Taking a break

I'm taking a break from tracking this week. Tracking every little thing I eat. I haven't been good at it for months now, and it shows in my lack of progress in the weight-loss arena (no, I don't get to be Glinda this year for Halloween, I'll just pull out my purple witches cloak and go from there). So I thought I would give myself a break. After about two days of not tracking. So I really just made it official. I can maintain this weight fairly easily without even trying. So why am I paying Weight Watchers to maintain my weight? We're coming up on a new session starting Monday, so this really is the time to give this some thought.

Pros of keeping with Weight Watchers

• Support Group. these people are amazing. Like J who came in starting at the middle of last year and has lost ove 150 lbs. B who has lost over 60 lbs--she started when I did three years ago, and while she hasn't made goal yet, if I'd followed her example I'd have lost 60 lbs by now too. Diana, our leader, is inspirational and motivating, and sends out a weekly email as well as keeping a blog (Thin Thinking, she's on my list).
• materials. I love stuff. They have trackers and books and snacks and worksheets and booklets and recipe books and all kinds of stuff. All designed to help you keep focused.
• eTools. They have an app for that. I can track on my iPhone, look up recipes, make meals, check out nutritional information at restaurants, just about anything.
• I did actually lose 15 lbs. When I followed the program. And I have kept it off for about three years.
• I do actually have better eating habits than I did, and I know what foods I really just need to not buy (potato chips--actually, just about anything with potatoes--bread, crackers--sensing a theme here?)
• My activity level is actually higher than it was three years ago.
  

Cons of staying with Weight Watchers

• Price. It does cost. It's about 80% cheaper than any other diet you can try (mostly because you eat all your own food, not theirs--they want you to eat normal food so it's easier to maintain once you reach goal). Once I reach goal and become a lifetime member, I won't have to pay anymore, but it has been three years of virtually no progress.
• I don't follow the program. I don't track, or rather, I track until I get home from work and then I eat constantly until bedtime. If I want something and I'm out of points for the day, and out of weekly points for the week, I just eat it anyway. This is the behavior I really need to change.
  
• No Mexican Mondays. My friends at work go to El Azteca for lunch on Mondays. My meeting is on Monday at lunchtime. Conflict!

Desire: I really do want to lose weight. Reasons for doing so (and yes, I do believe these ar ein order:

• Health reasons. I need to lose weight in order to be healthy and live well. Still not convinced I want to live to be 100, but living to 80 to be with my nieces and nephews and their children would be really nice. Plus that whole, "Run and not be weary, walk and not faint" thing is quite attractive.
  
• Clothes. I can never find cute clothes in my size, and when I do, I have to alter them because I'm 5'1" and the world isn't made for short fat people. Even petite sizes, while better, don't often come in big enough sizes.
• Sisters. Oh yes, really want to lose weight so they will tell me I look great. Is that sad or what?

So it seems fairly obvious what I need to do. Stick it out, track religiously, and maybe by Christmas there will be noticeable improvement. but meanwhile I have the weekend. I think I'm going to make cupcakes. With all the little lower-fat tricks, of course, but still!

Not just busy, FREAKING busy

I have been so freaking busy. Can I just tell you?

• Wicked at the Kennedy Center: went with friends from the Drama Club. It was so much fun. It was interesting to see a different interpretation, from a different director. Not sure I agreed with the choices that were made, but it could be that I just prefer the Broadway production. It was so fun to go with friends tho.


• "Ghost Story", the next in the Dresden Files series: Finally got it. Stupid Amazon didn't send it to me until TWO WEEKS after it was released. So all, and I mean ALL of my friends that are reading the series have finished it and I've barely started it. Because, of course, it showed up the one week when I had absolutely no time to read.
  


• Tech Week: Dress Rehearsals for Rumors. Plus two performances last week, and two more this weekend. If I didn't invite you, it's probably because there's some--ok, some significant--bad language in it. I got to edit my part so I don't say anything I'm uncomfortable with, but if it were a movie it would be rated R for language (yes, that kind of language, even though its not used in context). I'm only doing this because they needed help, and you know me, I'm a sucker for helping out when I can. I'm also doing the costumes, and those lame people. Everyone else involved in the props, sets, and production crew got a stupid thank-you note or flowers or something. I got a flower for being in the cast, but do they remember that I'm in charge of costumes and might like a thank-you card for that? All the nights I spent making dresses, trips to VA to find tuxedos? No, they don't. Stupid 20-year-old dumb girl-director anyway, and her stupid warm-up exercises. [addendum: the girl doing the posters/programs didn't get a thank-you card either. Maybe we should stage a revolt]



• American Idol Concert: went with Tess to B'more to see this. It was a great show. So much fun. I love James!! Truly, the others are all really talented, but James is the only one who knows instinctually how to work a crowd. I hope he goes far, I just love him. I love Haley and Pia and even Casey too (as evidenced by the autographed pictures I now have of all four), but after the concert James is my favorite.



