Lucky, Lucky Me

I am lucky. I spent the weekend, a blissful relaxing weekend, in San Francisco. I hit the road Friday after work and got to The City just in time to catch the last of the debate on Friday night. I stayed at my friend's vacation home overlooking Union Square, with views of The Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz. Alone. Solo. Just me. It was heaven.

Before I met The Husband, 4 and a 1/2 years ago, and before The Little Miss, I did a lot of solo traveling. I've done many trips by myself and I love the solitude, the adventure of it and the freedom of moving about this world by myself. It excites me. So far, I've never found myself bored or lonely. I've met so many interesting people and struck up lots of conversations with people I would have never talked to if I had been with a traveling companion. Friendships are forged and I have been brought into many groups of fellow travelers, because I was out on my own.

This weekend reminded me of those more carefree time. I could do what I wanted, when I wanted. There was no one to consult with, no one to coordinate with and no one else I had to please, but me. It felt so decadent and indulgent to give up all my responsibilities for the weekend and pretend I was without a care in the world.

No waking up to a child crying in the other room, no laundry, no meals to cook, no cares. I slept uninterrupted, I shopped, I read uninterrupted, I went to art museums, I ate wonderful food and I soaked up the vitality of city life.

The Husband still encourages me to take these trips. He loves having his time with The Little Miss and loves his time alone as well. He loves he can go to the market and get a pumpkin pie and cool whip, he loves he can pack a lunch for The Little Miss that has the "big" cookies in it and loves he can have Buffalo Wings and pizza for dinner. It's his way to have his freedom in this world and the arrangement works for me.

Today, I am energized. I am more patient with The Little Miss. I'm more in love with The Husband because he understands my need for solitude and more in love with myself for not loosing who I am in the transformation of my life over the last few years.

Treadmill Theory of Time

I went to the gym yesterday and, my god, an hour on the treadmill seemed to last FOREVER and I'm sure it wasn't just the uber-stinky guy next to me. Although, after he took his sweaty body and walked away I was a much happier girl. I read a couple magazines and watched Oprah about some mother who after having her second child had to have part of both arms and legs amputated due to some viral infection. I was wiping away the tears and must have looked like a total dork... cryin' at the gym, watching Oprah. I finally had to turn to something else cuz I was such a mess.

And just question for you all because I don't really understand. Why is it that an hour on a treadmill seems *so* much longer than an hour walking outside in the real world? Does working out on a treadmill slow time down?

Have a great weekend everyone... I'm road-tripping again, this time solo to San Francisco. I can't wait!

If Anyone is Interested

This was in my email the other day and thought some of you might be interested since, I know there are a lot of you who watch The Biggest Loser.

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Hey!

I know that you've been sharing each step of your weight-loss journey with your blog's readers so I thought you might want to take the fellowship to the next level with a new interactive extension of NBC's The Biggest Loser called, The Biggest Loser League. It's an online weight-loss support network where people can set up (or join existing) teams and complete weekly weight-loss challenges while rooting each other on. Here is the link to the site if you'd like to find out more information: http://tbll.nbc.com/

If you set up a team for you blog, I have Biggest Loser sweatshirts that you could give away to readers that sign up :)

Also, the second episode of The Biggest Loser: Families airs tonight @8/7c on NBC. If you missed the first episode, you can watch it here: http://www.nbc.com/The_Biggest_Loser/video/episodes/#vid=642521

Here are some bonus clips that didn't make it into the premiere: http://www.nbc.com/The_Biggest_Loser/video/categories/bonus-scenes/640462/

For more information on the show visit: http://www.nbc.com/The_Biggest_Loser/


Take care,

360i on behalf of NBC

Heidi Klum is Lucky

I felt like I was back in my "clubbing" days, dancing with my eyes closed, letting the music wash over me and moving my body. It was loud enough to feel the vibrations, the lights flashing and putting on a show of their own. Each audience member in a world of their own. Oh, what a night.

