New year's resolutions?
I recently read a post on resolutions (or intentions, I think the lady called them). The funny thing was, her list was very like mine.
My 3 resolutions, with detail!
1. Plan food & exercise - I already do this pretty well, but it will become more important since a subgoal here is to complete the couch to 5K and do an actual 5K. I must not just plan, but follow through.
2. Log Food & exercise. Not good at this one, but since I plan to join WW at work, it becomes important!
3. Interrupt negative self talk. A couple of things I've read recently: "What has happened in our past does not have to dictate our future. We can choose if we want to move forward. We can choose if we are worth it. We can choose if we want to be stuck." In other words, the only thing holding me back is me.
I have been working on this one a while, and I still struggle, but I continue to strive to understand why.
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Not blogger savvy!
I tried changing my template, but wasn't happy with the way it moved all the stuff on the left to the right and didn't give it enough space, so I left it. i tried to figure out who my followers are, but couldn't figure out how to look & see! Grrr. Blogger is easy, but apprently not simplistic enough for me!
Procrastinating. Le sigh.
Had good workouts this week so far. Did a Gilad video with my new workout buddy Tuesday, yesterday we worked out with the personal trainer at work for a total body sculpt class, today we are doing cardio kickboxing - the trainer is going to help us get started. And do some stretching. So that's going well. New session of classes should be starting soon, although it sounds like he won't be having the lunchtime bodysculpt (grrr) - lunch classes aren't as popular here, but I'd rather not stay super late. I'll figure it out.
I tried changing my template, but wasn't happy with the way it moved all the stuff on the left to the right and didn't give it enough space, so I left it. i tried to figure out who my followers are, but couldn't figure out how to look & see! Grrr. Blogger is easy, but apprently not simplistic enough for me!
Procrastinating. Le sigh.
Had good workouts this week so far. Did a Gilad video with my new workout buddy Tuesday, yesterday we worked out with the personal trainer at work for a total body sculpt class, today we are doing cardio kickboxing - the trainer is going to help us get started. And do some stretching. So that's going well. New session of classes should be starting soon, although it sounds like he won't be having the lunchtime bodysculpt (grrr) - lunch classes aren't as popular here, but I'd rather not stay super late. I'll figure it out.
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
It's beginning to feel a lot like christmas, er, not so much!
It is a very weird thing to be driving home from work, listening to Christmas music and blasting the AC cause it's 85 degrees! However, last night a "cold snap" came in - it was 58 when I woke up! I had to turn the AC off!!! :-)
Weird as it may be, I understand why folks move here for the weather. You know those mornings you get mid-spring or early fall - the ones where the sky is just this preternatural blue, the air is a mix of gentle warmth with a touch of crisp breeze, and the smell is so clean that you have an overwhelming desire to lace up your sneakers and go for a long walk - oh, to Montana maybe? Do you know what I mean? Well, pretty much every morning here is like that!
I've also tried to cultivate the mindset of going to the carnival freak show every time I leave my house. It helps. (Ive never been to a carnival freak show in real life, but go with it). The other day (in the same drive home from the grocery), mom and I watched "dueling cars" - the guy in the straight lane wanted to go left and the guy in the left turn lane wanted to go straight - then as a double feature we watched someone slow down in the right turn lane, and then execute a U turn across 3 lanes of road. Mom said "I know some of them are old, but do you think that some come from countries that don't really have traffic rules???" Telling you: carnival freak show, with fabulous weather.
My stepbrother is headed out tomorrow - mom and the boy are going to visit my step sister and drop him at a friend's house (he's doing some tile work for them). It's been a nice visit, but we need to get back to our normal chaos.
I've thoroughly enjoyed the 2 weeks of quiet at the office (I've worked 3 days each week) - not sure I'm ready for that to get hectic again!
It's been a good holiday.
It is a very weird thing to be driving home from work, listening to Christmas music and blasting the AC cause it's 85 degrees! However, last night a "cold snap" came in - it was 58 when I woke up! I had to turn the AC off!!! :-)
Weird as it may be, I understand why folks move here for the weather. You know those mornings you get mid-spring or early fall - the ones where the sky is just this preternatural blue, the air is a mix of gentle warmth with a touch of crisp breeze, and the smell is so clean that you have an overwhelming desire to lace up your sneakers and go for a long walk - oh, to Montana maybe? Do you know what I mean? Well, pretty much every morning here is like that!
I've also tried to cultivate the mindset of going to the carnival freak show every time I leave my house. It helps. (Ive never been to a carnival freak show in real life, but go with it). The other day (in the same drive home from the grocery), mom and I watched "dueling cars" - the guy in the straight lane wanted to go left and the guy in the left turn lane wanted to go straight - then as a double feature we watched someone slow down in the right turn lane, and then execute a U turn across 3 lanes of road. Mom said "I know some of them are old, but do you think that some come from countries that don't really have traffic rules???" Telling you: carnival freak show, with fabulous weather.
My stepbrother is headed out tomorrow - mom and the boy are going to visit my step sister and drop him at a friend's house (he's doing some tile work for them). It's been a nice visit, but we need to get back to our normal chaos.
I've thoroughly enjoyed the 2 weeks of quiet at the office (I've worked 3 days each week) - not sure I'm ready for that to get hectic again!
It's been a good holiday.
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Happy holidays!
Just a quick note to wish anyone still reading happy holidays. Lots of stuff is going on around here - including healthwise, so I have a lot of catching up to do!
Highlights:
I am starting the couch to 5 k program as soon as my gift from hub arrives - a Timex Ironman watch with intervals you can set - perfect to doing walk/jog alternates of varying lengths! :-)
With the new year, work is offering Weight Watchers at work for free! I am willing to give it another shot since I've heard good stuff about the new program. In the past I tended to save points for junk food, but I understand the program has been redesigned to promote more balanced eating.
I gave up on my Omega juicer - there were fruits & veggies it didn't do well and the opening was so small that it took forever to chop everything! I bought a Jack Lalane at a very reasonable price and I am back to juicing pretty much every day! I find my hunger and cravings are much lower when I drink at least a pint of fresh juice every day.
Hub is home from NC - he is finally done working up there. Hurray! We have a weekend getaway planned (just the 2 of us) for the weekend of the 7th. :-)
Not sure what the new session of fitness classes at work will bring - right now I'm doing 1 stretch, 2 yogas, and 2 weight sessions in addition to my neighborhood walking. Hub and I agreed now isn't a good time to join a gym ($$) so walking will be our main cardio and I'll continue to use the fitness center at work.
I am trying to make healthier foods in more reasonable portions at home. Hub needs so badly to do something about his weight and I know I can't force him to, but I can at least offer healthy meals - well, healthy being relative. There are foods he & the boy refuse to give up, so I'm doing my best in those parameters. It's frustrating.
Mom is on board and she is walking with me some which is great. She is also drinking fresh juice, which is helping with her acid reflux, so that's good.
I've lost 12 pounds from my high weight. I have a way to go, but going in the right direction!
I'm excited that some good changes are coming - not just weight, but in other areas as well!
Just a quick note to wish anyone still reading happy holidays. Lots of stuff is going on around here - including healthwise, so I have a lot of catching up to do!
Highlights:
I am starting the couch to 5 k program as soon as my gift from hub arrives - a Timex Ironman watch with intervals you can set - perfect to doing walk/jog alternates of varying lengths! :-)
With the new year, work is offering Weight Watchers at work for free! I am willing to give it another shot since I've heard good stuff about the new program. In the past I tended to save points for junk food, but I understand the program has been redesigned to promote more balanced eating.
I gave up on my Omega juicer - there were fruits & veggies it didn't do well and the opening was so small that it took forever to chop everything! I bought a Jack Lalane at a very reasonable price and I am back to juicing pretty much every day! I find my hunger and cravings are much lower when I drink at least a pint of fresh juice every day.
Hub is home from NC - he is finally done working up there. Hurray! We have a weekend getaway planned (just the 2 of us) for the weekend of the 7th. :-)
Not sure what the new session of fitness classes at work will bring - right now I'm doing 1 stretch, 2 yogas, and 2 weight sessions in addition to my neighborhood walking. Hub and I agreed now isn't a good time to join a gym ($$) so walking will be our main cardio and I'll continue to use the fitness center at work.
I am trying to make healthier foods in more reasonable portions at home. Hub needs so badly to do something about his weight and I know I can't force him to, but I can at least offer healthy meals - well, healthy being relative. There are foods he & the boy refuse to give up, so I'm doing my best in those parameters. It's frustrating.
Mom is on board and she is walking with me some which is great. She is also drinking fresh juice, which is helping with her acid reflux, so that's good.
I've lost 12 pounds from my high weight. I have a way to go, but going in the right direction!
I'm excited that some good changes are coming - not just weight, but in other areas as well!
Friday, December 02, 2011
Ugh
Tuesday I received a portion of my grandmother's ashes in the mail, along with a note from my aunt. She had asked if we would scatter a portion of grandma's ashes on her parents' graves here in Ft. Lauderdale, which of course we will. She also let us know the date for my grandmother's memorial service in Arden and asked if I wanted to say a few words.
I doubt any of my half siblings will be there, but I'm pretty sure my dad will be. But I didn't get to say good-bye, I didn't go to the funeral, and dangit I want to be at the memorial service. My aunt said she felt like an outsider at the funeral - she isn't close to my dad and doesn't know any of my half siblings really. So it would be nice to be there for her as well. And I would like to see my aunt - grandma asked her not to speak to me or mom when grandma quit speaking to us (I don't know why and that's a whole other story). Good lord that side of the family is chock full o' disfunction.
Anyway, my aunt feels badly about that. I think she also realizes that my mom, son, and me are her best shot at family. My dad is a selfish person and they aren't close. His other kids are pretty self absorbed (my aunt asked my half sister for a ride from the bus stop to the train station in High Point - myabe 15 miles. My half sister (an episcopalian priest) refused because it wasn't convenient.)
Anyway, there isn't really anyone else. My grandma wasn't speaking to her oldest sister, who took all their mother's stuff when Nana died - included what was intended for everyone else. So, my aunt has us and 2 cousins she doesn't really know and that's about it.
I'd like to go - it would be a nice chance to see soem friends up in Asheville and re-connect with my aunt. But dealing with my dad is the stuff of nightmares. Well, the service is end of March so I have a while to think about it.
Tuesday I received a portion of my grandmother's ashes in the mail, along with a note from my aunt. She had asked if we would scatter a portion of grandma's ashes on her parents' graves here in Ft. Lauderdale, which of course we will. She also let us know the date for my grandmother's memorial service in Arden and asked if I wanted to say a few words.
I doubt any of my half siblings will be there, but I'm pretty sure my dad will be. But I didn't get to say good-bye, I didn't go to the funeral, and dangit I want to be at the memorial service. My aunt said she felt like an outsider at the funeral - she isn't close to my dad and doesn't know any of my half siblings really. So it would be nice to be there for her as well. And I would like to see my aunt - grandma asked her not to speak to me or mom when grandma quit speaking to us (I don't know why and that's a whole other story). Good lord that side of the family is chock full o' disfunction.
Anyway, my aunt feels badly about that. I think she also realizes that my mom, son, and me are her best shot at family. My dad is a selfish person and they aren't close. His other kids are pretty self absorbed (my aunt asked my half sister for a ride from the bus stop to the train station in High Point - myabe 15 miles. My half sister (an episcopalian priest) refused because it wasn't convenient.)
Anyway, there isn't really anyone else. My grandma wasn't speaking to her oldest sister, who took all their mother's stuff when Nana died - included what was intended for everyone else. So, my aunt has us and 2 cousins she doesn't really know and that's about it.
I'd like to go - it would be a nice chance to see soem friends up in Asheville and re-connect with my aunt. But dealing with my dad is the stuff of nightmares. Well, the service is end of March so I have a while to think about it.
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Stuff
I gained 3.6 pounds over the holiday/step brother visit. Glad to have things back to normal!
The holiday was good, but it breaks my hear severy time I have to leave my great aunt. It isn't that the place is so terrible (although it isn't that great) - it's just that no one checks on her and I'm not confident she has what she needs. I find it so upsetting and heartbreaking. I know we do what we can, but it doesn't seem like enough. I wish we were closer.
Hub still has no job, money is tight. Enough said.
I asked for one kinda big thing for Christmas - a new juicer. My old one is dying. It is supposed to get here Monday. Yay!
My mom is coming Sunday for the winter. Hurray!!!
I gained 3.6 pounds over the holiday/step brother visit. Glad to have things back to normal!
The holiday was good, but it breaks my hear severy time I have to leave my great aunt. It isn't that the place is so terrible (although it isn't that great) - it's just that no one checks on her and I'm not confident she has what she needs. I find it so upsetting and heartbreaking. I know we do what we can, but it doesn't seem like enough. I wish we were closer.
Hub still has no job, money is tight. Enough said.
I asked for one kinda big thing for Christmas - a new juicer. My old one is dying. It is supposed to get here Monday. Yay!
My mom is coming Sunday for the winter. Hurray!!!
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Waiting for the "whoosh"
So, I've been weighing myself every day, but I record my weight on Friday, so I think of that as the "official" weigh day. Anyway, I've lost 1 pound this week. I feel like I deserve more! I've been good with my juicing, even though it's reached a point where i am bored. I ate a fair bit on Sunday, gained a pound, lost a pound, and that put me back to where I was saturday and I've stayed there all week. Grrr.
I want to lose 6.6 more pounds before Thanksgiving.
This morning I did part of my walk with Maya, then came back and did a bit more with Jordan. jordan has been tired lately, and she has short legs so I don't want to work her too hard, but she looked sad and I felt guilty. She had a fun time on the part she went with me, so hopefully she is recovering.
My stepbrother is down for a visit, which is nice because he encourages hub to be more productive. Hub gets very down when he is unemployed and ends up getting very little done until he has a job, and then he has no time! I understand, but it is frustrating to work all day and come home to a house that needs cleaning.
Hopefully I will have good news on the weight front tomorrow!
So, I've been weighing myself every day, but I record my weight on Friday, so I think of that as the "official" weigh day. Anyway, I've lost 1 pound this week. I feel like I deserve more! I've been good with my juicing, even though it's reached a point where i am bored. I ate a fair bit on Sunday, gained a pound, lost a pound, and that put me back to where I was saturday and I've stayed there all week. Grrr.
I want to lose 6.6 more pounds before Thanksgiving.
This morning I did part of my walk with Maya, then came back and did a bit more with Jordan. jordan has been tired lately, and she has short legs so I don't want to work her too hard, but she looked sad and I felt guilty. She had a fun time on the part she went with me, so hopefully she is recovering.
My stepbrother is down for a visit, which is nice because he encourages hub to be more productive. Hub gets very down when he is unemployed and ends up getting very little done until he has a job, and then he has no time! I understand, but it is frustrating to work all day and come home to a house that needs cleaning.
Hopefully I will have good news on the weight front tomorrow!
Tuesday, November 08, 2011
Update
The weather here is amazing. I mean, like the greatest spring day. We’ve been sleeping with the windows open at night, and closing the house up in the late morning (well, on the weekends). The dog and I have had some great walk, but this morning she declared herself tired. I was dragging her along and she wouldn’t keep up. When I asked her if she wanted to go home, she turned around and led the way the whole time. I think she’s pooped!
We got the Florida license plate for the Nissan – only $458.55. But the car has a legal license plate now, so that’s a good thing.
Not too much is new. It’s nice having Hub home – he’s here until we all go to Georgia for Thanksgiving – then he’s headed back to NC for a while. The boy is happier now that he feels he has a solution to his unhappiness with the school situation.
I’m doing okay. I’m still worried about money – I mean, no job is sight for Hub, but he’s doing all he can so I’m trying not to get too freaked out since there isn’t more we can do about it, you know?
Juice-wise, things continue along. I am bored with it, but food isn’t supposed to be entertainment. I’m getting plenty of nutrients. I do get hungry sometimes, but that’s on me – not the juice – I just should’ve planned more/better. I’ve lost 7 pounds, and I can see and feel a difference. It’s not enough for people to really start noticing, but I can tell. And I’m feeling better. The acid reflux is gone and my attitude and energy are improving.
The weather here is amazing. I mean, like the greatest spring day. We’ve been sleeping with the windows open at night, and closing the house up in the late morning (well, on the weekends). The dog and I have had some great walk, but this morning she declared herself tired. I was dragging her along and she wouldn’t keep up. When I asked her if she wanted to go home, she turned around and led the way the whole time. I think she’s pooped!
We got the Florida license plate for the Nissan – only $458.55. But the car has a legal license plate now, so that’s a good thing.
Not too much is new. It’s nice having Hub home – he’s here until we all go to Georgia for Thanksgiving – then he’s headed back to NC for a while. The boy is happier now that he feels he has a solution to his unhappiness with the school situation.
I’m doing okay. I’m still worried about money – I mean, no job is sight for Hub, but he’s doing all he can so I’m trying not to get too freaked out since there isn’t more we can do about it, you know?
Juice-wise, things continue along. I am bored with it, but food isn’t supposed to be entertainment. I’m getting plenty of nutrients. I do get hungry sometimes, but that’s on me – not the juice – I just should’ve planned more/better. I’ve lost 7 pounds, and I can see and feel a difference. It’s not enough for people to really start noticing, but I can tell. And I’m feeling better. The acid reflux is gone and my attitude and energy are improving.
Wednesday, November 02, 2011
Day 6
Today is day 6 of my juice fast. Have I been 100% compliant? Oh heck no! There were 2 nights when I suffered mini-meltdowns (related to the boy, not to the diet) - I ended up gaining a half pound and it hung around a day due to the melt-down's encore presentation the following night.
But overll, I've been very close. Example: yesterday am I made a green smoothie: frozen fruit, spinach, green powder, and water. For the day I made 2 quarts of fresh juice - one had fruits & veggies & other other was a "savory" style veggie juice with onion, peppers, tomato, cuke, celery, etc. Sorta like a homemade V8. I also had a small bowl of the juice off the red beans the family had for supper. Later when I wanted a little something I had a 10 oz Naked brand juice.
