Can I Go Back to Bed, Please?

Tuesday evening, our happy little state got dumped with several inches of snow. Various amounts across the valley, but snow nonetheless. I drove home in wicked traffic, but still managed to get to my house within 20 minutes of my normal time. I was truly amazed! The moisture is just what we need and the snow helped to put a lot of people in the Christmas mood. Unfortunately, our temps have been unusually low in the evenings so the snow on the roads became black ice. Nice. Doughnuts anyone? The commute Wednesday morning had me creeping along perhaps twenty yards in fifteen minutes. I turned around and high-tailed it home. No way was I going to drive two hours into work, only to work two or three hours and turn right back around. I figure I got more done at home anyway.

Last night, I made Lasagna which I've never done before! I turned out really good and I didn't even follow the recipe completely. It called for about six layers, but I could only get two good ones in my casserole dish. I used ground turkey instead of beef and half the Parmesan it called for. I will definitely do it again. The girls loved it! Indy did not have any Dairy Ease all day, so had a fit-full sleep of probably the world's gaseous tummy. It didn't occur to me that this was the issue until almost 11:00 last night. She woke up again around 2:30 this morning. I feel like a zombie! No specialty coffee for me this morning, though. I have a lunch date with a friend and want to my indulging there. Thai food is worth the indulgence. I can't wait!

Hubby in I are somewhat in the thick of it, too. We've been doing well, then when the babe came home last night from dance, she was very upset. She enjoyed class but felt bad about not having enough time with her daddy. I can appreciate that. It's the same battle I fight all the time. Her argument to me, though was that I can stay up latter and talk to daddy. I tried to tell her that we go to bed and I don't have as much time as she thinks, but she wasn't hearing it. She and her dad talked about ways to get more time in.

Now, here's my thing, it took one discussion between those two to figure out a "more time" schedule but when I tried this, we ended up in therapy. Does one have to be related to the man by blood to get that kind of attention? Am I just jealous of my seven-year old? Hubby knew I was mulling over something this morning and I didn't want to talk to him because I kept thinking, "He's going to think I'm insane! Jealous of or daughter?" I don't feel like I'm jealous, but I think that's how it will appear. Or, maybe I am? Who, knows. I just know it has me all in a tizzy and that's not good for someone who's working on around 5 hours of sleep. You'd think I would have gotten some rest yesterday, being at home. It's a total misconception. You work much harder at home than you do in an office. I'm convinced. Because of this, I needed additional sleep last night. Oh, well. Maybe I'll get to nap this weekend. One can hope!

Thanksgiving Post Mortum 2007

Thanksgiving was lovely and my friends seemed to enjoy themselves at my mother's. She later said to me that she was happy to have them over, but thought them a bit dull. Well, they are, but they're sweet. You can be dull and sweet, right? I guess that's what you have to expect from a computer-geek and a former librarian. My daughters were happy to get all their favorite foods and the dogs got all sorts of scraps. Going back to work was a challenge and I've just gotten to a point where I'm not loosing my mind over the amount of work there was. I've caught up for the most part and am wondering if the same will be true after the Christmas vacation I plan to take.

The tree is up and it's stunning. The new tree makes our old one look so frail. It's very full and life-like (not pre-lit). We've been watching the holiday movies in full force. Hubby is even getting into the spirit. He hasn't climbed up on the roof, yet but he may set up a "winter wonderland" in our yard. We'll see.

We spent a lot of the time off working on our Martha Stewart project for the neighbor's gifts this year; homemade snowflakes. They're really pretty, but they take a lot of time. We also had to time it during Indy's nap time or risk her choking on the thousands of beads laying on the coffee table. They have kits at the craft stores (I didn't know this) and hubby picked one up for the babe to work on by herself. Everything was included and the wires were soldered together for her. When I attempted to solder, it smoked a bit but then the iron just conked out. We ended up wrapping thinner wire around the middle portion of the snowflakes we created outside of the kit she had. (I guess it's back to Home Depot...you get what you pay for. Don't spend $12.00 on a soldering iron and expect it to work.)

Finally, I've been ravenous as of late and so has hubby. I sort of lost control on the Halloween candy yesterday, but made up for it by working out fifteen additional minutes this morning. Hubby thinks we're subconsciously trying to pad for the winter. Um, there will be no padding this year. I'm in my skinny jeans...can't loose that. I've worked too hard.

Are There Fairies? Pixies? Mythical Creatures?

This is the question The Spiderwick Chronicles answers in it's four-book series. My eldest and I have been reading these for the past few weeks and were delighted to discover that a movie has been made! It is due to release in theaters February of 2008. In the meantime, I think the babe will probably peruse these books over and over again until the movie is released. She seems utterly enchanted...even more so than with the Harry Potter series.

So, the question above; do you believe in things unseen...perhaps even magical things? I'm not sure I even know the answer to the second part. The first part is a resounding yes. I believe in faith, hope and love...those are things I know exist but I cannot see them. Only their results. I am also Christian, so I believe in a higher power that I cannot see. Mythical creatures and such? Who knows. I don't rule anything out because I think the world has yet to be truly discovered. We know a lot, but we're still learning. It's always crazy to me when my hubby or I read about some animal discovered that they thought was made extinct thousands of years ago. Who's to say they won't someday discover something that no scientist could have ever predicted?

