Which way do I go, George, which way do I go?

Ok...I lied.

noreply@blogger.com (Gphigirl) — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 13:47:00 +0000

But just a little. And only because I screwed up some code on my new page.

When I added my "Subscribe" button to the NEW page, I used the OLD code...so those who MEANT to subscribe to my new blog I inadvertently sent to this one. I've corrected this now, so head over to www.lillysnotepad.com and re-subscribe. Then you will get all the news that's not fit to print.

Sorry and thanks!

Now, really...I'm done here. I think. Unless I find more mistakes.

And we're moving!

noreply@blogger.com (Gphigirl) — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:27:00 +0000

This will be my last new post over here as I'm mostly set up at my new home. I'm still tweaking backgrounds and the looks of the place and getting some older stuff moved over, but if you head over to lillysnotepad.com you can check out where I will be setting up shop!

Catch ya on the flip side!

**And I won't be taking this blog down...just not adding to it. I'm hoping to move a lot of my posts over, but the originals will stay put.

Just a heads up...

noreply@blogger.com (Gphigirl) — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 16:12:00 +0000

I'm working on a change over to Wordpress. It's going to include a change of name, too--but also looking into buying my own domain. Working out the details now. More info to come when it's finalized. I hope you will come with me as I look toward the future and growing this blog to something great. Or at least mediocre. :o)

Best. Confidante. Ever. -or- How scooters changed my life.

noreply@blogger.com (Gphigirl) — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 18:51:00 +0000

People tell me secrets. Two people, in fact. Oddly enough, these two people don't know each other, and have the same secret. And both told me. But I'm not telling you what they are. You can't make me.

Anyway, since I can't tell what these secrets are, how about some reflections of life from my perspective? I still don't have much going on, so I've gotta find something to fill the void here.

I moved to GA in 2005. I just up and left all of my friends and most of my family for a few reasons. 1) I always, ALWAYS wanted to own a house, and in the DC area (where I was living), that wasn't going to happen for a very LONG time. Think about it...it was nearly the height of the housing bubble. Prices were ridiculous. Even the apartment I shared with a friend was over-priced. We were about 1 hour south of DC, in a litte town named Waldorf...and compared to Lexington Park, where I had been the year before, Waldorf was the "big city." We had a 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom apartment and paid $1100 a month. Anyway...other reasons for moving: 2) my mom had been sick for awhile, and I wanted to move closer to help them out with errands and repairs and stuff. 3) I wanted a career change. One that didn't include nights and weekends and holidays, but did include a fixed schedule every week. And maybe even a desk. Because in the optical field, those are all hard to come by. But because of #1, #3 was impossible if I stayed. I knew that a change in career would most likely mean a big pay cut...and I just couldn't afford that where I was.

So I told everyone I was moving...and shocked them all, because I really didn't talk to anyone about it before I made the decision, so it kinda came out of the blue. I did ask my mom if it was ok, since, you know, I was moving in with her and all.

When I got here, I had of course told all my friends the usual "end of high school" line: Oh, I'll come back to visit! And you can totally come visit me and we can go to a Falcons game!

And we talked. For about a week. Then we drifted apart. I'm now Facebook friends with a couple of them, but really, we don't talk much. And I doubt they think twice about me 99% of the time. I don't think I even have cell phone numbers any more.

Of course, when I moved here, I only knew my mom and stepmom. I met the now-DH about 2 weeks after I moved here. But neither of us really had many local friends. I have lots of great internet friends, some that I have met in real life, but not too many that lived close.

So for about 3 years, DH and I relied on each other for entertainment. And sometimes his sister (who is the same age that I am) and her DH. But that was about it for socializing.

Then, we got scooters. And we joined riding groups. And started to make friends with other scooterists...and motorcyclists that aren't too snobby to hang with the scooterists. Then, DH started talking to some of his high school friends. In most cases, I'm against this. Seriously, I avoided adding my high school to my profile for the longest time because really, how many people really want to talk to people they went to high school with? I don't go to reunions because there were very few I wanted to talk to when I HAD to...so now that it's optional? Yeah, I'll pass.

Anyway. He started talking to some of his high school friends. Then we hung out with a few. Some were fun. Some were fun to make fun of. So we started hanging out with the fun ones even more. Then...the Disney trip. Where we hung out with another group that happened to be there. And we had a BLAST with them. So we've been hanging out with them now, too.

And I realized...I missed having friends. And binge drinking was over rated, but drinking buddies are fun. As are Bailey's milkshakes.

A whole lot of nuttin'

noreply@blogger.com (Gphigirl) — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 19:15:00 +0000

Probably a short post today. Really, I have an urge to write, but I haven't felt very witty the last few days. Besides, all I've been doing in hocking fundraisers and talking about weight loss. Pretty soon, you would think this blog actually had a purpose or something.

Anyway.

Thursday is the anniversary of when we closed on our house. I really can't believe it's been a year already. We haven't done, like, ANYTHING that was on our list. Other than paint. But when your walls are 2 tone because they only painted halfway with a "matching color" that didn't...well, OCD kicks in and you get that shit done ASAP in any room you spend any amount of time in. But we still have bleached carpet, the deck is still in need of replacement and expansion, and we have a dining room table, but no chairs. Things that have been done: we have hosted lots of friends...and discovered the comfortable limit is 10 people. We can fit 15, but really, 10 is best. We have also managed to fit 4 regular scooters, one vintage Vespa with a sidecar, a Durango and a PT Cruiser in the garage. How? Evidently, DH is awesome at Tetris. seriously...I have no idea how he got that to work. We also have 2 shelving units and firewood stored in there. Not much walking room, though...

We don't know how we are celebrating yet. Probably not doing much of anything. I mean, it's a Thursday. I like to be in bed by 9 10 PM. We have to be somewhat coherent the next day for work.

Oh! Speaking of work...things move at the speed of a drunk snail with a bum tail around this place. A promotion I started hearing rumbles of last JULY is one step closer to being mine. Ok, half a step. On Friday-ish, we will be a full step closer. The person that is currently 1 step ahead of me was recommended for the position 2 steps ahead of me. Now we just have to hope they give back-fill permissions again. My "inside contact" has said that she is pushing to just do an internal promotion instead of a full hire...but, sadly, it's not really up to her how it would go down...but it's highly likely she would be the head of the search committee, so either way, *if* they open the position, and don't write the announcement so I'm not eligible, I should be a given. Lots of if's...but it's plausible. *Maybe* by this July, I will be in a higher position. Maybe. Which is nice, since there are no raises around here for at least 2 years otherwise. Stupid recession.

Guess that means I need to look like I'm working. Adios!

I almost forgot...

For your viewing pleasure, a picture of the DH and I in Animal Kingdom...complete with fashionable tummy pack for the 3 Day!

I need a swift kick in the ass

noreply@blogger.com (Gphigirl) — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 16:08:00 +0000

Really, I do. I've got so much going on, and yet nothing is really happening with any of it. So if you kick me, can you at least pick a direction for me to go in?

First: The Oz fundraiser has to be postponed. And moved. There was a fire in the building it shares, and since that building was around 100 years old, and no sprinklers...well, they aren't sure it can be fixed. It's a really sad time in Fairburn. Oz does have another location in East Point, which isn't too far away, but I'm going to wait until probably May so the weather is warmer for a scooter ride up there. If we have to go farther, might as well make the journey more fun!

We just got home from Disney, also! We had a great time (as usual) and met up with some of DH's friends who were also there on vacation. I wore my pedometer 2 of the 3 days we spent in the parks. We did almost 8 miles our 2nd day (Epcot) and 6 miles the 3rd day (no parks...just Downtown Disney and a tour of Animal Kingdom Lodge and their timeshare resort). The first day, when I didn't wear it, DH and I hit Animal Kingdom right when it opened. We rode Expedition Everest, then went over to Dino Land and did a few rides there, and then rode Everest again before hitting the road to Magic Kingdom where we met up with the other group...and spent most of the day there. We ended the day heading back to Epcot for dinner in France! If I had to guess, I would say we hit at least 8 miles...and I would probably say 10. When we go to Epcot, we valet the car at Boardwalk, then go in the International Gateway entrance, which is a half mile each way by itself.

Which reminds me: Here is your Disney Tip of the Trip! If you are staying off property and have a car, you actually have a few options. You could 1) Park at Downtown Disney for free, then take the internal buses to one of the resorts, then to the parks. If you pick the right resort and park combination, you could switch to the monorail instead of a bus. But this takes a fair amount of time waiting on buses. Option 2) Since parking at the park itself is $14, and you still have to walk or shuttle from BFE, we prefer to valet. As I said, for Epcot, it's at Boardwalk. You can also get to Hollywood Studios via walking path or boat from Epcot...we didn't make it there this trip, though. At Magic Kingdom, we valet at the Contemporary, then take the monorail over. And valet is $12, plus we usually tip another $2...plus, once you pay at one location, you can then use the others for free on the same day. As DVC members and annual passholders, parking in the park is actually free for us, but we MUCH prefer the convenience of someone else remembering where we parked after a long day.