• Performances of Rumors: Both went really well last weekend. There's something really energizing about having an audience in the theater. Katie, who plays Chris, is so funny. Jeff, who plays Lenny, is really hilarious as well. It's really funny. We've gotten so many compliments; everyone did a simply amazing job. Now it's up to us to do it again this weekend.



• Film Festival: two of my Drama Club friends were in a short film, the screening of which was last night. So we went into Eastern Baltimore (just before the neighborhood turns bad) and watched 11 short films (4-9 minutes long). My friends' film was the last one. It will be up on YouTube later today. Dating Advice in the Apocolypse. Zombies, no women, one guy who just wants a girlfriend, and another guy who gives him advice. It was great. My favorite was probably the one that was a Firefly fan-film. Zoe and Mal and how they first met. Several of the other films dealt with death and odd aspects of death, but probably the other favorite was Corporate Stiffs--a training film all about how to include 'Revenent Americans' in the workforce (aka zombies) As a clue, you are no longer allowed to say, "pick your brain" :) Here's the link to the film my friend is in: Dating Advice

Other than that, work's been pretty slow for me. I have some superviser stuff I need to do as performance reviews are coming up, but it shouldn't be too bad. I have no problem children in my section. Church has been, well, just kinda there. I've been promised a release from one of my callings (I have three, remember, plus Visiting Teaching, and my companion just moved so I've no help there either), and they have someone approved, but that person has to come back from vacation first.

I've been feeling a lot out of sorts lately, probably due to lack of sleep and constantly running my lines in my head. Jeff will steal them if I'm not fast enough. Tuesday I couldn't find my key and badge for work, so had a big LOSER badge on all day long. Turns out it was in my car, between the pasenger seat and the door, where I can't see it from the driver's seat. Should'a just stayed home that day, I think. All I really want to do is go home and read my book, but I'm doing gifts for our wonderful director and production staff (the 'wonderful' is only sarcastic for the director), and then it's time to do costumes for the next project, which we're dry-running next week. Yay. No sleep for Julia. Remember, I had no intention of being in Rumors, just doing costumes. And when the production assistant was unavailable to help the production manager I stepped in to help her. I have got to stop volunteering for stuff. It's making me crazy. But I do feel better now that I've vented a little.

On the Grid

Saw TRON: Legacy last weekend. You know, it occured to me last night as I was waiting to fall back asleep, that our current society has been influenced by the original TRON. After all, how many times do we talk about being "on the grid" or "off the grid"? That came from TRON. Interesting, huh? Also saw Chronicals of Narnia (again, for movie reviews, see sidebar). I really liked them both. Here's hoping when TRON:Legacy comes out on DVD, the original will too.

Preparations for Christmas have been consuming me lately, but I think I'm almost done. Still need to do my Christmas Cards and letters--I've been considering just sending cards this year. I just can't think of what to say for my Christmas letter.

Friday Night I went with my friend and her kids to see the Symphony of Lights in Columbia. They have all these figures set up with lights throughout the Merriweather Post Pavillion. The kids were so thrilled to see all the lights, especially the 2-year-old. Christmas is so much better with children!

Saturday night I went to the Helicon Concert in Towson (north of Baltiomore). Three guys, one on Hammered Dulcimer or fiddle (Ken Kolodner), one on guitar, piano, citar or other stringed instruments (Robin Bullock), and one on flute, small bag pipes, or other 'toot'ed instruments (Chris Norman) playing seasonal music--not just Christmas, but also for Winter Solstice and even some Hannekah. Ken's son Brad played with them this year on a couple of their songs, playing a banjo and another instrument I didn't catch the name of. It's always a good concert, and puts me in the Christmas spirit. My friend K promised to put it on her calendar for next year (Dec 17, 2011).

