Two great things today

1. I got my tiny sock! YAY! I'll post pictures once I can take a picture that turns out as well as this one did. I'm so excited for this! WOOHOO! Thanks, Angela!

2. Thank you, Sean. 'nuf said.

So much for self constraint

I'm ending the eating plan that I started yesterday.

Wow...that's a shocker, isn't it? Not. I couldn't do it. It was just too odd for me and it's just not the right time. I have too many events next week that I can't be only eating cottage cheese.

Of course I really do need to lose some poundage. It's not that I'm overly overweight, but I should be lighter. I need to drop sugar again, which will be really hard until all the krumkake is gone, and I need to go back to very limited whole-grain breads and pastas (not that I don't eat that anyway, but still).

I just need to eat better. Granted today was a weird fruit day, but I didn't end the evening well. I had popcorn and ice cream instead of chicken and veggies like I should have. But tomorrow is another day and I know I can do better.

And I will...but not for another week or so. :)

Benben

I love Brian Benben. He is one of my favorite actors though he hasn't done much. But when he was on Dream On he was great.

He's been on Private Practice the last two weeks and I really hope they can make it work with him and Violet because he's great and really should be a regular.

Hoping tomorrow is upbeat

There is so much going on and yet nothing is going on.

Today I started a new eating plan but I don't like it. I'm so used to South Beach that to eat this way is extremely odd. Plus it's falling over the Holiday Party season which is not a good time to try to eat correctly. I have cookies to bake! I have new recipes to try! I have partying to do!

Okay, the last one had to make a few of you scoff.

But the problem is, I'm feeling really flabby lately and I really do need to eat better. But I'm thinking I need to do what I know and trust. And I know and trust South Beach. It's not that I don't know and trust my trainer who advised me on this program, but I know that SB works.

So if my trainer approves, I'm going to take the next 11-12 days and relax and enjoy, and then I'll get back on SB around the 22nd. I might as well, I don't have anything else going on those next two weeks. :)

But to the topic of nothing going on, I have felt really unmotivated and tired lately. Boss3 stopped by at the end of the day and said he was feeling the same way. Not good. I don't think Boss1 has been his usual self either. We're not sick so I'm not sure what's going on with the three of us. It sucks though.

I desperately need to have some motivation tomorrow because I have so much work to do. Of course, that's part of what's holding me back. I hate having so much to do that I can't seem to get any of it done. But I have to tomorrow. It's becoming a necessity.

HELP!

Giveaway!

No, sorry folks, it's not one of my giveaways, but Design Mom is having one...or 12 actually.

Go here and partake in her 12 days of Christmas giveaway. This looks to be great! Enjoy!

Snow tramp

It's snowy here these days. It all came down last night and so today the streets were a mess and made everything just slushy and dirty. I love snow, don't get me wrong, but I really hate the mess it makes on city streets.

My car, Morty, does not like the cold. I'm so glad I pay for a heated, underground garage at my apartment. My wiper fluid has been freezing up when I get outside so it's good I can use the overnight to thaw it out. I actually used snow at noon to clean off my window when I was in-between errands I was running over lunch.

So tonight, after I picked up a mini trampoline as requested by my trainer and some groceries for my diet plan also as requested by my trainer, I came home and hosed my car down. We're allowed to wash our car in the garage and today I was really thankful for it.

I love the Cities but they use a lot of salt to keep their streets clear. Unfortunately that all stuck to my car yesterday and clogged up in my wheelwells. Let's just say, Morty was a mess. But he looks a lot better now - cleaner and less goopy. Hopefully it'll help.

On the trainer note, Keith gave me a new diet plan to try. It's an 11-day on/3-day off thing. It's pretty cool though I'm a little nervous that there is a really limited amount of carbs on it. But that's probably a VERY good thing since I've been eating way too many carbs and way too much sugar lately. I need to stop and sadly, this isn't the time of year to do that, but I'm going to try.