The Husband and I went to see Seal last night, in concert at at a small theater, and I loved every minute of it. Where we were sitting, about 6 rows back, the majority of the people were women 40+, who had left their inhibitions at home and were screaming like teenagers. He played to them, capturing the gaze of each and everyone of them. Stares held, in their eyes, just long enough to make them feel just a little bit uneasy. Even I, had my private moment with him, gazing at me, it was just us. Time stood still. There was a brief nano-second where I thought I might ditch The Husband and run off to some exotic island with Seal, but I'm not really sure he's ready to leave his wifey. And then of course, there were the other thousand scantily clad, plastic surgery breasted, nipped and tucked, women that I'd have to beat as I ran off with my new man. Oh well, good thing there's fantasy.

There's something about him I find super attractive and Heidi Klum is lucky.

Speaking of lucky. Friday night, the first night The Husband and I had the house without The Little Miss in the next room, was, well shall we say fun? rockin'? loud? or all of the above. I'm ready for the next Little Miss sleep over since I'm newly stocked with fantasies of Seal.

Oh, and the weigh loss thing? Yeah, that's coming right a long too.

Earthquake Warning

Someone stole my week from me and I'm just not sure where it went. I can't believe it's already Friday. The week went well. I did work out (almost) everyday, I drank water so much so that I must have spent at least 29% of my day in the bathroom and I did throw out the Oreo cookies, minus 2 that went into my belly.

I'm feeling back on track and now I need to just stay with this new groovy groove.

The Little Miss has a little sleep over tonight with The Amazing Nanny and her family. Since she's been at school everyday, The Amazing Nanny has been missing The Little Miss and has been stalking, me wanting to get her hands on my little girl. They had a little "playdate' (I HATE that term, but until I can come up with something clever, I'll just stick with it) last week and they asked if they could have a sleep over soon. So, my friends, tonight is the night, The Little Miss is not in the house which means I'm getting me some lovin' tonight. This will be the first time in 2 1/2 years where we've slept in our own bed without The Little Miss in the room next door. So, if you read about an earthquake in California in tomorrow's news, don't worry... it was just us.

Sorry if that offends anyone, but I'm an adult and we do those things.

Hope you all have a good weekend, I know I will.

What a Weekend

After this weekend, I really need to refocus my energies. The trip was a success on all counts except for the TOTAL binge on food, especially super delicious junk food. It started out as we were leaving town and we hit those shiny beautiful Golden Arches that signify why American dominance is so great. Full bellied with a cheeseburger, fries and diet coke, we continued on our 6 hour journey with the car filled with snacks. Chips, beef jerky, and M&M's being on the top of my snack list. 5 hours into the ride, we stopped for dinner and we indulged in a super greasy pepperoni pizza. Oh delish!!!

I won't bore you all with the gory details but lets just say I'm in heavy detox and have myself a bit of a headache.

This weeks fitness/eating/food goals:

1. To plan my dinner menu for the week
2. Hit the gym or go for walks every single day
3. Water, water, water
4. Eat healthy
5. Throw out the rest of the Oreo cookies before I eat them all

Challenges and Successes

I found me a challenge yesterday. It's Baby Tea Leaves' Hot for the Holidays ~Unwrap Your Potential Challenge. It's not so much an individual weight loss challenge but a challenge for all who sign up for it to collectively lose 500 pounds! Yep you heard me we're going to be loosing 500 lbs before the holidays. Sounds ambitious, yes, but that's who we roll people.

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The Husband, The Little Miss and I are heading out of town once again. This time we're going to June Lake which is about a 7 hour drive from here in the Eastern Sierras. We're going to a family house which is situated across the lake on some land that my paternal grandfather had developed in the 1920's. We're going with my dad to do some maintenance around the place and enjoy some quiet time with him.

For the past 10 or so years this has been the one vacation I take with Dad every year, usually spending a long weekend waking up really early, packing lunches and going for hikes. Until my 30's I was never close to my dad and found it rather difficult to have a relationship with him. We had some really rough years in there and there were times when months would go by and we wouldn't talk although he lived 10 minutes away. I'm sorry those times happened because he's a good man, but extremely shy and very socially awkward and I just wasn't sure how to relate to him. I know that may seem weird, but I just didn't know what to do so one day I just thought to myself, just talk to him like you would any other person and see what happens. That revelation made all the difference and we slowly forged a relationship.

