On the bandwagon....

Well, with what seems like every single on of my friends on the road to better health and a slimmer waistline...I decided that I should give it ago. Last week I spent most of my "down time" at Barnes & Noble scouring the health and diet section for a lifestyle change that would easily fit into my life, and hopefully get me on the road to clothes that don't have to be bought at a special "plus size" shop. All this led me to the Flat Belly Diet, every heard of it? Well, I have read the book through, and the science behind it seems rational. The meal plan will work for me, (for the most part). The price of the ingredients is not super high. Cut to the chase, I did the Anti-bloat jump start part of the diet, and am extremely happy with my results. Granted, I know the weight lost is mostly (if not all) water weight, but I did shed a substantial amount of inches as well.
Tonight, I have to admit, I am not doing so great. But, I blame this on wonderful mother nature bringing me my "gift" (and who the hell made up THAT term? How could it ever be classified as a GIFT??) so my tummy is quite a bit upset at the moment. And for me, well lets just say good thing there are no Doritos in the house...lol will power not that great at the moment! One surprising thing, it was easy for me to give up my diet mountain dew. Gasp! I know, there has been no carbonated beverage in my system for 4 days now! Had a mild head ache the first day when I woke up, but it went away relatively quickly once I had some food in me. Don't think for a second that I quit smoking though...I am not going too overboard, baby steps people!
So, anyhow, the whole program is 32 days long, and I am anxious to see how I will fare. If all goes well, I will just continue with the diet plan to reach my goal and beyond for maintaining. If not, well then at least I will have picked up a few more healthy eating habits and still be on a better path. I figure this along with my mostly daily gym regimen, I should be losing something right? lol I mean besides money...

crowded smelly middle school gym....ick!

Just got back from Thing 2's "Poetry Slam" for school. It was very nice. Kinda mad that they left the lights off the whole time, video suffered for it, but alas, what can you do? Anyhow...here is the video of Thing 2 reading her original poem in front of the ENTIRE 1st grade AND their families! She was so brave!

So today is the last day of ombudsman basic training. There is a grad ceremony after...did I ever say how much I hate pom & circumtance? (sorry bout spelling)

So I wanted to check this out...I am blogging from my phone, not at home! :ow cool is that?!

My Weekend

This weekend was probably one of the best in quite a long while. The weather was awesome! The kids pretty much behaved, and bonus, got to spend one day with the hubster!
Let's see...Friday:
First of the nice days. You already know how it went really, during the afternoon I took the girls over to Ft. Foster. Lovely. Then we came home and I made blue cheese garlic burgers on the grill, mmm were they good! Got caught up on a few shows with the hubster, and oh yea, hubby and thing 2 went out on a motorcycle ride together for about 2 hours. All in all a real nice day.
Saturday:
Hubsters actually had the whole day off! No phone calls or anything! So, we got up, to beautiful 87 degree weather, and went out to lunch at Wings Your Way over in North Hampton (really good food). After lunch, went to mini- golf (or, as we refer to it in our home putt putt). I sadly came in second, but I still think he cheated. Bonus though, every single one of us had a hole in one! After putt putt, got the girls milkshakes (we were still full from lunch, but you know kids and ice cream) and picked up the dog, and went over to Ft. Foster again for a walk. Horrible stupid lady there, did not have her dog on a leash and then got all bitchy when I told her there is a leash law for a reason, unless you would like my dog to eat yours...Seriously. Pooch is not viscous (as you all know) but when a strange dog runs over towards her "pups" the teeth come out, and rightly so. That's why we have her, to protect us and be a part of our family. So follow the rules and control your dog, freak! Climbed on the rocks and had a nice time. Came home and vegged, cooked shrimp on the barbie, but no one ate cause we had such a big lunch and then were out in the hot sun all day, really zaps the appetite. Had fun, went to bed fairly early.
Sunday (today):
Hubster unfortunately had the dudes, but me and the kiddos went down to the zoo to meet some friends. Traffic down sucked bad ass. And did I mention it was 98 degrees today?! Yeah, you are telling me! Still in April and that hot, crazy! Zoo was hot and crowded. Left and had a picnic lunch in the park, then ventured home. Yay for me the kids go back to school tomorrow, so bed came early. Now I am just waiting to switch over the laundry and I am off to dreamland myself. My knees are killing me though. Been scarfing down Alieve like Pez candy the past few days. Boy, I guess I really should start wearing my braces, but you know I am a rebel like that. Nothing an ice cold Pina Colada won't fix!
So, all in all a super duper weekend. Hopefully the shop will call sometime this week so I can pick up my baby. Could have used the sunroof today that's for sure! Have to go in sometime this week to fill out my work papers (couldn't go last week caused I spaced when I made the appointment, forgot the kids were off). And yeah, hopefully start reading Twilight too. That's it.

