekend, so I thought I'd share it with you. So, here goes...

Friday: I got home from work...and since I hadn't bought my final weight loss reward yet, even though I "earned" it weeks ago, I decided it was TIME. So, my dear ol' daddio and I went to Devil-Mart and bought me a nice, new bike. I got a great deal. It is a Schwinn Jet Star Women's Bike. It was with the clearance bikes. I think someone bought it and returned it, so I got it for over 50% off. Sweet!!! I am so excited to have a new, swanky bike. I am going to ride it to work everyday that it isn't raining (like it is this Monday morning). I am going to love the instant exercise added to my day...and with gas prices, it'll be a great thing for the environment and my pocketbook. Whoo hoo!

Saturday: I worked on Saturday...we had a big huge community service project. We were cleaning up a local park and re-doing the trail that goes to it. And guess what...I rode my bike to work. It felt great. It takes me 10 minutes to drive to work and only 15 minutes to bike it. It's awesome. The day was great for community service. It was sunny, but not too hot...and there was a nice breeze. What we did for most of the day...is clear brush and what not from the trail above the park. So, I spent hours...dragging brush, twigs and rocks onto tarps and dragging up a pretty steep hill. Let's just say...I got a nice workout. It was nice to feel physically fit enough to do it. We started right around 9am...and finished up about 3pm. I helped clean up the site...and headed home around 4pm. I was beat by the time my bike and I got home. Phew. TIRED! I made dinner...and then felt ready for bed at about 7pm. I didn't head to bed that early...but I wanted to. I think I fell asleep sometime in the 9pm hour. My body needed the rest...let me tell you.

Sunday: Ah...lovely Sunday. I didn't go to church this week. It's the annual giving drive...where they feed people a nice lunch and talk about each person's weekly giving to the Church. I know it's how the church survives, but I didn't want to be made to feel guilty about my level of giving...or feel obligated to give more than I already do. I don't give a lot each and every week in the plate, but I do always give money or goods to the dinners we have...and I have given large sums of money to special projects...like funding the summer camp program, etc. So, I feel good about my level of giving. I know that the church is also a business and it has to be...but I figured I would skip a week that reminds me of that.

I did go over and hang out with my dad instead. We've been trying to declutter the house. I think it's going to be an ongoing project FOREVER. My brother's old room is just chuck full of junk we've acquired over the years. I have boxes and boxes of stuff from college....that I just packed up, brought up and never thought of again. Mind you...I graduated in 1999. So, I spent the morning going through it and throwing away 90% of everything there. I was surprised how emotional I was going through some of the stuff. I found a lot of old pictures...and a bunch of old clothes from college. I had forgotten how overweight I was in college...denial has a way of doing that. I was probably the biggest I ever was during my college years. It was really heartbreaking looking at those old pictures. And the clothes...same thing...I would hold up the physical reminder of how big I was and it was definitely eye opening. Of course, everything in me wanted to shred those pictures and throw away all those clothes...but I didn't. I kept the pictures. I am going to put them away in a little box...and keep them as a reminder of how much change I have accomplished. I'm also going to keep them as a reminder...that I don't want to gain this weight again...that this change is permanent. It's easy to let denial take over again...and let the weight creep back on. I also put the clothes in a pile. I'm going to wash the nice ones and donate them. Hopefully someone else who needs them...will put them to good use.

And the rest of my Sunday. I had a lunch with my roomie and another friend. We went to Panera for lunch. I love that place...they have really yummy food and if you make the right choices...a lot are really healthy for you. I had a garden salad with fat free raspberry dressing. And after eating, we went back to our apartment and watched a movie...August Rush. It was completely unrealistic, but I liked it. It was great to hang out with the girls...since we haven't done that in a long time. Since I hadn't seen my one friend is almost a year, it did take a little bit to kind of get to know each other again. Now that her schedule has changed, I am hoping we are going to be able to get together more often.

I think that's about it for my weekend report...and because it's Monday, I'll report that I weighed in and lost a pound this week. That didn't surprise me at all...especially given the cardio marathon I did on Saturday with working out on the elliptical, riding my bike to and from work and all the work done on the trails, etc. I probably burned close to 2000 calories that day...