There are still challenges and to this day it still is hard for me to hold a "normal" conversation with him because it seems like I'm almost forcing him to talk, but I enjoy my time with him and have enjoyed getting to know my father. Regardless of how hard I've had to work at building my relationship and regardless of how long I waited to really try, I love him so much and this challenge has been worth every moment and a huge success.

Ready to Go

After cruising through a few blogs yesterday I totally realized I needed to get off my lazy ass and get some exercise. So you know what crazy thing I did? I laced up my shoes and headed down to the gym around 3:15 yesterday and got myself a workout.

Let me just tell you how empty the gym was at 3:15. I found parking right in front, and there were only 2 other people in the entire cardio room. It was so nice not to have that weird gym vibe happening and have to sign my name on some list just to use a machine. As I was getting ready to leave at about 4:30, people starting packing the place up so, I'm thinking that time of day just might work for me on a regular basis.

My food thing is still grooving right a long so I'm hoping with this little bump of increased exercise I may just be able to shed a few more pounds.

To keep up my motivation I'm ready to sign up for any challenges people may have going on so If you're hosting something or know of one, if you could pass on the info to me that would be appreciated.

Just More Nonsense

I have a feeling that September is going to be a total blur. It's started off fast and furious and I don't see an end in sight. I started my new 9a-1p work schedule at the beginning of the month which as been great, except I am freakishly busy at work I don't have ANY time to play. Busy at work = No blogging at work. Since that's where I did most of my blog writing and reading, I feel as though I am quickly loosing touch with everyone. Now that blogging is out for me at work, I'll have to find time in the afternoons to do it when I get home. And so far, my afternoons have been filled with doing complete nonsense.

I now try and do all my errands after work so I don't have to lug The Little Miss around with me, because it really is fun going grocery shopping and wandering around a bookstore with a two year old. I've also had a computer tech-y guy come out to the house to upgrade and work out some kinks in my computer at home. I've gone in search of new prescription glasses, which I successfully found at Costco. And by the way if you didn't read in my previous post, LensCrafters is a TOTAL ripoff and never ever buy glasses there. I ended up getting 2 pairs at Costco for less than $200 and that, my friends, is a deal I can live with. This list of after work craziness goes on, and as of today, going to the gym or exercise of any kind has not found its there.

Weight wise, I'm pretty much maintaining at my 25 pound or so loss. I'm still hanging in on portion control and eating more or less "healthy" foods. I promise, by weeks end, I will start my new exercise regime, which of course will be quickly interrupted because we're heading out of town on Friday and will be back next week. But, a start it will be and I can pick up where I left off. Doesn't that always seem to be the case?

My Week in Review

So it's been about a week since I've last been here and sheesh! I miss you guys. There's lots to tell you, but instead I thought I give you a quick recap of the week's events.

1. Best friend came from Washington DC for Labor Day Weekend.
2. She brought her creepy boyfriend.
3. I still don't like him
4. They are talking of getting married.
5. What would I say if I had to give a toast?
6. She has gained as much weight as I have lost since we last saw each other, 26 pounds. But, I still feel like a big girl.
7. My new part time work schedule has started.
8. I love it although my afternoons are already packed with things I didn't think I'd have to do.
9. Today is my birthday.
10. I am closer to 45 than I am 40, and I have a 2 year old. What was I thinking? And why didn't anyone warn me.
11. LensCrafters is rip off. I went to get a new pair of prescription sunglasses but even with my AAA discount of 30%, the glasses I wanted were going to be $350+ dollars. And they weren't even nearly $200 cute.
12. I need to start walking again. Now.
13. My brother got laid off his job. He was in the banking industry.
14. He went fishing off the coast of Mexico on Monday and brought back the most delicious fish I have ever had. At least he's making the best of his time.
15. I don't think I could ever eat store bought fish again.
16. I miss my bloggy friends. I hope you missed me too.
17. I can't wait to find out what everyone is up to.
18. I tried to add memory and update my OS on my computer all by myself and failed miserably.
19. Now I have to pay to have someone do it for me. So instead of buying sunglasses, I'm paying for Cody the computer geek to come over.
20. I hope you all are doing well.