Last night was amazing. We had a Lunar Eclipse. It is also the Winter Solstice today. This convergence of events hasn't happened for centuries--since Galileo was alive. My friend M assures me that it will happen again this century (2094). Not sure I plan on being around for that, though. Here's a picture or two from my iPhone (didn't turn out very well, but consider the source)

This last one I tried to zoom in, so it's really on it's side. I suppose that, even though the moon was red, it was still eclipsed so the pictures wouldn't be all that great to begin with. Not a lot of light. Except for the street light behind me. Why did they have to fix it so soon! It was out for a few days, I could have waited a little longer for it to be fixed!

I did go out in my backyard for a while where my house blocks the street light, but my Kitty wouldn't come out with me--not because it was cold (she went out in the front of the house with me) but because she'd have to pass through Ani's territory. I tried to get her, but she didn't want me to do that either. Oh well. Silly Kitty. While there, I picked some rosemary for the dinner I'm making today (crock-pot). I wonder if it's significant to pick rosemary under the light of an eclipsed full moon? Probably not.

They're calling for snow on Saturday. Yes, Christmas Day. It should be beautiful, but I'm not sure I'd be willing to travel down to my friend's house in NoVA if it does. Too many crazies on the road, even on a holiday.

So far I've watched Holiday Inn and White Christmas, on AMC. I also caught most of "The Major and the Minor" with Ginger Rogers. Very fun. A little weird having a 30-year-old pretend to be 12 (she only had half-fare for the train), but as the narrator said, audiences were more generous back then (it was made in the 30's, pre-war). Hey, C, there's another movie for you!

Geotagging and snow

How cool is it that our phones can tell everyone where we were when we took a picture with it? Well, after the article I just read, not so cool. Turns out that between facebook or other social networking sites, pictures we take with our phones, and even just using our phones, people can figure out exactly where we are, what our patterns are, and essentially stalk us without us even knowing. Finding out where we live and when we're not home. So that's a little creepy. Here's the link: http://nyti.ms/917hRh Kinda glad I have that home security system now.

I was informed of this from our security people at work, a presentation sent out to tell people not to give away so much information! So I'm doing my civic duty and telling all my friends.

Ironically, I got an email the other day about how kids would go outside and play all day long back in the 'good old days'. Well, these may not be the 'bad new days', but there's so much more out there we need to be aware of. Not afraid of, mind you, just aware of. I think it's ok for my phone to know where I am when I'm trying to get somewhere else, but maybe not so much when I use the facebook app...

In other news, it's snowing. And apparently the schools have started closing. Hmmm, to night would be a good night to go shopping, no one will be in the stores... but there will be no milk, toilet paper, or bread. Good thing I stocked up on Monday then, huh? I forsee toasted cheese sandwiches and soup in my future...

four-two-four

Four days off to go to CA, two days at work, and then another four days at home... being sick. Yuck. Pretty sure I caught it on the plane coming home. Well, if you have to be sick, Conference weekend is probably the weekend to do it, I think. I had nothing else planned, and since I'd already set up the dvr to record conference, I didn't feel too bad when I slept through part of it. The cat was happy I was home. Well, one of them. I'm afraid it's going to take Ani a while to get used to me again.

The one talk that really made an impression was the one on additctions. This may be a little TMI. I'm not addicted to drugs or alcohol or pornography, no, I'm addicted to ordinary things. Food. Solitaire games on the computer. TV shows. I have got to work on these things.

The good news is, my tv schedule for this new fall season is fairly reasonable. except for the ones that are all on at the same time.

Monday I record: House, Chuck, Mike&Molly, Castle, and Hawaii 5-0. So far, loving all of them. I plan on watching Dancing with the Stars on my other tv upstairs but that hasn't happened just yet.

Tuesday I record: No Ordinary Family, NCIS, Lie to Me, Raising Hope, The Good Wife. I may watch Glee upstairs as well, but I'm not sure about that. Glee has some good moments, but every time I watch it there's some really horridly suggestive routine going on and I just can't handle it.

Wednesday I record: Undercovers and The Defenders. Yup, that's right, only two shows. Amazing, isn't it?

Thursday I record: The Mentalist. yeah, one show. It's on at 10:00pm, though, so I really shouldn't stay up to watch it.

Friday I record: Medium, Human Target, and Blue Bloods. I know, I could even watch two of these in real time. Although I prefer recording because then I can race through the commercials.

