Fire Up for Fall - the Finale (late!)

Crazy busy this week - so this will be quick.  I'm at work since I won't have time to do it at home!

I probably mentioned that the girl is dancing at the Detroit Lions half-time show at the Thanksgiving day game with Nickleback.  Anyway.  as soon as I get home, I have tot turn right around and take her to Ford Field to practice.  It was like that last night (which included a non-scenic drive home, because I made a wrong turn and we ended up driving thru a really, really bad part of Detroit - with 2 teenage girls in the car - to get home!!) will be like that tonight and will be even longer for dress rehearsal tomorrow. 

OK, in a nutshell - Lousy.   This has been the craziest fall of my entire life! 

Loss on the scale?  hit or miss.  a couple small losses and a huge gain and another decent loss.

Get out the Wii?  Well, I did get it out one day.  And luckily the snnoying little Wii person was more ga-ga about it being my 300th day than the fact it had been 30+ days since I'd been on it!

Get out walking?  Some, but not as much as I wanted.

Cider & donuts?  Once we got past Halloween - awesome! 

New recipe?  Sadly, none at all. 

Well, at least I pretty much maintained & not gained!

Here is my positive pic. 

This is the majority of the girls from our studio at Ford Field last night. 

Angel is the blonde right in the middle, leaning forward.

This is a close up of the shirts they're wearing.

And then I forgot!

Yeah, I forgot to post about my weigh in.  It's been crazy for a while & next week will be again!

Thursday was just crazy.  My last post explained that one.  Friday morning, Randy finally got on the road for Arkansas.  The girl & I didn't do a whole lot.  We watched a movie & vegged.  Saturday I went to another craft show with Mom & the sisters.  Then as soon as I got home, I had to get Angel from dance and then meet at the high school to help carpool the JV dance team to another school to watch the Varsity team compete and also get a peek at the teams they'll be competing against.  That was pretty interesting.  But it was pretty late when we got home.  Today we went to see Breaking Dawn and then to get an oil change in the car and to go grocery shopping for Thanksgiving, since I won't have time the rest of the week!

I made the mistake of signing up with the girl to be part of the Detroit Lions Half-Time show on Thanksgiving.  I call it a mistake because we have to be there both Monday & Tuesday from 5-9 PM for rehearsal and then 3-9 for dress rehearsal on Wednesday!   I literally will get home from work, change, grab the cooler & have to leave again.  It takes about 45 minutes to an hour to get to Ford Field from my house.  She, along with probably 10 other girls from their studio and 100 or so kids from other studios will be dancing on the field while Nickleback does their thing.

I will be in "the Mosh Pit" with an unknown number of other adults. It's not going to be the head-banging, body-slamming, crowd-surfing chaotic mess that those words bring to mind.....2 years ago at the Thanksgiving Motown Tribute it was located in one section of the bleachers behind a small stage, so when the TV cameras zoomed in on the stage, you can see the people in the Pit doing the same hand motions as the kids on the field.  It looked quite awesome.

So anyway, on Thanksgiving Day, my sister Linda is coming by early to get pick up my contributions to the feast to take to sister Laurie's house where we will probably stay until Saturday morning or so.  We have to pile on buses and leave Ford Field as soon as the half-time show is over, so we probably won't even get to Laurie's until 4ish or so.  I guess that's good that it will cut down on the snacking!

So yeah.  I still have Halloween gels things on my windows and a pile of laundry to fold, but it's all going to have to wait!

So anyway, I lost 2.4 lbs of the 3 I gained last week.  Yay!  That is a step in the right direction!  And everyone loved my little quilted pocket guide cover!  I really need to get back to staying for the meetings.  It just is so convenient to pick the girl up from ballet and go straight to WI, then home - using her as my excuse not to stay for the meeting.  It's really not out of the way to take her home first.  It's just an excuse.  I am just so tired right now that I don't even really care what I do over Thanksgiving.  I promise I won't be a total glutton!

So I probably won't get to post any until next weekend, so HAPPY THANKSGIVING !!!!

RIP Skeeter, my sweet baby boy.

 I'll post about my weigh in & stuff later.  I'm too upset right now.

Today was a really sad day.  I got the worst call ever from the vet.  Skeeter didn't make it through the night.