Today I've been pretty hungry. It's funny - a friend who is also doing a fairly restrictive diet said she was starving on day 6. I won't say "starving" but I am certainly hungry today! But if I need it I'll have extra juice.
It amazes me how much produce you consume. My veggie juice contained: 2 carrots, 1/2 a bunch of celery, a large cucumber, a yellow bell pepper, a bunch of kale, a jalepeno, 1/4 of a huge red onion, and 4 large roma tomatoes (I think that's it). Can you imagine sitting down & eating all that??? I think one of the reasons I haven't been hungrier is because I'm sure my body is pretty well flooded with micronutrients.
I am buying a good variety of both fruits and veggies. My fruit juices contains a good portion of veggies as well - today's fruit juice contained carrot, celery, cucumber, and 1/4 head of cabbage. With my lack of success thus far in finding a good farmer's market, the bulk of my produce has been coming from Costco.
I am still using my cheap centrifugal juices from Aldi. I would love to upgrade - maybe for Christmas.
As of this morning, I was down 4.6 pounds in 5 days.
Today is day 6 of my juice fast. Have I been 100% compliant? Oh heck no! There were 2 nights when I suffered mini-meltdowns (related to the boy, not to the diet) - I ended up gaining a half pound and it hung around a day due to the melt-down's encore presentation the following night.
But overll, I've been very close. Example: yesterday am I made a green smoothie: frozen fruit, spinach, green powder, and water. For the day I made 2 quarts of fresh juice - one had fruits & veggies & other other was a "savory" style veggie juice with onion, peppers, tomato, cuke, celery, etc. Sorta like a homemade V8. I also had a small bowl of the juice off the red beans the family had for supper. Later when I wanted a little something I had a 10 oz Naked brand juice.
Today I've been pretty hungry. It's funny - a friend who is also doing a fairly restrictive diet said she was starving on day 6. I won't say "starving" but I am certainly hungry today! But if I need it I'll have extra juice.
It amazes me how much produce you consume. My veggie juice contained: 2 carrots, 1/2 a bunch of celery, a large cucumber, a yellow bell pepper, a bunch of kale, a jalepeno, 1/4 of a huge red onion, and 4 large roma tomatoes (I think that's it). Can you imagine sitting down & eating all that??? I think one of the reasons I haven't been hungrier is because I'm sure my body is pretty well flooded with micronutrients.
I am buying a good variety of both fruits and veggies. My fruit juices contains a good portion of veggies as well - today's fruit juice contained carrot, celery, cucumber, and 1/4 head of cabbage. With my lack of success thus far in finding a good farmer's market, the bulk of my produce has been coming from Costco.
I am still using my cheap centrifugal juices from Aldi. I would love to upgrade - maybe for Christmas.
As of this morning, I was down 4.6 pounds in 5 days.
I think we have a solution
The county we live in offers a “virtual school.” It offers full-time enrollment to students in grades K-12. Virtual learning provides flexibility of time and location and offers the opportunity to earn a standard high school diploma entirely online. BVS teachers and guidance counselors live locally. As a public school, it does not charge tuition fees. Also, it offers traditional face to face extracurricular activities to provide students with opportunities to collaborate with their teachers and classmates.
This should give the boy the flexibility to travel and work from here or NC when he wants to visit. He can work his schedule around times when he isn’t feeling well. (Although I hope that will disappear once he is happier). And he can have some peer interaction without the things he doesn’t like about his current school.
Application for the next semester opens December 1, he meets all the criteria, and they have no cap on the number of students they can accept. I really hope this solution works, because I can’t think of anything else that will be (relatively) quick, not expensive, and keep our family intact.
The county we live in offers a “virtual school.” It offers full-time enrollment to students in grades K-12. Virtual learning provides flexibility of time and location and offers the opportunity to earn a standard high school diploma entirely online. BVS teachers and guidance counselors live locally. As a public school, it does not charge tuition fees. Also, it offers traditional face to face extracurricular activities to provide students with opportunities to collaborate with their teachers and classmates.
This should give the boy the flexibility to travel and work from here or NC when he wants to visit. He can work his schedule around times when he isn’t feeling well. (Although I hope that will disappear once he is happier). And he can have some peer interaction without the things he doesn’t like about his current school.
Application for the next semester opens December 1, he meets all the criteria, and they have no cap on the number of students they can accept. I really hope this solution works, because I can’t think of anything else that will be (relatively) quick, not expensive, and keep our family intact.
Monday, October 31, 2011
Day 4
Not doing too bad. I've lost 3 pounds in 3 days. My gums are a little sore, but I'm feeling less run down today. My energy levels are normal, no headache, and the stuffy nose is gone as well. I'm not super hungry. Hub's lunch smelled wonderful, but my desire to eat has been out of want rather than need. I'll peek in the fridge wanting something - not out of hunger, but habit.
Anyway, I seem to have made it past the dreaded day 3 that a lot of folks complain about. My next challenge is day 6/7 - one of those seems to trip folks up as well. Hopefully it will be manageable.
I have a meeting with the guidance counselor, so hopefully tomorrow I will have an update on the boy situation.
Happy Halloween!
Not doing too bad. I've lost 3 pounds in 3 days. My gums are a little sore, but I'm feeling less run down today. My energy levels are normal, no headache, and the stuffy nose is gone as well. I'm not super hungry. Hub's lunch smelled wonderful, but my desire to eat has been out of want rather than need. I'll peek in the fridge wanting something - not out of hunger, but habit.
Anyway, I seem to have made it past the dreaded day 3 that a lot of folks complain about. My next challenge is day 6/7 - one of those seems to trip folks up as well. Hopefully it will be manageable.
I have a meeting with the guidance counselor, so hopefully tomorrow I will have an update on the boy situation.
Happy Halloween!
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Day 2
I slept A LOT last night - 10 or so hours. This morning my gums are swollen and my teeth hurt a bit (this is a sign my body's under stress - generally it means I'm getting sick but I think this is a sign of detox). No headache yet.
I won't lie - I'm hungry. I went to bed hungry but not wanting any more juice and woke up with some left so I drank that then went back to bed.
Overall I don't feel bad. The longest juice fast I've done is 4 days, so I know I can do this.
When I got up this morning I was down 1.4 pounds. I plan to have my fasting blood work redone at the beginning of December to see if the diet has made any improvements in my bloodwork.
I slept A LOT last night - 10 or so hours. This morning my gums are swollen and my teeth hurt a bit (this is a sign my body's under stress - generally it means I'm getting sick but I think this is a sign of detox). No headache yet.
I won't lie - I'm hungry. I went to bed hungry but not wanting any more juice and woke up with some left so I drank that then went back to bed.
Overall I don't feel bad. The longest juice fast I've done is 4 days, so I know I can do this.
When I got up this morning I was down 1.4 pounds. I plan to have my fasting blood work redone at the beginning of December to see if the diet has made any improvements in my bloodwork.
Friday, October 28, 2011
Day 1 mostly done
Nearly finished day 1 of my juice fast. I haven't been terribly hungry. When I do one of these, I tend to sip my juice and have a little every couple of hours. The most I've every done in the past is 4 days.
Breakfast juice tasted a little like dirt, but it wasn't foul - just a bit too earthy. Dinner is a takeoff on gazpacho: 3 stalks of celery, 1/2 an english cucumber, a red bell pepper, a carrot, 1/2 lime, 4 roma tomatoes, and a couple of shakes of hot sauce. Pretty good, but it could use some salt! *lol*
Nearly finished day 1 of my juice fast. I haven't been terribly hungry. When I do one of these, I tend to sip my juice and have a little every couple of hours. The most I've every done in the past is 4 days.
Breakfast juice tasted a little like dirt, but it wasn't foul - just a bit too earthy. Dinner is a takeoff on gazpacho: 3 stalks of celery, 1/2 an english cucumber, a red bell pepper, a carrot, 1/2 lime, 4 roma tomatoes, and a couple of shakes of hot sauce. Pretty good, but it could use some salt! *lol*
Be your own guinea pig
Day 1. I went to the nurses office this morning to check my blood pressure and have my fasting bloodwork done.
It was a mixed bag.
My overall cholesterol is good, but my "good guy" cholesterol is low.
My triglycerides are high
My blood pressure, while not considered "high", is higher than it should be - pre-hypertensive
My blood sugar is good.
Can you say wake up call?????
I am now happier than ever that I decided to do this juice fast. Clearly I HAVE to get serious about 1) cleaning up my diet 2) losing weight and 3) exercising more.
I've already started on 3 - now it's time to take care of 1 and 2.
Have a great weekend!
Day 1. I went to the nurses office this morning to check my blood pressure and have my fasting bloodwork done.
It was a mixed bag.
My overall cholesterol is good, but my "good guy" cholesterol is low.
My triglycerides are high
My blood pressure, while not considered "high", is higher than it should be - pre-hypertensive
My blood sugar is good.
Can you say wake up call?????
I am now happier than ever that I decided to do this juice fast. Clearly I HAVE to get serious about 1) cleaning up my diet 2) losing weight and 3) exercising more.
I've already started on 3 - now it's time to take care of 1 and 2.
Have a great weekend!
Thursday, October 27, 2011
And back down
Back down again. The boy and I had a long talk yesterday. He is miserable here and wants to go back to NC for sure. As a parent, it is so painful to see your child unhappy. Even though this move isn't my "fault" (or anyone elses), I still feel incredibly guilty for his unhappiness.
There are times in your life when all you can do is just put your head down and focus on putting one foot in front of the other and trudging down the path. It's not a very positive way to feel, but sometimes that's all you can do. That's where I am right now. It's like the antithesis of buddhist mindfulness.
I know it will be okay, but it isn't okay right now.
Back down again. The boy and I had a long talk yesterday. He is miserable here and wants to go back to NC for sure. As a parent, it is so painful to see your child unhappy. Even though this move isn't my "fault" (or anyone elses), I still feel incredibly guilty for his unhappiness.
There are times in your life when all you can do is just put your head down and focus on putting one foot in front of the other and trudging down the path. It's not a very positive way to feel, but sometimes that's all you can do. That's where I am right now. It's like the antithesis of buddhist mindfulness.
I know it will be okay, but it isn't okay right now.
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Good news/bad news
I have a former co-worker who relocated to Phoenix. Her FIL works for the NC Employment Commission. He looked into hub's case, explained what happened, and told us what to include with the appeal. He spoke with the appeals department and they are confident his claim will be approved on appeal. The bad news is that they are (as you can imagine) seriously backlogged and it will likely be "several weeks" before he begins collecting unemployment. Sigh.
Thank goodness we knew someone to ask who could help us.
I have a former co-worker who relocated to Phoenix. Her FIL works for the NC Employment Commission. He looked into hub's case, explained what happened, and told us what to include with the appeal. He spoke with the appeals department and they are confident his claim will be approved on appeal. The bad news is that they are (as you can imagine) seriously backlogged and it will likely be "several weeks" before he begins collecting unemployment. Sigh.
Thank goodness we knew someone to ask who could help us.
The dog ate my sofa, and other not too funny tales
The puppy has lived up to her nickname "PMD" (puppyof mass destruction). In the past week she has eaten 4 remote controls, a cookbook, and the futon sofa. We have purchased a crate and I am sad to say we are going to resort to crating her during the day until she is over teething. It will also help if the boy is more consistent with taking her to the dog park etc. - he's been slacking lately.
Hub's unemployment claim was denied. He is appealing, and who knows what will happen. But hey, it's not like we need the money for food or gas or anything. Let's just say things are going to start getting pretty tight.
I am working from home today. The boy was throwing up this morning. But last week when he didn't feel good he never went in once he got up, so today I intend to be here to help encourage him to go in late rather than missing the whole day.
I was awake from 2 until 5. Not good.
The puppy has lived up to her nickname "PMD" (puppyof mass destruction). In the past week she has eaten 4 remote controls, a cookbook, and the futon sofa. We have purchased a crate and I am sad to say we are going to resort to crating her during the day until she is over teething. It will also help if the boy is more consistent with taking her to the dog park etc. - he's been slacking lately.
Hub's unemployment claim was denied. He is appealing, and who knows what will happen. But hey, it's not like we need the money for food or gas or anything. Let's just say things are going to start getting pretty tight.
I am working from home today. The boy was throwing up this morning. But last week when he didn't feel good he never went in once he got up, so today I intend to be here to help encourage him to go in late rather than missing the whole day.
I was awake from 2 until 5. Not good.
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Call me crazy
I know I posted the other day about watching those documentaries. One that really struck a nerve with me was "Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead". It has prompted me to try a 10 day juice fast - not only to lose weight (although that is a big part), but to help me regain some energy. I am not making healthy choices and I think a radical overhaul can only help. I plan to start Friday. I've been (with little success) been trying to find a farmer's market near the house). I may have to settle for the flea market, supplemented with Costco and W-M.
I know it sounds crazy, but I need to do something. Today I dragged out my juicer and directions to re-learn how to use it. I juiced today. I drank it quickly and felt a bit oogie. Probably too much at once. I'll keep you posted!
I know I posted the other day about watching those documentaries. One that really struck a nerve with me was "Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead". It has prompted me to try a 10 day juice fast - not only to lose weight (although that is a big part), but to help me regain some energy. I am not making healthy choices and I think a radical overhaul can only help. I plan to start Friday. I've been (with little success) been trying to find a farmer's market near the house). I may have to settle for the flea market, supplemented with Costco and W-M.
I know it sounds crazy, but I need to do something. Today I dragged out my juicer and directions to re-learn how to use it. I juiced today. I drank it quickly and felt a bit oogie. Probably too much at once. I'll keep you posted!
Life
Hub is coming home for a few days! Things are going better with the boy. Yesterday we checked out the flea market (a weird mixture of crap and yard sale crap) plus a decent produce stand. We also went to a farmers market in Ft. L. A long way to go for expensive organic produce that I can get for the same price at Whole Payckeck. We were going to eat lunch at a pita place down that way a co-worker told me about. Oddly enough, the only day they are closed is Saturday, so that was a no go. There was a British Pub in the same stripmall, so we ate there. Awesome! We shared fried (fresh) mushrooms - the boy had a chicken sandwich and I had curry. Everything was great. We had a nice day.
This morning I woke up at 5. I fed the dogs and started laundry. Jordan and I took a long 45 minute walk, then I finished laundry and cleaned the kitchem. I found a sleeveless top reduced at W-M yesterday for $3 - I bought 2 and they fit, so I went back and bought 3 more. I'm low in the sleeveless shirt for exercise & walking department, so that was a nice find.
I've done some cooking and finished loading the dishwasher (I love a quiet dishwasher). The boy is out with N riding his dirtbike. He's given up trying to register it and make it street legal (thank God). He used google earth to find some trails down near alligator alley, not far from the house.
N's dad just got a new job as the head chef at a local country club and may be able to get the boy's jobs. That would be good. I know boy's grades aren't the best, but I think a dose of reality might be a good thing.
I am getting really burned out of life as a single parent. truly. I don't know how my mom did it - or any other single parent.
Work is going pretty good. Overall I'm less stressed out and on the edge, although I can't say things are a lot better. I think I'm just adjusting.
Hub is coming home for a few days! Things are going better with the boy. Yesterday we checked out the flea market (a weird mixture of crap and yard sale crap) plus a decent produce stand. We also went to a farmers market in Ft. L. A long way to go for expensive organic produce that I can get for the same price at Whole Payckeck. We were going to eat lunch at a pita place down that way a co-worker told me about. Oddly enough, the only day they are closed is Saturday, so that was a no go. There was a British Pub in the same stripmall, so we ate there. Awesome! We shared fried (fresh) mushrooms - the boy had a chicken sandwich and I had curry. Everything was great. We had a nice day.
This morning I woke up at 5. I fed the dogs and started laundry. Jordan and I took a long 45 minute walk, then I finished laundry and cleaned the kitchem. I found a sleeveless top reduced at W-M yesterday for $3 - I bought 2 and they fit, so I went back and bought 3 more. I'm low in the sleeveless shirt for exercise & walking department, so that was a nice find.
I've done some cooking and finished loading the dishwasher (I love a quiet dishwasher). The boy is out with N riding his dirtbike. He's given up trying to register it and make it street legal (thank God). He used google earth to find some trails down near alligator alley, not far from the house.
N's dad just got a new job as the head chef at a local country club and may be able to get the boy's jobs. That would be good. I know boy's grades aren't the best, but I think a dose of reality might be a good thing.
I am getting really burned out of life as a single parent. truly. I don't know how my mom did it - or any other single parent.
Work is going pretty good. Overall I'm less stressed out and on the edge, although I can't say things are a lot better. I think I'm just adjusting.
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Documentaries
Things are going along about as usual. I have watched several documentaries in the past week I thought I'd mention:
"Forks over Knives" A dcoumentary focused on the work of Drs Esselysten and Campbell about nutrition and the effect of the American diet on health.
"Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead" Focusing on two men who have serious health issues, this documentary chronicles the rigorous healing path -- including a two-month diet of fruits and vegetables -- that both attempt in a bid to rescue their health.
"Ashtanga NY" A documentary about the visit from India of the Ashtanga guru to NY during the 9/11 attacks.
"Running the Sahara" America's Charlie Engle (from Greensboro NC), Canada's Ray Zahab and Taiwan's Kevin Lin embark on an unprecedented quest to traverse the entire Sahara desert -- on foot. Along the way, the runners encounter the beauties and hardships that accompany modern African life.
I enjoyed them all.
Things are going along about as usual. I have watched several documentaries in the past week I thought I'd mention:
"Forks over Knives" A dcoumentary focused on the work of Drs Esselysten and Campbell about nutrition and the effect of the American diet on health.
"Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead" Focusing on two men who have serious health issues, this documentary chronicles the rigorous healing path -- including a two-month diet of fruits and vegetables -- that both attempt in a bid to rescue their health.
"Ashtanga NY" A documentary about the visit from India of the Ashtanga guru to NY during the 9/11 attacks.
"Running the Sahara" America's Charlie Engle (from Greensboro NC), Canada's Ray Zahab and Taiwan's Kevin Lin embark on an unprecedented quest to traverse the entire Sahara desert -- on foot. Along the way, the runners encounter the beauties and hardships that accompany modern African life.