Saturday and Sunday: nada. That's right, nothing to record. Which means I can catch up all the shows I haven't had a chance to watch, or, gasp, go do something else. Can you imagine??

For the food addiction I'm doing weight watchers (yes, I CAN eat that, I just have to watch my portion sizes). For the solitaire, I don't know, I may have to cut off my fingers or something.

Ok, time for more cold medication now.

blessons

Was commenting on my friend's blog today, and this was my word verification word. What could such a thing mean, I wondered.

bles-sons: the blessings sons bring to us
b-lessons:lessons on how to be
bless-ons: keep on blessing

Funny how sometimes they seem so appropos, and the rest of the time they're just a jumble of letters.

As for my 'son', he's a little upset with me. I started cleaning out the closet under the stairs where he hides. He kept giving me dirty looks. And watching me carefully to make sure I don't get too close (the scars are still fading from our last encounter). But Ani seems to be doing well, coming out at night to eat and make use of the facilities, play with his little stuffed mice, and wind himself up in the blanket that Padme used to use (and smells like her). Doesn't really care for the t-shirt that smells like me. Hmm.

Padme is being really needy these days, though. Keeps rubbing up against my legs wherever I am, particularly when I'm in the kitchen. She likes the litter box in the bathroom, although she did leave a little puddle for me this morning on the linoleum. At least it wasn't near the rug, like last time. Interestingly enough when she spills litter outside the box she does try to clean it up. That was kind of weird when I watched her do it one day.

I know, enough litter box stories. Finished a book, still wading through Brisingr (third book in the Eragon series), got my Pampered Chef stuff so working on distributing it now. Plus got my LOST set--the entire series in a really cool box with lots of other stuff. So cool!! It gets to stay out for a while :)

Oh, and making baby blankets. I have four people on my list now that need baby blankets. Anyone else? I need to get to work on my curtains and my quilt for my bedroom as well. And some vests. Just because I'm sick and tired of all my clothes right now. Must be time for a seasonal change... fall, where are you??

Earth Day!

Time to go outside and plant a tree, everyone! Or just hug one. Do something today that you wouldn't normally do to let the Earth know you love and appreciate her!

Although I wonder sometimes why we think the Earth is female. I suppose it's her nurturing nature (hah! get it? Nature?). As a member of the Church we do know that the Earth has fulfilled her duties and will be celestialized when the time comes. What a wonderful thing, to be the Earth. And what a wonderful world it is that we live in.


Life as I know it
In other news, well, my life is progressing normally. Work, church, tv. I did get out into my back yard this week, though, and finally spread out the mulch that I bought last year. Yup, it's been sitting in my yard for over a year. I hope the worms appreciate their new home, surrounding my tree in the back yard. The ants, too. I don't really like ants, but as long as they stay outside I will suffer them to live. I understand baby powder is great for killing ants... Oh, whoops, I suppose I should talk about killing things on Earth Day, even bugs.


I went to my sister's for Easter, not sure if I mentioned that. I haven't downloaded the pictures from my camera yet, though. It was great fun. Dad and his wife, and Doug's parents were there, all of us in the same house. Malena had her baptism on Sunday, which was also her birthday, so that was fun. Jack was so very cute (he's the 2-year-old). Maybe because I'm in Nursery, I just seem to relate better to 2-year-olds these days. We played a lot. It was funny, we went for a walk, and he would say, "run!" and we would run for about 30 seconds, and then we'd walk, and then he'd sayd "run!" and then we'd repeat the process. I wonder if he saw me doing my running homework that morning? It was very cute.

On the 10th I went to the movies with my friends--Clash of the Titans in 3D. I think I have to add Sam Worthington to my List. You know, the one I keep of really cute actors that I like. He can join fellow Aussie Hugh Jackman. He's cute, and strong, and (at least in this movie) saves people. It's great. He saved them in Avatar as well. Not so much in Terminator last summer, but he spent most of the movie being confused as to who he was and what his purpose was. Before he realized he was a Terminator. Anyway, I liked that movie too. He's great. Review is on my sidebar ->

Last weekend I had a lot of great plans in my head. I started out strong at the Relief Society service project, but then allowed myself to get lunch on the way home, and that was pretty much it for the rest of the day. I'd get up to let Kitty in or out, but that was it. I have *got* to keep to the plan! I could have my whole back yard finished by now! Instead of just being caught up on all my tv shows. What happens to my priorities when I sit down to eat, anyway? Yikes!

