-5 is my new favorite number

The diet paid off!

I had to schedule my personal trainer appointment for the middle of the day on a Friday (right after getting into an argument with the Angry Inch, ugh) and I was a little nervous because I wasn't sure if I had lost the weight that she was hoping for me to shed. She had stated that she would like me to be down about 6 pounds.

Well, I weighed myself this morning at home and the scale said I was down 3.5 pounds... but I also need a new battery for that scale. I had checked it at the gym previously to see if the two scales matched up and they seemed pretty close. Still, this isn't the scale that the personal trainer uses every time she records my measurements and weight, so who knows if that's the difference.

So, I flew into the locker room at about, I don't know, mach 5 because said argument had happened just before I was supposed to leave and it caused me to run a tad late. No worries, I was still ten minutes early and was able to change quickly since it was the middle of the day and only stay at home mommies are there. When I met up with the PT she was curious if I had really stuck to the diet and then very pleased when I told her yes and that I hadn't found it too difficult. I struggled through South Beach before and I hated it... I need my fruit. Compared to that, this diet is a cake walk! AND, I can still eat sushi!!

When she had first put me on the diet she had told me that we would meet in two weeks and then she would adjust the diet as necessary. No need! I am quite enjoying my diet as is! I found some great alternative snacks and I've become fond of salads (I know! Me? The Human Garbage Can!! Yep! I really like them!).

Well, anyway, as you can guess from the title of this post - I LOST 5 POUNDS!! Woohoo!

My next appointment is on September 11th. My first dress fitting is on August 24th. I hope I can lose even more weight by then! Not to mention, my legs are slimmer. My thunderous, stubborn legs that have always given me the most trouble when attempting to slim down!

This is the best day ever... sans argument with co-worker.

Baby Bonanza

We had a very fun 80th birthday bash for the Finance's grandma this last weekend. I seriously had a blast! I really enjoy hanging out with his family and there are TONS of them! We laugh because we say they breed like rabbits since there are always a minimum of 15 babies at every given function! I'm a fan because I get to hold them and play with them!

However, we have always said that we are not so keen to have our own. It seems like the thing to do, having a baby, because it's expected of a couple once they are married, but then I stop and think about it. Sacrificing weekends for the next 18 years, sleepless nights, and all of that jazz that comes with a kid. I know, I'm selfish.

Now, I'm not anti-children. I love children. Always have. I just don't think I'm even close to thinking about having them. I haven't gone anywhere or done anything with my life where I feel like I'm ready to settle down for my own brood of youngins. It's not in my plan... yet. Maybe not ever. We'll see.

Well, the Finance, whom I must say is usually terrified at the idea of holding a child under the age of two because he fears he will break/drop them and claims, "I will hold them when they are old enough to rough-house", was getting all googly eyed at those little tykes in their nappies. Then we went to church with his (pretty much) entire family the next morning and there was THE CUTEST little girl sitting right in front of us. I mean, let me paint you a picture: golden ringlets ran wild across her chubby little face while huge, blue eyes peaked out. Favorite word/stuffed animal's name: Sheep! which was said at every moment possible. Favorite drink: Juice! which was said every time she knocked her sippy cup down. When the choir began to sing she bobbed and swayed along with the music while laughing and clapping her hands joyously. A-DORABLE!

The Finance was glued to her chubby, little fingers and even made little cooing noises when she smiled at him. I was awestruck. Who is this guy sitting next to me?? I wondered.

Later, he finally admitted that he was getting a little baby fever and was unsure what it meant and why. He was still talking about it yesterday when he got home from work, although he was claiming that it was because he was "finally over it". I don't believe a word of it. If he were over it, he would have forgotten about it.

Guess what readers, I guess there might be a mini-gidge running around some day. Who'd of thunk it? Not me.

My New Diet

About a week and a half ago (the Friday before last to be exact) I had an appointment with the old personal trainer. I was NOT looking forward to it because somehow (Oh, I know how Little Miss Rescheduler) we got on the same schedule as my monthly "friend" which caused me to be weighed and measured at my most bloated. This, of course, caused me to be grumpy at our meetings and caused me to look as though I had not lost any weight... well, maybe I really hadn't lost any, but I wasn't getting that half inch less that I had during "normal" times of the month on my record and this made me an unhappy little Gidge.

So, because of my lack of results lately, I was put on a strict diet and told that we would meet again in two weeks.

