I have an interview for a different/better position tomorrow (technically today), and I'm terrified. I usually rock interviews, but this one is so important to me that I'm kind of freaking out. I've been studying the sample questions all night, trying to come up with answers that sound awesome yet unrehearsed.
I'm pretty concerned about my appearance, even though that shouldn't be a factor. I weighed around 290 pounds when I got the job at this company, and I weighed about 320 when I got the promotion to my current position. I'm mostly nervous because I couldn't find a black blazer in my size on short notice, so I'm worried I won't be dressed-up enough. (Again, this is a silly concern; I wore a red blouse and black pants when I interviewed for my current position.)
My company offers really good benefits, and I liked my previous position, so it's really just a matter of this being a horrible fit. My boss thinks the new position would be perfect for me, and it's a LOT less stress. (I've heard that from multiple people in that department.) If I don't get it, I'll just keep applying for other positions as they come up. There are a few other departments that interest me, so all hope is not lost.
I'm still worried, though. I freaking HATE interviews. It's the eye contact that does me in. I never make eye contact with anybody, ever, so it's really hard for me to hold eye contact with someone AND come up with a witty/professional/informative/creative answer to a question.
Thoughts and prayers, please? :)
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Sunday, July 29, 2012
Zoo
Yesterday was Beth's birthday, so we met up with Beth, her husband Tony, her brother Pat, Pat's girlfriend Brittany, and Beth's parents (Debbie and Bob) at 12:00 to do birthday stuff. I had no idea what the plan was for the day, so I just wore a regular shirt, jeans, and flip-flops.
We started off with lunch at Jaspare's Pizza. Then Beth asked if everyone was ready to go to the zoo. I was thrilled about going to the zoo, but I was wearing a slightly heavy shirt and flip-flops. Oops! I figured I'd be okay, though. My flip-flops are really comfortable and squishy.
As soon as we got there, of course, I remembered I had my walking shoes in my car, which meant I could have switched my shoes before we got into Pat and Brittany's car. Oops again!
Everyone in the world was at the zoo that day. It was the first nice Saturday of the summer, about 80 degrees instead of 100 like it's been lately. We had to park a half-mile from the entrance, and then every exhibit was super crowded and packed with screaming kids. The animals were cool, though, and I had a really good time socializing with everyone, but Brent was at his wit's end. He hates crowds, especially when it's a crowd of screaming children. I tried to give him lots of space, especially because if he's in a crappy mood, I start to feel crappy. I didn't want to feel crappy; I wanted to have fun! :) I don't say that to be insensitive; he knows his mood wears off on me, so I think he was giving me space too. He and Tony pretty much hung out together all day talking about computer stuff.
I didn't have my camera with me since I had no idea we were going to the zoo, so we didn't get any pictures of us together like I was hoping. Beth took some pictures of us looking at animals, though.
I'm to the left of Bob (in the yellow shirt). I uploaded this one because it shows off Brent's hair. ;)
Looking at prairie dogs
For $1/leaf, you can buy big pieces of lettuce and feed the giraffes.
It's a really great zoo. A lot of the environments are as natural as they can make them, and there isn't any concrete. All of the paths are dirt/fine gravel with lots of rocks, twigs, and terrain. There's a lot of wild forest growth and a minimum of fences, just enough to keep everyone safe. It's really beautiful.
It's a good two to three-mile walk with hills and such, and it felt good to get exercise. A lot of the animals were hiding because of the heat and noise, but we got to see about 75% of them. Beth said we should go back in the fall when it's cooler and not so crowded (and I'm wearing better shoes). I'm definitely up for that. :) I had some pretty bad blisters from my flip-flops, so walking hurt near the end, but they were much more supportive than I thought they would be. Standing around didn't bother me at all. Usually, my feet are killing me after a half-hour or so.
After the zoo, we decided to take some time to go home, wash up, and cool down before dinner. Brent decided to stay home since he was still stressed from all the people and kids, so I got ready for dinner and met everyone over at Martell's. It's this really nice restaurant in a yuppie apartment/condo community, set back in a pretty wooded area with a pond and stuff. The food was delicious; I'm definitely going to take Brent there for special date nights.
It was only 9:30 when we finished dinner, so we went back to Beth's to hang out and play Trivial Pursuit. We played guys against girls, and the girls won! I got home around 2:00 and passed out almost immediately. I'd had a Grasshopper (delicious alcoholic drink) with dinner plus two allergy pills (Beth and Tony have a cat and a big, yellow lab). Brent was watching a movie in bed. I barely remember talking to him before I passed out. I'm never able to fall asleep with the TV on, but I was DEAD.
All in all, it was a great day with fabulous company and delicious food. :)
We started off with lunch at Jaspare's Pizza. Then Beth asked if everyone was ready to go to the zoo. I was thrilled about going to the zoo, but I was wearing a slightly heavy shirt and flip-flops. Oops! I figured I'd be okay, though. My flip-flops are really comfortable and squishy.
As soon as we got there, of course, I remembered I had my walking shoes in my car, which meant I could have switched my shoes before we got into Pat and Brittany's car. Oops again!
Everyone in the world was at the zoo that day. It was the first nice Saturday of the summer, about 80 degrees instead of 100 like it's been lately. We had to park a half-mile from the entrance, and then every exhibit was super crowded and packed with screaming kids. The animals were cool, though, and I had a really good time socializing with everyone, but Brent was at his wit's end. He hates crowds, especially when it's a crowd of screaming children. I tried to give him lots of space, especially because if he's in a crappy mood, I start to feel crappy. I didn't want to feel crappy; I wanted to have fun! :) I don't say that to be insensitive; he knows his mood wears off on me, so I think he was giving me space too. He and Tony pretty much hung out together all day talking about computer stuff.
I didn't have my camera with me since I had no idea we were going to the zoo, so we didn't get any pictures of us together like I was hoping. Beth took some pictures of us looking at animals, though.
It's a really great zoo. A lot of the environments are as natural as they can make them, and there isn't any concrete. All of the paths are dirt/fine gravel with lots of rocks, twigs, and terrain. There's a lot of wild forest growth and a minimum of fences, just enough to keep everyone safe. It's really beautiful.
It's a good two to three-mile walk with hills and such, and it felt good to get exercise. A lot of the animals were hiding because of the heat and noise, but we got to see about 75% of them. Beth said we should go back in the fall when it's cooler and not so crowded (and I'm wearing better shoes). I'm definitely up for that. :) I had some pretty bad blisters from my flip-flops, so walking hurt near the end, but they were much more supportive than I thought they would be. Standing around didn't bother me at all. Usually, my feet are killing me after a half-hour or so.
After the zoo, we decided to take some time to go home, wash up, and cool down before dinner. Brent decided to stay home since he was still stressed from all the people and kids, so I got ready for dinner and met everyone over at Martell's. It's this really nice restaurant in a yuppie apartment/condo community, set back in a pretty wooded area with a pond and stuff. The food was delicious; I'm definitely going to take Brent there for special date nights.
It was only 9:30 when we finished dinner, so we went back to Beth's to hang out and play Trivial Pursuit. We played guys against girls, and the girls won! I got home around 2:00 and passed out almost immediately. I'd had a Grasshopper (delicious alcoholic drink) with dinner plus two allergy pills (Beth and Tony have a cat and a big, yellow lab). Brent was watching a movie in bed. I barely remember talking to him before I passed out. I'm never able to fall asleep with the TV on, but I was DEAD.
All in all, it was a great day with fabulous company and delicious food. :)
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Oreo Cake
I decided to make this Oreo cake for a birthday party at work tomorrow. Since Brent was so sweet to buy me a present, I made another one just for him. :)
The recipe is:
One package (2-layer size) Devil's Food cake mix
4 squares Baker's semi-sweet chocolate
1/4 cup butter
1 pkg (8 oz) cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup sugar
2 cups thawed Cool Whip - make sure to thaw it in the fridge, not on the counter
12 Oreo cookies, coarsely crushed
Bake the cakes in two 9-inch round pans according to the box directions.
Using a mixer, combine the cream cheese and sugar on low until relatively blended. Gradually add the Cool Whip and Oreos.
Once the cakes are cool, place one cake on a plate and spread the Oreo mixture on top, making sure to spread it evenly and get it relatively level.
Place the second cake on top.
Combine the Baker's chocolate and butter in a small bowl and microwave on high for two minutes. Stir the chocolate and butter until the chocolate is melted and let cool for five minutes. Once it is no longer runny, spread it slowly and evenly over the top of the cake.
Tips:
This recipe makes twice as much filling as you need. I used half and then saved half to make the other cake. The filling is super yummy, though, so you may want to use all of it. Just keep in mind that's going to make a BIG piece of cake. ;)
It was 97 degrees in my kitchen tonight. I had to put the glaze in the fridge for a bit, and even then it started running a bit as soon as I took it out (you can see the drips in the picture). If your kitchen is warm, you may want to put the cake in the fridge for a while before making the glaze. Then, the coolness of the cake will help "set" the glaze. I had to make a mad dash for my fridge since my cake was room temperature.
Let it sit in the fridge for a few hours before serving. It's best to make it the night before and let it sit in the fridge for 24 hours. The middle is like a whipped cheesecake, so treat the cake as a cheesecake and give it time to set.
Nutritional Info: This cake is designed to be cut into 16 pieces. One piece has 417 calories. If you cut the filling in half, it goes down to around 350 calories.
