Apologies All Around

I'd like to take this moment to say I'm sorry for the lack of posts of late. I just have been very very unmotivated to blog for the last couple of weeks. There just isn't anything happening right now that I want to post about... but here's an update anyway.

I'm working on losing weight. Again. It's an endless and uphill battle. I would trade places with Sisyphus in an instant. That said, I have lost about 4 pounds in slightly less than a month. I know it's not much, but as you'll remember, this is twice as much as my 2 pound loss resolution. And even though 4 pounds sounds paltry, check out how big 4 pounds of hamburger meat is. So there. I've lost slightly under 2 inches off my waist, but mostly it seems to be coming out of my face. No more double chins for this chica. We're taking front and side pictures once a week to document my progress, but as they are in my underwear, and I'm a fat girl, they won't be displayed here. Count your lucky stars.

We are also still waiting for an insurance reimbursement check for our glasses. (Did I mention that I got new glasses? I can't remember. Well I did. So did Justin) We've been waiting for this check since it was cut on the 8th of January. For some reason they didn't choose to mail the check until the 23rd of January... and it's not here yet. I'm pretty sure they sent it to the wrong address...Here's the thing, if we just had enough money to pay for the glasses with no hope of reimbursement why would we have the insurance?? This is ludicrous.

In other news, my family seems to be coming to pieces one at a time. My aunt fell last week and broke her (right) arm. I drove her to the Dr. yesterday to check out how well he did in surgery on Wednesday. He seems pretty pleased with his work. Don't they always?

My little niece, Hannah, who is almost 3 has been in the hospital for 3 days, (no one told me until yesterday by the way) with some sort of a bacterial infection which they can't seem to identify. All she wants is to watch Cinderella. We're buying it for her today. They know for sure that it's not StrepThroat or Appendicitis, but that's about it.

And, the icing on the cake, my younger brother, Steven, keeps passing out. It happened 3 weeks ago at church (they told me that today, clearly I'm out of the loop) and then again last night at WalMart. They took him to the emergency room last night and they couldn't find anything wrong besides the fact that his blood sugar was very low, and he was wearing about 5 layers of clothes. We're thinking maybe hypoglycemia, which is good because we were afraid initially that it might be a problem with is shunt. (He has hydrocephalus.) Hypoglycemia will be considerably easier to treat.

So that's the update. Maybe I had something to say after all...

Art or Psychotherapy?

The results of this analysis say:

You tend to pursue many different activities simultaneously. When misfortune does happen, it doesn't actually dishearten you all that much.
You are a thoughtful and cautious person. You like to think about your method, seeking to pursue your goal in the most effective way.
You are creative, mentally active and industrious.
You have a sunny, cheerful disposition.

What does your drawing say about YOU?

Snow Day!

So Friday afternoon it started snowing, and it just kept on snowing until Saturday afternoon. I love it when I can stay home and just watch it snow without having to worry about getting out and going anywhere. They closed the center where we work last night so we were off and we just got to hang out and stay cozy. It was really nice. Of course we have to drive to work tonight...I'm hoping that during the afternoon it melts off some. Cross your fingers. Here's some pics from this morning. I really wanted to get some before the snow was all walked around in but for some reason I didn't think about it until after I had driven through the yard. Oh well, perhaps the deepness of the footprints/tire marks will show you how deep the snow is.

This is the view from the front porch.

These are the giant icicles growing off our house. I think they are very very cool.

This is Maybe. She thinks snow is for eating. She thinks everything is for eating.

And here is Maybe looking all tragic after I made her sit down in the snow. Please don't call PETA, she's fine I promise.

Ice

This is what it looks like outside:



The police, the news, and the National Weather Service are telling people not to drive unless there is an extreme emergency. My father, the fireman, has gone out on 12 wrecks in the last 6 hours. Two involving fatalities. There is an inch of ice on the on my porch. At least that much on the road. They tell us we are expected to be at work (30 miles away), because our corporate office is in South Dakota, and our weather can't possibly be as bad as theirs. That is bullshit.
We are not driving over a treacherous road in the middle of the night so that we can assist college students in their prank phone calls all night long.

We are staying home.

Fat Like Me

Well we're back from our trip. It was generally a good time, the flights were uneventful as usual and there were no major fights the entire trip. We did some fun shopping with our Christmas money and got to eat at some good places and see the George Bush Library, which if you haven't been to, is a really fun place to go.