What is this diet you may ask. Well, I will tell you kind readers. I was put on a no dairy, no gluten diet. I know, bizarre, right?? I'll have to remember to update you on my results this coming Friday as it was predicted by the old personal trainer that I would lose 6 pounds. Since my scale needs a new battery and I haven't put one in since I like what it shows me (15 lbs) because of it's lack of go-juice, I have no idea if I've lost even a pound.

I should probably weigh myself at the gym tonight.


P.S. I have never craved a Bugle more in my life!! Yes, as in Bugles that look like witches fingers or tornadoes. Those really cool, funnel shaped corn chips from the past. You may say, "Well Gidge, corn is okay, right?" Right, that is true. However, my beloved Bugles contain wheat flour. Bastards.

To-Do List

Using the last e-mail as a jumping off point; I have a list of to-do's that I fear will never get done. Do you remember, way back in the day, when sitcoms would inevitably have the episode where someone would stumble across the list of things they wanted to accomplish before they die? Well, I'm about to reveal mine to you, so get ready...

1) Learn to speak another language - fluently
2) Become a photographer of the non-amateur variety
3) Travel... anywhere, everywhere!
4) Learn to cook, and I mean REALLY cook
5) Learn to speak another language - fluently
6) Become a phenomenal landscape architect
7) Win an award - all by myself - for my phenomenal landscape architecture skills
8) Live happily ever after

Yeah, pretty impossible to do it all. I dream a lot about these and then I realize that I lack the ambition to get the process started and finished. Dreaming is much easier.

Wedding Registries and All That Etiquette Jazz

Yes, I'm well aware that every time I start a new post I am most likely apologizing for my lack of something to say. What can I say? If I've been this busy at work, I must be doing something right... otherwise I would be joining the other half of my company that was, well, released.

Anyway, I have a question for my two, maybe three, readers. The finance and I have put together our registries with much love and maybe a few joke items (c'mon Snuggie!). I have been dreaming of a new camera for about two years now. And I'm not talking about a point and shoot. No. I have my little eye on something a grade or two above. However, this comes with a price tag that exceeds my camera budget (of $5). Hey, I's broke.

Since the finance and I have lived together for quite some time and since I have been the proud owner of a townhome since May of 2006 (Anyone in the market for a townhome?), we have accumulated most of the necessary items and therefore were at a loss of affordable items to place on our registries. In fact, for the past year I have been avoiding buying certain items because I knew we would have this problem. Still, our choices are ending up sitting on the higher side of the price tag subject.

So, is it wrong of me to place this expensive little prize on our registry?

Is it bad etiquette?

It will benefit the both of us in the end. I'm salivating just at the though of having this beauty in my hands! Otherwise, I may take some of that glorious cash people seem to talk about and buy a used Nikon or Canon DSLR.

Second question: If you know anything about digital SLR cameras - Do you prefer Nikon or Canon? Why?

"What medications are you on?"

Since I was thirteen years old I have had allergies. They have become progressively worse over the years while still not being as bad as the horror stories I have heard from others.

My dilemma is that I do not like taking medicine. Granted, if it is absolutely necessary to take something - if it were based on a life and death situation - I will take it, but for the most part I believe that it doesn't really do much good for my body and I have found that the more I bring this up, the more I learn of natural, home-remedies that are much more successful... in my opinion, than some of the over the counter pills/syrups/drops, etc.

I'm not super strict on my medicine opt out. Sometimes I try something for the sake of trying it and I usually end up not finishing the packet/bottle/what have you merely because it didn't impress me and I forgot about it.

My allergies flared up about two days ago when the wind had picked up and so sweetly swirled all of that delicious smelling pollen into the air and directly into my sinuses. Of course, I went into allergy flare up mode, which usually means that I became somewhat crabby and very stuffy. This, for some reason, has prompted EVERYONE to ask me what medications I am on. "None," I will reply nonchalantly only to get a stare of horror and a billion recommendations on what I should take. "No. Thank you, though. I prefer not use them". Repeat horrified stare and then a simple, "Why?"

In this over-medicated society where the drug companies rule the FDA and brains, leave me in peace to choose my "alternative" remedies. I just want to blow my nose in peace without your judgmental stares.

I'm tired, so tired

It's that time of the year again where my life becomes work and that's that. Already I have been putting in 10+ hour days and my energy level is zapped. It's been difficult to even attempt to go work out afterward, yet I must to keep my insanely cheap rates (thank you health insurance even though that's about all you are good for).