The tram (tramp as I keep calling it) is to help me do calisthenics at home since I don't get to the gym very much. He mapped out some good things for me to do that I can do simply while watching my normal TV shows, which is nice.

So I promised him I'd try both for 11 days and see how it goes. I have to put the tram(p) together tonight so it's ready for me tomorrow.

I think this will be good. I need to focus on something good in my life.

Mail call!

I love getting mail and the last few days I haven't really been able to check my mail because I've been working way too damn much. Today was a nice day off...Well, what the heck, let me tell you all about it!

So you know I woke at 4 and got on the road to see Keith. Well, I got there late because people don't know how to drive. Keith thought we were going to work out today too. Sheesh. I forgot about this and though I had my clothes ready to go today, I had forgotten them, my presents for Sarah* and Debbie and the cookies for Keith.

But he made me work out anyway and gave me some new calisthenics to do and advised me to buy a mini-trampoline and YakTrax (which of course I bought the wrong ones, but I'm going to try them anyway). I'll get the mini-tram tomorrow.

My massage was amazing. Keith is a pure God when it comes to massage. Even though there were moments where I wanted to just scream, I held on and now I feel great.

I headed back home afterward and the 4 hour drive back was a bit rough at times. I opened my window to stay awake and learned that popcorn is a great thing to keep me awake. That and the Altar Boyz soundtrack.

And when I got home, there were 4 boxes of fun waiting for me. I got the Air Force Blues book, new shoes that I'm going to try (they are lighter than my usual Brooks and I kind of like them, though they are last seasons (ASR) and I may just use them at home on the tram) for under $40, movies, new organic cotton towel 8-piece set (which was under $40) and new organic cotton sheets (also under $40).

I'm so stoked. First these were all items I wanted/needed AND they were on sale. Second, the organic sheets and towels make me really happy. And third, I love getting mail.

Then I went through the rest of my mail which is usually just junk. But today, I had a great surprise. Kat sent me a holiday picture-card. I love it!

I sometimes think I should do this, but pictures of me never quite turn out. I always look funny so I don't. But maybe someday.

Now, I must iron my uniform for tomorrow and go to bed. I desperately need sleep before starting another four days of work. Hopefully these won't be 14-hour days like last weeks. :)

*Sarah - I'm sorry I didn't get you called. I was so exhausted I would not have been good company. I do want to see y'all though! I hope Eli is doing well. Hugs!

Fun Monday!

Hey Mamalang...I didn't forget!

I'm new to this meme game of sorts but I thought it'd be fun to try. Mamalang is hosting this week, and she asked everyone to share their top three Christmas songs, and their favorite Christmas item.

Narrowing down songs is really hard for me but I'll try:

3. Anything by The Folkers
2. In the bleak midwinter
1. O holy night

My favorite Christmas item is the white yarn tree that I "stole" from our family. My mom and one of my brothers made it for Cub Scouts, I think, way back in the day (70s, maybe 80s if it was the younger-older brother) and it's been my favorite since. I have it up at work actually and love it.

There we go! Check out the other posters! Such fun!

"She's diabolical!" "She's insane."

Remember that line from In and Out? Somehow I'm feeling more insane today than diabolical, but you never know what the next 17 hours may bring.

Yes, dear readers, I am up again before 4 am, on my day off, the one day I could sleep in, though this time with a great purpose (not that work isn't a great purpose). I'm heading to see my fabulous massage therapist/personal trainer. YAY!

I totally need a massage today. Not that I really want to be up at 4 so I can drive 4 hours to see him, but it's always worth it. Had I been smart, I would have gone up last night but with the holiday season there were three events after work yesterday that I needed to be at (of course, I only made it to one).

And I tried to go to bed at 9 so I'd at least get 7 hours of sleep, but I couldn't fall asleep right away - shocking, considering how tired I was/am.

So, despite the fact I have a very long Swedish massage on the schedule today - one that usually causes me to cry out in brief bursts of agony but sigh with relief after - I may sleep right through it all. As Keith said, "Tranquility will be yours!"