Recipe Credit: Kraftrecipes.com
The recipe is:
One package (2-layer size) Devil's Food cake mix
4 squares Baker's semi-sweet chocolate
1/4 cup butter
1 pkg (8 oz) cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup sugar
2 cups thawed Cool Whip - make sure to thaw it in the fridge, not on the counter
12 Oreo cookies, coarsely crushed
Bake the cakes in two 9-inch round pans according to the box directions.
Using a mixer, combine the cream cheese and sugar on low until relatively blended. Gradually add the Cool Whip and Oreos.
Once the cakes are cool, place one cake on a plate and spread the Oreo mixture on top, making sure to spread it evenly and get it relatively level.
Place the second cake on top.
Combine the Baker's chocolate and butter in a small bowl and microwave on high for two minutes. Stir the chocolate and butter until the chocolate is melted and let cool for five minutes. Once it is no longer runny, spread it slowly and evenly over the top of the cake.
Tips:
This recipe makes twice as much filling as you need. I used half and then saved half to make the other cake. The filling is super yummy, though, so you may want to use all of it. Just keep in mind that's going to make a BIG piece of cake. ;)
It was 97 degrees in my kitchen tonight. I had to put the glaze in the fridge for a bit, and even then it started running a bit as soon as I took it out (you can see the drips in the picture). If your kitchen is warm, you may want to put the cake in the fridge for a while before making the glaze. Then, the coolness of the cake will help "set" the glaze. I had to make a mad dash for my fridge since my cake was room temperature.
Let it sit in the fridge for a few hours before serving. It's best to make it the night before and let it sit in the fridge for 24 hours. The middle is like a whipped cheesecake, so treat the cake as a cheesecake and give it time to set.
Nutritional Info: This cake is designed to be cut into 16 pieces. One piece has 417 calories. If you cut the filling in half, it goes down to around 350 calories.
Recipe Credit: Kraftrecipes.com
Doctor Appt
I went to the doctor today because it has been a Really Long Time. I wanted to set up some blood tests and have him analyze me for PCOS. I never had hormonal tests done, and this plateau and gaining weight even while eating at maintenance (back in the day, I mean) has me irked.
He's a new doctor to me but came highly recommended by a couple friends. He was SO NICE. He commended my meals and said I have the nutrition down-pat. He asked what kind of exercises I do. He asked about how/when I get hungry and what I crave. He asked eleventy billion questions instead of saying, "So, what are we going to do about your weight?"
It was like ten tons came off my back.
Additionally, when he measured my height, I discovered I've gotten shorter by about 1.5". Ha! The last time I had a doctor measure my height, I was 23-years old. He said it's common to shrink over time. I was pretty excited because I really want to grow old and be just like Sophia.
Coincidentally, today would have been Estelle Getty's birthday
Anyway, he printed out a lab request for more tests than I ever thought possible. It's two pages! In addition to checking every single hormone level, my cholesterol, and my triglycerides, he's also having my thyroid checked, iron checked, and fasting glucose done. He told me to just fast for 12 hours, go in, have the bloodwork done, and then go have some food. He gave me a separate sheet to bring back two hours later, asking them to check my glucose again. He said it's a way to trick them and check for insulin resistance; otherwise, if he orders a standard glucose tolerance test, they'll keep me hostage there and have me chug that horrible sugar-syrup drink. Blecch. He told me to just go to IHOP or some other place and "eat like [I'm] on vacation". :) Told you he rocks.
I cannot express just how kind and awesome he was. I was so happy I wanted to cry. He treated me like someone who can overcome this and succeed, as long as we can get over whatever hurdles the PCOS may be causing. He didn't treat me like "just another obese patient", which is how I've felt since I was 23.
Additionally, my resting heart rate has come way down, and my blood pressure was just slightly below normal. I've never, ever had blood pressure that low. It's usually borderline hypertensive! I was so excited.
When I got home, I emailed Brent to let him know how everything went, and I told him I want to get a Wii and buy the Wii Fit. I meant in a few months, when I lose enough to use the balance board (I'm too heavy by about 12 pounds). When he got home from work, though, he had a present for me. It was a Wii and the Wii Fit!!! I was so excited.
I felt bad, though, because he wanted me to try it out, and I had to explain I was over the weight limit. Then he said, "No, it's 330 pounds. You're fine," and then I had to explain that, no, his girlfriend weighs more than 330 pounds. To his credit, he didn't react. He just said, "Oh, well then you can use it in a couple months. You can still have fun and play regular video games on it, though." I said I'd play Sims and Mario Kart and stuff and then told him I can get EA Active, since that doesn't use a balance board.
As soon as I said that, he changed out of his pajamas and back into regular clothes. I asked where he was going, and he said, "I'm going to Game Stop before they close. I want you to have your new toy tonight, not this weekend." Awwww. *love*
As a thank you gift, I made him a new dessert, but I'm going to put that in a separate entry to keep the recipe entry separate from a regular blog entry.
He's a new doctor to me but came highly recommended by a couple friends. He was SO NICE. He commended my meals and said I have the nutrition down-pat. He asked what kind of exercises I do. He asked about how/when I get hungry and what I crave. He asked eleventy billion questions instead of saying, "So, what are we going to do about your weight?"
It was like ten tons came off my back.
Additionally, when he measured my height, I discovered I've gotten shorter by about 1.5". Ha! The last time I had a doctor measure my height, I was 23-years old. He said it's common to shrink over time. I was pretty excited because I really want to grow old and be just like Sophia.
Anyway, he printed out a lab request for more tests than I ever thought possible. It's two pages! In addition to checking every single hormone level, my cholesterol, and my triglycerides, he's also having my thyroid checked, iron checked, and fasting glucose done. He told me to just fast for 12 hours, go in, have the bloodwork done, and then go have some food. He gave me a separate sheet to bring back two hours later, asking them to check my glucose again. He said it's a way to trick them and check for insulin resistance; otherwise, if he orders a standard glucose tolerance test, they'll keep me hostage there and have me chug that horrible sugar-syrup drink. Blecch. He told me to just go to IHOP or some other place and "eat like [I'm] on vacation". :) Told you he rocks.
I cannot express just how kind and awesome he was. I was so happy I wanted to cry. He treated me like someone who can overcome this and succeed, as long as we can get over whatever hurdles the PCOS may be causing. He didn't treat me like "just another obese patient", which is how I've felt since I was 23.
Additionally, my resting heart rate has come way down, and my blood pressure was just slightly below normal. I've never, ever had blood pressure that low. It's usually borderline hypertensive! I was so excited.
When I got home, I emailed Brent to let him know how everything went, and I told him I want to get a Wii and buy the Wii Fit. I meant in a few months, when I lose enough to use the balance board (I'm too heavy by about 12 pounds). When he got home from work, though, he had a present for me. It was a Wii and the Wii Fit!!! I was so excited.
I felt bad, though, because he wanted me to try it out, and I had to explain I was over the weight limit. Then he said, "No, it's 330 pounds. You're fine," and then I had to explain that, no, his girlfriend weighs more than 330 pounds. To his credit, he didn't react. He just said, "Oh, well then you can use it in a couple months. You can still have fun and play regular video games on it, though." I said I'd play Sims and Mario Kart and stuff and then told him I can get EA Active, since that doesn't use a balance board.
As soon as I said that, he changed out of his pajamas and back into regular clothes. I asked where he was going, and he said, "I'm going to Game Stop before they close. I want you to have your new toy tonight, not this weekend." Awwww. *love*
As a thank you gift, I made him a new dessert, but I'm going to put that in a separate entry to keep the recipe entry separate from a regular blog entry.
Monday, July 16, 2012
Wrigley Field
My parents came to visit over the weekend, and we took my dad to Wrigley Field on Saturday. He'd never been there before, and it had always been on his bucket list.
I wish I had a picture of his face when we walked in. He was like a kid at Disney World. We walked all over the concourse and all around the seats so he could see the field from every angle. We got free hats when we came in, and he got a "First Timer's Certificate" from Fan Services. He got an Old Style and a Chicago Dog. We rode the shuttle bus from DeVry, so he even got to experience a bit of the CTA. After we had dinner with my friend, Stacy, up on the far north side, we drove south on LakeShore Drive so he could get a great view of the city before we left.
He kept saying, "Best. Birthday Gift. Ever."
I'm so happy we could give this to him. :)
I was a little worried about the seats, as usual, especially since I haven't lost any weight the past several weeks. I've lost inches but not weight, so I was interested to see how it all worked out. I'm not as heavy as I was the last time we went (when I had a crying fit because I couldn't even sit on the edge of the seat, forcing us to stand at the back of the section), but I'm not as small as I was the first time we went. The jersey I'm wearing didn't fit a few months ago (too tight in the arms/back), but it was comfortable on Saturday morning. That gave me hope.
As soon as we got there, I sat on the edge of the seat and realized I had more room. My dad was right next to me, though, and since he's a bigger guy, I couldn't really scoot back. Once he got up to get some more beer, I scooted back as far as I could. I wiggled and turned and managed to get myself almost all the way into the seat. The metal bars were digging in, so it wasn't comfortable, but dammit - I was almost in that seat! I was so happy. I showed Brent and Dad that I was really close. The people behind me probably thought I was some nutso fatty, but whatever. I didn't care. I was grinning about it for the rest of the game because I knew that when we go next summer, I might be able to not only fit all the way in but fit comfortably.
I can't wait to go back to Chicago again. While we were there, I felt like I was home. I didn't want to come back to Kalamazoo. I wanted to stay and have fun in the city, maybe see a museum the next day. I told Brent, and he reminded me that Chicago is #1 on the priorities list. It will all depend on how the next year pans out, though. He also reminded me that we'll be back for concerts, a Bears game, and so on, but I was still pretty sad when we were driving south on LakeShore Drive. There was so much more I wanted to show my dad, and we simply didn't have time.