I enjoyed them all.
Monday, October 17, 2011
Brief Update
Things here are ... okay. I swear stuff keeps popping up - I realized Friday my NC license plates have expired, but I can't get one in Florida until 1. They receive the title from the bank so they can create a Florida title (requested today) and 2. I pay them around $400. So now I wait for the title to get here and hope I don't get pulled over. I swear, I've never had this happen in my life. How embaressing! Also, I'm not sure whether I can register the car or if I have to wait for hub to get back since I still don't have a Florida license (still waiting on my marriage certificate from Hawaii).
I was very emotional Saturday night. I don't know why, I just was. I was planning to go to a hockey game with the boy, but I told him to take his friend N and I stayed home and watched Puppetmaster 1 and 2 (so many unanswered questions).
Anyway, some good, some tired, some blah. But overall gradually getting better IMO.
Things here are ... okay. I swear stuff keeps popping up - I realized Friday my NC license plates have expired, but I can't get one in Florida until 1. They receive the title from the bank so they can create a Florida title (requested today) and 2. I pay them around $400. So now I wait for the title to get here and hope I don't get pulled over. I swear, I've never had this happen in my life. How embaressing! Also, I'm not sure whether I can register the car or if I have to wait for hub to get back since I still don't have a Florida license (still waiting on my marriage certificate from Hawaii).
I was very emotional Saturday night. I don't know why, I just was. I was planning to go to a hockey game with the boy, but I told him to take his friend N and I stayed home and watched Puppetmaster 1 and 2 (so many unanswered questions).
Anyway, some good, some tired, some blah. But overall gradually getting better IMO.
Friday, October 14, 2011
So Proud
I was having a pretty good Thursday morning, until hub called me. We've been expecting his unemployment to kick in for about a month - he got the letter saying (we thought) he'd been approved a month ago and asking for our banking information.
After 5 days of trying to get a human on the phone at the unemployment office, he finally did. What they said basically came out as "Since you quit your job you aren't approved - let us kno where you've applied for work and maybe we'll review your case and give you money." Never mind that several folks who transferred haven't had any issue since they qualiy under the "trailing spouse" provision. He was So upset, and I totally lost it. At work. As in cried off all my make-up and proved to anyone within earshot like I could curse better than any sailor or reality tv star. Yeah. One of my finer moments.
He called back a couple more times and got a better explanation of what he needs to do and it does sound like he will start getting benefits, but probably not back to the point he beagn applying for jobs.
I have pizza and beer for dinner last night.
Oh, and My NC license plates have expired but to get new ones in Florida I have to get the bank i have the car loan with to transfer the title to Florida before they'll give me plates. Between vehicle tax and registration, total cost around $400. I have NO IDEA how long that will take, but I'm driving with an expired plate until then.
Does it ever get easier???
I was having a pretty good Thursday morning, until hub called me. We've been expecting his unemployment to kick in for about a month - he got the letter saying (we thought) he'd been approved a month ago and asking for our banking information.
After 5 days of trying to get a human on the phone at the unemployment office, he finally did. What they said basically came out as "Since you quit your job you aren't approved - let us kno where you've applied for work and maybe we'll review your case and give you money." Never mind that several folks who transferred haven't had any issue since they qualiy under the "trailing spouse" provision. He was So upset, and I totally lost it. At work. As in cried off all my make-up and proved to anyone within earshot like I could curse better than any sailor or reality tv star. Yeah. One of my finer moments.
He called back a couple more times and got a better explanation of what he needs to do and it does sound like he will start getting benefits, but probably not back to the point he beagn applying for jobs.
I have pizza and beer for dinner last night.
Oh, and My NC license plates have expired but to get new ones in Florida I have to get the bank i have the car loan with to transfer the title to Florida before they'll give me plates. Between vehicle tax and registration, total cost around $400. I have NO IDEA how long that will take, but I'm driving with an expired plate until then.
Does it ever get easier???
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Workout and etc.
The boy is home from school today. He called me on the way to work and asked me to call him in absent because he was sick at his stomach. I have another dr. appointment for him tomorrow - I hope they can do something, this is crazy.
This morning I did the lower body workout on Kathy Smith's "Lift Weights to Lose Weight" - I have to say I like the lower body workout even better. It was tough and all you really needed was a chair! I had a weight bench, so I modified and used that. It was hard! I was sweating (more than I would have liked!) and there was some points when I had to stop it was so tough. I felt like I had a good (thought brief) lower body workout. I can totally see these working.
I do have a Joyce Vedral dvd coming soon from netflix. I have a couple of her books - she was one of the very early proponents of women lifting weights like men (just lighter), but I've never seen any of her videos. So I'm curious.
Anyway, not too much else to report. Jordan and I took a short walk last evening. I watched the first half of "My Name is Bruce" which is a horror spoof starring bruce Campbell, spoofing his own career and movies. I made a yummy meal of baked salmon, scampi noodles, and a big salad. The boys picked at a salad - with my boy eating a little salmon later in the evening. So glad I cooked a good meal for them. Grr. (His friend N eats at our house more than he eats at home).
I got a good night of sleep and I'm taking tomorrow off work to take care of a bunch of errands. A mom's work is never done!
Have a good one!
The boy is home from school today. He called me on the way to work and asked me to call him in absent because he was sick at his stomach. I have another dr. appointment for him tomorrow - I hope they can do something, this is crazy.
This morning I did the lower body workout on Kathy Smith's "Lift Weights to Lose Weight" - I have to say I like the lower body workout even better. It was tough and all you really needed was a chair! I had a weight bench, so I modified and used that. It was hard! I was sweating (more than I would have liked!) and there was some points when I had to stop it was so tough. I felt like I had a good (thought brief) lower body workout. I can totally see these working.
I do have a Joyce Vedral dvd coming soon from netflix. I have a couple of her books - she was one of the very early proponents of women lifting weights like men (just lighter), but I've never seen any of her videos. So I'm curious.
Anyway, not too much else to report. Jordan and I took a short walk last evening. I watched the first half of "My Name is Bruce" which is a horror spoof starring bruce Campbell, spoofing his own career and movies. I made a yummy meal of baked salmon, scampi noodles, and a big salad. The boys picked at a salad - with my boy eating a little salmon later in the evening. So glad I cooked a good meal for them. Grr. (His friend N eats at our house more than he eats at home).
I got a good night of sleep and I'm taking tomorrow off work to take care of a bunch of errands. A mom's work is never done!
Have a good one!
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Workout video
I'm doing great with walking - the dog and I actually walked twice yesterday! We did around 25-30 minutes in the morning, and then a long 40 minute walk in the afternoon. So this morning I decided we needed to sleep in. :-) We'll walk again this evening.
My stretch and yoga classes are going good - yoga is very difficult, but I am glad I signed up for these classes.
Weights - not so much. I haven't been very motivated to do my kettlebells - it's a major production since I have to shut myself away from the dogs. Since it wasn't gettign done, I decided to try a different tactic.
This morning I brought in a weight training video and came in to the office extra early so I could go downstairs and do it in the gym. I checked out a video from the library: "Lift Weights to Lose Wight" with Kathy Smith. It's 2 discs and each has 2 20 minute sessions - 1 for upper body and 1 for lower. Disc 1 is supposed to be the more basic of the 2 so that's what I did this morning.
Overall it's a good workout. I'll need to do it a couple of times to figure out the correct weight to use for the exercises given how many reps we do. Her queuing was a bit off (or I was) a couple of times, but generally it was easy to follow. She IS a little chipper for o dark thirty, but oh well. Like I said, overall a good workout.
I have a couple of other videos in my netflix queue I want to try. The guy who works down there says that when he gets caught up (they are down to 2 folks from 3 so responsibilities are being juggled) that if I come in that early he'll be happy to work one on one with me some. That would be great! I told him that right now I need all the motivation and help I can get!
I'm doing great with walking - the dog and I actually walked twice yesterday! We did around 25-30 minutes in the morning, and then a long 40 minute walk in the afternoon. So this morning I decided we needed to sleep in. :-) We'll walk again this evening.
My stretch and yoga classes are going good - yoga is very difficult, but I am glad I signed up for these classes.
Weights - not so much. I haven't been very motivated to do my kettlebells - it's a major production since I have to shut myself away from the dogs. Since it wasn't gettign done, I decided to try a different tactic.
This morning I brought in a weight training video and came in to the office extra early so I could go downstairs and do it in the gym. I checked out a video from the library: "Lift Weights to Lose Wight" with Kathy Smith. It's 2 discs and each has 2 20 minute sessions - 1 for upper body and 1 for lower. Disc 1 is supposed to be the more basic of the 2 so that's what I did this morning.
Overall it's a good workout. I'll need to do it a couple of times to figure out the correct weight to use for the exercises given how many reps we do. Her queuing was a bit off (or I was) a couple of times, but generally it was easy to follow. She IS a little chipper for o dark thirty, but oh well. Like I said, overall a good workout.
I have a couple of other videos in my netflix queue I want to try. The guy who works down there says that when he gets caught up (they are down to 2 folks from 3 so responsibilities are being juggled) that if I come in that early he'll be happy to work one on one with me some. That would be great! I told him that right now I need all the motivation and help I can get!
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
The more things change, the more they change
The boy is waffling. Mom called and there aren't any tuition slots at his old high school. Since mom lives in a different county, he would have to go to the high school where she is. So he is really torn. I am meeting with a lawyer Friday to discuss giving my mom custody so she can enroll him and what that looks like down here and timeline etc. So, once we have those facts he can better make a decision.
We had a very good, genuine adult conversation last night. He asked if I felt I'd made the right decision going away to high school and he talked about how hard school is here and how he's feeling. He cried a little. I told him I knew he could be successful whatever he chose to do and that I would support him whatever he chose to do.
Have I ever mentioned that being a parent is the hardest job on the planet? At least if you give a rats butt.
Anyway, I ate exactly one meal yesterday which isn't great but ugh I was so stressed and felt like poo. Today I was sure to pack all my healthy food and eat it. Poor boy is liteally sick nearly every morning. The medicine the doctor gave him for gastritis doesn't seem to be helping, so I think we'll be headed back to the doctor. I feel sure it's stress, poor kid.
Being high strung can suck.
Anyway, I got a fair bit accomplished at work today. I certainly could have been more productive, but not much. Honestly, I did much better in that department. That felt good.
I walked the dog this morning and I think we'll go again tonight. I checked out a couple of weight lifting videos to try out at the office gym. No dogs "helping."
The boy is waffling. Mom called and there aren't any tuition slots at his old high school. Since mom lives in a different county, he would have to go to the high school where she is. So he is really torn. I am meeting with a lawyer Friday to discuss giving my mom custody so she can enroll him and what that looks like down here and timeline etc. So, once we have those facts he can better make a decision.
We had a very good, genuine adult conversation last night. He asked if I felt I'd made the right decision going away to high school and he talked about how hard school is here and how he's feeling. He cried a little. I told him I knew he could be successful whatever he chose to do and that I would support him whatever he chose to do.
Have I ever mentioned that being a parent is the hardest job on the planet? At least if you give a rats butt.
Anyway, I ate exactly one meal yesterday which isn't great but ugh I was so stressed and felt like poo. Today I was sure to pack all my healthy food and eat it. Poor boy is liteally sick nearly every morning. The medicine the doctor gave him for gastritis doesn't seem to be helping, so I think we'll be headed back to the doctor. I feel sure it's stress, poor kid.
Being high strung can suck.
Anyway, I got a fair bit accomplished at work today. I certainly could have been more productive, but not much. Honestly, I did much better in that department. That felt good.
I walked the dog this morning and I think we'll go again tonight. I checked out a couple of weight lifting videos to try out at the office gym. No dogs "helping."
Monday, October 10, 2011
Some days better, some days not
I was up from 1 am to 5 am, just feeling really overwhelmed and stressed. I met with the counselor tonight, but even before I was feeling better. I took a nap, I ate some dinner. It's like I used up a lot of my emotions, and I'm feeling a little calmer.
With the counselor I was able to formulate some strategies for focusing better at work - that's feeling a little out of control so having that more in control will help. I just go and can't seem to get focused and organized. I am going to schedule my time so that I have appointments set for myself on all my different projects. At any given time I'm working on 4-5 different things, and I am responsible for managing my time. Needless to say, right now that's hard!!
The boy can't go back to his old high school, he would have to go to the school in my mom's district, so he's back to not knowing what he wants to do. I have an appt with the attorney on Friday to find out what we would need to do to give my mom custody - which is what we'd have to do for her to enroll him in school up there. I know this is the biggest decision he's ever had to make, but at his age I know it's one he's going to have to make for himself. He's too old for me to force him into staying he against his will - that would backfire bigtime.
Anyway, I totally pigged out last night & in the middle of the night to the point I felt ill. Not good. I didn't eat at all until supper - I just felt too dreadful. So that's not good, but I'm hoping that will subside. Hub and I are communicating better - really talking, making decisions, and that feels good.
So, better I think.
I was up from 1 am to 5 am, just feeling really overwhelmed and stressed. I met with the counselor tonight, but even before I was feeling better. I took a nap, I ate some dinner. It's like I used up a lot of my emotions, and I'm feeling a little calmer.
With the counselor I was able to formulate some strategies for focusing better at work - that's feeling a little out of control so having that more in control will help. I just go and can't seem to get focused and organized. I am going to schedule my time so that I have appointments set for myself on all my different projects. At any given time I'm working on 4-5 different things, and I am responsible for managing my time. Needless to say, right now that's hard!!
The boy can't go back to his old high school, he would have to go to the school in my mom's district, so he's back to not knowing what he wants to do. I have an appt with the attorney on Friday to find out what we would need to do to give my mom custody - which is what we'd have to do for her to enroll him in school up there. I know this is the biggest decision he's ever had to make, but at his age I know it's one he's going to have to make for himself. He's too old for me to force him into staying he against his will - that would backfire bigtime.
Anyway, I totally pigged out last night & in the middle of the night to the point I felt ill. Not good. I didn't eat at all until supper - I just felt too dreadful. So that's not good, but I'm hoping that will subside. Hub and I are communicating better - really talking, making decisions, and that feels good.
So, better I think.
Sunday, October 09, 2011
Frustration
As I've written before, financially it's very difficult down here. Hub is up in NC doing some work for my mom and then doing some work for an old neighbor. The issue is that he isn't exactly doing the work at my mom's with any sense of urgency. She's had him do a fair bit of work (or he was supposed to) while we were at her house and he treated it more like a vacation than a job. He's hoping I'll hate it here enough to move to the reservation. Let's just say I'd have to be pretty damn desperate. So he's banking on not staying. Leaving any time soon = financial disaster. So let's just say I don't think we are communicating very well.
One thing that will improve our financial situation is the fact that the boy has decided he wants to go back to NC. He is very unhappy here. I am very conflicted about this. On the one hand, he's my son and of course I want him with me. OTOH, I know he isn't happy and I'm not sure how well things will go here, so it's probably for the best. I was being flippant about the finances - it will help not to have him on the car insurance, but that has nothing to do with any decisions.
In short, I feel like my whole family is falling apart.
As I've written before, financially it's very difficult down here. Hub is up in NC doing some work for my mom and then doing some work for an old neighbor. The issue is that he isn't exactly doing the work at my mom's with any sense of urgency. She's had him do a fair bit of work (or he was supposed to) while we were at her house and he treated it more like a vacation than a job. He's hoping I'll hate it here enough to move to the reservation. Let's just say I'd have to be pretty damn desperate. So he's banking on not staying. Leaving any time soon = financial disaster. So let's just say I don't think we are communicating very well.
One thing that will improve our financial situation is the fact that the boy has decided he wants to go back to NC. He is very unhappy here. I am very conflicted about this. On the one hand, he's my son and of course I want him with me. OTOH, I know he isn't happy and I'm not sure how well things will go here, so it's probably for the best. I was being flippant about the finances - it will help not to have him on the car insurance, but that has nothing to do with any decisions.
In short, I feel like my whole family is falling apart.
Saturday, October 08, 2011
Hello cheese dip, my old friend
Once again I have turned to food to help cope with stress. Right now the major source of stress is two-fold:
1. Financial. I can't support us on just my paycheck. South Florida is crazy expensive, but I didn't get a raise when we came down. Example: car insurance more than double, property tax triple, home owners insurance 8 times what we paid in NC. That amount to thousnads of extra dollars a year and not paying income tax to the state doesn't even begin to offset the extra expense. In addition, we are faced with somewhere in the neighborhood of $7,000 of work that needs to be done on this house, in varying degrees of soon. Foundation - next year or so, roof and sprinkler system asap, plumbing not as important. Short term, we could mostly get by on my income plus hub's unemployment. He was approved a month ago and hasn't gotten any money yet. It should kick in soon, the back money will need to go to helping pay for car insurance ($2800 for 6 months) and car registration (about $500 per car). One option (although unattractive) is to become a one car family. I can take the bus to work and that would save us over $500 per month. but it makes it difficult (once hub gets a job) to go to dr appts, meetings, anything like that.
2. The boy. I don't even know what to say here. He is unhappy. Add that to his temperment of wanting what he wants when he wants it and a bad temper, and it's just awful. He stayed up till 1 working on his car the other day, and when I woke him up and told him he'd be grounded if he didn't go to school, he got up in my face screaming obscenities. Frankly, I sincerely hopes he takes some time off after high school (assuming he finishes) and does something else - preferably he'll go in the coast guard. He needs a dose of real life in a bad way. He doesn't do drugs or break the law, he just does not accept that he can't do what he wants when he wants. I know I'll miss him once he's grown, but right now I honestly don't enjoy having him around very much - especially with hub out of town for the nex tmonth.
Yeah. hub is up in NC doing work on my mom's house. She is not going to put it on the market before she comes down - frankly, right now I have no idea how long we'll be here. I love this house very much and I love having the pool, but I have no idea how people survive down here with the cost of living being what it is. We miss home. I hope hub finds a job as that will make things easier. Also, I should be getting a little money from my grandmother (I have no idea how much), but I'm hoping it's enough to get done on the house what we need to and get caught up.