~sniff~

Let me back up.  Tuesday evening, he was acting a bit off.  Like he was concerned about something.  He was normally fairly talkative, but he was making loud, odd-sounding howls.  I didn't know what to think, so I spent more time with him and he seemed OK.

Wednesday, he was very lethargic and zombie-ish.  He acted like his tummy hurt.  I checked all my houseplants and none of them looked freshly chewed - heck even if they were - I'd suspect Chester, not Skeet!  I checked the ribbons on the balloon Angel still has floating around her room, since he has been known to chew on those.  Nope.  Still neatly cut.   He came when I called him (slowly) and I lifted him up on the couch next to me to watch the Wings game.  He literally didn't move.  Not even the end of his tail.  I just sat & petted him until I went to bed.  I left him on the couch since he seemed comfortable.

Thursday he seemed a bit perkier, but I still called the vet and got him an early appointment.  She wanted to keep him for x-rays and to take some blood for tests.  OK.  She called me later in the afternoon and said he wasn't happy with them (he never was!) and they could only get a tiny blood sample and the x-rays showed a blockage in his urinary tract.  Poor guy couldn't pee!  No wonder he hurt!  So she catheterized him and flushed his bladder with saline and then was going to put him on fluids and something to reduce the inflammation in that area.  She also said she was going to give him a little something to calm him down so he could rest and relax and that she'd call me in the morning.

So when she called me this morning, she told me that they ran the most important tests on the small blood sample they got & the levels of these certain chemicals (I forget the 3 she rattled off ) were so high, they were off the scale.  And that's when she dropped the news on me.

She said cats tends to hide when they are in pain, so he may have been hurting for a while and it just got to be too much, so that's when he started talking more.  Apparently the sedative was enough to help him go peacefully.

Randy was supposed to leave for Arkansas today.  So he was still home when I called him.  He went to the vet to get Skeeter, since I sure didn't want him cremated. I was still at work and for once, the office grapevine worked in my benefit.  Geri apparently heard me say "Oh No" and saw me grab a box of Kleenex and run out onto the dock.  She in turn told my boss, who was waiting inside the door when I went back inside.  I told her what happened & she told me to go home if I needed to.  So I did.

Randy had him in the garage when I got home.  He was still in the crate, wrapped up in a blue cloth that had a piece of tape with his name and hearts drawn on it.  We chose a nice spot in the back yard for his final resting spot.  He's under some pine trees and nothing will grow there, so I plan to find a nice statue or stone to put his name on.   We got the area dug out, then waited for Angel to get home from school.  She had a half day today, so we didn't have to wait long.

I admit to be mildly creeped out.  So was Randy.  He brought him out of the garage and handed him to me to wrap in one of my old shirts before putting him in his grave.  I really wasn't expecting him to still be warm!  I was expecting cold & stiff.  Randy said he swore he felt him purr.

I'm really gonna miss my baby.  He just turned 11 in July.  I was expecting to have a few more years with him.  Randy was really tore up, too.  When we came in after the burial and all 3 of us were sitting on the bed, Chester & Maggie both got on the bed with us.  I think Chester is wondering where he is, too.

 It's sad, but I know he's probably up in Heaven, laying on my dad's lap already.  He's hopefully comfortable and safe and I really need to get some tissue!!!

Fire Up for Fall - week 9

I went to a craft show with my Mom & sisters yesterday - this was one of the two that we go to every year.  Even tho I prefer Halloween, I still find myself excited about going to "Christmas in Clawson" and "Santa's Craft Castle" every year.  It's just a nice day with the "girls" and we have a good time. 

And of course when I got out of bed yesterday, my knee was bothering me.  It's hasn't hurt for weeks and the day I plan to do a lot of walking - it acts up.  But I made it OK.   I found a couple neat things and got some ideas for both Christmas and Halloween 2012. 

Today has been spent putting the last of the Halloween stuff away.  I get the outdoor stuff put away on November 1, but the inside stuff I leave out longer to enjoy.  Randy has been outside mulching the leaves that actually fell before Thanksgiving this year, cleaning out gutters and putting away patio furniture.  The neighbors probably think its weird to see him out working in the yard instead of me! 