So anyway...after all that walking, I had one small blister on the inside edge of my heel on the first day. Had this been an actual training walk, I would have taken the time to stop and put some moleskin on it, but I didn't want to hold everyone else up. Instead, I switched to my FitFlops for day 2 to give it some time, then the 3rd day I was back in my 3 Day sneakers and it was fine. Not bad for an unofficial start to my training! Oh...and I used my "tummy pack" as I call it about half the time (the other half, I call it a butt bag, even though I wear it front ways). I'm sure a few of the group that was with us were horrified that I was wearing it, but I wanted to try it out, and they were nice enough not to comment. :o) I figured out that I can loop my fleece over the straps and it's pretty secure...but when I did fleece AND long sleeved tee (the weather was a little funky...I layered), it got a little bulky and heavy. I'm also thinking the 16oz bottles MAY be a little small, but that could just be because DH was using one and I was using the other...and we didn't refill as often as we should have. I think at a minimum, I'd like to get a straw top for at least ONE bottle to make life easier. The pack did start to weigh on my lower back, and got a bit on the warm side, but not as bad as when I had the backpack water thing...plus my water stayed colder. Overall, I'm much happier with this choice, even if I look stupid anywhere other than with other 3 Day walkers. :o)

Right before we left, I got the EA Active game for the Wii. I tried it out just to see and was DYING the next day! I could barely walk my legs hurt so much! But pushing through while we were there was a good thing, and last night I started one of the features of the game: a 30 Day Challenge! I'm going to do this first one on low intensity, and plan to do the whole challenge 3 times: low, medium and high intensity. I'm feeling MUCH better today than I was when I first did it...no soreness at all, really. I'm *almost* tempted to skip the low intensity and just go to medium. Almost. But not quite. I'm gonna give it a few more days before I get really ambitious.

Finally, the Insider Pages fundraiser just has 3 more days left! It's FREE to sign up! All you have to do is review places you go. When you click on "Write a Review" and it takes you to the page with the text box, right above the main review box it will tell you how much that particular review will be worth. With a lot of help, I'm sitting at $101.00 right now! My goal was $100, so I'm really happy with it...but even a few extra dollars will help out...so head over there and write a few sentences about your doctors, your favorite hole-in-the-wall bar or restaurant, and your mechanic and tax prep service!

That's all she wrote, folks. Get over there and do some of your own writing!

Flops and Fabulous

noreply@blogger.com (Gphigirl) — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 15:09:00 +0000

I'm sad to say that my Super Bowl Grid was a fantastic flop. I managed to sell 5 boxes. Out of 100. And 3 of those were for a check I was given prior that had been made out to me, so I just assigned boxes to the person...they never knew. *sigh* But, that's the way things go. What is a fantastic idea for one walker may not work for others. I know many people that had huge success with this...I just wasn't one of them this time around.

My Insider Pages fundraiser started on the 4th and goes until the 25th. To join that (it's free...just costs you a few minutes of your time for each review), go to http://www.insiderpages.com/fundraisers/Susan-G-Komen-3-Day-for-the-Cure-L-Winfrey-1002. Surprisingly, THIS has been a fabulous success as far as I'm concerned! In 5 days, I have about $85 in donations! I will have a few more to write when we go to Disney this weekend, and I plan to try a few more places between now and the end of it.

Some notes to make it easier:

1) Remember, chain restaurants don't count for this fundraiser, though Insider Pages allows you to write the review.

2) Some other places are excluded as well. I've found hotels and chiropractors so far. There may be a few more.

3) First reviews are worth the most (1.50 or .50, depending on what area the place is in). Second, third and 4th are also paid reviews, but at a lower rate (.50 or .25). After the 4th review, it doesn't earn anything, but you can still write it.

4) The easiest way to see if your review counts (and how much) is when you click "Write a Review" and the text box opens where you do that, if you look just above the box it will say something to the effect of "This review is worth xxx for the Komen 3 Day for the Cure Fundraiser."

That's about all of the tips I have. Think outside of the box when reviewing, though! It's not just eateries that you can do. I've done doctors, car dealerships, and motorcycle shops! Also, don't be afraid to add a place that's not listed. It does take an extra minute or 2, but all you need is address, phone number and type of business, and then you get to write the first review!

Other fabulousness: DH and I are back in Disney from Sunday to Wednesday. This has been the shortest time between trips for us, but we will have a LOONNNGG stretch before our next trip (October...for us, 8 months *IS* long). We are trying 3 new restaurants this time: Kouzzina by Cat Cora by the Boardwalk Hotel(Greek food), Les Chefs de France in Epcot (French food, if you couldn't tell) and Yak and Yeti in Animal Kingdom ("Pan-Asian" food). We also splurged on a savanna view room this trip...so I will be having coffee on the private balcony and watching the giraffes and zebras eat their breakfast.

Most people in the US dread tax time. I, personally, love it. I'm not a saver by nature. And while I know it would be better for me to reduce my withholding and put that amount in a savings account to earn some interest, I also know I wouldn't do that. It would get spent. So...I leave my withholding rate high. And as such, we got enough back this year to pay off one of the bikes (we have 5 total, but only 2 have loans). Yay! We were supposed to get our Federal return last week...still no sign of it. Hoping it arrives this week.

My weight loss progress falls into neither the fabulous category, nor the flops category. I guess by default, not being a flop is fabulous, though. I've pretty well been maintaining. Not what I want to do, but man, life is just crazy lately and I don't know where time is going! I got my elliptical thing. It took a little getting used to, but I had read in the reviews that it might be tough. I was adapted in about 2 days. After about a week, I could knit while working out! DH was laughing at me. Mind you, I couldn't follow a pattern, but just a simple project I had been doing was finished in one night...and I didn't focus on my burning thighs.

I started out by getting on it when commercials would come on, and stopping when the show came back on. a 1 hour show, and I would work out about 15 minutes. This weekend, I didn't feel like that was enough...so I switched it and would get on when the show was on and take a break when the commercials were on. THAT was a workout.

Food-wise, my portions are still on the large side, but we (yes, the DH is trying to be better too!) have been doing much better with content. We have decided to make a weekly Trader Joes date, where we are getting healthier "quick" meal options that we can throw together after work. For example, we got some precooked lentils that came in a microwaveable pouch. Have you seen the Uncle Ben's Ready Rice things? Same idea, but lentils, not rice. We mixed those with some Israeli couscous, steamed up some veggies, baked some chicken and it was dinner. Prep time was about 10 minutes. Cooking time about 25 (for the chicken, mostly). very high in fiber (the lentils had 17 grams per serving!!) and protein, low in fat, and pretty filling. Needed to season the lentils and couscous more, though. Live and learn. It was edible. We also got some fully cooked then frozen brown rice, a veggie lasagna, shepherd's pie, a pork roulade and a bunch of other stuff. The plan is to find some of the things we really like that can be versatile, then stock up. Oh, and they had their own brand of the No-Pudge Brownies! I made some oatmeal raisin cookies last night (high fiber oatmeal, splenda, etc) so the brownies will be a few more days before we try them. I'll probably make a batch of both to take to Disney for the road.

I think I've rambled enough. I'm sure you have ~~other blogs to read~~ work to do. I'll let you get to that.

So many options!

noreply@blogger.com (Gphigirl) — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 18:11:00 +0000

Ok, I've kinda been on a roll finding some simple fundraising ideas. Hopefully, they will all pay off better than the whole zazzle thing was going. Right now, there are 4 things you can do to help me. Actually, there are 2 you can do RIGHT NOW, 1 that you can do from February 4-25, and 1 on March 22...but I'm going to tell you ALL about them NOW, so that you are well prepared when the time comes, and you can tell all your friends now so they can help.

Super Bowl Grid
Priority: High
Dates: Now until Feb. 7, 2010
Cost: $10/square
Details: Click here for my post all about it.
If this fills up like I hope, it's a $700 fundraiser, which would put me over the halfway point toward my $2300 ($1337.50, to be exact--leaving $962.50 to come up with)...which means less posts nagging you for money. It's really win-win. $10 to shut me up. Let's call it hush money. A wise investment if I ever saw one. 99 squares remain available as of the writing of this. Tell your friends.