Some good things: I am walking regularly, doing stretch and yoga at the fitness center at work (we can't afford a gym), and I am going to look for a decent weight lifting dvd so I can take that in and do it at work as well.
Work itself is okay - I'm just having a tough time focusing on it. I have a list of "to do" and I can do the easy stuff, but the more difficult analysis stuff just keeps getting postponed. Le sigh.
Today we are supposed to go to the Coral Castle. It's been raining since last night, so that may not happen today.
Once again I have turned to food to help cope with stress. Right now the major source of stress is two-fold:
1. Financial. I can't support us on just my paycheck. South Florida is crazy expensive, but I didn't get a raise when we came down. Example: car insurance more than double, property tax triple, home owners insurance 8 times what we paid in NC. That amount to thousnads of extra dollars a year and not paying income tax to the state doesn't even begin to offset the extra expense. In addition, we are faced with somewhere in the neighborhood of $7,000 of work that needs to be done on this house, in varying degrees of soon. Foundation - next year or so, roof and sprinkler system asap, plumbing not as important. Short term, we could mostly get by on my income plus hub's unemployment. He was approved a month ago and hasn't gotten any money yet. It should kick in soon, the back money will need to go to helping pay for car insurance ($2800 for 6 months) and car registration (about $500 per car). One option (although unattractive) is to become a one car family. I can take the bus to work and that would save us over $500 per month. but it makes it difficult (once hub gets a job) to go to dr appts, meetings, anything like that.
2. The boy. I don't even know what to say here. He is unhappy. Add that to his temperment of wanting what he wants when he wants it and a bad temper, and it's just awful. He stayed up till 1 working on his car the other day, and when I woke him up and told him he'd be grounded if he didn't go to school, he got up in my face screaming obscenities. Frankly, I sincerely hopes he takes some time off after high school (assuming he finishes) and does something else - preferably he'll go in the coast guard. He needs a dose of real life in a bad way. He doesn't do drugs or break the law, he just does not accept that he can't do what he wants when he wants. I know I'll miss him once he's grown, but right now I honestly don't enjoy having him around very much - especially with hub out of town for the nex tmonth.
Yeah. hub is up in NC doing work on my mom's house. She is not going to put it on the market before she comes down - frankly, right now I have no idea how long we'll be here. I love this house very much and I love having the pool, but I have no idea how people survive down here with the cost of living being what it is. We miss home. I hope hub finds a job as that will make things easier. Also, I should be getting a little money from my grandmother (I have no idea how much), but I'm hoping it's enough to get done on the house what we need to and get caught up.
Some good things: I am walking regularly, doing stretch and yoga at the fitness center at work (we can't afford a gym), and I am going to look for a decent weight lifting dvd so I can take that in and do it at work as well.
Work itself is okay - I'm just having a tough time focusing on it. I have a list of "to do" and I can do the easy stuff, but the more difficult analysis stuff just keeps getting postponed. Le sigh.
Today we are supposed to go to the Coral Castle. It's been raining since last night, so that may not happen today.
Thursday, October 06, 2011
"Some things never change, some things do"
A lot has changed since I started this blog. People I read faithfully have stopped blogging, others have locked their blogs. I wonder what happened to them. I miss them.
I certainly haven't blogged faithfully. A lot has changed and I've struggled to figure out how this blog fits in.
A lot has changed this year. There are things in your life that you assume are unchanging constants: your relationship with your spouse, your family, your work, your habits. This year has taught me that the things that never change are awfully few in number.
This year has changed and challenged pretty much everything in my life. My family has faced, and continues to face, some pretty serious adversity. I've made the decision to go to counselling in an effort to cope with some of these events.
I'm not quite sure how this blog fits, only that I need it to. For a time this was about weight, then it was about fitness, now it's about health - mental, physical, spiritual.
A lot has changed since I started this blog. People I read faithfully have stopped blogging, others have locked their blogs. I wonder what happened to them. I miss them.
I certainly haven't blogged faithfully. A lot has changed and I've struggled to figure out how this blog fits in.
A lot has changed this year. There are things in your life that you assume are unchanging constants: your relationship with your spouse, your family, your work, your habits. This year has taught me that the things that never change are awfully few in number.
This year has changed and challenged pretty much everything in my life. My family has faced, and continues to face, some pretty serious adversity. I've made the decision to go to counselling in an effort to cope with some of these events.
I'm not quite sure how this blog fits, only that I need it to. For a time this was about weight, then it was about fitness, now it's about health - mental, physical, spiritual.
Friday, September 23, 2011
Brain dump
Overall, I’d say things are going pretty well. I think I’m feeling less stressed & frustrated than I was at the end of last year. Whether that’s because I’m just totally wrung out and too tired to feel much or this past year has given me some perspective, or something else entirely I’m not sure.
There are things I like very much about living here:
I like taking the bus too work. It is a little time consuming, but it’s easy and the bus stop isn’t a bad walk from the house at all.
I love the new house – although I am feeling stressed by the slowness of getting things organized. The whole “building storage in the garage” is holding things up. I know it’s getting done, but progress in the garage seems slow, and is holding up progress in the house.
I am more active. I walk Jordan – sometimes morning and evening. We have a good neighborhood for walking. We get in the pool a lot on the weekends. We take the dogs to the dog park.
I worked for my old boss for 5.5 years. So a new boss is a change, which also has it’s good points. I like Sonia and the new team so far.
I am taking a yoga class at lunch 1 day a week. I really like the instructor - it’s power yoga so it’s TOUGH, but I’m hanging in there.
I signed up for 2 stretching classes, I have my first one this afternoon.
We are going to the beach this weekend – just to take a walk, so that’ll be nice.
I still have times of feeling angry or stressed, and there are times I still overeat due to stress, but overall it’s much better, and best of all I feel better. It’s hard to explain better than that – just overall my stress feels lower than it’s been in quite a while, in spite of obstacles and stressors that still exist.
Overall, I’d say things are going pretty well. I think I’m feeling less stressed & frustrated than I was at the end of last year. Whether that’s because I’m just totally wrung out and too tired to feel much or this past year has given me some perspective, or something else entirely I’m not sure.
There are things I like very much about living here:
I like taking the bus too work. It is a little time consuming, but it’s easy and the bus stop isn’t a bad walk from the house at all.
I love the new house – although I am feeling stressed by the slowness of getting things organized. The whole “building storage in the garage” is holding things up. I know it’s getting done, but progress in the garage seems slow, and is holding up progress in the house.
I am more active. I walk Jordan – sometimes morning and evening. We have a good neighborhood for walking. We get in the pool a lot on the weekends. We take the dogs to the dog park.
I worked for my old boss for 5.5 years. So a new boss is a change, which also has it’s good points. I like Sonia and the new team so far.
I am taking a yoga class at lunch 1 day a week. I really like the instructor - it’s power yoga so it’s TOUGH, but I’m hanging in there.
I signed up for 2 stretching classes, I have my first one this afternoon.
We are going to the beach this weekend – just to take a walk, so that’ll be nice.
I still have times of feeling angry or stressed, and there are times I still overeat due to stress, but overall it’s much better, and best of all I feel better. It’s hard to explain better than that – just overall my stress feels lower than it’s been in quite a while, in spite of obstacles and stressors that still exist.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
2011 - the year of "new cheese"
I think I may have mentioned hub and I reading "Who Moved my Cheese?" earlier this year. "New cheese" has become a catch phrase in our family that means trying new stuff.
My big new cheese today was taking the bus home from work. I've never used public transit regularly in this country - it's simply never been cheap or convenient enough. But hub's truck get 13-15 miles per gallon, and we're tallking diesel. We simply can't afford to have him running all over the place in that thing - and there's no reason. My car gets 30 mpg and uses plain old basic gas. He has been taking me to work and keeping the car, but that adds up - both in expense, wear and tear, and in time. The bus stop is less than a mile from my house and there is one right in front of my office. If there weather is bad, hub can always pick me up in the afternoon and drop me in the morning at the stop. I was pleasantly surprised - it wasn't crowded, it was very clean, and it was a quick trip straight up Pine Island Road. Easy!
Hub may have a temp job starting Monday if his doctor's office gets the form back to the temp company which clears him for work post surgery. He has a form, but the agency needs it on their form. Fingers crossed!
The boy cleaned the pool filter yesterday and offered to wash the dishes today!!!! Maybe he's getting over his funk! That would be lovely.
What else? The puppy weighs 46 pounds, work still seems to be pretty good. I'm trying to be positive, motivated, showing my new boss I'm a go getter, etc. I really do enjoy my job, but being extroverted is tiring for me cause really I'm just a math geek in disguise. Ha ha ha.
The neighborhood is awesome for walks - morning or evening. I hopped in the pool when I got home from work today - very nice. I priced a pool heater ($3000!), which is crazy considering we can use the pool most of the year anyway and don't have to winterize it at all. It would be lovely, but it goes without saying I don't have that kind of extra cash!
I think I may have mentioned hub and I reading "Who Moved my Cheese?" earlier this year. "New cheese" has become a catch phrase in our family that means trying new stuff.
My big new cheese today was taking the bus home from work. I've never used public transit regularly in this country - it's simply never been cheap or convenient enough. But hub's truck get 13-15 miles per gallon, and we're tallking diesel. We simply can't afford to have him running all over the place in that thing - and there's no reason. My car gets 30 mpg and uses plain old basic gas. He has been taking me to work and keeping the car, but that adds up - both in expense, wear and tear, and in time. The bus stop is less than a mile from my house and there is one right in front of my office. If there weather is bad, hub can always pick me up in the afternoon and drop me in the morning at the stop. I was pleasantly surprised - it wasn't crowded, it was very clean, and it was a quick trip straight up Pine Island Road. Easy!
Hub may have a temp job starting Monday if his doctor's office gets the form back to the temp company which clears him for work post surgery. He has a form, but the agency needs it on their form. Fingers crossed!
The boy cleaned the pool filter yesterday and offered to wash the dishes today!!!! Maybe he's getting over his funk! That would be lovely.
What else? The puppy weighs 46 pounds, work still seems to be pretty good. I'm trying to be positive, motivated, showing my new boss I'm a go getter, etc. I really do enjoy my job, but being extroverted is tiring for me cause really I'm just a math geek in disguise. Ha ha ha.
The neighborhood is awesome for walks - morning or evening. I hopped in the pool when I got home from work today - very nice. I priced a pool heater ($3000!), which is crazy considering we can use the pool most of the year anyway and don't have to winterize it at all. It would be lovely, but it goes without saying I don't have that kind of extra cash!
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Overall, I'm not feeling that great. Sunday night we watched "Talladega Nights" (don't judge me). Anyway, it's set in NC and seeing the scenery etc. just made me really homesick - for the geography, for my mom, for a lot of things. I sat up till nearly midnight, just kinda crying. It's a shame because the night was frog free and I could've gotten a great night's sleep.
Anyway, I felt like poop Monday and called in sick. I spent the morning sitting by the pool reading "Harriet the Spy" (why yes, it IS a children's book). My mom will likely end up needing gall bladder surgery - the logical thing is for hub to go up & be with her since he isn't working. He could paint the inside of her house while he's there as well. We'll see.
We have the guest room set up and largely finished putting stuff away in our bedroom & hanging pictures, so it's really starting to look like our house. We did A LOT over the weekend - my back was killing me!
One thing I didn't like about the old house was that the kitchen sink faced a wall, and the windows in the kitchen had an exciting view of my clothes line and the side of the neighbor's house. My kitchen sink looks out over the pool, which makes kitchen work a lot more bearable, except it makes me want to be outisde!!!
There are good things and I do appreciate them, it's just that I've been trying to stay positive in the face of hub abd the boy's ... lack of enthusiasm for the move, and I'm just wrung out. I swear, if you drop a bomb in front of me my reaction would be to say "well, huh."
Anyway, things are getting back to the new normal, whatever that turns out to be.
Anyway, I felt like poop Monday and called in sick. I spent the morning sitting by the pool reading "Harriet the Spy" (why yes, it IS a children's book). My mom will likely end up needing gall bladder surgery - the logical thing is for hub to go up & be with her since he isn't working. He could paint the inside of her house while he's there as well. We'll see.
We have the guest room set up and largely finished putting stuff away in our bedroom & hanging pictures, so it's really starting to look like our house. We did A LOT over the weekend - my back was killing me!
One thing I didn't like about the old house was that the kitchen sink faced a wall, and the windows in the kitchen had an exciting view of my clothes line and the side of the neighbor's house. My kitchen sink looks out over the pool, which makes kitchen work a lot more bearable, except it makes me want to be outisde!!!
There are good things and I do appreciate them, it's just that I've been trying to stay positive in the face of hub abd the boy's ... lack of enthusiasm for the move, and I'm just wrung out. I swear, if you drop a bomb in front of me my reaction would be to say "well, huh."
Anyway, things are getting back to the new normal, whatever that turns out to be.
Friday, September 09, 2011
Work
So, I went to work for 4 whole days these week - that's the most days in a row since mid July!!! I like my desk (not as private as my old one, but newer stuff). My team are nice and our new boss started last Monday, so in that regard we are on a level playing field. I am slowly getting bck into the swing of picking up projects I had passed off and offering time on new ones. I have also jumped into taking advantage of the fitness center and am signing up for a couple of classes when the next session starts in 2 weeks.
The boy is being a lazy, ungrateful ass. I keep reminding myself that he is only 16 and this is hard on him, but there are days I'd like to throttle him. He refuses to do anything to help out around here AT ALL. UGH!!!!! He has met a couple of friends (twins his age) - their mom is very strict, so I like that. Maybe his attitude will improve.
I am setting up a schedule of getting things done around the house, but new (little) things keep cropping up. Not much progress is happening during the week - just your basic "manage to get dinner on the table and dishes washed."
I am walking in the mornings and starting fitness classes soon. I am cooking regular meals and getting my house (literally) in order. But I know there is a lot of stuff - the recent death of my grandmother up in Asheville and all the stuff that dredged up, the worry over hub finding a job, my frustration with the boy's attitude. There's a lot of stress and emotion just below the surface that I am going to have to deal with in a manner that doesn't include beer or cheese dip.
So, I went to work for 4 whole days these week - that's the most days in a row since mid July!!! I like my desk (not as private as my old one, but newer stuff). My team are nice and our new boss started last Monday, so in that regard we are on a level playing field. I am slowly getting bck into the swing of picking up projects I had passed off and offering time on new ones. I have also jumped into taking advantage of the fitness center and am signing up for a couple of classes when the next session starts in 2 weeks.
The boy is being a lazy, ungrateful ass. I keep reminding myself that he is only 16 and this is hard on him, but there are days I'd like to throttle him. He refuses to do anything to help out around here AT ALL. UGH!!!!! He has met a couple of friends (twins his age) - their mom is very strict, so I like that. Maybe his attitude will improve.
I am setting up a schedule of getting things done around the house, but new (little) things keep cropping up. Not much progress is happening during the week - just your basic "manage to get dinner on the table and dishes washed."
I am walking in the mornings and starting fitness classes soon. I am cooking regular meals and getting my house (literally) in order. But I know there is a lot of stuff - the recent death of my grandmother up in Asheville and all the stuff that dredged up, the worry over hub finding a job, my frustration with the boy's attitude. There's a lot of stress and emotion just below the surface that I am going to have to deal with in a manner that doesn't include beer or cheese dip.
Wednesday, September 07, 2011
More updates
The house is coming along and we've done a lot of unpacking. The garage is still a disaster, but the guys are building some storage.
One the inside: we painted every room but the master bath (just ran out of steam I guess but we have the paint). We have a new dish washer (after hub re-wired the electrical so it would run without turing on the disposal), a new fridge, and a new ceiling fan in the kitchen. New ceiling fan in the family room. New ceiling fan in all bedrooms. Curtains in all rooms but the kitchen (if you saw my view of the pool you wouldn't want to block it either). Hub fixed the hot water heater (it didn't work when we moved in).
The pool is my baby.
More later!
The house is coming along and we've done a lot of unpacking. The garage is still a disaster, but the guys are building some storage.
One the inside: we painted every room but the master bath (just ran out of steam I guess but we have the paint). We have a new dish washer (after hub re-wired the electrical so it would run without turing on the disposal), a new fridge, and a new ceiling fan in the kitchen. New ceiling fan in the family room. New ceiling fan in all bedrooms. Curtains in all rooms but the kitchen (if you saw my view of the pool you wouldn't want to block it either). Hub fixed the hot water heater (it didn't work when we moved in).
The pool is my baby.
More later!
Sunday, September 04, 2011
A short summary:
1. My loan processor from Wells-F was either incompetent or negligent and her managers were a bunch of liars, While driving down I-95 22 hours prior to closing she was calling asking for documents she'd received weeks prior. On the day of our closing, we were repeatedly asked for more documents while being assued the loan money had been wired, which was a LIE. We didn't close, and both our interest rate lock and our contract expired. We were assured we'd be 'compenstaed' for the $1000 plus the delay cost us. Another LIE. The only good thing was that the seller agreed to close even though we didn't have a contract since our lawyer assured us we'd have to sue for our deposit (which was A LOT) and that we'd probably lose.
2. My grandmother died (dad's mom obviously). Hub and the boy were up in NC at the time, but I was stuck here alone with the dogs. My mom had a voicemaiil from my aunt when they got back to NC on a Wednesday, she called me on Thursday, she & the boy went up to Asheville on Friday, and grandma died on Saturday.
3. This house had loads of potential and a wonderful layout, but it's been making us kinda nuts. It sat empty. then was purchased as an investment by a bunch of crazy people (another time I'll write about how at the closing the representative for the seller was thrown out of the office screaming obscenities). The crazies hired Cheech & Chong to do the remodelling post being trashed by a renter. Let me tell you this one thing: The dishwasher ran (but didn't actually do its function) but the inspector thought it did not in fact run because the way it was wired it only got power when the disposal was turned on. That's all you need to know about everything in this house. Except the frogs were keeping us up ALL NIGHT. Thank you baby jesus for amphibian repellant and pest control people that show up same day.
Also, all the iguanas here have died due to severe cold 2 years ago and have been replaced by a new kind of lizard with a curly tail which, when they get large enough, get a bit aggresive and eat geckos etc.
