Sometimes life just doesn't allocate us enough time to do everything and for me the last few weeks one of those activities has been blogging. Since I have talked to you all last I stayed a week with my sister and her family, started grad school, and tried to have a life in the mean time. A trip to NOLA, a wedding, working the weekend.... it has been such an adjustment. I work my full time job, to then go study or go to class everynight, get home at 1030, do more school work and then sleep and do it all over again. Just last week someone was like, "So what does it feel like to be a grad student?" and all i said was it feels like having no life! haha I think I ran myself so hard my body couldn't take it. I got a stomach virus. The sickiest I can remember being since like 4th grade. Then followed that up with a cold that never seemed to get better. My schedule definitley did not allocate suffiecient time to be sick and get everything on the agenda done. It was miserable.
I never dreamed starting grad school again would be so life altering. I knew I was rusty in terms of my studying and time management skills but it really has been an eye opener. I can't even describe to you how scared I was going into class that first day. I didn't have any idea what to expect. Will I be the youngest person? The least experienced person? One of the only females? Will I not be as smart as everyone else? Will I be able to do this? But now a month in I can say fully that while this challenege has been insane it has been amazing. I can see a total shift in my critical thinking skills. I have learned to say no (something I hate doing... never want to miss out on anything) and practiced the idea of prioritizing what's the most important on my to do list. And I realized I don't necessarily give myself enough credit in the "smarts" department. I have met some amazing people through this first class and I am so glad I finally took the pludge to better my future.
Just 9.5 more classes to go! LOL
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Tis the season for Xmas Cards
So one of my favorite parts of the Christmas season is getting to read my dad's Christmas card. Well the time is here and figured I might as well share it with my blog family.
I wish all of you a VERY merry Christmas! (I'm sure I'll be talking to you all before new years, but if not Happy 2011 peeps!)
Merry Christmas 2010
As 2010 draws to a quick close we take time to look back on this year. A fairly mild winter which turned into an early spring helped the corn and beans to be planted quickly and get off to a good start, then WHAM it all changed. First we received a 6-inch rain and then watched over 200 acres of corn drown under flood water. When it did finally dry out enough to replant the corn little did we know that it was the last rain we would receive for nearly 6 months. Yields suffered but it was better than I expected but far from being a great crop. We started harvesting in mid-August earlier than we ever have before and that’s about the only benefit of a drought I can think of.
Christy entered the real world of home ownership this year by purchasing a home in east Nashville right before the flood. The floodwaters got within a ½ mile of her house, but she is on a hill so there was no damage. It was really heartbreaking to see what the rain did. Parts of Nashville will never be the same. Christy is still working with Ingram Barge Co. and manages the Ingram traffic on the Tennessee River and Kentucky Lake.
Sarah and Nick surprised all earlier this year announcing that they were expecting a baby. On December 7, Carter Ray Huelsman entered the world. That makes Cindy and I grandparents and that’s not all that bad. The biggest smile I have ever seen on Cindy was when she held Carter. I knew then he was a keeper. I can tell he has a little of his Granddad Mitchell in him, he sleeps every chance he gets! Sarah is still a branch manger with PNC Bank and Nick works with Flynn Brothers Construction in Louisville.
The excitement of Carter’s birth was quickly subdued as Cindy’s dad, CA, passed away 2 days later. He fought cancer and other health problems for many years. He never did let his health problems deter his drive. He just made them another obstacle to overcome and forged ahead. Sarah and Nick were able to attend the services with Carter. It was interesting to watch as people expressed condolences and excitement about a birth at the same time. I believe CA would have liked this very much. Cindy is still delivering the mail and driving over 80 miles every day one box at a time.
As for me, I have just sat back and observed a roller coaster ride of emotions over the year. Floods, drought, death, birth, my dads 6 weeks in the hospital over the summer with an infection in his heart, my Mom’s continuing back problems and even a wedding. Cindy’s brother got married the day after Thanksgiving. But the Christmas season isn’t complete without thinking of our friends scattered out everywhere. Be it just down the road, across the country or even on another continent. Your memory or a wave as we meet puts a smile on my face. This year the sounds of a baby returns home after an absence of many years. I thought what a wonderful thing to have a baby crying and a cow mooing on Christmas morning. It’s the same sounds heard by another proud mom and dad some 2000 years ago.
As 2010 quickly closes and 2011 knocks on the door, I wish each and all a Merry Christmas and a prosperous and healthy new year.
Chris
I wish all of you a VERY merry Christmas! (I'm sure I'll be talking to you all before new years, but if not Happy 2011 peeps!)
Merry Christmas 2010
As 2010 draws to a quick close we take time to look back on this year. A fairly mild winter which turned into an early spring helped the corn and beans to be planted quickly and get off to a good start, then WHAM it all changed. First we received a 6-inch rain and then watched over 200 acres of corn drown under flood water. When it did finally dry out enough to replant the corn little did we know that it was the last rain we would receive for nearly 6 months. Yields suffered but it was better than I expected but far from being a great crop. We started harvesting in mid-August earlier than we ever have before and that’s about the only benefit of a drought I can think of.
Christy entered the real world of home ownership this year by purchasing a home in east Nashville right before the flood. The floodwaters got within a ½ mile of her house, but she is on a hill so there was no damage. It was really heartbreaking to see what the rain did. Parts of Nashville will never be the same. Christy is still working with Ingram Barge Co. and manages the Ingram traffic on the Tennessee River and Kentucky Lake.
