THINK THIN THURSDAYS, 2 DAYS LATE

Hello~

Well as you can see I'm a bit behind on my blogging. So you get Think Thin Thursday, Aloha Friday, and then Weekly Wrap up Saturday all in one post. Might want to grab a cup of coffee and stay awhile! Actually Im going to skip Aloha Friday because I haven't had time to think of a good question. We will pick that back up next Friday.

Earlier this week I was searching out the blogosphere and I came a across a neat little blog that has Think Thin Thursday! Since I am doing the whole Biggest Loser challenge with my brother and some 35 other people (WhoooHoooo, how cool is that) I thought this would be a great little thing to keep me motivated!

Soooo for Think thin Thursday, I'm supposed to note my goals for the coming week. In doing Weight Watchers this week, I have done well, but I noticed a couple areas where I'm falling short.

1. Drinking enough water.

2. Eating enough fruits and veggies.

So this would be my goal for next.....to improve upon my shortcomings in these areas.

Otherwise, WW has been great. I'm really enjoying doing this as well as the Biggest Loser Challenge I'm doing with my brother. OF NOTE: While in the grocery store I saw they had The Biggest Loser workout videos. I really like Jillian, even though she is a skinny little biatch even though she is just a tiny little thing, so I'm looking forward to trying those out.

If you are interested in joining our Biggest Loser Challenge, email me at kgepper@columbus.rr.com. I can get you all the details and the link to the Yahoo group as well.

Now on to BIG NEWS!!! I'm soooo excited to post that I lost 4.2 pounds this week at WW. Actually I was hoping for a phenomenal weight loss, like is 75 pounds too much to ask, LMBO?!? Seriously I would have liked to cross the 5 pound mark for my first week, since so much of it is water weight anyhow at first. It's OK, I'll take it! Wouldn't it be nice to lose the weight as fast as it came on?

I got some GREAT recipes this week that I'll be posting on my Biggest Loser Yahoo site for the team to try out. If you are interested, I can post them here as well. Today I made a Creamy Chicken and Spinach Tortellini Soup that was only 6 points and it was really filling! Filling is the name of the game for me right now!

On other news, John has been up in Cleveland since yesterday morning. They are getting POUNDED with snow and are at a level 2 snow emergency. We have not gotten too much here! He expects to be there till Sunday sometime. On one hand *sniff* on the other hand Whooo Hooooo! I kinda like being a free spirit when he is not around.

Trav has been seeing his friend-girl that has been home from college. They are "on" when she is home and "off" when she goes back. I think it works for both of them, LOL!

Work has been crazy and I'm looking forward to getting these Christmas decorations down. It reminds me of funny story where this doctor I used to work with, awesome guy, but he was married to a doctor as well, so needless to say household things got away from them. Well it was the end of February and he came in to work and showed us a note he found in his mail box that read....."If you can't take them down, at least turn them off!!!" This was in reference to the Christmas lights that were set on a timer to turn on everynight. Poor Sax.......Soooo funny though!

Make it a GREAT Saturday!

We LOST!!!

Well that game was a complete bummer! Jeez! I thought we had finally won a bowl game and sure enough, we choked! Ahhh well there is always next year I guess!

Not much going on here, but I'm on day 4 of Weight Watchers. My brother and I are doing a Biggest Loser challenge and we have 35 people signed up! I am sooooo excited at the interest, but Dangggg everyone must be in the mood to diet! I just don't want to look like I do right now for the upcoming graduation festivities in May/June. So far so good. WW has changed their plan a little bit. Not much, just a little bit. They kind of did away with the CORE program (which I never did anyhow because I NEED BREAD) and they combined it with the Flex program. WW always has worked well for me if I stick to it, so I'm stickin to it. I guess I need to resign myself to the fact that I need someone to look at the scale once a week!

I went out into our garage yesterday and low and behold, there was an exercise bike. Whoaaa, where did that come from??? My BIL was here on New Years day and evidently didn't want it any longer. I suppose he looked at us and figured, Kim and John could use it, LOL. So I dragged it in all excited, and John and I got on it last night after dinner. Separately not together, hee hee. I am a little uncoordinated, but Jeez, pedaling and moving my arms back and forth as I pedal on those handles, .....I am pretty sure I suffer from short arm syndrome or something, because it was killing my shoulders. And you know, I didn't want to overdo it.....so I just kinda sat on it and rode it a little bit, kinda showed it who was boss.....and maybe tonight I'll actually do 10 minutes....Sad, I know!

Travis is deep into play practice, and I still crack up when I hear him practicing! He was nominated for Teen of the Month for our county. Keep your fingers crossed! I hope he gets it.

I guess that is all for me tonight. Talk soon.......

GO BUCKEYES!!!

GOOOOOOO BUCKEYES!!!

BEAT THE LONGHORNS!!

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and Getting on With 2009

Hi There Everyone! I know I have been seriously MIA of late! Sooo much to tell. To make a long story short, John brought home the flu and as we were leaving to drive to my mom's on Christmas Eve he tells me he is sick, nauseated, etc. He decides to go anyhow, but turns around halfway there and goes home. Was it wrong for me to keep going????? I mean I had a back seat and trunk full of pressies for the fam....I was feeling fine.....John was cool with it, but bless his heart he had to pull over a few times on the way home. Sooooo I'm at my moms having a glass of wine with my neices and I'm thinking, hmmmmmm I'm not feeling so great. Ohhhh Wait for it.....because you know where this is going! I spent Christmas day in a hotel (hotel was booked already because when we all get together at my mom's it is hard for everyone to get ready, so one of us usually books a hotel room). OMG I was sooooo thankful I had booked it this year. It was quiet because no one was there, dark because hotel rooms are always dark, and just wonderful. The only thing.....You know how they run that movie The Christmas Story for 24 hours straight on Christmas. Well my TV was stuck on that channel, and everytime I woke up it seemed like it was at the exact same spot in the movie! Ugh.......I got there at 10 a.m. on the 25th and never really saw anyone or the light of day till the 26th! John and I kept tabs on each other and commiserated together though, LOL!

Unfortunately, there were a few more flu fatalities throughout the family.....my mom, my dad, (which really did make me feel really bad. I hate to see them sick) and my 2 neices. That is all I have heard so far. OMG my name is dirt in my family's homes, LMBO!!!! Everyone is all better now though.

Moving on to New Years Eve/New Years Day. John and I decided to go see The Curious Life of Benjamin Button. Awesome, Awesome movie, and Brad Pitt, OMG I die!!! He is just gorgeous! I loved it and I recommend it to everyone! We then went out to dinner for Chinese and then home. We were in bed by 11 and I kept dozing but he did nudge me when the ball dropped and we had our New Years kiss. Then back to sleep. Party animals, aren't we? Travis called at about 10 after though and he really is a party animal, LMBO! Scary, but at least they were staying in at a friend's house. John's brother Chuck came down on New Year's day and we had the traditional Pork Roast and Sour Kraut dinner. Yummilicious!!