Also, having a pool in the back yard does not suck.
It is the rainy season, whcih reminds me a lot of Hawaii.
I start work Tuesday. I feel fat and tired.
1. My loan processor from Wells-F was either incompetent or negligent and her managers were a bunch of liars, While driving down I-95 22 hours prior to closing she was calling asking for documents she'd received weeks prior. On the day of our closing, we were repeatedly asked for more documents while being assued the loan money had been wired, which was a LIE. We didn't close, and both our interest rate lock and our contract expired. We were assured we'd be 'compenstaed' for the $1000 plus the delay cost us. Another LIE. The only good thing was that the seller agreed to close even though we didn't have a contract since our lawyer assured us we'd have to sue for our deposit (which was A LOT) and that we'd probably lose.
2. My grandmother died (dad's mom obviously). Hub and the boy were up in NC at the time, but I was stuck here alone with the dogs. My mom had a voicemaiil from my aunt when they got back to NC on a Wednesday, she called me on Thursday, she & the boy went up to Asheville on Friday, and grandma died on Saturday.
3. This house had loads of potential and a wonderful layout, but it's been making us kinda nuts. It sat empty. then was purchased as an investment by a bunch of crazy people (another time I'll write about how at the closing the representative for the seller was thrown out of the office screaming obscenities). The crazies hired Cheech & Chong to do the remodelling post being trashed by a renter. Let me tell you this one thing: The dishwasher ran (but didn't actually do its function) but the inspector thought it did not in fact run because the way it was wired it only got power when the disposal was turned on. That's all you need to know about everything in this house. Except the frogs were keeping us up ALL NIGHT. Thank you baby jesus for amphibian repellant and pest control people that show up same day.
Also, all the iguanas here have died due to severe cold 2 years ago and have been replaced by a new kind of lizard with a curly tail which, when they get large enough, get a bit aggresive and eat geckos etc.
Also, having a pool in the back yard does not suck.
It is the rainy season, whcih reminds me a lot of Hawaii.
I start work Tuesday. I feel fat and tired.
Monday, July 25, 2011
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
As the stomach churns
The latest:
There is an "issue" with the title to the new house. Nothing major - it's the way the name of the trustee that owns the house is written (some legal technicality type thing.) No big deal, except that the owner has been slow to repsond and has kept inssting it's fine. Well, since the title company won't insure the title as is, and no insurance means no mortgage, no, it's not okay. Which is what I lawyer called and told them. They seem to be moving, but very slowly. Will I have a house next Monday? Who knows????
The latest:
There is an "issue" with the title to the new house. Nothing major - it's the way the name of the trustee that owns the house is written (some legal technicality type thing.) No big deal, except that the owner has been slow to repsond and has kept inssting it's fine. Well, since the title company won't insure the title as is, and no insurance means no mortgage, no, it's not okay. Which is what I lawyer called and told them. They seem to be moving, but very slowly. Will I have a house next Monday? Who knows????
Wednesday, July 06, 2011
The crazies
My mortgage loan officer said to me the other day “If you haven’t bought a house in the past 2 years, you haven’t bought a house.” Meaning that the entire experience has changed dramatically – and it’s really not all about the bank! It’s more about what sellers are expecting, what banks are requiring, disclosures due to changes in laws, etc. The end result is a lot more paperwork going back and forth, and a lot more leg work for the buyer (at least in my experience). It’s been crazy. My to do list is insane – it’s color coded and I force myself to do 5 things per day off the moving list and 3 per day off the work list. And then I go to my mom’s. Hoo boy!
Also, I don’t think this is particular to my family, trying to organize anything is akin to launching the D-Day invasion. We’re juggling getting 5 dogs, 3 people, and 3 vehicles to Florida, getting my step brother to come down and help us paint the new house, hopefully come up and help my mom with a few things on her house, and squeeze in the fact that at some as-yet-to-be-determined time in the very near future, my ex stepdad is buying a new houseboat (he has a buyer for his who wants to take possession in 2 weeks). The wrinkle to my plans is the fact that he will need both the boy and my step brother to crew the boat from Florida to Wilmington. Last time they did this (when he bought the boat he has now) it took a week to get to Wilmington from Coccoa Beach. Schools starts pretty soon and the boy needs to be back home for that!
So things are pretty hectic. Also, I promised to paint an entire wall of aboriginal dot art on one wall in the boy’s bedroom – he was seriously in love with the tiki bar I made a couple of years back. But that won’t be done immediately.
I’ve picked colors for the 2 bathrooms, and I know I want a pale grey in the main living areas – when we get down there I am going to buy a few samples and paint swatches to see how they look.
I have to get our stuff re-packed and ready for the move down.
Gah.
My mortgage loan officer said to me the other day “If you haven’t bought a house in the past 2 years, you haven’t bought a house.” Meaning that the entire experience has changed dramatically – and it’s really not all about the bank! It’s more about what sellers are expecting, what banks are requiring, disclosures due to changes in laws, etc. The end result is a lot more paperwork going back and forth, and a lot more leg work for the buyer (at least in my experience). It’s been crazy. My to do list is insane – it’s color coded and I force myself to do 5 things per day off the moving list and 3 per day off the work list. And then I go to my mom’s. Hoo boy!
Also, I don’t think this is particular to my family, trying to organize anything is akin to launching the D-Day invasion. We’re juggling getting 5 dogs, 3 people, and 3 vehicles to Florida, getting my step brother to come down and help us paint the new house, hopefully come up and help my mom with a few things on her house, and squeeze in the fact that at some as-yet-to-be-determined time in the very near future, my ex stepdad is buying a new houseboat (he has a buyer for his who wants to take possession in 2 weeks). The wrinkle to my plans is the fact that he will need both the boy and my step brother to crew the boat from Florida to Wilmington. Last time they did this (when he bought the boat he has now) it took a week to get to Wilmington from Coccoa Beach. Schools starts pretty soon and the boy needs to be back home for that!
So things are pretty hectic. Also, I promised to paint an entire wall of aboriginal dot art on one wall in the boy’s bedroom – he was seriously in love with the tiki bar I made a couple of years back. But that won’t be done immediately.
I’ve picked colors for the 2 bathrooms, and I know I want a pale grey in the main living areas – when we get down there I am going to buy a few samples and paint swatches to see how they look.
I have to get our stuff re-packed and ready for the move down.
Gah.
Thursday, June 30, 2011
In southern, savory oats = grits
Several folks I know have been talking up the savory oats - adding vegetables, cheese, etc. Now, I'm not a big oats fan. I never ate them as a child. Steel cut oats are okay, and I can stomach regular oats from time to time, but they'll never be a favorite meal or anything.
But this thing of savory oats is kinda funny to me because southerners have been adding things like cheese, shrimp, tomaotes, red eye gravy - you name it, to grits for breakfast forever.
Things are okay - kind of a busy and stressful week. I'm hanging in there.
Several folks I know have been talking up the savory oats - adding vegetables, cheese, etc. Now, I'm not a big oats fan. I never ate them as a child. Steel cut oats are okay, and I can stomach regular oats from time to time, but they'll never be a favorite meal or anything.
But this thing of savory oats is kinda funny to me because southerners have been adding things like cheese, shrimp, tomaotes, red eye gravy - you name it, to grits for breakfast forever.
Things are okay - kind of a busy and stressful week. I'm hanging in there.
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Stuff is moving along with our house purchase and getting my mom's ready to put up for sale. We had a wonderful visit in Georgia with my great aunt, but I really have to stop buying vintage lamps!
Change of subject but what I really wanted to tell you about. One of my all time favorite albums is "Ho'oluana" by the Makaha Sons of Ni'ihau - mom and I were listening to it on the way home from Georgia this past weekend. It's one of those albums that makes you weep with the sheer beauty of some of the songs.
What I didn't realize for many years was that the (former) lead singer Israel Kaʻanoʻi Kamakawiwoʻole (Bruddah Iz) released several solo albums after leaving the group. At the beginning of this year he was topping the European charts with his version of "Over the rainbow/What a Wonderful World", which has been used in many movies and tv shows and commericials. There is a very funny clip on his web site that shows several Belgian djs trying to pronounce his name which segues into a video of the song: https://www.izhawaii.com/belgium-radio-djs-make-attempt-at-saying-izs-name/#
It's a truly amazing song, but if I had to pick one favorite song from his solo career it would be "Hawai'i 78" from the album "Facing Future" - get over to grooveshark or youtube and listen to it sometime. It's not nearly as upbeat - it's beautiful, but it's really (IMO) a lament for the erosion of the Hawaiian culture and loss of country.
Anyway, I realize this isn't everyone's cup of musical tea, but his voice is just so amazing that I wanted to share it with you.
Change of subject but what I really wanted to tell you about. One of my all time favorite albums is "Ho'oluana" by the Makaha Sons of Ni'ihau - mom and I were listening to it on the way home from Georgia this past weekend. It's one of those albums that makes you weep with the sheer beauty of some of the songs.
What I didn't realize for many years was that the (former) lead singer Israel Kaʻanoʻi Kamakawiwoʻole (Bruddah Iz) released several solo albums after leaving the group. At the beginning of this year he was topping the European charts with his version of "Over the rainbow/What a Wonderful World", which has been used in many movies and tv shows and commericials. There is a very funny clip on his web site that shows several Belgian djs trying to pronounce his name which segues into a video of the song: https://www.izhawaii.com/belgium-radio-djs-make-attempt-at-saying-izs-name/#
It's a truly amazing song, but if I had to pick one favorite song from his solo career it would be "Hawai'i 78" from the album "Facing Future" - get over to grooveshark or youtube and listen to it sometime. It's not nearly as upbeat - it's beautiful, but it's really (IMO) a lament for the erosion of the Hawaiian culture and loss of country.
Anyway, I realize this isn't everyone's cup of musical tea, but his voice is just so amazing that I wanted to share it with you.
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Day 3 - random thoughts
I've been doing Allan's Phase 6 diet for 3 days now. I went to check his blog today and it looks like he may quit blogging. That makes me sad, but I understand that most people don't blog for more than a couple of years. Whatever he does, I will continue to do this on my own, although I will certainly miss the support of doing it as part of a group.
The purpose of the first part is to get you accustomed to smaller portions. If you've been eating too often and frequently too much when you eat, this is HARD. My stomach is singing Ave Maria and I am couting down the minutes until lunch time (22 to go). All I can say is that this sucks, but I've reached a point where I'm 50 pounds overweight, and that sucks more.
Lots of folks who blog about weight loss talk about how they've been overweight all (or most) of their lives. I wasn't. I was never overweight until I needed to lose the baby weight after my son was born, and I haven't been overweight all those years since. But the seeds were sown in my childhood I think.
For one, food was very much equated with love. I can remember my great grandmother weighing me every day when I went to visit. She was literally trying to "fatten me up". Given the hardships she endured, raising 3 children between the world wars in Germany, fear of lack of food remained very real for her her whole life. Feeding her family was the single most important thing she could do. And on my mom's side you have all these awesome southern cooks who grow food and are proud to prepare and serve it.
In my teen years food became a form of rebellion. I was a hearty eater and my dad and his wife used to criticize my portions, telling me I'd gain weight if I kept eating like that. I was maybe 12 or 13 and maybe weighed 100 pounds. I ate because it pissed them off.
In the Army food became even more of a comfort - it was one of the few pleasures you could enjoy in basic training or while out in the field for extended periods of time. You're cold, hot, wet, tired, dirty - living in a tent, doing physically difficult things. Food becomes a real "treat".
I've gotten overweight 3 times since the boy was born - all were a result of my using food as a comfort or to stuff down emotions. I've lost the weight twice - now it's time to do it again.
There's no point in beating myself up for re-gaining weight. I can't change the past. I can control my choices in the here and now while trying to modify the underlying causes of turning to food - looking for substitutes if not solutions.
I've been doing Allan's Phase 6 diet for 3 days now. I went to check his blog today and it looks like he may quit blogging. That makes me sad, but I understand that most people don't blog for more than a couple of years. Whatever he does, I will continue to do this on my own, although I will certainly miss the support of doing it as part of a group.
The purpose of the first part is to get you accustomed to smaller portions. If you've been eating too often and frequently too much when you eat, this is HARD. My stomach is singing Ave Maria and I am couting down the minutes until lunch time (22 to go). All I can say is that this sucks, but I've reached a point where I'm 50 pounds overweight, and that sucks more.
Lots of folks who blog about weight loss talk about how they've been overweight all (or most) of their lives. I wasn't. I was never overweight until I needed to lose the baby weight after my son was born, and I haven't been overweight all those years since. But the seeds were sown in my childhood I think.
For one, food was very much equated with love. I can remember my great grandmother weighing me every day when I went to visit. She was literally trying to "fatten me up". Given the hardships she endured, raising 3 children between the world wars in Germany, fear of lack of food remained very real for her her whole life. Feeding her family was the single most important thing she could do. And on my mom's side you have all these awesome southern cooks who grow food and are proud to prepare and serve it.
In my teen years food became a form of rebellion. I was a hearty eater and my dad and his wife used to criticize my portions, telling me I'd gain weight if I kept eating like that. I was maybe 12 or 13 and maybe weighed 100 pounds. I ate because it pissed them off.
In the Army food became even more of a comfort - it was one of the few pleasures you could enjoy in basic training or while out in the field for extended periods of time. You're cold, hot, wet, tired, dirty - living in a tent, doing physically difficult things. Food becomes a real "treat".
I've gotten overweight 3 times since the boy was born - all were a result of my using food as a comfort or to stuff down emotions. I've lost the weight twice - now it's time to do it again.
There's no point in beating myself up for re-gaining weight. I can't change the past. I can control my choices in the here and now while trying to modify the underlying causes of turning to food - looking for substitutes if not solutions.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Thoughts I've read today I want to hold on to:
"We don't help cocaine addicts by teaching them about the metabolism of serotonin-norepinephrine-dopamine re-uptake inhibitors or the hormonal implications of cocaine use, yet we try and help people lose weight by teaching them about hormones, metabolic pathways and glucose chemistry." - Brad Pilon
'Here are some ridiculous questions someone asked me the other day when I told her that I had lost 50lbs in the first three months of my weightloss diet. She asked "Was that safe?" Are you kidding me? I told her, "Do you think weighing 250lbs was safe? Which do you think is worse?"' - Tracy Reifkind
"We don't help cocaine addicts by teaching them about the metabolism of serotonin-norepinephrine-dopamine re-uptake inhibitors or the hormonal implications of cocaine use, yet we try and help people lose weight by teaching them about hormones, metabolic pathways and glucose chemistry." - Brad Pilon
'Here are some ridiculous questions someone asked me the other day when I told her that I had lost 50lbs in the first three months of my weightloss diet. She asked "Was that safe?" Are you kidding me? I told her, "Do you think weighing 250lbs was safe? Which do you think is worse?"' - Tracy Reifkind
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
The 13th Warrior (okay, not really!)
I just thought of that because there are 13 people in Allan's challenge. The others have been doing it for 6 weeks and today is my Day 1, so it isn't really a comparison.
I stopped by the grocery last night on my way back to the hotel and picked up everything I needed. Days 1-3 are the same and are only liquids. I am hungry! But this part is 3 days. Heck, I was in basic training to 8 weeks, I can do anything for 3 days!
Right now, with so many things in my life beyond my control, it feels nice to take control of this one very important aspect of my life: my physical well being.
I just thought of that because there are 13 people in Allan's challenge. The others have been doing it for 6 weeks and today is my Day 1, so it isn't really a comparison.
I stopped by the grocery last night on my way back to the hotel and picked up everything I needed. Days 1-3 are the same and are only liquids. I am hungry! But this part is 3 days. Heck, I was in basic training to 8 weeks, I can do anything for 3 days!
Right now, with so many things in my life beyond my control, it feels nice to take control of this one very important aspect of my life: my physical well being.
Updates, I got em
I was down 0.4 pounds this morning.
The room above ours in the hotel has apparently been rented to a herd of nocturnal elephants. They woke us up the night before, and they were re-arranging furniture and banging on the floor for over an hour in the middle of the night last night. I'm so thankful we won't be moving to an apartment.
I was down 0.4 pounds this morning.
The room above ours in the hotel has apparently been rented to a herd of nocturnal elephants. They woke us up the night before, and they were re-arranging furniture and banging on the floor for over an hour in the middle of the night last night. I'm so thankful we won't be moving to an apartment.
Butch picked a fight with Jordan last night. Hub went and got the 2 little ones and brought them over to the hotel, but I don't know what we're going to do long term.
Monday, June 20, 2011
So, I got the plan from Allan. I'm not going to post my food since it's his "diet" - it's not my place to share it, if that makes sense.
Tough but doable. I'm going to start as soon as I hit the grocery, but I'll do day one tomorrow.
After lunch I met LB (lunch buddy) downstairs in the gym for stretching and yoga. Going back after work to either walk on the treadmill or the elliptical.
Tough but doable. I'm going to start as soon as I hit the grocery, but I'll do day one tomorrow.
After lunch I met LB (lunch buddy) downstairs in the gym for stretching and yoga. Going back after work to either walk on the treadmill or the elliptical.
Hope you had a nice weekend. Ours was good. I wanted to go see "X-Men" with hub last night, but I found myself just really tired. Unfortunately I didn't sleep great and woke up with a sinus headache. Took a Zyrtec and I'm feeling better.
Waiting to hear the particulars from Allan on Phase 6. Given all the craziness going on right now, having a set plan which requires no thinking is right up my alley!
Nop word yet on the appraisal - just some bs note from the loan processor about how long it takes. Well, it would've taken 1 week less if you had returned my phone calls is all I can say. grr.
Hub's knee continues to improve. The big dogs are feeling left out b/c some nights we take the little dogs to the hotel, but they can't go b/c the hotel doesn't allow pets over 50 pounds.
It's going to be hot as heck here this week. We are headed to Georgia this weekend to visit my great aunt. I've also booked us a cabin there over Thanksgiving.
Have a good day!
Waiting to hear the particulars from Allan on Phase 6. Given all the craziness going on right now, having a set plan which requires no thinking is right up my alley!
