Happy Canada Day!

Wow, is that what I think it is?

Yup!  3/4 inch hail bouncing off everything in sight. 

I really do love thunderstorms, but I'm less thrilled with ones that risk property damage...  Then again, with the storms this morning, we had 3 power outages at work before I finished my half day!  And the afternoon was gloriously sunny, and for the first time in the month of June, we broke 80F/27C. 

Of course, today was also the day I was baking for the fundraiser we are helping out with on Sunday.  6 dozen cookies baked and the central air gets my seal of approval. 

Who says inanimate objects don't have a sense of humour?

Today at work was rough.  Extra rough.  I've just gotten in the door after a 13+ hr day, and my samples still aren't running.  I'm learning a new instrument technique at work.  It's not working.  And the person with 10+ years experience with it can't figure out why either.  No idea.  We've just spent quite a lot of time trying... So you get the idea.  The sort of day you just want to forget.

Anywho, I get on the highway and have my iPod on random shuffle.  I was skipping a fair number of songs 'cause I was looking for something with a nice beat to sing along with.  Last three songs before I turn into my driveway?

She works hard for the money
Under pressure
9 to 5

Who says inanimate objects have no sense of humour?

My smile for today

While on hold trying to change some of my dining plans for Walt Disney World in September, I was treated to the full soundtrack for Splash Mountain.  It just kept making me grin!

 

(And who says technology is the best?  The online reservation system was down, which is why I ended up calling them, and got the unexpected surprise!)

Happy Father's Day!

To all the dads out there, I hope you have a great day!

Checking in

No, we haven't fallen off the face of the planet.  We're still alive and kicking.  Our health is overall good, and we're both still employed.

 

I've just not particularly been in the blogging mood, and I need to get back to it.

We've been up to loads, and I keep thinking I need to post about X,Y,Z and all the other things, but then I feel guilty for not posting about A,B and C.  So I'm just going to give up and start from here...

 

Weight loss is going well, I'm down 8 lbs.

 

Summer isn't really summer yet.  We've not broken 80F/26C yet this month.  And it's rained every day but one.*  So much for global warming! :)  They've also changed how our summer hours work at work, and they're not nearly as useful/worthwhile to me any more.  I now work an extra hour Mon-Thurs and only work a half day Friday.  By the time I'm done running errands on the way home, I'm still stuck in Friday afternoon traffic!  (*For reference, by mid June in an average year we'd have had 4 days with temps above 95F/35C, and we've already received double the monthly average rainfall.)

 

I'm going back to school this fall.  I'm excited but a bit scared.  And man is it expensive here in the US.  I'm going to end up paying more for one course for one semester than I did for my first full year of tuition in Canada.  OUCH!  And because of that, we're not doing anything splurgy that wasn't already booked and paid for before this opportunity came about. 

 

Disney in September is still absolutely a go though!  It has been fully paid off for months, and all we'll need $$ wise is just pocket money.  All our travel/lodgings/food is already paid for!  I think excitement about this trip is all that keeps me at work some days.

 

We prevailed with the IRS.  Stupid #@$#%$# Scottrade had reported stuff wrongly for our 2007 taxes.  And apparently we were far from the only ones.  One big relief having that done.  We still haven't settled with the ex-landlords.  And at this point, I'm starting to wonder if it's worth it.  If I pursue it much further, they could come after us for the full amount of rent for the rest of the lease we cancelled.  And frankly, we don't have anything close to that amount of $$ available in the 1:1million chance they win.  But those who know me, know how well I do when there are strange odds about...  I also won with my employer on the contract issue.  Not sure I posted anything about that (and blogging about work is banned anyways), but they were trying to modify terms of something that had been in place since I joined the company.  Retroactively.  I don't think so...

 

So what's up with everyone else out there?

(Presuming anyone still reads this thing that is...)

 

Weightloss update: 4/15/09

Food: horrible. I was going high on points before getting home, starving while sitting in traffic, so I snacked from the emergency supplies and then we ended up going out to dinner with Dina. (Which was awesome and so worth it!)

Exercise: good, 20 minutes moderate!

Today's Weight Update

Feel free to skip these posts folks, I promise to put something about weight in the title. I need to post them to make myself accountable to me.