We'll just have to make a list for next year, assuming we don't already live there by then. ;)
I wish I had a picture of his face when we walked in. He was like a kid at Disney World. We walked all over the concourse and all around the seats so he could see the field from every angle. We got free hats when we came in, and he got a "First Timer's Certificate" from Fan Services. He got an Old Style and a Chicago Dog. We rode the shuttle bus from DeVry, so he even got to experience a bit of the CTA. After we had dinner with my friend, Stacy, up on the far north side, we drove south on LakeShore Drive so he could get a great view of the city before we left.
He kept saying, "Best. Birthday Gift. Ever."
I'm so happy we could give this to him. :)
I was a little worried about the seats, as usual, especially since I haven't lost any weight the past several weeks. I've lost inches but not weight, so I was interested to see how it all worked out. I'm not as heavy as I was the last time we went (when I had a crying fit because I couldn't even sit on the edge of the seat, forcing us to stand at the back of the section), but I'm not as small as I was the first time we went. The jersey I'm wearing didn't fit a few months ago (too tight in the arms/back), but it was comfortable on Saturday morning. That gave me hope.
As soon as we got there, I sat on the edge of the seat and realized I had more room. My dad was right next to me, though, and since he's a bigger guy, I couldn't really scoot back. Once he got up to get some more beer, I scooted back as far as I could. I wiggled and turned and managed to get myself almost all the way into the seat. The metal bars were digging in, so it wasn't comfortable, but dammit - I was almost in that seat! I was so happy. I showed Brent and Dad that I was really close. The people behind me probably thought I was some nutso fatty, but whatever. I didn't care. I was grinning about it for the rest of the game because I knew that when we go next summer, I might be able to not only fit all the way in but fit comfortably.
I can't wait to go back to Chicago again. While we were there, I felt like I was home. I didn't want to come back to Kalamazoo. I wanted to stay and have fun in the city, maybe see a museum the next day. I told Brent, and he reminded me that Chicago is #1 on the priorities list. It will all depend on how the next year pans out, though. He also reminded me that we'll be back for concerts, a Bears game, and so on, but I was still pretty sad when we were driving south on LakeShore Drive. There was so much more I wanted to show my dad, and we simply didn't have time.
We'll just have to make a list for next year, assuming we don't already live there by then. ;)
Monday, July 9, 2012
Flashback
Guess which child of the 80s just bought tickets to the Duran Duran concert next month?
THIS KID.
I am so excited. I had a huge crush on Simon when I was 12-years old (but not as large as my Billy Idol and David Bowie crushes). I've wanted to see Duran Duran for a long time, but their tour never jived with my schedule, or I'd find out about the tour the week after they came to my area, or whatever.
I read about their tour on Success Along the Weigh and knew I had to go.
They aren't coming to Michigan, but they will be in Highland Park, IL, which is north of Chicago. The concert is on a Wednesday, which just happens to be my day off. :) I won't have to find anyone to cover my shift (score), and I can take a half-day on Thursday since I'll be getting home super late (double score). Additionally, I can take the Metra to Ravinia Park (triple score because I love trains).
Now I just need to take a look at the various train schedules and figure out if I'm going to take the South Shore to Chicago from Indiana or if I'll have to park somewhere in Chicago. Parking won't be an issue since I know a few neighborhoods that don't require permits. ;)
/cue my usual beef that Amtrak doesn't offer a late-night train back to Michigan
~*~
Update on 9/13: Duran Duran had to cancel their Chicago date due to illness and do not plan to reschedule. :(
THIS KID.
I am so excited. I had a huge crush on Simon when I was 12-years old (but not as large as my Billy Idol and David Bowie crushes). I've wanted to see Duran Duran for a long time, but their tour never jived with my schedule, or I'd find out about the tour the week after they came to my area, or whatever.
I read about their tour on Success Along the Weigh and knew I had to go.
They aren't coming to Michigan, but they will be in Highland Park, IL, which is north of Chicago. The concert is on a Wednesday, which just happens to be my day off. :) I won't have to find anyone to cover my shift (score), and I can take a half-day on Thursday since I'll be getting home super late (double score). Additionally, I can take the Metra to Ravinia Park (triple score because I love trains).
Now I just need to take a look at the various train schedules and figure out if I'm going to take the South Shore to Chicago from Indiana or if I'll have to park somewhere in Chicago. Parking won't be an issue since I know a few neighborhoods that don't require permits. ;)
/cue my usual beef that Amtrak doesn't offer a late-night train back to Michigan
~*~
Update on 9/13: Duran Duran had to cancel their Chicago date due to illness and do not plan to reschedule. :(
Sunday, July 8, 2012
Sarasota Lemonade
Beth and I had a girls' night last night since her husband was nerding it up with all the nerds in the Nerdery (their basement). We decided to make a new drink recipe I found: "Sarasota Lemonade".
The recipe calls for:
Two 750 ml bottles of Moscato (or one 1.5 liter bottle)
3 cups Sprite
6 ounces pink lemonade concentrate (thawed)
One package raspberries
Pour the wine into a punch bowl. Add the Sprite. Add the lemonade. Take half of the raspberries and mash them up before adding them to the bowl. Mix. Take the other half of the raspberries and put them in the glasses before serving.
Since we were afraid it would be too sweet, we decided to use the entire 12-oz can of pink lemonade and two packages of raspberries. The end result was more tart than sweet, which was perfect. Next time we make it, we're going to use Fresca instead of Sprite. We think the citrus will be more prominent; plus, Fresca is sugar-free.
Also, make sure you chill the wine and Sprite before making this. I bought everything on the way to her place, and it didn't taste quite right until we put a ton of ice cubes in our glass.
I have no idea what the calories per glass are, but it was a nice, refreshing summer treat.
As soon as Jess discovered (via Facebook) that we were drinking wine and watching shows like "Bridezillas" and "Say Yes to the Dress", she came over to help sample the drink and join us in our wine-induced mocking. It was a lot of fun! I haven't done something like that in a long time. Everyone has been so busy lately.
I barely remember the drive home. I wasn't drunk; I was just soooo tiiiired. I got three hours of sleep before work Saturday morning. Then, when I got to Beth's, I took an allergy pill since she has a dog and a cat. So by the time 2:30 AM rolled around, I was pretty sleepy. I debated calling Brent for a ride, but I wasn't so sleepy I couldn't drive, and I was barely buzzed, certainly not enough to impair my driving (and believe me - I'm a stickler for not driving when I'm unsure).
I stopped for gas, and the gas station had a case of Sweetwater's Donuts (they are a local legend, and they were featured on the Food Network a while ago). I don't even like donuts that much, but they just sounded so GOOD. This is probably proof I was too zonked to be out. I ended up buying two donuts and ate both of them on the way home. Ha!
I got home around 3:15, and Brent had left a light on for me. Awwww. It was a good thing since I'm not quite used to the new apartment yet. I ended up playing Sims for a while before going to bed. I have no idea why; I was SO ready to crash. I guess I just thought it was a good idea at the time.
I'm pretty sure I passed out around 4:00 or so. I woke up at 9:15 out of habit and went back to sleep until noon when Brent starting doing his morning routine. I could have slept another few hours, but I hate "wasting" days off.
-=-
It's 83 degrees right now. This is a WONDERFUL break from the 100+ temperatures we've had the past week. We also had a bit of rain and thunder last night; it was the first time it's rained in six weeks, so we were PUMPED. Chicago, Detroit, and northern Michigan have all been getting rain, but it keeps passing over Kalamazoo.
It's so strange to go through June and part of July without any rain, and I've actually been pretty depressed about it. Some people get grumpy during winter, but I tend to get grumpy during summer, especially when we have weeks upon weeks of hot, dry weather like that. I'm definitely one of those spring/fall/thunderstorm-loving girls. If we could move to a maritime climate, like Oregon or Washington, we'd be there in a heartbeat. ;)
The recipe calls for:
Two 750 ml bottles of Moscato (or one 1.5 liter bottle)
3 cups Sprite
6 ounces pink lemonade concentrate (thawed)
One package raspberries
Pour the wine into a punch bowl. Add the Sprite. Add the lemonade. Take half of the raspberries and mash them up before adding them to the bowl. Mix. Take the other half of the raspberries and put them in the glasses before serving.
Since we were afraid it would be too sweet, we decided to use the entire 12-oz can of pink lemonade and two packages of raspberries. The end result was more tart than sweet, which was perfect. Next time we make it, we're going to use Fresca instead of Sprite. We think the citrus will be more prominent; plus, Fresca is sugar-free.
Also, make sure you chill the wine and Sprite before making this. I bought everything on the way to her place, and it didn't taste quite right until we put a ton of ice cubes in our glass.
I have no idea what the calories per glass are, but it was a nice, refreshing summer treat.
As soon as Jess discovered (via Facebook) that we were drinking wine and watching shows like "Bridezillas" and "Say Yes to the Dress", she came over to help sample the drink and join us in our wine-induced mocking. It was a lot of fun! I haven't done something like that in a long time. Everyone has been so busy lately.
I barely remember the drive home. I wasn't drunk; I was just soooo tiiiired. I got three hours of sleep before work Saturday morning. Then, when I got to Beth's, I took an allergy pill since she has a dog and a cat. So by the time 2:30 AM rolled around, I was pretty sleepy. I debated calling Brent for a ride, but I wasn't so sleepy I couldn't drive, and I was barely buzzed, certainly not enough to impair my driving (and believe me - I'm a stickler for not driving when I'm unsure).