Oh yeah - and my eating has been - eh.  I have gotten into the snacks a bit much.  I admit.  The girl finally realized there was a small jar full of candy corn on the shelf and some of them may have found their way into my tummy.   Same with the cookies.  Damn them!

So anyway.... here we go into week 9!  As usual I will be linking back to Rebecca's  site to join in the fun.

1. What have you done this week towards your goals? 

Loss on scale?  Ugh.  I don't even want to talk about the 3 lb gain this week!

Get out the Wii? Nope!

Get out walking? YES!  I couldn't stand the thought of wasting these last nice days, so the dog & I went around the park. I wish I would have went more times, tho.

Cider & donuts? None!

New recipe? Nope!

2. What have you done to make yourself feel fabulous?  Went & had an annual physical & female exam.  Was told everything looked OK! 
3. What is the most positive thing you've taken away from this challenge?  That even tho I may mot be staying on plan well or getting results because of that, there are still supportive people out there who are going thru or have gone thru the same issues I am.
4. It's your last week, the run to the finish, what is your priority?  TRACKING!!!
5. Fun Stuff: Desert Island, you can take 1 person, 1 famous person and 3 items besides food and water. Who and What do you take?   I would take my husband.  Famous person would have to be someone cool & interesting like John Wayne (someone not a helpless wuss) - or if they have to actually be alive - someone funny like Bill Engvall.  My 3 things would be a camera with unlimited batteries, something to make fire with and a big box of books.

LOL - I asked Randy (husband) & Angel (daughter) what they'd say about #5.  Randy said he'd take a comedian for his famous person and his 3 things would be a star chart, a full ham radio station and something to build a fire with.   Angel said she'd take one of her friends & Taylor Lautner.  Then a blanket, pillow & clothes.

This is my positive pic.  At the craft show I really wanted to find something to help remind me to do my tracking.  So I found this really neat bracelet.  I love the blue stones on it!  Since I don't normally wear one, the idea is that having it there will remind me to track.  Especially since that is what I bought it to signify.  That's the hope, anyway!  I need to make sure to actually wear it so it will do the reminding!

And the blue "I Can Do It" thingy is a quilted pouch to hold my WW pocket guide.  

Thank You Veterans!!

Oh yeah, and you're welcome!

I do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. 
So help me God.
(US Navy Oath of Enlistment)

 Dad, me, Lee (my adopted sister), my Lieutenant cousin, Mom.
At my bootcamp graduation, May 1992

 Me, Laura & Ginnie.
USS Canopus As-34 (1992 - 1994)

 The USS Abraham Lincoln CVN-72 post office crew
(1994 - 1997)

 Mom, me & F-14 on USS Lincoln flight deck.

October 1995

It was truly an honor and a privilege to have served for 8 years in the Navy.  

I'd do it again in a heartbeat!

Disgusted!

I am so mad at myself right now.  This is the 3rd week in a row that I've had a gain.  

3.0 FLIPPIN' LBS !!!!

Holy crap.   I did OK eating at work this week, since I ate what I packed (due to the massive rut I'm in) but mid-afternoon I start to get hungry.  So as soon as I get home, I'm raiding the cabinets.  I know more than one day this week I've had a bowl of cereal + refills as a snack.  Last weekend was a total bust at the dance convention.  I didn't even try, altho I did take fruit to the hotel with us.  And a 24 pack of water.

I ate a banana. 

Yeah.  One whole piece of fruit over the entire weekend.  Had pizza 2 days.  A bagel & cream cheese from the hotel coffee shop.  Mini muffins & low-fat PopTarts.  Lunch from A&W one day and the hotel buffet the other.  A bottle (yes - the entire bottle!) of chocolate wine with chocolate milk mixed in it.

Need I go on??   A whole lotta crap. 

I haven't even thought about tracking for days!  Totally forgot. 

What the heck can I do to remember to track???  When phone upgrade time rolls around, I want to get one that I can get a WW app on.  But until then (April) I have to fend for myself.  I've heard people mention wearing a charm bracelet.  Since I don't normally have anything on my wrists, that could work.  Then i could get a charm for each milestone when I finally reach them.  Hmm.  Thought to ponder.