Nop word yet on the appraisal - just some bs note from the loan processor about how long it takes. Well, it would've taken 1 week less if you had returned my phone calls is all I can say. grr.
Hub's knee continues to improve. The big dogs are feeling left out b/c some nights we take the little dogs to the hotel, but they can't go b/c the hotel doesn't allow pets over 50 pounds.
It's going to be hot as heck here this week. We are headed to Georgia this weekend to visit my great aunt. I've also booked us a cabin there over Thanksgiving.
Have a good day!
Friday, June 17, 2011
Hub's knee is still swollen, which isn't surprising since he hasn't been icing it. He has been doing a good job of keeping it elevated and taking it easy, but he needs to ice it too.
I am going to jump on Allan's bandwagon and join his Phase 6 diet. I need it, and I need the support.
We are really loving the hotel - 2 bed, 2 bath, small kitchen and living area, breakfast downstairs - which is actually good!
This weekend I'm organizing some of my stuff I "packed" from the house one day, and the other helping my mom with some of her decluttering efforts.
I made a really good pot of red beans for red beans and rice last night and mom forgot to put them in the fridge. Oops! Tood bad b/c they were really good.
No more news on the house front - just waiting to hear regarding the appraisal. Fingers crossed!
I am going to jump on Allan's bandwagon and join his Phase 6 diet. I need it, and I need the support.
We are really loving the hotel - 2 bed, 2 bath, small kitchen and living area, breakfast downstairs - which is actually good!
This weekend I'm organizing some of my stuff I "packed" from the house one day, and the other helping my mom with some of her decluttering efforts.
I made a really good pot of red beans for red beans and rice last night and mom forgot to put them in the fridge. Oops! Tood bad b/c they were really good.
No more news on the house front - just waiting to hear regarding the appraisal. Fingers crossed!
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Hub's knee surgery went well. The reality is that he needs to lose weight and doing so would certainly help his knee recovery. I am trying to focus on making better choices to support him. We've both been a little catch-as-catch-can about food with everything that's been going on.
It's weird - we've been waiting for new temp housing (we're moving in today to a Residence Inn). In the interim, I've been at the apartment alone, it's just been not a lot of fun. It's like I go over to my mom's, have dinner & visit, and then heard off to the apartment once I start getting sleepy (about 8:30). It's hard to explain - my life just feels like it's in this weird disconnected state - no home, just a place I sleep without my family, just weird.
The house purchase is moving along. The house feels like a bit of a money pit, which isn't a great feeling, but that's what $200K gets you in south Florida. It's a nice house, it just needs some work. I know it'll all work out, I guess I'm just feel tired and overwhelmed and a bit burned out.
I feel like I complain a lot when I post, which is probably one reason I haven't been posting much. But better here than to my co-workers all the time I guess.
Seriously, things are moving along.
It's weird - we've been waiting for new temp housing (we're moving in today to a Residence Inn). In the interim, I've been at the apartment alone, it's just been not a lot of fun. It's like I go over to my mom's, have dinner & visit, and then heard off to the apartment once I start getting sleepy (about 8:30). It's hard to explain - my life just feels like it's in this weird disconnected state - no home, just a place I sleep without my family, just weird.
The house purchase is moving along. The house feels like a bit of a money pit, which isn't a great feeling, but that's what $200K gets you in south Florida. It's a nice house, it just needs some work. I know it'll all work out, I guess I'm just feel tired and overwhelmed and a bit burned out.
I feel like I complain a lot when I post, which is probably one reason I haven't been posting much. But better here than to my co-workers all the time I guess.
Seriously, things are moving along.
Monday, June 13, 2011
The house here closed Friday. THANK GOD!
The apartment we were given for temp housing is on the 3rd floor, which wouldn't be a big deal except hub's knee surgery was re-scheduled for today, and there is no way he's getting up 4 flights of stairs.
The guys drove to PA this weekend to put some of our camping stuff in the storage trailer there. While up there, the boy bought a dirt bike. Hopefully it will keep him occupied this summer.
We seem to still be moving forward on the house in Fl. No idea when the appraisal will be scheduled - that's the next big hurdle.
The apartment we were given for temp housing is on the 3rd floor, which wouldn't be a big deal except hub's knee surgery was re-scheduled for today, and there is no way he's getting up 4 flights of stairs.
The guys drove to PA this weekend to put some of our camping stuff in the storage trailer there. While up there, the boy bought a dirt bike. Hopefully it will keep him occupied this summer.
We seem to still be moving forward on the house in Fl. No idea when the appraisal will be scheduled - that's the next big hurdle.
Friday, June 10, 2011
Real estate - it's not just for sane people.
Our house closing was scheduled for 8 am today (the house we're selling). Except our agent called last night - the buyer decided that her final walk through was really her pre final walk through and she wanted to come through the house again at 7:30 the morning. We said no. Then our realtor called back and said the buyer was pushing closing back and refused to sign anything until she came through the house to make sure the movers hadn't damaged anything. We said the buyer could come through at 8:30, so I spent 2 hours this morning cleaning like a woman possessed because 1) the guys really didn't do much yesterday and 2) I was terrified this crazy woman would refuse to sign for some crazy reason.
Thank god it closed.
On the house we're buying: The home inspection came back with pretty much what we expected for a house built in 1974 that's been sitting empty a while. In other words: roof repair, some electrical work, and a lot of maintenance stuff - to the tune of probably $3000 with the hub doing everything he can. EXCEPT. The inspector also recommended we call a structural engineer to check the foundation - turns out it needs concrete footings under 2 corners. Estimated cost $4500. We asked for the seller to pay for that and she refused, so we withdrew our offer. Then she blinked and agreed to give a $4500 credit at closing. We'd asked if the "Liberace house" was still available (it is) and were ready to make an offer on it.
I'd rather have this house because the yard is already fenced and it needs less work up front, even though I feel like the other house has loads of long term potential. But hub is having knee surgery on Monday so I'd like to keep the work to a minimum for his sake. Also, I like the fact it already has a pool which will be great for his knee rehab.
But we're out of the house here, moving to temp housing tonight, and hopefully the appraisal will go through okay on the new house.
Lordie.
Our house closing was scheduled for 8 am today (the house we're selling). Except our agent called last night - the buyer decided that her final walk through was really her pre final walk through and she wanted to come through the house again at 7:30 the morning. We said no. Then our realtor called back and said the buyer was pushing closing back and refused to sign anything until she came through the house to make sure the movers hadn't damaged anything. We said the buyer could come through at 8:30, so I spent 2 hours this morning cleaning like a woman possessed because 1) the guys really didn't do much yesterday and 2) I was terrified this crazy woman would refuse to sign for some crazy reason.
Thank god it closed.
On the house we're buying: The home inspection came back with pretty much what we expected for a house built in 1974 that's been sitting empty a while. In other words: roof repair, some electrical work, and a lot of maintenance stuff - to the tune of probably $3000 with the hub doing everything he can. EXCEPT. The inspector also recommended we call a structural engineer to check the foundation - turns out it needs concrete footings under 2 corners. Estimated cost $4500. We asked for the seller to pay for that and she refused, so we withdrew our offer. Then she blinked and agreed to give a $4500 credit at closing. We'd asked if the "Liberace house" was still available (it is) and were ready to make an offer on it.
I'd rather have this house because the yard is already fenced and it needs less work up front, even though I feel like the other house has loads of long term potential. But hub is having knee surgery on Monday so I'd like to keep the work to a minimum for his sake. Also, I like the fact it already has a pool which will be great for his knee rehab.
But we're out of the house here, moving to temp housing tonight, and hopefully the appraisal will go through okay on the new house.
Lordie.
Tuesday, June 07, 2011
Things are (finally) falling into place
Our house in NC is set to close Friday. There was an issue with the title from when I bought it that just got resolved yesterday.
We flew down to Florida the weekend after we drove down and looked at more houses. There was one we'd liked a lot that was pending sale on our first trip. That fell through and we made an offer on it the day before we flew down. We saw another one and we were really torn, skip a bunch of angst and that 1st house is under contract and the inspector went through with our realtor this morning. Haven't heard back yet, hopefully it went well.
The movers are here today packing up our stuff. My husband has been out of work for some time (3 weeks?) due to needing knee surgery, so this is a sucky time to be operating on one income. Not that any time would be good. Hopefully his short term disability will start soon - that will certainly help.
I am getting a new boss at work - I would have continued to report to the same one (the Florida team reports to him) but he accepted a job in a different department. :-(
I can't even describe how much stress I've been under - honestly it's been one of the roughest times in my life, but I'm getting to the fun and exciting part, which feels really nice.
Our house in NC is set to close Friday. There was an issue with the title from when I bought it that just got resolved yesterday.
We flew down to Florida the weekend after we drove down and looked at more houses. There was one we'd liked a lot that was pending sale on our first trip. That fell through and we made an offer on it the day before we flew down. We saw another one and we were really torn, skip a bunch of angst and that 1st house is under contract and the inspector went through with our realtor this morning. Haven't heard back yet, hopefully it went well.
The movers are here today packing up our stuff. My husband has been out of work for some time (3 weeks?) due to needing knee surgery, so this is a sucky time to be operating on one income. Not that any time would be good. Hopefully his short term disability will start soon - that will certainly help.
I am getting a new boss at work - I would have continued to report to the same one (the Florida team reports to him) but he accepted a job in a different department. :-(
I can't even describe how much stress I've been under - honestly it's been one of the roughest times in my life, but I'm getting to the fun and exciting part, which feels really nice.
Friday, May 27, 2011
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Friday, May 20, 2011
Who moved my cheese?
This morning (it's very short) I read the book "Who moved my cheese?". Although the process of selling a house and buying a new one is frustrating, I've gotten to the point where I'm okay with finding some new cheese. My husband got to that place as well Wednesday. Things have been pretty stressful partly because he has been so opposed to this move. he's now on board with it. He told our sone he's ready to give Florida a '150% effort' and that he hopes the boy will do the same.
Leaving tomorrow. Sunday we are looking at 7 houses. Monday we'll review and make an offer.
This morning (it's very short) I read the book "Who moved my cheese?". Although the process of selling a house and buying a new one is frustrating, I've gotten to the point where I'm okay with finding some new cheese. My husband got to that place as well Wednesday. Things have been pretty stressful partly because he has been so opposed to this move. he's now on board with it. He told our sone he's ready to give Florida a '150% effort' and that he hopes the boy will do the same.
Leaving tomorrow. Sunday we are looking at 7 houses. Monday we'll review and make an offer.
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Must love dogs
All the house stuff (inspections, movers evaluation) went fine. Trip is still on for Saturday. Our list currently stands (I think) at 11 houses.
The boy and his girlfriend were riding up near Belews Creek (which used to be a creek but is now a big lake where we water ski) and came across a dead husky in the road, with a puppy sitting next to the body crying. So yeah, we now have a 12 week old husky/pit bull/who knows what else little girl puppy named "Belews" (as opposed to Blues as in "Blues Clues').
She's had her first round of shots and de-worming and is in good health, although a little underweight. The boy is doing a pretty decent job being responsible for her. He's still dead set against moving to Florida, so I think right now he needs that puppy as much as she needs him.
All the house stuff (inspections, movers evaluation) went fine. Trip is still on for Saturday. Our list currently stands (I think) at 11 houses.
The boy and his girlfriend were riding up near Belews Creek (which used to be a creek but is now a big lake where we water ski) and came across a dead husky in the road, with a puppy sitting next to the body crying. So yeah, we now have a 12 week old husky/pit bull/who knows what else little girl puppy named "Belews" (as opposed to Blues as in "Blues Clues').
She's had her first round of shots and de-worming and is in good health, although a little underweight. The boy is doing a pretty decent job being responsible for her. He's still dead set against moving to Florida, so I think right now he needs that puppy as much as she needs him.
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Life, it just keeps happening
My grandmother's funeral was nice. We had a lovely visit with my great aunt. We took her out to eat and shopping for some slacks. We also made time to shop by the antique store in Pine Mountain. I am happy to report I left with 3 84" panels of mid 50s barkcloth drapes in grey with aqua and pink floral design. It's a bold, tropical pattern with vibrant colors. Because they were priced at $30 for all 3, I left in haste before anyone realized I was stealing them.
Our house appraisal was yesterday, tomorrow is the home inspection, and Monday is the HVAC and chimney inspections. So, the house needs to be tidy and dog free. Also on Monday the movers are coming to survey our household goods.
We are headed to Florida on the 21st to find a house. I sent my realtor a list of houses we wanted to look at - there were 31 houses, with 18 being "priority". She said probably a third would be unavailable by the time we get down there. That still leaves a lot of houses to look at.
Anyway, I am slowly decompressing. Lots of stress remains, but I am excited about looking at houses! Who doesn't love a trip to Florida! (Except my husband!)
My grandmother's funeral was nice. We had a lovely visit with my great aunt. We took her out to eat and shopping for some slacks. We also made time to shop by the antique store in Pine Mountain. I am happy to report I left with 3 84" panels of mid 50s barkcloth drapes in grey with aqua and pink floral design. It's a bold, tropical pattern with vibrant colors. Because they were priced at $30 for all 3, I left in haste before anyone realized I was stealing them.
Our house appraisal was yesterday, tomorrow is the home inspection, and Monday is the HVAC and chimney inspections. So, the house needs to be tidy and dog free. Also on Monday the movers are coming to survey our household goods.
We are headed to Florida on the 21st to find a house. I sent my realtor a list of houses we wanted to look at - there were 31 houses, with 18 being "priority". She said probably a third would be unavailable by the time we get down there. That still leaves a lot of houses to look at.
Anyway, I am slowly decompressing. Lots of stress remains, but I am excited about looking at houses! Who doesn't love a trip to Florida! (Except my husband!)
Thursday, May 05, 2011
Wow
I try to subscribe to the adage "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything", which is why I haven't been posting much. The most neutral thing I could say would have been something like "Day 28 of my clean house captivity. I love my new Shark steam mop." I really do btw - I know it's going to be THE BOMB on our tile floors in Florida, and it's done a good job keeping the bamboo looking like our house is a dog free zone.
But life lately has kinda sucked to be honest. Selling a house is one of the most stressful things I've done. In retrospect, being threatened with assasination by the Red Army Faction probably didn't impact my life this much. Of course I was young and stupid then too. (It wasn't personal - they decided they didn't like anyone working at the NSA field station). ANYWAY. I think you get the idea. And we've never sold a house before. Also, the economy kinda stinks so we were fairly worried about the whole thing. But we got what we wanted for a sale price - that's pretty amazing.
So there's that. And losing my boss, who decided not to move. And losing my grandmother (her funeral is Monday - mom and I are headed to Georgia Saturday). And helping my mom sort through stuff for her move.
Oh, and the boy announced yesterday that he doesn't want to go to Florida after all. Yeah.
For those of you with older kinds you realize that if you want to make something highly desirable to a teen, tell them they can't. So we're having to approach this one very carefully.
I doubt I've been good company. Honestly I haven't enjoyed my company very much! I do feel like this was the biggest hurdle and I am so glad it's behind us. So why have I been up since 2 AM, unable to sleep and worrying about the whole move logistics? I guess there's just a lot of stress about the future and worrying about how to get the power turned on from 2 states away is a concrete issue I can focus on fretting about. And maybe the whole sale thing hasn't quite sunk in.
I need to chill out.
I try to subscribe to the adage "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything", which is why I haven't been posting much. The most neutral thing I could say would have been something like "Day 28 of my clean house captivity. I love my new Shark steam mop." I really do btw - I know it's going to be THE BOMB on our tile floors in Florida, and it's done a good job keeping the bamboo looking like our house is a dog free zone.
But life lately has kinda sucked to be honest. Selling a house is one of the most stressful things I've done. In retrospect, being threatened with assasination by the Red Army Faction probably didn't impact my life this much. Of course I was young and stupid then too. (It wasn't personal - they decided they didn't like anyone working at the NSA field station). ANYWAY. I think you get the idea. And we've never sold a house before. Also, the economy kinda stinks so we were fairly worried about the whole thing. But we got what we wanted for a sale price - that's pretty amazing.
So there's that. And losing my boss, who decided not to move. And losing my grandmother (her funeral is Monday - mom and I are headed to Georgia Saturday). And helping my mom sort through stuff for her move.
Oh, and the boy announced yesterday that he doesn't want to go to Florida after all. Yeah.
For those of you with older kinds you realize that if you want to make something highly desirable to a teen, tell them they can't. So we're having to approach this one very carefully.
I doubt I've been good company. Honestly I haven't enjoyed my company very much! I do feel like this was the biggest hurdle and I am so glad it's behind us. So why have I been up since 2 AM, unable to sleep and worrying about the whole move logistics? I guess there's just a lot of stress about the future and worrying about how to get the power turned on from 2 states away is a concrete issue I can focus on fretting about. And maybe the whole sale thing hasn't quite sunk in.
I need to chill out.
Wednesday, May 04, 2011
Friday, April 22, 2011
Happy Friday!
It's now 2 weeks since my grandma died. Last night at 8:30 my mom called my cousing (who was supposed to be arranging the funeral) and he said he was going to call the church this morning to see about arranging it for Monday. Please understand we're tlaking about 2 states away - spur of the moment would be a big hassle for us. We talked & she called him back & said just to shoot for the 9th. The last weekend of April/1st weekend of May is booked because his wife's grandfather died a week after our grandmother. You can bet someone managed to schedule HIS funeral. Anyway, his whole mishandling of things has created a lot of extra upset and stress.
I had a birthday. I went for my annual check-up. My house has been shown 7 times and we've had an open house.. I just want my house to sell. I need it to sell pretty quickly. I've done everything in my power to make that happen, now we just have to wait (ugh).
Birthday was okay. Doctor gave me a clean bill of health. Right now there is just so much that I feel pretty overwhelmed a lot of the time. I try to break it down into little bits and deal with the part right in front of my face.
Right now is a difficult time, but I know it's only temporary, that the pain of losing my grandmother will ease, that life will move forward, and is right now even if it doesn't feel that way.
Hope you have a good weekend and nice Easter if you celebrate that.