Single Adult Madness
There was a fireside on Sunday evening for the SA in the DC area. Pres Jensen of the Presidency of the Quorum of the 70 was there, and it was great. Among all the other things we talked about, his point was that we need to become better learners. Not just teachers, but learners as well. He held a Q&A session that was really great. He told us before we started that not all questions are created equal--that we had three special witness of Christ available to us (Elders Hardy and one of the new guys were also there), so keep that in mind. We still had one guy who always askes about why divorced men can't hold certain callings (you'd think he'd have learned the answer by now), but the Seventies always answered appropriately. Like the girl who wanted to promote unity within the SA program and was told, essentially, that unity comes when we seek to be like Christ--vertically first, then horizontally (probably made more sense that night than what I've been able to write here).

I get really frustrated with people in the SA program who seem to think they need their own version of the church. That the SA should be doing everything for themselves, even to getting their own wards and such. Yes, it's hard being single in a family church, but the gospel isn't about who's single or who's married, it's about returning home with honor. Seeking to be like Christ, and attaining eternal salvation with Him. Seriously, these people have to get over their singleness! Stay in the family ward and make it better, don't just whine, cry, and leave when you can't get your way! Grow up! Oops, probably went a little far there...

Once more into the breach...
Ok, so that's a little dramatic, but appropriate. I'm headed to a Single Adult Conference this weekend in Richmond, VA. Scott will be there--the cute boy I met at the NYE conference. Too bad he'd already met a girl before I showed up (curses!!). He may have a friend, though. I know, it's too much to ask for an 'instant relationship', and I'm certainly not looking to find The One and get married in the next month, but it would be nice to have Something Good happen.

So... Tired...

OK, I know I have no place to complain, but I am TIRED! I did my running homework and then had my running class three days in a row this week. Good thing I have choir practice tonight or I might have talked myself into going again tonight. I guess choir is good for something, huh?

I was good about going to bed early on Sunday night. So early that my body was like, "What are we laying down for now? It's not time to go to sleep..." Monday night I was good too. Tuesday night I was watching LOST, and V comes on right after that. Although V is really starting to freak me out. I don't think it's hit the 'train wreck' phase for me yet, though. You know, where you just can't look away even though you know you should?

Last night I stayed up late as well, finally doing my taxes (I know, I'm bad, but at least I didn't wait until tonight). I don't know whether to be happy or sad. I owe the Federal government, but the State owes me. In fact, the amount the State owes me is exactly what I owe the Federal Government. Plus one dollar. On the one hand, I broke even. On the other hand, I kind of wanted a tax refund for paying off of bills and to finance a trip I want to take in May.

Sheesh. One dollar. 99 cent menu anyone? I guess I can go to the dollar store? Tip for a $5 meal? Do they have $5 meals at places where you need to tip? Or maybe I can 'super-size' it. Whatever 'it' is. Sheesh.

Of families and failures

Selfish Brat
Apparently I'm a selfish brat. Three of my eight siblings think so, anyway. Doesn't matter what I say or try to do, I'm apparently only motivated by selfish feelings. I try to let them know how I feel when they treat me badly and I'm suddenly too sensitive. I don't tell them how I feel and they walk all over me. Like I don't matter. Then they have the nerve to tell me that even if they forget me most of the time, I'm still family, they still love me, and if I ever became homeless I could live with them. Like I would. I'd rather be homeless than live somewhere where I'm going to be judged as stupid and incompetent, selfish and rude. Like I'd even let them know how I feel or what's going on with me since they'll just put it through their 'selifish brat' filter and determine that I deserve it. Adversity is a part of life and if they forget me at Christmastime I should just deal with it.

Doesn't seem like such a big deal, does it? Being forgotten at Christmastime? How about the year my Mom died and they forgot me? How about the year everything was going wrong and a simple kind thing would have made such a difference, but they forgot me. Consider that I have serious depression, currently treated with medication. Before I got treatment, though, there was an actual suicide attempt. Because I was convinced my family didn't love me. Seems silly and selfish of me, huh? Being forgotten, left out, or ignored by the very people who claim to love me the most. Really? They care about me? Seriously?

Fortunately, like I said, five of them do actually behave like they don't mind having me around. They don't put everything I say into the 'oh she's just being selfish again' filter.