Sarah and Nick surprised all earlier this year announcing that they were expecting a baby. On December 7, Carter Ray Huelsman entered the world. That makes Cindy and I grandparents and that’s not all that bad. The biggest smile I have ever seen on Cindy was when she held Carter. I knew then he was a keeper. I can tell he has a little of his Granddad Mitchell in him, he sleeps every chance he gets! Sarah is still a branch manger with PNC Bank and Nick works with Flynn Brothers Construction in Louisville.
The excitement of Carter’s birth was quickly subdued as Cindy’s dad, CA, passed away 2 days later. He fought cancer and other health problems for many years. He never did let his health problems deter his drive. He just made them another obstacle to overcome and forged ahead. Sarah and Nick were able to attend the services with Carter. It was interesting to watch as people expressed condolences and excitement about a birth at the same time. I believe CA would have liked this very much. Cindy is still delivering the mail and driving over 80 miles every day one box at a time.
As for me, I have just sat back and observed a roller coaster ride of emotions over the year. Floods, drought, death, birth, my dads 6 weeks in the hospital over the summer with an infection in his heart, my Mom’s continuing back problems and even a wedding. Cindy’s brother got married the day after Thanksgiving. But the Christmas season isn’t complete without thinking of our friends scattered out everywhere. Be it just down the road, across the country or even on another continent. Your memory or a wave as we meet puts a smile on my face. This year the sounds of a baby returns home after an absence of many years. I thought what a wonderful thing to have a baby crying and a cow mooing on Christmas morning. It’s the same sounds heard by another proud mom and dad some 2000 years ago.
As 2010 quickly closes and 2011 knocks on the door, I wish each and all a Merry Christmas and a prosperous and healthy new year.
Chris
Thursday, December 16, 2010
DIng DIng DIng
The above words in the title may not mean much to the average person but to me those are three words that will forever hold a special place in my heart.
A week ago today my grandfather, or as I would call him Papa (pawpaw), passed away. Even though the funeral has passed and our goodbyes have been said it still feels weird typing that out. My grandfather was a fighter and I was blessed with every single day I got to share with him because I was supposed to have lost him many years ago.
My grandfather had to work very hard for everything he got in his life and that included his fight to live his because God put before him many health issues. The first I can remember was when I was 5 or 6. Papa was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and cancer of the common bile duct. Now no cancer is good cancer but this cancer was really no good and his chances for survival were slim. My grandfather received a whipple procedure. This procedure consisted of removing half of the stomach, the gall bladder, the common bile duct, the head of the pancreas, and a few random other things. Then in laymans terms what is left has to be rerouted to work again. This was 20 years ago. Back then this surgery had a much higher death rate and the stats weren't near as good. Even today, the overall survival after the whipple operation is only 20% at 5 years after surgery. My grandfather A) lived through the surgery, and B) lived on for 20 more years. He was a living miracle.
His battle didn't stop there. When I was a sophomore in college, I remember I was in a friends dorm room when my mother called to tell me Papa had been diagnosed with Esophagial cancer. Something to the affect that it was a long term affect of the whipple surgery affecting the nerve endings in his stomach causing acid reflux that caused irregular cells in his esophagus. (yes i could have totally just butchered that diagnosis, just retelling my memories here people. LOL) I remember how much he didn't want that surgery but being the fighter he was he was determined to live. He had he esophagus removed and in its place the put a portion of his colon.
A few years later I remember going to the hospital when he had a heart stint put in. And less than a year ago he suffered a heart attack, battled a flesh eating bacteria, and the list just goes on until his body could no longer put up the fight my grandfather was giving it to live.
And while yes clearly I know all these details, these facts are not the memories that make up my grandfather in my mind. My grandfather was an amazing man. He loved his family very much. He was one of the hardest working people I know and most definitely was one of the smartest business and investing men I knew. He was strong willed and as i have said several times before a fighter and a miracle. He had the memory of an elephant. Was outspoken. A republican. An oil man. Loved the color red. He loved dogs, and practically had a zoo of squirrels he fed on the regular. He had a love for food. This list could go on......I have a world full of amazing memories. All the holidays, birthdays, graduations, and Sunday trips to visit. The summer I worked in his office. The time him and my grandmother visiting me while I was in college... My poor grandfather rode in the back seat of my little two door coupe car as I weaved in and out of traffic. haha still cracks me up. Looking back I should have probably slowed down a bit.
But my favorite memories are those at KY lake. Swimming, boating, fish fries, huge firework shows, and saving the best for last-fishing. My grandfather loved to troll fish and he loved taking his grandchildren out to fish with him. And when out on the water and it was time for all of us kids to let out our lines he always said "ding, ding, ding".
I know I probably rambled on too long, and wrote to much or too little about this or that but death is a hard thing and the loss of my grandfather is bittersweet. I know he is in a much better place. He is no longer suffering his ailments or pain. I want to thank God for making my grandfather a miracle. For giving him the will to fight so hard and so long because I cant imagine the last twenty years of my life without him. He will be very missed not only by me and my family but by so many other people that were touched by his life here on earth.
And I can just hear God telling him "ding ding ding" because Thursday afternoon was my grandfather's time.......
Here is the obituary from the paper.
C.A. Robinson, 78, of Evansville passed away Thursday December 9, 2010 at Angel River Health Care.