I stopped for gas, and the gas station had a case of Sweetwater's Donuts (they are a local legend, and they were featured on the Food Network a while ago). I don't even like donuts that much, but they just sounded so GOOD. This is probably proof I was too zonked to be out. I ended up buying two donuts and ate both of them on the way home. Ha!
I got home around 3:15, and Brent had left a light on for me. Awwww. It was a good thing since I'm not quite used to the new apartment yet. I ended up playing Sims for a while before going to bed. I have no idea why; I was SO ready to crash. I guess I just thought it was a good idea at the time.
I'm pretty sure I passed out around 4:00 or so. I woke up at 9:15 out of habit and went back to sleep until noon when Brent starting doing his morning routine. I could have slept another few hours, but I hate "wasting" days off.
-=-
It's 83 degrees right now. This is a WONDERFUL break from the 100+ temperatures we've had the past week. We also had a bit of rain and thunder last night; it was the first time it's rained in six weeks, so we were PUMPED. Chicago, Detroit, and northern Michigan have all been getting rain, but it keeps passing over Kalamazoo.
It's so strange to go through June and part of July without any rain, and I've actually been pretty depressed about it. Some people get grumpy during winter, but I tend to get grumpy during summer, especially when we have weeks upon weeks of hot, dry weather like that. I'm definitely one of those spring/fall/thunderstorm-loving girls. If we could move to a maritime climate, like Oregon or Washington, we'd be there in a heartbeat. ;)
Friday, July 6, 2012
NSV
As a P.S. to the earlier entry:
Even though my weight hasn't budged, I had a NSV just a few minutes ago.
While tightening my belt, I realized I was a good inch or so past the last notch I punched into it six weeks ago. :)
Even though my weight hasn't budged, I had a NSV just a few minutes ago.
While tightening my belt, I realized I was a good inch or so past the last notch I punched into it six weeks ago. :)
Weigh-in & Water Weight
Last week was definitely water weight. ;) I've been weighing in at 341-342 consistently for the past two weeks. I've been good about calories but horrible when it comes to sodium and exercise. The recent heat has made even the slightest movement absolutely unbearable. Even just doing dishes or folding laundry has left me dripping with sweat. Our heat index has been over 100 lately, and the humidity isn't helping. Our A/C can only do so much.
Since I'm maintaining my weight at this caloric level, I'm hoping exercise will kick the weight loss into gear again. Plus, our nice, big kitchen with a normal-size fridge means I can actually cook meals for the week ahead of time and stick them in the fridge/freezer. We still eat out WAY too often, and even though I make healthy choices, it's still too much sodium and such.
I've been at 341-342 for a few weeks, to be honest. I think exercise is the key. I stopped exercising a few weeks ago because we had piles of boxes everywhere and I literally had paths in every room. There was no room to move, let alone do Turbo Jam or The Firm. We could barely squeeze through the doorway to get to our bed. :-P
Additionally, I was walking for a while, but then my left foot gave up the ghost. I could hardly walk for a week, and then I spent two weeks on my feet painting, loading boxes, and moving into the new place. This is the first time in about three weeks that I haven't had foot/ankle pain. It's nice.
Anyway, I'm trying not to feel like a big, fat failure. While it's awesome I've maintained my loss and not fallen off the wagon, I still feel like I could have done more the past few weeks, even though I was hot, sweaty, and sore every day doing all the moving stuff. I'm a little worried that I'm stuck on a plateau, even though last week's water weight loss proves I probably just need to re-examine my nutrition intake, increase my water, and make sure I exercise. I'm trying not to let it get me down.
I keep remembering that I've lost weight in the past, sometimes as much as 60 pounds, and I can do it again. I just have to remember it wasn't always easy, that I did get stuck for weeks at a time, that yes... it will happen... if I'm patient. I think it was easier the past couples times because I didn't really care. It just sort of happened because I was bored and walked every night, or I did SCA dancing which burned a ton of calories every week, stuff like that.
If anything, I am definitely getting in better shape; the stairs in our house that threatened to kill me when we first moved in are much easier to climb now. So there's that. :)
A big positive is that I have my own workout room now, since we have two bedrooms. The bedrooms are quite large, so even with a full-size bed in the spare room, there's still plenty of space for me to workout. I could even fit a treadmill in there if I wanted to save up for one (which I'm definitely considering). For now, though, I'm going to put a small TV and DVD player in there and create an area for storing my free weights and step and so on.
/crossing fingers
I hope that scale starts moving again soon.
Since I'm maintaining my weight at this caloric level, I'm hoping exercise will kick the weight loss into gear again. Plus, our nice, big kitchen with a normal-size fridge means I can actually cook meals for the week ahead of time and stick them in the fridge/freezer. We still eat out WAY too often, and even though I make healthy choices, it's still too much sodium and such.
I've been at 341-342 for a few weeks, to be honest. I think exercise is the key. I stopped exercising a few weeks ago because we had piles of boxes everywhere and I literally had paths in every room. There was no room to move, let alone do Turbo Jam or The Firm. We could barely squeeze through the doorway to get to our bed. :-P
Additionally, I was walking for a while, but then my left foot gave up the ghost. I could hardly walk for a week, and then I spent two weeks on my feet painting, loading boxes, and moving into the new place. This is the first time in about three weeks that I haven't had foot/ankle pain. It's nice.
Anyway, I'm trying not to feel like a big, fat failure. While it's awesome I've maintained my loss and not fallen off the wagon, I still feel like I could have done more the past few weeks, even though I was hot, sweaty, and sore every day doing all the moving stuff. I'm a little worried that I'm stuck on a plateau, even though last week's water weight loss proves I probably just need to re-examine my nutrition intake, increase my water, and make sure I exercise. I'm trying not to let it get me down.
I keep remembering that I've lost weight in the past, sometimes as much as 60 pounds, and I can do it again. I just have to remember it wasn't always easy, that I did get stuck for weeks at a time, that yes... it will happen... if I'm patient. I think it was easier the past couples times because I didn't really care. It just sort of happened because I was bored and walked every night, or I did SCA dancing which burned a ton of calories every week, stuff like that.
If anything, I am definitely getting in better shape; the stairs in our house that threatened to kill me when we first moved in are much easier to climb now. So there's that. :)
A big positive is that I have my own workout room now, since we have two bedrooms. The bedrooms are quite large, so even with a full-size bed in the spare room, there's still plenty of space for me to workout. I could even fit a treadmill in there if I wanted to save up for one (which I'm definitely considering). For now, though, I'm going to put a small TV and DVD player in there and create an area for storing my free weights and step and so on.
/crossing fingers
I hope that scale starts moving again soon.
Monday, July 2, 2012
5K
Most of the bloggers I read are runners, so it seems natural that it would pique my interest in running. Last night, I had a dream I was running in a 5K, and it felt awesome.
The path went down some streets and then into the woods. Some people from work were there. In fact, the guy who sits in the cubicle next to mine passed me at one point and said, "Good job! Keep going! I'll see you at the finish."
It wasn't easy, like you'd think a dream would be. I was still sweaty, hot, and tired. I had a sense we were halfway through the race, so I'd been running for about 20 minutes. I was going at the same pace I ran in high school, when we ran a mile on Monday, a mile and a half on Wednesday, and two miles on Friday. I had gym class right after lunch, so it was torture. My mile improved from 14:50 to 10:37 during that year - nothing stellar, but I remember being so excited when I ran the entire mile instead of stopping to walk for a bit (that's when I got the 10:37).
Anyway, the 5K ended early for some reason, and everyone was told to stop. I was pretty bummed because I really wanted to finish that race and feel the accomplishment of doing something new and awesome. They decided to reschedule the race, and I started to bug everyone, asking how I could sign up again. Someone told me the race would be on March 3rd, and I remember wondering, "How on earth am I supposed to dress for that? I can't wear a scarf. Maybe I can wear a heavy sweatshirt with something under it."
Then I woke up.
Given that my feet and ankles can hardly handle a serious walking regimen right now (well, at least until I get fit for proper shoes and stop over-pronating), training for a 5K is a ways off. It's definitely on my list, though. I don't think I'll become one of those people who does a 10K, half-marathon, or even a marathon, but who knows. Maybe I'll fall in love with running. I always hated it during high school, but it was after lunch, the popular girls made me feel slow, and I couldn't wear headphones. Maybe, when it's on my own terms, I'll like it. There are times I'm walking and a super powerful awesome song comes on, and it makes me want to run so badly. It would be nice to actually do that once in a while.
Mostly, I'm scared of training in public. Walking is one thing, but watching a 340-pound girl huff and puff as she runs... I'm not sure I want to be that girl. There is a small track at the intermediate school just around the corner. Hardly anybody is there after school hours. The playground isn't used, and the track actually has weeds growing through the tracks. It's also sort of hidden from the road with a fence and some trees. My HRM has a stopwatch feature, so I'd be able to time my splits if I follow the C25K program. Once I get fit for some proper shoes, I might have to see what I'm capable of. I'm not expecting much right now since I'm so heavy - and I'm scared to hurt my knees - but it's worth a shot.
The path went down some streets and then into the woods. Some people from work were there. In fact, the guy who sits in the cubicle next to mine passed me at one point and said, "Good job! Keep going! I'll see you at the finish."
