The 600th New Beginning

I have been so ambivalent about doing the right thing when it comes to my body, it's not even funny. I am just not a happy person when it comes to eating, exercising, or feeling good about any of it. Yeesh! New plan of action? You betcha!

1. I am going to use a marbled notebook to write down my food. It has a ton more room and if I'm feeling crappy or I feel the need to record my mood, I've got the space. Also, I won't feel so conspicuous. Plus, because I'm going back on Core, if I'm having a hungry day, I might need the room for various fruits and veggies.


2. Even though I didn't want to, I went to a WW today. I went in between meetings so I got to hear the program spiel that I've heard before, but never from Joanie, the wonder leader.


3. I cooked a healthy dinner tonight. I cooked enough so that I can bring some to class tomorrow.


4. I need to get a good night of sleep tonight. That might make all the difference tomorrow. I'm currently taking a fabulous class about being a teacher leader. It's a great class, the professor is incredible, but the class itself is intellectually draining.

On the positive side, I have been drinking more than my fair share of water. I'm relieve to report that I've got that minor thing on my side.

Now for the down and dirty...has anyone else had Panera Bread's Cinnamon Crunch bagel with reduced fat Hazelnut cream cheese? Good lord...it's fabulous, so stay the frick away!

Got Tagged!

I got tagged by Chai! So here it is, 10 things I like about me, in no particular order:

1. I'm a good teacher. Reading is an important skill. I have helped all kinds of kids learn how to read: dyslexic, those with IQs under 80, the ornery. I am also good at finding things kids would like to read. I'm good at classroom management. I work well with my other teachers to work collaboratively and to team teach.



2. I'm a good wife. Hey, I being home the bacon and I fry it in the pan...except I look out for Chris' health...so it's soy bacon in a lightly oil sprayed pan that has no trans fats.



3. I'm the Alpha dog in my house. I'm in charge and the dog knows it...even my parents' dog knows it and I don't even live with her!



4. I can make my body do outrageous things: I can lift heavy weights, I did an Olympic distance triathlon, trail running. I'm not doing that stuff now, and I'd like to start it up again...hmmm, maybe I'll start that up again soon.



5. I have a good sense of humor. Or at least I think I'm funny. I'm not the funniest writer in the world, but if I ever met you in person...I'd more than likely have you laughing about something. Hey, I crack myself up....



6. I'm loyal. If you're my friend, you'll always be my friend. I'm there for you anytime. ANYTIME, dammit.


7. I'm smart. I don't want to sound pompous. I'm no super genius. But I have my bright moments, that's all.


8. I'm not afraid to speak my mind. I share my ideas and suggestions at work whenever it's appropriate or asked for.


9. I love my family, including my extended family. They are some of the greatest people I've even had the pleasure of meeting.


10. I like my nose. It's just the right size for my head. And it's very straight.

Okay, now that I sound like a total ego maniac who is constantly telling people how to change things at work, and cracking bad jokes....I guess my list is done. Although, if I were asked to do this list on a different day, the answers might be very different. I'm not sure who I should tag next...hmmm. I'll have to think about that.

Ready....Set....Lose!

Starting weight for FatBlokeThin's 2007 challenge is: 182.8!

Reuben the Gray

Reuben, who is anxious by nature and by lack of nurture when he was in the pet store, has been extra anxious and OCD as of late. He's been turning a lot before lying down...to the point that he pushed all the bed clothes off of my brother bed yesterday. I know exactly why it's happening...it's been so hot 'round these parts that he isn't getting enough exercise. He opts to lie down and veg. Me, too, to be honest.

So today, I took Reuben down to the river to swim, which is his favorite activity. I keep him on an extendable leash because if I didn't and he caught sight of a goose or a duck, I'd never see him again. He'd be across the Hudson in no time flat!

Anyway, I let him take the lead and we stayed in the water for 15 or 2o minutes...after that he swam towards shore. It was a combination of tired and filled with sea weed (which might be his favorite food...he loves to snatch it up while he swims) Once we got out, he got the bath of shame, pet by Lisa , rubbed dry and then into the car. Once we got back to the apartment, he couldn't keep his eyes open, no matter how hard he tried.

A Bunch of Stuff

I've got a few things to touch upon, and as you all know, I'm not afraid of jumping from one topic to another unannounced, but today I feel I should forewarn you!

First of all, I had to get up early this morning to go do some curriculum analyzing at school. when I walked Reuben in the empty lot at the end of the street...these giant foam mountains were in the creek....crazy, right? I'm fairly sure that they are soap bubbles...this afternoon they had decreased significantly.

I made a pit stop at the all powerful (and evil) Wal-you know who this afternoon and bought the new Whoppers Strawberry Milkshake candy. I loved them so much that at my next errand stop (the Vets to pick up Reuben's meds...that's another story) that I threw them away because I knew that they were in trouble.


Which brings me to my last bit...I am totally doing the FatBlokeThin weight loss challenge and I am going to ROCK! I gotta rock because I feel absolutely fat...blah.

What I'm up to...

Here's a quick view of what project I've been up to....another 9 patch quilt. I'm hand piecing it, and it's especially slow going because I'm only motivated in bursts where I'll sew for a little while and then put it down for days. Plus, I've got 3 or 4 other projects that I'd like to try, and I've got a bunch of chores to do and I just can't seem to get any of them done! Yikes!

This is quickly turning into a "Woe is me" situation. I'm only working about 10 hours a week, and I can't seem to get a thing done. I can barely get the dished done. I haven't been running. I think my motivation switch is in the "off" position.