Sunny Days, sweeping the clouds away...

Girls on a petrified tree at Ft. Foster in Maine. Very nice area!

Caitie playing on the rocks at one of the beaches at Ft. Foster. It was such a wonderful day weather wise that we decided to get out of the house and go do something fun!

This was a really neat looking tree, so I took a picture!

Ha ha! I got to put them in "jail"

This is the girls on an old armory

It was a very nice day. We will have to go back again soon!

Oh and yea have at it, miss "date nazi" I know you want too! That's why I love ya ;)

Spring Break

...is killing me! Why oh why do children need to have SO MANY days off? I am drained now, and yes it is Thursday, so I can see the light at the end of the tunnel, but still. The house is a wreck, my nerves are shot and they have eaten us out of house and home! But man they sure are having a great time!
Today actually we are going to work on thing 2's character project for school. She has to make a costume or something, have to read the paper on it. Then hopefully I can get some laundry done, and cleaning a bit. Saturday is floor cleaning day (meaning mopping) but it would be nice to get everything else done today (we shall see).
The week has been horrible, rainy and gloomy so far. Woke up this morning to some sunshine, which is a nice change. Possibly even let the kids go out and play today after chores are finished.
Oh, almost forgot, watched Twilight last night. It was good! Now I am excited to read the book. Even the hubster enjoyed the movie, and thing 1 said it was the best movie she has ever seen...well at least until the new HP movie come out anyhow!
So that is us for now. Hubster has the dudes today, fun! Maybe we will go down for DQ for a sundae for a treat! OK, off to clean, or try to at least!

Baby sitting duty!

Well, I decided today, that since I am looking after my kids and a friends tonight, that we would do something fun. So me, trying to be a "good mom" took all 3 kids to the movies. Sat through Dragonball Evolution~surprisingly not a bad movie! Then we ventures over to TGI Friday's for dinner, then went up to York Beach to walk around a bit. Lasted about 5 minutes before the kids were too cold (bunch of whiners lol) and loaded back up and came home. Now they are watching HalloweenTown High on Disney, and then off to bed. Can't wait to get the scoop on how Sub ball went, and to see what the glasses are this year (I have a small collection of them, even though I have yet to actually go to one).
Hubby will be home early in the morning from duty, and we are planning a lazy day of nothing for tomorrow. It is supposed to be crappy out anyhow, so maybe I will get started on reading this month's selection for book club (Twilight). I am excited to read it, been wanting too for awhile now, but just had not found the time. I guess I am in need of a few rainy days!
Oh, and did I mention yesterday that I got a job?! So happy. I will be working at Home Instead Senior Care. Yes, I enjoy the work very much, and I can sure use the check. Got my TB test done, have to get it read on Monday. Well, that's all she wrote. Truly I am a very boring person, so sometimes I second guess my grand idea of even doing a blog, but it is therapeutic to an extent, just have to learn how to type a little better!
Hmm, now I think Runescape is calling to me, gotta finish hubby's quest I started for him. Have a good night!

Am I in Flordia??