It wasn't easy, like you'd think a dream would be. I was still sweaty, hot, and tired. I had a sense we were halfway through the race, so I'd been running for about 20 minutes. I was going at the same pace I ran in high school, when we ran a mile on Monday, a mile and a half on Wednesday, and two miles on Friday. I had gym class right after lunch, so it was torture. My mile improved from 14:50 to 10:37 during that year - nothing stellar, but I remember being so excited when I ran the entire mile instead of stopping to walk for a bit (that's when I got the 10:37).
Anyway, the 5K ended early for some reason, and everyone was told to stop. I was pretty bummed because I really wanted to finish that race and feel the accomplishment of doing something new and awesome. They decided to reschedule the race, and I started to bug everyone, asking how I could sign up again. Someone told me the race would be on March 3rd, and I remember wondering, "How on earth am I supposed to dress for that? I can't wear a scarf. Maybe I can wear a heavy sweatshirt with something under it."
Then I woke up.
Given that my feet and ankles can hardly handle a serious walking regimen right now (well, at least until I get fit for proper shoes and stop over-pronating), training for a 5K is a ways off. It's definitely on my list, though. I don't think I'll become one of those people who does a 10K, half-marathon, or even a marathon, but who knows. Maybe I'll fall in love with running. I always hated it during high school, but it was after lunch, the popular girls made me feel slow, and I couldn't wear headphones. Maybe, when it's on my own terms, I'll like it. There are times I'm walking and a super powerful awesome song comes on, and it makes me want to run so badly. It would be nice to actually do that once in a while.
Mostly, I'm scared of training in public. Walking is one thing, but watching a 340-pound girl huff and puff as she runs... I'm not sure I want to be that girl. There is a small track at the intermediate school just around the corner. Hardly anybody is there after school hours. The playground isn't used, and the track actually has weeds growing through the tracks. It's also sort of hidden from the road with a fence and some trees. My HRM has a stopwatch feature, so I'd be able to time my splits if I follow the C25K program. Once I get fit for some proper shoes, I might have to see what I'm capable of. I'm not expecting much right now since I'm so heavy - and I'm scared to hurt my knees - but it's worth a shot.
Saturday, June 30, 2012
Busy, Busy, Busy
We have been so busy this week. After we moved in, we had a zillion things to deal with, and that's been consuming all of my energy this week.
Thankfully, I was able to breathe a sigh of relief after work today. I don't have to be back at work until next Thursday. Yay! :)
When I got home, Brent had unpacked 90% of the kitchen. He also picked up quite a few things we needed: extension cords, a bathroom rug, tap lights for the stairway and garage, floor mats for the entry ways and kitchen, and so on.
While he finished up the kitchen, I sorted the boxes into the remaining rooms and started unpacking the books and placing pictures in various areas. It already felt like home, but once I saw the books and pictures and such, it really solidified that feeling. We still need to finish putting up curtains, and I have a TON of laundry to do, but that's why I have four days off.
Having laundry in the basement is wonderful. We had a laundry room at our old place, but we had to share it with the building, and the machines took quarters. These machines are just a regular washer/dryer, and they belong to us. Our downstairs neighbors have their own machines on their side of the divided basement (and both sides of the basement have a ton of storage space - too bad the basement is so freaking scary).
I'll post pictures once we have everything finished, or at least close to finished.
-=-
One of the best things to come of this is that I've been sharing a bed with Brent again. In our old place, I slept on the spare bed in the living room (the only spot we had for it) because his snoring kept me up all night. I noticed he didn't keep me up when we visited other people, so I figured it was something wrong with our bed. I've been really bummed about it because we bought a king size bed when he moved in, and it was pretty depressing that he'd moved all this way and we couldn't share a comfy bed.
When we moved in here, I was so tired that night (and scared to sleep alone because it was a new house), that I curled up in bed with him. I passed out and got the best night of sleep I've had in a long time. That continued throughout the week. I haven't even made up the spare bed yet.
Brent thinks I couldn't sleep in our old place because we had 50,000 people making noise, no matter how small the noise, and I would wake up a zillion times per night because I'm such a light sleeper. That doesn't explain why his snoring kept me up there and not here, but he thinks maybe he's sleeping a lot deeper too. He likes our new place much better, and a less stressed Sarah means a less stressed Brent.
This also explains why I slept with him just fine at other people's houses. They're actual houses, so that means no noisy neighbors on all sides of us.
Whatever the reason, I'll take it. I hope this continues. I like laying in bed watching movies and TV with him, and I like waking up with him. I always felt so awful saying goodnight when he went into the bedroom. Separate beds are okay sometimes, like when I'm sick or I need to wake up super early for my Saturday shift, but I'm not okay with it as a habit.
-=-
Couch shopping tomorrow! I'm excited. :) We're going to have it delivered so we don't have to haul it up those steep spiral stairs. Moving into this place was hell because of those stairs, so we're going to pay the nice furniture dudes to bring it up. ;)
Thankfully, I was able to breathe a sigh of relief after work today. I don't have to be back at work until next Thursday. Yay! :)
When I got home, Brent had unpacked 90% of the kitchen. He also picked up quite a few things we needed: extension cords, a bathroom rug, tap lights for the stairway and garage, floor mats for the entry ways and kitchen, and so on.
While he finished up the kitchen, I sorted the boxes into the remaining rooms and started unpacking the books and placing pictures in various areas. It already felt like home, but once I saw the books and pictures and such, it really solidified that feeling. We still need to finish putting up curtains, and I have a TON of laundry to do, but that's why I have four days off.
Having laundry in the basement is wonderful. We had a laundry room at our old place, but we had to share it with the building, and the machines took quarters. These machines are just a regular washer/dryer, and they belong to us. Our downstairs neighbors have their own machines on their side of the divided basement (and both sides of the basement have a ton of storage space - too bad the basement is so freaking scary).
I'll post pictures once we have everything finished, or at least close to finished.
-=-
One of the best things to come of this is that I've been sharing a bed with Brent again. In our old place, I slept on the spare bed in the living room (the only spot we had for it) because his snoring kept me up all night. I noticed he didn't keep me up when we visited other people, so I figured it was something wrong with our bed. I've been really bummed about it because we bought a king size bed when he moved in, and it was pretty depressing that he'd moved all this way and we couldn't share a comfy bed.
When we moved in here, I was so tired that night (and scared to sleep alone because it was a new house), that I curled up in bed with him. I passed out and got the best night of sleep I've had in a long time. That continued throughout the week. I haven't even made up the spare bed yet.
Brent thinks I couldn't sleep in our old place because we had 50,000 people making noise, no matter how small the noise, and I would wake up a zillion times per night because I'm such a light sleeper. That doesn't explain why his snoring kept me up there and not here, but he thinks maybe he's sleeping a lot deeper too. He likes our new place much better, and a less stressed Sarah means a less stressed Brent.
This also explains why I slept with him just fine at other people's houses. They're actual houses, so that means no noisy neighbors on all sides of us.
Whatever the reason, I'll take it. I hope this continues. I like laying in bed watching movies and TV with him, and I like waking up with him. I always felt so awful saying goodnight when he went into the bedroom. Separate beds are okay sometimes, like when I'm sick or I need to wake up super early for my Saturday shift, but I'm not okay with it as a habit.
-=-
Couch shopping tomorrow! I'm excited. :) We're going to have it delivered so we don't have to haul it up those steep spiral stairs. Moving into this place was hell because of those stairs, so we're going to pay the nice furniture dudes to bring it up. ;)
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Weigh-In
Woohoo. I weighed in this morning since I always weigh myself in the morning. Last night was a big "whoosh", but I know I'm always heavier at the end of the day (like everyone else on the planet).
Today, I came in at 336.7. :-D Not only am I finally over the 342 plateau, I'm also under 340... quite a bit under 340.
I drank tons of water while moving everything the past few days, so I don't know if it's one of those "fake" water weight whooshes or an actual whoosh. Maybe it's a delayed whoosh since I didn't have a whoosh when I started losing weight several weeks ago.
(Whoosh is a funny word when you say it that often.)
Today, I came in at 336.7. :-D Not only am I finally over the 342 plateau, I'm also under 340... quite a bit under 340.
I drank tons of water while moving everything the past few days, so I don't know if it's one of those "fake" water weight whooshes or an actual whoosh. Maybe it's a delayed whoosh since I didn't have a whoosh when I started losing weight several weeks ago.
(Whoosh is a funny word when you say it that often.)
Monday, June 25, 2012
YES
The freaking scale finally moved!
Three days of working my tail off and chugging water really helped.
I just weighed in at 337.7, and that's at the END of the day. It'll be interesting to see where I am tomorrow morning.
Regardless, IT MOVED!
Three days of working my tail off and chugging water really helped.
I just weighed in at 337.7, and that's at the END of the day. It'll be interesting to see where I am tomorrow morning.
Regardless, IT MOVED!
Saturday, June 23, 2012
NSV
I'm at work today, so Brent said he would paint the bedroom. It's the last room to paint; I did the other two. He offered since I was dead tired and overwhelmed. He also cleaned out the storage closet and packed all of his stuff before I got home last night. Awesome. :)
This will allow me to focus on the rest of the packing tonight (there's very little left), and then I can spend all day tomorrow cleaning as much as possible. I want to get it clean to the point that all I have to do on Monday is sweep and wash the floors, which will be super easy once everything is moved out.
I don't know if Brent's ever painted before, but it's just primer. He knows how to take curtain rods down, and he can figure out a stupid paint roller and brush. I need to trust him more. I'm sure I'll be pleased when I walk in the door later and see the bedroom is finished. I need to give up some of my control freak-ish-ness. I always take on way too much work and end up tired/overwhelmed/cranky. I've always had issues accepting help from people, even when they're begging to help out.
