Category Archives: Ramblings
Day 24: WTH Universe!
Today started out uneventful.
I spent the morning starting my holiday cookies. I rolled up some cookie balls, made a new cookie recipe, and manually ground 4 lbs of walnuts for baking next weekend. I spent the majority of the morning and afternoon in a warm kitchen, so I didn’t really notice that the rest of the house was getting cooler. Around 4PM when I finally sat down, I wondered why it was so cold in my living room so I checked my thermostat, planning to bump it up a degree or two since it was so cold outside. That’s when I noticed that I already had it set for 70*, and the thermostat was reading that the house was 64*. SAY WHAT?
I bumped it up to 72* and hear the furnace kick on. However, while the fan was running, it was not blowing air through the duct work. So I turned the thermostat off and turned it back on again. Yep, same thing!
So I had to place a call to my landlord to let them know what was going on. I can go ahead and call the Heating Company that installed the furnace (it’s fairly new, too!). So I’m hoping I can work from home tomorrow while I wait for someone to come look at it.
On the positive side, I did finish one type of cookie, halfway finished another type that needs to be dipped in chocolate, and manually ground 4 lbs of walnuts in preparation for more baking this upcoming weekend.
I’m now looking forward to an even shorter work week if I can work from home tomorrow. I’ll miss a co-worker’s baby shower after work, but now I’ll be able to get up to Cal U to pick up Vampire Boy a little earlier. However, I’m sure hoping the weather forecasters are wrong with Tuesday’s forecast of 4-7 inches of snow!
Day 22: TGIF
And how am I spending my Friday evening?
Well, first Social Diva and I had Chinese for dinner. (I also had cake at work, so there goes my diet today!)
But with the holidays coming, I said I wnated to get the house cleaned up.
Tonight, I focused on cleaning up all the papers lying around, and Social Diva reorganized her “school” bookshelf in the dining room.
She’s now enjoying the Pens Game while I am ready to head to bed.
Tomorrow’s another day! (and with the cold forecast, it’s going to be a perfect one to stay indoors and clean!)
Photo Credit: http://bestclipartblog.com
Day 21: The LONG Week
What is it about this week that it seems to be taking FOREVER for the weekend to get here?
Is it because the last few weeks have been so hectic in preparing for my New Orleans trip?
Is it because I was away from work/out of town for three days last week?
Is it because I’m anxiously awaiting next week — the week that begins short workweeks until January 2014?
I haven’t figured it out yet, but Thank Goodness It’s Friday Eve!
Photo Credit: SomeECards.com
Day 20: Scattered
Today started with a trip to Children’s Hospital for a routine eye exam for Social Diva. I then got to drive back out of the city to take her to school, and drive back into town to go to work.
I feel scattered today. My thoughts seem to be jumping from one thought to another. I’ve been feeling a but Luke a hermit lately. I haven’t been out with my friends in a few weeks. Hopefully, I can remedy that soon, although this weekend’s weather forecast may not allow it to happen.
I can’t believe that Thanksgiving is next week. That means Christmas will be here sooner than we’re ready for it. I wonder if I can get myself ‘into’ the season this year? I guess we’ll see!
Day 19: Still Digging Out
Photo Credit: http://www.illustrationsof.com
I love taking time off, but I hate the days following because it seems to take forever to play catch up.
Today is my second day back after being away for three days last week. I seem to just be moving the piles from one side of the desk to the other.
With the upcoming holidays (and planned days off to bake), I need to get my desk and my workload organized.
Does anyone have any extra motivation lying around that they could share? I’ll trade with cookies!
Day 18: The Countdown is On
I saw on twitter today that there’s only 13 days left in November, which will lead into the countdown to Christmas.
I’m not ready!
I’m not ready for the cold weather, and snow, and shoveling.
The malls and other stores are playing Christmas music.
I’m not ready!
Thanksgiving used to be my favorite holiday. I loved hosting for my family and my in-laws. Divorce changed that.
