Real Quick...

I'm running out of time today!
I have to get a project out before I can leave work, then I have to go help Maggie set up for their wedding, then I have to take Rob to get his motorcycle from the shop, then I have to change for the rehearsal, then there's rehearsal dinner, then I have to cook all night because I didn't do ANY last night for the bridal brunch tomorrow morning, then it's all Maggie-all the time tomorrow with bridesmaid duties (not complaining!).
So I will probably be post-less for a couple of days

I'm SO excited...LUCY'S HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And she's staying with us Saturday night! And I know there will be a lot of talks had.
Perhaps we will learn something to our delight!
I will share if we do!

Ok...gotta bounce...take care ya'll!

Out of Curiosity...

Who gets this? :)

I want to know who's a freak like me!

New TV shows!!!

Ok, FIRST I need to gripe about headaches AGAIN! Seriously I'm over having a headache every other day. And I'm pretty sure that it's the weather change doing it. But I like to be able to see without pain out of my right eye. That would be lovely.

Ok...business!
How excited are YOU for new Thursday night TV?!
My Name is Earl is an hour long and so is The Office (LOVE!) and we'll find out if Sara lives or dies on CSI.









Captian's log, stardate 046...OH! I mean, Daily Log:
Gym: no again...I had to work late on a bid and then there was a 'designer event' at Crate & Barrel, apparently I get kick backs if I buy stuff for clients there...I haven't really read everything they gave me yet...I just went to drink their wine and eat their niblets.
Food: Pretty good, I have to say...except for the small niblets at C&B...goat cheese on french bread with a little balsamic vinegar is REALLY good! A healthy quesadilla...yes, it's possible. YUM!
Water: Again, I could have done better

Ew...the Healthy Choice meal I'm eating right now is NOT tasty and my stomach is GROWLING. I may have to get something from McAlister's later...especially if I'll be working late again. Oh yuk...Ok, what I'm having is shrimp & bowtie pasta in a watery "cream" sauce...with bonus shrimp skin, totally bland green beans & carrots, and...let me try my cherry crisp...scorching hot but actually the best thing in this tray. Or maybe I just burnt all my taste buds off.
McAlister's here I come.

A little good news...

I FINALLY got a little feedback regarding the raise I asked for 6 weeks ago. I was getting quite agitated that I hadn't even gotten so much as a "we're real busy, I'll get back to you"...and honestly that really might have had something to do with my negative attitude toward work lately. I had emailed a follow up 3 weeks after the meeting (which went well as I reported)...nothing. Then I emailed again 2 1/2 weeks after that email...nothing. Yesterday I finally got a 'so sorry...you're right...too long to wait...yes we have been busy...talked it over with the president...'. Essentially I will get one at yearly review time when they're usually given, there were still no promises made...but I can't blame them for that...that's smart business really. Don't get me wrong...if I don't think it's enough, I'll tell them! But at least I got a response. Being ignored or even thinking you're ignored...talk about resentment.

Daily report:
-Gym: no gym, had a standing appointment with girls at work for a 'girls night out'.

-Water: I did better but still not the goal...but getting closer!

-Food: For girls night...I had The Cheesecake Factory for the first time ever...it was awesome...and even though what I ate wasn't the greatest (as far as being 'on the plan') I still did pretty good considering their menu. I DID splurge for the cheesecake though...how do you go to The Cheesecake Factory and not get cheesecake? Especially on the first visit?! Let's be real! But the rest of the day was great! (I knew I would be "bad" for dinner) But albacore tacos?...that's not too shabby...I could have gotten a burger or something fried!! (and I SO wanted to!)

What I just learned...

I just learned that apparently my pants and my chair seat fabric rubbing together causes quite the static charge. And the charge releases itself through my earphones

New cool thing...

Ok, I've discovered the joy of 'Google Reader' & I'm SOLD!

