Updates

I lost another 1.6 pounds this week. Although I was hoping for a little more, I'm still very excited because that brings me to 12.6 for my 3 week total. I won't complain about that.

And just so you know...we did end up having school yesterday (didn't get the predicted snow), but we did have a 2 hour delay due to the low windchills. As I always say...you gotta love a 2 hour delay! :-) The weathermen are predicting another big storm (4-8 in. of snow with wind) to come in after midnight tonight. I'm hoping for a day off tomorrow. If I get it, I'll be sure to let you know. :-)

Exercising

Well...so far so good. I started to get back on track with my exercise last week (I'm thinking my Weight Watcher week which begins on Fridays...just so you know). I went to the gym both Monday & Tuesday - that was when I nearly killed myself. :-) But...this week has been much better (both in the number of days & how I'm feeling) because I went to the gym Friday, Saturday, Monday and tonight (which is Tuesday). I'm also planning on going tomorrow after school (if we have it...supposed to be getting some bad weather). Five out of seven days is pretty good. Hopefully it'll start showing on the scales as well. :-)

Update

Yesterday I went to the gym and made sure to keep my workout at the moderate level. It amazed me the difference. Instead of feeling like I was killing myself, I actually felt good! My only problem...I was up at 6:00 a.m. this morning! And keep in mind...today is SATURDAY!

Weight Watcher Update

I lost 2.4 pounds this week bringing my total to 11 pounds. I'm very happy with that, and it hasn't been too bad. My only "struggle" has been with exercise so I asked about it tonight. Believe it or not...I've been working out too hard. My leader said that the target heart range for fat burning is in the middle rather than at the top. I've been really pushing myself to get my heart rate at the top (cardiovascular level) thinking I was doing more good. But according to her, you actually burn less fat at that level.

So...I'm going to try that this week and see if that solves my problems. I'll keep you all updated. :-)

Kitchen Catastrophe

The term "catastrophe" may be a bit strong, but it was a night when I'd have been better off not cooking. :-) Are you ready for this?

The evening began around 9:00 p.m. when I began to make my appetizers for my meetings today (everyone was supposed to bring one or two). I decided to do sweet & sour weenies (a favorite in my family) but take a healthy spin on it. So...I paid a little more to get turkey hotdogs and skinless, low cal sausage and began to cut it up. My plan was to put all of the ingredients in a Ziploc bag (hey Jane...can't imagine why I thought of you!). :-) After the meat was in the bag, I added the mustard & grape jelly. Then I had the bright idea to zip the bag & mix everything up so it was ready to go. All was going well until the bag opened, and over a cup of the mixture spilled out onto my carpeted kitchen floor. What a mess!

So...at 9:30 p.m. I'm in my kitchen spot cleaning the floor with my little shampooer. It took a bit but appeared to be working (although I'll have to do something else because now that it's dry you can see each spot where the jelly fell). After I was finished, I had to clean the machine and finish my original job. I transferred the meat into a different bag, sealed it tightly, and then put it in the fridge.

Then it was on to my second appetizer - a creamy taco dip. I had planned ahead and set the cream cheese out so it was soft. I was so proud of myself! :-) So...I cream the cheese until it's smooth, and the parsley flakes, and then prepared to add the taco seasoning. As I went to open it, I noticed that there was a lot of it at the top so I tapped it a few times to try & knock it down in the package (something I've done before & always saw my mom doing while growing up). However, things didn't go quite as planned. On the third "tap", the center of the package opened sending taco seasoning flying through the air. It went everywhere! And if you've used it before, you know that it's a bit moist...not necessarily dry. So...it was in my hair, all over my face, and clumped on my glasses. I could barely see out of my right lens. I'm telling you...it was EVERYWHERE!

At this point, it was after 10:00 p.m., and I was in no mood so I finished my dip and called it a night. I'll clean it up later!