There must be many of us who are either intrigued by the world of myth or believe it may actually exist. Our culture is bursting with it and it seems to be making its way into our mainstream. I can't tell you how many fairy/pixie/dwarf tattoos I've seen in the last few years. Fairies litter the department stores in clothing and jewelry. There was many a fairy to be seen this Halloween, too. Even Tinkerbell has made a resurgence...and her role wasn't even that big in Peter Pan.

Finally, I'm more excited by the fact that my daughter finally sees the wonderment of books. Oh, she's always enjoyed reading but, yesterday I saw her too eager to finish where we'd left off. Most times, she's more interested in finishing up the movie she started. Perhaps her imagination has "turned on" with books and she's seeing the scenes and images in her mind. I hope that's what has happened. I'd much rather have her bury her nose in a book where she's being creative then attempt to blind herself in front of the television, where the creating is done for her.

You Gotta See it to Believe it!

My first blog was created to chronicle my quest to a better body. I began that quest and did quite well, then I got pregnant and decided to do my chronicling here. I didn't pick up my posts on my previous blog until January of this year, in my attempts to lose said baby weight. It was a rough start. Illness after illness, problem after problem. I just couldn't get a handle on it. For the last couple of months, I've really put my focus in. I even signed up on the Daily Plate and began tracking my food and exercise there, just so I wouldn't have to do it on one my dumb spreadsheets. Well, the proof is in the pudding (or lack thereof in my case). I'm down 25 pounds and have nearly hit the ultimate goal I set for myself: to return to my pre-pregnancy weight and size.

I will be changing that goal very soon and it has me a little anxious. Where will this new goal lead? Will I get there? Will my hubby kill me in the process? (he's designing a plan for me and I haven't seen it yet. I have a feeling that there will be lots of yelling and tears on my end). My visual goal is to get down as far as I can, in order to compete for a figure competition. That means my weight training program is about to kick into overdrive and I'm sort of excited by the idea. My arms and legs are already looking better than they did before the baby, and I was training then. I don't know what's different. My attitude is good, but it was good then too. I'm older, so that's definitely not a benefit. My eating is a little different, so perhaps that's it. Oh, and that part of it will change when I start preparing for the competition itself. The menu isn't the most appetizing in the world, but it serves it's purpose. I'll probably feel like all I do is eat once it begins.

The competition is a goal and certainly not something that I'm cornering myself into doing. If I get there, I get there and that's great! If I don't, then what have I lost? Absolutely nothing...but I would have gained a super hot body on the way. I feel really good and the prospect of feeling better astounds me. I'm also loving the bonuses like tight arms and very little jiggle in the thighs. Nice.

If you decided to peruse the other site, my weight may surprise you. The number seems quite high for someone of my height, and it is; however, I carry a huge amount of muscle mass. I have since I was a child and my own children do as well (my seven year-old is skinny at forty pounds, but ripped...she should be competing!). I've carried my weight well but I haven't made that an excuse. I am quick to get it off when it begins to cause me problems with my health or, heaven forbid, prevent me from wearing my favorite clothes.

I'm looking forward to wherever this new road leads me. So far, it's been a good ride.

Return to the Land of the Living

So it was Thursday afternoon that I felt my throat begin to close up a bit. I just thought it might be one of the three off-kilter things I'd had to eat that day. Perhaps my body wasn't ready for those peanuts. The day continued into evening and after some bad news between neighbors, I really started to feel kinda crummy. Into the night...up and down then down and up. Finally, I went for the Braun thermometer and within a few seconds was displayed a whopping 102. What in the world is going on? I was achy and felt like crap on a stick. I called my coworker and told him that I wasn't coming in, but that I wasn't abandoning him either. I would be online as much as I could, through drug-induced naps. My message left? Somewhere in the 1 am hour or so. I was delirious.

I worked, I slept. I worked, I slept. The following day? My hubby moved a new entertainment center in with a neighbor and friend. Then, he moved in some very large workout equipment. I drank apple juice, nibbled on crackers. Food was not a friend to my horribly sore throat. My tummy got crampy and I figured it was made about not getting the food it normally gets. Nope. TOM decided to make an appearance. Doesn't get much better than that.

Sunday, I went into the extended hour care center and discovered that doctor's still go on instinct. My gut was telling me strep. So was the doctor's, despite the negative strip test. "I'm going to get it cultured to be absolutely certain. In the meantime, I'm putting you on amoxicillin." Can we say horse pills boys and girls? Holy moly! My throat ran away in retreat when I put that pill to my lips. One half hour later, I started to feel more like me. I decided right then and there that I had strep.

That's twice in one year, folks. What the heck? Not cool. Not cool at all. I'm getting so healthy. What's the deal? Germs don't care if you're in super-duper health, apparently. They only want to invade a body...any body. Well, that's alright. I got my super, mongo antibiotics. I got my water in the 2.3 liter jug. I got my soup and I got my sanity. I'll get through this!