I am so hating myself right now.  Plus I feel bloated & gross for some reason.  It's not TOM, and because I knew I was weighing in tonight, I didn't have anything bad.

THEN I'm going in for a physical tomorrow.  Yay.  Another scale to get on! 

Warning...TMI !!   I am going to ask the doc to be put back on the Pill when I go in.  We haven't been "preventing" for over 4 years now.  Obviously there aren't any Love babies in the cards and honestly - I'm 38 and my only child is 14.  As much as I still get the little pang in my chest when I see a baby, I don't really want one.  My body would hurt so badly!!!  Plus, babies are way too high-maintenance for my current level of laziness. Right now, I can leave said child home alone without fear of her burning the house down.  She can fix her own food.  She can (if nagged) do chores.

I'm really trying to convince myself to believe this. 

If it does nothing else (besides what it's supposed to!) it'll get my cycle back regular.  YAY!!!!

Fire Up for Fall - week 8

Happy Monday!

Boy - it was a long weekend !  Miss Angela had to go to the Tremaine Dance Convention for the weekend as a requirement to be on the studio dance team.  They go to classes for hip-hop, jazz, rhythm tap, ballet, contemporary dance and something called Turbo Jazz.  It's actually a fun weekend - the kids dance for hours & the parents who stayed could watch the classes and visit.  The only issue I have is that this is the second year that the hotel scheduled a hockey convention for the same weekend.  Does any one building in the world need that many hormones running around???  1,000 girls, ranging from 6 - 18 years old, most of whom are wearing very skimpy & tight clothing and another 1,000 boys in the same age range.  From all over lower Michigan, Ohio & Ontario.  I may have exaggerated, but there were easily 300-400 girls there.  And for the boys?  I know there were busloads of them showing up!

 But on the plus side....this year they instituted a curfew that no kid could be roaming the hotel after 11 pm without an adult.  YAY!   That sure cut down on the noise and the random knocking on the doors all night (of course it didn't help that most of the studios let the girls decorate their doors - making them obvious targets!)

Needless to say - the food choices weren't the best!  We ate before we left home Friday night, but unless we chose to be up at some insane hour, we had to take food for breakfast.  So I took low-fat PopTarts and packages of muffins - along with bananas and grapes.  I also took a couple bags of Doritos and some trail mix for evening munchies.  Oh, and the bottle of ChocVine (which went down WAY too easy!)  Lunch Saturday was at A&W and Sunday at the hotel buffet.  Dinner Saturday night & Sunday both was pizza. 

So yeah.  Not a good food weekend at all!   However, I did a lot of walking around the hotel.  We shared a room with another Mom & dancer and Laura has a bum knee, so I felt I needed to fetch for her.  She's a friend anyway, so it wasn't a big deal.  And I went swimming, too.  I did way too much sitting tho.

Angel trying to be the sign.

 The tap teacher's shoes.  When she danced - you couldn't help but be hypnotized.

I love that she posed so I could take a pic of her shoes!!

 Angel & friend doing round-offs.

 The hip-hop teacher that all the girls were in love with.

Now... on to business!

 

As usual, I will link back to Rebecca's page after I answer my questions.

 

What have you done this week to achieve your goals? 

Loss on the scale?  Epic Fail!!  I was up 1.2 lbs.  I blame Halloween & TOM.

Get out the Wii?  Another Fail!

Get out walking?  Somewhat.  I did all that walking around the hotel this weekend.  But actually getting outside?  No.

Cider & donuts?  Win!  Actually - I discovered something worse than cider this weekend.  A beverage called Apple Pie.  Consists of apple juice, apple cider, sugar, cinnamon & Everclear.  OMG.  Tastes just like apple pie filling!  I only had a couple glasses, since I had my chocolate wine, too.  It was one of those things that tasted so good that you don't realize just how much alcohol is in it.

New Recipe?  Heck no.  It was a busy week so meals were quick & easy.

What have you done to make yourself feel fabulous? Ummm, nothing really.  I did sit in a jacuzzi tub for a while.  But it loses its enjoyment when you have to share with kids that don't belong to you.

