BYOC

Yes, I've already posted today but what the heck...I don't feel like working.  Courtesy of Drazil, here is the BYOC for this week.


1.  Since I talked about psychics this week - I'm curious....if you could see one for free and you could only ask one question - what would it be?

*  Will we EVER be financially stable?  It seems we've struggled for so long and we just can't seem to catch a break.  It's like "make a financial mistake in your early twenties and then pay for it for the rest of your life" around my house.

2.  What's your favorite ice cream flavor and topping?

* Mint chocolate chip with chocolate syrup on top.  NOT chocolate fudge...chocolate syrup.  I don't like the way chocolate fudge slides off the top and then pools at the bottom.

3.  What's your preferred method of working out?  DVDs, an external gym, gym inside your home, classes?

* External gym for sure.  If left to my own devices, it just doesn't get done.

4.  If you work outside the home or if you ever did or will in the future - do you think it's better/easier to work with men or woman?  Who do you work mostly with now?

Men, hands down. The timing of this question is impeccable as I've had several conversation about this subject this week.  I don't want to be a traitor to my sex but I hate working for women.  My last boss was fantastic so it lulled me into a false sense of security about women in the workplace.  Women are generally (and obviously I am one so I like to think I'm objective. lol) kind of bitchy, hormonal, catty and unfair.  So much of what they think of you is wrapped up in first impressions.  And they're slaves to their hormones.  It seems every woman boss I've had (even the last fantastic one) had grumpy tendencies once a freakin' month where you knew not to ask for anything.  They also play favorites more, in my opinion.  Men are jerks.  It's true.  And they all think women are inferior on some level (doesn't matter what your hubby, boyfriend, brother, etc say...they're thinking it at first).  But once you prove yourself to a man, you're fine.  No more issues (unless he's a REAL jerk and you start dealing with sexual harassment stuff). Earning the male boss respect is just about proving yourself.  You have to work a little harder than others at first but then it's smooth sailing.  With women, it's too emotionally charged.  Right now, I work with ALL women.  And no, I'm not enjoying it much.

5.  Repeat question.  Summarize your week in real life and in blog land.

Real life sucks.  I've been pretty open about that this week.  Hoping next week is better.

Blogland is alright.  Picked up a few new followers and finding some banding newbies or preop ladies to follow which is kind of fun.  Been worried about Kristin and what's going on with her band and health and sending good pain-free thoughts her way.  People are getting riled up about BOOBS 3.0 which is fine and good if you get to go but I always kind of dread the Chicago posts since I never get to join in.  Enough whining about that.

Have a good weekend!

Next Challenge?

notice that I would always have a PB or two the week before I was supposed to take the sugar pills and that was easy to track.  Well, I went off BC last month and I'm PMS'ing a bit and sure enough, that band has tightened up.  Couple that with the stress and I've got PERFECT restriction!  I'm not getting "stuck" really...things are just moving very slowly down and I can still eat but can't eat very much AT ALL before I just can't eat anymore.  Makes me think I've never quite been in the green zone before now.

Anyway, ladies and gents...I'm scared to death to do this but it listed as a goal on my 2012 list.  The Warrior Dash.  The link is here.  Seriously...this thing is INTENSE.  I don't think I have the upper body strength to do it, but it's only 3.28 miles and then 12 freakin' obstacles throughout...like jumping over fires, climbing a water wall, mesh netting, military crawl, etc.  This thing is CUH-RAZY!  Proceeds benefit St. Jude's but I'm really intimidated about this thing.  I would need to start training NOW for it.  I'm also thinking I need this shirt.  I don't know ladies...freaks me out.  It's also like $70 but you get a free beer and tshirt at the end.  LOL.  What do you think?  Do I go for it?

Another issue is it's the same day as the Glow Run which I wanted to do.  Obviously way less intense but I like the idea of this event.  Then I had this crazy idea of doing the Warrior Dash in the morning and just walking the 5k that night.  I know that sounds absolutely insane and unrealistic but it's an idea bopping around my head.  That's only 6 miles in a day...with crazy obstacles in the first one.  Hmmmm....decisions, decisions.

In other news, the parent/teacher conference went really well.  We discussed some of the concerns we've had since the beginning of this substitute fiasco with Maddie's teacher and she completely understood and was very honest about the environment she came into.  It was about as big a mess as we thought.  We also found out that Maddie is one of the top in the class on reading comprehension and math, which is awesome. We're having her tested for the gifted program either this year or next just to see if she needs to be challenged a little bit more.  No big behavioral issues, she's just kind of a control freak which we already knew and have been working on basically since birth.