Hugs all...I hope everyone has a great Monday, even if it is a rainy one like it is here.

Happy Sunday y'all....

Guess what, I'm being bad...and playing hokey from church today. I've gone without missing for about the last 3 months. It's not like I think I should get a pat on the back for that....I am just happy that I feel more committed and connected to church. So, then why am I not going? Well...it's feeling like spring outside and I really feel the need to do some spring cleaning, so I am going to spend the morning cleaning the apartment...before heading over to my dad's and helping him clean a little bit there.

I have a lot of stuff here that needs a good cleaning. I have said this a million times over and I mean it each and every time...but I wish roomie and I were better at cleaning on a day to day basis than we are. We clean once and then let it get pretty dusty and dirty again...and then do another day of cleaning. It's frustrating that I can't seem to break that cycle. I'm trying...

Today, I am going to clean the kitchen...mop the floor, clean the counter, take out the garbage, get rid of stuff in the cupboards I don't use, etc. And of course, cleaning the bathroom...since it is pretty grungy in there. I am going to mop the floor, clean the bathroom vanities, the toilet, the sink, the shower, clean the mirror (you know so it isn't covered in little toothpaste dots!) And then I gotta clean the living room...that's the easiest room....wiping down the tables and woodwork...and then a quick vacuum. I have a bunch of clothes in there I need to bring to Salvation Army to donate, so I need to actually do that. And finally...my room could definitely use a clean. I need to put away clothes...and I need to just get rid of a lot of stuff that I don't need and don't use.

So...I plan on opening the windows and getting my cleaning groove on. I think God would give me the thumbs up about that. I hope everyone is enjoying their weekend.

Happy Thursday

Hey all...I hope everyone is finding their Thursday treating them well. It's been cold the last few days...just to remind us that Spring is coming, but that Winter isn't done with us just yet. The weather guy did say that winter should be behind us now...but you never know, we've consistently known it to snow here or there in April. I remember it snowed last year in early April because I was in Florida at the time and my friends were cursing me from there.

My poor roomie is having a stressful week. Her mom is in the hospital and probably is having gallbladder surgery. She called and told me that her mom had a gallbladder attack on Monday and now they are just awaiting having the surgery. It's a tough time for everyone involved. My roomie's mom hates being in the hospital since the last time she was there...was when her husband was battling a terminal illness. And it's tough for my roomie because those times are always stressful...and she is taking over the parenting role for her little sister. She has so much on her plate already, that this just seems to be overwhelming her. The last time I spoke to her...she just seemed to be on the brink. I wish I could take some of the burden off of her...I would if I could. So, send some internet hugs her way...if you are so inclined.

And to switch gears...I had an exciting end of the day yesterday. I scooted out of work early and went over to meet the girl I am being matched with in our office's mentoring program. It's a lot like Big Brothers/Big Sisters. I've been considering doing it for years, but it just always wasn't the time. Now...it's officially the time. The girl I will be spending time with...she is just adorable. She has the best smile...from ear to ear...and she's still got that innocence about her. I think I might enjoy the time we are spending together more than she will...since I never had a little brother or sister, etc. Our first outing...is going to be going to the mall for a few hours...and window shopping. We're going to hit both of our favorite stores...and probably get some yummy food from the food court. Of course, we plan on getting lots of clothes to try on...and having our own version of a fashion show in the dressing room. It sounds like a blast to me.

And for this weekend...I don't have a lot of plans. I have to work on Saturday morning...which I keep almost forgetting. lol I have to teach a class at work. And then the usual weekend plans. My dad and I plan on going shopping on Saturday. He has a lot of around the house projects he wants to start buying things for. He wants to re-do the walls in mine and my brother's old room...and he wants to re-do the bathroom. Initially, we are going to re-do the whole shower with one of the walk in tubs when my mom was alive...since it would have been so much easier for her to use, but now I think he just wants to replace it with a new, nice, swanky one. He also wants to re-do the pipes and make it so he can use the water system outside again. I am always SO supportive of him making repairs of the house since selfishly, I will be taking the house over someday down the line. He said the house needs to be painted as well...and some windows need to be replaced. It's definitely spring time...so it's projects, projects everywhere!