C.A. was a veteran of the US Air Force before graduating from Louisiana Tech University in 1957 with his Bachelors degree in Petroleum Engineering. He started his career as Petroleum Engineer with Magnolia Petroleum Co. in Salem, IL, after a few years he moved to Kingwood Oil Co. as Division Engineer and then became Division Manager. Later he went to work at Lohmann-Johnson Pollution Control and Production as Operations Manager and Manager of Temple Operating Co. in Evansville and retired as a Petroleum Consultant, Independent Producer and Drilling Contractor.
He developed and was president of many companies including Robinson Engineering, Robinson Engineering and Oil Co., Inc., Indiana Petroleum Contractors, Inc., Indiana Drilling Company, Consumers Gas Co., and Egyptian Gas Storage Corp. He was director for Old National Bank for over 20 years, Indiana Oil Co., and Ohio Valley Wireless.
CA belonged to many professional and business organizations that included Registered Professional Engineer in LA, KY and IL, past president of the Indiana Oil and Gas Assoc., Vice President of Independent Oil Producers Assoc., he was a member of the American Petroleum Institute, the Society of Petroleum Engineering of AIME, the International Assoc. of Oilwell Drilling Cont. and a member and director of Illinois Oil and Gas Association and Kentucky Oil and Gas Association.
He belonged to many social and fraternal organizations such as Evansville Country Club, Hadi Shrine Temple, Reed Masonic Lodge, the 32nd Degree Scottish Rite, Royal Order of Jesters, Kennel Club, the Evansville Museum and he was the Director of the Boys and Girls Club of America. He was a lifetime Trustee for the University of Evansville and a Charter member of Aldersgate United Methodist Church.
CA is survived by his wife of 55 years Kate (Glenn) Robinson; son and daughter-in-law Glenn and Monica Robinson of Evansville, their children Chuck Robinson, Ann Robinson, Robert Robinson, John Robinson, Ellie Shakun and Olivia Shakun; daughter and son-in-law Cindy and Chris Mitchell of Clay, KY, their children Christy Mitchell, Sara Huelsman husband Nick and their son Carter Huelsman; nieces Amy Jefferies and husband Brian and Katie Warms and husband Wade. C.A.'s grandchildren will be honorary pall bears.
Visitation will be from 4:00 - 7:00 pm Sunday, December 12, 2010 at Ziemer Funeral Home East Chapel, 800 S. Hebron Ave., Evansville, IN 47714. Funeral service will be 10:00 am Monday at Aldersgate United Methodist Church, 5130 Lincoln Ave., Evansville, IN with Rev. Mitch Gieselman and Rev. Rob Kell officiating.
Burial will be at Sunset Memorial Park Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to The Boys & Girls Club, 700 Bellemeade Ave., Evansville, IN 47713, Capital Campaign at Aldersgate United Methodist Church, 5130 Lincoln Ave., Evansville, IN 47715 or University of Evansville, 1800 Lincoln Avenue, Evansville, Indiana 47714.
The family would like to thank the staff of Angel River, Dr. Stephen Koewler and staff, and special friend and caregiver Ruby Sunderman for their kind and compassionate care of C.A.
Condolences may be made to the family online at www.ziemerfuneralhome.com
C.A. was a veteran of the US Air Force before graduating from Louisiana Tech University in 1957 with his Bachelors degree in Petroleum Engineering. He started his career as Petroleum Engineer with Magnolia Petroleum Co. in Salem, IL, after a few years he moved to Kingwood Oil Co. as Division Engineer and then became Division Manager. Later he went to work at Lohmann-Johnson Pollution Control and Production as Operations Manager and Manager of Temple Operating Co. in Evansville and retired as a Petroleum Consultant, Independent Producer and Drilling Contractor.
He developed and was president of many companies including Robinson Engineering, Robinson Engineering and Oil Co., Inc., Indiana Petroleum Contractors, Inc., Indiana Drilling Company, Consumers Gas Co., and Egyptian Gas Storage Corp. He was director for Old National Bank for over 20 years, Indiana Oil Co., and Ohio Valley Wireless.
CA belonged to many professional and business organizations that included Registered Professional Engineer in LA, KY and IL, past president of the Indiana Oil and Gas Assoc., Vice President of Independent Oil Producers Assoc., he was a member of the American Petroleum Institute, the Society of Petroleum Engineering of AIME, the International Assoc. of Oilwell Drilling Cont. and a member and director of Illinois Oil and Gas Association and Kentucky Oil and Gas Association.
He belonged to many social and fraternal organizations such as Evansville Country Club, Hadi Shrine Temple, Reed Masonic Lodge, the 32nd Degree Scottish Rite, Royal Order of Jesters, Kennel Club, the Evansville Museum and he was the Director of the Boys and Girls Club of America. He was a lifetime Trustee for the University of Evansville and a Charter member of Aldersgate United Methodist Church.
CA is survived by his wife of 55 years Kate (Glenn) Robinson; son and daughter-in-law Glenn and Monica Robinson of Evansville, their children Chuck Robinson, Ann Robinson, Robert Robinson, John Robinson, Ellie Shakun and Olivia Shakun; daughter and son-in-law Cindy and Chris Mitchell of Clay, KY, their children Christy Mitchell, Sara Huelsman husband Nick and their son Carter Huelsman; nieces Amy Jefferies and husband Brian and Katie Warms and husband Wade. C.A.'s grandchildren will be honorary pall bears.