It's now 2 weeks since my grandma died. Last night at 8:30 my mom called my cousing (who was supposed to be arranging the funeral) and he said he was going to call the church this morning to see about arranging it for Monday. Please understand we're tlaking about 2 states away - spur of the moment would be a big hassle for us. We talked & she called him back & said just to shoot for the 9th. The last weekend of April/1st weekend of May is booked because his wife's grandfather died a week after our grandmother. You can bet someone managed to schedule HIS funeral. Anyway, his whole mishandling of things has created a lot of extra upset and stress.
I had a birthday. I went for my annual check-up. My house has been shown 7 times and we've had an open house.. I just want my house to sell. I need it to sell pretty quickly. I've done everything in my power to make that happen, now we just have to wait (ugh).
Birthday was okay. Doctor gave me a clean bill of health. Right now there is just so much that I feel pretty overwhelmed a lot of the time. I try to break it down into little bits and deal with the part right in front of my face.
Right now is a difficult time, but I know it's only temporary, that the pain of losing my grandmother will ease, that life will move forward, and is right now even if it doesn't feel that way.
Hope you have a good weekend and nice Easter if you celebrate that.
Thursday, April 07, 2011
Love this house!
While perusing listings for houses in Coral Springs, I found a house I'm totally in love with. But like internet dating, the real thing may or may not turn out to be what I think it is on the internet. But still, it's love - for now. If I show you a picture on the interior (which is more "interior desecration" than "interior decoration") you'll think I've taken leave of my senses. So I'll show you why I love the house - the tiki bar. Love it! Who needs to go to a fancy resort in Mexico when you can walk out your back door to this? As for the interior, I present the kitchen.
Nothing 5 gallons of Kilz and some paint won't cure!
Monday, April 04, 2011
Friday, April 01, 2011
Stuff House goes on the market Monday. So glad this is nearly done. Now to keep it perfect looking! Our trip to Florida was heinous. The first bit was fine – we looked at houses (found one we liked), looked at schools (they were all good), and then the plan was to drive to St. Pete & have dinner with my stepbrother, then on to Tampa where I’d be dropped off at the airport Tuesday morning to come back to work and mom & boy would continue their vacation. Except they got horrible food poisoning and there was no way I could leave them and no way they could travel Tuesday. So I skipped the flight, cancelled 2 hotel reservations and booked us into a place in St. Pete for 2 nights. It was awful – my mom especially was just miserably sick. So that totally sucked. My grandma has quit eating, so she’s going downhill pretty quickly now. I bought a BlendTec blender at Costco while I was in Florida. My precious.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
And I am spent!
The real estate ladies came and took measurements and photos for the house listing, which goes up next Friday. Poor puppies will be losing their dog door.
I woke up at 4:15 and Jordan was MIA. Turns out she was in the boy's room. Door closed, it was quite warm, plus the light & tv on. She was sitting there alertly watching a P90X infomercial, while he slept the sleep of the dead (and teenagers). Couldn't get back to sleep, so I sat up & read, then got ready for work, packed hub's lunch, and made his breakfast.
I'm hoping that good soaking rain we had last night will green up the yard. I can't believe I just typed that!
So, last night I am watching a Jon Pertwee Dr Who (he was prior to Tom Baker). I really like him a lot. The episode I am watching is called "Dr Who and the Silurians." There was an episode in the last season of the most recent Dr ("The Hungry Earth") that I swear is simply a remake, with a few minor tweaks. Not even a sequel or prequel! I angrily asked hub "Don't they think anyone watches the old Dr Whos?". to which he replied "No." Well, I do and don't steal old storylines - make up your own! Slackers.
MIL has filled out a form to get on the waiting list for some subsidized HUD senior housing up in Maryland. Not sure how long the waiting list is, but she will become BIL & SIL's problemo. Frankly, her health is going downill faster than Guns n Roses career, so she'll most likely be in a nursing home within the next 2-5 years. I feel badly for her, but at the same time she brings so much of it on herself and hurts so many others in the process I feel more anger than sympathy.
Well, that's about all I got.
The real estate ladies came and took measurements and photos for the house listing, which goes up next Friday. Poor puppies will be losing their dog door.
I woke up at 4:15 and Jordan was MIA. Turns out she was in the boy's room. Door closed, it was quite warm, plus the light & tv on. She was sitting there alertly watching a P90X infomercial, while he slept the sleep of the dead (and teenagers). Couldn't get back to sleep, so I sat up & read, then got ready for work, packed hub's lunch, and made his breakfast.
I'm hoping that good soaking rain we had last night will green up the yard. I can't believe I just typed that!
So, last night I am watching a Jon Pertwee Dr Who (he was prior to Tom Baker). I really like him a lot. The episode I am watching is called "Dr Who and the Silurians." There was an episode in the last season of the most recent Dr ("The Hungry Earth") that I swear is simply a remake, with a few minor tweaks. Not even a sequel or prequel! I angrily asked hub "Don't they think anyone watches the old Dr Whos?". to which he replied "No." Well, I do and don't steal old storylines - make up your own! Slackers.
MIL has filled out a form to get on the waiting list for some subsidized HUD senior housing up in Maryland. Not sure how long the waiting list is, but she will become BIL & SIL's problemo. Frankly, her health is going downill faster than Guns n Roses career, so she'll most likely be in a nursing home within the next 2-5 years. I feel badly for her, but at the same time she brings so much of it on herself and hurts so many others in the process I feel more anger than sympathy.
Well, that's about all I got.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Know Your State Mottos!
Alabama
Hell Yes, We Have Electricity!
Alaska
11,623 Eskimos Can't Be Wrong!
Arizona
But It's A Dry Heat.
Arkansas
Literacy Ain't Everything.
California
By 30, Our Women Have More Plastic Than Your Honda.
Colorado
If You Don't Ski, Don't Bother.
Connecticut
Like Massachusetts, Only The Kennedys Don't Own It Yet.
Delaware
We Really Do Like The Chemicals In Our Water.
Florida
Ask Us About Our Grandkids, And Our Voting Skills.
Georgia
We Put The Fun In Fundamentalist Extremism.
Hawaii
Haka Tiki Mou Sha'ami Leeki Toru
(Death To Mainland Scum, Leave Your Money)
Idaho
More Than Just Potatoes...
Well, Okay, We're Not, But The Potatoes Sure Are Real Good
Illinois
Please, Don't Pronounce the "S"
Indiana
2 Billion Years Tidal Wave Free
Iowa
We Do Amazing Things With Corn
Kansas
First Of The Rectangle States
Kentucky
Five Million People; Fifteen Last Names
Louisiana
We're Not ALL Drunk Cajun Wackos,
But That's Our Tourism Campaign.
Maine
We're Really Cold, But We Have Cheap Lobster
Maryland
If You Can Dream It, We Can Tax It
Massachusetts
Our Taxes Are Lower Than Sweden's
And Our Senators Are More Corrupt!
Michigan
First Line Of Defense From The Canadians
Minnesota
10,000 Lakes... And 10,000,000,000,000 Mosquitoes
Mississippi
Come And Feel Better About Your Own State
Missouri
Your Federal Flood Relief Tax Dollars At Work
Montana
Land Of The Big Sky, The Unabomber, Right-wing Crazies,
and Honest Elections!
Nebraska
Ask About Our State Motto Contest
Nevada
Hookers and Poker!
New Hampshire
Go Away And Leave Us Alone
New Jersey
You Want A Motto?
I Got Yer Motto Right Here!
New Mexico
Lizards Make Excellent Pets
New York
You Have The Right To Remain Silent,
You Have The Right To An Attorney...
And No Right To Self Defense!
North Carolina
Tobacco Is A Vegetable
North Dakota
We Really Are One Of The 50 States!
Ohio
At Least We're Not Michigan
Oklahoma
Like The Play, But No Singing
Oregon
Spotted Owl... It's What's For Dinner
Pennsylvania
Cook With Coal
Rhode Island
We're Not REALLY An Island
South Carolina
Remember The Civil War?
Well, We Didn't Actually Surrender Yet
South Dakota
Closer Than North Dakota
Tennessee
Home of the Al Gore Invention Museum.
Texas
Se Hablo Ingles
Utah
Our Jesus Is Better Than Your Jesus
Vermont
Ay, Yep
Virginia
Who Says Government Stiffs And Slackjaw Yokels Don't Mix?
Washington
Our Governor can out-fraud your Governor!!
West Virginia
One Big Happy Family... Really!
Wisconsin
Come Cut The Cheese!
Wyoming
Where Men Are Men... And The Sheep Are Scared
The District of Columbia
The Work-Free Drug Place!
Alabama
Hell Yes, We Have Electricity!
Alaska
11,623 Eskimos Can't Be Wrong!
Arizona
But It's A Dry Heat.
Arkansas
Literacy Ain't Everything.
California
By 30, Our Women Have More Plastic Than Your Honda.
Colorado
If You Don't Ski, Don't Bother.
Connecticut
Like Massachusetts, Only The Kennedys Don't Own It Yet.
Delaware
We Really Do Like The Chemicals In Our Water.
Florida
Ask Us About Our Grandkids, And Our Voting Skills.
Georgia
We Put The Fun In Fundamentalist Extremism.
Hawaii
Haka Tiki Mou Sha'ami Leeki Toru
(Death To Mainland Scum, Leave Your Money)
Idaho
More Than Just Potatoes...
Well, Okay, We're Not, But The Potatoes Sure Are Real Good
Illinois
Please, Don't Pronounce the "S"
Indiana
2 Billion Years Tidal Wave Free
Iowa
We Do Amazing Things With Corn
Kansas
First Of The Rectangle States
Kentucky
Five Million People; Fifteen Last Names
Louisiana
We're Not ALL Drunk Cajun Wackos,
But That's Our Tourism Campaign.
Maine
We're Really Cold, But We Have Cheap Lobster
Maryland
If You Can Dream It, We Can Tax It
Massachusetts
Our Taxes Are Lower Than Sweden's
And Our Senators Are More Corrupt!
Michigan
First Line Of Defense From The Canadians
Minnesota
10,000 Lakes... And 10,000,000,000,000 Mosquitoes
Mississippi
Come And Feel Better About Your Own State
Missouri
Your Federal Flood Relief Tax Dollars At Work
Montana
Land Of The Big Sky, The Unabomber, Right-wing Crazies,
and Honest Elections!
Nebraska
Ask About Our State Motto Contest
Nevada
Hookers and Poker!
New Hampshire
Go Away And Leave Us Alone
New Jersey
You Want A Motto?
I Got Yer Motto Right Here!
New Mexico
Lizards Make Excellent Pets
New York
You Have The Right To Remain Silent,
You Have The Right To An Attorney...
And No Right To Self Defense!
North Carolina
Tobacco Is A Vegetable
North Dakota
We Really Are One Of The 50 States!
Ohio
At Least We're Not Michigan
Oklahoma
Like The Play, But No Singing
Oregon
Spotted Owl... It's What's For Dinner
Pennsylvania
Cook With Coal
Rhode Island
We're Not REALLY An Island
South Carolina
Remember The Civil War?
Well, We Didn't Actually Surrender Yet
South Dakota
Closer Than North Dakota
Tennessee
Home of the Al Gore Invention Museum.
Texas
Se Hablo Ingles
Utah
Our Jesus Is Better Than Your Jesus
Vermont
Ay, Yep
Virginia
Who Says Government Stiffs And Slackjaw Yokels Don't Mix?
Washington
Our Governor can out-fraud your Governor!!
West Virginia
One Big Happy Family... Really!
Wisconsin
Come Cut The Cheese!
Wyoming
Where Men Are Men... And The Sheep Are Scared
The District of Columbia
The Work-Free Drug Place!
What’s Up
The house is largely done and the realtor is coming this afternoon. I feel like I just finished a marathon. Still a few small-ish things for hub to do, but we’re pretty much there. I am so tired – I can’t believe I am going to Florida this weekend. Oh, to sit on my sofa with a dog, a glass of iced tea, and a cheesy movie on the sci-fi channel!
It is incredibly difficult to live in a house with no books. I finished 2 I borrowed from the library: Asimov’s “Chronology of the World” which was a hoot. He describes the delay in making Utah a state as being caused by the fact that “the inhabitants chose to practice polygamy rather than adultery.” HA! Very funny, easy, educational read. I also finished “The China Study” - I wish I could buy a copy of that book for all my friends and family. Get thee to the library for it!
I have several books on hold at the library and I’m hoping something will come in before we leave Saturday. At home I have the latest Patricia Briggs book “River Marked”, but hub is reading it. I have the next to latest Elizabeth Moon Paksenarrion book I need to start since the newest one should be arriving next week.
I am currently reading “The Sandbox”, which started as a milblog hosted by Doonsbury creator Gary Trudeau. It is reminding me a lot about my own time in the military – bringing back stuff that has been socked away in the back of my mind for a long time. Like what it’s like to search your car for bombs every time you get in it. Regular people can’t possibly relate to stuff like that.
Oh, I got a promotion at work to Senior Project Manager. Woot!
The boy turned 16 on the 28th of February. It’s amazing how the time has gone, and I’ve been realizing how short the time we have left before he moves out on his own really is. I remember wondering if he would be taking his baby bottle to college – thankfully he isn’t. There were things he did quickly, other stuff slowly. I wondered if I would totally screw him up. Fortunately, the creator made kids awfully tough creatures. I tell him that the other stuff just gives him something to discuss with a therapist when he’s my age. Hee hee hee.
The house is largely done and the realtor is coming this afternoon. I feel like I just finished a marathon. Still a few small-ish things for hub to do, but we’re pretty much there. I am so tired – I can’t believe I am going to Florida this weekend. Oh, to sit on my sofa with a dog, a glass of iced tea, and a cheesy movie on the sci-fi channel!
It is incredibly difficult to live in a house with no books. I finished 2 I borrowed from the library: Asimov’s “Chronology of the World” which was a hoot. He describes the delay in making Utah a state as being caused by the fact that “the inhabitants chose to practice polygamy rather than adultery.” HA! Very funny, easy, educational read. I also finished “The China Study” - I wish I could buy a copy of that book for all my friends and family. Get thee to the library for it!
I have several books on hold at the library and I’m hoping something will come in before we leave Saturday. At home I have the latest Patricia Briggs book “River Marked”, but hub is reading it. I have the next to latest Elizabeth Moon Paksenarrion book I need to start since the newest one should be arriving next week.
I am currently reading “The Sandbox”, which started as a milblog hosted by Doonsbury creator Gary Trudeau. It is reminding me a lot about my own time in the military – bringing back stuff that has been socked away in the back of my mind for a long time. Like what it’s like to search your car for bombs every time you get in it. Regular people can’t possibly relate to stuff like that.
Oh, I got a promotion at work to Senior Project Manager. Woot!
The boy turned 16 on the 28th of February. It’s amazing how the time has gone, and I’ve been realizing how short the time we have left before he moves out on his own really is. I remember wondering if he would be taking his baby bottle to college – thankfully he isn’t. There were things he did quickly, other stuff slowly. I wondered if I would totally screw him up. Fortunately, the creator made kids awfully tough creatures. I tell him that the other stuff just gives him something to discuss with a therapist when he’s my age. Hee hee hee.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
The end is in sight
The realtor is scheduled to come back for another walk through this Sunday. Hub and I both have a few small things to wrap up and the landscaper is supposed to finish today, but the bulk is done.
Let's review the last 6 weeks:
New hardwood in the entrance, living, dining, and kitchen
New carpet in the bedrooms and hallway
Finished remodel of hall bath - painted cabinet, new baseboard
Master bath:
- New tile floor
- Resurfacing of shower and garden tub
- Painted cabinet (professional)
- New counterop and sinks
- New toilet
- New baseboards
Decluttered and staged house
Painted all rooms and closets in house
You see why my back is singing "Ave Maria" and the amount of sleep deprivation I'm experiencing has made life with a newborn look good.
I have lots to write but lack the cognitive function to string much together.
The realtor is scheduled to come back for another walk through this Sunday. Hub and I both have a few small things to wrap up and the landscaper is supposed to finish today, but the bulk is done.
Let's review the last 6 weeks:
New hardwood in the entrance, living, dining, and kitchen
New carpet in the bedrooms and hallway
Finished remodel of hall bath - painted cabinet, new baseboard
Master bath:
- New tile floor
- Resurfacing of shower and garden tub
- Painted cabinet (professional)
- New counterop and sinks
- New toilet
- New baseboards
Decluttered and staged house
Painted all rooms and closets in house
You see why my back is singing "Ave Maria" and the amount of sleep deprivation I'm experiencing has made life with a newborn look good.
I have lots to write but lack the cognitive function to string much together.
Monday, March 07, 2011
Remembering where I was
I had to go back and read my last post because I didn’t remember what was going on when I wrote it. That about sums things up around here. I forgot a co-workers last name. She sits 2 desks down and we’ve worked together for five and a half years. My mind, it has gone missing.
My grandma is in a holding pattern. Hospice recommended she be taken off the antibiotic, the doctor wanted to do another round. Mom had mixed feelings, so agreed to a second round. They did have a care meeting last week and agreed that this would be it. She still has pneumonia after being on the anti-biotic for 2 weeks, so I think this is just postponing things, but what do I know?
My house is a torn up wreck – the carpet people should be there any minute so the bedrooms have been emptied into the front of the house. We painted the guest room and the boy’s room. Priming over the dark grey walls and painting it tan drove home for him (I think) the fact that this is really happening. He had a total meltdown Sunday. I feel so bad for him.
The master bathroom is mostly painted and is looking really nice. It’s starting to come together – there is still a fair bit to be done, but I’m starting to feel the end is in sight.
I am reading Asimov’s “Chronology of the World” which is an uber condensed history of the world. But since it’s Asimov, the writing is so well done and entertaining that reading it is a pleasure.
I made myself a juice this morning and put too big a piece of ginger in the juicer and man was that a wake me up!!! It did leave me feeling much more energetic. Jack LaLane knew what he was talking about with the whole juice thing.
I had to go back and read my last post because I didn’t remember what was going on when I wrote it. That about sums things up around here. I forgot a co-workers last name. She sits 2 desks down and we’ve worked together for five and a half years. My mind, it has gone missing.
