wow... busy busy busy.  The last two weeks have been a blur.  With preparing for Ginger's yardsale (which went very well in my opinion) to moving Ginger, to unpacking, to preparing for my birthday festivities.  I'm quite ready to get back to normal now!  :)  The move went very well.  We were able to get almost all of her stuff out in the one day we had the Uhaul (I'd say about 98% of her stuff).  It took pretty much all day and it was really frackin hot out, but we did it and afterwards took a dip in her pool and went to Johnny Carrino's for dinner which Ginger paid for as a thank you for helping her move.  Josh even came out to help which was a pleasant surprise :D  She likes her new apartment very much and the fact that she's so close to me now makes things a whole lot easier!

I start softball today.  I'm excited to begin practices and even moreso to get my shirt :D  which will have Hellkitty as my name and my number is 137 (they're making an exception for me since most of the time the numbers are only two digits :)  I can't wait for the games to start ... I believe they start next week, I'll know more when I get my schedule tonight.

I have kind of slacked on my diet these last two weeks due to the fact that everything was so hectic.  I'll be returning to that this week and have my weekly update on Saturday.  I'll also be posting on Sparkpeople again which I also neglected over the last two weeks and I'm sure my teammates are pissed at me for not participating in the challenge I signed up for... :(  I feel bad about that but I'll make it up on the next challenge!! 

Work is going very well.  I have had several conversations with both Cindy (the key accounts manager) and Sarah (my Walgreens account manager) about me taking over Walgreens full time and becomming a Key Accounts Rep.  They want me over there now and are in the works to make that happen  :D  yay salaried position!  I'm hoping it will happen in the next month.  

Ginger is absolutely fabulous :)  She's been a real trooper through all of the recent changes she's had.  I'm sure she's also eager to return to normality.    I'm so glad we found each other, we're so good for each other.  I feel very supported and loved and I'm sure she feels the same :D

I know I was supposed to have this up on Saturday, but I know you'll all forgive me :)



Starting Weight: 230
Current Weight: 222
Loss this week: -8 !!
Total Loss: -22
Lbs til initial Goal: 12
Lbs til final Goal: 62
Goal for next week: -2 lbs.  
 
Well ... yeah um ... my body doesn't like fat apparently when I treat it well and give it what it deserves.  Somebody I spoke to recently said that I'm losing weight too fast.  Honestly I'm not sure how this is too fast since I'm doing everything I'm supposed to.  Most days I get at least 3 fruits and veggies and trying my best to consume at least 1200 calories (some days I'm just not 1200 calorie hungry)   I also have been working out at least once and more like twice a day through walks around the lake, treadmilling it, circuit training, dancing at the club every Saturday night :), and going to the pool.

I don't think I've told everyone about it but I'm also using a free site, sparkpeople.com, to track all of my nutrition and exercise stuff.  I joined a team called the Lesbian Cafe and we're in the middle of a challenge.  Basically every day we get a challenge and we get points for our teams for completeing the goals.  It's a really good informative site very similar to Weight Watchers but without the points.  Everyone on the team is very supportive and we all strive to motivate each other when we feel we need it.  To anyone that's needing something like this I highly recommend this site.

I started walking and it was semi sunny out.  I noticed, as I turned the corner at one of the main entrances of the lake, that the sky was black the way I was headed, I was 20 minutes into the walk so I figured I'd just keep going.  I had a conversation with the storm that went something like this:

Storm:  I'm gonna get you.
Me: Like hell you are!   GRRRR!

At this point I picked up speed.

As I turned the corner where the first big pier walkway started almost exactly opposite where I live, I saw huge bolts of lightning and the thunder was getting louder.  It was only about 6:40 but it looked much later than that because of the darkness the thick storm clouds had produced.  They slowly moved towards me as if to say, "You'd better run..."  I was pretty sure that if I got to the farthest edge closest to the storm and it wasn't raining yet I'd be alright.  

I walked faster tonight than I have since I started walking again.  I wasn't afraid of the rain, although it would've been very unpleasant to finish my walk in drenched clothes and sopping wet shoes.  I could handle that.  I could even handle the fact that my iPod, which was snug in it's little lycra clear plastic faced arm band, was probably going to end it's life tonight in a watery death.  There was no where I could've put it to keep it safe enough from the drenching rain I fully expected to strike at any second.  What bothered me was the increasingly closer strikes of lightning that cut the sky in half with their sheer power.  