Pre-Lit or Bust!

I'm not sure when it happened, but we no longer have a choice with artificial Christmas trees. Last year, hubby and I decided to "retire" our 10 year-old tree and invest in a new one. We've been on the hunt for a couple of weeks, now and it seems that you can get pre-lit with clear lights or pre-lit with colored lights. Those are your choices...well, aside from buying a live tree. Believe me, I love live trees. I would get one every year if I could; however, because of the animals and children in my house, it's much more practical to have an artificial. I also am a firm believer that the holidays officially begin on Black Friday. Even though I'm not driving around in that madness, I believe it is the day the tree should be erected along with any and all decorations for the home. Call me sentimental and pushy.

There are a few (very few) places that still carry "unlit" trees and they are branded as such. I say branded because they are categorized as if they are the "Spawn of Satan" trees that nobody wants. They're not marketed well on the sites and they're usually frail and skimpy looking (Think of A Charlie Brown Christmas. These trees will need love and then some to look decent enough to display in your home). I really don't want to give in the fad. I didn't give in when all those god-awful fiber optic trees were everywhere, either (do they still make those?). Nothing against fiber optics. I just think a tree should look like a tree in as much as an artificial tree can look real, without looking like it belongs on the Vegas strip.

I did find one site, Balsam Hill, that sells the most beautiful, artificial trees I've ever seen! They even have my coveted unlit trees and they don't make them out to be the red-headed step children of the site. Unfortunately, I think I'd have to live on the "East" side to afford a tree like the ones displayed here. Even the sale trees are mortgage worthy!

I'll keep scouring the city for an unlit tree that doesn't resemble a twig and doesn't have a million lights already soldered on, but I'm beginning to loose hope. If we cave, we'll cave for a tree with clear lights...then maybe retire that one when unlit trees become fashionable again.

It's November Already?

I just checked the date of my last post. Where have I been?! Oh, yeah. Working like a dog, that's it. I'm starting to feel the pinch of my coworker being on leave. People tend to gear up for school just before the holidays, then they disappear almost entirely until the new year. Let the gear up begin! Phew! They're making me nuts over here. My coworker can't get back fast enough. Although, it's been pleasantly "happy" around here, since she left. Don't get me wrong, I totally empathize with the stress that she's dealing with (medicaid is backwards, nursing home snafus and a mother who barely knows she's there) but her negativity could sometimes bring down the entire floor. I hope that this time away has given her a better perspective and has allowed her to make peace with her mother and herself.

Halloween was a blast! We had such fun at work and I got so many compliments. One lady was like, "I can't believe how much weight you've lost!" For real? I'm still not in the bracket I'm aiming for, yet. I guess the weight training is doing more glamorizing than I thought. I'm kind of getting addicted to it, again. Hurts so good!

The babe went trick-or-treating with her dad and the neighbors and brought back way too much candy. With only a piece or two every couple of days, I'm predicting the bag will be empty by June of next year. Her sister is demolishing it, too, but I promise that bag ways eight pounds! Who needs that much candy? (How about me just before my TOM/rag. Haha!)

We've been diligently finishing up the small touches on the basement. Can I say that I'm sick of talking/looking/thinking about the basement? Ugh! Can't we just move down there already? I've begun my "decorating" for it, while we finish up by purchasing prints. From the beginning, we've said it would be our movie/work-out area. These are just a few of the prints I've purchased that you see pasted here and there are still many more to buy. It's going to be so cool when it's all done (um, if it ever gets done). I'm tired of basement talk even now. Moving on.

Christmas shopping has begun. Our goal was to start early (which we did), stick to fewer toys (which we have) and try to have it finished before Thanksgiving. Hmm. We'll see about that. Unfortunately, I think we're skewing off the road a bit. We've already bought the oldest a treasure trove of DVDs. How in the world has this happened so quickly? I had a list and I shared the list with hubby. I also said that we didn't have to buy everything on the list. Somehow, we've managed to buy nearly 3/4 of the list. Yeesh! We haven't even done the winter/Christmas clothes shopping, parent shopping or neighbor shopping yet. As for Indy, there is many an Elmo to buy that we haven't even started purchasing (luckily, Big Lots has them for El Cheapo prices). I'm unsure of what to do for my coworkers. Last year, I was the Martha-Stewart-of-Color and made the gifts. I'd like to do something similarly, but by the time my vacation starts, I won't want to be bothered. Christmas usually isn't a very hectic time for me. I've got to get this under control before it becomes so. This is a time for great happiness and creating new memories, not stressing about gifts.

Finally, on the hair front, I found a red that works. My "ravishing" blend from the Clairol Professional line never really was what I thought it would be. So, I broke down over the weekend and went for a box kit. It's still Clairol, since I trust that it won't set my head on fire and make my hair fall out. Burgundy is who I am for the time being. I think hubby is seriously missing the blond, but he won't say that out loud (men). That's alright. I think I'll surprise him by being blond at Christmas dinner. This is the first year he's had to work on Christmas morning in years. I'm really bummed about that but, I'll make sure that we all have a wonderful Christmas eve to make up for it.