And for Sunday...I am going to church. This Sunday is Communion Sunday. Some churches have communion every week, but we only do it monthly. I am helping two other women at church...serving the communion breakfast following the service. They are bringing bacon and eggs...and I am bringing a huge ol' fruit salad and maybe some granola. Mmmm.... That's about it for my weekend plans....oh...and cleaning...so my mentee can come over and I can not be completely embarassed, know what I mean?

Hugs all around...and enjoy the nice weather.

WHOO HOO!!!!!!!

Hi all! I've been blathering on and on for the last couple of months about how I have been running/jogging in preparation of running our local Shamrock Shuffle. I've never been a runner...no matter how fit I have been. I came home from Florida in January...and thought, "Hey, I wonder if I could get myself in shape to run/jog the Shamrock Shuffle?" It was a fleeting thought...seriously. I didn't think it could happen. I didn't think I could start training in the cold winter. I didn't have access to a treadmill. And plus, I was a horrible, sucky runner.

So, I thought...I can rock the elliptical for 45 minutes to an hour...I'll give it a shot. I went out for my first run in January...and sucked. I couldn't run for a 1/4 of a mile without having to stop and walk. I basically felt the shuffle was out of touch for this year, but I kept trucking along. I added some running time each time out...and in a few weeks, I headed from my house to my dad's. I jogged the whole way...it was about 2.5 miles. I was shocked...for the first time, I had hope.

Over the next 5 weeks...I added more and more mileage until I was running 5 miles without stopping. Now, when I say running...I mean jogging. I was running between 13-15 minute miles. I didn't care though...I was running.

Well...today was the shuffle. I went to church this morning (I needed the big guy on my side). I headed over to register at 10am...and the race started at 11am. My dad came with me...and my roomie came too to support me. I am so grateful for them coming to support me...it was very nice and I felt very loved.



My goal was...to run/jog the whole time...and to finish the race. And that is just what I did. The race was 5 miles...and my final time was 1:01:43. I was one of the last people to finish...about 6 people came in behind me. But, I don't care...I ran about a 12 minute mile...and I jogged the whole time...no walking...and I finished. I couldn't be happier. I didn't sign up to win...I signed up to run it and accomplish it.

I've said before...I don't know why this race was so important to me. I felt the need to run it...almost as if it is the physical representation of all the work I have done in the last 6 months.

I still say...if I can do this, anyone can! Hugs to all who were cheering me afar.

Busy and fun Saturday....

Ah...the weekend is almost over. How did that happen so fast? I'm happy to report that I did get my run in on Saturday. It was raining when I got up, but it quickly stopped...so I strapped on my shoes and headed out. I didn't eat enough before heading out, so I ran out of gas and stopped at 4 miles, but still...FOUR MILES. I'm not complaining.

Saturday was also my roomie's bday. It was one of those birthdays that ends with a ZERO. I won't say which one...you'll have to figure it out. We went to the movies and then watched a rented movie. We went to see Vantage Point, which was pretty good. I wasn't sure if I was going to like it, but I did. I thought it was cool how they showed the same 20 minutes from a bunch of people's different views...hence why it is called Vantage Point. There was a guy sitting a few rows behind us who was SO annoyed every time the movie went back to the same starting point...I guess he didn't google the plot before going to see it. The rented movie we watched was Dan In Real Life. It was cute...and Steve Carell and Dane Cook with both quite funny.

What did I get my roomie for her bday? Well...I made a mint no bake cheesecake for her to take and eat with her family. I knew it wasn't on my diet, so I was glad she could enjoy it with them. She said it was good and they liked it...in fact, I think her sister got very excited about it. LOL I also got her 2 books about MS, health and weight loss. She's doing all the research she can and they have a lot of ideas and meals plans in there...so I hope she finds them helpful. I also got her some smelly stuff from Tar-get...and some pistachios...cause they are yummy and she likes them. I think that's it...oh yeah...and a kick @rse card.

