October 31st, 2009 | 6 Comments »

The problem with moving is not the wrapping of fine crystal.  It’s not the thought of packing up the entire house.   It’s not trying to figure out what needs to stay until the final move so that you don’t end up with stuff stored here and there while you frantically search for the rice cooker to make Alpha Hubby’s lunch.  It’s not the cost of purchasing bubble wrap to wrap the aforementioned fine crystal.  No, the problem with moving is THIS – this creature gearing up for the Olympic run he’ll have to make when he gets to my house:



mouseweight




No matter how careful you are and where you get your boxes from – the grocery store or a professional moving service – sometimes you end up with a nasty, squeaking, Speedy Gonzales wanna-be running around your house screaming “¡Ándale! ¡Ándale! ¡Arriba! ¡Arriba!”  He’s confused because when he went to sleep in that cardboard box, he was at the “We Charge You Out the Kazoo to Sell You Boxes to Move You Budget World” in a pile of boxes.  He woke up to a mad woman freaking out because she keeps catching glimpses of him running here and there, thither and yon, praying he doesn’t go “Up! Up!”



I don’t do mice.  I hate mice.  I’ve lived with mice, lots and lots of mice.  And while mice are definitely better than RATS, of which I’ve experienced exactly one in my life when he came in my house through the dryer vent, munched his way through the entire lint screen of the dryer and an entire loaf of San Francisco sourdough French bread, and leaving one piece of bread holding up the wrapper enough so it was sitting there as if it were still full of bread.  He died because he touched my San Francisco sourdough French bread.  Not because his stomach exploded because he ate so much bread.  No, because he was stupid enough to eat the poison I put out after I discovered his perfidy, crawl up under the fridge and die, causing me to beg a neighbor to come dispose of the body.  I don’t care where you stand on rat poison.  You were not there.  He had to die because he ate my San Francisco sourdough French bread.   NO ONE touches my San Francisco sourdough French bread.



OK, got side tracked there.  While mice are better than rats, I don’t do mice and will not live with them.  I call in The Exterminator.   Here is his, “If you don’t stop taking pictures of me” glare.  I’d run… if I was a mouse… wouldn’t you? 

Leland07 FACE




When we first married, I’m sure he thought that was the only reason I married him.  You know, to kill bugs, spiders, snakes, and mice.  Once he got the house sealed so we only deal with an occasional spider, life got easier and he figured out that THAT was not the reason I married him.  Heh heh heh.



I digress.  In order to facilitate packing up this house, I bought home the boxes and bubble wrap…  and a pesky mouse.  He started squeaking last night from somewhere near my fridge.  I don’t know why.  I don’t want to know why.  I just want him gone.



Squeaking, squeaking, always squeaking.  UGH.

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October 15th, 2009 | 3 Comments »

Gosh between the job of going through my mom’s stuff, getting her house on the market, looking at new home possibilities (oh happy dance, we might move), working to eat right, drink plenty of water, exercising in the pool on mega cold days, and re-learning how to type on a laptop’s small keyboard, it’s been busy busy busy around here.

This will be short and sweet.  I will be posting an updated picture of where I am now.  It isn’t a dramatic difference but it is there.  Really.  I promise you.  I have lost weight and am beginning to get a waistline again.  Yes really.  Why don’t you believe me?  Just because you haven’t heard from me in awhile doesn’t mean I feel off the wagon.  I did not eat chocolate lovely broccoli.

I’ll let you know when I have been brave enough to post the picture.  Soon, very soon.  I mainly just wanted to check in and let you know I haven’t quit working toward my little black dress goal. 

Oh – I can show you my sweet end goal dress right now.  Later on, I’ll post the next goal dress I’m working on.  I just like to keep the end goal before my eyes to remind me where I’m heading.  It is a motivator.  I WANT to get into this dress. 

As I’ve learned recently, you can accomplish anything if you want it badly enough.  And I WANT to fit into this beautiful Size 9 sweetling.  And I WANT Alpha Hubby to take me out to eat in this beautiful sweetling of a dress.  And I WANT to feel sexy again.  There, I’ve said it.  It’s ALL about ME!