I thought, "Perhaps I should find a small but full tree and hope that it isn't supposed to meet the tree reaper tonight."  Instead though I kept walking at the same pace.  My calves were burning I was walking so fast.  If it weren't for my horrible self consciousness when I jog I would have done just that.  The only people left on the trail were the runners and bikers.  All the walkers had scurried quickly back to their cars already.  "They're smart.  Why didn't I turn around again?" I thought.  Knowing when I got first glimpse of the storm it was a shorter distance the way I had come then where I was headed.  "Ah because it taunted me.  I can't let the storm win."

 I got to the point closest to the storm and there was no rain yet.  I sighed in relief and thought, "Perhaps my theory is right.  No rain, closest point, I should be able to make it home dry."  There was a clap of loud thunder shortly after I turned the corner and all I could think was, "I'm not that lucky." I strove to push my calves to their limits as they burned in protest to my increasing speed.  Two more small hills, a pier walkway and the incline back up to the apartment complex is all that stood in my way of winning this battle.  

At last in the darkness I saw the sign in front of the walkway that lead to the apartment complex.  I could only faintly make out the painted words reading Governor's Point on the dark green sign.  I turned the corner and slowed only slightly to go up the inclined walkway back to the parking lot and then up the hill to my apartment.  I could see my car.  Huge crashes of thunder were sounding off like cannon shots only a split second after the lightning would flash.  

I hopped onto the walkway leading to my stairwell and just as I reached the first small set of stairs into the alcove I felt a drop.  One single drop of rain.  I had beaten the storm.  Like a child I thought, "HA HA!  I beat you storm! You lose!"  I could tell it was angry.  As it started pelting the ground with more and more rain.  Standing there in the alcove watching the rain fall I was proud and satisfied. 

was totally frackin awesome!  I had a great time and I made it thorough with the pack!  Guess I'm not as out of shape as I thought lol.  It was probably the most satisfying thing I've done all year... The whole 7.2 miles took about 2 and a half hours.  I got to see Laine and a few others I recognized from the camping trip at Wrightsville Beach.  Afterward we had a picnic/cookout.  I, unfortunately, was not able to bring anything due to extreme lack of funding right now.  However I was able to snag a tofu dog and a water (which I had brought two bottles with me and a gatorade and drank them all hiking o.O) from people.  Everyone was extremely nice and I met everyone and spoke with a good four or five of them.   One of them was a massage therepist and was giving out massages so I couldn't say no :D  It's always good to make new connections and I hope to see them all again at the next event :D 

Tonight I'm going to see my coworker Sarah get a tattoo and then I'm off to Steel Blue for some dancy fun.  Hopefully I can drag West along and Theresa if she'll come. 

On a side note I got my new license plate today :)   Here it is:

After a rough night I was able to stick to my plan and get up around 6:15 (after going to sleep at around 1am).  I went to the gym at the complex this time instead of walking around the lake because I still haven't really figured out how much time it takes to walk around the lake (I believe it's about 2 miles).  So I warmed up on the treadmill and did a circuit on my legs (I hate universal machines but I'll just have to deal with it until I can get up with Jenn and mooch a guest pass off of her to her gym).  After that I did another 10 mins on the treadmill to cool down and then walked back to the apartment.  

I got home and did my now ritual making of the breakfast :)  Which consisted of a multigrain waffle with applesauce instead of maple syrup (tip stolen from Ginger), fake-eggs, a banana, and 8 oz. of Lemonade.  Had to force the last bits down since I haven't really felt like eating lately.  Topped it off with my multivitamin and then shuffled off to the shower.  

I'd say that's a pretty good morning.  I like it... going to continue with it but hopefully with more sleep from now on.  I think I'm going to shoot for getting to bed by 10:30 at the latest. 

I did realize that getting to sleep is much easier when you're not drinking ass loads of caffine everyday... which I choose to quit on Saturday.  

Recap... continuing on the quitting smoking front, doing physical activity daily, keeping the apartment spotless, eating a good breakfast, quit caffine... that should keep me well busy.  

Shaved my head last night too, here's a pic :)  :

That's my weekend so far :)  a good one I would say.  We all said goodbye to Sev last night as he is venturing off to the land of planet Houston to live closer to his girlfriend.  I hope things work out the way he wants them to ... I hope he doesn't return empty handed as so many people tend to do when the venture away from the Raleigh magnet.  Of anyone though I think he might be able to break the north south end attraction that so many people have an issue with. Good luck Sev.  

So here's a picture.... 

Okay now the "C" in picture... okay I went to the NC Museum of Art today at 9:45 am (a little late I was due to alarm clock and shower working isssues whilst hung over) I signed up to do Triangle Impact Day and I thought I was going to be mulching and planting and things of that nature since it was a "trail day".  Instead we took a massive mound of white sand and re-mixed the sand already in that C.  Also we painted the red border around it and pulled the weeds out around it so it could be nice and clear for planes, birds, supermen, and anyone else high enough to see it.  I think it looks 100% better and although my hands feel like they were scraped with a metal brush it was worth it to make this piece of art look a little better :)  Thanks kindlechanfor telling me about it!