Electronics Recycling
Priority: Medium
Dates: Now until July 22, 2010
Cost: Nothing. Gazelle pays shipping on items. You just get rid of stuff you aren't using.
Details: Gather up you old electronics: cell phones, laptops, digital cameras, video games and systems, movies, calculators...there's a list on the site. Pretty much anything. Clean off your info to the best of your ability (they say they will do it, but you might as well ensure your privacy!). Click here to see what they will give you for it. Once the offer is made, either accept it, or if you think it could go for more at a yard sale, send it to me...because I'm doing one of those, too! Also, if the offer is $0, while they will still accept it and recycle it for you, I have another place I'm in contact with that will give me $1/pound on broken/non-resalable items. So send that one my way, too! Or, I'll give you the info directly, because THEY pay shipping as well. Also, tell your friends, co-workers, put a box out at your favorite cafe...there is no limit, and it doesn't cost anything but a few minutes to do this. I have one phone that we looked up and it's worth $12. It's currently sitting in a drawer and I'm too lazy to ebay it. This is much easier. I'll be putting out boxes a few places around town to collect these items, and I'll try to set up a large collection box at Oz when I'm there (see below).

Write reviews of local non-chain places
Priority: High (due to the limited time window)
Dates: February 4-25, 2010
Cost: Nothing but what you spend/spent at locations
Details: Between the dates above, click here and write reviews of places you frequent...or don't because the service was so bad. Everything from non-chain restaurants (sorry, McDs, Chili's, Outback, etc aren't included) to doctors, to repair persons is included. I'm pretty sure you can "join" now, but no reviews will be counted until the 4th. If you have time to write them now, though, you could always start a word doc and get it written, then just upload it once we are live! Reviews in certain areas are worth more than others, and 1st reviews are worth more than the 2nd through 4th. I know I have a lot of people who love to eat out at great places...what better way to help a good cause than to tell people a great place to eat?

Oz Pizza
Priority: Low, for now
Dates: Monday, March 22, 2010
Cost: Whatever you decide to order. But their pizza is AMAZING.
Details: This is just like the one I did in November, but probably without the silent auction this time. Show up to Oz Pizza in Fairburn between the hours of 4pm and 10pm. Order dinner, and tell them that you are there for the fundraiser. Eat, drink, be merry. That's all you do. Oz will cut me a check for 20% of the sales from people mentioning us. So the more you eat, the more we make. Bring your friends. Make it a girl's or guy's night out. They serve beer and wine. There is a tv with sports on...I'm sure any March Madness games will be playing. Cheer it up.

Other pending ideas that will need support:
Depending on how the Super Bowl Grid works out, I may see about doing a March Madness Bracket. I don't know as much about basketball, but I'm fairly certain I can set something up online to do it for me. If you are interested, leave a comment letting me know that.

Still planning the yard sale for sometime in May. I will need stuff to sell. DH and I had one a couple years ago and haven't accumulated TOO much more ~~that we are willing to part with~~ since then. Clean out your attic or garage and let me know. I'll also probably need someone to keep me company and allow for bathroom breaks without leaving everything unattended. Let me know if you would like to help and we can coordinate dates.

I'm thinking about creating a cookbook. Unfortunately, I'm no good at original recipes...most of my "special" ones are either straight from someone else, or I just change a couple things. And I don't have many. So if you have some, let's talk.

I think that's all I have rolling around in my brain at the moment. So go dig through closets and drawers and donate your stuff, and pick a square on the grid. I'd LOVE to be able to do the last of my fundraising at the yard sale in May so that I can focus on training after that!

My scientific testing wish list

noreply@blogger.com (Gphigirl) — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 16:03:00 +0000

I just saw an article courtesy of @terrycoleman10 with a review of the Skechers Shape-Ups from My Fox Atlanta.

So, after watching this, I did have one great idea, and I'm looking for sponsors. I already own FitFlops, and I love them. I don't know if they do anything extra, but my all black pair are great for work (I have a somewhat casual office). And of course, I have the standard, casual flip flops every girl owns. I'd love to try out both the Skechers Shape-Ups and Reebok EasyTone sneakers, and compare them to my Asics (which were fitted for me by the great people at Big Peach Running Company!) and New Balance that I currently wear. I'd also like to do this in a controlled environment: on a treadmill, from rest, at the same speed and distance for each pair of shoes...and to further gauge, I'd like to do it with a BodyBugg to measure if any extra calories are burned wearing different shoes.

So, if anyone wants to donate the BodyBugg and the the shoes, I'm a 9.5 or 10 depending on fit...and I'll get right over to the gym with the goods and you can have a REAL report!

I'm sure you will all hop right on that.

So, what exactly is a "Super Bowl Grid?"

noreply@blogger.com (Gphigirl) — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 01:02:00 +0000

I had a great fundraiser idea today, but some people may not understand it. A Super Bowl Grid! And best of all, you need NO FOOTBALL KNOWLEDGE to play!

So what is it, how does it work, and how do you join? All in good time, Grasshopper.

What is it? How does it work?

A Super Bowl Grid is a box with 100 available squares (some have less, but this one has 100). One team is listed across the top and one down the left side, and each row and column is randomly assigned a number from 0 to 9 after the grid is "filled" by entrants. Each entry buys you one box. At the end of each quarter, the score of the teams playing determines the winning box. So if the score at the end of the first quarter is 7-10, the winning box would be 7 on the top, and 0 on the left side, or vice versa, depending on which team had which score. The prizes are $50 each for the 1st and 3rd quarters and $100 each for the 2nd and 4th quarters. Cash money. There is no skill to picking the boxes, because the numbers aren't assigned until AFTER all of the boxes are bought, but it makes watching the game a lot more fun!

How do you join?

Now that you know this is a NO SKILL INVOLVED game, I'm sure you are dying to buy 5 or 6 boxes on the grid, right? RIGHT?! Ok...at least one?

Go to the free grid hosting site I found. Pick which box you want by playing eeny meeny miney moe. Enter the information requested and use the password "3day" without the quotes. Send me $10 for each box you choose. for the math challenged, that's $10 for 1, $20 for 2, and so on).**CHANGE IN PLANS HERE!!** I have a 2nd team member now, so we will be splitting the proceeds from this fundraiser. We are asking that all entries come in the form of paypal to hokiegir1 (at) yahoo (dot) com, cash or check made out to me (or my team mate, if she sent you...) and we will pay prizes and then split the remainder. Please DO NOT send entry fees directly to our pages. If you have already done this, that's ok (there haven't been many). It's just easier on us to do it this way. Thanks!

The best part? If your numbers match more than one quarter, you WIN more than one quarter! You could potentially win all 4 prizes!

If not all 100 boxes are sold by the time the coin is flipped at the start of the game, I'll assign numbers then, and Scooting Toward a Cure will be assigned all empty boxes...meaning, if an unsold box wins any quarter, that quarter's prize becomes a donation. In the (hopefully unlikely) event that less than half of the boxes get sold, I may have to reduce the prizes accordingly. So tell your friends to get as many sold as possible.

Once prizes are paid, the remaining entry fees go directly to the 3 Day. It's as simple as that!

Now, get to buying up those squares! You have some time, but the sooner it fills, the sooner you find out what numbers you have!

That's right. I'm a hot college freshman.

noreply@blogger.com (Gphigirl) — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 19:33:00 +0000

A perk of working for a state university is that you get to take free classes...up to and including earning a degree. I never really wanted to get a masters until they told me it would be paid for. So now, I'm taking Post-Bac classes to ~~kill time~~ get prerequisites out of the way until I take my GMATs...which, unfortunately, cost $250, and I just can't justify that kind of expense with Disney trips to pay for and exercise equipment ~~that will be used for a week~~ to buy.

I didn't mention that we bought a mini trampoline and a pseudo-elliptical? Ahh...but we did. The DH and I are both trying to lose weight, and he suggested the trampoline, because it looked like something fun to do while watching tv. I've been wanting an elliptical for YEARS. Last time, he talked me into a treadmill instead, because "If we get a treadmill, I [he] would be more likely to use it too!" Ok, fine. Treadmill. Which I hate. So we get it. And I use it about 6 times. He never does. We sold it for what we spent on it 2 years later (well, it WAS "like new!"). So now I'm getting this. And I'm hugely excited about it. Not so excited that the living room will be a gym, though. May have to rethink that. But we'll see.

Oh...back to the point. I start my second semester of classes tonight. Macroeconomics. I DETEST Econ. It's incredibly boring and generally somewhat intuitive. I'm hoping I don't have more than 3 papers and 4 tests to do all semester. I mean, I *do* have a life, unlike these little perky teeny-boppers.

Speaking of which...when did stilettos and fuck-me-boots become "wear to class" attire? What happened to rolling out of bed and going to class in sweats and a pair of flip flops in 18 degree weather because you can't remember where you took your shoes off after coming home drunk the night before? Not that I've ever done that. I always remembered where my shes were. Even if they weren't where I was.

Other college oddities: I have a BA (bet you NEVER would have guessed that based on my writing skills!), but for all intents and purposes, I'm a freshman. AND I get no credit for any classes I've taken. So not only do I hate Econ, but I've had it before...but still have to take it again. Good thing it's free...otherwise, I'd be throwing a fit about that one. But now, I'm just too lazy to bother. It's like I'm in college all over again...oh. Yeah.