So with new year starts the resolutions and plans for the coming year. Travis graduates this year (OMG don't even get me started, I cry everytime I think about it), and I surely do not want to look like I do today when he graduates! So when I was home my one brother who is heavy as well (and he also has a very serious medical condition so really should be losing weight, not to mention the 2 sets of twins who need their daddy), we were talking about dieting. We pinky promised that we would do a biggest loser contest. Personally I think I can kick his A$$ at this. Then I was thinking, Hey, the more the merrier, and success in masses! If you want to start the year off working toward a healthier lifestyle, jump on the bandwagon with us!

You don't have to tell me how much you weigh or anything like that, and you don't have to do the same diet that we are doing. In fact, I'm sure JD and I are doing different diets because he tends to go for South Beach and I joined Weight Watchers yesterday. You just have to do what works for you!

What I do want to keep track of is your weekly weight loss and if you want to share, the amount you would like to lose, even if it is just a percentage. Baby steps, LOL!! I may even open a Yahoo Group for us, depending on how many people want to join up!

I am also one of the leaders on the Columbus Spark People team and that is a GREAT resource as well!!! I encourage you all to check Spark People out!!

If you are interested in participating in our Biggest Loser Challenge, let me know! Email me at kgepper@columbus.rr.com .

Well thats about it for now. Hope you all are off to the start of a GREAT NEW YEAR!!!!

Kim

The Week Before Christmas, And All Through the House

Not a decoration was hanging, not even a, ummm, errrr, Well Jeez I don't know what fits there! I cannot believe it is the week before Christmas. I have soooo much to do and no time to do it. I need to get off my lazy rump and get busy. I have the finishing touches of decorating to do, send out the Christmas cards, finish the Christmas gifts for my team and mail them, finish shopping, and finally wrap everything. Sheesh!!

This Saturday is our annual progressive dinner with the Craigs and the Richards. I have salads this year. I usually do appetizers because I live the farthest out, and they all like to sip the sauce and don't really want to drive after that. Ohhhh don't get me wrong, we sip it too, but neither John nor I are big drinkers so it just works out better this way. I'm going to make an italian antipasto salad and then another one called Holiday Rice. It is TO DIE FOR. I'll have to post the recipe here.

BIG NEWS: On a whim Travis decided to try out for the school play. This totally shocked me because he is more of a jock and I just never realized he had an interest. However, one of his friends, a girl, was trying to get a bunch of guys to go out for the play. Well this one said he would if that one did, and that one said he would if this one did. Finally this girl said that someone better man up and go out so that all of them did. Travis spoke up first and soon 6 of them were going out for the play. After an extremely grueling try out, where he had to sing his heart out to New York New York, act like a gangster, walk like a girl, sing like a girl, and who knows what else, he walked away with one of the lead roles, LMBO!! They are doing Some Like It Hot and he is Jerry, or the part Jack Lemon played in the movie. He is actually really excited about it! I just keep cracking up, because this is so NOT HIM, but maybe it is him and I just never realized it. He always did like to be the center of attention, LOL!

John and I did some Christmas shopping today. He got off early because he has to go plow tonight. We went to Kohls and I got a coat, which I desperately needed. I wanted the Wii Fit, but he says anything he buys me having to do with exercise just sits there, so he refused. OK THAT IS JUST SAD, and true, but mostly sad! So needless to say, no Wii Fit for me. Thats ok, I'll buy my own after Christmas. We went out to dinner and actually had a very nice talk. I think we both really enjoyed it. It's not often that John "lets me in" to see the real him, but tonight he was open and candid and very amenable to certain conversations. He tends to put walls up and I love it when he lets them down and lets me in there!

Well thats about it for me. I guess I need to go get started on some of the crap I have listed above! It wont get done with me sittin her bloggin!

TTYL!!

Aloha Friday

In Hawaii, Aloha Friday is the day they take it easy and look forward to the weekend. I think I really, really like this idea!! So the idea is that I ask a simple question. Feel free to answer by leaving a comment~

So my question for today is:

What is the one thing you look most forward to at Christmas Time??

You know, I would love to say getting together with family and rejoicing the season, and seeing all the bright smiles on the kids faces, and opening presseis (which is a close second, LOL) etc. But I really have to be honest. My favorite thing about the holidays is something so different than all of that. And it is wrong on so many levels, LOL.

My favorite thing about Christmas time is my moms stuffed cabbages.

I should not be looking forward to food all year long. Think of Christmas and think...."Mmmmmmmm, mom's stuffed cabbages......" Its November....."ahhhhhh, 1 more month till the stuffed cabbages." Driving home to celebrate with the family..."Hurry up John, drive faster!!! There won't be any stuffed cabbages left at this rate!!"

But hey, we only get them once a year ya know? She slaves away making a zillion and one of the little buggers, so that we can have them for Christmas dinner and then have enough for each of her 4 kids to take a bundle home. OMG they are heavenly. OK is that bad??? Probably.

Jackson Gepperheimer

So, I'm going about my business, living my life away, thinking I have the cutest dog ever, and come to find out not everyone thinks so! **GASP** **SHOCK** **HORROR** I never knew people felt this way! After I posted the picture of Jackson on my blog last night I was talking to my mom and said, "OMG can you even stand that dog? Look how cute he is!!" She goes..."Well, he's not really that cute." WHAT???? REALLY? I MEAN REALLY MOM???? We have had him 5 years now and I'm just finding this out??? What does she see that I don't see? Or actually what do I see that she does not see??? I see such a precious little face when I look at him. Such sweet eyes. Sure I felt that other people in the family thought their dogs were cuter than mine.....(cough, no names mentioned here, cough, TERRI..., LOL), but Whateva, ya know???

There is no doubt, the Gepperheimer has issues. We adopted him from Angels for Animals in Salem Ohio. John still flips them off when he drives by, LOL! I had requested a terrier-type dog. They called me and we went in, and thinking I was getting a Schnauzer or something like it, I was surprised to see this big 40+ pound rust colored dog, with a funky ear that sticks out (above it looks like it is laying back, but that ear actually sticks straight out), part something and part something else, with a wee bit of terrier somewhere down the line. Wait, this was not the dog I had imagined!! However, 10 minutes in the room with him and I realized that this dog was a sweetie pie and we definitely wanted him. This could have possibly happened with any dog they brought into that room. Jackson just happened to be the lucky one. From the minute we brought him home, at 2 years old, he was deathly afraid of John. Funny enough, all John was looking for was "Mans Best Friend." The dog is terrified of him, even 5 years into it. Travis darn near tortures the thing when they play and he is fine, but if John looks at the dog the wrong way, he cowers and hides. We have deduced that he was abused by someone who looked amazingly like John. We also figured out that he was left outside on a chain, because when it is raining, the dog will hold his business all day long rather than go outside. He also, in the 5 years we have had him, has NEVER let John put him out on his chain to go to the bathroom. When he gets excited he tends to pee.....often marking the shoes of unsuspecting guests coming for a visit, however, this has gotten much better and is almost a non-existent trait now. He also does not like to be disturbed when he is sleeping, and he is every bit as grouchy as Travis if you wake him up before he is ready.