Pearls

Another work day, still super busy, but less crazy than yesterday. We had a ceremony this afternoon where one of our leaders talked about Pearl Harbor and the significance of today and the events effects on our world. It choked me up a bit though I did hold it in. Of course Boss2, as he usually does, had to point out that he thought I was going to get all emotional on them. Thanks, Boss2.

I was supposed to go to a concert with my sister but when I called her an hour before I needed to leave she told me that her hubby was going to go with her instead so I could just do my work thing. This was fine, initially, because I decided I'd just go home and try to catch up on my rest.

But, as is typical of my life and timing, I was walking down the hall to my office and NW stopped me and said, "You're helping with the Children's Christmas Party, right?" Uh, I wasn't going to but I suppose I can. I am kind of on the committee so I felt a little obligated, especially when she added that the folks running the party didn't have any volunteers to help.

Great. So much for my quiet afternoon. But as is me, I jumped in full-swing. I took care of the prize table and helped the kids pick out the prizes. Then when we were starting to clean up I stacked all the chairs in groups of 6, as is preferred. Then I took down the tables and stacked them on the carts. A few people were helping out too, but we really could have used some extra help.

Then SW started vacuuming with Big Blue (our super huge industrial vacuum) and I felt guilty because he's one of our top dogs on base and he's vacuuming! Ugh. So I finally convinced him to go home and I'd finish up. Then one of the gals who had planned the party stood around watching me (because she didn't want to leave me alone, not that she was helping). So I sent her home too.

Uffda. Here I was not planning to help and I end up closing the place down. Oh well.

So I need to make a small batch of cookies for Keith as I'm heading up to see him so I can try to work out the stress from last week. I can't wait. Sleep will be mine soon.

Solo, Holiday

Crazy day again today (this seems to be a pattern lately?) though I did have 3 hours where I was able to just sit back and kind of do my work without a lot of stress. It was nice!

Of course then the afternoon hit and I skipped a meeting, skipped another both due to another meeting, then met the Governor, did a little ditty and then headed to the holiday party KC and I have been working on all week (and really since July).

The little ditty was the national anthem for a formal event we had this afternoon. I was a little nervous because I haven't done the solo gig in awhile (usually singing with the quartet instead). But it actually went really well. I was nervous I was going to forget the words, which is a downfall of overpracticing.

I was trying to find my starting note this afternoon before the event and if you've ever sang the anthem you understand there's an octave and a half you have to be able to hit. So I wanted to start low enough, but not too low, so I could be understood and still hit the high notes easily without screeching. I made it. :) But I practiced so much that I started to wonder if I was singing the right words in the right order, so I typed them up and clutched to them with all my might as I sang in front of the flag and 300 people. :) Nice.

Then it was holiday party time. It turned out really well and thankfully the mixed drinks were provided so I didn't have to pay for any of that (which was good since i had paid for all of the food we donated - hopefully to be reimbursed). I pleased a few of my co-workers when they discovered I was drinking rum and coke and not just diet coke. :) YAY! And believe me, I needed it.

Finally, though, I'm home and can go to sleep for awhile before I have to be back to work. I need sleep. It was a long day, though well-worth it.

Haiku!

Bless you.

Just kidding.

Whoorl is back writing haiku's, partly because four people out of six said they'd keep reading her if she wrote haiku's, one of whom was me. :)

So she has 16 haiku's on her post today and, while I suck at it, I thought I'd write a couple here. Feel free to comment back with your own!

I'm very tired.
It's been a very long day.
I need to go sleep.

But, first I must blog
because I signed up for this
Blog 365.

I blog ev'ry day
It doesn't always make sense
But it's from the heart.

It's therapeutic.
And I need to write each day
to sort out my thoughts.

I would write more but,
I don't want to bore readers
who stop by each day.

So I write and write
Or I post a picture here
But now it's haiku's.

Okay I've done it
It's your turn to write one here.
Give me your best one!

It's catching up with me

I'm happy to report that I slept in today - until 5:14. Then I got out of bed to check email and get ready for work.

