I have been slowly changing my lifestyle adding in more physical attention and health details. Last January I started working out regularly and lost about 40 pounds. I felt fantastic. I have been able to keep off about 30 of those 40, so that really is not horrible. Especially after hearing how some people lost 40 and gained 50 back within a year. I feel it coming back however. I feel the old person creeping back in. Let me make this perfectly clear, SHE IS NOT WELCOME HERE!! So, I did some research and some soul searching. I learned that I was doing the best with my changes when I was working with a personal trainer. But, time and money being what they are (slim to none), I decided to talk with some friends and the trainer I worked with before and ask for some suggestions and advice. What I discovered was a set of extreme workout videos that are designed to change you, not only your physical appearance but your mental attitude about yourself. Sounds like it is right up my alley. That's what I need, something to test my limits and push me out of my comfort zone, but not break my budget and allow me to work it into my crazy schedule of working, dropping kids off, picking kids up, running the PTO, and chairing the cub scout pack. I know, I know that's already a lot, but the thing that I have to remember is that I will be able to do all those jobs better and more efficiently, not to mention be happier while doing them, I can make some time for myself and become a healthier person.
I have a long way to go to meet my long term goals, but I think making the decision to shake things up and introduce something this extreme into my daily routine is testament to the fact that I am serious about doing this and making these lifelong changes now, before things go in the wrong direction.
I decided to get the "Insanity" workout program. Everything I have heard from friends that it is tough, but work the work. You will get the results if you can be disciplined enough to put the time in.
This is scheduled to arrive just before we leave on vacation for Spring Break. So, I will be tackling this decision starting upon returning from vacation. It is a 60 day program in which you are able to reshape your body, heart and mind in a way that makes you want more and more.
I will post all the changes and keep you all informed of my journey through what my friend called the "fire of hell you actually want to jump into." Not sure how to take that statement, but if things work for me the way they worked for her, I will be a much happier and healthier person.
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
A good fence makes for a good neighbor
The interaction with our neighbor as of late, has not been what you might call neighborly. A few months ago we got a letter in the mail from our neighbor. Yes, our next door neighbor. He and his wife moved here from California two years ago. We welcomed them to the neighborhood when they moved in, not knowing that they would become the biggest pain the a** the world would ever know! So, this letter last fall tells us that they want us to trim our tree (our 75 foot cottonwood tree that is older than both of us) straight up the property line to keep him from getting leaves in his yard. Excuse me, we live on the north side of you. Here in Colorado, we have a north prevailing wind that will blow the other 50 million leaves into your yard regardless of shape of the limbs at the top. We tried to ignore it, thinking we should be able to do with our tree as we see fit, until one day....I come home to find all the leaves from his yard raked and placed in the street in front of our driveway! And then proceeds to tell us that the leaves came out of our tree so they are our responsibility. (If you dislike leaves that much, go back to California where they don't have seasons) Yes, I think his cheese has slid off his cracker!
Obviously, he was not going to back off this, so we reluctantly hired a tree trimming service to come and trim the tree to make it look good, not just straight up the side of the tree. Thought that might appease the man, but I think we were giving him too much credit.
Since he did not get his way, he has decided to increase the severity of the pain he is causing. Come home from work one day to find a fence being built in the middle of our houses to separate the houses. Now, I'm all for not having to look at this guy any more than I have to. So, fence = great idea. Placement of the fence = bad. He has decided to just throw up a fence where ever he thinks the property line ought to be! (I think the cheese has slid under the fridge and has started to mold!)
We have hired a survey crew to verify the property line and he has to move the fence over to his side of the line. Again, the man is not happy. He has decided to go after us for the shed in our back yard not abiding by city code. What he doesn't realize is that I am like a little bull terrier. Not going to back down until I have exhausted all possibilities to keep my life as basic as I can. Moving a shed across the yard? Not really a high priority list item. The city is looking into the possibility of a variance for the shed for us.