All of this and I still love the little guy. It is amazing the joy a dog can bring to your life. Such complete and unconditional love. You can yell at them for barking in the yard, and yet let them in and they will lick your face off! You leave them all day long in a kennel in the basement, and yet when you come home they are so darn happy to see ya, they could care less what their day was like. They are just looking forward!! When he runs up to me with his one ear sticking straight out, showing me his "boo boo" for a treat, it just amazes me! I love his little self!!

I guess the gist of this post is that even though not everyone see's what I see in Jackson Gepperheimer, I'm the lucky one who gets to take care of him every single day! So it doesn't matter what anyone thinks!! What an epiphany! Life is good!!!

LIFE........

Hi There~

Well with the winter weather brings many changes to John's job. He is a building property manager and in the winter months they plow. His "territory" is up in the Cleveland area, which is expecting quite the snow storm tonight and tomorrow. So he will be leaving at midnight and has hotel reservations for Friday and Saturday. He said I more than likely will not see him till Sunday.

OK in one sense this makes me happy.....LOL....Happy because I don't have to cook. I just hate to cook anymore. In another sense, I miss him when he goes. He works long hours when he is plowing and I worry about him when he is by himself out there. Again on the brighter side.....I'm a free spirit....I can do whatever I want for 2 whole days! Actually, what I'll be doing is decorating for Christmas! I also need to finish up the last of my shopping! And John is seriously NO FUN to shop with. The man breaks out into a cold sweat in the parking lot of Kohls.

Other news......My SIL Lisa broke her collar bone last Memorial Day and at 36 she isnt healing so well. She had surgery to put hardware in a few months back, and then the Monday before Thanksgiving she had the hardware taken out. She has been in an immense amount of pain since then, and after going to the doctor's today she found out the fracture was not healed. She will be going in for surgery again tomorrow. Please keep my SIL, my brother and their family in your thoughts and prayers. This has been such a nightmare for them, not only physically for my SIL but financially as well. She missed 6 weeks of work the first surgery, then all last week, and now another 6 weeks after this surgery. Sigh........ (((HUGS))) Frank and Lisa.

My diet sucks.....guess that's all I can say about that right now. I really need to start putting myself first and take 1/2 hour a day and exercise, just for me. I'm about ready to consider gastric bypass, but my boss seems to think I can do it! She is extremely motivating so I think I'll lean on her a bit for some support. She actually lost 140+ pounds on her own with diet and exercise, and is NOT a fan of surgery at all!

Well on that happy note....I'm out......See ya soon!

Quiet.....It Sounds Beautiful!!

Well the last of my company went home today with my parents pulling out of my driveway about an hour ago. I always miss them when they leave. I miss everyone when they leave. At least we get to do it all again in a month for Christmas.....This time at my mom's.

So the Thanksgiving dinner was wonderful. My whole family was here and Johns brother came down from Ashland. It was soooooo delish, but I honestly feel like I really don't need to eat anything till Tuesday and be fine with that. I don't EVEN want to get on the scale.

The holiday came and went and I did not take even one picture. Can you believe that??? Terrible! Never even thought to pull the camera out.

We did venture out on Black Friday. I finished up with Travis, but that's about all I did. I can't say what I got him because he reads this.....so it will have to wait!

Well I'm off to go take a nap. I beat! Hope everyone has a great weekend!!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING WORLD!!!

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!! I hope you all have an absolutely wonderful day. I was lying in bed this morning pondering the things I have to be thankful for. I am so blessed.....

I'm thankful for my husband. Even though I drive the poor guy crazy at times, (Like last night when I insisted he hang the mirror in the bathroom even though he was dead tired from working) he still loves me and keeps on coming back for more, LOL.

I'm thankful for my son. He is a bright spot in my days. He has so much spirit and such a great sense of humor. God knew what he was doing when he gave me Travis.

I'm thankful for my parents health and the fact that they are here right now spending Thanksgiving in Waldo, Ohio. I am truly blessed with my parents. They are so good to all of us kids. We hit the mother-load!

I'm thankful for my sister and brothers and their families, who I will be seeing, if not today, then tomorrow and it is not very often that we all get together. I love seeing all kids and it is mass chaos when we are all together, but I would not trade it for a second!

I'm thankful for my job! I love my job as a QA Coordinator for OSI Transcription. Our QA team are some of the nicest people I have ever met.

I'm thankful for my friends. Those who I am close to and those that I have drifted apart from. I love them all just the same and really miss one in particular!!

Yep, today was a great opportunity to sit and think about all the ways I have been blessed in my life. I'm going to refer back to this post when I'm down!!

I hope you all have a wonderful day. Try not to eat too much turkey!! OMG this house smells so stinkin good!!

It's Snowing!

And I say that like I'm excited about it....NOT!!! Really, is it winter already? I mean really? Where did the summer go??? I'm just not ready for snow yet. And of course I was sick with worry when Travis had to drive to school in it. You know that old poopy tummy feeling a mom gets when her child is in control of a 5000 pound machine that can kill??? Yea that kind of worry!

OK so it did stick a little bit but not enough to go out and do a snow angel or anything.

Actually, I don't HATE the snow. I just don't like the cold or driving in it.

Lets all keep our fingers crossed for a nice mild winter!! I'll quit whining now, I promise!!! I'm off to go put my slippers on and crawl under a nice warm blanket to watch Dancing with the Stars!!

OHIO BEADERS 4TH ANNUAL BEADING RETREAT

I went to the Ohio Beaders 4th Annual Beading Retreat the weekend of October 25th. This is the 4th one I have attended and as always, it did not disappoint!!

Let me digress a bit and tell ya a little bit about the Ohio Beaders. This is an online group on Yahoo for beaders living in Ohio or any of the surrounding states. A wonderful lady by the name of Signe started the group, and strangely enough, the stars must have all been aligned, and our chakra's centered, because we have one heck of a great group of members. Well tell Signe all the time, How lucky are we that you brought us all together?????!!!!! These are truly some of my best friends. The Ohio Beaders started with quarterly gatherings and soon the idea of a retreat came up. Well with lots of work and lots of dedication we had our first, with 18 attendees at the Spruce Hill Manor in Mansfield Ohio. This year we graduated up to a big lodge with 34 people.

The retreat took place at the Indian Bear Lodge http://www.indianbearlodge.com/ in Walhonding Ohio. Check it out~!!! Totally awesome and HUGE place! John and I stayed in one of their cabins this summer and it was awesome.

Back to the retreat, over the course of 3 days, different classes are offered, and Friday night, the night we arrive, there is always a pajama party with a gift exchange of a hand made present, and then door prizes. This year we also had a wine and cheese party. Quite honestly I was leary, LOL, because wine gives me a headache, but it was AWESOME! By Sunday we are pretty worn out from staying up late and laughing hysterically. We pretty much just veg until we pack up and leave.