Time for water, ibuprophen, and a nap and then it's off to dinner with kindlechanand who knows what after that with others possibly :D  it's wide open!

Week of May 8 - May 15


Starting weight: 215
Ending weight: 210
Change: -5
Total Change: -50 lbs
Lbs til goal: 32

I made it to 50 and still dropping. This increased *cough* activity *cough* has really helped ... in many ways. Also the fact that I'm not bloated is a plus! Still chuggin along. I plan that I will be below 200 in about a month. :D I think when music_likemercy comes back from her camping trip she'll be more motivated now that I'm getting closer :) So this means only 25 more lbs until leather pants time. If I keep this up I'll be in them by my birthday or maybe even sooner! :D

Do I need to explain? Well too bad. Just know that I'm being cryptic. A whole new world I have been wanting to enter for the last 10 years of my life is about to open up to me... tonight. I'm feeling like a sex depraved Tweek... with a dash of nervous :) It's refreshing, liberating, and confining all in the same feeling. I like it >:)

Week of May 1 - May 8


Starting weight: 218
Ending weight: 215
Change: -3
Total Change: -45 lbs
Lbs til goal: 37

Well I had gained three lbs last week and I forgot to post my weekly progress lol I'm back to where I was two weeks ago though and I'll be progressing with avengence now. With all the physical activity I'll be doing I'm sure to drop at least 3 lbs a week. Let's not tell doc about it ... I don't want to gain back anymore :)

I just got pulled aside by my manager. Apparently they are now monitoring and evaluating calls that we receive. I got a wow factor on my call this morning! :) Everything on my little sheet was consistent and my manager said that her boss walked by during the call and she had to tell her about it :D She even wrote in all caps (lol she wrote in all caps) that I did and excellent job :) It's like getting a gold star in kindergarten but it makes me feel faboo :) Kudos for me and my awesome phone voice right? :) They love me ... they really really love me!

W00t! I just totalled everything up and I was able to get $220 bucks from my coworkers for the Aidswalk on Saturday! With my ten dollars that means a grand total of $230, $30 over my already raised goal of $200! :) I love the people I work with!

Well I just checked my email and low and behold there was the rejection from the CRG.  I expected it... don't get me wrong I was about half and half on everything and I had only been skating for two days after two years of not even looking at my skates.  I'm just glad I got to see what the tryouts were like and also see that I can do almost everything that's required.  I know I need to work on balancing on my right foot, turning, and skating backwards.  I also just need to rebuild the strength in my legs and abs in order to do the stationary exercises like they are meant to be done (without toestops or using my hands :)  All in all even with the rejection I'm feeling good about the tryouts because I was the biggest one there yet I was mid pack most of the day.  Next tryouts are in July.  Two and a half months of training five days a week should bring me up to CRG speed by then.  

BTW whomever thought to cover the walls in a skating rink with carpet is an asshat and should be burned at the stake.  Never have I felt the pain of rug burn until I felt the aftermath of running into the damn carpeted wall at a speed of about 25 miles an hour.  I took off the skin on the fingertip of my pinky and my right bicep  looks like it's been shredded.  I wear my warwounds with pride.

The rest of my weekend was faboo too.  Went to the G'boro to visit with J and B.  We had fun with the Jose, Jim Beam, and Absolut last night and oh happy day none of us woke up with hangovers :)  Next time I visit it's going to be rematch time at Warlord (very old Atari game) with B.  Don't feel like I pwned him enough :D  Got to see B's parents farm.  Huge tracts of land!  Very cool mushroom patch they have... I learned a little about how to grow mushrooms.  Also got to see K and G a bit also.  J made a very tasty breakfast with omelettes, home fries, grits and strawberries.  All in all a most enjoyable visit :)

Think I'm going to throw some laundry in the wash and take a shower before Josh comes over to go to dinner.  I'm feeling a bit rundown though... maybe I should just wait and take that bath I was talking about later.  I could use some hot water on my aching muscles...

All I can say is ouch.  My left leg feels like... fuck it I'm too tired to make similes it just fuckin hurts.  Skated for the first time in over a year tonight.  For an hour.  Methinks I should've been skating since I found out about the try outs two weeks ago... *sigh* why don't I ever do things the right way?  lol  Josh is going to come skating with me tomorrow and then I'll be alone again on Friday night... unless I can convince him to come out with me again.  Three days of training is not enough... I'm not going to make it but I'll try my best.