Eating: Great, within points even before exercise
Exercise: No walk due to the rain and Brian early to bed. (Starting at 5am sucks!)
25 pushups (sore after yesterday)
30 minutes yoga video

Time for an ugly reality check...

I weight 230 lbs. I can't believe I let it creep back up that high. And I can't let it continue, I have to send it in the opposite direction. So I'm going to go public, and try to make myself accountable, publicly. I need to stop procrastinating because my arm chair is so comfy and the heating pad feels good on my back. I need to stop snacking from the vending machine at work. If I pack healthy snacks, I eat them. I *LIKE* healthy food. I'm just too lazy. The plan is to pay more attention to what I'm eating and why I'm eating it, to have healthier snacks on hand, and to do something in the way of exercise for a minimum of 15 minutes/day. Weigh ins will be ~ once/week as I remember to do them. I always start out strong but lose steam. If I'm doing well and manage the exercise up every day for the next two weeks, I'm going to sign up for the online Weight Watchers tools. I know I do well when I have the geekiness of tracking online each and every time I eat. I know I can do it, all I need is the motivation...

Today's Report:
Food: So-so. No snacking from the vending machine, but hotdogs for dinner. No evening snacks though!
Exercise: 50 pushups, 20 crunches and a 1 mile walk with Brian

Extermicake! Extermicake!

DSCN0796
Originally uploaded by Heather Eberhardt

Brian's Unbirthday party was Saturday night, and this was his cake... :)

March Monthly Report (only a *little* late)

What books and/or magazines did I read this month?
First three Valdemar books (How did I miss these?)
Two trashies
One SF about what would happen if there were no petro based products
(title completely escaping me)

What movies and/or tv shows did I watch this month?
TV: Usual silly forensics shows, Doctor Who Easter special, Castle, Dollhouse
Movies: Monsters Vs Aliens, Coraline

What special days did I celebrate and how?
Nothing too special, but Brian's birthday is coming.

What gifts did I give and/or receive?
None

What illnesses or health concerns did I have?
Ear/throat/sinus infection for me as well as another migrane, and the
increase in frequency of them is starting to concern me.

What fun things did I do with my friends and/or family?
Ruth and Dave came down from NH and brought 7 month old Ben for us to
ooh and ahh over. We had friends over for BBQ that turned into
lasagna because of the weather. Becca came and visited for part of
her March Break.

What new foods, recipes or restaurants did I try this month?
Rice pudding (and ICK, the texture is as bad as I was always afraid it
would be. Gag!)

What special or unusual purchases did I make?
None, we're trying to save money

What were this month's disappointments?
Traffic court (over a bad parking ticket) was pushed back into May. I
want it done with already.
Springhill Nurseries sending me three trees (which I can't plant)
instead of the 75 Stargazer Lily bulbs I'd ordered. And telling me
they couldn't send me the bulbs now but would do so spring of 2010.
No, you'll be giving me my money back, now.

What were my accomplishments this month?
Gathered all the paperwork to sue the old landlords to get our deposit back!
Brian survived his 6 weeks of hellish hours and horrid commutes
training staff for two new restaurant openings.

Anything else noteworthy to record?
Not really. I finally started stitching again a little, so I suppose
that would count.

What made me smile this month?
Baby toes! Nom nom nom nom
Becca!
Booking Disney for September

Quiet Sunday

Brian has his first day off in two weeks. He's just finished his six week stint of training staff for two new restaurant openings. So we're having a quiet day and it's wonderful. We went out and dealt with some bank stuff, shopped for BBQ's (looking for recommendations on gas ones <$250) for Brian's birthday, grabbed groceries and necessities and had lunch out. We're home now and watching today's Formula One race. Taking it easy and not even making Brian get a start on his honey do list. The sun is shining and it's gorgeous out. I even let Percy go out for the first time on his new harness. He didn't fight too badly getting into the harness, but he's going to require a lot of supervision. Idiot still tried to choke himself with it.

Yesterday was spent with Michelle and Dina. Michelle is going to be moving in the next month (or so) so we finally got her to come out and see the various apartment/townhouse options in the area here. She found one that's fabulous and I expect she'll take it Monday morning. We spent hours just being girls, hanging out and gabbing. It was so much fun. Next weekend we'll have Ruth and Dave and their 7 month old Ben coming to stay with us and I'm really excited about it. We had a great time with them last year, so we're planning a BBQ again this year. (And that's why I'm looking to buy Brian's present early.)