Anyway... Oh! I have good news! Oz Pizza is booked for Fundraiser Part Deux on Monday, March 22! Come out and join us! It's the same deal as before: Oz donates 20% for all dine in orders that mention that they are there for the fundraiser. I'm working on stuff to go with it. I have 1 gift card from the last fundraiser that didn't get any bids, but I'm considering using that for a Twitter giveaway fundraiser. Details? I has none. But follow @gphigirl just in case I come up with some!

And the best news? We started Biggest Loser a few weeks early...right before I left for my mom's, which was right before I went to Disney. I gained 3 pounds over the holidays. Yeah...I was going the wrong way. Though, I think the damage would have been much worse otherwise. But this past weigh in, I was....

Drumroll, please...

Back to my starting weight. I lost 3 pounds last week! Woo-freaking-hoo! Of course, this means I can slack off this week, right? Because I've been eating like I can. I made cookies last night. They are healthy as far as cookies go...high fiber oatmeal, splenda instead of sugar, etc. But I also made No-Pudge Brownies the other night. And will be making them again soon, but with cherry yogurt (at DH's suggestion--hoping they taste chocolate covered cherry-ish). And while these are good snacks in moderation, I have apparently decided that "moderation" means "whatever I can cram in my bellah". So, yeah. Moving on...I can't wait to get my elliptical. :o)

Screw the Year in Review. Here's your Year in Advance!

noreply@blogger.com (Gphigirl) — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 16:00:00 +0000

Well, look at that. I have a blog. You wouldn't know it from the last time I posted. Sorry. I know you miss my immense humor and wisdom during those boring holidays.

Anyway...I had 2 weeks off work. (Mostly) paid. I went to TX to visit my moms for the first week. Then I went to Disney for the second week. Again. It was the 4th trip for last year.

I need a vacation from my vacation. But I'm back at work today, and actually, I'm not unhappy about this. I get more done here. No tv, cats and bed to distract me.

With the new year comes a ~~renewed~~ sense of fundraising urgency. I have 10 months to raise my other $1663 for the 3 Day. It works out to about $6 per day until the walk. *sigh* Must get to work on planning. I'm emailing Oz Pizza again this week for a March date. Haven't picked out said date yet...but I'm leaning toward a Monday this time instead of Tuesday. I also got an email about Entertainment books, and when I was looking at them, I notice a "Fundraising" link...so I've written to them as well. And sometime in March or April, I'll be cleaning closets and posting requests for "stuff" donations for the May yard sale. I'm attending the Get Started Meeting on the 16th, and will hopefully come out with some more ideas.

On the positive side, I'm getting 2 new team members on Friday! One of my sorority sisters and her friend will be making the trek from VA to GA to walk with me! They are both first-timers, so I'm trying to remember what I can that will help them get started!

On the weight loss front, my friends and I started our Biggest Loser competition a couple weeks ago. I'm up 3 pounds so far. D'oh! But, and it's a big butt...er, but, it could have been MUCH worse. See, Disney is just one big restaurant for DH and I. We go there to eat. And walk around, but really, the food is more important. So I tried to make somewhat reasonable choices. I had ratatouille for the first time ever. It was AWESOME.

Since we got home, I haven't been paying the least bit of attention until, well, today, actually. I just started my new spreadsheet this morning. Yesterday, i got some healthy breakfast stuff at the grocery store (high fiber English muffins and turkey sausage). FYI: Banquet Turkey Sausage and Morningstar "Sausage" are the same number of WW points. And the Banquet ones are half the price, and taste better--and give you less gas than the soy protein. And both are tiny, so that's not a factor. So unless you are ACTUALLY a vegetarian, go for the Banquet ones. They are pre-cooked and frozen. 1 minute in the microwave and done.

So, here is the Year in Advance! A month by month of what you can expect to see here:

January: Lots of fundraising planning, but not much ACTUALLY happening. Meal plans and weight loss...shooting for 10 pounds.

February: More planning. Another Disney trip. Shooting for 12 pounds of weight loss.

March: Oz fundraiser, and something to go with it. Perhaps some kind of raffle? I don't know. Shooting for another 10 pound loss...and getting out of the 200's again.

April: Yard Sale planning and collecting. Standing outside of Walmart or Kroger with a jar. Yet another 10 pound month.

May: Yard Sale time! Standing outside of Walmart or Kroger with a jar again. Training starts officially!! And my last 10 pound month.

June: Planning a 3rd Oz night for around August begins. Training ramps up...but hopefully the heat index doesn't. I go into weight maintenance, as I will hopefully be at or darn close to my goal.

July: More planning. More walking...probably indoors or late at night. More maintaining. Really, it's a boring month.

August: Oz night again! If needed (ie--if I'm more than $500 away from my fundraising minimum), more Kroger and Walmart canning. My birthday is this month, so I will be drowning my sorrows in ice cream, then trying to lose another 5 pounds.

September: Final round of fundraising emails will be sent before the walk. The holidays are coming up soon, so I'll be losing 10 pounds in advance of their arrival, starting now.

October: Final countdown to the 3 day! Packing, preping, etc. But first...back to Disney for some great training walks in the Happiest Place on Earth (as long as you haven't been there 4 days with cranky kids, or a cranky spouse...). Continue the anticipatory 10 pound loss.

November: Still recovering and processing. Registering for 2011 as a crew member so I get to see the "other" side of it (and don't have a fundraising minimum!). Begin anticipated 10 pound holiday gain.

December: Relax and don't stress anything. I have pre-lost my holiday weight, so I can just enjoy without worrying. And finally have a guilt-free fruitcake.

You heard it here first. That's my year. Gonna be a wild ride! I hope you will continue to join me on it!

Renewed energy

noreply@blogger.com (Gphigirl) — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 19:35:00 +0000

It's amazing what a good colon flush will do. Oh...and in case you were worried and missed the news, colonoscopy was clear for polyps and cancer, but I have diverticulosis. When he told me this, my first thought was "Shit, that means no more Big Macs because of the seeds on the bun!" But I did some reading, and diverticulosis is just the pockets in the colon wall, and the newest treatments don't forbid nuts and seeds...just recommend a very high fiber diet. If it turns into diverticulitis (where it gets infected and inflamed), THEN I may have to give up the Big Macs, but only about 10-20% of people with diverticulosis develop diverticulitis.

Anyway. enough about my sparkly clean colon. Actually, this is about weight loss. And while I'm not going to start again until after the 1st, I *do* have renewed energy for that. Watching the Biggest Loser season finale has made me want to start a competition...so I am. Because I do what I want and no one can tell me otherwise. Hence my weight problem (actually, this is only part of the reason, but it IS part of it--more on that later).

Here's the challenge: Get a group of friends with no specific connections, but we all want to lose weight. Break into teams, and see who can lose the most! That's it. So far, there are about 6 of us, I think? I guess that means the teams are out...we skip right to individual competition. And I doubt we will do eliminations, because I'd rather all of us stick it out to the end and lose as much as possible. Unless we have an At-Home winner...which is pointless, because we are all "at-home" already. Oh...and we certainly won't have a quarter of a million dollar prize, because none of us are rich. In fact, right now, there is no prize. Anyone out there on the interwebs that cares to rectify that, let me know. Competing for bragging rights is nice. Competing for stuff is better. ;o)

And just so my competition knows what they are up against, I'm gonna lay out my plan, here and now. *insert determined face here*

-30 minutes a day of a work out DVD, EVERYDAY. Sorry, DH and furbabies, but unless you want to do it with me, this means I go in the guest room, close the door, and work out. You will just have to suffer without me.
-3 days a week, we will add a 3 mile walk to that. Again, sorry, DH, but stuff needs to change, and we can't live our life in front of the TV. Come with me if you want to spend time together.
-Follow WW points. I did 75 days straight, I can do it again. And again. And again. I already know I have a few challenging days in there (Disney trip), but I did it once, so it's possible.

Since it's a competition, and I want to be fair, I will forgo the alli. Not everyone is ABLE to take it, much less willing (though, really, I have never had any of the major "treatment effects" listed), so it wouldn't be right for me to do that. This contest is about weight loss, but it's also about doing it right...diet, exercise, and confronting demons.

Speaking of which, I mentioned that part of my problem was that I do what I want. This is something I learned about myself from reading IE. While I don't follow the principles much anymore, it was good for some self reflection. There are many times where my way of pushing back is to do the opposite of what someone tells me to do. So if someone says "You really should get some exercise," I tell myself "Fuck you. I'm not doing that because you want me to," even when in reality, I probably would have done at least SOMETHING. Same goes for food. "You should eat this apple," turns into "Screw that! I'm going to eat this whole package of cookies instead!" So yeah, I have issues. I recognize them. I just don't know how to change them. Which brings me to my last part of my plan: counseling. Actually, I'm still a little iffy about this part, but it has crossed my mind, and the time might be right to do it. Obviously, I've lost the weight before. The fact that I have regained it says that there is a problem somewhere that needs to be addressed.