Saturday was kind of a busy day...which is kind of nice since I usually am not the Queen of Productive and Running around. What have I done today? Well...maybe if you are lucky, I will save that for another entry. *winks*

Mid-week report...

It's Wednesday....which means it is Hump Day y'all. We are over the hump and closer to Friday. Plus, this is the Wednesday after what the news reporters were calling Super Tuesday 2. Hillary won Ohio, Rhode Island and Texas...and Barack won Vermont. I've written before that I am a Hillary fan, but part of me just wants this battle to the nominee to be over...and I've crunched the numbers and it looks like...no matter what...it's probably going to go Obama's way. I just don't want to see the Democratic Party spending ALL their time fighting each other...while McCain and the Republicans are uniting and preparing for the real fight, the general election.

Anything else really going on in my life? Not a lot. My roommate's birthday is coming up soon. I've never really been the kind of person who likes to celebrate my birthday, but I know my roomie is. So, we're trying to find something to do...even if it is just a movie and hanging out, etc. And of course...it means I gotta get cracking on buying her gift. I always want to get special gifts that mean something to the person...not just a gift card or a neutral gift. I always want the gift to be something that shows them I thought of "them" specifically. Don't get me wrong...I've bought gift cards before and in all honesty, I like getting them...but still. Hmm, maybe I will buy her lingerie
(just kidding...but I sure got your attention, didn't I?). I'm gonna poke around the shops this weekend when I am running errands and what not...and see what I can find. I always just keep looking until at some point...I come across the perfect gift.

I hope everyone is enjoying their week...and has fabulous plans for the weekend. I don't, but well...I live a pretty boring, grandma lifestyle.

A day off, a weigh-in and a sick roomie...

Hey everyone....it's Monday aka Weigh-In day. I like having Mondays off from work (President's Day) because I can get up, lounge around and then do my weekly weigh-in. I forgot to not set my alarm...so it went off at 7am, but that's ok. I got up and then weighed in at around 7:30am...and started about my day...getting my breakfast...yadda yadda.

So, how did it go? I lost 2 lbs last week for a total of 67 lbs. I started transition on Friday, so the weight loss will probably slow down or stop altogether. Last week, I was only in transition phase for a few days, so I am not surprised I lost a couple of pounds. I have set a transition and maintenance range...between 65 and 70 lbs lost. So, I would be cool if I lost a couple of more pounds...since I imagine I might get some rebound pounds when I start adding a bunch of stuff back in.

I ran on the elliptical today. I have been doing interval training lately with my elliptical. I have been running normal speed for 4 minutes and then going as fast as I could for one minute...and then go at normal speed for another 4 minutes...over and over. I hope that this will help my endurance as I start running for speed and distance.

Let's see...other than that...the only other interesting info around these parts is that my poor roomie is sick as a dog. She started coughing a little here or there a few days ago...when she swore she wasn't sick...but, well...the sickness gods had other ideas. She is coughing up a storm now....and her throat sounds horrible. I feel for my roomie and hope she gets better too, but at the same time...I am terrified of getting sick. Every time she coughs...I wince. I have been taking some echinacea for weeks and I have Zicam in the apartment, if I need it. I won't make the mistake my roomie did...and think it isn't a cold for a couple days...instead, if it hits...I hope to use some prevention and knock it out.

I also spent the afternoon cleaning the apartment. It was on my agenda anyways...since it needs it and it hadn't been cleaned for a few weeks, but since my roomie is sick...I definitely needed to clean it. I cleaned the kitchen...cleaned the bathroom and wiped down the furniture in the living room. This week, I am going to make a cleaning schedule...and post it on the fridge. I want to keep the cleaning up...so it doesn't turn messy so quickly. It seems that roomie and I don't seem to notice the messiness until it is pretty bad...and for the past few months, that's just not cutting it for me. I wanna clean because it's what you should do...not because the apartment is so messy, you have no choice. I wanna to treat it like how you think of brushing your teeth. Do you only clean your teeth when you notice how dirty and gross they are?? Of course not. You brush your teeth twice a day...because you are supposed to and it keeps them clean...always. So, I want cleaning the apartment to be like that for me. That's my plan at least.