Update: Not only did he do a smashing job with the primer, he also packed up most of the bedroom and the rest of the bathroom, took the (empty/dry) paint cans to the dumpster, and reattached the original shower head (we'd installed a hand-held shower head last summer). This was all accomplished in four hours. That man has more energy than a ferret.
-=-
My scale came down a pound this morning. Heh. I will never understand body weight and its inconsistencies. Anyway, I need to stop worrying about the ups and downs. I put on some underwear this morning that has always been SUPER tight. It's sort of a cross between boy short and hipster, almost like those tighty-whities boys wear. I bought them by accident (they were folded in with the hi-cuts at Lane Bryant). I always had issues getting them on, so they were in the bottom of my dresser drawer. They'd always cut into my thighs, and they were tight in the hips.
Well, when I pulled them out of the drawer this morning, they went right on and didn't feel tight at all. I didn't even realize which pair I'd grabbed until I caught myself in the mirror and thought, "HEY! These are the tight ones!" I hadn't worn them in a few weeks, so it was a nice NSV. :) Even my new jeans are starting to fit a little better.
Again, I will never understand body weight. I know I'm not gaining any muscle since I haven't been doing strength exercises, so I don't know how the scale can go up and down while my body is shrinking. Maybe I carry water weight in weird areas or something. :-P
This will allow me to focus on the rest of the packing tonight (there's very little left), and then I can spend all day tomorrow cleaning as much as possible. I want to get it clean to the point that all I have to do on Monday is sweep and wash the floors, which will be super easy once everything is moved out.
I don't know if Brent's ever painted before, but it's just primer. He knows how to take curtain rods down, and he can figure out a stupid paint roller and brush. I need to trust him more. I'm sure I'll be pleased when I walk in the door later and see the bedroom is finished. I need to give up some of my control freak-ish-ness. I always take on way too much work and end up tired/overwhelmed/cranky. I've always had issues accepting help from people, even when they're begging to help out.
Update: Not only did he do a smashing job with the primer, he also packed up most of the bedroom and the rest of the bathroom, took the (empty/dry) paint cans to the dumpster, and reattached the original shower head (we'd installed a hand-held shower head last summer). This was all accomplished in four hours. That man has more energy than a ferret.
-=-
My scale came down a pound this morning. Heh. I will never understand body weight and its inconsistencies. Anyway, I need to stop worrying about the ups and downs. I put on some underwear this morning that has always been SUPER tight. It's sort of a cross between boy short and hipster, almost like those tighty-whities boys wear. I bought them by accident (they were folded in with the hi-cuts at Lane Bryant). I always had issues getting them on, so they were in the bottom of my dresser drawer. They'd always cut into my thighs, and they were tight in the hips.
Well, when I pulled them out of the drawer this morning, they went right on and didn't feel tight at all. I didn't even realize which pair I'd grabbed until I caught myself in the mirror and thought, "HEY! These are the tight ones!" I hadn't worn them in a few weeks, so it was a nice NSV. :) Even my new jeans are starting to fit a little better.
Again, I will never understand body weight. I know I'm not gaining any muscle since I haven't been doing strength exercises, so I don't know how the scale can go up and down while my body is shrinking. Maybe I carry water weight in weird areas or something. :-P
Friday, June 22, 2012
Sigh
I came down to 342 a week ago. Still 342 every day. Then, yesterday, I weighed in at 340.6. Yay! Coming down again!
This morning?
342.
I tried to analyze what's different. On Wednesday, I painted the living room and moved furniture and boxes around. It was 97 and humid, so I was sweating buckets. Since I was painting, I had to have the windows open, and it felt like someone had stuck a blow dryer near the screen. I stopped every half-hour to drink an entire 20-ounce glass of water while I sat by the A/C. I didn't want to die of heat stroke.
So, when I weighed in on Thursday, I had burned calories, sweat umpteen gallons of water, and drank about a million ounces of water. I ate about 1700 calories on Wednesday, which was easy since the heat killed my appetite.
Yesterday, I didn't work as hard, so I didn't sweat as much. I also didn't drink as much water. Plus, we had Chinese food for dinner. BOOM. Weight back on.
Lesson learned: DRINK YOUR WATER
-=-
I'm having a major issue with my feet right now. I went for a walk on Monday night, and my left foot was sore across the top as usual. I walked Tuesday night and then stood around packing stuff for a few hours. On Wednesday, I could hardly stand, but I did anyway since I had to paint. Same on Thursday. Now I have a ton of pain around my ankles, heels, and the outside of my feet. It feels like someone put shackles on my feet because that's where most of the pain is. I have GOT to learn some foot stretches and get fit for the proper shoes and inserts. I love walking - it's my favorite exercise - and I don't want to give it up. Plus, I need to be able to walk for everyday stuff like, you know, work. And living.
I can do other stuff until my feet heal, but there isn't a lot that doesn't involve standing. I wish I had a pool. I'd swim every day. ;)
Anyway, this just makes it even more imperative I watch my diet like a hawk and make sure I get all of my water. I'm so scared the scale won't move again. I don't want to be at a plateau already. :(
This morning?
342.
I tried to analyze what's different. On Wednesday, I painted the living room and moved furniture and boxes around. It was 97 and humid, so I was sweating buckets. Since I was painting, I had to have the windows open, and it felt like someone had stuck a blow dryer near the screen. I stopped every half-hour to drink an entire 20-ounce glass of water while I sat by the A/C. I didn't want to die of heat stroke.
So, when I weighed in on Thursday, I had burned calories, sweat umpteen gallons of water, and drank about a million ounces of water. I ate about 1700 calories on Wednesday, which was easy since the heat killed my appetite.
Yesterday, I didn't work as hard, so I didn't sweat as much. I also didn't drink as much water. Plus, we had Chinese food for dinner. BOOM. Weight back on.
Lesson learned: DRINK YOUR WATER
-=-
I'm having a major issue with my feet right now. I went for a walk on Monday night, and my left foot was sore across the top as usual. I walked Tuesday night and then stood around packing stuff for a few hours. On Wednesday, I could hardly stand, but I did anyway since I had to paint. Same on Thursday. Now I have a ton of pain around my ankles, heels, and the outside of my feet. It feels like someone put shackles on my feet because that's where most of the pain is. I have GOT to learn some foot stretches and get fit for the proper shoes and inserts. I love walking - it's my favorite exercise - and I don't want to give it up. Plus, I need to be able to walk for everyday stuff like, you know, work. And living.
I can do other stuff until my feet heal, but there isn't a lot that doesn't involve standing. I wish I had a pool. I'd swim every day. ;)
Anyway, this just makes it even more imperative I watch my diet like a hawk and make sure I get all of my water. I'm so scared the scale won't move again. I don't want to be at a plateau already. :(
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Conversation This Evening
Sarah (packing the kitchen): "I swear to god... when we move to Illinois or California, we are selling everything. I'm not doing this again."
Brent (staring at Diablo): "Okay."
Sarah: "Seriously. Anything sentimental can be shipped ahead or put in my car, but everything else goes. We'll buy all new stuff at Target and Ikea."
Brent: "Okay."
Sarah: "I have four cheese graters, three pizza cutters, at least seven lids that don't belong to any pots or pans, two corkscrews, eighteen spatulas, three stock pots... this is stupid. I'm not packing all of this again. As soon as we move, I'm making up a ton of boxes for Goodwill. We don't need multiple spatulas."
Brent: *spoons cereal into mouth and stares at Diablo*
Sarah: "Are you listening?"
Brent: "You're bringing the pizza cutters and spatulas to Goodwill. We'll get more furniture in Chicago."
Sarah: "Close enough."
Brent (staring at Diablo): "Okay."
Sarah: "Seriously. Anything sentimental can be shipped ahead or put in my car, but everything else goes. We'll buy all new stuff at Target and Ikea."
Brent: "Okay."
Sarah: "I have four cheese graters, three pizza cutters, at least seven lids that don't belong to any pots or pans, two corkscrews, eighteen spatulas, three stock pots... this is stupid. I'm not packing all of this again. As soon as we move, I'm making up a ton of boxes for Goodwill. We don't need multiple spatulas."
Brent: *spoons cereal into mouth and stares at Diablo*
Sarah: "Are you listening?"
Brent: "You're bringing the pizza cutters and spatulas to Goodwill. We'll get more furniture in Chicago."
Sarah: "Close enough."
Moving Early
Our landlords called today and said our new place will be ready at the end of the day Sunday. They asked if we'd like to move in a few days early.
Um, yes!
We're moving next Monday. Brent got the day off from work, and I worked some magic to get my shift covered so I could take a vacation day. Thank goodness I have an extra day off this week. Maybe I was psychic or something, because I really need it. I have to finish the rest of the packing, and then I have to paint the living room, breakfast nook, and bedroom with primer. I was nice and offered to do that since they were kind enough to give me permission to paint. They're supplying the primer, so it's a win-win. Good thing I saved my rollers and brushes.
My friend, Beth, is coming over Wednesday to help with whatever I need. I know how much she hates painting, so I might put her in charge of keeping the TV tuned to dramatic shows like "Bridezillas" and maybe have her do little things like hand me power tools as I remove the curtain rods or wipe down the shelves in the cupboards. I hate asking people for help, so I always give them these totally b.s. jobs when they offer, which is kind of silly, but whatever.
