Better late than never

And in late breaking news, it appears that I actually do remember my password to blogger and will not turn to stone if I get on the computer at home. Seriously though, I have no idea what my problem has been. I write page long posts on my way to work, but just don't seem to find the motivation to get on the computer once I get home.

I'd say it's because there's nothing to write about, but if there's one thing my family is good for, it's providing content. I mean, I could have posted about the beeping noise I walked in to when I got home last night. You know, THAT beeping noise. The one that sinks your stomach and elicits an, "Oh shit!" as you walk up the stairs. The one that has you praying that you haven't lost the entire contents of the freezer and are willing to sacrifice the fridge if someone has to take one for the team. Indeed, luck was on my side. Not only was the fridge safe, but the house didn't burn down from the coffee pot that was left on all day. This was about the time I turned around scanning the room for the next potential money suck asking "Seriously" in disbelief, a la Grey's Anatomy.

It's amazing how marriage changes you. Things that would drive me insane if someone else did them, I can somehow laugh off when Clint is the mastermind. Logic I never thought possible has become one of my first instincts. Not out of agreement mind you, more out of survival and preparation. After not even two years of marriage the whole scene played out in my kitchen without even a word of explanation from my dear husband. The scarier thing is that I think I have a better idea of what went on that morning than he does.

Consider the line crossed

I'm not even really sure where to begin. I'm so appalled that this is even being debated in our highest court. Earlier today I heard on the radio about a court case where they were weighing the legality of ordering a school age student to comply with a strip search under the suspicion of drug possession. Now at first I was just shocked, but after reading this article, I just shook my head in disbelief. Seriously???

How could any school system, and any court house think that it's okay to order a minor child to a strip search without the presence of their parent? After not finding the prescription Ibuprofen in the girl's purse based on the accusation of ONE of her schoolmates, their logical next step was a humiliating strip search as opposed to say searching her locker, or corroborating the story with other students. Clearly they've been watching too much TV.

I mean seriously, if you're that concerned about keeping drugs out of school, and are so certain that this girl is in possession of the drugs, call the effing cops! If you're not at that point, expel her. Under no circumstances should a school system decide that they have the authority that a police officer doesn't even have without bringing a suspect into the station. And to execute this without her parents present. She was a MINOR. Cops can't even talk to minors without their parents. Again I ask, SERIOUSLY???

And yet here we are, hearing the case for at least the third time, debating where the line in the sand is that school systems can't cross in their effort to maintain a zero tolerance environment.

Guess what, the line was effing crossed.

Fatty, Baby Girl, Wiggle Butt, Tessie

The most accurate of all is wiggle butt. As in, I have no tail to wag therefore my entire ass end must make up for it. It's these greetings at the top of the stairs that can make any bad day, or crappy commute melt away. She reaches this uncontrolable level of excitement that just sends her into her horizontal happy dance.

She's also called smush face because well that's what bulldogs are. And Ms. Talkie talk because that's what she does when you're not paying enough attention to her. I've never had a dog that actually talked and interacted with me to the extent that she does. She's demanding and jealous, and just bats her pretty little eyes at you when she knows she's pushing your limits. Everything the stereotypes sa that a little sister is. Every toy Riggo plays with is her new abosolute favorite and must be hers RIGHT NOW.

But as sweet as that little face is, she's also our guard dog, our protector, and lioness. Who needs ADT when Tessie will bark and growl with the bite of an animal twice her size. In her small little head she's the king of the mountain and no one can stand in her way.

For all your expensive allergies that I'm still not sure we're at the bottom of, you're extremely low maintenance in all other aspects of life. You're favorite treat is an ice cube fresh from the freezer. Favorite toy is a rousing game of keep away/fetch with a regular old tennis ball. Weekend morning activity is hoppng in to bed with us just to fall back asleep in the crook of a knee or make shift valley of covers between us.

You not only enjoy the simple pleasures in life, but remind me of them too. I appreciate everything better through your eyes.

Tweet!!!