Oh, but today my head was pounding all day because I'm so behind on sleep. And then I spent most of the day at a training that has very little to do with what I do but it's a requirement for my job. That's all well and good but it's keeping me from my real job (and it continues tomorrow). So I worked an extra 3 hours tonight so I could catch up.

Now I'm blogging quickly so I can go to bed. Tomorrow will be yet another long day with the training continuing and my last day to get things done before our work weekend.

We're having our holiday party this weekend (one of three) and KC and I have been busting our butts to get things together. All I can say is thank God we decided to do a potluck because if I had to take care of the food too, I think I'd have to hurt myself.

But thankfully it's potluck and almost everyone is bringing something. I think we'll end up with a lot of food which is always better than not enough. I just hope I can stay awake until the bitter end.

And if I'm hoping to do so, I better get some sleep now.

Do you need some validation?

This is a little long, but well worth the 16 minutes. Don't stop in the middle! Watch it all the way through. And then go validate someone! :)

Thanks for the first look, Kat!

Again!

Good morning, dear readers. It's another early morning in the Moe household.

Dammit, Rachel.

Yep, her small comment that I'd wake up at 4:30 today came true again. Of course it was 4:22 and I woke up because I heard a shovel scrap the sidewalk outside. Great...did it snow, I wondered? And then I reached for my clock to see what time it was.

Grrr. This power of suggestion thing is starting to drive me nuts. And it only seems to be working for sleep!

But this is good, I suppose. With the snow, stupid people will be attempting to drive again (people live here all their lives but have to relearn how to drive in snow every year) and I can get to work early again. Probably a good thing.

Hope y'all got to sleep in a little bit more than I did. :) Let's just hope I stay awake today. Diet Coke...here I come!

Horoscope

This was today's horoscope for me:

You may be tired of your current work routine and are less likely to be concerned about fulfilling your obligations. Today you are busy dreaming about a more perfect life that's far off in the distance. Don't worry about how you're going to get there. Just enjoy the mental exercise and when you're finished daydreaming, come back to the present moment and do something that can make a real difference.

This was totally how I felt today. And it scares me a little. There's a temporary job opportunity that has been presented to my boss for me and I'm just not sure what to do about it. I was hoping Boss1 and I could have talked about it today but he had a conference all day so I barely saw him. When we spoke briefly this morning I thought he might bring it up...it looked like he wanted it to but then he decided not to.

It was probably just as well because I'm not ready to talk. I don't know what to do. I had offhandedly asked my family about it this weekend and I received adamant "no's" to the suggestion.

There are pros and cons to it and I need to sort those out because there's a deadline approaching and I'm nervous. There would be a lot to do if I did this, and a lot of flexibility required on my part in letting go of some of my current projects (or getting them finished) so I can move on temporarily.

We'll see. I'll sleep on it all tonight and I guess I'll just have to see what Boss1 says tomorrow.

Waiting

I'm waiting for the crash.

But surprisingly I have been feeling pretty good today. Work was work, and KC and I continued plans for the holiday party we are hosting this weekend at work.

We're doing things a little different this year. We have a budget of $4 per person and in the past we've always asked for people to bring something or donate $5.

I hate asking people for money (because sometimes people don't give but still take advantage of the party or event anyway). So I suggested we just have the full-timers bring food (potluck style) and the part-timers could just relax and enjoy.

So that's what we did, but apparently people don't understand the concept of RSVP. You know, where you respond whether or not you're coming so the party planners can have an actual count? So we're kind of scrambling to figure out if we'll have enough food.

Our main dish sign up has been slim to none so after talking with Boss2 today I decided I'm going to buy a ham and we'll have that. A local butcher gets them all ready, pre-cooked so all we'd have to do is heat it up this weekend. That works for me and then it won't be too bad for food with the rest of stuff coming.

I'm crossing my fingers this party will work out. We went a totally different route this year and I'm a little worried, but confident that most people won't really care. And if they do, they just won't come or they'll leave.