You just input all of the blogs you regularly check and it stores them, then whenever there's a new post it shows it there. Kind of a different way than subscribing...WHICH I've had some trouble with. Brent's is the only one that I get even though I've subscribed to a few and that almost always comes after I've checked it myself anyway.

ANYWAY...So I can just go to Google Reader and all the blogs I read are there...sort of like cnn.com showing you today's top headlines.

It's awesome!

The Ultimate Showdown Of Ultimate Destiny...

This never fails to make me smile...

Just a few things...

First, thanks for all the support from my last rant. I sincerely appreciate it.

Yesterday was a successful day for me...I was good with food & the gym. 30 minutes on the elliptical and some inner/outer thigh, tricep, bicep, & lat weight training as well.

Rob made an awesome omelet dinner (all with low fat ingredients & extra veggies for me).

I did NOT meet my goal with water, but today is a new day.

Today is a headphone day at work, I can hardly stand it. Everyone's bugging the crap out of me! I don't know what my deal is. Well, I think I have an inkling...read this quote from Steel Magnolias: "Shelby: Truvy, you know what you need in here? You need a radio, takes the pressure off of everyone feeling they have to talk so much. Truvy: I had one once, but I threw it up against the wall when I couldn't figure out where the batteries went. I know now I was suffering from pre-menstrual syndrome."

And I also have to be a little OCD on the germophobe side...everyone here is sick. So I'm trying not to touch ANYTHING.

That's all I can think to say at the moment...I have a headache so the profound thinking is slow coming...waiting for the Sudafed PE to kick in. Stupid weather change.

For now enjoy...

And now for the movie references...

Will Power & Motivation...

WHAT is my deal? I can motivate myself to take this weight loss/gym/healthy eating thing seriously for about a DAY...then it just idles away. (I don't use the word 'diet', it has WAY too many negative connotations)
I really WANT it...I absolutely abhor the way I look and feel right now. But the will power dies, being tired wins, eating pizza wins. I tell myself over and over again that I will go to the gym EVERYDAY not every other day, but something always keeps it from me. Or I should just be honest and say that I keep it from myself. Am I sabotaging myself? I don't like to think so.

I need to figure it out so that I can stop beating myself up for not following through.

I have faced the fact that I have no one to blame but myself. At least I'm self-aware. I do know the consequences for not following through. At any rate...I hope to just frickin' do it and have better news to report.

My to do list: (in this area anyway)
-hit the gym at everyday - I don't have to do both weight training AND cardio everyday...but SOMETHING everyday.
-some amount of sit-ups everyday
-100 ounces of water everyday (WAY harder than you'd think!)
-eat better - less fat, more protein, less sugar (during the week...I'm good...I HAVE to be better on the weekends, we allow ourselves to indulge...but right now it's too many days of that)

It's not about the scale for me...although I do weigh myself. That's why I chose the picture I chose...I almost put a scale in. But people focus WAY too much on that number and I don't think it's reflective of what's real. Two people that are 5'8" can be 30 pounds different and look the same. Muscle weighs more than fat. It's about the inches and the visual for me...and how my clothes fit. I want to lose 20 pounds, but I really want to get to a solid size 12. There I did it...I admitted something to my size. I'm not ready to reveal the weight. If I get lower than a 12, fabulous! And maybe once I got there and re-evaluated myself, maybe less is achievable. I'm realistic...my bone structure would NEVER allow me to be a size 8, I'm sure of that. I think I would look anorexic, and would have to lose muscle for that. I digress...anyway...point is...I've got to do this...for me.
Writing this I've worked myself up some more motivation...I hope it lasts!
Wish me luck, strength, & positive thoughts.

New Annoying Thing At Work...

Do NOT annoy your coworkers by clipping your nails (ALL of them) at work twice a week.

This has been a public service announcement, thank you for your cooperation.

Yes, my inner peace is still elusive.

Seriously Funny...