Alright...I'm off...to watch some crap tv...and lounge around on my day off. Enjoy the day...if you are working or not. And if you wanna...send me some healthy thoughts that I don't get this nasty cold my roomie has. *crosses fingers*

Love the one you're with....

Hi all...I wanted to pop on and wish everyone an awesome and love filled Valentine's Day. Even for the chronically single...like myself, celebrate the holiday. I can remember when I was in college and myself and some of my bitterly single friends would call VDay...Black Hearts Day. At least I don't feel like that anymore.

I made some yummilicious brownies last night and brought them into work. I say they are yummilicious because that is what the office told me, but I don't really know...since I didn't eat any of them. I believe them though...since they started eating them at 8:15am and there weren't any left at 11am or so. They looked good....so, I will probably make them again.

And, if my roomie is lucky...I have a couple of them saved and she might get one. I got one for my dad and an extra one for my roomie (Hey Roomie...aren't you glad you got me my $2 now! TWO DOLLARS!!!). I think I am going to go hang with my dad for a little bit tonight since this is his first Valentine's Day since my mom passed away. I don't think he would say anything, but I imagine it's a tough day for him.

Plus...I have tomorrow OFF WORK...and Monday too. I am looking at a 4 day weekend. I am excited about that. I don't plan on doing a heck of a lot...working out...cleaning the apartment a smidge...going for my usual run. And I don't hate work or my job, but I am loving the idea of 4 days away from it.

Enjoy the holiday...share the love!!!!

I *heart* NY!

I miss the Big Apple...seriously, I do. When I was in high school and even a little when I was in college, I used to go to NYC quite a bit. I would go down to the city and see a broadway show or maybe go and do some Christmas shopping. I won a trip to NYC my freshman year in college. I got to stay in a nice hotel and see all the site, including a Broadway show. It was such a great trip. I can't believe I haven't been to NYC since 9/11. I don't think my roommate has ever been to NYC, which of course is a shame.

The next time I go to the city, I might want to take one of those bus tours. They pick you up, bring you down, give you lots of info of places to go, etc. I think the transportation is one of the real highlights. I could take the train, but if a bus will bring me...all the better. I would never and I mean NEVER take my own car into the city. I can barely find a parking place here when I am downtown...so, I am not going to even try to find parking in NYC. New York Tours seems like a great way to see the city again.

If you have been to NYC, where would you tell people that they have to see??? For me, it would be some of the museums, of course the Broadway Shows and Lennon's Park in Central Park. I have heard there are Sex and The City tours and I think those would be fun too...if they aren't just chuck full of cheese.

I gotta start planning a trip to NYC....not that I have the $$$ right now with the trips to see Kevin Smith and the John Mellencamp concert, but a girl can dream right!!

good time had by all...

I had a good good time at the Kevin Smith Q&A...the drive there and especially back was a little long, but well worth it. The show started at 7pm, but the doors opened at 6pm. We left at about 1:30pm...I had to stop by work and buy gas, but after that...we were on our way. It took just about 4 hours to get there and got in, found the parking garage and headed to the hall just in time for them to open the doors.

Our seats were really good...we were on the left side of the stage and right up front. We were basically at eye level with the stage and when Kev came out, we were only about 20 feet away from him. I am usually super unlucky when it comes to seat location, so I was pretty happy to say the least.

The show started just a couple minutes late...and Kevin said that since he kept us waiting he would entertain us with one of his friends...and then walks out, Jay Mewes. I was so excited...since I adore Mewes as well.

Kevin started talking, answering questions...and the show was hilarious. I got to hear some stuff I have never heard before. He also told his version of the Aristocrats joke after initially saying he didn't want to...and I think that was the highlight of my evening. My roommate tried to catch the joke on her cell phone, but we aren't sure it is actually audible. We'll see. He also told some stories about making movies, casting decisions (some interesting comments about Jeremy London from Mallrats), and their personal lives.