Visitation will be from 4:00 - 7:00 pm Sunday, December 12, 2010 at Ziemer Funeral Home East Chapel, 800 S. Hebron Ave., Evansville, IN 47714. Funeral service will be 10:00 am Monday at Aldersgate United Methodist Church, 5130 Lincoln Ave., Evansville, IN with Rev. Mitch Gieselman and Rev. Rob Kell officiating.
Burial will be at Sunset Memorial Park Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to The Boys & Girls Club, 700 Bellemeade Ave., Evansville, IN 47713, Capital Campaign at Aldersgate United Methodist Church, 5130 Lincoln Ave., Evansville, IN 47715 or University of Evansville, 1800 Lincoln Avenue, Evansville, Indiana 47714.
The family would like to thank the staff of Angel River, Dr. Stephen Koewler and staff, and special friend and caregiver Ruby Sunderman for their kind and compassionate care of C.A.
Condolences may be made to the family online at www.ziemerfuneralhome.com
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Carter Ray Huelsman
The process of watching my sister grow through all this has really been touching to me. Watching a new mother learn to breast feed, adjust to being sleep deprived, changing diapers, suffering from the wounds of a c-section delivery. Everything has just been so primitive and natural and just beautiful. I am just in awe that baby came from her stomach, milk comes out her boobies and that a baby can seem so perfect.
Aunt C learning to be a good Auntie!
Monday, December 6, 2010
It's raining men....
It's raining men, Hallelujah? Nope... not getting praises from me yet. Yes, for some reason I have been getting quite a bit more attention from men the past couple of weeks than normal. I wont deny I do love the attention. But there has just been a catch with these guys. They all have something terribly off with them. Tainted goods, is what I will call them.
First it was a guy that had a deep aversion to the concept of faith and anyone that believed in God. 25 minutes in a heated debate and I knew that was the end of that potential relationship.
Then it was a guy with a major speech impediment. This fault I think I could get over. He seemed fun, had a good job, was cute and I think that the speech issue would eventually be invisible to me. But it is still something that stuck out to me.
Then I had the guy tell me he would love to "hook up" but he didn't actually want to date me. Really?! Okay Buh BYE!
And drum roll please. Totally had to save the best for last. Total cutie and physically was 100% my type. Tall, preppy and manly. My first impression was a really good one. He was funny, danced, had a job, and had a pretty decent group of friends he was with. Always a good sign. He asked and I gave him my number when he said he was leaving. At this point it seemed like a decent prospect. I was even excited when he decided to stay. Until he dropped the bomb on me.
And what did i find out when he stuck around you may ask?..... Yes this lovely gentlemen told me he had shot and killed someone that raped his cousin. He said he wasn't sorry for what he did and that he owed a bookie a substantial amount of money for his bail (he said 1.3 million). At this point I wasn't for sure what in the world was going on. I was scared, shocked, and wanted my number back but the talking just got worse. He told me how he grew up literally in the projects in east nashville and about his horrible child hood and how he had done some really bad things in his life. I wanted to run and hide. I tried to get my friends to save me from this stage five (murdering) clinger. I think literally the words out of my mouth were, "i'm a good girl. I don't do bad things". haha I am sure I had terror smeared across my face.
Am I a horrible person for making these judgements? Should I really judge someone on their past like that? It's not that I was technically judging him but I just don't want to date him or someone with those type of credentials. Anyways, all these stories have really had me evaluate what i want in a partner and clearly what I don't want.
Likes:
From a stable family/family oriented/similiar upbringing as myself
Went to college (preferably not community)/has his masters or more
Has a decent job and has goals
Someone that is not socially inept and is a fun person
Believes in God and has a similar morale code as myself
Honest, no liars, cheaters, flakes
Attractive.... even if it is just to some degree. I don't need brad pitt
Likes to travel, music, likes to splurge on occasion, spontaneous
Likes to be active (doesn't have to be lance armstrong or anything but not lazy is preferable) and enjoys sports
Giver-I'm a giver and resent those that aren't as thoughtful
Likes pets and can accept my Puddy Tat
Wants kids one day
Dislikes: They are generally the opposites to my likes but here are a few more.
Pompous (while being confident can be attractive, a big ego can also be a BIG turn off)
Is selfish and is a "taker", and is all ME ME ME.
Men with commitment issues
Complains about my friends. My friends are my family. Don't talk trash and make an effort to be their friend too
Men that can't or choose not to communicate. I prefer open books. Secrets don't make friends and definitely not lovers.
Is a liberal
Scared to get their hands dirty
Someone that is a baby, gets sick frequently, and whines all the time. No sir!
Dresses like a slob
Is dumb
NOT A CONVICTED FELON/MURDER/RAPIST/ABUSER/DRUG USER/ECT....
Now call me too picky if you must. And while some of them are just wants or strong dislikes if the right person were around I may be able to compromise on a few options but some of these i have learned are NON negotiable.
They do say you have to go through a lot of frogs before you find your prince. LOL
What's on your list?
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Feeling poetic
I have mentioned before my supposed lyrical soul. One thing I don't mention very often though is poetry. Feeling poetic and romantic today so I thought I would share a few of my favorites. If you actually plan on reading them, please turn off the music, shut out any distractions and take in the beautiful words written before you.
SONNET 18 by Shakespeare
Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?