Jeff Dunham! You may have seen him on TV here & there...he's a ventriloquist.
He has a new special on Comedy Central...Rob & I laughed our asses off last night!
He's touring too and has a stop at Butler, but the tickets are juuuust out of the range right now. But I would LOVE to see him live!
You can see snippets of his show on You Tube if you do a search or on his website...http://www.jeffdunham.com/

I LOVE Peanut!

New Blogger...

Pete has joined the wonderful world of blogging...check out the link to the right!

"Sorry for the inconvenience..."

A situation where saying 'sorry'...does NOT help!!!
They are "sorry for the inconvenience"...should I bill Autodesk for the errors that AutoCAD gives me and the time that it takes to redo all the stuff I just did?

Lucky for my computer (I'm prone to throw &/or break things when provoked), I had saved almost immediately before this happened.

TGIF!

Workout report & OCD...

I went to the gym AGAIN yesterday! I did 30 minutes on the elliptical again as well as a little ab work and leg work.
(I'm counting on you people to hold me accountable if I stop reporting that I went!)
Yesterday's music was a little different...I played my 'Middle Earth Mix'...yes the soundtrack from The Lord of the Rings...Fellowship to be precise. But only the more intense parts of the music...couldn't handle the slow stuff. It worked, but it's definitely not an every workout thing.


What else can I talk about today? Well it's early...nothing much has happened yet today.

Ooooh I know...I can talk about one of my OCD's. Grammar. Not that I'm an expert or even that OCD about it...but some things REALLY bother me when I hear them or see them. If you need a proof reader or editor...I'm your girl.
There is someone in particular that abuses grammar in a big way that I don't think reads my blog...but just in case, I will not use their name. I'll go as far as saying I see this person 5 days a week...from 8 to 5...got it?
Anyway...this person has some, uh, interesting grammar habits. Usually involving mispronunciation of words and it's usually adding some letters that don't exist. And it's repetitive...it's not a one time accidental occurrence. And sometimes it's inventing a whole word that just doesn't exist. I thought I would share some of the things I've documented...yes, I started to write them all down knowing I would one day blog about it.

(And I think I've shared a few in earlier posts...but here we go)
-Excape (escape)
-Expecially (especially)
-Sended (instead of sent...this may have been a one-time thing...I think the word SENT just wouldn't come...but I would NEVER say this word...EXpecially in front of a client!)
-Shtreet (street)
-Dishcription (description)
-MISjustice (injustice)
-Stoled (stole)
-Samwich (sandwich)
-"alls we did...", "alls we'll need...", "alls I said..." (it's ALL, there's no allS...ALL, ALL ALL!!!! - This one in particular makes me cringe)


So there we have it...the list FOR NOW. I'm am very confident I'll be able to add to this later.
Oh, I happen to be a very good speller so maybe I just can't understand the confusion...but this question was also posed..."is Midwest two words?"

I realize some people have difficulty spelling or with 'proper' grammar...but all of this has come from one person.
Maybe it's just one of my quirks...but oooooh, it just grates me!


Does that make me weird?

The gym & my ipod...

I did it! The migraine went away & I went to the gym yesterday! I did 30 minutes on the elliptical. I usually do some abs, arms, legs, etc. after the cardio, but since it was the first time in a LONG time I hit the gym...I didn't want to push it. "Don't be a hero!"
I wanted to be able to go back the rest of the week!


Now...something I realized yesterday...well, probably before then but anyway...
I listen to my "Workout Mix" on my ipod when I go to the gym. Songs that have a good strong beat & push me a little. I noticed that I can't help but step to the beat of these songs. And let me tell ya...Green Day's 'Holiday'...that'll get you going. It's beat is just fast enough that by the end I'm sweatin' hard! That and 'All My Life' by Foo.
'Solsbury Hill' by Peter Gabriel...not so much a mover & shaker...love the song...can't workout to it. Unless I'm on cool-down.

So I was curious...what songs do you workout to? OR what songs inspire you and/or get you going?