Cause it FEELS like I am! I would have never guessed that in the middle of April, in Maine, that it would be 71 degrees with a slight breeze! Mind you, I am not complaining ONE BIT! But is it weird or what? Today was so nice, so beautiful, it was one of those "perfect" days in your life that you wish you could just relish for eternity...
Plus, I got an out of the blue phone call this mid morning....Got offered a job that I had applied for several months ago! So excited! Of course, it is not at the pay scale that I want, but it is a job, so I am happy! I must tell you that I love my family and all that goes along with taking care of a family 24/7, but really, deep down, I am one of those people that has to work to be happy. Whatever you may think of it, I believe that i function best when I am working. I am not talking 40 hours a week or anything like that, but I do thrive when I am out on my own and making an income (no matter how small). I guess I just feel accomplished, maybe? oh well.
Anyhow, so after I got hat call, I headed over to the NACC for a TB test (required for the job) and a work physical. After 3 attempts, the stupid corpsman *finally* got the test right. Looking at my left arm, you would think that I am a leper! Neither here nor there I suppose, test is done, have to go back on Monday for the read. Then on Tuesday I have to go into the main office to fill out the paperwork and finalize my schedule. I need to find a babysitter up here..anyone know of one?? I think I will call on a few favors owed to me and it will be alright (I hope). It would not be so bad, but today was the last day of school for the girls ( we get our spring break a week after the rest of the world apparently). FUN!!!!
Ugh, now I am just rambling. This is what you get when you want me to blog everyday! No, no I digress...It was a beautiful day, even a perfect day really and so I only hope that it gets to 50% of what we had today, tomorrow! We shall see. I hope the weekend is wonderful. Mine will be I am sure!

A calm day

Pretty much the title says it all. Had thing 2's ptc bright and early at 7:45am, all is well, we are keeping her on track. Not really wanting to go down the medication road at this point, and her teacher agrees with me, but if/when we get to the fork in the road, I guess I will look into it again. Then off to do my weekly volunteering at NMCRS. Office was dead, had some nice conversation with the colonel, caught up on my "official" email. Next stop was the SUPER wally world to get provisions for dinner tonight. Hubby had requested crab legs, which is a-ok by me, also got some shrimpers for cocktail and some stuffed clams to go along with them. Then got home, caught up on some more email, got my first "official" call of business (woohoo lol) all went smoothly. Then the monsters got home from school and now I am on here. It is nice out today, a bit windy but sunny. I have heard it is supposed to be in the 70's tomorrow but I will believe that when I feel it! Other than that, nothing going on. Thursdays are kind of depressing now that I don't have ER to look forward to. I hope at least one of the shows I watch is not a repeat, other wise I might get done with my new crochet project sooner than anticipated (doing a throw, wonder who is gonna get it in the mail as a surprise present???). Oh well, 1600, gonna go relax for a few before I get into the full swing of dinner mode, kids playing outside, get to be mr meanie when I call them in to clean the bedrooms!

Today is the day

I am so nervous! I know there is no reason that I should be, but I am. Today at 1200 I will OFFICIALLY take over as the ombudsman for my husband's boat. God I hope I don't screw up! Anyhow that is all. I know I have been horrible about updating, but I am making a vow that I will try to get on here everyday and post something, lord knows I am going to need a stress relieving outlet here soon! Have a beautiful day!