I always knew that I should cherish my years in grade school when I was set free for a few months each year to enjoy the sun and friends because some day I would have to work and not sit on the deck and tan my intensely white skin into a deep, skin cancerish bronze. Instead of riding my bike precariously through the streets for hours at a time. Instead of being booked solid for the day with soccer practice, games and camps. Instead of running through the sprinklers and the napping lazily on our front porch swing. Instead of taking the (yet to become fiance's) jet-ski around the lake until getting yelled at because it was about to run out of gas.

Now I work... and work... and work. And the fiance works about ten times more than I do. If this is being an adult, I quit!

Hoppy Easter - Ah yes, that's so corny and you love it.

SO, this weekend we are jetting up north to the great place where we got engaged to spend some family time and eat (and drink) copious amounts.

We will be visiting the very specific spot where the big question was popped and having a fun hike through the rest of the area. I'm so psyched!

Lenten Promises

Of course it is Lent and those of us who practice the many rules of Catholicism have given something up in preparation for the big Easter celebration. Most people understand the rules and understand that these rules run along the same lines as new year resolutions. During Lent, you give up what you give up and that's that.

Of course, there are those who aren't very bright and think that there are about a billion exceptions to the rules and have different definitions to, well, most everything and therefore are claiming to be achieving their Lenten ambitions and in all reality broke their promise within seconds of making it. But, that one doesn't count... right?!

One of those people happens to be in my office. He gave up fast food for Lent... but, you can't count eating McDonald's on Friday's for their Fillet O' Fish and you can't count when you are traveling on the road (like he does every day) and have nowhere to go except Wendy's... or Culver's... or Arby's... because packing a lunch ahead of time would never work!

I'm still up in the air about his breakfast this morning because it came from the gas station and involved a can of pop, a bag of chips and those grotesque little sandwiches called Chuck Wagons. Telltale signs that this guy has made another "exception" to the rule: he brings the pop cup back to work and places it on his desk where it screams to the high heavens which fast food restaurant he has deemed to be fast food no more.

One "exception" to the rule. Subway. Or, any other sub sandwich from any restaurant whether it be fast food or not. I am not kidding, he proclaimed that any and all sub sandwiches were not to be considered fast food because they are "healthier" (I'm not sure what constitutes as healthy in his head, so create your own adventure on this one). Please refer to the fact that many of the subs on Subway's menu that are not included on their "6 Grams of Fat or Less" menu are easily comparable to a McDonald's hamburger, nutritionally speaking of course (Let's compare a Tuna/Chicken Bacon Ranch Sub to McDonald's Big 'n Tasty). But no!! This sandwich is healthy because it's a sub! Everyone, disregard all of the brain cells you cherish that make you smart and throw them out the window! This man is on to something!

He then proclaimed today that he was pretty much on track and has only slipped once. Congratulations, you're a genius.

Rainy Monday Bliss

Rainy days make me feel one of two things, either A) hungry or B) sleepy.

Today, I feel both and to top it off I had no one to go to lunch with and ended up eating a rather delicious microwave meal of cheesy potatoes and broccoli with some sugar free (wouldn't have it any other way) raspberry chocolate pudding. In fact, as I am typing I am attempting to secretly lick the cup.

I'm feeling pretty good because I completed my first ever 8K with a time that I feel was pretty good for my first try (okay, so I ran a 10:35 mile, but for the first race of the year and having only run outside one time... the day before the race, I'll call that good. Plus it gives me a time to beat).

*Warning: Slightly off-subject material to follow*

Last week I decided to make plans for an early dinner and a movie with some friends on Friday and wanted to check out this new wine bar that opened a few months ago. I was a little scared that I may be dragging them into the depths of food hell and since the place is so new that it had no website, I was on a mission to find some reviews that weren't related to the restaurant that used to be in the same space.

Well, I found my review and it turned out to be even better than that (the review, that is) because it's an entire blog of EVERYTHING in the south metro! The writer is a little crass, but highly entertaining and he reviews everything from city council meetings to restaurants. So, on my sleepy, starving afternoon I have been attempting to read some of his entries and learn a little more about the place that I live (and find some good date night adventures).

The jury is still out on whether I always agree with the writer or not, but it's always worth exploring another point of view, isn't it?

So for your reading pleasure, I give you this...

Also, were you aware that hotel room pricing is highly negotiable? Man, I am the most under-traveled person in the world!