Will let you know the status of the shed and the neighbor's cheese....maybe it will spontaneously combust here soon! (Wait, I'm not that lucky!)
Obviously, he was not going to back off this, so we reluctantly hired a tree trimming service to come and trim the tree to make it look good, not just straight up the side of the tree. Thought that might appease the man, but I think we were giving him too much credit.
Since he did not get his way, he has decided to increase the severity of the pain he is causing. Come home from work one day to find a fence being built in the middle of our houses to separate the houses. Now, I'm all for not having to look at this guy any more than I have to. So, fence = great idea. Placement of the fence = bad. He has decided to just throw up a fence where ever he thinks the property line ought to be! (I think the cheese has slid under the fridge and has started to mold!)
We have hired a survey crew to verify the property line and he has to move the fence over to his side of the line. Again, the man is not happy. He has decided to go after us for the shed in our back yard not abiding by city code. What he doesn't realize is that I am like a little bull terrier. Not going to back down until I have exhausted all possibilities to keep my life as basic as I can. Moving a shed across the yard? Not really a high priority list item. The city is looking into the possibility of a variance for the shed for us.
Will let you know the status of the shed and the neighbor's cheese....maybe it will spontaneously combust here soon! (Wait, I'm not that lucky!)
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Forced Day Off
If you are a mom, you know the days off are few and far between. Well that's how its been lately. Jeremy keeps trying to tell me that "no" is a magical word. I just can't seem to learn how and when to use it. Since Christmas it has been one event after another.
It started with a wonderful weekend in Estes Park to celebrate our 10th Wedding Anniversary. That was a true weekend off. The cell phones didn't even work at the Bed and Breakfast we stayed in. The only ti e we had cell service was when we went down into town to get dinner! Once we returned, life exploded. Kids and Jeremy kept coming home sick, and somehow I evaded the "bugs."
The kids attend St. John's Catholic School here in Loveland. With that said, each family is required to volunteer a minimum of 50 hours over the course of the year, starting July 1st. It is only the beginning of February, and I am at 268 hours thus far. (There lies the word "no" I was telling you about). I am not complaining mind you, I am merely telling you this so you understand what my life has been like lately.
First event after our weekend getaway was the Cub Scout Pine Wood Derby. Since I am slowly absorbing duties of the Pack Committee Chair, I was required to come to the derby and learn as much about the "behind the scenes" stuff as I could. All of this while providing breakfast to the pack and the crowd of parents waiting to watch their son's car blaze down the track. I made 60 breakfast burritos for this event, along with other items to eat. As much work as this one was, it was just a warm up for the events to come....
Each February, all Catholic Schools across the nation participate in Catholic Schools Week, where we celebrate our Catholic School Community and give back to the communities around us. Each school does this a little different. Our school plans activities throughout the week that involves all of the community, church and school alike. We begin with the Annual Sock Hop Dance on Saturday Night. Then Sunday is Catholic Schools Week Mass at church. There are different things throughout each day that the kids do during the school day. Thursday is Family Day, where the families of each child are invited to attend lunch with their child. This was our biggest event so far, over 500 people came out to eat at the school. Now, working in the school kitchen, I was more involved this year than in years past. And what a big job this was. We offered spaghetti with or without meat sauce or lasagna, salad, bread, oranges, and dessert. We made 13 pans of lasagna (27X13), 20 pounds of meat for the sauce and 26 pounds of pasta!
Now, you would think that this was the end for me for the week, but I also was hired to cater the Staff Appreciation Breakfast the next morning. I sent out invitations like a wedding giving each staff member a choice of entrees for their breakfast. They could choose from Eggs Benedict with Ranch potatoes, Blueberry Blintzes with a side of bacon or a Chorizo Burrito. Each one came with a cinnamon roll. Now, I was really in my groove. 32 people RSVP'd "yes." I was really in my element. This went extremely well, by the way.