Beth is also helping us move on Monday, provided she doesn't get called into work. Kae took the day off too (any excuse to get away from the office, she said), so we should be pretty set. I told Tony (Beth's husband) to drop by after work since we'll still be hanging out and will probably order Chinese take-out for dinner. Kae loves helping me unpack, and she's been part of pretty much every move, so she's going to help me get the immediate stuff unpacked and sorted while Brent hooks up the electronics and all that nonsense.
Today was a flurry of emails and phone calls as I coordinated everything. I had to change the hook-up dates for all of our services and change my address pretty much everywhere since all of my online bill payments come out around the same time.
I'm so excited! Exhausted and overwhelmed, but excited!
-=-
My weight is still being stubborn, so I grabbed the measuring tape. I've lost nearly two inches off my stomach (dude!) and one inch off my underbust (bra strap). I also entered a few more measurements into my spreadsheet since I hadn't been tracking those. I knew the weight was coming off somewhere since my clothes are getting more comfortable, so now I'm going to pay more attention to my upper body (where I lose weight first) whenever the scale pisses me off. I can see my cheekbones again too, and my shoulders have a bit more definition.
I think I'm going to start incorporating upper body strength workouts. I want to sculpt my bingo wings so they look hot once all the extra fat comes off. I had some pretty decent guns in high school.
I wasn't even flexing.
This picture is also evidence that I will still have some serious junk in the trunk once I hit my goal weight. ;) One of my SCA friends always used to say I have a "natural bustle".
Um, yes!
We're moving next Monday. Brent got the day off from work, and I worked some magic to get my shift covered so I could take a vacation day. Thank goodness I have an extra day off this week. Maybe I was psychic or something, because I really need it. I have to finish the rest of the packing, and then I have to paint the living room, breakfast nook, and bedroom with primer. I was nice and offered to do that since they were kind enough to give me permission to paint. They're supplying the primer, so it's a win-win. Good thing I saved my rollers and brushes.
My friend, Beth, is coming over Wednesday to help with whatever I need. I know how much she hates painting, so I might put her in charge of keeping the TV tuned to dramatic shows like "Bridezillas" and maybe have her do little things like hand me power tools as I remove the curtain rods or wipe down the shelves in the cupboards. I hate asking people for help, so I always give them these totally b.s. jobs when they offer, which is kind of silly, but whatever.
Beth is also helping us move on Monday, provided she doesn't get called into work. Kae took the day off too (any excuse to get away from the office, she said), so we should be pretty set. I told Tony (Beth's husband) to drop by after work since we'll still be hanging out and will probably order Chinese take-out for dinner. Kae loves helping me unpack, and she's been part of pretty much every move, so she's going to help me get the immediate stuff unpacked and sorted while Brent hooks up the electronics and all that nonsense.
Today was a flurry of emails and phone calls as I coordinated everything. I had to change the hook-up dates for all of our services and change my address pretty much everywhere since all of my online bill payments come out around the same time.
I'm so excited! Exhausted and overwhelmed, but excited!
-=-
My weight is still being stubborn, so I grabbed the measuring tape. I've lost nearly two inches off my stomach (dude!) and one inch off my underbust (bra strap). I also entered a few more measurements into my spreadsheet since I hadn't been tracking those. I knew the weight was coming off somewhere since my clothes are getting more comfortable, so now I'm going to pay more attention to my upper body (where I lose weight first) whenever the scale pisses me off. I can see my cheekbones again too, and my shoulders have a bit more definition.
I think I'm going to start incorporating upper body strength workouts. I want to sculpt my bingo wings so they look hot once all the extra fat comes off. I had some pretty decent guns in high school.
I wasn't even flexing.
This picture is also evidence that I will still have some serious junk in the trunk once I hit my goal weight. ;) One of my SCA friends always used to say I have a "natural bustle".
Sunday, June 17, 2012
Oh. Duh.
I'm an idiot.
That magical, weird weight gain? Probably water. I noticed my breasts have been heavy and super-painfully sensitive the past few days. I was so confused, and then - facepalm - oh yeah. PMS usually does those things.
Unlike other people, I rarely have a period. I have PCOS, and PCOS combined with my obesity means I go months without a period. I haven't had once since last July. I'd been on birth control in the past to help regulate my hormones and give me a period, but BCPs turn me into a velociraptor some days and a crying, inconsolable, food-binging emo wreck the other days. No, thank you. So, I stopped taking them last July. (Coincidentally, that's when I stopped gaining weight at an alarming rate too. Thanks a lot, extra estrogen and insatiable cravings.)
I'll take the occasional, waxable mustache and no periods over feeling pregnant, thanks.
Anyway, I don't know if I'm about to get my period or what, but that would certainly explain why my jeans are getting loose but my weight is still up. I feel like I've gained five pounds in my breasts alone. I'm sorry if that's TMI, but they hurt.
Hopefully, this will all resolve itself, and I'll have a nice big whoosh of weight loss in a week or two.
Also, I just downloaded a spreadsheet that someone on MFP made. It makes tracking calories and exercise much easier because I can see my entire week and month at a glance. It's a lot easier to "bank" calories for future splurges, like going out with friends on my day off, and it's easier to see how much exercising affects everything. I can also track my inches and body fat percentage. I am a spreadsheet whore, so this is right up my alley. I'm still using MFP to track my food during the day, but then I plug that number and my exercise into my spreadsheet.
My thighs are not 0". I forgot to measure them. I'll fix that right now.
I went for a 40-minute walk last night and burned just as many calories as I do when I do Turbo Jam for 40 minutes. I like walking better, for the most part, since I like being outside and can listen to whatever music I want. I'll probably save Turbo Jam for rainy days, winter, and when I'm feeling incredibly hyper and a walk isn't going to cut it.
I was feeling pretty energized last night and almost jogged a little, but then I noticed my heart rate was already 160, and I didn't want to push it (it was VERY hot and humid last night). No sense in trying for a heart attack. ;) Maybe I'll try a bit of jogging when the weather cools down. I really would like to do a 5K someday, even though the farthest I've ever "run" is two miles (and I walked half of that). I was 14 years old and 130 pounds, so yeah... totally not the same.
That magical, weird weight gain? Probably water. I noticed my breasts have been heavy and super-painfully sensitive the past few days. I was so confused, and then - facepalm - oh yeah. PMS usually does those things.
Unlike other people, I rarely have a period. I have PCOS, and PCOS combined with my obesity means I go months without a period. I haven't had once since last July. I'd been on birth control in the past to help regulate my hormones and give me a period, but BCPs turn me into a velociraptor some days and a crying, inconsolable, food-binging emo wreck the other days. No, thank you. So, I stopped taking them last July. (Coincidentally, that's when I stopped gaining weight at an alarming rate too. Thanks a lot, extra estrogen and insatiable cravings.)
I'll take the occasional, waxable mustache and no periods over feeling pregnant, thanks.
Anyway, I don't know if I'm about to get my period or what, but that would certainly explain why my jeans are getting loose but my weight is still up. I feel like I've gained five pounds in my breasts alone. I'm sorry if that's TMI, but they hurt.
Hopefully, this will all resolve itself, and I'll have a nice big whoosh of weight loss in a week or two.
Also, I just downloaded a spreadsheet that someone on MFP made. It makes tracking calories and exercise much easier because I can see my entire week and month at a glance. It's a lot easier to "bank" calories for future splurges, like going out with friends on my day off, and it's easier to see how much exercising affects everything. I can also track my inches and body fat percentage. I am a spreadsheet whore, so this is right up my alley. I'm still using MFP to track my food during the day, but then I plug that number and my exercise into my spreadsheet.
My thighs are not 0". I forgot to measure them. I'll fix that right now.
I went for a 40-minute walk last night and burned just as many calories as I do when I do Turbo Jam for 40 minutes. I like walking better, for the most part, since I like being outside and can listen to whatever music I want. I'll probably save Turbo Jam for rainy days, winter, and when I'm feeling incredibly hyper and a walk isn't going to cut it.
I was feeling pretty energized last night and almost jogged a little, but then I noticed my heart rate was already 160, and I didn't want to push it (it was VERY hot and humid last night). No sense in trying for a heart attack. ;) Maybe I'll try a bit of jogging when the weather cools down. I really would like to do a 5K someday, even though the farthest I've ever "run" is two miles (and I walked half of that). I was 14 years old and 130 pounds, so yeah... totally not the same.
Friday, June 15, 2012
Weigh-In
342 on the dot. Bleh. Down four pounds from last week's water surge, but two pounds above my previous low weight of 339.8. Hopefully, I'll be back to 339 next Friday.
I've been reading a lot about TDEE calculators on MFP. MFP tells me to eat 1840 calories per day to lose two pounds per week. TDEE tells me to eat more like 2300 calories. I have no idea which system to believe, and there are multiple heated arguments about it on MFP. Rawr. I'm so confused.
Back in 2008, I lost about 30 pounds over the summer, and all I did was switch to diet soda, stop binging, and walk for an hour almost every night. I wish I had a record of how many calories I ate, because whatever it was seemed to be my magic number. I don't remember cutting my portions by a lot, and I still ate out every so often. I know I used FitDay for a while, so I'll see if I can dig up my old diary. Once I stopped walking, I maintained my weight for a few months, but then it started piling on when I went back to drinking regular soda and binging. Again, whatever that calorie intake was seemed to be the magic number.
It's all so confusing, and I feel like I don't have time to experiment. I want the weight gone NOW, and that means losing 1-2 pounds per week. If I spend a few weeks eating the wrong calories and don't see a loss, I'll feel like I wasted a month. A month isn't that big of a deal in the big picture, but it is to me because the sooner this weight is gone (safely), the better.