So that was the base project for the day and now I'm just waiting for the crash that is inevitable from this morning's wide-awakeness. :) Of course Rachel said I'll wake up at 4:30 tomorrow. That wouldn't be bad since I still have a lot of work to do.

Sleep

My sleep patterns have been all jacked up lately and I'm starting to get annoyed. I can't really blame anyone but myself for today's awakening at 3:30 since I kind of told myself I wanted to get up at 3:30 so I could go to work early and get some things started/finished. Of course, when I woke at 3:26 I started laughing and rolled over and told myself I needed 30 more minutes. I woke again at 3:57 and laughed again. Wow, this power of suggestion thing really works. So I told myself 15 more minutes and then I'd get up.

I woke up again at 4:14. Crazy...seriously.

The bad thing is that I'm one who really believes in the "go to bed, get up at the same time every day" thing. I really try to stay as close to that as possible - varying usually only by an hour on either side. But two weeks ago I was in another time zone with different work hours which threw me off. Then last week was a short work week with six days off. Everything has been kind of jacked up.

Now this week is back to "normal" if there is such a thing. And waking up early today isn't a big deal except tomorrow will be rough as I'll want to sleep in. I just know this will happen because it's how I work. And I can't sleep in this weekend to "catch up" because it's a work weekend. And I can't sleep in next Monday on my day off because I need to be in the cities to see Keith.

Oh what a roller coaster!

But really, if this is the only thing I have to stress about...then my life is pretty good. :)

Twilight Spoilers

Seriously, if you haven't read the book or seen the movie "Twilight", please don't read this. I don't want to be responsible for spoiling your fun.

Last night, after a great reunion of conversation and dinner with Karen, we decided to hit a movie. I haven't seen a movie since The Express (which was awesome, by the way) so it was good for me to get out.

Karen loved Twilight the first time she saw it and she really wanted to go again. I wasn't going to see it because I've read and loved the book and, more often than not, I'm always disappointed with the movie after I read the book.

Well, I wasn't horribly disappointed. I understand the changes they made - like introducing the truck, Billy and Jacob all in one fell swoop; the showing of the deaths of people in the area by the others; the use of the phone between Bella and her mom instead of email; and a few others.

But a few I just didn't like. Bella and her dad didn't eat out at the cafe - she cooked for him! Jacob warned Bella about Edward way before the end of the book (at least that's how I remember it). The whole Mike/Eric/Bella triangle wasn't played up as much as it should have been - not that it was crucial for the story but it was part of the story. There were 2 dances in the book - not one (though I can understand that one too - there's just too much to condense into 2 hours). And, of course, the house wasn't how I pictured it - actually neither house, Charlie's or Edwards were how I had pictured them.

The one good thing, despite not being how I had pictured him, Carlisle was HOT. Of course, I like Peter Facinelli and he fit the part perfectly - especially since he's Italian-American and a vegetarian. :)

Anyway, it wasn't as horrible as I thought it was going to be. It stayed pretty close to the book, though, Karen will vouch, there were several times when I was shaking my head that it wasn't right or would say so right out loud. :)

But still a good movie. I'm curious if they are going to do the next. But until then, I'm going to reread the book and see what else they changed (because I know they did but I won't do a complete dissection here).

Last month of 2008

Wow. It's December! I can't believe it. These last two months have truly flown by and I'm not ready for this yet.

December means end of year projects need to be finished. December means holiday parties at work, of which we have three. December means holiday shopping and stores where people are insane and roads where people are even more insane because they can't drive. December means cold and snow and more cold.

I'm not ready for the cold, but I'll deal with it. It's not that I hate winter. Christmas really isn't Christmas unless there's snow on the ground - at least that's my opinion.

So I put up my tree yesterday, I'm making plans for Christmas goodies to be made, and trying to plan out my budget for gifts (because I tend to go overboard which isn't a good thing for my budget).

And I have one more month of blogging every day. I hope I can make it! :)