Some of the my favorite things from the Retreat:

1. The gift exchange is always magical. This is my favorite part, and I'm in charge of it. OMG the POWER, LMBO!!!! Seriously, you cannot believe the talent in this group. We have a blog showcase, http://www.ohiobeadersshowcase.blogspot.com/ Really, you should definitely check it out. You will be awestruck by the talent!! If you are interested, feel free to contact any of the beaders or contact me and I will put you in touch with them.

2. The FUN. OMG I just never laugh so much. You would think, over a 3 day period, that we would all be on each others nevers, but seriously, it just all works out. Heck my snoring probably sends them over the edge, but whateva!!

3. The classes. These women give freely of their time and talent to teach for next to nothing and you always come away with beautiful pieces.

4. The food. Boy you will never go away hungry.

5. And Most IMPORTANT, The friends!! We have a core group that has attended basically every one. They are amazing people, each one so caring and also so full of fun. Each brings their own unique personality to the table, and we all just seem to mesh!

Below are some pictures ~

Signe ~ It all began with her!!

Diva Kim showing off her door prize. This is my "Kim Twin" and room mate for all 4 retreats so far. She is the "Angel Girl" Check out her website..... www.yogabykim.com and check out Angel Inspirations.

Di, Mary, and Jody making their wine glass charms.

Me and Mary, The Prom Picture. We do this at every single gathering and retreat.

Here's all of us!!

So I left Indian Bear Lodge with the same feelings I have each and every year after the retreat ~ I just can't wait until next year!!!

What I'm Up To.....

Sitting.... in my office.

Smelling... A Rosehips and Lavender candle that I think is the best smelling candle I have ever had the pleasure of burning!!

Listening ....to Dr. Niemi talk. Doing some transcription. Jackson Gepperheimer is lying right beside me and he keeps sighing.

Drinking.... Diet Dr. Pepper, but wishing it was beer or at least something a little better, stronger......

Reading..... CMT Prep Guide

Loving .... My family

Dreading...... Tomorrow......no further comment.

Eagerly Anticipating.... Thanksgiving when my whole family and part of John's is coming here for dinner. It sure would be good if I didn't have to work!

Lauging About.... Travis (my son) who just cracks me up every single day!

Worrying About... Job situations and a friend situation.

Wishing..... Someone would cure cancer and that I could get the strength to follow my diet for longer than a day or so......

Praying.... For the family of Heather Pick, a local newscaster whose life was cut very short by breast cancer. She was only 38 years old and leaves behind a husband and 7 year-old daughter and 4 year-old son.

Grateful.... for my husband who must have taken his "wonderful husband" pills this weekend because he was absolutely the perfect partner. I'm also very grateful for my parents health.

Sharing..... Nothing really.....I guess I should think on that and share something, LOL!

Borrowed from another blog... Feel free to snag it for your blog, and leave a comment so I can check it out!!!

FRIENDSHIP

Best Friend- noun
- the one friend who is closest to you
friend - a person you know well and regard with affection and trust; "he was my best friend at the university"

I'm very sad today and I'm hurting. I'm confident there is one other person in this world who is just as sad and hurting just as much as I am right now. I'm also confident things will work out eventually.

I guess that's pretty much all I want to say about this~

State Track Meet

Hello~

OK bear with me! Just one more post about Travis and then I'll lay off for awhile I promise. Jeez I do talk about him a lot don't I?


Last weekend his cross country team ran in the State cross country meet. It was incredible. Let me backtrack a bit. They have had this goal since they started running last summer, and the boys, as a team, made a pact that they would get mohawks if they made it to state. Sooooo 2 weeks ago, I was getting ready to go to my annual beading retreat (which I have to post about because it was absolutely fantabulous), and that same weekend was the regional meet down in Pickerington on the other side of Columbus. Travis warned me again that if they won, they would be getting mohawks, and that he was not going to tell me, but I would know when I saw him.


Here is what I came home to:









Really pretty huh? NOT, LOL. But it is just hair so I'm really not bothered. In fact, fast forward a week and the hawk is already shaved.


The state track meet was on Saturday November 1. The boys did fantastic. They came in 14th in their division, and there were only 16 teams, but they were predicted to come in 15th, so they were pretty happy they were up one position. Our best runner finished 16th. Just missed the podium by 1 spot. Travis actually finished 137th, but dang those kids were FAST. Below are some pics from the state track meet.




Travis is the second one in the pic


The kick at the end.




Congrats from the coach.








Hawkheads!

HELLO WORLD!! LONG TIME NO BLOG!!

Howdy all! Hope you are all well. Things are fine here in Waldo Ohio, home of the fried balogna sandwich. Now how many of you knew that???? We have been so busy. Travis has cross country meets every week and his team is likely to go to the state championship. I'm so excited about it. He keeps bettering his time, which is a great thing!! He was on the front page of the newspaper, again for the FeaRValley cheering thing....they dressed up in halloween costumes this time. He was Hugh Hefner.....where does he get these ideas??? His "Girls Next Door" had not arrived when they took the picture so you can't really tell who he is supposed to be, other than a geeky looking old guy.

WARNING - WARNING***BRAG MOMENT*** Travis got all A's again, but this time his classes were weighted because they were AP classes......so instead of having a 4.0 he has a 5.0.....that kid rocks in school. ***BRAG MOMENT NOW OVER***

Me, I'm going to my annual bead retreat this weekend and I'm so excited I could PIMP (pee in my pants)!! This is the 4th year I've gone and I just love it. You have so many women together and yet there is no fighting, no griping, no bitchin or moanin. We are all there to get away and just have fun. This is where we are staying, at the Indian Bear Lodge. Here is the link: http://www.indianbearlodge.com/LodgeRental/BearsDen/tabid/73/Default.aspx

Check out the Bears Den. That is where me and Diva Kim are staying. We lucked out. It was not built when we signed up for it and they ended up making it A LOT bigger so we have our own little suite! And don't any of you Ohio Beaders think you're coming in our room!! Anyone who knows me knows I am really anal about where I sleep and who I sleep with, and I get my own little bedroom with a door. Ahhhhh, could it get any better????? I'll definitely post pictures when I get back. Funny we all met online and these are some of my best friends I'm meeting up with.

John is doing well. Crabby as ever but doing well. He bought himself a little Triumph TR6, which I fondly refer to as "The Cute Little British Sports Car." It is adorable. It is white with a tan convertable roof. I'll post pics of that as well. The outside is perfect, the interior needs completely redone. It runs and we took it out a few times, looked like 2 big mooses in that little thing! He had a birthday on Saturday, 53 years old. We celebrated at Hoggys!

And how about that election?? I can proudly say that I'm voting for Barack Obama. I think out of the 2 he handles himself better, and John McCain seems like an angry bitter old man. Yes he devoted his life to his country and to public service, but he has an "I deserve this presidency" attitude about him. I didnt like that he would not look at Obama in the first debate, and in all of them he was angry and snippy and Barack kept his cool. No matter who gets it, they are going to have their work cut out for them, but I could not, with a clear conscience, vote another republican in after what the present one has done to our country. With the negative campaigns going on, I'll be really happy when this election is over! Its sad it had to get so ugly!