How important is a social life to you? Are you a loner or a butterfly or somewhere in between?  I'm somewhat in between.  I do like to go out once in a while - but am also OK with staying home.   Like Rebecca - my kid is a total social butterfly!!! 

How do you balance life outside your home with healthy living?   I need to work on this one.  Like if we need to stop while out & about - I'll get a grilled chicken sandwich with no mayo and a diet Coke - which is great!  But then I'll eat an order of french fries. 

What do you like to do for fun?  I have a pretty broad range of what I think is fun.  Blogging is fun - so is going horseback riding.  Taking the dog for a walk or watching a Red Wings game.   Exploring creepy old cemeteries. Playing hidden object games on the computer.  Hanging out with friends.  People watching.  Riding on wave runners. 

Positive pic?  I'm just going to use the above pics as my positive images this week.  My daughter has been dancing for 9 years now and is really good - however it leaves me in awe to watch the more advanced dancers who make those insane jumps & turns look so effortless! 

Oh yeah - Laura with the bum knee that I mentioned above?  She's supposed to get a knee replacement probably next summer & we agreed that once she does....she's going to sign up for the adult jazz class at the studio and I'm going to sign up, too!  

Tremaine & Friend Makin' Monday

Happy Monday!

Boy - it was a long weekend !  Miss Angela had to go to the Tremaine Dance Convention for the weekend as a requirement to be on the studio dance team.  They go to classes for hip-hop, jazz, rhythm tap, ballet, contemporary dance and something called Turbo Jazz.  It's actually a fun weekend - the kids dance for hours & the parents who stayed could watch the classes and visit.  The only issue I have is that this is the second year that the hotel scheduled a hockey convention for the same weekend.  Does any one building in the world need that many hormones running around???  1,000 girls, ranging from 6 - 18 years old, most of whom are wearing very skimpy & tight clothing and another 1,000 boys in the same age range.  From all over lower Michigan, Ohio & Ontario.  But on the plus side....this year they instituted a curfew that no kid could be roaming the hotel after 11 pm without an adult.  YAY!   That sure cut down on the noise and the random knocking on the doors all night (of course it didn't help that most of the studios let the girls decorate their doors - making them obvious targets!)

Needless to say - the food choices weren't the best!  We ate before we left home Friday night, but unless we chose to be up at some insane hour, we had to take food for breakfast.  So I took low-fat PopTarts and packages of muffins - along with bananas and grapes.  I also took a couple bags of chips and some trail mix for evening munchies.  Oh, and the bottle of ChocVine (which went down WAY too easy!)  Lunch Saturday was at A&W and Sunday at the hotel buffet.  Dinner Saturday night & Sunday both was pizza. 

So yeah.  Not a good food weekend at all!   However, I did a lot of walking around the hotel.  We shared a room with another Mom & dancer and Laura has a bum knee, so I felt I needed to fetch for her.  She's a friend anyway, so it wasn't a big deal.  And I went swimming, too.  I did way too much sitting tho.

 Angel trying to pose like the sign.

 This was the tap teacher's shoes.  When she danced - they hypnotized you!!

 Angel & friend doing round-offs between classes.

 The hip-hop teacher that all the girls were in love with.

Now - on to business!! 

If you’ve taken part in FMM then you know the rules. If you’re new, please take a moment to answer this week’s question on your own blog then add your link in the comments section at: http://www.alltheweigh.com/2011/11/friend-makin-mondays-dating/www.alltheweigh.com so we can all see your FMM questions and answers. Please invite your blog readers to add their links here too so everyone has to opportunity to be seen. The idea is to connect with other awesome bloggers so take a moment to post your own FMM post and comment on a couple of other posts. Now it’s time for this week’s topic!



FMM: Dating

What is your current relationship status? (Be as specific as you’d like to be!)  happily married.  We dated for a year - lived together for 3 & have been married for 5.  He said he knew almost immediately that I was going to be the one he was going to spend the rest of his life with.  I wasn't as quick.

List a few qualities that you look for in a significant other.  I found this changed as I matured.  In high school, I thought I wanted to marry a 90 year old millionaire & never have kids.  Early 20s - someone who was sexy & fun & looked great in a tight pair of Wranglers (my daughter's dad resembled Tim McGraw - but notice I'm not with him anymore!!!).  After I divorced him - I found that personality and character were most important.  My husband now is a short, chubby, computer geek & I won't trade him for nothing because he treats me & the girl well.