Some others from my 'Workout Mix':
-'The Hand that Feeds' - NIN
-'Roller Coaster' - Red Hot Chili Peppers
-'Rock is Dead' - Marilyn Manson
-'Breaking the Habit' - Linkin Park
-'Another White Dash' - Butterfly Boucher

Migraines still suck...

Yep still have it...although it's better than yesterday even so hopefully it's at a turning point.


I think the weird weather change (that we had for ONE day) triggered a sinus reaction which triggered the migraine, so we're trying a Sudafed-Diet Coke cocktail today.


Sorry I really have nothing of note to post...

Here how's this?
I've got plenty where that came from shall I ever "lack" again!

Migraines really suck...

I hate migraines.

I LOVE Imitrex.

I hate health insurance companies.

I get migraines frequently...frequently being more than anyone should have to. They really suck! They absolutely interfere with daily life when they occur.

Imitrex is the only thing that even makes a dent in them for me. I love Imitrex! It is one of the best things on earth!

Our company's new health insurance however, doesn't seem to think they should cover it. Our last insurance did to an extent. I paid $30 for 6 doses. Now I'm supposed to pay $130 for 6 doses. And there is no generic. What the F*** am I supposed to do?!

I took my second to last dose yesterday. I still have what I call the 'migraine shadow' or 'migraine hangover' today. I can just feel it...but it's not crippling...although I can feel the threat.

On a lighter note, I got to spend practically all day with Pete on Saturday! His plans got changed and needed a place to be that day after dropping off his rental car. Apparently his place to be was sleeping our 'chair of doom'...we call it this because nearly everyone who sits in it will fall asleep...it's THAT cozy. But I can't say I blame him...he was pretty darn busy and in demand. But thanks Pete! I got to watch Oceans 13 & Bourne Ultimatum all from the comfort of my sofa and his laptop. Later in the evening we went to Oranje downtown. It was QUITE interesting...most interesting to me...the crowd. Everyone from 2 dudes wearing nothing but undies and body paint...oh and bowties to the snooty art people with their turtlenecks and blazers to the artsy fartsy hippie to the ones I just looked at, cocked my head and said "ooookay".
It was cool though!

All right...that's it for now...

OH...today starts Rob & I's health program. Back to the gym and watching what we eat! I'll keep you posted on progress...and willpower. My current goal is 20 pounds!

Back to fighting headaches...working on a computer is REALLY helping.

My stance...

Don't get me wrong...if you want to immigrate legally into this blessed country...by all means, please do so and embrace everything American. That is why you want to come here right? I would never think of moving to say...Germany and insist that they speak English to me everywhere and change their signs to be bilingual while I live off of their country & citizens!


I got the following in an email and thouthg it was so good, I decided to post it.


I bought a bird feeder. I hung it on my back porch and filled it with seed. Within a week we had hundreds of birds taking advantage of the continuous flow of free and easily accessible food. But then the birds started building nests in the boards of the patio, above the table, and next to the barbecue. Then came the poop. It was everywhere: on the patio tile, the chairs, the table... everywhere! Then some of the birds turned mean. They would dive bomb me and try to peck me even though I had fed them out of my own pocket. And others birds were boisterous and loud. They sat on the feeder and squawked and screamed at all hours of the day and night and demanded that I fill it when it got low on food. After a while, I couldn't even sit on my own back porch anymore. So I took down the bird feeder and in three days the birds weregone. I cleaned up their mess and took down the many nests they had built all over the patio. Soon, the back yard was like it used to be...quiet, serene and no one demanding their rights to a free meal. Now let's see..... our government gives out free food, subsidized housing, free medical care, and free education and allows anyone born here to be an automatic citizen. Then the illegals came by the tens of thousands. Suddenly our taxes went up to pay for free services; small apartments are housing 5 families; you have to wait 6 hours to be seen by an emergency room doctor; your child's 2nd grade class is behind other schools because over half the class doesn't speak English. Corn Flakes now come in a bilingual box; I have to "press one" to hear my bank talk to me in English, and people waving flags other than "Old Glory" are squawking and screaming in the streets, demanding more rights and free liberties. Just my opinion, but maybe it's time for the government to take down the bird feeder. If you agree, pass it on; if not, continue cleaning up the poop!

