Blow out the candles, Robert, and make a wish. *Want* something!

Want *something*!

"Thank you so much for the invitation, but I'm afraid I've already made plans for that night.  I would love to get together another time, though."

"I'm sorry, but something came up and I'll be unable to make it.  Maybe we can get together another time?"




These two statements aren't that hard to say.  Learn them, and use them before you end up on everyone's list of inconsiderate guests.

I warn all my animal loving friends ahead of time... there is real, caught on tape squirrel carnage and death. But, if you can handle it, you've got to see this! A real tv show!

A little over a month ago, Joey and I decided that we both need to get in shape.  We made a friendly wager, and we both actually stuck to it.  So I got a fancy computer program to help track what I eat, a handy little pocket sized book to calculate calories, have started working out and have stopped drinking soda (for the most part).

Today, I spent over an hour on the treadmill for a total of 2.7 miles at 2.5-3.5 miles per hour (all at varying inclines) and burned (if the treadmill doesn't lie to me) 600 calories.

Yesterday, an hour on the treadmill, and 15 minutes of weight machines (my arms are killing me today).

Sunday, Joey came over for a gym date and I did 20 minutes of treadmill, 10 minutes of stationary bike, and we swam for 45 minutes.


The payoff of the last month of changing my entire life? 


I have learned that:
- I can lose weight WITHOUT starving myself thankyouverymuch.  I'm just watching portion sizes and filling up on things like fresh fruit and whatnot.
- I like asparagus and orzo.
- You can eat out and still eat reasonably.  (McDonald's grilled chicken Asian salad with only 1/2 of the dressing packet is PERFECT!)
- Unsweetened Iced Tea is amazing to sip all day.
- 100 calorie snack packs are worth the price.
- If you want chocolate, eat the chocolate.  If you deny yourself, you'll just eat 3 other things before coming back and eating the chocolate anyway.
- If you drink water when you think you're hungry, half the time you find out you were really just thirsty.
- I FEEL better when I eat well!
- I SLEEP better when I eat well!
- There are always low calorie alternatives!  i.e.  Pam instead of Olive Oil, Cool Whip instead of Whipped Cream.
- I should have listened to Melissa about Skinny Cow ice cream years ago. (seriously 50 calorie fudge pops!)
- My health is worth any price tag.


The results?
- I've lost 13 lbs in just over 30 days.
- I now officially wear a size smaller shirt.


Do I have a set goal weight?  No.  I've found that I'm not as large as you would think someone my weight would be.  I've got a lot of muscle and that throws off a lot of things.  I have more of a goal to be a nice and curvy, but TONED size 12-14.  If I get there and decide to keep going, maybe I will.  But I don't WANT to be a size 6... I like curves too much (on me and on others).

One of my biggest goals right now?  That by the time my costumes are made for Assassins, they need to be sized down.


Well, it's time to go cook dinner.  Grilled chicken in the George Foreman, Mushroom wild rice, and a fresh salad with Asiago Peppercorn dressing. (560 calories total if you're curious.... which leaves me plenty of room for Skinny Cow!)

Amazing silliness!

for some reason, i think my Cedar Crest girls will be amused. i'm not sure why... and that scares me a little.

Heather's parents are amazing...  they drove down for just one day to bring us (and buy us) furniture.

We have decided the following:
- There are not enough BBQ restaurants in Connecticut.  Mr. Timberman must remedy this.
- Nifty Fifty's has the best vanilla rootbeer float I have ever tasted. (OK, it's the FIRST vanilla root beer float I've ever tasted, but they make it with VANILLA ROOT BEER.  How cool is that?)
- Sugar in the cornbread is not of God.
- I like Zach Braff (but not in a gay way).
- It really annoys us that some of Target's microwaves have "Baby Milk" as a pre-set button.  Like you're going to have company over one night and ask your guests "Does anyone want any hot Baby Milk? My microwave has a button to press just for hot Baby Milk! I've got cute baby, chubby baby, and ugly baby with bad eyesight... I'd recommend the chubby baby, it has a rich nutty undertone that goes well with Bailey's."