Well thats about all I have for now......I'll check back soon....

Kim

THINGS THAT MAKE YA GO HMMMMMM......

Well Hello!!! It has been awhile since I have posted. Things have been soooo crazy. Travis is deep in the throes of Cross Country. He is doing well, bettering his time almost every week. He was also voted in as the class VP. One of his best friends, Austin, is the president. He specifically chose NOT to run for president because he didn't want to be responsible for planning reunions, LOL. I told him he would still be expected to help plan it. He is enjoying high school so much. They seem to have such a good time and really do fun things! They have a group called FeaRValley. They cheer at all the school sporting events. Each week they have a theme and last week's was Rock Star. The picture above was in the Marion Star which is our local newspaper. That would be my son right up front with the dark sunglasses, white headband, and shirt that says HEROINE. He just does me proud!!!! (Well it could mean heroine, as in superstar). I asked him where he even got that shirt and he goes, at that concert Uncle JD took me to. Thats my brother......Niiiiiiice.............

Happy Labor Day!!!

Annnnnnnnnnd, I have to work :o(

Whateva!!

We really don't have much planned for tomorrow anyhow. I think we will cook out here ourselves. Our neighbors are camping. Not sure what my friend Jenn is doing, I'll have to call her and see. Travis the socialite will probably have other plans, he usually does. Funny, we are just not high on his list to hang out with! I wonder why?

I just want to take a moment and say that my heart goes out to all the people in hurricane Gustav's path. I have a lot of beading friends as well as coworkers that live in that area, and I ask that you keep them in your thoughts and prayers during this time. I'm sure there has to be an "OH NO, NOT AGAIN" attitude going on about now!

The diet is going OK.....and that is an iffy OK. However, on my sparkteam (The official team for Columbus, which I'm one of the leaders), we have a challenge starting tomorrow and going to Thanksgiving. I'm so excited because we have A LOT of people signed up for it. Support in numbers!!! Anyway the goal is to loose 15 pounds by Thanksgiving. I think it is dooable!!! If you have not checked out SparkPeople, you really should! I really enjoy their articles and the teams I belong to as well. They can be very motivating. You can also create a spark page, that is your own and other people can leave comments, etc. Kinda like facebook but different of course.

Anyway, wishing everyone a great labor day!! If you have to work, don't work too hard!

Election

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OK I have been bad about posting!!! I'm sorry. Work has been crazy!!

Anyway, I love JibJab and these little videos they do, they just crack me up! Thought you might enjoy this one!

*Gasp* It's Finally Here

Well.....Its here.....my child starts his SENIOR year of high school tomorrow!! Secretly I have been dreading this day. I've known its coming, but I hated to even think about it. It seems like just yesterday we were fitting him for uniforms to start out at Holy Family School and now here we are. He just couldn't be more excited. Although I'm truly excited for him and all that lies ahead, a part of me wishes he was still that sweet little boy that used to burst through the door like a wild banchie, with his little friends, yelling, laughing, and having fun. The one who would get in trouble for not sitting still or talking too much in kindergarten (although I'm pretty sure that still happens in high school). It seems like just yesterday. I'm still not exactly sure how I'm going to get through this year, considering I was the one crying on Senior Night at the football game last year and my kid was not a even a senior yet, LOL! So many changes coming this next year. He is a man now, well kinda......I mean, do they ever really grow up?!? But he will be graduating, he will be moving out and going to college. It's definite that he wants to go away to school, and I want that for him. I think everyone should go away to school, and always wished I had. However, It's like they are never really home again after they leave for college. All this makes me sad. I do put on a happy face for him though. He knows I'm a little bit nervous about it, and I really am, but I am truly excited for him as well, and this is the attitude I try to show him all the time. He has such a bright future ahead of him. They all do! So much potential. They have the world in the palms of their hands!

What I want for Travis in this last year of high school is for him to enjoy every single moment because it will fly. May will be here before we know it! He is an honor student with all AP classes, so he will have have to work hard. But along with that hard work I want him to have fun! And I want for him to be happy! I'm so proud of all that he has accomplished so far, and I know this year will bring even more!

Travis, I hope your senior year is the best school year yet!

Well thats about all for now. I hope I don't sound too depressed. If Patty or Terri are reading......honestly I'm not! Just sad my baby is growing up!!

See ya!

AND THE WINNER IS........

This is the winner!!! I think he was just over 2 years old in this picture. So precious and sweet!!! I was really glad because I have had this picture in the back of my mind ever since he was a sophomore in high school and I knew I would be needing to pick one for the program. You guys just solidified the deal! Thanks Peeps!

On another note, we were home this weekend. My neice Kayla was in from St. Kitt where she goes to nursing school. When spending time with Kayla there is NEVER a dull moment and you basically just laugh your butt off. She is just full of fun, and lots of stories from going to nursing school in a 3rd world country. I'm not sure my father will ever be the same after hearing some of her tales, LOL. However, I think he is getting used to expecting the unexpected from Kayla. You never know what is going to come out of that mouth next! Anyway it was great seeing her again! I love ya Kay Kay!

I Need Your Help!

Hello out there! We need your help!!!

Every year, the parents of seniors have the opportunity to place an ad in the fall and spring sports program, with a baby picture of the kid and then saying how proud they are, congratulations, etc. Its really fun to look at the ads every year, but dang, our turn came way to quick!! I wish he was still a sophomore!

I wanted Travis to have some input on the pic. We narrowed it down to 5, which I have posted below. Looking through the pictures was so much fun. They had been packed away for so long.....trust me, on the bottom of a 5-high pile of rubbermaid containers. Last place I looked of course!!

Please have a look at the choices and leave a comment as to your favorite!

And the nominees are......

1. He actually doesn't mind this one, but it could be pleasantly embarrassing for him :o)

2. Donning his Dad's Alma Mater sweat shirt, Kent State.

3. *Gasp* Could he be any cuter? He has his dad's beret on. He wore it every night when his dad came home.

4. Again, the outfit alone could be pleasantly embarrassing!

5. Look at that sweet little dude. He was always smiling like that!

Thanks so much for your help everyone!! We are looking forward to your responses!

The Way I Used to Be

Wow, will ya just look at that? That is a picture of me and my dad 10 years ago, at a party for his birthday.

Here's the thing. I had to to through pictures to grab one of Travis when he was little for the River Valley Sports program that will come out in the fall. It was so much fun to look at the old pics and reminisce. There were a lot that John and Travis had never seen. I came across this one and kept looking at it over and over again.

A few things come to mind when I look at this picture. For one thing, my dad and I both look a heck of a lot younger, LOL! Another is that Travis definitely has my nose and mouth. Never thought he looked like me, but he does!! It is almost like looking at him a little bit. But the third thing, is that I was sooooo much thinner in that picture. I probably weighed 60 pounds less. Funny, I remember thinking I was soooooo FAT then! I wish I was THAT fat now! It makes me sad to think what I have let happen to my body. That I let it go. That I let life get in the way. That the only true comfort I could find was through eating. Something is sooooo wrong with that picture.