Random Photo Explosion...

This is my gateleg table out in the snow at the new place.
And this was taken before the snow finished falling...


This is a shot of the desk in my new craft room!


And since I now have a craft room, I'm actually (sometimes) making time to stitch! This is a shot of Fantasy Triptych. Colours are horribly washed out, but you get the idea... If I actually make time to stitch this weekend, I think I'll have everything done up to the bottom of the knight's feet...


A photo for Randi and certain other gamers (inside joke...).
Does that reindeer look scared to you?


As promised, this is the photo of my favourite Valentine's Day gift ever.
Even if I bought it for myself! :)
I've been doing my laundry in a laundromat since I was a teenager, so this is proving to be a huge luxury to me.


And finally, I met Bully!

Spew Warning!

Isn't there supposed to be an upside to behaving like an adult?

I got up early and went into work early so I could leave *on time* for
a date with hubby to go to the movies.
There was a bad crash on the LIE that closed three lanes.
I got home too late for the date...
(But in a count my blessings way, I did get home safe and sound!)

I was good and did three hours of housework this evening.
Unpacked a lot of boxes, vacuumed both floors, made a great, healthy
dinner *and* did two loads of laundry.
I wanted chocolate so I pulled open the chocolate drawer in the
fridge, and then spent 20 minutes organizing it better without
actually eating any actual chocolate (or other treats).
Then cut my leg pretty significantly while trying to load the dishwasher.
(Don't ask, just remember, I *am* that klutzy...)

We decided to do the financially responsible thing and skip several
events that have non-minor costs involved this year.
And a whole lot that do have minor costs.
I'm okay with that decision, and know it's the right one.
Even if I've just discovered that great friends we never see are going
to be at one of them.
But we're trying to do the right thing.
With all the cutting back, saving and Brian working extra hours, we've
paid off over $3000 on the credit card so far this year.
The credit card company just cut our limit by $2850
(And WTF $2850? Could it have been a more random amount?)

To end on a positive note, here are three things that make me happy:
1) Spring bulbs lead to fabulous flowers (one splurge before the
responsible gene kicked in, I've got 75 Stargazer Lily bulbs coming my
way, they shipped over the weekend! Wohoo!)
2) Reconnecting with old friends through the wonders of the internet
3) My heating pad-adapted chair. After all the bending, stretching
and reaching, little feels as good as to curl up in my chair with the
heat on!

Holy Shit!

Am I ever extra glad we moved...

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/suffolk/ny-lifire0305,0,7360795.story

This is the complex we moved out of last month...

SNOOOOOOWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!!!!

Wow, did we get snow. 15 inches of it! And just Friday I'd been hearing Becca complain about all their snow and telling her she could send it my way! Needless to say, I'm happy about it. Not so happy about having to shovel the driveway myself, four times over the course of the storm, but I'll live! I've got photos but still haven't unpacked the cable to get them off the card. Rest assured, once I do, I'll be posting a ton of photos! We've had visitors at the new place already, and I need to post photos of said new place! Also, I want to show off my Valentine's gift. Favourite one ever!

Reminder to stupid children

I don't care if you can't be bothered to actually work with the sash
down on the fume hood.
I get that you're tall and it irritates you.
I get that the alarm tone doesn't give you headaches like it does me.
But if you're leaving the lab, shut the fing hood already.
And when I politely remind you as safety commitee member that you
should, don't all but tell me to f myself using gestures.

Love,
Me

The right way to start the day

I pulled into the parking lot at work this morning after a
particularly rough morning.
And saw the most gorgeous rainbow in the sky over the building.
It changed my whole outlook for the day in the most wonderful way.

mutter mutter, grumble, grumble

Stupid drivers who don't know how to safely drive in snow.

Stupid plow drivers who only plow down the middle of two lanes of
traffic. On one of the busiest roads in the region.

Stupid car that wouldn't start after I'd cleaned it off.

Stupid Cablevision that still hasn't fixed my phone so I had to call
Hyundai on my cell.

Silly husband (silly, not stupid) who caused the problem with the car
so it wouldn't start.

Stupid me for not just staying in bed! :P

But now I'm at work, safe, sound and warm. And grateful for all three.