Fed Up

I am sick. Very sick. You know what I am sick of? The God damn politics happening in Washington these days. I am sick of hearing people throwing out the word Recession. I am sick of grown men and women who are supposed to be intelligent, making the most stupid decisions I have ever seen! Yes, I am a Republican. I will say it loud and proud. I am disgusted by the way the so called government thinks it should step in and save failing companies! Any company. I don't care if it is the local mom and pop store, a big auto group or a bank. Excuse my language, but fuck them! In a free market system, business succeed and fail, period. End of story. Yes, life may suck for some if Ford goes under, bu you know what? Then that would create a vacuum and some other company would step into it's place and things continue. Get a life, this whole thing pisses me off to no end. It puts a mood on the "masses" to make them all act like idiots. I saw a news report awhile back about people who are ABLE to pay their mortgages NOT paying them, because UNDER THE ADVICE OF THE BANK when they wanted to "get a good deal" STOPPED BEING RESPONSIBLE CITIZENS TO GET A BETTER INTEREST RATE! WTF? Are you kidding me? You are fully capable of paying your bills on time and in full but don't cause you feel jipped and want to get in on the handout help? Come on, grow up. People wonder what the problem of this country is. I will tell you. It is this attitude that we are entitled to something and don't have to work or save to get anything. I am scared for the future of MY children because the generation coming up (the college kids, high school students) have this mentality that they should. Not that they could, if they work hard and make the right choices, but that since they they were born, it is their right. I am sorry, there is nowhere in the Bill of Rights that says that. Have they stopped teaching American History in school? I try to instill good values and ethics onto my children, and I will continue to do so. Working against me though is Washington. If your company is going under, bu-bye! If your stocks are tanking, ciao! If you lost your job, uh go find another. Trust me, all of us have been there. What makes you so special that you get extended unemployment benefits, whereas, I was offered a pittance of $30 a week when I lost my job? And that was before taxes! How are you so special that you can use your government funds, in the form of food stamps to go buy food, that is neither, nutritionally applicable to a ROCK let alone a human being, and then to say you have TOO MUCH food, and are giving it to people who have no need of assistance?? I found something one time that brought up a good point. Why are we as job seekers and tax payers put through drug testing for employment to be able to make money to pay our taxes, yet those who stand in line for government assistance do not go through any sort of screening at all? Think about it...how do we know where our tax money is going? How do we know that Joe Schmoe is going to Shaw's and buying food to feed his family, and not buying food to sell to make money for his drug habit? There are some serious fundamental flaws in the system. Especially when Unions are calling the shots, but I digress, Unions is a WHOLE nother ring of Hell that I just don't want to get into today. I am upset and angry and I want to know what I can do to change the future that my children will be inheriting. Makes me sick just to think about it. Oh, and I also would like all those people who have no idea what the hell is going on, but yet seem to be the ones the media flocks to for interview and/or opinion to GO BACK TO YOU TRAILER PARK AND SHUT THE FUCK UP. Yes, I am stereotyping, and I don't care. But you know I am right. Phew, that was a nice tangent.

Welcome March

So what do we get the first day of the wonderful month of March? Friggin snow, again, like always. Now I know, you can say "well, what do you expect?" and I can say, it could at least make up it's gosh darn mind! I mean, one day its 60 and sunny, barely a need for a sweater, then the next it is basically a white out! Oy vey, come on. I love winter, and it's friend snow as much as an Eskimo, but this is starting to get annoying!
On the positive side, we had a great dinner tonight. Made our own homemade pizzas. Love Boboli. Thing 1 made a sausage, pepperoni and black olive. It was yummy. Thing 2 stuck to her all-time fave black olive. Then Thing 2 made us a pizza (I know, what were we thinking!) that had mushrooms, sausage, black olive, garlic, feta and pepperoni on it. To every one's surprise, it was very tasty!
Now, I am wondering if I should brave the elements and go out for my evening cancer stick or if I should just call it a night and stay in where it is warm? lol I can tell you I did not have to think about that too long!
Hopefully tomorrow the snow will end since I have some running around to do and the hubby is taking the truck, so I will be left with the little car. Fun fun fun!
Night all!

On this day...

....9 years ago, I became a mother for the first time in my life. I am in shock! First, I still cannot believe that i am OLD enough to be a mother to a 9 year old! Second, I am in disbelief that my baby is growing up so fast! I can remember her being so tiny (well, relatively, she was almost 10 pounds and 26 inches long at birth) and helpless, and now Thing 1 is little miss ATTITUDE!
Needless to say, she had a wonderful celebration of her birthday. She got her favorite meal for dinner, and her requested cake, and of course, presents! Sure, dad got all the kudos, cause his present was the best in her eyes, but what can you do?
I love my baby, and I am sure I will be the mother crying her eyes out at high school graduation wishing' my little bundle of joy was taking her first steps instead of getting ready to leave the nest and venture out on her own. Oh, the joys of parenthood.
Happy Birthday Honey, I love you with all my heart. You are growing up so fast...it would not hurt my feelings at all if you slowed down just a tad!
Love you with all of my heart,
Mom

ok, so here is Thing 2, still new to this whole blog thing, could nto figure out how to put them all on 1 post, maybe HRH's momma can help me on that one!lol

and here she is again...

and finally....