I imagine there will be lots of tears over the next 5-6 months. Hopefully, at least a few are from my fellow competitors when I blow them out of the water. :o)

'Tis the season for colon cleansing and shopping.

noreply@blogger.com (Gphigirl) — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 15:59:00 +0000

Any medical procedure where you purposely give yourself diarrhea is stupid.Made even more so by the fact that all I can eat on Sunday will be jello, gatorade, sprite and broth. For anyone that knows me, when I don't eat, I'm a bitch. Well, I'm a bitch anyway, but take away my food, and it's worse.

I have come to that time in my life where I had to insist on a colonoscopy. Yes, I know I'm still considered young for getting one. Welcome to what I like to call my gene cess-pool. Both my grandfather and uncle were diagnosed with colon cancer at 33. One of my cousins had pre-cancerous polyps at 25-ish. So yeah, I'm not playing around. Monday, I go in for the test. I don't expect any issues or anything, but I wanted to get it done and over with. 90% of the people that I tell this to think I'm insane. I ~~probably~~ am. But when it comes to colon cancer, I don't play around.

That's really all that has been going on for the last week or so. We had Thanksgiving...where people don't know when it's time to leave, then I've been back at work and super busy. I have 2 more weeks before my Christmas break at work, then I'm heading to TX (I think...this *could* change based on some recent developments) for the first week of the break, and Disney for the 2nd week. Very excited, a little stressed.

All of my Oz Fundraiser donations have posted and I have 28% of my fundraising done! I was just given another donation yesterday that needs to be submitted as well. Plus, I'm about to submit all the Tastefully Simple orders (finally...no thanks to my consultant), which should give me about an extra $1 or 2. Honestly, I'm regretting that whole thing. The consultant has been less than interested, and I'm doing more work than I would have if I had just signed up as a consultant again myself. But, such is life and lesson learned. I'll close out the party this weekend and be done with it.

I did set up a "shopping club" account thing. I got the idea from another walker. It's not working quite like I thought it would, but if people are willing (and remember to go through there), it could make a few extra bucks toward my goal. And $5 here and there add up! Here are the deets:

Click here. Once you get to the site, create a free account. It should list me as the referrer (I think it assigns a number, so just leave whatever number is in there). Browse the list of stores, and when you find one, click on it. It will pop up a message, and then open a new tab/window for your store. Shop til you drop, and you will get the stated percentage back from your purchases...and my account will get half of that to be used as a donation! They have an actual "for Charities" account, but that one costs about $30, so while I'm considering setting it up, I haven't decided yet. We'll see how things go. But this is a great way to do the last of your Christmas shopping! It costs you nothing extra to set it up...and YOU will get cash back as well! It's really win-win.

With the craziness of the next few weeks, I'm not sure how much I'll be posting, but I'm sure I will a few times. In case you miss it, though...Merry Christmas and a Fantabulous New Year!

The Origin of the infamous Green Bean Casserole

noreply@blogger.com (Gphigirl) — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 14:56:00 +0000

It's a southern staple at Thanksgiving. Green beans, cream of mushroom soup, and Durkee fried onions. It has been attributed to Dorcas Reilly of the Campbell's Kitchen, but none of the "official" links ever seem to be working. And when searching the Campbell's site for "Dorcas" nothing comes up. And that's when I realized Dorcas is very close to Dorkus...and probably made up.If you can find a WORKING link at Campbell's itself...not Wiki or someone else's blog...please send it along.

Until then, here is where *I* think the ~~nasty shit~~ infamous green bean casserole came from.

(cut to 4 southern women playing bridge while the men are watching football and talking about raking leaves on Thanksgiving Day)

SW1: Has anyone checked the turkey lately?

SW2: No. Perhaps I should do that while refilling my sweet tea?

(SW2 gets up to refill tea, starting with a splash of bourbon, checks turkey, and peeks at the rest of the food)

SW2: Goodness gracious! The green beans are over cooked! With all this starchy food, we simply MUST have a vegetable! Whatever will we do??

SW3: Don't you fret your pretty little head! We will see what we have around the house! There simply MUST be something we can do with them.

(SW3 checks cabinets)

SW3: Well, would you look at that! We have Cream of Mushroom Soup and fake fried onions. We can use the soup to add some flavor since it was all cooked out and use the fake fried onions to replace the crunch that should have been from the beans! No one will know the difference!

And THAT is how green bean casserole REALLY came to be.

I hope you all have a great Thanksgiving and enjoy whatever you choose to eat!

Break time!

noreply@blogger.com (Gphigirl) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:05:00 +0000

Phew! What a week!

2 of my 3 favorite aunts came to visit last weekend. They flew in from DC on Wednesday and stayed until Sunday. We shopped, shopped some more, and ate. I have been off WW for exactly 7 days, though I have made a FEW good choices in there. I don't entirely blame them...TOM was also in town, and so I just basically took the week off. WI day is Saturday, so I will be hopping back on the wagon then. I'm not entirely unhappy about this...I think I needed the mental break with everything going on.

Before they arrived, however, we had some effects of the hurricane...rain and some wind. Unfortunately, some of that rain made its way into our house on Tueday...the night before visitors and 3 nights before our housewarming party. STRESS! Luckily, it wasn't major damage, but it was still frustrating. The insurance adjuster came out yesterday to check things out. No storm damage to the roof, but when they built the house, the morons didn't fill their toe-board holes. *Sigh* Looks like DH will be climbing up there to do it, since the insurance won't cover THAT little gem...but they will cover the inside damage. Waiting on final numbers now, but really not so optimistic that it will be worth it.

Housewarming was Friday night. Went reasonably well, with a few stressors, but most seemed to have a good time and everyone liked the house. Got a few Tastefully Simple orders, and waiting until payday for a few more. Right now, it looks like that will be a $15-20 donation. Every little bit helps!

After the housewarming, it was time to focus all of my energy on Oz...and that was a GREAT night! We ended up with about 29 people that came out, including 3 awesome women that go to the same gym I do. I had put up a flyer there, and they skipped their spin class to support the walk. We talked for quite awhile, and I hope that they will consider walking with me this year. They said they had been considering it for awhile. I'll work on them some more. :o) They asked me to make sure I tell them when I do another event and they will bring more people. Not a huge number of bidders in the silent auction, but those that did really were awesome. In total for the night, including the 20% from Oz, the silent auction bids and a few extra donations I received, it was a $350 night! It was mostly checks, so it's not showing up on my link just yet (they take 4 weeks to post), but I'm THRILLED! I had hoped for $500, but I knew it was a long shot. I still have 1 item that didn't get any bids...probably my own fault. The Rack Room gift card thing (free pair of shoes up to $50) came in an envelope...and I didn't pull it out to show it. I was in a hurry and got sidetracked. Such is life, and now I have a head start on my next auction/raffle.

The one disappointment is that someone stole part of the Rita's bucket. :o( It had the bucket with a letter to get a free gallon of water ice, and 2 coupons for free regular size ices. Some jerkwad took the 2 coupons out. I was sitting where I could keep an eye on things, because I was afraid the Taco Mac GC would "walk away"...but I never saw anyone by the table, except for one family with 3 kids that were in teh booth that was next to it. I am guessing one of the kids took them. Upsetting, yes. Frustrating, very. End of the world, no. I think I'll donate $10 to myself and drown my sorrows in a bucket of Black Cherry Italian ice.

I have a test this week in my math class. Thank god the semester is almost over. Finals are the week of Dec. 8, so only 1 more week of class. I'm HATING this whole thing and really leaning toward saying screw it and just not taking any more classes. I have never wanted my masters. Hell, I never really wanted a bachelors, but my mom made me start, and when I tried to quit in my Junior year, I realized you can get a much better job with a degree, so I went back and finished. I'm only doing this now because it's free. And really, who am I to pass up a bargain like that? But it's really not free. I have to pay for books, and I'll have to pay for the GMATs at some point, and there is the time...the most expensive part. Maybe it's just this semester with the required 3 hours of lab time that makes no sense to me. Why force me to do my homework on YOUR schedule? So I'm hoping next semester is better...one night a week of class, and no lab requirements. I can do my homework when and where I choose. Of course, I'm taking Econ, which I hate, so it may still be a struggle to find motivation.