Of course...it was all full of swearing and sex stories...who would expect anything else. And we also got to hear a little bit of the drama between Jay...his new girlfriend...and Kevin's wife.

Oooh...and Jay did the most adorable thing. He could never find the fold in the curtain to get back stage, so he would just sit there and rustle with it over and over again...hoping to find it. At one point, he just got on the floor and rolled under it. I think he couldn't find it honestly the first or second time, but after that...he did it for the laughs. They also talked a good deal about Jay's drug history and how it effected his life...the movies. It was definitely an interesting conversation.

I know you are wondering...No, I didn't ask a question. There were tons of people in line and in all honesty, hearing other people getting their questions answered was probably more entertaining than asking my own. I don't know the last time I laughed that hard....seriously.

He went on for about 5 hours...started at 7pm...we left very close to midnight. He would have kept going to, but the venue cut him off. It was definitely worth it....even if it meant the drive home getting us in at 4:30am. My roomie drove since I drove there, but I didn't fall asleep...so I was a tired kid when I got home.

If you ever get the chance to go to a K-Smith Q&A...you should. It was definitely worth it.

tee hee hee

One day last week....Thursday maybe...my roommate were emailing back and forth while I was at home and she was at work. We kept sending each other funny youtube videos.

I came across this one...and it made me giggle. And of course, I had to share. I love the Mac vs. PC ads on TV...and this is even funnier than those.

Enjoy!

Monday Morning ramblings...

I ended up getting a call with some bad news last night. My roomie called and said that her step-father passed away at about 9:30pm or so. He has been really sick lately and battling some pretty bad illnesses, so it wasn't expected, but it doesn't make it any easier to take. My thoughts are definitely with her because I know all too well what this feels like. That's all I will say about it though...because I do my best to not talk about other people's stuff on the internet. I'm not always successful, but I try. But...if you are sending prayers and warm thoughts out...send some to my roomie and her family.

Yesterday was Sunday...and once again, I planned and started to prepare myself for church. I had a hard time sleeping and ended up waking up at 5am...and could not get back to sleep, even though I was exhausted. Seems unfair, eh? I started to think about church...and soon enough...time to leave for church had gone by and I was still sitting on the couch. I just don't feel ready to go back to Church yet, even though parts of me really want to be there. It's the place that my mom and I went together...it was our weekly time, etc. My dad didn't go to church and in the last few years, my brother wasn't a church goer. So...it was something for me and my mom. I went to church the weekend after my mom passed away...but my brother was with me. And, I didn't do so well...cried the whole time. I have never been to church without my mom...and so, the idea of going is comforting and terrifying all at the same time.

I'll go back...and I know the longer I wait, the harder it gets, but I will go...when I am ready.

Relay for Life

Hey everyone....I hate the idea of asking people for money, but this is a good cause...so I am going to. My roommate asked me a LONG time ago if I wanted to join her Relay for Life team and I gladly said yes...and since that date, I have done NOTHING to raise any money. I just kept thinking that the date was so far away, etc....but now...the event is a little over 2 weeks away and I still haven't raised a penny.

Relay for Life is closer to my heart than my lacking of fundraising shows. My grandmother died of bone cancer when I was a little, little girl...I think I was about 5 years old. I remember her...but not like I would if she had lived a long, long life. I can remember her always having a smile on her face, but also being tired and brittle, as the cancer progressed.

And my aunt also had cancer a few years back...her's was skin cancer. She had to have surgery on her leg and her forehead to remove the effected area. Luckily, her's did not spread and she made a full and complete recovery.

I think that research is paramount when it comes to cancer...and that with continued and aggressive research, there might be a day when we talk about curing instead of treating the disease.

So...if you feel so inclined, please feel free to log onto my Relay for Life page and donate to the walk I will be doing in June. My family and I would really greatly appreciate it.