Thou art more lovely and more temperate:
Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,
And summer's lease hath all too short a date:
Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines,
And often is his gold complexion dimm'd;
And every fair from fair sometime declines,
By chance or nature's changing course untrimm'd;
But thy eternal summer shall not fade
Nor lose possession of that fair thou owest;
Nor shall Death brag thou wander'st in his shade,
When in eternal lines to time thou growest:
So long as men can breathe or eyes can see,
So long lives this and this gives life to thee.
How Do I Love Thee: Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806-1861)
How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.
I love thee to the level of everyday's
Most quiet need, by sun and candlelight.
I love thee freely, as men might strive for Right;
I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.
I love thee with the passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints,–I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life!–and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.
i carry your heart with me by E. E. Cummings
i carry your heart with me(i carry it in
my heart)i am never without it(anywhere
i go you go,my dear; and whatever is done
by only me is your doing,my darling)
i fear
no fate(for you are my fate,my sweet)i want
no world(for beautiful you are my world,my true)
and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant
and whatever a sun will always sing is you
here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life;which grows
higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart
i carry your heart(i carry it in my heart)
my heart)i am never without it(anywhere
i go you go,my dear; and whatever is done
by only me is your doing,my darling)
i fear
no fate(for you are my fate,my sweet)i want
no world(for beautiful you are my world,my true)
and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant
and whatever a sun will always sing is you
here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life;which grows
higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart
i carry your heart(i carry it in my heart)
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Change is 100% certain
One of the beautiful things about life is there is no guarantee (well as many would say except for death and taxes! lol). If you live long enough you will see all sides of life. Love, loss, jealously, fear, sickness, betrayal, happiness, depression, excitement, disappointment.... and everything that falls there and in between. We are most 100% certain to be guaranteed those changes.
"Change; we don’t like it, we fear it, but we can't stop it from coming. We either adapt to change or we get left behind. And it hurts to grow, anybody who tells you it doesn’t is lying. But here's the truth...the more things change, the more they stay the same. And sometimes, oh, sometimes change is good. Oh, sometimes, change is...everything."
Why is change so difficult? Why do we love to waller in our comfort zone or routine and familiarity? This quote is exactly right! No one likes change. Change is new and uncharted territory. Change means not knowing what to expect. But change takes us through the journey of life and without it we would miss out on so many new exciting and different experiences and emotions, relationships, journeys, ect.
Right now I think i am in denial about the change around me. My life is growing up.
My sister and her husband are having a baby on Tuesday.... 3 DAYS AWAY! OMG i just honestly haven't grasped my mind around it yet. I am SOOOO excited yet scared for her and the changes associated with it at the same time. Carter (the soon to be addition) will be such a blessing to our lives. But what scared me about this (majorly life altering) change is, will everything be different now? I know my sister is probably having the same thoughts too. Having a baby is just plan scary.....But I know this change is for the good. I know there will be hard moments but I also know those petty things will be so outweighed by the precious gift God has given our family. Adding a new birthday to the list, a new face to pictures and events, adding a name to my prayer list.... The gift of life is a beautiful thing and my sister's family growing will most definitely will change family's life exponentially FOR THE BETTER! :)
Another big thing for me is a couple of my extremely close relationships have been changing. The major one Including the fact that my best friend, practically my sister, is moving to Germany next week. Thank God she moved from Nashville in March to slowly prepare me for the transition. LOL It's really bittersweet for me. She is one of the most amazing people, with so much talent in whatever she does. I knew when I met her she would go big places and I am SOO excited for her. Moving to Germany to take the next step in her life and hopefully her career.... I mean that is big, and awesome and I am in awe of her courage and drive. But I'll say it.... I'm sad.
Part of me can't help but be selfish in both of these situations and not want things to change. I'm scared because I know it is inevitable for our current relationships to change to some degree and those possible changes scare me.
Okay well enough thought about all this change biznaz for today. None of this is really happening yet (well for at least a few more days LOL) and so for now I am going to jump back on my train of Denial Denial Denial! haha
But as the quote above says, you have to adapt to change.... And in a few days when that time of change begins by golly I will be ready to adapt because there is no way in hell I am going to be left behind in either my sister's or Kacey's life. Bring on the babysitting and the skyping! :o)
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Happy Thanksgiving
So this year instead of writing a post about all the things I am so blessed for I am going to mix things up a little bit (inspired by our latest book club meeting). Usually when asked "What are you thankful for this year" everyone's answers are pretty much the same.... including mine... Family, friends, job, car, health, yada yada but there are many more things in life that are not so PC that I am thankful for and not so thankful for too. So here we go:
Thankful for:
*Seat Heaters
*DVR
*Facebook and all its awesome stalking abilities
*Pandora and the way it reads my mind in terms of playlists
*Mascara that makes my eyelashes look amazing
*GPS (how did people get around with just maps!?)
*Skype, free video chat. Don't mind if I do!
*Hallmark
*Chewing gum
*Internet, Computer, Smart phones, caller ID, and phone app's
*Bill pay over the internet
* Wine in an overside wine glass (yes, filled to the brim and even better with a steak)
*Flannel
*Chocolate
Now things I'm not so thankful for this year:
*Speed bumps
*Magazine inserts (really who ever does anything with them?)