And finally, I was going to take a break from my hard-core fundraising until after the first of the year. I'm tired, and the holidays are hard enough...plus as it is, people are asking for money left and right this time of year. But then I got the idea for a Poker Tournament...so now I'm emailing people to get info about hosting one. Granted, it still won't be until after the first (in fact, I'm looking at March or April), but it means kicking some planning into gear again already! My preliminary thoughts are to have a ticketed event at a restaurant that will also donate a portion of sales (like Oz did...perhaps even AT Oz, because they said I was welcome to come back as often as I wanted!). I'm leaning toward $10 tickets, and prizes for the top 3 finishers...perhaps cash (taken from the ticket sales) or donated items, depending on what I can get. Since GA doesn't allow buy-ins, that's where the tickets come into play. But I'm not sure about details, so I've emailed one place that specializes in poker fundraisers and one place locally that hosts poker nights at restaurants to see what they can give me. As plans develop, I will update. Right now, it's mostly an idea in the info-gathering stages.

I feel helpless.

noreply@blogger.com (Gphigirl) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 15:48:00 +0000

I get to work this morning, and am checking my emails. I have one from one of my friends. I open it and my heart sinks.

She needs info on breast cancer because her best friend was just diagnosed.

She came to me because she knew I was doing the 3 Day. I hope I gave her enough. We live in different states, so what is available here may or may not be where she is, so my first thought was for her to call her local Komen office. They can give her the best and closest resources. I hope that I didn't make her feel like I was blowing her off. This was very much NOT my intention. I just wanted to let her get the fastest and most reliable information possible with the fewest steps between A and B...and me chit-chatting and giving all kinds of links that may or may not be appropriate wasn't going to help her get what she needed at the time.

But also, when I opened that email, I realized that THIS is why I walk. I have been very lucky. I did have a "scare" of sorts, but it was 6 months after a breast reduction, so while we acted quickly anyway, everyone (me, the doctors, the surgeon, family) were all fairly certain it was just scar tissue creating a lump. I had the lump removed, and it was in fact, scar tissue. There were still a few scary times in there, though. The "what-ifs" crept in.

Based on the age of my friend, I'm assuming her friend is also close to my age. It's scary to think that this could happen to someone in their 30's. It used to be you heard about it mostly in older women. When I was at the Pink Out events, there was a woman there...27. She was diagnosed and treated while pregnant. I can't fathom. Breast cancer is hitting younger and younger.

I will do everything I can so no one has to send an email like my friend did this morning. 60 miles is nothing compared to what these women and men (yes, men can get breast cancer) go through.

My head is spinning, but not in the fun, drunk kind of way

noreply@blogger.com (Gphigirl) — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 14:56:00 +0000

What a week! I feel like I haven't accomplished much, and yet, have gotten a lot done. Unfortunately, the to-do list keeps growing, which is probably why I feel like I'm not making any progress.

I managed to get a few more donations for Silent Auction items. I'll do the official list later today when I pick them up and can take pictures of a couple of them, but look for a Gift Bucket from Rita's Water Ice (YUM!!), a gift card from Rack Room Shoes and a Valencia coffee maker, that brews directly into 2 travel mugs. I still have a stop to make at Walmart, so cross your fingers, though I'm not hugely optimistic right now that it can be done in time. Books-a-Million also sounded promising when I was talking to the manager, but when I looked at their website, it said they needed 6 weeks lead time, and that donations couldn't be auctioned off or resold...so I didn't submit it.

Picked up a second gallon of paint for the dining room yesterday, too. We'll be painting either tonight or tomorrow. Most of today (after these morning errands when I finish my Venti Bold Non-Fat Cafe Misto with Sugar Free Caramel syrup) I'll be putting the guest rooms in order. One still has our last few straggling boxes that haven't been unpacked, and the other just needs some tidying up. The cats were feeling zen and a rock in the small zen garden was messing with their feng-shui, so they took it out. Honestly, I'm surprised that's all they did and I don't have sand everywhere.

This week I still need to get the rest of the food for the housewarming party. I'm also in a baking mood, completely unrelated, so I may make some flourless peanut butter cookies and maybe even some Heath Bark (that's not baking...but it's in the kitchen. It counts).Sadly, I will probably eat at least some of everything I make.

I entered a new "decade" today with my half pound loss, bringing my total to 15 pounds! I've been very cyclical with my losses. Before I even checked the calender, I knew it was almost time for TOM to rear his ugly head again. Those are the weeks I lose .5. I have been slacking on the workouts still, unfortunately. I did my first real-world (not on a treadmill) on Monday, and my knees have been KILLING me ever since. Just normal walking is painful. So I think the C25K is going to be abandoned and I'll just start walking instead. It's still really early for my training, but it's not like that will hurt anything. I may give C25K another shot after I lose some more weight. I'm thinking the extra that I carry around doesn't help matters.

I also spent most of the week feeling like I'm coming down with a sinus something. I've managed to skip it for the last 2 years or so, but it's catching up to me. So far, I'm just a little stuffy, and some occasional coughing and sneezing. I'm trying to fend it off with extra rest. Or just passing out on the couch at 9pm like I did last night.

Well, time to get moving and pick up these prizes! I'll update the original post later on today!

3 Day Summary to date!

noreply@blogger.com (Gphigirl) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 19:36:00 +0000

I realized I have a bunch of stuff going on for the 3 Day, but it's all spread out every which way. In an effort to consolidate, here is what I have going on so far:

Fundraising:
Goal: $2500
To Date: $200
Remaining: $2300

Ways to donate:
Directly to my 3 Day page
Purchase Scooting Toward a Cure item
Bid on Silent Auction items
Purchase Tastefully Simple products (enter Lillian Winfrey as the host, otherwise it won't count)
Come to Oz Pizza in Fairburn on Nov. 17 between 4pm and 10pm and dine in.
Tell your friends--even if you can't, someone else might!

I just sent out an email "blast" earlier today from my 3 Day participant center. If you didn't get one, I don't have your email. If you want one, shoot me a message. Comments are moderated, so you can leave your address in a comment, and I won't post it, but will send the note on to you.

Training:
I'm still plugging along at the C25K. I had a hectic week last week, so I wasn't able to get my workouts in, but I started up again last night. I used Nicole's 1.1 podcast, and it was great. Even when I didn't want to run anymore, the music was so good, I had to! I did skip 2 of the 8 running segments (1 minute each), but that puts me back where I was 2 weeks ago when I last did it anyway...and I'm ok with repeating a week. Unfortunately, this was my first run "on the streets" (as opposed to a treadmill) and I'm feeling it in my knees today. Considering a walk after work to try to loosen them up some, but weighing that against just resting them for tomorrow's run. Oh, and my reflective vest that I won at a Scooter/Motorcycle event awhile back? Yeah....it sucks. Big time. It wouldn't stay strapped down (D ring style side things). That is being added to the list. I spent more time messing with it than enjoying the nice cold weather that made it so I didn't have sweat dripping in my eyes.

Miscellaneous:
I'm starting a shopping/Christmas list. So far, here it is:
-sleeping bag--mine is a junior size. I'm not.
-sport water bottle with a straw--I have the Camelback back pack thing, but the lack of ice available last time made for some NASTY drinking, so I'm going smaller this time.
-some sort of inflatable mattress (I have heard pool floats work well!)
-Eddie Bauer hiking fanny pack with a spot for water bottle. All good reviews from other walkers.
-Reflective running tops--see above.

That's it so far. I'm sure the list will grow exponentially between now and October.

I'm still looking to do some "canning" (stand outside Walmart or Kroger and collect donations) and I have a pretty nice banner I got and some silicon rings (instead of bracelets) that will be given out for donations, but I haven't found the time to do this yet. Well, that, and the Kroger Manager hasn't responded to me yet about the 3 dates I asked for there. But choosing dates right now is tough with all of the above going on.

Oh, and the radio spot that was supposed to air? Still hasn't, but I was up early this past Sunday (stupid time change) and so I tuned in. They did a spot on Tutus for Tatas, who Adam had told me when I was there that he had interviewed...so I'm thinking they are just a couple weeks behind and mine might still be in the works. I have every intention of listening for it and recording it to be posted everywhere!

I think that covers everything I've got so far. I'm hoping for some great news from the email blast over the next few days!

Shut up and let me go...HEY!

noreply@blogger.com (Gphigirl) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 18:14:00 +0000

Every time I think of iPods, I think of that stupid song in the commercials. God I hate that song...which is probably why DH stuck it on ours. Just to annoy the crap out of me. Oddly enough, though, I can tolerate it at the gym. Tolerate. Not like.

Today, I set up a 2nd workout playlist, and added Nicole's C25K podcasts. I'll be giving hers a shot tonight, because they have the convenient little cues about when to switch...and I won't be at the gym where I can just set the treadmill, or even just keep an eye on the timer right in front of me instead of my watch that requires thought and math...two things I can't do while running.