Sorry, I just had to rant. Now the whole world knows that three of my siblings are, in fact, unwilling to let me progress past my teenage years when I probably was a selfish brat. Most teenagers are, after all. Including them.

Easter
I had a lovely Easter. I went to my sister B's house. She's great. My niece was having her 8th birthday on Easter Sunday, and my sister and her husband were able to arrange for their daughter to be baptized on that same day. Before General Conference (also on that day). Both sets of grandparents came, too. A very full house, but it was fun. We did an Easter Egg hunt at her church between the Saturday sessions of Conference, had a couple of potlucks, one each day (at which there was no green salad!!), and listened to Conference on the internet at her house. I was able to spend a lot of quality time with the 2-year-old, since B had everyone painting cabinets in the kitchen. Paint + toddler doesn't go very well. So we went outside and played. B could work in peace, I got to play with J, and everyone was happy. The other kids were helping their grandma clean out the mini-van, so it would be clean for Sunday. They may not have been quite so happy, come to think of it.

Running
I've been progressing with my running. I've gone to two classes and done my homework (two workouts in-between classes, which are held once a week). I bought new running shoes, and I'll be trying them out tomorrow. It's not much fun while doing it, but it feels really good afterwards. I've managed to undo all the damage I did over Easter weekend, with all the poor choices I was presented with for eating. Now, it wasn't my sister's fault. Like I said, two potlucks. No vegetables at either one. And me giving into my cravings for all that yummy food. It's really hard watching what I eat and trying to make good choices sometimes. Good thing there's running.

TV
With work and church being pretty much the same, the only other thing I really do is watch TV. I'm currently watching:
Monday: Chuck, Life Unexpected, Castle
Tuesday: NCIS, LOST, V, The Good Wife
Wednesday: Human Target, In Plain Sight
Thursday:The Mentalist
Friday: Who do you think you are, Medium, Stargate Universe, Merlin

I have more shows that I follow, but these are the only ones on right now. In the summertime I'll be adding Leverage, Burn Notice, and Royal Pains. Maybe a few more. Cause I'm a selfish brat and can't be bothered to do anything else. Just ask my cat.

Moonwater: who'd a thunk it?

So after years, decades, even eons of being told there's no water on the moon, guess what? There's water on the moon.

Moonwater article

Personally, my mind is screaming with possibilities. They mention rocket fuel in the article, but I'm thinking drinking water. If we don't have to cart water to the moon, then wouldn't a moon base be far more realistic? Not to mention all the other things we use water for. It would have to be rationed carefully, you wouldn't want to run out or we would be carting water from the earth to the moon. It would have to be reclaimed somehow as well, but we have that technology (the space station astronauts just started using a water reclamator that does indeed use what you might think it would).

So, we can mine iron and other minerals on the moon, we now have found water there, I'm thinking it's time to put in my bid for a room on the Lunar Base sometime soon!

Mottos

My favorite niece-in-law (can I just refer to her as my niece?) challenged the readers of her blog to pick a motto for this year. I choose "Make good choices." I've been making a lot of bad choices lately--eating when I'm not hungry, watching tv instead of doing anything else, playing instead of working. I need to work on making good choices.

And I challenge the readers of my blog (ok, all three of you), should you choose to accept it, to come up with a motto for this year for you. What would you pick for a motto for this year?

Ok, time for the journal update. I have been doing a whole lot of nothing lately. At least, it feels that way. I took the Sister Missionaries out to dinner, I cleaned one bathroom in my house (I have 1 1/2), I go to my rehearsals on Thursdays, last Sunday we had a performance at a Why I Believe Fireside in Annandale VA, and I went Rock Climbing with my friend K. So I guess not too much 'nothing'.

This week I'm working on making tunics for a friend--her daughter is in a performance of Mulan, and they needed four more outfits for the chorus. They bought the most beautiful fabric--stuff I covet but usually manage to tell myself I really don't have a purpose for it and don't buy it. Well, now I do get to make this lovely fabric into tunics, using my most favorite pattern of all time. My Jedi pattern, of course. I love to make Jedi outfits for some crazy reason. I wonder if they'd let me keep one... but even if they don't, I'll have enough left-over fabric to make a couple or three vests. That will be fun. I shall have to take pictures if I do. I found some beautiful space fabric at the store when I was looking for fabric for another new project--I'll be making a 'round the world quilt with my church group. Except that they meet on Thursdays which is also rehersal, so I probably won't be able to join them until July. I may have it started before then, though. Like I said, I already have the fabric, and the woman in charge will be sending me the pattern :)

I was also thinking about those silly meme's that come around via internet sometimes. At church on Sunday they were talking about keeping a Family History, and I was thinking that those meme's, as a part of a journal, not a replacement for one, would be a good addition. Dated, so the reader knows when it was filled out (may be important). But still, those lists are a snapshot of our interests at a particular moment in time. That could be fun for someone to know in the future. Or even to look back on for ourselves. So send out those memes!