News & Inspiration...

So the news is that I'm helping out Shawna as sort of an assistant. The first task is to help her plan & organize her home office...STUDIO!

I LOVE to organize...I know it's not everyone's bag...and I especially like to organize anyone but MYSELF! It's easier! You get so used to working or being a certain way that you can't see past your own habits as to what might be better.

Anyway...I look forward to later helping her out (& learning in the process) with photo processing, creating slideshows, etc.

But just thinking about organizing her office (STUDIO! sorry, Shawna!), is inspiring me to organize our den. It's time to have a desktop again!!! Maybe before & after photos are in order!

Random...FYI...

If you mix popcorn and almost any flavor of Skittles...

It kind of tastes like Fruit Loops!

(Brent, I know you'll try this if you ever get the chance! Remember...Don Pablo's tortilla chips dipped in Dos Equis beer...tastes like banana chips! NO LIE PEOPLE!!)

Why?

Why do people do such things?

I know it isn't the best quality picture...I took it with my phone. So here's the commentary...It's a Cadillac with the rear window absolutely full (to the point of about 80% blockage and the rear view mirror being pointless) of Mickey & Minnie Mouse stuffed toys. Why?

Why, people, do you do this?

And I expect much better of a Caddy driver. AND let's top it all off...it was a DUDE driving! Don't get me wrong it would still be bad if it was a lady...but a dude? Ok, an old dude, but still...really? Mickey & Minnie? What else do you collect? Little silver 'state' spoons?

In remembrance...

I didn't address it yesterday but I feel no less pain. To read about my 9/11 experience go to Brent's blog (link on the right under 'Blogs of Note') and click on Comments for yesterday.

Today...

How I feel today...
Ho -hum, don't want to be at work, tired, fighting a headache

What made me laugh today...















What's bothering me today...
Have you ever been around a person that feels they must verbalize EVERY thought that goes through their head? In other words, someone who talks to themselves constantly and sometimes loudly. You know what, I don't care if you can't find that print out that has NOTHING to do with me!
Also, I think someone's cell phone battery is dying...every minute or so there's this ding sound...it sounds like my phone battery alert...NO it's not mine. But DERRRR, turn off your phone! I can't wait for it to die!


What tasted good today...




More specifically...the breadsticks



What tasted bad today...





I had a mini Krackel...it was NOT great






What I want to do today...
I actually want to go to the gym, if I don't end up with a killer headache by the time I get home. I have been feeling extra 'fluffy' lately...MUST do something about it!

What I want for dinner today...
Steak fajitas! We made steak last night and have a ton left...they make awesome fajitas!

What am I listening to today...
GOD I wish I had my headphones! Still listening to that 'ding' sound. Well, I was listening to my soundtrack radio station (Imagine Avenue), then I listened to Beverly Hills Cop, now I have the 80's station on...funny...the 'Neverending Story' song is on.

That's all for today...

Proof...

Pete was actually here!

For REAL!








Who's this WANKER?




Pete & Dana Huber were over for dinner tonight and it was great! Rob cooked some awesome steaks and we had a good time.

A New Week...

Double the good news...

-The Shingles has gone bye-bye! Finally the pain is gone...or at least to a minimal point that I don't really notice

AND...

-PETE'S IN TOWN! Rob & I got to hang with Grant & Pete yesterday! It was a good time. And Pete is coming to our house tonight for a home-cooked dinner. It really is great to be able to spend time with him while he's here.

Told ya...

The Colts were victorious...VERY victorious. Now lets just see if they start to get too confident and make mistakes. Not that I don't have faith, but I don't like to get too confident either. Everyone's talking about a REPEAT...lets not get ahead of ourselves here...repeats don't happen to everyone...or the same team would have been winning all 41 Superbowls!