So it got me to thinking: What's on your workout playlist? Here are my 2 standards:

For a 1 hour workout (this is the new one I just did--haven't tried it out yet):

Paralyzer-FingerEleven
Stronger-Kanye West
What a Way to Want to Be- Shania Twain
Let's Go Crazy- Prince
Dirty Little Secret- All American Rejects
Eye of the Tiger- Survivor (I'm a child of the 80's, what can I say!)
Girl All the Bad Guys Want- Bowling for Soup
Headstrong- Trapt
American Badass- Kid Rock
Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous- Good Charlotte
My Sharona- The Knack
Nothin' But a Good Time- Poison
One Way or Another- Blondie
Same Ol' Song- Sev
This is How a Heart Breaks- Rob Thomas
U+Ur Hand- Pink

And for a slightly shorter workout of 45 minutes, we have:

American Girls- Tom Petty
Born to Run- Bruce Springsteen
Harder to Breathe- Maroon 5
1985- Bowling for Soup
Should I Stay or Should I go Now- The Clash
Part of Me- Linkin Park
Let's Get Rocked- Def Leppard
The Anthem- Good Charlotte
Cold Hard Bitch- Jet
The Middle- Jimmy Eat World
Somebody Told Me- The Killers
Summer of '69- Me First and the Gimme Gimmes (cover of Bryan Adams)
Don't Go Away Mad (Just Go Away)- Motley Crue

As you can tell, I'm a little eclectic on my music preferences. I tend toward rock/heavy metal, but mostly of the 80's variety. The bigger the hair, the better. But I'll throw in a little country now and then (crossover country...not serious twang where the singer loses his dog, his house, his truck and his wife...), some rap from time to time (again, mostly the 80's and 90's variety), and some newer stuff if I catch it or someone recommends it. I like my workout music to make me WANT to run...even if I'm not planning to. It's gotta be up-tempo. Kills me to have ballads come on sometimes if I'm just using the "everything" option.

On this same topic of workout music, I'm actually WANTING to get back to running. I haven't in about a week and a half. Time has been really short for me lately. Last Monday I found out I had a test that week...and I still had homework to get done, plus study, and everything else we needed to get done. The last 3 Saturdays have been spent doing PR stuff for DH's store. And Sunday's have been cleaning, getting ready for visitors and the housewarming...and just RELAXING! We did take one Sunday and not even pick our asses off the couch. It was needed. But now, I'm ready to start again. And that still surprises me, because I have never been one to want to exercise much less RUN. Actually, that's not entirely true. I have wanted to exercise before. Whenever I do WW and I'm low on points, I want to exercise so I can eat more. But now I actually want to exercise...and don't really care about the extra food that comes with it (though, I'm sure later this week I will, after using 17 flex points on Saturday drinking my Blavod).

So, if you see the fat chick running in the 'hood tonight, try not to ~~laugh too hard~~ run me over. At least I'm trying.

Free the Hostage!

noreply@blogger.com (Gphigirl) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 13:11:00 +0000

Something near and dear to me has been TAKEN and held hostage for six months. But on Sunday, it will finally be returned. I'm so excited!

Sunday, we Fall Back, and I get my hour of sleep back!

But what I don't understand is why we still use the antiquated Daylight Saving Time practice? A study has shown that we actually use MORE energy than if we left well enough alone. Basically, what is now saved on lighting because of the extended daylight hours is now spent on heating and cooling...and then some. And this makes sense--you are awake longer, so you want to be comfortable while you are awake. So WHY do we still torture ourselves every six months? Just when our bodies finally get adjusted to the new time, we have an hour ripped out from under our cute little sleeping heads, only to be shoved back violently another six months later.

Most of us no longer need the extra hour of daylight for harvesting and tending our crops. We have porch lights for that. And those that do, well, why can't they just get up an hour earlier instead of forcing ALL of the US (ok...most. I think there might still be a county or 2 that doesn't participate) to adapt because of the needs of a few? I'll be the first to tell you life isn't fair, but to punish the majority for the lifestyle choice (farming as a profession is a choice...even if that choice was made for you by your family) is not what this country is founded on.

Besides...isn't the Obama Administration looking to reduce our carbon footprints and other green crunchy shit like that? How does making us use more energy fit with THAT concept?

So, I propose we end the charade. Stop making people late for church and work one Sunday a year, and an hour early another Sunday a year. Contrary to the beliefs of some, this does not balance out. The six months in between events negates any balancing that would otherwise have been acceptable.

FREE THE HOSTAGE! Let's start a petition to end Daylight Saving Time...after we get our hour back on Sunday, Nov. 1. Please sign below.

ALREADY?

noreply@blogger.com (Gphigirl) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 14:14:00 +0000

Where has the time gone? I swear, just yesterday, it was August and DH and I were looking forward to our trip to Disney. Now, it's almost NOVEMBER! O. M. G.

I was in a meeting yesterday, and it was pointed out that our holiday break (2 weeks off for Christmas, starting the Monday before) is 7 weeks away. SEVEN. 49 days. I only have about 5 actual weeks of class left (none the week of Thanksgiving). And my aunts are coming to visit in 2 weeks...then the Oz fundraiser is the next week. O. M. G. I need a paper bag to breathe into.

Stuff that has been accomplished:

-E-vites were FINALLY sent for the housewarming/Tastefully Simple party. I know I missed a few, and I'm gonna try to get those out today. If I *still* forget you, I'm sorry, just beat me over the head and show up anyway.

-DH was AWESOME again and sent out e-vites to everyone he knows for Oz. 250-something people. Right now, there are 5 yes's...but hey, I'm good with that.

-Halloween candy has been bought...and not all eaten. We may or may not have time to set up the "graveyard," but the Mickey lights went up awhile ago. We will buy all kinds of stuff on clearance Nov. 1. I refuse to spend that kind of money now.

-Christmas presents are just about finished. We have a couple straggling things that we need, but the majority are done. We even talked about wrapping them...but haven't. Yet.

Things still to be done:

-Cleaning. Lots of it. Well, actually, it's folding clothes. We currently use the guest bed as a dumping ground for clean clothes...but we need that bed, so that means we are going to have to actually fold them.

-2nd coat of paint in the dining room. Yes, it is *passable* now...with the light off, and the sun down. But it needs to be done.

-Procuring some extra chairs. 'Nuff said.

-Getting more Silent Auction items. I have a few (like, 5). I'd like a few more. And some bids. Bids would be very good. Seriously. Click the link and bid. I'm not kidding.

-Getting a menu together for the housewarming. And shopping for everything.

-Running around like a chicken with my head cut off. Yeah...that's on the to-do list. It should cover everything else I know I'm forgetting.

-Get a pedicure. This was my 60 day reward. I made it! As much as I have been struggling lately, I'm going to enjoy this reward. Plus, it's close to the last one I'll be able to get before the walk, since callouses help prevent blisters.

Ok...that's about it for the list. There is also work and class stuff that needs to be done, but I can't think about that or I'll need to find that paper bag again. I'm actually looking forward to Thanksgiving...I get a 5 day vacation and we have NOTHING going on...and I refuse to plan something after the 2 weeks before that!

Happy-dancing burns calories

noreply@blogger.com (Gphigirl) — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 14:22:00 +0000

That's right...after last week's gain of half a pound (fully expected...thank you, TOM), I lost THREE POUNDS this week! After the rough start that left me with 12 flex points for 5 days, I managed to rock it the rest of the week...and actually had 10 flex points and 2 activity points left over. Actually, I was having trouble hitting my daily minimum the rest of the week!

One thing I did NOT rock was the gym. I did go twice...Monday and Thursday. Monday was actually pretty good. I did my 24 minutes of walking and 6 of running. No weights, but I'll take the cardio. Thursday...well, that's a different story.

As I was pulling into the parking lot Thursday, I was thinking how much I didn't want to be there. At. All. But, I was there, so I forced myself to go in. On the plus side, I put up a flyer for the Oz Fundraiser (Fairburn, Nov. 17, 4-10pm), which last night a friend messaged me and said she saw it...and it was the ONLY thing on the board that caught her attention. Yay for bright pink paper!

So, anyway...I got changed, filled my water bottle, and got on the treadmill. I took the time to set up my intervals (takes about 2 minutes), and hit start. Started walking. At 3 minutes (30 seconds before the first run), I hit stop. I just was NOT in the mood to deal. I know, I know...push through. But for whatever reason, I couldn't get myself to do it. So I moved onto the elliptical, jsut to see how far I had progressed in my fitness level.

Evidently, I've regressed. The first time I did it (first day I went back to the gym) I did about 2 and a half minutes. Thursday...one minute. ONE. And then my legs were burning. Unbelievable. But, I'd driven all the way there, put on my gym clothes...I wasn't going to leave after 4 minutes (well, 6 if you include set up time). So I punished myself big time. 2 sets of weights, both arms and legs. Honestly, I like doing weights more than cardio anyway (which is why I force myself to do the cardio first...even if I'm too tired to do the weights afterward). I was sore when I got home, but at least I felt like I had done something.