*Cal-licks
*Frost on my car
*Cigarettes and cigarette smoke
*Speed limits (just going to break them anyways)
*Pet gander, lent, and stains
* Muffin tops, bat wings, and cellulite. Thank GOD for Spanks! haha
* The non selection of normal heals (no thank you stripper tall or grandma flat)
* Unrequitted love
* Counting calories, points, or basically having to care about anything and everything I put in my mouth
* Kitty litter... enough said.
Anyways, I hope each and every one of you had a wonderful Thanksgiving! Let the countdown to Christmas begin!!!!!
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Holiday Survival!
Today’s weight watcher lesson was based around informing us about point values for so many of our favorite Thanksgiving foods. I was astonished by the calories and points that were in what seemed to me like teeny tiny portions. Sooo depressing! Thanksgiving is by far my favorite holiday not only because of the family gets together but also because of the F-O-O-D! Not once have I really held back on Thanksgiving because I tell myself well Thanksgiving is special. Splurge for one day and then jump back on the band wagon the next day.
Last year, exactly this time of the year I was in the same predicament. I had lost a few (very hard earned) pounds. I faced the upcoming holidays and had the knowledge and power to tackle it with success. I told myself, I WILL do this. I told myself I WILL beat the holidays, I told myself I WAS strong enough to combat my problems…. but somewhere between Thanksgiving and Christmas I lost site and now facing the same fear of failure.
I know it isn’t good going into the holidays with part of my mind is telling me, “why skimp on thanksgiving when you are probably going to end up failing in the end like you always do?” Part of me is scared to death because I know how much I want to loose weight, and how great I have been doing and I fear the power food can have over me. I love food. I love to cook food. And yes somewhere inside of me I think “food is love”.
My big issue with the holiday’s is getting out of routine. I can do great on my day to day life. I make my breakfast and lunch at work. I have my schedule of when I work out. I have lots of friends that are fit and active and are also trying to battle weight loss as well. But when the holidays come, it means travel. It means not having the same options for food as normal and eating at irregular times. It means holiday parties. It’s very cold outside and if I am out of town my gym is not an option. I have food pressures from family, customers, co workers, friends, ect and also the comfort of food has always been there for me in times of the “stressful” holidays.
So how am I going to push past this this year? Yes I am motivated now but how do I keep myself motivated? Anyways, I found someone else in weight watcher’s that is dealing with a very similar struggle as well. I felt like sharing her story and her tips for sticking with it. I hope you enjoy and like I keep telling my self…. YOU CAN DO IT! Food is just fuel for the body. YOU are in control! Good luck!
Holiday Survival: One Woman's Story
Article By: Amanda Genge www.weightwatchers.com
Thanksgiving should be a heartwarming day (or long weekend) full of family, food and festivity. But throw a colossal turkey, several kinds of stuffing and a boatload of desserts into the mix, and those of us trying to make healthy choices have a recipe for a nutritional nightmare on our hands.
If you're anything like me, you start looking forward to Thanksgiving — or at least the food that will be served — weeks in advance. Come early November, I'm already dreaming of the sausage stuffing, marsala mushrooms and fluffy mashed potatoes that make up my family's traditional feast (To be honest, I could take or leave the turkey). I start to think about which "healthy" dishes I can bring to seem virtuous, all the while knowing I'll ignore my steamed herbed broccoli and load my plate with anything doused in butter or cream, or preferably both.
Even if I've been "good" in the weeks leading up to the holiday, my restraint goes out the window when I sit down to dinner. I try to plan my week around the meal, eating light fare the rest of the time to save up for a marathon holiday eating session where I let myself indulge in whatever I want. I'm sure I must end up eating a whole week's worth of POINTS® values that day. I can easily devour at least two servings of every side dish, plus a generous sampling of every one of the dozen desserts trumped out before my dad and uncle even have a chance to fight over the turkey carcass.
The (skinny) voice of reason
Of course, while I'm sinking my teeth into a second slice of pie, my skinny sister — who honestly can not comprehend how people can overeat ("Why don't you just stop when you're full?") — is shooting disapproving glances across the table. She doesn't say it out loud, but I can see her eyes asking, "Do you really need to be eating that?" I know her concern is genuine — after all, she knows I'm miserable being the Fatty McFattypants of the family, and only wants to see me lose weight so I can be more comfortable in my own skin — but come on! It's Thanksgiving! I'm thankful for all the delicious food, a spread that would make a pilgrim blush! Just this once, let a fat girl enjoy her second helpings without guilt.
Coping without calories
This year, I'm aiming to limit my intake of all things creamy, but if I get carried away with second helpings, I'll be okay with that, too. I usually don't gain weight Thanksgiving week as long as I only really pig out on Thanksgiving Day itself. This approach fits nicely within my "don't lose, don't gain" strategy for the season.
If you're like me and truly enjoy rich food but tend to overindulge or if you're prone to drown your sorrows in pumpkin pie, Colleen Gengler, family relations educator at the University of Minnesota Extension, has a few survival Thanksgiving survival tips:
1. Let comments roll off your back
If you're tired or stressed, you're more likely to feel insulted by even innocent comments about the food, your hair, what's on your plate or anything else. If someone says something that makes you flinch, "don't take the bait; try to change the subject quickly," says Gengler.
2. Don't make food the focus
"Let the meal bring you together, but don't dwell on it the whole time," suggests Gengler. If the banter at the table shifts from praise for the delicious food to the stuffing's caloric count or who's eating the most mashed potatoes, gently change the subject. "Initiate conversations about your guests' lives and interests to take their mind off the food," she says.