Well I'm so over that! I need to take control if I want to lose this weight.

I want to BE that person again and I'm going to work my butt off to get there. That is the person I want to be when Travis graduates. That is the person I want to be for the rest of my life. I still had weight to lose at that time, but I would be forever happy to be that weight again.

Another part of this whole thing is my mental attitude. I was so happy then. Yea I was a little overweight. Yea I wished I was thinner. But I was truly happy. I enjoyed life then. I enjoyed being out doing things with my mom or my friends. I truly cannot say that I'm happy now, and that's sad. I feel like I'm going through the motions, but not really happy, and not really living! I hide from people I haven't seen in awhile. I hesitate to go places for fear I might run into someone. I feel like my life is so "blah" and only I can change that!

I am thinking here that it has been since meeting and marrying John I put most of this weight on.......could he be the reason??? Travis and I have a long running joke in this house....anything that goes wrong we say "I blame John." Doesn't matter what it is we say it. Just to be funny, and to aggitate him! No doubt marriage sure ain't easy, but the truth is I really can't blame him for my weight. I can't blame anyone but the person I look at everyday in the mirror.

I plan on making an effort to exercise every single day. I deserve it! I also plan on eating correctly every day. I deserve it!! I plan on rewarding myself every 10 pounds lost. I'll definitely deserve that!

In the meantime, I have hung this picture in my office so that I can see it on a daily basis. I think it's good to keep your goals in front of you!!!

And So It Goes..........

I had a terrible day on my diet yesterday, and I'm sad. I didn't want to lapse so quickly into my program, and so I'm going to just own my dysfunction right here and now.

I had an issue that involved my son, and a water balloon party, and neighbors and hubby blowing things out of proportion. IMHO it was just kids having fun. No one got hurt, the kids cleaned up their mess. I guess I should backtrack. Travis and Lacey across the street were having a cookout at Lacey's house for the River Valley track team. Travis was here filling up water balloons so we knew there was going to be a water balloon fight between the boys and the girls. No biggie. John and I had to go to Polaris to Fedex some documents to his sister. While there, we had dinner, chatted, etc. It was really nice. When we got home, there were about 20 kids in our back yard. They were grilling their hamburgers and hot dogs. Lacey evidently does not have a grill. Although not happy AT ALL that there were that many kids here without parental supervision, I was happy that they were simply on the back porch grilling. We have a fridge full of alcohol in our garage that they could have gotten into. They could have been blaring music. They could have been running around the neighborhood being destructive. No, they were simply grilling. Evidently their language lacked tact (probably putting it mildly), and although talking to each other, my next door neighbor overheard what they were saying. He went to another neighbor and told. That neighbor told my husband, and so on and so forth. It was sad, because in my opinion, as I said, it was just kids having fun.

I live in a very small town, and I sometimes wish that people would mind their own business. I have a house next to me that is painted just short of neon green. I have another nextdoor neighbor with a fence that is so flimsy the next windstorm it will be leaning against our house. I could go on and on. The fence I complained about, but really have not said much about the neon green house. My point is no one is perfect and I wish people would just live and let live.

So anyway, back to the original reason I was posting.....I think that I let the stress of what people were saying affect my eating plan yesterday, because I simply ate everything that was not nailed down.

Totally bummed!

However, I'm back to it today!! I have my journal next to me. Drinking coffee right now but will switch to water shortly. Wish me luck! I sure need it!

Kim

Online Banking ...... How Cool Is That???

So while in South Carolina on vacation, I realized that I had some bills that were needing paid and was thinking we needed to find a bank. It was then that my very smart daughter-in-law says, "Why don't you try online banking?" I was always kinda leary but thought, well let me check it outing

I have to tell ya, I'm like a kid in a candy store with this stuff. It will mail bills, send electronically if it can, etc. It is amazing!!!. I don't think I will ever be late on a bill again.

Diet continues to go well!! I went to the Y last night. I had every intention of signing up for a water toning class, but I was 15 minutes late due to an appointment that ran late. Soooo I went in just to watch and see what they do. I sat there for a few and said to myself "Self, why are you not swimming?" So I changed into my suit, hopped into the warm water pool and started swimming around. It was awesome. There was this older gentleman there walking back and forth in the water and swinging his arms. I decided to start doing this too. Soon he was telling me to swing my arms harder and take bigger steps, LOL. That just cracked me up, but I was happy with the guidance as well! It was quite the workout, considering I'm Ms. Sedentary, working at home and all.

Tonight I have convinced the Gepper to meet me after work at the Y to swim some more. He loves to swim, BUT, he is skeptical. I told him he would feel better, it was good for him, blah, blah, blah, and he is not convinced! I'll keep you posted!

Vacation Time..............

Travis and Madison

Ahhhhhh vacation is such a good thing!! This year we went down to Columbia, South Carolina. John's son John, daughter in law Taylor, and granddaughter Madison live there. We took Madison and went on to Savanna Georgia, and then Tybee Island. After that, we went back up to Columbia and just hung out for a few days. John and Taylor have a boat, so we spent some time out there. This is a picture of John and Madison. Johnny and Travis were inside the boat. Poor Taylor was dragging the giant tube all by herself, LOL! We could definitely get used to that boating life!!

While in Savannah we took a haunted tour. Madison, who is 8, was all for it when we were booking it. Unfortunately, along the way she got a little bit skeered, LOL! All in all she did great though. I took tons of pics on the tour hoping to see some orbs. This is allegedly how spirits appear in pics. Sadly, there was not one single orb in any of my pics. However, if there was, I would probably freak, so I guess that is a good thing.

While we were there, we took Travis to see University of South Carolina and Clemson. Hate to say it.....for all you Clemson fans.....but USC won HANDS DOWN!!! We loved the campus, pretty much just everything about it.

It was nice to spend some time with John, Taylor, and Madison. We don't get to see them often enough, but we are hoping to change that! We have plans to meet halfway to go snow tubing this winter.

Later ~

I'm BAAAAAACK

Hello out there in bloggers world! After a very long absence, I'm back. I originally started this blog as a means to document my weight loss journey. Unfortunately I fell short in the whole weight loss thing, and soooooooo I quit blogging. However, I have found that I really need the accountability that this blog offers, and so I think I'll start again. I'll be taking pics once a month so that I can document my progress. Ugh, I cannot even stand to look at that one right there, but it is me, right now, with 90+ pounds to lose! As I start this weightloss journey again, I keep asking myself, why did I let myself gain so much weight? Why did I quit Weight Watchers when it worked so well? Why have I not been able to stick to a diet program? I think once I figure out the answer to those questions, I'll be able to lose weight and keep it off for good~

I went to Weight Watchers on Thursday night. It felt great to be back. I really like that program, and it works for me, so I figured go for it. They asked us about our goals and WHY we were there. My immediate goal, besides the obvious health reasons, is that Travis will be graduating next year and I do NOT want to look like this when he graduates. I want to feel good about myself and enjoy the festivities!! I want to wear cute clothes to the different parties. So on and so forth.