The only downside to the trip is that the entire time my mom harassed me about my weight. Hello, fat people know we're fat. It's not a secret that you have to whisper to us in the car on the way to the pizza place. It's not something that we have to be reminded of every hour or so by concerned citizens. Clearly my mom doesn't understand this. At one point while I was in the bathroom she even said to Justin "I'm really sorry Susan has gained so much weight since the wedding." (I've gained maybe 8 or 10 pounds geez.) He immediately told her that it was inappropriate behavior for her to say things like that to him {Justins Note: I don't actually know if she heard me or not. I was scared} , so instead she got me alone every chance she could and told me how much I need to watch what I eat, and that 2 mini bagles (240 calories) is way to much for anyone to eat for breakfast. Needless to say my struggling self esteem has taken a nose dive. Again.

Yeah, I'm fully aware that I need to lose weight. I actually have been walking what I think amounts to 1 and a half miles at work every night on my lunch hour and break. I've been eating healthier. I've lost 4 pounds in about a month. Yes I know that's not record breaking, but at least it's something. At least I'm trying. I shouldn't have had to cry every day of my vacation. Justin's mom is giving us a treadmill. Apparently they're closing ranks. I wish I had the willpower to get an eating disorder.

Out of the Office

We are leaving for our trip in 10 hours. 6 of those will be spent at work and one of them driving to work so they don't count. 3 hours til our vacation!!!

Be back Monday.

Happy New Year!

The only resolution I usually make is that I hope the new year is better than the old one. This year (2006) was much better than 2005 that is for sure, so things are looking bright and beautiful for 2007. Justin and I are working tonight so there will be no partying to ring in the new year, however we will get paid at 2 1/2 times our normal rate, which is pretty dandy.

As for a resolution just for myself... I'm going to try to lose 2 pounds. That's all I'm gonna hope for now and if it's more then that's great and if it doesn't happen by next December 31, well I'm sure I can do something just before stepping on the scale that will push me that 2 pounds. Heck, my jeans probably weigh that much right?? Here's to feeling good about yourself!

And, even though this picture was taken just before Christmas, I'm calling it our New Years Portrait because it's cute and I want to share. Sue me.

An Update.

Yay, the holidays (except New Year's, which involves way less pressure) are over and with them my pre-post holiday depression seems to have gone. I got lots of good stuff this year and my parents even pulled through this time with nothing random or weird and the inevitable craft from Sussan is actually a set of cool candle holders so all is well.

Justin got me a beautiful ring that looks like a flower and has some tiny little diamonds in it to make it shiny and a bookshelf which is the only thing that I really really wanted. We put it together yesterday and got all the stuff on it and it looks really really great. When I come into the room and see it I automatically smile which is great. My brother and sister got me a Magic Bullet blender which I've wanted for like 5 years. I need to cook something using it soon but I haven't been to the grocery store yet. I got Justin clothes and he bought an X-box but I'm counting it as a Christmas present since it was quite expensive and the money is "our" money anyway. Yes, I know, this is cheating.

Here's my ring:

On the way home from work on Tuesday morning we saw a little basset hound on the side of the road in the middle of nowhere. She was wandering around sort of lost looking and I was terrified that she was going to get hit by a car so we turned around and she came to me and we brought her home. She was very soft and sweet and good in the car. She was wearing a collar with a tag, (Her name is Ellie) and I really wanted to just keep her because I kind of think that if you lose your dog on the highway you aren't taking great care of her to begin with. But Justin said that I should do the right thing so after we got home and I gave her a bath and got some food and water into her and let her play with Maybe for awhile, I called the number on her tag. They guy didn't seem all that thrilled that he was getting his dog back safe and sound so now I feel really cheated that we didn't just keep her. Even when he came to the house to get her he didn't ask where we found her or if she seemed like she was ok...he didn't even say thank you. I am not happy...but I guess you can't always choose the outcome when you do the "right thing." I just know how freaked out we would be if we lost Maybe and how happy we would be if someone brought her back to us...so I totally don't understand that guy's ambivilance.

We are leaving next Thursday to see my mom in Bryan. I'm excited about this trip because it will be the first time in a year that we have been anywhere besides our usual haunts of Levelland/Lubbock/Amarillo. I'm not sure exactly what we will do when we get there. My mom keeps asking what we want to do, it's important to her to have a plan apparently. I'll have to check online for some ideas. Really though, I just want to get away from here for awhile.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas Eve

I've already de-frocked the tree. How depressing.

Oh well, here's a picture from before the (pre) post Holiday depression set in:

What Do You Know?

Create your own friendquiz here

Angry Mutterings

I have been having trouble sleeping. Add to that the fact that every time I actually do manage to fall asleep, the phone rings, the dog barks, the dog runs into my room when she's supposed to be in her crate, the cats start fighting, the car alarm goes off, someone comes into or goes out of the house or the dog barks some more. My sleeping pills aren't working. I have to go to work now, and I desperately want to go back to bed, but it wouldn't matter. It's not like I'm getting any sleeping done there. Auggh.