My grandma is in a holding pattern. Hospice recommended she be taken off the antibiotic, the doctor wanted to do another round. Mom had mixed feelings, so agreed to a second round. They did have a care meeting last week and agreed that this would be it. She still has pneumonia after being on the anti-biotic for 2 weeks, so I think this is just postponing things, but what do I know?
My house is a torn up wreck – the carpet people should be there any minute so the bedrooms have been emptied into the front of the house. We painted the guest room and the boy’s room. Priming over the dark grey walls and painting it tan drove home for him (I think) the fact that this is really happening. He had a total meltdown Sunday. I feel so bad for him.
The master bathroom is mostly painted and is looking really nice. It’s starting to come together – there is still a fair bit to be done, but I’m starting to feel the end is in sight.
I am reading Asimov’s “Chronology of the World” which is an uber condensed history of the world. But since it’s Asimov, the writing is so well done and entertaining that reading it is a pleasure.
I made myself a juice this morning and put too big a piece of ginger in the juicer and man was that a wake me up!!! It did leave me feeling much more energetic. Jack LaLane knew what he was talking about with the whole juice thing.
Tuesday, March 01, 2011
Tuesday
We are making another trip back to Coral Springs later this month to look at the high schools and houses. Let's just say that after having to call 4 high schools, I know why some of these folks work for the state cause I can't imagine any company hiring them. "Genuine Soviet service" should be the Broward county school district motto.
My grandmother is on Hospice. We are going to visit this afternoon for what will likely be the last time.
We are making another trip back to Coral Springs later this month to look at the high schools and houses. Let's just say that after having to call 4 high schools, I know why some of these folks work for the state cause I can't imagine any company hiring them. "Genuine Soviet service" should be the Broward county school district motto.
My grandmother is on Hospice. We are going to visit this afternoon for what will likely be the last time.
Monday, February 28, 2011
What’s new
We are planning a second trip to FTL over spring break to look at the Coral Springs high schools as well as drive around more neighborhoods there since that is now where our school/house search is focused.
Things at our house are coming along. The master bath is tiled and next week will see the back half of the house re-carpeted and the kitchen cabinets repainted. Calgon will be able to take me away again very soon! Also, we’re getting a couple of estimates on landscaping work this week. Target date for completion is 19 March.
Today is a certain somebody’s 16th birthday. Sadly, no license for him since you now have to wait a minimum of 12 months after getting your permit, which he didn’t do until April. We’re going out for a family dinner at his favorite Mexican restaurant.
My grandmother has pneumonia. I hope it’s her time – it’s been nearly a decade since she knew any of us, and years since she’s carried on a conversation or been able to walk. I know she’s been ready.
We are planning a second trip to FTL over spring break to look at the Coral Springs high schools as well as drive around more neighborhoods there since that is now where our school/house search is focused.
Things at our house are coming along. The master bath is tiled and next week will see the back half of the house re-carpeted and the kitchen cabinets repainted. Calgon will be able to take me away again very soon! Also, we’re getting a couple of estimates on landscaping work this week. Target date for completion is 19 March.
Today is a certain somebody’s 16th birthday. Sadly, no license for him since you now have to wait a minimum of 12 months after getting your permit, which he didn’t do until April. We’re going out for a family dinner at his favorite Mexican restaurant.
My grandmother has pneumonia. I hope it’s her time – it’s been nearly a decade since she knew any of us, and years since she’s carried on a conversation or been able to walk. I know she’s been ready.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Spinning head
So, we made it back from our trip safely. It was truly an eye opening experience, in a mixed way. The schools were a pleasant surprise and the boy was very impressed. One school was clearly not an option, but the other 2 looked great. So I feel a lot better knowing that we’ll be able to get him into a really good high school. Then we looked at houses.
What a shock. Sure, the housing market in south Florida may have fallen 50%, but they are still priced higher than here. A lot higher. What that means in practical terms is that 1) we’re looking a little farther out than originally planned and 2) we’ll have to look hard and weigh priorities carefully. We’ll be able to find a house, but compromises will need to be made in terms of space in the house and/ or yard, age of house, etc. But the 2 cities I thought I wanted to look at were immediately taken off the table as options – we simply can’t afford either one. I mean, we can certainly find a house – just not one that we’d live in that’s also in a neighborhood we’d live in.
I posted for my job yesterday. That’s just a formality and once the paperwork is done the process begins. We can move whenever we’re ready, as long as it’s before the end of the year!! Since school registration is going on now and school starts mid August, the clock is ticking. We need to get there as soon as possible to get school registration taken care of. The house goes on the market 1 April. As of now, we are not planning to go to Pennsic. I just don’t see the logistics working out. Needless to say, everyone is majorly disappointed by that.
Anyway, still here, bumbling along.
So, we made it back from our trip safely. It was truly an eye opening experience, in a mixed way. The schools were a pleasant surprise and the boy was very impressed. One school was clearly not an option, but the other 2 looked great. So I feel a lot better knowing that we’ll be able to get him into a really good high school. Then we looked at houses.
What a shock. Sure, the housing market in south Florida may have fallen 50%, but they are still priced higher than here. A lot higher. What that means in practical terms is that 1) we’re looking a little farther out than originally planned and 2) we’ll have to look hard and weigh priorities carefully. We’ll be able to find a house, but compromises will need to be made in terms of space in the house and/ or yard, age of house, etc. But the 2 cities I thought I wanted to look at were immediately taken off the table as options – we simply can’t afford either one. I mean, we can certainly find a house – just not one that we’d live in that’s also in a neighborhood we’d live in.
I posted for my job yesterday. That’s just a formality and once the paperwork is done the process begins. We can move whenever we’re ready, as long as it’s before the end of the year!! Since school registration is going on now and school starts mid August, the clock is ticking. We need to get there as soon as possible to get school registration taken care of. The house goes on the market 1 April. As of now, we are not planning to go to Pennsic. I just don’t see the logistics working out. Needless to say, everyone is majorly disappointed by that.
Anyway, still here, bumbling along.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Laughter is the best medicine
I’ve been so stressed out lately that it’s a wonder my head hasn’t exploded. Driving home from work yesterday I was talking to my mom about how much we have to get done around the house to get it ready to go on the market and how little time we have and how my husband doesn’t seem to understand how little time we have left. I decided that after dinner we really needed to sit down with a calendar and a list of what needed to be done and work on a schedule.
Then I got home and realized I was dealing with Captain Cranky Pants and quickly changed my plans. I know he’s dealing with a lot – we all are. Once Obstinate Boy got home I gave him permission to go to the mall with a friend to get new shoes. Then I made my husband sit down, drink a couple of beers (over the course of the evening), and watch a funny movie. We watched “Step Brothers” with Will Farrell, which is stupid but really funny if you happen to like his brand of humor. So I think it helped both of us to sit down & laugh together. There hasn’t been much of that around our house lately.
Between everything that has to be done and how much it’s all costing, we’ve all been on edge. There’s just so much uncertainty it’s hard not to be. But it was nice to sit down, laugh, and remember that life is good even when it’s tough.
I’ve been so stressed out lately that it’s a wonder my head hasn’t exploded. Driving home from work yesterday I was talking to my mom about how much we have to get done around the house to get it ready to go on the market and how little time we have and how my husband doesn’t seem to understand how little time we have left. I decided that after dinner we really needed to sit down with a calendar and a list of what needed to be done and work on a schedule.
Then I got home and realized I was dealing with Captain Cranky Pants and quickly changed my plans. I know he’s dealing with a lot – we all are. Once Obstinate Boy got home I gave him permission to go to the mall with a friend to get new shoes. Then I made my husband sit down, drink a couple of beers (over the course of the evening), and watch a funny movie. We watched “Step Brothers” with Will Farrell, which is stupid but really funny if you happen to like his brand of humor. So I think it helped both of us to sit down & laugh together. There hasn’t been much of that around our house lately.
Between everything that has to be done and how much it’s all costing, we’ve all been on edge. There’s just so much uncertainty it’s hard not to be. But it was nice to sit down, laugh, and remember that life is good even when it’s tough.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Where I've been, what I've been doing
Let's see.... Home improvement continues, with the kitchen mostly put back together and the back of the house largely decluttered. Hopefully this weekend will see the floor finished and the front of the house completely put back in order.
Looking at houses and schools in Ft. Lauderdale in prep for our trip on thursday. Dealing with a realtor who doesn't seem to be listening. Not impressed so far. I'll meet with her, but I don't see us working with her for the actual purchase unless she totally wows me in person.
We've all had the flu. I'm doing better but still have a persistent cough. I can't imagine why my immune system would be depressed.
Right now I don't feel like I'm dealing with this stuff very well - I'm tired, overwhelmed, and tired.
I know it's not the end of the world or anything, but honestly for me to have my house as torn up as it is now is a huge source of stress. I am way to organized and OCD to deal with anarchy very well.
But... that's life. :-) Hope you have a good day!
Let's see.... Home improvement continues, with the kitchen mostly put back together and the back of the house largely decluttered. Hopefully this weekend will see the floor finished and the front of the house completely put back in order.
Looking at houses and schools in Ft. Lauderdale in prep for our trip on thursday. Dealing with a realtor who doesn't seem to be listening. Not impressed so far. I'll meet with her, but I don't see us working with her for the actual purchase unless she totally wows me in person.
We've all had the flu. I'm doing better but still have a persistent cough. I can't imagine why my immune system would be depressed.
Right now I don't feel like I'm dealing with this stuff very well - I'm tired, overwhelmed, and tired.
I know it's not the end of the world or anything, but honestly for me to have my house as torn up as it is now is a huge source of stress. I am way to organized and OCD to deal with anarchy very well.
But... that's life. :-) Hope you have a good day!
Wednesday, February 09, 2011
Update
I'm still alive. Today will be my first full day at work since Thursday. I'm feeling better, but still tired.
House is slowly coming back together. Hub got a lot accomplished over the weekend - I did not.
We are heading to Fla next week to look at schools and houses.
Weight is the same. Hopefully I'll be up to exercising again in the next couple of days.
I'm still alive. Today will be my first full day at work since Thursday. I'm feeling better, but still tired.
House is slowly coming back together. Hub got a lot accomplished over the weekend - I did not.
We are heading to Fla next week to look at schools and houses.
Weight is the same. Hopefully I'll be up to exercising again in the next couple of days.
Tuesday, February 08, 2011
Sick
I have been sick since Friday with the nasty fever cold nasty hanging on cough things that is going around. I'm sure my stress levels + tiredness have contributed to a depressed immune system.
Anyway, I cam in for part of the day today because I had something I had to get done for my boss. Then I'm filling a prescription and heading home.
I have been sick since Friday with the nasty fever cold nasty hanging on cough things that is going around. I'm sure my stress levels + tiredness have contributed to a depressed immune system.
Anyway, I cam in for part of the day today because I had something I had to get done for my boss. Then I'm filling a prescription and heading home.
Wednesday, February 02, 2011
Quick check-in
Yesterday afternoon I went to the work gym with Lisa and did a tough 30 minute workout on the elliptical. She is getting married in May and wants to make sure she can fit in her wedding dress, so she is looking for a workout buddy and some accountability. Works out perfect for me!
I am working at home today (having someone come & do some work on the siding & cleaning the gutters) so I won't make yoga at lunch or the gym with Lisa. However, I have cleaned out enough stuff in my bedroom that I have room to do weights & exercises, so that's my plan for today.
Last night's dinner was white bean soup from the freezer with a big salad. I have stuff for the crockpot tomorrow and another thing of soup for Friday. The kitchen should be back online Saturday night, but I may do another crockpot meal just to be safe. I love my crockpot.
I got on the scale again this morning. Last week I asked Allan to assume I was the same as the week before (for the purposes of his weight loss challenge) because I couldn't find my scale and just didn't know. Yesterday I was a pound higher than that and this morning I was down to that weight. So, I've stayed the same for a week and a half. While this is hardly the intent of a weight LOSS challenge, I'm glad I'm not heading in the wrong direction!
I cleared a small workspace in the kitchen last night, so that's helpful. Honestly, I look around this house and I feel like I have so much work to do, it gets a bit overwhelming.
Have a good day.
Yesterday afternoon I went to the work gym with Lisa and did a tough 30 minute workout on the elliptical. She is getting married in May and wants to make sure she can fit in her wedding dress, so she is looking for a workout buddy and some accountability. Works out perfect for me!
I am working at home today (having someone come & do some work on the siding & cleaning the gutters) so I won't make yoga at lunch or the gym with Lisa. However, I have cleaned out enough stuff in my bedroom that I have room to do weights & exercises, so that's my plan for today.
Last night's dinner was white bean soup from the freezer with a big salad. I have stuff for the crockpot tomorrow and another thing of soup for Friday. The kitchen should be back online Saturday night, but I may do another crockpot meal just to be safe. I love my crockpot.
I got on the scale again this morning. Last week I asked Allan to assume I was the same as the week before (for the purposes of his weight loss challenge) because I couldn't find my scale and just didn't know. Yesterday I was a pound higher than that and this morning I was down to that weight. So, I've stayed the same for a week and a half. While this is hardly the intent of a weight LOSS challenge, I'm glad I'm not heading in the wrong direction!
I cleared a small workspace in the kitchen last night, so that's helpful. Honestly, I look around this house and I feel like I have so much work to do, it gets a bit overwhelming.
Have a good day.
Tuesday, February 01, 2011
The daily report
I went yesterday afternoon to the gym with my co-worker. I thanked her for inviting me and I intend to invite her today. While lunchtime yoga was not at relaxing as it normally is (it's very difficult to quiet my brain these days), it felt good to go and stretch and be quiet for an hour.
Dinner last night was salad and a baked spagetti that my mom brought over. The kitchen is still offline and will be for a while. Tonight hub needs to do siding. When he replaced the french doors last week, we discovered that the old ones weren't a standard size - they were larger. So the new openings needed to be smaller, which means that on the outside of the house we now have an outline around the door frames where the Tyvek is exposed and there is no siding. So the siding on both those walls needs to be replaced. Neither wall is big - thankfully it's a strange little L shaped "indention" in the footprint of the house around where the deck is. I think both walls are maybe 10 feet long. Nevertheless, we may get rain tomorrow so this is priority 1, with getting the kitchen up and running relegated to priority 2. We won't discuss the master bath as I would cry.
The plan for dinner tonight is a salad (a bit of a challenge since I have no work surface cleared to actually do any food prep!) and either leftover casserole or a container of vegetable soup from the freezer, with bread for the guys. Thankfully, the microwave is still accessible.
The guys moved a bunch of stuff out of the master bedroom and into the storage unit last night - I found my scale! I got on it this morning and I gained a pound last week. Not happy about that, but now at least I know so I can move forward.
Breakfast today was a veggie omelet. Snacks are 1) almonds & prunes and 2) 2 clementines. Lunch is a frozen Amy's organic tv dinner and dinner I already discussed. After work I need to pick up some more fresh fruit.
I plan to work out at the office gym today. There is water aerobics and spin at the gym tonight but this is the month that they are remodeling the women's locker room, so last week I had to empty my locker at the Y. I think the contents are in a grocery bag, but their precise location is currently unknown. So my swim suit and spin shorts are MIA.
Co-workers who have lived there keep telling me the schools in Ft. Lauderdale are terrible. Hopefully I can get some more specific information from a real estate agent when they are onsite this week. That is my current HUGE stress point about this move. I don't want my son in a bad school - even if it's only for 2 years.
Hub's stress point is how much work he has to get done to get the house ready to be put up for sale. I jokingly told him that the month of February should be subtitled "28 days of hell" since our goal is to have the house 99% ready to go at that point. I feel like mid-March is the absolute latest we can get it on the market if we want to get it sold.
Okay, enough whining! Have a good day.
I went yesterday afternoon to the gym with my co-worker. I thanked her for inviting me and I intend to invite her today. While lunchtime yoga was not at relaxing as it normally is (it's very difficult to quiet my brain these days), it felt good to go and stretch and be quiet for an hour.
Dinner last night was salad and a baked spagetti that my mom brought over. The kitchen is still offline and will be for a while. Tonight hub needs to do siding. When he replaced the french doors last week, we discovered that the old ones weren't a standard size - they were larger. So the new openings needed to be smaller, which means that on the outside of the house we now have an outline around the door frames where the Tyvek is exposed and there is no siding. So the siding on both those walls needs to be replaced. Neither wall is big - thankfully it's a strange little L shaped "indention" in the footprint of the house around where the deck is. I think both walls are maybe 10 feet long. Nevertheless, we may get rain tomorrow so this is priority 1, with getting the kitchen up and running relegated to priority 2. We won't discuss the master bath as I would cry.
The plan for dinner tonight is a salad (a bit of a challenge since I have no work surface cleared to actually do any food prep!) and either leftover casserole or a container of vegetable soup from the freezer, with bread for the guys. Thankfully, the microwave is still accessible.
The guys moved a bunch of stuff out of the master bedroom and into the storage unit last night - I found my scale! I got on it this morning and I gained a pound last week. Not happy about that, but now at least I know so I can move forward.
Breakfast today was a veggie omelet. Snacks are 1) almonds & prunes and 2) 2 clementines. Lunch is a frozen Amy's organic tv dinner and dinner I already discussed. After work I need to pick up some more fresh fruit.
I plan to work out at the office gym today. There is water aerobics and spin at the gym tonight but this is the month that they are remodeling the women's locker room, so last week I had to empty my locker at the Y. I think the contents are in a grocery bag, but their precise location is currently unknown. So my swim suit and spin shorts are MIA.
Co-workers who have lived there keep telling me the schools in Ft. Lauderdale are terrible. Hopefully I can get some more specific information from a real estate agent when they are onsite this week. That is my current HUGE stress point about this move. I don't want my son in a bad school - even if it's only for 2 years.
Hub's stress point is how much work he has to get done to get the house ready to be put up for sale. I jokingly told him that the month of February should be subtitled "28 days of hell" since our goal is to have the house 99% ready to go at that point. I feel like mid-March is the absolute latest we can get it on the market if we want to get it sold.
Okay, enough whining! Have a good day.
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