     End Goal Dress

 End Goal Dress Front         

End Goad Dress Back

October 7th, 2009 | 3 Comments »

Well poop – my computer died.  I don’t know if it was the recent power outages or if the hard drive just gave up the ghost on its own but… poop.

It’s only a year old and shouldn’t be dying.  I am so so so glad I got every little bit of information backed up on my external hard drive yesterday when it gave its first symptoms of sickness.  I am a firm believer of investing in external hard drives.  I have lost everything way too many times to ever go without one again. 

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen the blue screen of death – the one error sign your computer just gave its last gasp – and not have done a backup recently.  Nothing is more fun (not) than reloading everything back onto your computer and doing all the updates again.

My entire tower has to go on a trip to Texas via FexEx or UPS in order for them to fix it.  The technician, Joseph, believes it is the hard drive but there were so many conflicting error messagess, he isn’t that sure what it was.  Oh, he tried to fool me with his fake confidence, “Oh yes, it is the hard drive, most assuredly. You will be having to mail it to Texas to be fixed.” 

It was very hard to understand the technical man (since he’s from India) but we gave it a good try.  He had to spell a lot for me, as I did for him.  “Please to spell your last name again?”  Loyd.  Too easy.  “L” as in looney.  “O” as in oh no I can’t believe my computer died.  “Y” as in why why why and you better get it back to me quickly and it better shape than it is now or I’ll find you.  “D” as in death.  The blue screen of death.

What this has to do with my journey is… ???  I just wanted to let you know I wouldn’t be writing until I get my laptop hooked up and some of the programs I need loaded on there.  Up to this point, I didn’t have much on the laptop because if I take it on vacation, it’s for the games and e-books, not work!

It’s almost as if I have to get a (*gasp*) LIFE or something.  A life beyond the computer!  Everything I am is on that computer – well was – I erased everything after getting it transferred to the external storage.  Like Joseph said, “You will to be losing everything on your computer if we are to be replacing your hard drive.”  He almost sounded sad when I told him I had it all backed up.  Hmmm.  Suspicious.  I guess he’s used to hysterical denial, “Noooo, I can’t lose everything on my computer! I haven’t backed up in 6 months!”

So while there is a wee bit of drama going on, the good news is my legs thawed out.  I went out and got in the pool today in 60 degree weather.  The shallower end was manageable – my legs didn’t turn blue.  It was tough but I got my workout in.  I am beyond proud of myself.  I actually went out and got in without anyone dragging me kicking and screaming.

I am to be having much progress!

October 5th, 2009 | 3 Comments »

Oh, so lonesome for you…*

 

*Sigh* I miss my pool.  It’s been upper 40’s and lower 50’s weather-wise, with wind.  It makes it VERY VERY VERY COLD in the pool.  I’d be OK if shivering caused weight loss.  I’ve braved it a few times but today it is overcast and seems colder than 52 degrees. 

I do have to say working out in the pool has done me a world of good.  It has been amazing.  I’ve lost pounds and inches, my knees don’t hurt, and it’s fun.  You don’t really clock-watch and feel like you’re working out, either.  This is especially true if you’re trying to spike a ball in front of Alpha Hubby’s face in order to soak him as badly has he just soaked you.  It’s FUN!

And the added benefit of playing in the pool with your Alpha is face time.  And those who play together have more face time in other ways, too.  Heh heh heh (dirty snicker).  Gotcha.  (private joke)

I’ve been seriously thinking about investing in a wet suit – not the deep diving type, but a bit lighter.  It would allow me to work out in the pool for at least another month without turning blue or joining the Polar Bear Club.  Maybe when I have to start chipping at the ice in order to get into the pool I’ll quit.  In the meantime, I find creative ways to inch myself down the ladder, one toe at a time into the water.  It’s OK once you get in, get over the shock and begin to move around.  It’s not OK prior to that point.  Phew.

I just hate giving up the benefits.  I’m finally losing weight consistently.  I want to drag this out as long as possible because the alternative is coming back inside and getting on the elliptical and working out with weights again.  One more month in the pool would help toward that goal.  I am not quitting this journey but I’m not ready to give up the pool. 

Not until they have to drag me out by my cold, lifeless… frozen hair!

 

 **Written by Texas DJ Bill Mack in early 60′s for Patsy Cline who never recorded it.