So here we begin (again). I swear I have lost the same 5-10 pounds so many freakin times I have really lost a whole person! Anyway, if you would like to join me on this journey, feel free to join my Spark Team. Here is the link. http://www.sparkpeople.com/myspark/groups_individual.asp

It has been made the OFFICIAL Columbus Ohio team! Hows that for coolness?!? I'll elaborate on that more later. Or you can always just hop on here and check the goings on. I'll be posting more often. I have to! I'm committed :o)

Back soon!

GETTING READY FOR THE HOLIDAYS

Well here we are again, the holidays are upon us. Wow, it seems like this year has just flown by! I'm in the throws of shopping (late as usual), and of course, I have no idea what to buy anyone. I have to tell ya, John is no help in this area. I ask for ideas for his family, Dad, kids, grandkids, and he says gift certificates. The man has an aversion to shopping. He breaks into a cold sweat in the mall. Being that I'm a little bit stressed out myself this year, I'm just going to go with it. Gift certificates all around. I have made a dent in the shopping for my side. Something else I'm doing this year, making some of the gifts. I love receiving home made gifts. I hope the people like what I make. Can't say here what I have made, in case someone I give gifts to is reading.

On 12/15 (tomorrow), we have our annual progressive dinner with the Craigs, Richards, and the McClaskey clan. Should be fun! I got main dish this year. I have a lot to live up to, and I don't think they realize that I'm not that great of a cook. I refuse to stress about it though. I'm making an Italian lasagne, and a Greek lasagne. Easy enough to prepare ahead. I'm really looking forward to it. We always have a GREAT time.

Well that's all for now folks. I'll be back soon!

Hello! and Happy Fall!!

I can't believe Halloween is 3 days away. I did a bad thing today, I re-found the candy in the hall closet.....Sadly, I caved and had 2 Snickers. Why, why, why did I buy Snickers?!? I actually need more candy because we get a zillion and one trick or treaters. I live in the "city"....so laughing to myself, because it really isn't a city, but in the Waldo Ohio realm, this is considered the city, and all the people who live further out bring their kids in to trick or treat. Sooooo, we give out oodles of candy. It is nothing to pass out 400+ pieces.

Our lawn is absolutely covered with the neighbors leaves. I know, how do I know they are our neighbors leaves? Because ours have not started falling yet. Now the big challenge is to make sure that John does not get the leaf blower and blow them back into their yard. That neighbor has caused us some grief, so keeping John from retaliating is always a challenge.

As I said in my last post, I went to the Ohio Beaders retreat last weekend. I always come away with a renewed passion for jewelry making. We are having our Christmas Gathering this weekend, here in Waldo. We have an exchange and I got that done last night. Phew, glad thats over with. Plan on making quite a few Christmas gifts as well so need to get supplies ordered for that.

My other challenge for today, booking tickets for the Michigan Speedway for next June. Everyone knows I'm a big Jeff Gordon fan, and these next few weeks are going to be soooo stressful! He is in first now and I hope he stays there. This is his year!!!

Well, thats about all for now! Hope you have a great day!

Kim

Hello Again!!!

Well, how is everyone?!? Things are fine here in Waldo, Ohio. I have taken a long hiatus from my blog, but thought I would pop in and say hello! I had a wonderful weekend this past weekend. I belong to a beading group in Ohio, and every year for the past 3 years, we get together for a weekend and have a retreat. This year's retreat was in London Ohio at Alexandra's Bed and Breakfast! It was really cool. We arrive on Friday between 4 and 5 p.m. Find your room, drag in all the crap you brought (and you only realize then that you brought way too much stuff for one very short weekend), and then the party starts. Friday night we have a pajama party and a gift exchange, and then do some door prizes. This year I won the absolute BEST prizes! I won a carrying tote for my beads, and then won a 1 year subscription to Bead Bugle, an online beading place that offers free patterns, etc. How lucky can I get!! Saturday was a day filled with classes. First a chain maille class on the jens pind weave, then a precious metal clay class, and then finally a copper wire bracelet class. Then dinner and more door prizes. After that, just hanging out having a good time!! By Sunday the events and the lack of sleep have caught up with us and we reluctantly drag ourselves out of the place for the drive home! Nobody ever wants to leave! We do have the next one planned for next year at Indian Bear Lodge in Walhonding. This one will be a little further away for me!

News on the home front.....John is great, loving his new job at Lawn Greenkeeper. He is a project manager and safety director.

Travis is great. Went to homecoming a few weeks back and is just finishing up cross country. They made it to the regional meet in Pickerington this weekend. Hopefully then they will move on to state.

My parents have been away for 2 weeks in Florida. I'm used to talking to my mom every day so this has been a little bit of an adjustment.

Well, that's it for now! I promise I won't wait this long next time!

I'm Back!!

Hello There! So its been a couple weeks huh? Sorry. The delay is mostly because I could not get onto the blogspot website from my normal computer. Dang I hate when that happens. I would prefer to type this update on that one than this laptop. More disturbing is the fact that I think something is wrong with my main computer. It is the one I use most often and it is really acting up!! On Sunday when we got home from my moms, it kept rebooting itself. Nice...........

SO HERE'S THE POOP

ON Weight Watchers: The week before last I maintained, and I was sort of okay with this. Maintaining is not such a bad thing. Then last week I gained. Total and complete bummer! I'm hopeful this week is better though I will admit to all reading, there were several occasions that I didn't make the right food choices. I promise I'll be updating this at least once a week. My whole reason for writing this blog was to be accountable, and I'm such a slackah!! I still love this program! It works.....its just I have to MAKE IT WORK!

ON Me: I actually had a fun week this week. My good friend Peggy Jack was in Marion to do some training so we hooked up on Monday night and went to Mia Jalepeno.....I'm just gonna say it right now.....not a good choice! LOL. The meal was bad enough but then the drinks on top of it......Thankfully that was on a Monday, is all I can say about that. Then Tuesday, another good friend from Youngstown, Carrie Ambrose was in Columbus with her family, passing through on the way to Cincinnati. I got to see sweet little Connor James who is 3, and Christina, who I didn't even recognize because she is so mature and grown up. She is just beautiful. It was great seeing them, and again..... meeting at the Olive Garden was probably not the best choice, although I love their salad! It was great to see you Carrie and Jim!!!

ON John: Please keep John in your thoughts as he is contemplating a job change. He has one that he is extremely interested in that is in the works. Please keep your fingers crossed that it comes through. He is hoping to hear something this week.

ON Travis: Still working at Wendy's and still whining and complaining about not being able to come and go as he pleases. When he really gets on my last nerve with this, I take the time to remind myself that I'm just happy he is here to whine and complain. He has a doctors appt Monday for an accident recheck and to see if the boy is prone to concussions. He has had 3 already with a possible 4th a couple weekends ago. He is dying to play football this year after sitting out last year because of a concussion. Concussions are a scary thing! At the end of the day though, he is very smart and will likely get a scholarship for his grades.....I don't want him to mess that up by playing football and getting hurt.