3. Stick to a schedule
Maintaining your normal routine of meals, snacks and sleep will help keep you (and your kids) on an even keel. And tempting though it may be, don't starve yourself before the holiday meal; you'll probably feel shaky and on edge and you're more likely to overeat. Have a healthy breakfast, like scrambled egg whites with low-fat cheese on whole-wheat toast, to tide you over.
4. Don't try to do it all yourself
If you're hosting the meal, take your guests up on their offers of food and drink to save yourself some time. "Make them feel they're making a special contribution by asking them what they'd like to bring, if they offer to help," suggests Gengler. "If they don't have ideas, you can suggest healthy options like fresh fruit, sparkling cider or a tossed salad with a light dressing."
5. Carve out some "me" time
Yes, you've heard it a million times before. But let's be honest — who actually takes that relaxing bath or goes for a massage? Especially around the holidays when every second is spent cooking, shopping or telling a second cousin where the spare bath towels are. The trick is to sneak in a few moments of peace and quiet (or better yet, some exercise) whenever you can. Even if that means taking long bathroom break just to finish that book you've been reading. Or making up an excuse to run an errand so you can speed-walk an extra lap around the mall.
Last year, exactly this time of the year I was in the same predicament. I had lost a few (very hard earned) pounds. I faced the upcoming holidays and had the knowledge and power to tackle it with success. I told myself, I WILL do this. I told myself I WILL beat the holidays, I told myself I WAS strong enough to combat my problems…. but somewhere between Thanksgiving and Christmas I lost site and now facing the same fear of failure.
I know it isn’t good going into the holidays with part of my mind is telling me, “why skimp on thanksgiving when you are probably going to end up failing in the end like you always do?” Part of me is scared to death because I know how much I want to loose weight, and how great I have been doing and I fear the power food can have over me. I love food. I love to cook food. And yes somewhere inside of me I think “food is love”.
My big issue with the holiday’s is getting out of routine. I can do great on my day to day life. I make my breakfast and lunch at work. I have my schedule of when I work out. I have lots of friends that are fit and active and are also trying to battle weight loss as well. But when the holidays come, it means travel. It means not having the same options for food as normal and eating at irregular times. It means holiday parties. It’s very cold outside and if I am out of town my gym is not an option. I have food pressures from family, customers, co workers, friends, ect and also the comfort of food has always been there for me in times of the “stressful” holidays.
So how am I going to push past this this year? Yes I am motivated now but how do I keep myself motivated? Anyways, I found someone else in weight watcher’s that is dealing with a very similar struggle as well. I felt like sharing her story and her tips for sticking with it. I hope you enjoy and like I keep telling my self…. YOU CAN DO IT! Food is just fuel for the body. YOU are in control! Good luck!
Holiday Survival: One Woman's Story
Article By: Amanda Genge www.weightwatchers.com
Thanksgiving should be a heartwarming day (or long weekend) full of family, food and festivity. But throw a colossal turkey, several kinds of stuffing and a boatload of desserts into the mix, and those of us trying to make healthy choices have a recipe for a nutritional nightmare on our hands.
If you're anything like me, you start looking forward to Thanksgiving — or at least the food that will be served — weeks in advance. Come early November, I'm already dreaming of the sausage stuffing, marsala mushrooms and fluffy mashed potatoes that make up my family's traditional feast (To be honest, I could take or leave the turkey). I start to think about which "healthy" dishes I can bring to seem virtuous, all the while knowing I'll ignore my steamed herbed broccoli and load my plate with anything doused in butter or cream, or preferably both.
Even if I've been "good" in the weeks leading up to the holiday, my restraint goes out the window when I sit down to dinner. I try to plan my week around the meal, eating light fare the rest of the time to save up for a marathon holiday eating session where I let myself indulge in whatever I want. I'm sure I must end up eating a whole week's worth of POINTS® values that day. I can easily devour at least two servings of every side dish, plus a generous sampling of every one of the dozen desserts trumped out before my dad and uncle even have a chance to fight over the turkey carcass.
The (skinny) voice of reason
Of course, while I'm sinking my teeth into a second slice of pie, my skinny sister — who honestly can not comprehend how people can overeat ("Why don't you just stop when you're full?") — is shooting disapproving glances across the table. She doesn't say it out loud, but I can see her eyes asking, "Do you really need to be eating that?" I know her concern is genuine — after all, she knows I'm miserable being the Fatty McFattypants of the family, and only wants to see me lose weight so I can be more comfortable in my own skin — but come on! It's Thanksgiving! I'm thankful for all the delicious food, a spread that would make a pilgrim blush! Just this once, let a fat girl enjoy her second helpings without guilt.
Coping without calories
This year, I'm aiming to limit my intake of all things creamy, but if I get carried away with second helpings, I'll be okay with that, too. I usually don't gain weight Thanksgiving week as long as I only really pig out on Thanksgiving Day itself. This approach fits nicely within my "don't lose, don't gain" strategy for the season.
If you're like me and truly enjoy rich food but tend to overindulge or if you're prone to drown your sorrows in pumpkin pie, Colleen Gengler, family relations educator at the University of Minnesota Extension, has a few survival Thanksgiving survival tips:
1. Let comments roll off your back
If you're tired or stressed, you're more likely to feel insulted by even innocent comments about the food, your hair, what's on your plate or anything else. If someone says something that makes you flinch, "don't take the bait; try to change the subject quickly," says Gengler.