Christmas should get easier as my kids get older and I no longer have to pretend to be Santa. They’re at the ages that they can tell me (and their dad) what they want for Christmas. That’s the easy part. They still want the Christmas tree and decorations. That’s the not so easy part.
I tell myself that I’m going to try to get excited for the holiday. I ended up buying stuffing and a turkey this evening, as well as stockpiling cookie ingredients.
I can do this, right?
Day 7: I Hope to be a Guinea Pig
Last night I attended an information session for a clinical trial at the local university. The study is to help people lose weight and present weight regain. The program will include physical activity, nutrition, and weight loss intervention for reduced cardiovascular risk.
While I did buy a Fitbit at the end of August, I haven’t made much progress with increasing my exercise. This study will require weekly group meetings and my weight and eating habits will be reported to the study coordinators via a wifi scale and the Lose It! app. Accountability (and no cheating)!
At the end of the information session, we had to answer a few questionnaires to see if we qualify to participate. The coordinators will review our answers and will let us know our eligibility to participate by early December. Baseline testing will start in January, with group sessions beginning in February.
I hope I’m eligible to participate. While I’ve done well this week with my modified eating, some nutritional advice for this picky eater would be very helpful and greatly appreciated!
Day 6: Guess Who Fixed Her Garage Door?
Guess who fixed her garage door?
This gal!
My manual garage door has been popping out of the track more frequently these days. I researched solutions via Google (of course!). When Vampire Boy was home this weekend, I had him help me.
We first tried a hammer but it did nothing. I then tried using pliers to bend the track just enough so that the roller wouldn’t jump out when the door was lifted. After opening and closing the doors a few times, we noticed that the hinge holding the roller wasn’t sitting level. After a few more adjustments to this hinge, the door now works perfectly!
This will make winter so much easier for me! (though I’d also love a garage door opener!)
UPDATE: Jinxed myself! Door jumped the track tonight! Grrrr!
Day 5: Progress
I had a post prepared in my head while at work today, but for the life of me, I can’t remember it now. I refer to that as #MadCowBrain. I wish I could remember my topic, because I think it was a pretty good one. It will probably come back to me around 3 AM tomorrow morning.
In any case, I am almost through day 2 of my modified eating plan (trying to cut out carbs and sugar). Over the weekend, I committed to joining a social diet group called DietBet. It’s a game among friends where you donate $20 and have 4 weeks (28 days) to lose 4% of your weight. You submit a picture to the web site of yourself standing on the scale (full body shot) and a close up of the scale reading with the secret word. A DietBet employee verifies your submission and approves your weight submission.
In preparation for starting the modified eating plan (I don’t want to say diet), I overdosed on leftover Halloween candy on Saturday prior to my weight in on Sunday. Weighing in on Sunday was de-pres-sing! (Between you and me, I’m pretty disgusted that I let myself get this overweight.)
So I’ve been clean eating for the past two days. I have given up bread. I have given up processed sugar. I have a craving for sweets right after finishing lunch and dinner, so I’m trying to substitute fruits for sweets.
I’ve also tried increasing my water intake, which had me waking up twice last night. I was not happy with this new development!
I’m looking forward to weighing in tomorrow morning. Fingers crossed that I’ve dropped at least the Saturday Starburst weight!
Day 4: The Voice
The Voice ~ Shel Silverstein
I’ve been ignoring the voice for a few years now.
It used to be a quiet voice that whispered “something isn’t right.”
But I tried to give the benefit of the doubt.
I tried to be flexible with my thoughts and feelings. My wants and expectations.
I tried to not want for everything to be about me.
But the voice kept getting louder and louder.
And as my unhappiness grew and the pounds packed on, the voice finally yelled loud enough at me.
But it IS about me. My health is important to me. My happiness is important to me. And while I can’t make everyone around me happy, I need to start with allowing myself to be happy. And work on making that happiness happen.
So I’m listening to the voice inside.
The Bitch Desk 