Maybe I should stop worrying about numbers and just go back to my laissez-faire attitude from 2008. I wasn't even trying to lose weight back then. I'd switched to diet soda because I was totally addicted to Diet Squirt and Diet Mountain Dew, I wasn't binging because I was broke and couldn't afford extra food, and I walked every night because I was going through a nervous breakdown and being home, alone, made me very scared and twitchy. It was simply coincidence (in a sense) that I dropped two pants sizes.
I don't want to have another nervous breakdown, but maybe it would help me to just chill the eff out and live a healthy lifestyle that doesn't involve so much algebra.
Edit: I just checked FitDay. I wasn't very good at record-keeping back then (most of my foods were entered during work hours, so dinner wasn't accounted for). From some of the full days, though, I see I was eating anywhere from 1900 - 2300 calories, right in line with MFP's recommendations and TDEE. I guess it isn't such a huge mystery after all. I'll just keep on eating like I'm used to and make sure to exercise for an hour every day.
I've been reading a lot about TDEE calculators on MFP. MFP tells me to eat 1840 calories per day to lose two pounds per week. TDEE tells me to eat more like 2300 calories. I have no idea which system to believe, and there are multiple heated arguments about it on MFP. Rawr. I'm so confused.
Back in 2008, I lost about 30 pounds over the summer, and all I did was switch to diet soda, stop binging, and walk for an hour almost every night. I wish I had a record of how many calories I ate, because whatever it was seemed to be my magic number. I don't remember cutting my portions by a lot, and I still ate out every so often. I know I used FitDay for a while, so I'll see if I can dig up my old diary. Once I stopped walking, I maintained my weight for a few months, but then it started piling on when I went back to drinking regular soda and binging. Again, whatever that calorie intake was seemed to be the magic number.
It's all so confusing, and I feel like I don't have time to experiment. I want the weight gone NOW, and that means losing 1-2 pounds per week. If I spend a few weeks eating the wrong calories and don't see a loss, I'll feel like I wasted a month. A month isn't that big of a deal in the big picture, but it is to me because the sooner this weight is gone (safely), the better.
Maybe I should stop worrying about numbers and just go back to my laissez-faire attitude from 2008. I wasn't even trying to lose weight back then. I'd switched to diet soda because I was totally addicted to Diet Squirt and Diet Mountain Dew, I wasn't binging because I was broke and couldn't afford extra food, and I walked every night because I was going through a nervous breakdown and being home, alone, made me very scared and twitchy. It was simply coincidence (in a sense) that I dropped two pants sizes.
I don't want to have another nervous breakdown, but maybe it would help me to just chill the eff out and live a healthy lifestyle that doesn't involve so much algebra.
Edit: I just checked FitDay. I wasn't very good at record-keeping back then (most of my foods were entered during work hours, so dinner wasn't accounted for). From some of the full days, though, I see I was eating anywhere from 1900 - 2300 calories, right in line with MFP's recommendations and TDEE. I guess it isn't such a huge mystery after all. I'll just keep on eating like I'm used to and make sure to exercise for an hour every day.
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Point for Chicago
My last post was really long, so I didn't want to get into this. Good thing, because it led me to some more thoughts on the "Chicago vs. SF" subject.
Some of Brent's bosses were in Chicago for a convention this week. They called the office on Monday and asked if the programmers wanted to drive to Chicago today and join them at the Tigers vs. Cubs game. Brent and five others drove down in a co-worker's van and found out the company had paid for an upper deck Skybox, just over third base. Awesome!
Anyway, the game was broadcast on Fox Sports Detroit instead of WGN. As such, it had the Detroit announcers. This meant that they kept breaking away before commercials to show gorgeous shots of Chicago at night - shots of the river, shots of the skyscrapers, shots of the buildings surrounding Wrigley, shots of the L at Addison.
Every time they did, my heart skipped a beat. It looked like home. I wanted to walk through the screen and be there.
Brent sent me a text after the game to let me know he was on the shuttle bus to DeVry (where you can park for $6 during Cubs games). I told him to look out the windows as they got onto the Kennedy, as the view of the skyline from the north is the best, especially at night. He's only ever seen the skyline from the south, as we always take LSD in and out of the city.
As soon as I sent that text, I got another pang. I'd always loved that view. When I stayed with my friends at DePaul, I was so jealous of my friend's apartment with the view of the city at night. I used to sit on the couch, staring at the view. Kendall used to tease me and say, "It doesn't change."
I'm sure I'd be quite happy in San Francisco. I'm sure I'd grow to love it like I grew to love Chicago. I can't help this nagging memory, though, that when I was planning to move to Albuquerque to be with Brent, I struggled BIG TIME knowing I was going to be so far away from Chicago. I love being able to visit at a moment's notice. If we live across the country, we have to plan an actual vacation, and if we plan a vacation to Chicago, all of my friends/relatives in Michigan will be hurt we didn't go the extra 200 miles to visit them.
Plus, it's always been a dream of mine to move there. One summer didn't cut it. I want to be an actual resident. I've been dreaming of that since 1998. I spent almost every weekend in 1999 crashing on friend's couches every weekend, looking at apartment websites for places I couldn't even dream of affording until I was out of school, and even going so far as to write to the U of Chicago for graduate school info. I was 22. Now I'm 35. That's a long time to have a dream.
I suppose it all comes down to the job market and what Brent wants. He doesn't want to discuss it because it's "so far away", but I don't like the unknown. I'm not a "play it by ear" person. I'm fun and impulsive about most things, but I always get weird when I can't plan my future. I like looking forward to things, whereas Brent is focused on the present. It's a good balance, because we complement each other, but it can be sort of infuriating sometimes. ;)
He definitely wants to move to Chicago, especially since the Cubs and Bears are there. He's already told me he wants to live within walking distance of Wrigleyville, no exceptions. His #2 reason for moving here was to be closer to Chicago. This is why it surprised me when he dropped the SF bomb.
At the same time, though, if he gets a job in California, I'm not going to throw a fit. When he moved in and things got more serious, it became OUR future, not just my future. While I can dream, dreams sometimes involve compromises for your partner's dreams. He's just as generous with me, even going so far as to offer to support us if I want to quit my current job and find something I actually enjoy.
I keep looking through the pictures here, and it makes me feel like it's the summer of 1999 all over again.
Some of my happiest memories and relationships occurred in that city.
We have a lot to discuss.
Some of Brent's bosses were in Chicago for a convention this week. They called the office on Monday and asked if the programmers wanted to drive to Chicago today and join them at the Tigers vs. Cubs game. Brent and five others drove down in a co-worker's van and found out the company had paid for an upper deck Skybox, just over third base. Awesome!
Anyway, the game was broadcast on Fox Sports Detroit instead of WGN. As such, it had the Detroit announcers. This meant that they kept breaking away before commercials to show gorgeous shots of Chicago at night - shots of the river, shots of the skyscrapers, shots of the buildings surrounding Wrigley, shots of the L at Addison.
Every time they did, my heart skipped a beat. It looked like home. I wanted to walk through the screen and be there.
Brent sent me a text after the game to let me know he was on the shuttle bus to DeVry (where you can park for $6 during Cubs games). I told him to look out the windows as they got onto the Kennedy, as the view of the skyline from the north is the best, especially at night. He's only ever seen the skyline from the south, as we always take LSD in and out of the city.
As soon as I sent that text, I got another pang. I'd always loved that view. When I stayed with my friends at DePaul, I was so jealous of my friend's apartment with the view of the city at night. I used to sit on the couch, staring at the view. Kendall used to tease me and say, "It doesn't change."
I'm sure I'd be quite happy in San Francisco. I'm sure I'd grow to love it like I grew to love Chicago. I can't help this nagging memory, though, that when I was planning to move to Albuquerque to be with Brent, I struggled BIG TIME knowing I was going to be so far away from Chicago. I love being able to visit at a moment's notice. If we live across the country, we have to plan an actual vacation, and if we plan a vacation to Chicago, all of my friends/relatives in Michigan will be hurt we didn't go the extra 200 miles to visit them.
Plus, it's always been a dream of mine to move there. One summer didn't cut it. I want to be an actual resident. I've been dreaming of that since 1998. I spent almost every weekend in 1999 crashing on friend's couches every weekend, looking at apartment websites for places I couldn't even dream of affording until I was out of school, and even going so far as to write to the U of Chicago for graduate school info. I was 22. Now I'm 35. That's a long time to have a dream.
I suppose it all comes down to the job market and what Brent wants. He doesn't want to discuss it because it's "so far away", but I don't like the unknown. I'm not a "play it by ear" person. I'm fun and impulsive about most things, but I always get weird when I can't plan my future. I like looking forward to things, whereas Brent is focused on the present. It's a good balance, because we complement each other, but it can be sort of infuriating sometimes. ;)
He definitely wants to move to Chicago, especially since the Cubs and Bears are there. He's already told me he wants to live within walking distance of Wrigleyville, no exceptions. His #2 reason for moving here was to be closer to Chicago. This is why it surprised me when he dropped the SF bomb.
At the same time, though, if he gets a job in California, I'm not going to throw a fit. When he moved in and things got more serious, it became OUR future, not just my future. While I can dream, dreams sometimes involve compromises for your partner's dreams. He's just as generous with me, even going so far as to offer to support us if I want to quit my current job and find something I actually enjoy.
I keep looking through the pictures here, and it makes me feel like it's the summer of 1999 all over again.
Some of my happiest memories and relationships occurred in that city.
We have a lot to discuss.
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