Weight Game

GAME, not GAIN, I said. I spent Wednesday through Sunday at home with just Jake. Bill was in Philly visiting Dylan. I found that cooking for myself is silly. It's much easier to pick up something at the drive-thru rather than waiting for chicken to thaw, especially when you find all your chicken is ruined because the freezer went out. Another story for another time. I ate at McDonalds and Chik-fil-a. It wasn't too horrible and I made sure to check the calories before driving through.

What's worse is my brother has been talking smack about the 5K we're all supposed to run together. He has gotten it in his head that he's going to kick my butt. Ha, I say. Let me just go eat some more chicken nuggets and then we'll talk about who's going to kick who's butt at the 5K!

I decided to check out the damage this morning and got on the scale. What? I lost another pound? I was super excited. So excited, I laughed and then coughed. What? I gained that pound right back. Apparently coughing makes you gain weight. I would advise trying to hold in any kind of laughing, coughing, talking, etc. while standing on the scale. There's no telling what will happen. I'm really starting to dislike this weight game.

10 Pounds!

I finally did it. I lost 10 pounds! I was starting to get discouraged because I was stuck at the 7 pound mark for a couple of weeks. I was starting to wonder why I was sweating my butt off at the gym. I reluctantly got on the scale this past Monday, after eating at Hula Hut on Saturday night. I was scared to look but was pleasantly surprised when I saw I'd hit 9 pounds. I decided to jump on there again today and I had lost another pound.

I've got 8 more pounds to go. I've been able to run 5 miles without stopping. I don't usually have time to run 5 miles, so 4 miles has become my regular workout. My goal is to run 16 miles a week. The last few days I've gotten bored with just running, so I switch it up between running and the eliptical. Using the eliptical burns more calories and allows me to go a farther distance in less time than the treadmill, however, running uses all your muscles. I just need some variety.

So, it's highly unlikey I'll lose 8 pounds in two weeks, for the weigh-in, but I'll be close (as I sit here eating goldfish). I don't think Frank has been able to lose more than his 16 (had 28 to lose) so, maybe no one will win the $20. I guess if I stopped eating altogether I could do it, but I like food too much!

Stim-a-lis

I really shouldn't complain about my job. I come and go as I please, most of the time. No one cares what I do as long as my work gets done. Seeing as there's not that much work, I don't spend a great deal of time actually working, even when I am physically sitting in my cubicle. However, I must complain about the recent ending of the Legislative session.

I've only been working for the state for 4 1/2 years. Every year I've gotten some kind of raise on September 1. This year state employees will be getting a "stimulus" check in the amount of $800, minus taxes. Are you freaking kidding me? They didn't approve any raise for us, but are giving us $800 (minus taxes). This is what they are considering our raise for the next two years. Mind you, we don't get the $800 both years, just one, this one. We have to make that $800 stretch out for 24 months. That comes to $33.33 per month, minus taxes. That won't even fill up my truck with gas. It's kind of like being slapped in the face.

I think it's insulting. What's really the point? How is $33 a month considered a stimulus check when it won't even buy a tank of gas? I think our country has started to overuse the word "stimulus." They consider everything a stimulus check these days. What does stimulus mean to you? To me, it means paying some of my mortgage payment because I've been a faithful payor and never once defaulted. To me, it means taking away some of my student loans, because God knows I'll be dead before those are paid off...and again, never defaulted. To me, it means giving me a decent child care credit on my taxes, not $1200 total when I pay $10,000 a year for day care. To me, a stimulus means not telling me to bend over.

Anyway, that's my venting post for the stim-a-lis nonsense!

Papa Frank

It’s true, Frank and I have had our differences. We’ve been through some tough times. Call him short tempered or a hard ass, Frank is who he is and will always tell ya like it is. I’ve recently learned under that very hard shell is a big teddy bear. It was very surprising when Jake was born and met his Papa Frank for the first time how Frank was so careful with him. Jake cries when his “blood” Grandpa comes around, but never when he sees his Papa Frank. Funny how that worked out. I think Frank is a little anxious to start teaching Jake all about hunting. He’s already given Jake a gun, although it stays at Papa Frank’s house for now. He’s been designated as the teacher of all things gun related.

We spent the weekend at Nana Nee and Papa Frank’s house. It was the first time we were all able to get together with Ryan, Laura and Bailey. Little Bailey has gotten so big and is changing so quickly. It’s so amazing how babies grow their first year of life. It’s hard to imagine that Jake was just that way less than a year ago. Jake certainly isn’t a baby anymore. He had a great time with his Papa Frank this weekend. I’ll even go out on a limb and say Papa Frank had a great time with his grandkids.