That right there is my man Marvin, what I love about him is seeing his intensity at line up...watch his eyes. He is so completely, intensely focused on Peyton. AND I love that he's not full of himself, he celebrates a little...I would too. But he's quiet, not obnoxious, and loves what he does...not the paycheck.


OK...moving on...

Qdoba disappointed me this morning with their breakfast burrito...normally a favorite, this morning was not so good. The chorizo wasn't spicy at all and it was WAY greasier than normal...I had a grease pool on my plate when it was all done and I couldn't finish the last few grease filled bites. And now...I kind of feel gross too. GREAT. Perhaps the Noblesville Qdoba doesn't do it right, must stick to the Carmel one I guess.
Still LOVE their guacamole & nachos!


What else? I've been on vacation for the past couple days, my mom was visiting and it was nice to have a few days off. Tomorrow is Maggie's bridal shower here at my place...good food, drinks, and CAKE!
Gonna have to hit the gym after all this! Might have to wait still though...here's a side note that I wasn't sure if I was going to share...
Ok, so whenever Rob or I would have a wicked skin itch we'd always joke "what, do you have Shingles?"
I've found out personally that Shingles isn't really funny. Yes, I have (or had, or whatever) Shingles. I don't know why but I always thought of it as just some flaky itchy skin rash that old people got. So I was kind of surprised when the doc told me that's what I had. Not really a big rash, just some red blotches but itchy...I only went to the doctor when it became PAINFUL. Not just skin painful, but deep down pain. To the point where I would gasp, wince or even flinch. It is VERY painful and NOT funny at all. It's been about 2 weeks and the 'rash' is gone or almost gone but the pain continues.
***Education time...what Shingles is...it's the chicken pox virus showing up again in your system, since viruses never go away they hang out in your body forever, usually not disturbing you ever again. BUT the virus that causes chicken pox hangs out in your spinal cord, I guess it's a happening place, maybe there's wild parties there. Anyway, when it comes out again, it comes out through your nerves...hence the pain. And it's a strange pain that you've never really experienced and nothing you do can make it better...it's not like a backache where you can sit a certain way and it's better...it hurts whenever it wants to hurt, sometimes consistently for a long period of time.
So, no, not so funny. Shingles usually happens to people who have a lower immune response for some reason or who are really stressed out. I didn't think I was stressed out...so who knows.
And it's not contagious unless a person who has not had chicken pox touches the rash part and their immunity is low. And mine was on my hip/low back...not a whole lot of access there.

Anyway, I don't want to sound whiny...but it's really hurting at the moment & I'm getting pretty frustrated. That's why I don't want to go to the gym...I'm afraid some movement will trigger a pain response...I didn't think that's how it worked...seeing as how you can't move to get rid of the pain...but last night I twisted funny or something and it REALLY ticked off the pain.

Ok...how freakin' long can I make this post?!?!
Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Season Opener!!!

GO COLTS!!!


Just sitting here waiting for the football to begin!!! Saints are going DOWN!

Holiday Weekend...

What we did this weekend...

Yes...that is TWO TV's with count them TWO Playstations going with yes...TWO Final Fantasy games being played. On the left is my game...Final Fantasy VII. On the right is Rob's...Final Fantasy XII. Yea, I know, we're big time geeks.

This is TEMPORARY! We are just waiting for Craig to finish our entertainment center...no rush there turbo...and then the smaller TV will find a home in the den and we will then HAVE TO finally hook up our satellite properly to the flat screen. (This is the real reason we have 2 TVs in the living room...only the tube gets the satellite at the moment.)

We also splurged a little and had our own wine & cheese dinner. It was fabulous! Dubliner & some semi-soft cheese that we can't remember the name of...no not Brie. Also some summer sausage. We will have the wines reviewed on our wine blog in time.

Sable & Zeus enjoyed watching a whole flock of birds that landed across the street...

And then they argued over who could catch the most birds if they were allowed outside...in nearly led to bloodshed...