Snow in the Carolinas

On Thursday, my family woke up to see something they aren't used to...snow. Mom was so excited because she misses snow (although she doesn't miss the cold). Harrison was also very excited to go out and play in it, but they were getting freezing rain so Marsha told him he had to wait until it stopped raining. You can imagine how difficult this was for him. So...Marsha being the great mom that she is went outside & brought in a bowl full of snow for Harrison to play with. :-) He loved it until his hands became too cold.

Here's a picture of Harrison & Abigail outside with the snow.

Our All-Day Practice

This morning I was at Tim & Pam's house a little after 8:30 a.m. because Tim & I were headed to Ft. Wayne. Since we took the month of December off, Katie, Tim & I haven't sung together since the last Sunday of November, and we have our first concert of 2008 next weekend.

So...Ft. Wayne is nearly 1/2 way for us so the plan was to meet there and practice. Marla (one of Katie's friends) met us at her church (her dad's the pastor), and they let us use their building. We unloaded some of our equipment...set up...practiced for a couple hours...took a lunch break...practiced a couple more hours...tore down...loaded up the car...then made the trip back.

In all honesty, it was a great day. I really enjoy singing - especially with Tim & Katie so it was great to get together & spend a day like today doing what we like. It was very relaxing!

Weight Watchers

So...I've been doing some thinking and decided it was time for me to get back on track. I really need to take some more weight off - I want to feel more like "me". Last week I took the first step & joined Weight Watchers and am attending the meetings. My friend, Traci, and I are going together so that makes it a easier. I also found out that some others are going - the more the merrier! :-) I weighed in at yesterday's meeting and had lost 8.6 pounds my first week! WooHoo! The first week is usually a bigger number so I won't continue to lose at that rate, but that was a great kick start.

When I was on WW before, I was always successful with it. It's a program that makes sense to me...I can still eat what I like, I just have to be smart about when & how much. If I want a Filet-O-Fish meal from McDonald's, I just have to save the points by making smart decisions the rest of the day (that's what I did this past week...was craving a fish sandwich so I had it). I can't do those diet where you have to deprive yourself of certain foods (which would technically mean that you should deprive yourself of those foods the rest of your life in order to keep the weight off??? No thank you!).

So...I'm on my new adventure. Now I just have to get back into the routine of working out (that's step #2).

A Sigh of Relief

Last night was my winter program, and it was such a relief to finally have it done & over with. This year was especially trying (I won't go in to the details in order to protect the guilty parties), but...it went off without a hitch, and the parents loved it. Now...I get to enjoy a 3-day weekend thanks to Martin Luther King Day. Yet another perk of being a teacher. :-)

My Heart

For some reason, God made me with a heart that's tender and very emotional. At times I've appreciated that, but at other times it's led to heartbreak & hurt. During those times, I wish I was stronger and not so emotional. But...I've also come to realize that my weaknesses have led me to be the person I am today, and I know God placed a tender heart in me for a purpose.

With that being said, I'm struggling tonight. I don't want to go into details (it's a matter of the heart), but as I was reading my book, I came across a line that pertained...while my heart may be aching or confused, I should thank God for breathing new life into it. My heart has been dormant the past several months, and the "new life" has been refreshing despite the mixed emotions.

So...at this point, I'm going to thank God. I'll thank Him for the breath of new life. I'll thank Him for giving me a tender heart. I'll thank Him for giving me great friends & family. And...I'll thank Him for giving me a sister with great advice. :-)

I'm Still Alive! :-)

My friend, Ralph, pointed out this weekend that I hadn't posted in over a week. Sorry for the lapse in information, but I've not been feeling the best so I've been taking it easy & spending quite a bit of time in bed. There's not much to tell, but just wanted to let you know I'm still here.

New Year's Eve

I usually go home after dad's birthday, but we have a longer break this year so I decided to stay. So...dad took mom & I out for supper and then to a movie (I would not recommend "I am Legend" if you're wondering). When we got back, we watched some football & tv. They actually even stayed up 'til midnight with me! :-)

The Weather

It has been cooler, and we've had several days of rain (we actually got over an inch the other day...raised the lake approx. 6 in.). But...here's a picture of Harrison & I on one of the beautiful days. It was in the 60's, and I had to go buy a short sleeved t-shirt because I was too hot. :-) It was rough!