If you could choose to date one character in TV or film, who would you choose?  And which characteristics are most appealing?   Ummm.  Gil Grissom (William Petersen) from CSI.  He was smart & sexy in his own odd way.  He'd be fascinating to talk to .

How long should you date before becoming exclusive?  I guess that would depend on the circumstances.

What are your thoughts on public displays of affection?  I'm all for holding hands and brief smooches. And I've been known to randomly grab Randy's butt as we're walking together.  But when it makes people around you uncomfortable - it's time to get a room!  I think the cutest thing in the world are 2 old people walking along holding hands!

Do you kiss on the first date?  I didn't.  The first several times it a hug before it went further.

Biggest turn-off?  Rudeness & arrogance.

What’s the first thing you notice about the opposite sex?  Eyes.  Arms (I like strong arms!!) and I also have a weird infatuation with backsides.  I like a nice butt, too!

How long do you/did you wait before becoming intimate?  Gosh, I don't really remember.  I know I didn't jump right in the sack with him.    

Describe your dream date.  We do all sorts of stuff together at isn't exactly "normal".  One of our first dates was to go see Monster Jam (monster trucks).  I don't think it has to be a standard dinner & movie.  Just spending time together doing something that you mutually enjoy.  But I should be someplace where you can talk - not a concert or such.

Happy November!

Gosh - I didn't do Fire Up for Fall or Friend Makin' Monday this week!  Well, it was Halloween after all.  I had a half day of work, then spent a quality 45 minutes at my least favorite place on earth - the dentist.  I finally got my darn crown cemented back on.  I really thought it was worse than it was - WHEW!!!

Then I went home & actually relaxed for a while - then as soon as Angel got home from school,  I took her to both Mom's & sister Linda's house to show off her costume.

 Little Red Awesome Hood 

 or...Helga the barmaid?

I wore a black top and skirt with green & black striped socks. 

And (in the words of the dental assistant) rocked the feathers!

Then because of a combination of traffic, Randy having to work late and her friend not knowing how to give directions - Angel stayed home with me for trick-or-treating.  She didn't seem horribly upset about it.  In fact, she was out in the driveway with me the entire time.   I so love to see the kids of all ages dressed up!  

Anyway.  Then the latest drama at the Love Shaque is....

She who is currently in her 9th year of dance / 2nd year of competition.....tripped while walking at school and fell against a wall.  And sprained her wrist.  She called me around lunchtime and sounded like she was fighting tears.  My wonderful, awesome boss (most of the time) didn't hesitate to let me leave.  When I got there, her wrist was all swollen and the bone stuck out kind of funny.  I'd already called the doctor but couldn't get her in for like 2 hours.  So I took her to Wendy's for a Frosty (chocolate makes everything better!! - but I was good & had diet Coke) and then home.  When I took her in - the doc suspected it was sprained, but still sent her for x-rays to make sure.  And it was.  Whew!  So she has to wear the brace for 2-3 weeks while at school & dance, but can take it off at home. 

So back to weigh in tonight......dun dun dun.......+1.2 lbs.  I'm really not surprised, since TOM just ended (which always seems to see a gain) and Halloween.  At least it wasn't a 5 lb gain like a lady had who was in there the same time I was!  She obviously partied harder than I did! However, on Tuesday, I took the day off work and did some shopping (after-H'ween sales!!) and then took my entire yard display down and put it away.  Then I got the front yard mowed until I ran out of daylight.  I finished the backyard while waiting to take Miss Angela to the doc on Wednesday.  So at least I haven't been a total slug! 

My challenge for this weekend is that I'm going to be stuck in a hotel (most likely bored) from Friday night til Sunday afternoon.  Angel's got a dance convention with her studio comp team in Detroit so she'll be busy.  I have an observer band to go in to watch the classes, but that can still get boring after a while.  I plan to take a cooler for water & snacks to keep in the room.  And likely a bottle of chocolate wine to share with the other mom who will be in the room with us.  I already know there will be pizza Saturday night.  Ugh.

Anyway, wish me luck!