ON This Weekend: I am so stinkin bored! With working at home, by the time the weekend comes I just want to get out of this house! The Gepper and I are going to try something fun to do!

I will post Tuesday, after I weigh in. Lets hope for a great week!

Love, Me

WHOOO HOOOO, I LOST THIS WEEK!!

This week was a great week at the scales! I lost 2.8 pounds! Whooo Hooooo, I Rock!!.....Doin the happy dance!

You know, weigh in day really is such a stressful day. And just how stressful depends on how well I did the 6 preceding days. Sometimes good....sometimes not so good *hanging head in shame.* This week I did good ;o). Here is a picture of how my Monday's go. I wake up at my normal 5:15 a.m. to be at work (across the hall from my bedroom) at 5:20. It can be a rough commute to work, especially if I can't find my slippers or if I happen to run into some traffic in the hall speeding towards the bathroom. So I work away, and think hmmmmmm.....wonder how my weight looks. Off to the scale. Take off every possible thing that is removable and hop on. Crap, I thought I lost more than that. Go sit back down to work, stewing over why I didn't weigh less. Another hour or two goes by. Hmmmmm, wonder how my weight looks. Off to the scale again, remove everything (I know, TMI) and hop on. Hey, now that looks better! Back to work. Lunch time rolls around. Crap, I'm scared to eat. Do not want to do anything to mess this up. I raid the fridge trying to find something that won't weigh me down. I settle on some grape tomatoes and 1/2 PB and J sandwich while watching the Young and the Restless. Back to work. Another hour goes by. Hmmmmm, wonder how my weight looks. Hop on the scale. At this point, I am dressed in what I'm going to wear to WW because it is time to get an accurate weight. Mind you, I have searched to find the lightest possible thing to wear, so it won't affect the scale. Well shute, those clothes added a pound. Or was it those darn grape tomatoes? Back to work for an hour or so. Phew, done working! Time for a quick walk around the neighborhood. Hey anything has GOT to help, plus Jackson Gepperheimer lives for his walks, and pretty much has me running the whole way. Back home. Back on the scale again. Okay not too bad. I bet I lost about 3 pounds. I'm pretty happy with this because I have been playing around on WW for the last few months, and it is high time I got my butt in gear! I gather my things and head for the meeting. I arrive and my leader is there. She tells me to hop on the scale. In my mind I'm thinking, do I have to go to the bathroom??......what jewelry did I wear that I can take off?? This WW name tag is weighin me down, I know it....hee hee, Just kiddin! So I hop on.....please show a loss, please show a loss, and whooo hooooo I did. Sometimes I don't but this time I did! My scale at home always weighs me less than the ones at WW, but I think it is consistent. I keep meaning to check that though. Then I hop into my position as a weigher at the meeting. It is so fun. The people who go are so nice, and so are the people I work with. I really enjoy that job! After the meeting I head home, and by this time I'm about to fall over from starvation! I run in, barely taking the time to tell John or Travis what I lost. My husband is pretty awesome and often has dinner on the table. Of course I never mind going out to eat on Mondays either. I'll be frank, I never mind going out to eat any day......but realistically, due to finances and weight loss, going out at the beginning of the week works well. Anywhoooo, that's my Monday in a nutshell. I have to say, they are always much better when I'm moving in the right direction! Have a good one Everybody!!

The Curveballs Life Throws....Sometimes they Suck!!

LIFE SUCKS!!

It's been one heck of a week and I feel like this poor little kitty! I'll elaborate more later.

On a good note, stuck to my WW program well this week. I'm hoping for a good showing on the scales tomorrow! Till then........

ACK, Now I've Been Tagged, Thanks Helen!!

Well I was informed by Helen that I was tagged today!! Being that I only know a couple people who have a blog at this time, and they were included in this "tag", I will have to wait to tag others until I get to know more before I can pay it forward. I thought it would be fun to play along anyhow! I sure hope I did this linking thing correctly, but chances are good I did not. Linking to *melanie*earthenwood

What were you doing 10 years ago? Ten years ago I was living in New Middletown Ohio. Travis was 6 years old and it was just Me and Trav going it alone. I was working at an occupational health facility called WorkMED, truly one of the best jobs I have ever had.

What were you doing 1 year ago? Basically what I am doing now. Working for OSI transcription, living in Waldo, and happily married to John.

Five snacks you enjoy: This just kinda depends on if I'm actually following Weight Watchers or not!! Right now I am so Microwave popcorn, low cal/low fat ice cream sandwiches, lite butterscotch pudding, and various fruits/veggies, such as bing cherries, watermelon, strawberries, as well as cherry tomatos. If I were not doing WW, the list would be much different!! Of course at the top would have to be potato chips.....my very favorite snack in the whole world!!

Five songs to which you know all the lyrics: Okay, trying to think off the top of my head. AND DON'T LAUGH!! Drops of Jupiter, Under the Boardwalk, New York New York, Play That Funky Music, Who Says You Can't Go Home (My new fav by my old fav Jon Bon Jovi).

Five things you would do if you were a millionaire: Pay off my house, Pay for Travis' college, share with our families, buy a boat, and probably buy and RV for John.

Five bad habits: Eating incorrectly, not exercising, stress eating, never taking time to do something for myself, no organization!!!

Five things you like doing: Making jewelry, camping, watching Travis play any sport he is playing, spending time with my family, traveling.

Five things you would never wear again: Hmmmmmm, wow, there is a long list, but heck, I don't want to rule anything out for when I make my weight watchers goal. I think it is safe to say I will proby never wear a bikini though.

Five favorite toys: Hmmmmm, I just don't know what to say for this one. I'll have to think on it.

I'm BAAAAAACK

Hello Again~



It's been a long time since I posted. I realize I probably should be keeping up with this much better than I have been! I started this blog as a way to hold myself accountable for my weight loss, and well, as you can see, LOL, it didn't go very far! I'm still doing Weight Watchers. In fact, I am now a weigher for Weight Watchers. Funny though, ever since I became a weigher, I have struggled with my weightloss!! I feel like I do so well motivating others, and here I am doing nothing, playing with the same 2-3 pounds, gaining, losing, gaining, gaining, and then gaining again. WTH?



Well I have decided that I'm going to follow the program seriously again! This is probably what brought me back to this blog! Starting tomorrow 6/20/07, just one month shy of a year from when I started Weight Watchers, I am starting over. These are my affirmations.....

• I will journal everyday.


• I will do some form of exercise everyday.


• I will eat to live, not live to eat ;o)


• I will drink my water every single day.

I will be going on vacation to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan at the end of July. I would like to set a goal of a 10 pound weight loss by then. I just wish my life didn't revolve around my weight. What do skinny people worry about anyway?

So there you have it. My defining moment!

In other news, John and Travis are fine. John and I are both on vacation this week. Travis is working at Wendy's now. So far so good. He seems to like it!

Well everyone, make it a GREAT Day!!

Love, Kim