2. Don't make food the focus
"Let the meal bring you together, but don't dwell on it the whole time," suggests Gengler. If the banter at the table shifts from praise for the delicious food to the stuffing's caloric count or who's eating the most mashed potatoes, gently change the subject. "Initiate conversations about your guests' lives and interests to take their mind off the food," she says.
3. Stick to a schedule
Maintaining your normal routine of meals, snacks and sleep will help keep you (and your kids) on an even keel. And tempting though it may be, don't starve yourself before the holiday meal; you'll probably feel shaky and on edge and you're more likely to overeat. Have a healthy breakfast, like scrambled egg whites with low-fat cheese on whole-wheat toast, to tide you over.
4. Don't try to do it all yourself
If you're hosting the meal, take your guests up on their offers of food and drink to save yourself some time. "Make them feel they're making a special contribution by asking them what they'd like to bring, if they offer to help," suggests Gengler. "If they don't have ideas, you can suggest healthy options like fresh fruit, sparkling cider or a tossed salad with a light dressing."
5. Carve out some "me" time
Yes, you've heard it a million times before. But let's be honest — who actually takes that relaxing bath or goes for a massage? Especially around the holidays when every second is spent cooking, shopping or telling a second cousin where the spare bath towels are. The trick is to sneak in a few moments of peace and quiet (or better yet, some exercise) whenever you can. Even if that means taking long bathroom break just to finish that book you've been reading. Or making up an excuse to run an errand so you can speed-walk an extra lap around the mall.
Not til I've had my coffee...
Okay I’ll say it and I am sorry if this offends anyone…. I don’t get the “I gotta have my coffee” way of thinking.
“Way too much coffee. But if it weren’t for the coffee, I’d have no identifiable personality whatsoever.” – David Letterman
So many of my coworkers, friends and clearly celebrities seem to live by this rule of thumb. Their mood, attitude, their pep in their step are all determined by this black substance. What is this all about? I like coffee, don’t get me wrong but coffee has zero control over my life and maybe that is where I loose the catch. I have never thought to say angrily to a co-worker “Not until I have my coffee….”
Pah-leez!! That is just a cop out and it is just redic.
Yes, coffee is nice and warm, packs in a ton of caffeine per ounce. But if you think that you actually feel “more chipper” after a cup a coffee I believe you are being fooled by an ultimate placebo.
Maybe its starts when you realize that coffee gives you a nice caffeine rush first thing in the morning. You then become reliant on coffee to have the same affect on you every single morning until you don’t think you can be normal or feel right until you have had the “coffee” fix… To me that sounds like an ADDICTION problem to me. The world looks down upon addiction. Don’t smoke, don’t gamble, don’t yada yada yada because it is not healthy to rely on a substance.
Course maybe your coffee drinking just comes from the mere fact drinking coffee in the morning is a socially accepted thing to do and say “gotta have my morning coffee…” or whatever you catch phrase for the term may be.
I will agree there are days when you only had 3 hours of sleep, maybe a little hung over, and naturally in a not so great of mood, a nice warm comforting cup of caffeinated coffee can do wonders. But I think it is completely asinine to state your mood is dependent on whether it is pre coffee time or post coffee time of the morning even though if it really is an addiction I realize this could be true. I mean think about all the testy people that quit smoking. You know not to talk to them for at least 3 months before they don’t automatically bite your head off! haha
Anyways, I guess I just have never gotten he whole coffee thing and today I just felt like writing about it. I am thankful to say I am happy! with or WITHOUT my morning coffee! ;o)
“Way too much coffee. But if it weren’t for the coffee, I’d have no identifiable personality whatsoever.” – David Letterman
So many of my coworkers, friends and clearly celebrities seem to live by this rule of thumb. Their mood, attitude, their pep in their step are all determined by this black substance. What is this all about? I like coffee, don’t get me wrong but coffee has zero control over my life and maybe that is where I loose the catch. I have never thought to say angrily to a co-worker “Not until I have my coffee….”
Pah-leez!! That is just a cop out and it is just redic.
Yes, coffee is nice and warm, packs in a ton of caffeine per ounce. But if you think that you actually feel “more chipper” after a cup a coffee I believe you are being fooled by an ultimate placebo.
Maybe its starts when you realize that coffee gives you a nice caffeine rush first thing in the morning. You then become reliant on coffee to have the same affect on you every single morning until you don’t think you can be normal or feel right until you have had the “coffee” fix… To me that sounds like an ADDICTION problem to me. The world looks down upon addiction. Don’t smoke, don’t gamble, don’t yada yada yada because it is not healthy to rely on a substance.
Course maybe your coffee drinking just comes from the mere fact drinking coffee in the morning is a socially accepted thing to do and say “gotta have my morning coffee…” or whatever you catch phrase for the term may be.
I will agree there are days when you only had 3 hours of sleep, maybe a little hung over, and naturally in a not so great of mood, a nice warm comforting cup of caffeinated coffee can do wonders. But I think it is completely asinine to state your mood is dependent on whether it is pre coffee time or post coffee time of the morning even though if it really is an addiction I realize this could be true. I mean think about all the testy people that quit smoking. You know not to talk to them for at least 3 months before they don’t automatically bite your head off! haha
Anyways, I guess I just have never gotten he whole coffee thing and today I just felt like writing about it. I am thankful to say I am happy! with or WITHOUT my morning coffee! ;o)
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