Ho Ho Ho

Last night my dad was Santa at Levelland's Festival of Trees. It was a pretty big deal and he even got to be on the news. Because I've got special connections, Santa also came to visit my house a little early!!

Here's my dad with the news guy and camera

And here with a child I don't know...I hope she doesn't mind

Then Santa came to my house. Maybe greeted him like an old friend.

Apparently my star wasn't up to par...

Me and Justin, a little Christmas Cheer!

Jingle

There is nothing that does not have a Christmas Ornament. Justin and I went and walked around Holland Gardens yesterday. During the regular year they just sell plants and gardening supplies, completely what you'd expect from a place named "Holland Gardens," but during the holidays they turn it into a huge Christmas tree showplace. There are TONS of trees, all with different themes, and I dare you to go in there looking for a specific kind of ornament and not find it. The also do custom Christmas lights, where you pick the color and shape of the bulb and how many you want and they string them up for you right there. It's really really amazing. Justin and I want to get an ornament together every year to commemorate what happened that year, and we're starting this year, since it's the first time we've both a) had the money for a special ornament and b) put up a tree together. Last year I had a tree, but only for 2 weeks as I got a late start and we were super broke. My dad gave us a little dog ornament that says "New Home 2005," because it was the first year we'd lived in a house instead of an apartment.

This year however, I went to Holland Gardens to break out the fancy stuff. I got a really beautiful sterling silver wedding cake ornament, which we will have engraved with 2006 on the bottom to celebrate our wedding this year, and I also got a little pewter bone ornament that says "woof," to honor the first year we had Maybe. And, not to commemorate anything, I got two bumble bee ornaments, one blue and yellow and one traditional gold and black because I like them, and Justin calls me "bumblebee." I'm going to keep those out all year and hang them from my dresser or something after the tree comes down.

Surprisingly, I'm practically done with my Christmas shopping. I have to grab one thing for my parents, one thing for Nikaia, and one more thing for Justin and that is *it* people. I'm so proud.
I thought my tail-bone was feeling better yesterday, but apparently the drugs were just working their magic, because I got overly excited last night and didn't take my pain pills before I went to bed, and now I feel once again like I'm going to die every time I sit down and stand up. As long as I can stay in one position for as long as possible I think I can make it...The chair I'm sitting in now kind of makes me sit really far forward off my butt, and is less painful than the couch, so I guess I'll camp out at the computer desk as much as I can...

Today is Justin's last day of school this semester. He's taking his final now. He has to make an 8 to have a 'B' or a 68 to have an 'A.' Impressive.

Let it Snow.

The scene:

So it started snowing Wednesday night, and just kept right on going into early Thursday afternoon. We couldn't see to drive to work on Wednesday, so we've had an extra long weekend, which would normally be quite nice, and it was, except that on Thursday morning when I took Maybe out, I decided that instead of staying on the porch like an intelligent human being, that I should try to get into the car for a box of Kleenex. I made it down the front steps with minimal drama, and all the way to the car. Just when I thought I was home free, both of my legs flew out in front of me and I crashed to the ground. I don't remember the actual fall, just the landing, (directly on my tail-bone, without benefit of even trying to catch myself). There was a terrible cracking sound, and my whole body was just...I don't even know the word...I felt like someone had dropped me off a roof. Because I couldn't move anything at first, I was terrified that my back was broken, it was 7am, dark, snowing, and really, really cold. I did not think I would be able to get into the house, and I was quite convinced that I would just have to freeze to death, and so be it.

I'm not sure how long I stayed on the ground, I'm sure it was only about 5 minutes or so, but it felt like hours. Justin was in the house sleeping, so in spite of the fact that I screamed for him, there was no way he could have heard me. I tried to dial 911 on my camera, surprisingly, it didn't work. Maybe, sensing that there was trouble and channeling Lassie, broke out of her terrified huddle in the snow (she'd never seen it before, and was quite scared), and managed, through nose prodding and whining, to convince me to get up off the ground. I didn't want to traumatize her any more than necessary, so I managed to stagger into the house. I think that if Maybe hadn't harassed me, I probably would have just stayed there, and happily became a pop-susan. She was a very brave dog and was rewarded with a wasabi-peanut.

I made it to Justin's room and got warmed up. I told him the story and since Justin is a fan of authority, he made me go to the emergency room for my broken tail-bone. However, the nurse there was like, "well, we can do an X-ray for you, but even if it's broken there's not a thing we can do about it." So after a short discussion we left. I don't need to pay for an emergency room visit if they're not even gonna fix me. (My HMO should send me a Christmas card.) Sooo, my tail-bone is probably broken, and it's very-very difficult to sit down, and to get back up again (getting up is worse). It's also hard to roll over in bed and riding in cars is just torture (although, probably not as bad as maybe riding on a train...or a horse. I haven't tried that yet). They tell me it will be like this for about 6 weeks. It's nice to have something to look forward to.