Of course, I was also supposed to go yesterday when I had half a day, but I spent my time asking people for gift cards to auction off. I got one, and a couple places told me it had to go farther up to their Store manager (who wasn't there at the time) or to their corporate office. Eh...if they come through, GREAT. If not, I asked. Everyone at least seemed receptive.

Well, everyone but Edible Arrangements...but hey. I was in there to get a free thing in the first place. Can't really blame him for not wanting to give me MORE free stuff. I understood. And before you ask...the free thing I was picking up expired the Saturday after the Oz Fundraiser, so would only have given the winner about 4 days to use it, which I didn't think was fair.

Besides...I like chocolate dipped fruit--especially apples. Hint, hint.

Oh, and tomorrow is Day 60. 2 full months of WW. 13 pounds lost so far. If that ain't motivation in itself, I don't know what is.

Now...back to my regularly scheduled Cafe Misto before The Avenues Pink Out in Peachtree City.

Silent Auction Items and Rules!

noreply@blogger.com (Gphigirl) — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 19:22:00 +0000

Thanks to some absolutely fan-freaking-tastic people, I'm able to add a Silent Auction to the Oz Pizza Fundraiser (Fairburn, November 17, 4-10pm). I'm going to use THIS post to list all the items, which hopefully, I will get a few more...I've got some calls in, and I'm going to keep asking. But what we already have is AWESOME too!

First, the Official Rules....made official because I said so.

1) You can bid on the same item as many times as you'd like until the deadline. If you think someone has outbid you, BID MORE!

2) You can bid on (and win) as many items as you would like.

3) Upon notification, winning bidder will have 7 days to pay for their item or contact me to make other arrangements. On the 8th day, if I have not heard from the winner, the 2nd highest bidder will be notified that THEY have now won. IF THERE IS A REASON FOR THE DELAY, we can work something out, but you MUST let me know.

4) When placing your bid, please include: Name, email, Phone Number, which item you are bidding on and how much you are willing to pay for that item. All bids will remain hidden until 9pm on November 17, when the winners will be announced at Oz Pizza. You do not have to be present to win. I will notify you by phone if you do.

5) Online bids will be accepted until 2:30pm on November 17th. After that time, you can bid in person at Oz until 8:45pm when bidding will close to tally the winners.

6) Have FUN!

Now for the fun part! Here are the items you can bid on:

--Gift Bucket from Rita's Italian Ice. Includes 2 coupons for a regular Italian ice, a letter to be returned with the bucket for a gallon of ice and some miscellaneous swag. Approx. value: $15.Courtesy of Rita's Italian Ice in Peachtree City, GA

--$20 Gift Certificate to Tyrone's Boxcar Cafe, located in Tyrone, GA. Courtesy of Carlia Blanchard, Owner

--2 Tickets to Callaway Gardens, located in Pine Mountain, GA. Value: $30 Courtesy of Lillian Winfrey

--$50 Gift Card to Taco Mac, various locations. Courtesy of Tappan Street Restaurant Group, Inc

--Free pair of shoes up to $50 at Rack Room Shoes, various locations. Courtesy of Rack Room Shoes, The Avenues in Peachtree City, GA

--Valencia 2 cup Coffee Maker. Value: $50 Courtesy of Mike Winfrey

--2 night stay for up to 6 people at Apple Mountain Resort in Clarkesville, GA. Value: approx. $300 Courtesy of Marc Johnson. *Note: You will need to contact Marc to make your travel arrangements as this is part of his timeshare that he is donating. It's available any time, but weeknights are easier to book than weekends. If you would like more information before bidding, email me, and I will get your questions answered.

To place bids, email me and put "Silent Auction Bid" in your subject line, along with which item it's for. Good luck and have fun!

And a special thank you to each of our donors! We couldn't do this without you!

Kicking it into high-gear!

noreply@blogger.com (Gphigirl) — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 16:19:00 +0000

Lots of updates, and some pats on the back coming.

First, I have officially set myself up as a team for the 3 Day. It will be open for others to join, but since I had ordered a banner (picture coming soon) with "Scooting Toward a Cure," I figured that would make a good team name...so I called and added it.

Next, we have our first confirmed fundraiser set up. You might ask who "we" is...it's not the royal we. DH is being incredibly supportive this time around. I think he wants to help me raise as much as possible so I don't have to ask his boss for donations. But whatever his reason, I'll take it. He is helping with the advertising, and is still great about fixing dinner on the nights I go to the gym. *first pat on the back of this post goes to DH* Anyway: we will be at Oz Pizza in Fairburn, GA on Tuesday, November 17, 2009. If you show up anytime between 4pm and 10pm, and mention the breast cancer fundraiser when you place your dine in order (sorry...that's their rules--no takeout), 20% of the cost of your order will be donated. I need at least 20 orders placed to get credit...but I'm hoping for a lot more! We've already spoken to our weekly Bike Night dinner group leader and asked if that week can be there...he said no problem, just send a reminder about a week before and he will send it out. We are also going to send it to our scooter ride group, and I have it listed on the Facebook Fan page...and I'm about to work up a flyer that I'm hoping to leave at different places...which leads me to our next update...

I just typed up a letter to the manager at my local Kroger where I ask for either a) a donation directly from Kroger or b) to be allowed to set up a table to collect donations and hand out flyers...which will be the aforementioned flyers about the Oz fundraiser. I asked for one of 3 dates: Nov. 1, 6 or 8. The 1st and 8th are Sundays, the 6th is a Friday that I have half a day (see? Furloughs do serve SOME purpose!). I sent a similar email to World Gym in Peachtree City, where I do my training, on Friday, but didn't ask for specific dates on that one. For these events, I got my fabulous (and even better because it's pretty high quality and was only $8) banner that says "Scooting Toward a Cure in the Breast Cancer 3 Day" and I should be receiving the silicone rings that I ordered as inexpensive "Thank you for your donation" gifts. At $0.42 each, a $1 donation covers those, with profit...and I think people are more likely to donate if they are getting something...even something small.

I have also discovered that Chili's also does fundraising events similar to the one I'm doing at Oz...so I will probably have one there sometime early next year. And I'm going to check with a Bike Night favorite, Taco Mac, and see if they will do one as well. I mean, hey, we are going out anyway...might as well have some of it go to a cause, right?

We still have the housewarming/Tastefully Simple/fundraiser planned as well, but I haven't heard from my consultant lately, so I need to check on the details there. What she and I had discussed was that for all orders placed, she would donate 50% of her commission, which works out to around 15% of total orders. Unfortunately, she will be out of town the night I had picked, but since I used to be a consultant and had worked with her a bit before, we talked about a "Party To-Go," which basically means she gives me the Party Food Kit, I make it and serve it at the party, and take orders, but there is no presentation to go with it. It's like a catalog party but with yumminess. I was hoping to get the e-vites out this week with a link online for those that can't make it but still want to order. I may have to resort to my own e-vites, though.

So that's what? 2 fully booked fund raisers, 2 in the works, and another 2 ideas in addition to my yard sale idea which I'm tentatively scheduling for May (get those closets cleaned out! I'll be asking for "stuff" donations for that one!). Not too bad! I'm hoping to get at least $100 from each event...and $200+ would be AWESOMENESS! So help me out and spread the word. The more people that show up, the better!

Now, for the pats on the back. I've already given one to DH. He really has been amazing lately. The rest, in true Lill form, are self-centered. But hey, this is all about me, right?

In no particular order:

-I have stayed on WW for 55 days. I'm struggling big time this week, having used 23 of my 35 flex points with 4 more days to get through...but I WILL make it.

-Yesterday, I walked for 24 minutes and ran for 6 at 4.5 mph. I didn't even feel like dying when I finished. I think I have finally figured out the best timing for myself. Of course, it'll change again the week after next...but for 2 weeks, I have it nailed.

-We got the dining room painted. Sort of. Actually, we got the first coat done, but ran out of paint before a 2nd coat could be applied...and it's VERY necessary. So it's half done, I guess. But it still looks good, and it's progress.

-I have been on time for work 2 days in a row. Miracle.

One not-so-proud thing: I skipped the gym on Saturday. I already had to get up early to load the truck for the Pink Out, and when we left at 3, I was SO cold I could barely move, and hadn't eaten all day, so I went home and took a blazing hot shower and had Chef Boy-ar-dee and hot apple cider for lunch...which still didn't warm me up. So I snuggled under the covers with the furbabies and watched tv. Yes, I feel somewhat bad, but the fact that I accomplished yesterday's run after skipping Saturday's tells me I'm in SLIGHTLY better shape than I thought anyway, so there is no reason to beat myself up over missing 1 day when I felt like total crap. Besides, next week is my "rest" week, where I don't increase my time, just maintain...so I have plenty of time at 24/6 to adapt before 22/8 comes beating at my door. For the record...22/8 is the first time I'm nervous about. Not sure why. I think I need to work out the times on my little post it note and it will be less intimidating.