Thursday Thirteen #30

Thirteen Random Things about Shelley 1. I decided to not have a theme this week...and just randomly list anything going on in my life this week. 2. The services for my mom were last Friday. They were really nice. I saw a lot of people I haven't seen in years...and got to spend some time with friends and family...smiling and telling great stories about mom. 3. My brother and his family left on Monday. You know...my brother and I didn't always get along as kids, but I really enjoy who he is as a person as an adult. I wish we lived closer...so we could see each other more often. And his son...the cutest, smartest human being on the planet. 4. I went back to work on Tuesday. Part of me liked setting into a regular routine. 5. I have found some old friends recently online....mainly through myspace. I found some high school, some college and a friend from grad school. It's been nice to get to know some old friends again. I often lose contact, so I am really happy to reconnect. 6. If you have myspace and wanna be my friend...let me know. I am slowly growing my myspace friends. 7. P.S. If I don't know who you are...I tend not to add you as my myspace friend...so send me a message telling me just how cool you are! 8. I absolutely cannot believe that Melinda got sent home on American Idol. I think she isn't as commercial as some of the others, but who can deny that voice...and her bubbly, sweet personality. I didn't watch, but I was shocked to see on the news that she was sent packing. 9. I now completely want Blake to win American Idol. He's cute and different. 10. I need to refocus on eating right and exercising, etc....I was doing well and then just didn't prioritize it when my mom died. But in reality...if nothing else, my mom's death reminds me to live my life to the fullest...which means that I need to be healthy to do that. 11. I want to start hiking again. I am going to pick some smaller peaks and start there. Wanna come with? 12. My roommate took part of her test to become an EMT this past weekend. She passed...did very well. She has been taking an EMT course all year long. She has her final test (written portion) tonight...so cross your fingers and wish her luck! 13. Today completely does not feel like Thursday. I completely forgot what day it was until I saw a friend's Thursday Thirteen. I didn't work on Monday, so every day has felt like a day behind.

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I can find anything on the net...

I am completely in love with the internet....no, seriously! I can't even imagine what life was like before the net. You know, when you had to look everything up in the phone book....or having to call and ask friends for referrals, etc.

I have often said that you can find ANYTHING on the internet by doing just a quick search in places like google or yahoo or even dogpile, etc. I have a friend at work who bellows everytime she can't find something and within minutes I have the info she is looking for from the internet. It's almost like the internet is magic.

Here is a great example...we wanted to go out for Mexican food for my roommate's birthday. There is a local mexican restaurant in town, but it is pretty new. I knew it wouldn't be in the phone book yet. So, I did a quick local search on the internet and by entering in the restuarant's name and the town it is located in, I was able to find the phone number for the place...no problem. If we didn't have the internet, we would have had no choice but to drive out to the place to make a reservation because their number wasn't in the phone book yet. And by the way...the food was mmm, mmm...good!

Search engines and the internet basically make the world go round!

the new era?

I have two friends...who are roommates....and one of them made a blog post yesterday saying that she is changing how she is living her life, she is going to be more selfish and care more about her own needs. I am just saddened that her post didn't seem like a new start, it seems like an angry post. I often wonder if "life changes" about having as much fun as possible...while seeming so fed up and angry...have any chance at all. Who knows, eh? And she mentioned that next year she is going away to school. I think that it is great that she is going away to school...I think it will be good for her. Now...I wonder where she plans on going to school. Is it going to be at some of the 4 year schools that are only an hour away? Is it going to be much much farther away...meaning she is going to move?

And my other friend...her poor roommate. She hasn't said anything to her about it. I know that if my roommate posted on the internet that she is going to school next year and therefore...might be moving...and didn't say anything to me about it...I'd be PISSED!

Hopefully it'll all work out...and I am glad that my friend has a renewed sense of focus, but I can't help thinking that her new era of being more selfish is showing to be true...with not even mentioning that she might move to her roommate. But then again...maybe I am starting the new era of Shelley...being judgemental about things that are just none of my business.

P.S. The weather yesterday was WONDEROUS!!!!

observations sermations....

Hey y'all....I can't believe I haven't posted since sometime on Wednesday...that's just so not like me lately. I didn't do a Thursday Thirteen...I didn't post about my weekend or movies I watched. It's not because I was incredibly busy...and I did log on a couple of times, I just didn't feel like I had a heck of a lot to say...ya know?

But I decided to make this post...the things I would have said over the end of the week and the weekend.