Ok, so it's now Saturday, and you would think I have a chance to relax and have a day off, but nope....it's Monster Truck Rally day for the Cub Scout Pack Outing. The 40 boys and their parents had a good time!
So now, it's Sunday and I really need to get some stuff done around the house, but BAM!! A forced day off....I have the flu! I was just telling someone at work how lucky I have been not to come down with anything yet. (guess I cursed myself huh?) So, in between napping and forcing fluids down my gullet, I am sitting here recalling the chain of events that have transpired over the past couple of weeks to you. I suppose I am going to be forced to take Monday off as well. We tell all the parents of the school to keep their little ones home if they have been vomiting or run a fever for at least 24 hours after the last incident. So, since I prepare food for the kids to eat, I better follow our guidelines and stay home too!
It started with a wonderful weekend in Estes Park to celebrate our 10th Wedding Anniversary. That was a true weekend off. The cell phones didn't even work at the Bed and Breakfast we stayed in. The only ti e we had cell service was when we went down into town to get dinner! Once we returned, life exploded. Kids and Jeremy kept coming home sick, and somehow I evaded the "bugs."
The kids attend St. John's Catholic School here in Loveland. With that said, each family is required to volunteer a minimum of 50 hours over the course of the year, starting July 1st. It is only the beginning of February, and I am at 268 hours thus far. (There lies the word "no" I was telling you about). I am not complaining mind you, I am merely telling you this so you understand what my life has been like lately.
First event after our weekend getaway was the Cub Scout Pine Wood Derby. Since I am slowly absorbing duties of the Pack Committee Chair, I was required to come to the derby and learn as much about the "behind the scenes" stuff as I could. All of this while providing breakfast to the pack and the crowd of parents waiting to watch their son's car blaze down the track. I made 60 breakfast burritos for this event, along with other items to eat. As much work as this one was, it was just a warm up for the events to come....
Each February, all Catholic Schools across the nation participate in Catholic Schools Week, where we celebrate our Catholic School Community and give back to the communities around us. Each school does this a little different. Our school plans activities throughout the week that involves all of the community, church and school alike. We begin with the Annual Sock Hop Dance on Saturday Night. Then Sunday is Catholic Schools Week Mass at church. There are different things throughout each day that the kids do during the school day. Thursday is Family Day, where the families of each child are invited to attend lunch with their child. This was our biggest event so far, over 500 people came out to eat at the school. Now, working in the school kitchen, I was more involved this year than in years past. And what a big job this was. We offered spaghetti with or without meat sauce or lasagna, salad, bread, oranges, and dessert. We made 13 pans of lasagna (27X13), 20 pounds of meat for the sauce and 26 pounds of pasta!
Now, you would think that this was the end for me for the week, but I also was hired to cater the Staff Appreciation Breakfast the next morning. I sent out invitations like a wedding giving each staff member a choice of entrees for their breakfast. They could choose from Eggs Benedict with Ranch potatoes, Blueberry Blintzes with a side of bacon or a Chorizo Burrito. Each one came with a cinnamon roll. Now, I was really in my groove. 32 people RSVP'd "yes." I was really in my element. This went extremely well, by the way.
Ok, so it's now Saturday, and you would think I have a chance to relax and have a day off, but nope....it's Monster Truck Rally day for the Cub Scout Pack Outing. The 40 boys and their parents had a good time!
So now, it's Sunday and I really need to get some stuff done around the house, but BAM!! A forced day off....I have the flu! I was just telling someone at work how lucky I have been not to come down with anything yet. (guess I cursed myself huh?) So, in between napping and forcing fluids down my gullet, I am sitting here recalling the chain of events that have transpired over the past couple of weeks to you. I suppose I am going to be forced to take Monday off as well. We tell all the parents of the school to keep their little ones home if they have been vomiting or run a fever for at least 24 hours after the last incident. So, since I prepare food for the kids to eat, I better follow our guidelines and stay home too!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)