Six Margaritas into a Friday night and my dear husband finally convinced me to join twitter. He wasn't trying all that hard, but I tend to get chatty when I drink and suddenly our facebook status update chat wasn't cutting it. We created a virtual happy hour of updates and comments with friends, and the next thing I knew, I had an account. Who knows where this will go when I sober up. Could just be a drunk thing kinda like drunk dialing. Likely to be entertaining for those that can appreciate good drunken status updates.

On that note, we're on to some Rockband... Alabama getaway, getaway....Alabama getaway, getaway......

Biggest Loser Family Challenge Weigh-in #3

And the winner is.......Team Monkey! To say that I'm relieved is an understatement. That's one more pound in our corner for the big pay day. I can't wait to be lying on a sunny beach drinking frozen adult beverages on someone else's dime.

Team Monkey: 418.6 - 411.4 = 7.2 = 1.72%
Team P: 459.0 - 464.0= +5 = +1.09%
Team F: 552 - 547.0 = 5 = 0.91%
Team L: 429 - 430.4 = +1.4 = +0.33%

Despite the numbers, I'm still totally slacking. Stress is still an issue, and I'm working on finding a way to deal better with that. Right now lack of exercise and indulging in food seem to be my answer. Then again, that seems to be my answer to a lot of things. Kinda like old reliable, it just feels so good, how could it possibly be wrong. This is one of those head versus heart things that my ass (literally) just is not wining right now.

Finally, a break through!

I've been waiting for this... I've been needing this... I was wondering when it was going to happen...

Back when I went to the gym on a regular basis I remembered really enjoying my workouts. They gave me clarity and peace. It was my me time, and no one was allowed in. I would run or swim and just zone out from whatever was going on in the world. I missed that feeling. It's hard enough knowing what you need to do to get to the end game you want. It's worse when you know that you're the only one getting in your way.

If you had asked me earlier tonight if today was a win or a loose, it was a big fat loose. There had been extra catering today at the office and not only did I eat way too much of that, I did it after having already eaten the healthy lunch I had packed for myself. I felt fat, I felt gross, I felt sick. For a good hour I kept telling my officemate how ill I felt. When would I learn? On the ride home I was exhausted but forced myself to go to the gym. I knew if I could just get into the locker room and get my clothes on I would at least make it through the workout. Did I mention how sick I still felt?

I started off with my warm up. bleh. Dragged my ass upstairs for my stretching. eh. Crawled my way through the circuit room. Should I still be burping hours later? Finally an end was in sight and I just had to make it through my cardio. All of the ellipticals with the TVs were taken (of course they were!), so I decided to hop back on the treadmill. Given my weight, and the early arthritis in my knee, I'm still walking on the treadmill instead of running. To increase my workout I adjust the incline every five minute and walk at a 3.6 mile. As I start to adjust I bump up my starting incline. Tonight as I got to the 20 minute mark I was feeling surprisingly good (especially given that I wanted to vomit in the circuit room). At 25 minutes when I hit my max incline, my arms were pumping and I was on a roll. At 30 minutes I could have gone another 30. What the hell was this? Why wasn't I counting down the last few seconds and contemplating lowering the incline. I knew this feeling. I LOVED this feeling. I was really enjoying myself again.

I can't wait to go to the gym tomorrow!

Biggest Loser Family Challenge Weigh-in #2

And the winner is.......Team F! They're doing great. If this had only been a two month challenge there would have been hundredths of a percent separating our two teams.

Team Monkey: 423.2 - 418.6 = 4.6 = 1.09%
Team P: 455 + 459 = +4 = +0.88%
Team F: 567 - 552 = 15 = 2.65%
Team L: 438 - 429 = 9 = 2.05%

Well, this month wasn't stellar for me personally. I caught myself stress eating a lot, and making excuses for not working out. I made it to the gym at least twice a week (probably averaged about 3 times) but really that's pretty pathetic for me. I need to recharge, I need to de-stress, I need to focus. Part of the problem has been alcohol. While I don't call hanging out with our friends a problem, I don't necessarily need to drink as much as I am when we do it. My goal for the next month is to regain control.