We now have in our apartment:
- More dishes (always good)
- A dresser for Heather (so I can have mine all to myself again)
- A monkey bath mat (it looks similar to curious george.  When I get out of the shower, I am reminded of the meme that went around a few years ago with pictures of president bush and monkeys with the same expressions.  I really like wiping my feet on our new bathmat.)
- An awesomely cool red microwave that, although it does have "Milk" as a pre-set button, does not include the word baby, so therefore, it didn't annoy us.  Now we can just offer you hot milk when you come to visit us. Or we could bring our super-cool microwave to visit you, but that would just be silly.  So you'll have to come to us.  (Don't worry, I'll bring the milk.  We have a drive through dairy nearby... )




Mr. and Mrs. T have also provided us with a new patio set for our balcony.  It's pretty.  And on sale right now.  Unfortunately, it's out of stock, so we're having lots of fun with our raincheck for now.

No use crying, talking to a stranger,
naming the sorrow you've seen
Too many bad times, too many sad times
Nobody knows what you mean

But if somehow you could pack up your sorrows
and give them all to me
You would lose them, I know how to use them
Give them all to me

No use rambling, walking in the shadows,
trailing a wandering star
No one beside you, no one to hide you
and nobody knows what you are

"Pack Up Your Sorrows" Mimi and Richard Farina







I want to learn to play the dulcimer, haunting and melodic...

sitting here, in our apartment, is a surreal experience.

the last year has been a time of transition, frightening, but promoting far more growth than I ever could have imagined.

I feel a need to walk around quietly repeating for my own hearing only, in a tiny Stitch voice,
"it is our apartment, it is small, yes, and broken... but good, still good."






tomorrow, ness leaves for camp, and heather and i will be alone for the next two months.
i want to rediscover who we are together

i also long for the company of old friends...  the road to here isn't that long...

So, if you've tried to call me at all over the last week, you've gotten a message of how my cell phone is dead.

Good News!  I've got a new one (at least a temporary one).

Still the same problem though, I lost everyone's numbers!  I'm slowly trying to find most of the numbers I had, but basically, if Heather or Joey doesn't have your number, then neither do I right now.

I'd love it so much if people could just send me a text message or call me or ANYTHING if they want me to have their number again.


Thanks!



(and wish me luck on my Income Maintenance Caseworker Test this week)

Just when I admit to myself that I hate living in the city (not my roommates, just the general feel of everything) (I love you Joey) and start making definite plans to head back up to the Lehigh Valley, THEN I get a job....

well, it's only temp for right now, and I can definitely use the money.  All plans are on hold for bit (until at least October, Ness my darling, which should work for you anyway), but we'll see where things go.

So, as of Tuesday morning, you'll all know a professional life-insurance underwriting administrative assistant....

Flooding sucks... nuff said.

This was not the recommended way to clean out the basement.

So, you all know that you want to see pictures of our new living accomodations... don't lie, we know you do.

I've decided to humor you all, if you want some luscious pictures, you're gonna have to trot your ass over to Flickr and see for yourself.


Karen and Heather's New Digs

Yeah...

so this is me.

In Philadelphia.

I'll write more when I stop being terrified.

It's been fun...
But now, it's time to move on.
See ya on the flip-side fuckers. Real life's calling.





Here in this diary, I write you visions of my summer
It was the best I ever had...
There were choruses and sing-alongs, and that unspoken feeling
Of knowing that right now is all that matters.

All the nights we stayed up talking
Listening to 80's songs,
And quoting lines from all those movies that we love
It still brings a smile to my face.

I guess when it comes down to it...

Being grown up isn't half as fun as growing up
These are the best days of our lives
The only thing that matters is just following your heart
And eventually, you'll finally get it right.

Breaking into hotel swimming pools,
And wreaking havoc on our world
Hanging out at truckstops just to pass the time
The blacktop's singing me to sleep.

Lighting fireworks in parking lots
Illuminate the blackest nights
Cherry Cokes under this moonlit summer sky
2015 Riverside, it's time to say goodbye.

Get on the bus, it's time to go!

Being grown up isn't half as fun as growing up
These are the best days of our lives
The only thing that matters is just following your heart,
And eventually, you'll finally get it right.

I try not to ask much on here, but it would really make me happy if you'd take 3 minutes and do this.

Personality Thing That You Should Do

Thanks,
That cute chick in B233

While watching "Growing Up Tiger" (a documentary about baby tigers)

Me: awww....
Heather: What?
Me: cuddling is important to their development
Heather: Of course, everybody needs cuddling.
Me: No, the TIGERS need cuddling.
Heather: Even tiger-people need cuddling.


(after a coughing fit)
Heather: You have tigers in your lungs, and if you get them out, you'll stop coughing.

There was one more... but neither of us can remember it...

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