OK this is a short one, just wanted to put up some videos of Thing 1 &2 at their latest school events. The first is Thing 1 doing her Native American presentation and the rest are of Thing 2 at her schools winter concert...can you find her there? It is like my own Where's Waldo for you!

Enjoy!

Sorry about the MIA

Well, I know I have been horrible about keeping up with posting, but I have a great excuse! The family has been under the weather, and of course life gets in the way as well. I promise, today and/or this weekend, I will be adding new posts. There has been a bunch of craziness around here, and I can't wait to get the time to update you all!

News that makes me happy, I am so going to hell!

OK, so I should say right off the bat that I am not an evil person generally. Really I'm not! But have you ever come across someone in your life, who, for whatever reason, just pisses you right the f*** off? Well I have! It is weird too, because it is not like I have ever had any sort of lengthy conversation with said person, let's call them P from now on to make it easier! They just get on my nerves with their actions and attitude I guess. Frankly, if you think you are better than everyone else, guess what? You're not. Just because no one else feels the need to "flaunt" things to the entire world does not make you better than them. You do not know me. You have no idea what my educational background is! You do not know what jobs I have held or are currently holding. Know why? Because I do not flaunt such things to ANYONE let alone you. I am the bigger person. There is no need for snide remarks or gawking at other people when they are able to have a good time and you have a stick shoved so far up your ass that you can't actually relax. Guess what? I had no idea that I was that IMPORTANT in the grand scheme of things that you need to take pictures of US having fun, while you scratch your ass and watch us. Wow, didn't know I had that much interest! Here is what I have to say to that: GROW UP!

Then I find out, oh you're not as "cool" as you think we think you are! Yea that's right, people talk, and things get found out. Sucks don't it? Unfortunately for me, I AM THE BIGGER PERSON so I WON'T say anything to anyone. Can I say the same thing if the situation was reversed? Honestly, no I don't think I could. You, P, are the type of person who would go gossiping to every last person in your phone book to share this juicy information if the roles were switched. The sad thing is, I feel sorry for you. I genuinely feel bad for your current situation and I hope it gets better. Yes, and if you even asked for my help or guidance, I would offer what I could to assist you. Whatever, now I know that you are not what you think you are and that everything you are is smoke and mirrors. Live with that, and wonder why I am smirking when I see you.

Go Steelers!

Well I have to say, I am glad that this gets to be my first post into the world of blogging! I watched the game last night, and now I am so tired that I cannot even stand it! Being born and raised in Pittsburgh, football (especially Steelers football) is in my blood. Wish I could have been in town for the parties that I am are still going on even as I type this entry! I am so happy that the home team won! Very proud of our guys, they deserve it!
So, me and the hubby threw a Super Bowl party last night, had about 15 people over and ate ourselves silly, and drank ourselves blind! Why does the Super Bowl have to be on a Sunday? We have to get up early on Monday and go to work, the kids have to get off to school, and people have to travel. Would it not make sense that a huge sporting event as this could be an exception to the regular schedule and be held say Friday night? Hell, even Saturday Night? Makes sense to me! That way you can stay up all night partying away the night, and not have to worry about work or school, and just have a great time? I need to put that little tidbit of information into the ears of the powers that be! Wow, every once in awhile I get a great thought! Any who, back tot eh party...we had so much food it was crazy! Hot wings, pepperoni bread, ribs, chili, cheese fondue, chocolate fondue, chips and dips of many different varieties....and I completely forgot to even make the lil' smokies and Velveeta cheese dip! Mmmm, it was tasty and now we will be eating leftovers for a month! I went all out too. Got out my Super Bowl Box (yes I have one of those) and got out the beads and leis, crepe paper, balloons, clappers, terrible towels, pom poms...Everything completely decked out in black and gold. We even had a score poll and won $15 out of it too!
Needless to say I was very happy with it, had a great time with good friends, and to top it all off, the Steelers pulled it off and won the 6th ring to add to their collection! Way to Go Steelers!