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First off...my heart goes out to Elizabeth Edwards and her family. That woman just seems so amazing and this cancer return just seems so unfair. And watching the Press Conference with John and Elizabeth...it's just so apparent how much they love one another and are committed to one another. I don't think John will have much chance of being President...but I admire him and especially his wife so much. My heart just breaks for them.

* * * * * * * * * *

My dad had a job interview on Friday with a company in town...it's actually the company he used to work for back in the 90s. He said the interview went well...and expected to hear an offer. And he was right...he got the offer in the mail on Saturday. He is pretty sure he is going to take it...the money is about the same...and he won't have to commute anymore, which will be such a gift. It will save thousands of dollars a year in gas money...and it will also give my dad 2 hours back in his day. I am so happy for him.

* * * * * * * * * *

I am going to Florida next week...and I am excited. I haven't seen my brother in a few years and I actually have never seen my little, adorable nephew. I can't believe he is 2 and a half and I haven't made it down yet. Money has been tight, so I did the best I could....but I am so excited to see him. Now, I wish I hadn't spent the last 6 months gaining weight...as I am preparing to head down to sunny Florida, but well...it won't be the end of the world, eh?

* * * * * * * * * *

You know...I am kind of a sarcastic soul. No, you say! Well...I think that is just a little bit of an example of it. I often try to be funny...and sometimes I am successful at it, but it is often a sarcastic joke, etc. A couple of times my roommate has mentioned in a joking manner that I am just mean...and well, once okay...but a couple of times or more...it makes me think that she means it. So, it is something I am going to work on. I am not sure how good I am going to be at it...since i have been sarcastic since birth, but I am going to try. I like that I am a funny person, but not if it hurts people's feelings.

* * * * * * * * * *

I have been feeling a little more blue or down lately...a smidge depressed. It's not like I can't get out of bed or anything...just haven't been feeling great. I think part of it is that I haven't been sleeping all that well...and the biggest part is that I have been gaining or at least not losing weight. Plus...I haven't been working out like I need to. So, when I get back from Florida...I am getting a real, honest to goodness plan. I know I feel better when I move more. I know I feel better when I eat better. So, I need to take all these things I know...and actually start doing them. I think it will help my mood...and help me get back to the perky, smiley person I usually am.

* * * * * * * * * *

I think that's about it for now...see, I had plenty of stuff to talk about, I just didn't feel like writing anything. That happens sometimes!

Birthday dinner...

First of all...it SNOWED yesterday!!! YEAH! I love snow...it's just a fun time for me when it snows...even when it sucks. I love snow...it's fun, it's childlike and it's almost time for snow to go bye bye for the year, so we had one last tryst before it heads away and we plunge right into spring. SNOW! YEAH!

Hello y'all....yesterday we went out for dinner and watched movies for two of my friends who had birthdays back to back. We went out to dinner at a Mexican food place in town. It was authentic mexican food...served by people who barely speakin da english. It was great food...even though my roommate almost got killed by carrots (she's allergic and they had a hard time understanding her that she couldn't have carrots). And...they sang happy birthday to her and my other friend...and gave us a free dessert. I had bean burritos and then ate a smidge of dessert...cause I was about to explode. I wouldn't definitely go there again.

And then we came back to our apartment and watched Flushed Away...which was SO funny. I was laughing through the whole thing. I didn't expect it to be as funny as it was. *giggles*

It was a good time...only downside...I was so tired all week that I was exhausted by 10pm...and looking forward to my bed.

Happy Birthday y'all.....

Happy Birthday to my roomie...

Today is a very special day....



I am going to anchor this post so it stays on top until the end of the day. Today is my roommates 29th birthday! I am never one to celebrate my birthday, but she does. So...wish her a happy birthday for me.

Happy Birthday dear Shelley's roomie...
Happy Birthday dear Shelley's roomie...
Heappy Birthday dear Shelley's roomie...
Happy Birthday to you!!!

We are celebrating by having dinner tomorrow with some friends...and watching some movies.

and tomorrow is the birthday of another friend of mine...celebrating all around!