And let me know about your motto! If you pick one, that is.
Pleasant dreams of your favorite thing; me, I'm going with Hugh Jackman...

Hmm what to say

I find myself playing catch-up again. Things were rather busy in December, plus the resurgeance of my cold made things even more difficult. I'm finally better now, though.

Christmas was great. I went to South Carolina (again) to spend it with my sister and her family (again). I forgot my camera (again), but I did have my camera phone. The pictures didn't turn out that great, though. Here's a sampling:

Present Time!

Me and my new doll!

I took a really nice shot of Mama and Baby, but it didn't turn out so great, out of focus and a little over exposed. That will teach me not to take my camera.

I came back to MD to put in a couple days of work (I was out of vacation so have been borrowing from next year), then went to a Single Adult conference for New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. I met a couple nice guys at the dance on NYE, which encouraged me to attend the workshop part of the conference on NYD, so I could see them again. In daylight this time (yup, still cute). I did, however, go to the workshops on Smart Dating (and if you saw the alternatives you'd know why). One thing that struck me is that it takes about 2 years to get to know someone, especially if it's just through conferences and occaisional activities. Those quick, meet once and know the person is your true love experiences do happen, but more often than not they end up in unhappiness and divorce (or at least, that's true of the SA crowd. Hmm, the stats may be skewed (or is that screwed?)). Therefore, I'm going to take my time with my two new prospects. and if someone else comes along, for them or for me, I can be ok with that. Sounds good in theory, anyway. I know, it's only taken 20 years for me to get to this point.

The rest of the conference was about leadership, and how leadership really begins with me, whether or not I have someone to lead. And about controlling our thoughts. So it was a good conference.

On Saturday I went to see Sherlock Holmes and Avatar (I love doing double-features, even if theaters don't usually do them anymore and I have to arrange them for myself) with my friends. See reviews in side panel (yes, I liked them both, probably Avatar a little more than Sherlock Holmes).

Now it's time to return to real life and get my car maintained and Kitty a check-up, get my hair cut and clean my house (amazing how yucky it gets when one is sick for two months).

Oh, resolutions? I typically make four every year, one in each category:
Spiritual: attend temple once a month, read BoM four times (once each season, with a different focus in each)
Physical: exercise more, continue with Weight Watchers
Social: go to more SA activities (just because I'm not in charge anymore, doesn't mean I need to drop out of sight), make an effort to go out with friends more often.
Mental: practice controlling my thoughts, such that my mind doesn't wander when I'm supposed to be paying attention, at work, at church, or with my friends.

Wish me luck, and a Happy New Year to you!

Ahh, October!

I just have to say, that I love Fall. I love the cool crispness of the air, I love being able to leave my windows open all day and all night (with a good comforter and my kitty for warmth). I love when the trees turn briliant colors. Hasn't quite started yet here in MD, unless you count my poor tree in my front yard that's been losing leaves all summer. Poor thing. It gets so confused and doesn't know what season it is.

Last weekend was pretty tame. I was on a committee for the Relief Society dinner before the broadcast on Saturday, so I spent most of the day at the church setting up and helping out. Sunday was nice and laid back, complete with a visit from my HT and his wife (my other HT was in the hospital :( ) This week has been fairly calm too. I know a lot of that is due to my recovery from my cold--I just don't have the inclination to do a whole lot. I am much better now, though, and all ready for a night of singing. Choir rehearsal, you know.

This weekend I have the opportunity to listen to General Conference at home. I'll spend time before and between sessions in my yard, trying to make some sort of order there, but for at least four hours I'll sit on my couch and listen to the General Authorities in Salt Lake and try to get a feel for what I should work on for the next six months. I just love Conference Weekend.