I also realized this week that I've got an image problem again.  For the last few months, I didn't mind looking at pictures of myself.  However, after the hike last weekend, I hated the pictures of me.  I look fat again.  Obviously, I don't look any fatter than I have in other photos (since I lost 2 lbs since the last photo, duh) and that bright yellow isn't very flattering on ANYONE, but my perspective has changed.  This is the new fat panda.  I am no longer content and I think that's going to make a big difference in my motivation (or lack thereof recently).  It's a little disappointing to feel this way after coming so far but not altogether surprising as I'm not at goal.  I'm 30 lbs from the goal I set for myself at the beginning of all this so why did I think I'd stay content 30 lbs away?  So the motivation's coming back...I can feel it...I want it.  And it feels good.

Now, for a Friday Funny -

10 Things & Weigh In

Ten Thing Thursday...let's jump in.

1. Not sure if you noticed because I certainly haven't looked at in a long time but my ticker has been changed.  For the first time in a little over a month, I weighed myself this morning.  157.5.  That's a NEW LOW!  -1.5 from the last time I weighed of which I do not remember the date.  For the lack of effort, this is a welcome sight.
2. Got another update from my mom last night.  Up until yesterday, Grandma has adamantly resisted going into a home.  It really is the only option at this point since it takes 3 people to move her and Grandpa just isn't strong enough for that.  But yesterday, she told the family and doctor that she's ready and she wants hospice.  This is a good thing because it'll alleviate some of that guilt that I'm sure my grandfather has been feeling about the whole thing.  This does mean, of course, finding a different nursing facility, which they did and should be moving in today.
3. My big work issue has finally been resolved.  This is a big deal as it was my first real challenge in this job.  I think I've finally figured out that I am the person who deals with the annoyances in my area so that'll just be part of the job description.  Not sure how I feel about that.
4. Davy Jones died yesterday.  The Monkees were way before my time but I remember seeing Davy Jones on the Brady Bunch and I thought that was funny.  I also like some of their songs.  Anyone else see some similarities between the young Davy Jones and Justin Beiber?  Just sayin'.
5. Anyone else scared for children today?  In the past 2 weeks, I've read about 2 shootings at schools (I'm sure there have been more).  The big one is the one in Ohio where 3 kids were killed and no one knows why.  The other was where a 9 year old brought a gun to school, had in his backpack, dropped is backpack on a desk and it accidentally discharged, hitting a schoolmate.  It looks like the child will be OK but what a terrible accident.  It makes me want to keep my kids at home and not let them leave the house!
6. Hubby's birthday is this weekend.  He's turning 38...gifts have been bought but not sure what we're doing yet.  Thinking the Desert Botanical Garden or a farmer's market or maybe even heading way up north and seeing if there's still snow on the ground.  We shall see.
7. So awhile back...I did a post about a ring my grandmother had given me.  Post is here.  I'm wearing it today and it makes me feel a little closer to her which is nice.  My grandmother has a lot of kids, a good number of grandkids and a few great grandkids added to the mix.  I'm not sure if she's given a little something to everyone but being somewhere in the middle of those grandkids, it's easy to feel overlooked...especially since we've always been long distance.  It's nice to have something that was hers, even if it wasn't one of her most prized possessions.
8. In looking for that old post about the ring, I got read over some of my older posts which I always find fun.  I see how motivated I was training for my first 5k then and it makes me want to get out there and get motivated again.
9. Hubby and I have talked about it once or twice but I'm not sure if he realizes we've made a decision.  Once he has some steady income coming in, we're getting a cleaning service and I'm rejoining my gym.  I don't mind picking up and laundry and stuff but dusting, mopping, toilets and vacuuming...I HATE.  I also realize how much I miss my gym.  It was so much easier for me to stay on track there.
10. This ones going to be my daily check in.

No cookies - Check

No chocolate - Check

No fast food (Mon-Fri) - Check

No coffee house coffee (Mon-Fri) - No Check

No eating out (Mon-Fri) - Semi-Check

Get all my water in - Check

Work out at least 3 days - No Check

Minimal snacking - Check

I had Sbux yesterday but it was a skinny and not a mocha.  I needed the extra caffeine and I admit it just made me feel better.  I know, I know...need to find another way to deal with feelings.  The eating out...I'm totally OK with this one.  After the parent teacher conference, Hubby and I went to a bar near us and had a drink and appetizers.  We're making this a weekly thing I think as it was so nice to feel like we were "stealing" an hour.  Still no working out.  I've got to find something that's really going to motivate me.  Hmmm....


So that's Thursday.  Good stuff.