On the cheerful side, I did get a pretty good picture of Maybe in the snow:

Thanksgiving Pics

Thanksgiving was fun and now it's time to get ready for Christmas. We went to Panhandle on Thursday and drove back Thursday night. It was very scary because we were both quite tired as we worked all night Wednesday night and didn't really sleep in between work and going up North. We got home about 10 and I slept better than I ever have in my life without the benefit of medication. My Aunt Tommye, my brother and I went shopping on Friday like the maniacs we are, and she did manage to get some good deals on electronic gifts at Circuit City and I found some green apple licorice at Sutherlands (whoda thought?) I was super excited because I haven't had it since moving away from Canyon (home of the Mountain Man, oh how I miss him...) On Saturday we had Thanksgiving lunch at my dad's house which was also fun and I got to meet D'Liesa's boyfriend for the first time. He seems very nice. Anyway, nothing particularly new or exciting to report, except that I did get my Christmas tree up!! Most of my shopping is done too, and I'll start wrapping this weekend during arts and crafts time at my aunts. Yay! Here are some Turkey Day pics and one of my beauuuutiful tree

This is our official Thanksgiving picture. It was actually taken on Thanksgiving Day when we went for a walk in Panhandle

This is Ashlie with Nikaia. Isn't she getting big? (The baby, not Ashlie, who is quite slender)

Here's my Dad and Hunter waiting to eat.

And Hannah practicing her famous Whipped Cream Swallowing ActThis is D'Liesa with James. Cute huh?

And finally....my lovely tree!

Happy Thanksgiving

Yesterday was our 6 month anniversary. To celebrate I worked overtime, and today we went out for Indian food at our favorite restaurant. At lunch they have a buffet. Brilliant!! Justin just came back from a dog walk, and Maybe made a friend today. He lives down the street. I think he's a young pit-bull. She took him a rubber bone from her extensive collection of chew toys. I'm glad I have a dog with good manners.

I'm almost done with my Christmas shopping and in 3 days I get to PUT UP THE TREE!! We're still figuring out how we're going to keep Maybe from chewing on it, but I'm sure it will all work out.

I'm slightly morally opposed to Thanksgiving, as it was started by a bunch of Puritans who thought it was ok to hang people for their religious beliefs (whether they actually believed them or not), however I do enjoy the food. With that in mind, we're heading to Amarillo for Thanksgiving (actually, Panhandle by way of Amarillo). We get off work at 5:30 Thursday morning and we'll head towards Amarillo around 9 or so. I'm shopping with my aunt on Friday and then my family is doing the turkey thing on Saturday, so the rest of the week will be quite busy. Anyway, Everyone have a nice Thanksgiving and eat lots of dressing, that's my favorite!


{Editors Note: No actual turkeys were harmed in the making of this blog}

Whisper

I don't really have much to say, which is good as I have laryngitis. I figured I'd better post something even though my readership is steadily declining. Yesterday Justin and I got our flu shots. I had had a cold for the past few weeks as I mentioned in a previous post, but I thought that I was just about over it. They told us (not verbally, on their handy questionaire) that if we were sick we shouldn't take the shot. First off I tend to believe that's hooey, everyone knows that you don't get the flu from the shot these days...and Secondly I didn't think that I was still sick...

Apparently, you don't get the flu, but it bangs around your immune system enough preparing all those flu antibodies that you're susceptible to all sorts of other lovely diseases. And if you already have one of those lovely diseases (as in my case) the shot gives it room to just take on over. Gross.
I'm supposed to go to my aunt's house today and clean and perhaps go to Lubbock for some shopping...I'm still going to go but it's gonna be way less fun if I have to whisper and cough the whole time.

Socks

I'm a newly converted shoe wearer. That's right folks, the flip flop queen has made a turn around. I now have 3 pairs of new really cute tennis shoes. It was shocking to walk around target without my feet starting to hurt. I think I see a trend starting.

HOWEVER

I do not have any socks....so on my mission to find some I stumbled across this website, which, even non-sock wearers will confirm is pretty darn cool.

Also, anyone know a good gift for a 5 year old boy? I've got to buy for two in that age range this year, and having never been a five year old boy I'm just not sure...I don't think socks will cut it though.

Disgusting

I have a cold. It is making me cough and sneeze and gag and vomit (because of the drainage to my stomach, isn't that a lovely picture?) I've had this disgusting infection for almost a full week. It doesn't seem to be getting any better, but it doesn't seem to be getting worse either.

I wonder if I can file this under my accident insurance? I certainly didn't get it on purpose.