When I'm 34

Here is my annual birthday picture...

That's right, it's birthday time 'round these parts. I can not believe that I'm 34. It was just yesterday that people were asking me what my major was....literally, I was waiting for maintenance to open the door for my grad class and I was mistaken for 25, so I'm good with this birthday thing.

I was trying to think of something funny so I wouldn't have a total cheese smile, but I had trouble keeping my composure when I started singing this:

And Marta, my mom is going to be psyched that you mistook her for my sister!

Busy!

I'm not sure why I want to call this entry "busy" because I haven't been that busy...it just seems that way with all the house business (we're not getting it, but more on that later), trying to prepare for my next grad class, going to a 21st birthday party for I a girl I used to babysit for when she was 3, and reading a million sewing blogs because I'm becoming obsessed with sewing.

Okay, the house. It was perfect. It was in our price range. It had an accessory apartment in the lower level for my parents who want to sell their house and watch my kids if and when I should have some. My mom and I went to see it, then Chris went to see it, then Chris and his mom went to see it. Everyone and their mother loved it...literally, apparently, but Chris convinced us that it wasn't the house for us for a number of reasons including that we would be paying a butt load of taxes on 3 acres of property that had 2 acres of unusable marsh land. Plus the driveway was a steep, downward turn, which could potentially be terrible in the winter. There was an upside to this adventure: It forced us to get our duckies in a row (pre-qualification wise), we all are on the same page about the type of house we want, and it's making me want to purge, sell things on eBay, and just get organized in a general sort of way.

Ah, Lisa finally turns 21...what a party. She had a jumpy castle, beer pong, and tons of food because her father is one of the top caterers in Westchester. Woo-hoo!

That's my baby brother (almost 24) holding the ping pong ball in a round of beer pong....nice.

And just for fun, a picture of Lisa's year old boxer, Boomer!

Schatz and Giggles

My mom and I went looking for houses for shits and giggles today with an agent named Schatz, so we've been saying "for Schatz and giggles"...but we might have found a house. Chris went with the agent this even while I got us pre-approved for a hefty mortgage. We know someone has made an accepted offer, but we also know they are giving the owners a hard time, too. If Chris likes it, we want to have all of our duckies in a row to pounce if we can. It more than likely will not work out, but hey, who knows? At least we'll be ready if this one does, or if we find the perfect house in the future....right?

A Quick Update

I just got back from my WW meeting and I lost a pound, so I'm now officially 179.2. Nice!

The road to Hell is paved...

with good intentions.

The wedding was a ton of fun. I didn't do tons of damage, but I did eat 2 zeppoli (?) and I did drink a couple of gin and tonics (which make me crazy, but that's a different post). The down side is that I didn't go running yesterday because I wasn't feeling well in the afternoon. (It was not a hang over...I was stone cold sober by the time dinner came at the wedding and I was the designated driver!) And today, I didn't go running this morning, I can't go out now because it's 94 and humid and I don't need an asthma attack. I'd go later when it cool off, but I'm teaching. I think today is a bust.

Argh!

Gotta keep my head above water!

Okay, here's the situation, my parents went away on a weeks vacation and...they left the keys to the brand new Porsche......(head slap) The real situation is this...I am out of points until Tuesday and I'm going to a wedding tonight with my best pal, Darth Bruce...I think my plan is to keep myself out of too much trouble tonight, ie eat as core as possible, be the designated driver, and dance until I'm sore. Then tomorrow, Monday and Tuesday, I've got to eat clean and hit the gym with a quickness and run until I cry in the hopes that I can stay ahead of the calories. Sounds like an okay plan, right? Then why am I panicking a little?

Truth is, I'm already a run behind. Last night when I was supposed to go running there was a thunder storm. I'll run in the rain, no sweat, but running when there is thunder and lightening? I can't bring myself to do it. I hear my mother's voice telling me to stay out of the shower, off the phone, out of the pool and not to stand (or run) near trees. Ugh. On the upside of the storm, I got to see this:

Strangely, it was still thundering. It was also raining on the western end of my street. Weird.

In other fun stuff, Chris got 2 new pieces for his new drum kit. I think he's considering it complete. He set it up in our living room last night. Fun for all!

WI!

I lost 2.8 this week! Yee-haw. I think I've found the right combination to make it all work....exercise, low stress, and huge amounts of fresh cherries!

No exercise today, just various errands and then a cool hour floating around the club pool...heaven.

Have a safe 4th, everyone!

July 1

I couldn't come up with a good, or even so-so title for today's post, so I didn't bother.

Things are going okay...the scale showed a smaller number this morning, but I can't let myself get too excited, I still have to work at it until Tuesday at 4. I also took my mom for a 6 mile bike ride this morning on her new bike. That went pretty well. I earned 2 APS for that, and I've got 9 flexies left until next meeting. Not bad...not bad at all.

I think I'm going over to my old WW boards stomping ground and rejoin the Ironman training board where you tried to get iron distances in over the period of a month. I think it's do-able since I'm on vacation. Can't hurt to try, right?

The last thing I've got to say is: I am so happy that it's cherry season! I could eat cherries all day long! And they are core...

Reuben the night time snuggler

During the day, weims are nothing but a blur of gray as they run, run, run....but what non-weim people don't know is how cuddly they are at night. I took these pics of Reuben over the last couple of nights and I thought I'd share the snuggle king....