Lake Wylie

Saturday morning, I asked mom & dad to drive me out to Lake Wylie (one of my favorite spots to watch boats & the water). They've been telling me how much things have been affected by the drought, but I wanted to see it for myself. Here are some pictures that show what I saw.

Here's a picture that shows one of the boat launches. Normally they are bustling with activity - especially on a beautiful day like Saturday, but today they were barricaded so no one can put their boats in. They figure the lake is between 6-8 feet below the normal level.




This is a picture of some of the boat docks by T-Bones (a restaurant on the lake where you can dock your boat & go in for a great meal). If you look close you'll see how slanted the docks are because they are lying on the dirt bottom of the lake. Normally the docks are floating high on these posts.



The final picture is of some boats that have been dry docked. Many of the homes around Lake Wylie have private boat docks, but these boats are unable to move now that the water is so low.

The Next Few Days...

On the 26th, Harrison, mom & I made the 3 hr. trip down to Goose Creek, SC to pick up Maurine after she got off work that night. Before we brought her home, mom took down her Christmas tree. After the 3 hr. trip back to Charlotte, we got back to mom & dad's house around 12:45 a.m. Although we were ready for bed, the night wasn't over yet because we had to have Christmas with Maurine. :-)

Friday was dad's birthday. That morning, we got up & went to breakfast at Ihop. Harrison was so excited because he told the waitress it was papa's birthday so they came out singing & gave him a sundae. If you know my dad, you know he was less than thrilled with this, but he took it well. :-) I made us supper that night, and I made a carrot cake for his birthday treat. Marsha brought Abigail over so Maurine could see her. They also came over on Saturday, and we all went out that evening to have supper to celebrate dad's birthday.

Thinking back I can't think of anything else that happened the rest of the week, but mom & I were talking about how busy we felt we've been.

Christmas Day

The plan was for me to sleep under the tree on Christmas Eve, but he decided we should sleep in our bed (must admit that I greatly appreciated that decision). So there I was sleeping soundly when he woke me up because it was time to get everyone up to open presents. I picked up my cell phone to check the time. Wanna guess? It was 2:30 a.m.! :-) I tried to convince him it wasn't time yet, but he was not easily convinced - I got him to watch cartoons instead (I knew he'd fall asleep). But...that meant that I had the tv on the rest of the night (evey time I tried to shut it off he would wake up) and Harrison woke me nearly every hour to see if it was time yet. :-)

I finally let him start waking everyone else up at 6:30 a.m. We had a very nice Christmas together, and Abigail loved opening her gifts. She thought the tissue paper was the best! My big gift was a digital camera & printer dock from mom & dad. I can't wait to get home & start using it (decided to not open it all up so it's be ready for the flight home).

For lunch, our friends Miguel & Norma came over, and we were able to visit with them for a while. After lunch, Marsha, Jerry & Abigail headed home because Jerry's son & daughter-in-law were coming for supper.

Later that evening, mom, dad, Harrison & I made the 90 min. drive to their house so we could see them open their gifts. Then it was the trip back home (with Harrison in tow).

Although it seemed like a very busy day, it was nice. The only thing that would have made it better would have been to have Maurine with us. Unfortunately she had to work both Christmas Eve & Christmas Day.

Christmas Eve

I have been trying to send some pictures from my camera, but I've been experiencing some problems. Sorry it's taken me so long, but this (and the next few that follow) will update you on how things have been going here & what we've been up to.

This picture is of Harrison, Abigail & me (AKA Aunt Chelle) on Christmas Eve at church.



Marsha, Jerry, Harrison & Abigail came to mom & dad's place on Christmas Eve so we could attend the Christmas Eve service together. It was a beautiful service, and we had a great time together.

On the way home from church, Santa made his usual phone call to my cell phone to talk to Harrison and let him know his stocking was filled. He was so excited! :-) I love being the aunt with "connections"!

That night found the girls & Harrison going to look at Christmas lights while the men stayed home (and ended up falling asleep).