Kitty and I had a cat-fight the other night, though. I sat on the couch and was drinking some juice when she latched on to my leg with both front claws and her mouth. I don't think she was trying to hurt me, she didn't draw any blood, but my juice spilled all over the place, including me, and I was unhappy. She knew it. She ran down to the basement to escape my wrath. I am really tired of her attacking me. She might find herself with a new home. Actually, what I will try first is to get a cat trainer over to my house to help us. And maybe play with her more.

I've gotten into NCIS now, too. My Fall TV-Watching schedule is greatly reduced from last year--mostly because half my shows were cancelled and part of the others don't start until January. I have two whole nights where I'm not recording anything. That is just amazing. Throw in the fact that I'm only recording one or two shows on about two other nights, and now you really get a sense of it. fortunately (unfortunately?) USA runs up to 6 hours of NCIS nearly every day. That's a lot. That's more than I can do, actually, but I usually only catch one or two episodes. Lori is going to laugh at me when I tell her. She told me to try it last year (or maybe the year before) but I didn't. She was right.

Ahhh, it's cool!

The guys from BGEHome came yesterday and installed my new HVAC system. It's a little bigger than the old system, I hope the HOA doesn't complain (I have a fenced in back yard so what do they care anyway, right?). They also installed a programmable thermostat. I'm sure that will be much more useful in the wintertime, but it's fun to play with now. I think I'm so used to it being hot in my house I got cold when it was still 78 degrees! Needless to say, I slept very well last night. Kitty did too. Although I had to kick her out this morning since she was scratching my bed. I guess I'll have to get some stuff for that. I don't mind her on the bed, I just mind when she uses it for a scratching post--and completely ignores the other three scratchers I have in the bedroom! Time to pull out some catnip for them I guess. That sort of helps.

Not much going on this week. Tomorrow I'm going to work in the yard until I'm tired or it's too hot, and then I'm going to go into my cool house and clean up the basement. Yeah, one of those goals I blogged about but haven't done much with. It's been too hot in my house. Yeah, that's it. Too hot.

The other good news is that tonight I have a handyman coming over to fix my garbage disposal. We're just going to replace it, it's really not worth it to me to try to fix it at this point. I came home from vacation and it wouldn't turn on. So I've been living with it for three weeks because I just couldn't get myself motivated enough to take care of it. So I'll be able to cook again--don't ask me why I couldn't cook just because my garbage disposal wasn't working--it has something to do with not being able to put the vegetable scraps down the sink. Someday I'm going to have to figure out how to put a compost heap together. Yes, I've read the instructions online, but it just seems like a bother to get it started. And then take care of it. I don't have a garden at the moment anyway.

I also managed to make myself call the doctor. I have an appt next Friday morning. I've been getting all sorts of things taken care of this week. Yay for me!

...and now it's June...

so I think I actually posted more recently than I thought I had. After Memorial Day weekend and all the movies then, there hasn't been a whole lot going on. I did go to a Tuppeware party on the 30th, though. That was alot of fun. I love to buy stuff for my kitchen.

This past weekend was a very rare one--I didn't have anything planned!! I came home from my Pilates class on Saturday and CRASHED. I decided to rewatch Gilmore Girls from the beginning, and actually went through two of the DVD's. I watched some Combat too (of course). For some reason I didn't watch any movies. I was supposed to work in my yard, but didn't. It's still in horrible shape (the back yard, which fortunately has a fence so the Homeowners Association can't get too crazy). And today it's raining, so probably not going to work on it tonight either.

I'm also getting ready for my trip. I know I've alluded to this before. My work is sending me out to Redondo Beach, California, for a meeting next week. Since I'll already be there, I'm going to just stay and hang out with my sister for a while, then we'll make our way up to St George for our first Andersen Family Reunion. I've talked the family into doing soldier quilts for a service project--hopefully it won't get in the way of any of the activities my brother has planned. It should be really fun.

After going back and forth a few times, I'm thinking I may pass on the SA conference July 4th weekend. It sounds really fun, but I'll only have two days from the time I return from CA to the time I'd have to leave for the conference. Ok, so it's only in Alexandria so I could commute from my house, but seriously, I don't think my cat will have forgiven me yet for the first trip.

All this trip stuff has me remembering the trip I took last year, to Europe. That was such a great experience. I so have to do that again. Oh wait, Lori and me have a pact for next year, to England! :D I guess I should start saving money for that now, huh?

Happy dreams of your favorite person, and I'll ttyl!