Weigh in Friday

Yes, I do still exist, I've just been enjoying a little free time with the family, and since Brian is off, my regular "computer hours" are now "sitting on the couch and eating hours."
Today is alas Weigh in Friday. Before I post my results, I'll remind my trusty readers that the average American gains 1-5 pounds between Thanksgiving and New Years.
Today I weighed in at 150, which is one pound MORE than last week. Hooray for me, a weight GAIN. But I can't say I didn't expect it...
After months of being seemingly deprived of all that's good (well, almost) I figured I'd give myself a little treat over the holidays (read: the past week). I didn't completely gorge myself like I usually would except for Christmas day but I did indulge in a few cocktails that brought me over my 20 point daily limit. Add Christmas breakfast and dinner, and everything in between (Santa's chocolate chip cookies were pretty damn good - it must be the 2 sticks of butter...) and I'd say I didn't follow the rules so much this week.
The results, while a clear step back, weren't completely devastating. I've been back on track after Tuesday, and don't see any more major eating events in the near future...
Stay tuned.

Weigh in Friday

Despite the fact that I ate like total poo this past week (to include one Christmas party with free booze and a 2 day trip to Lafayette), I somehow managed to lose another pound, putting me officially under the 150 mark. Needless to say, I was a bit surprised (but pleasantly) as I stepped onto the scale at home and saw the results. I was pretty sure that 1/2 pound cheeseburger, fries, spicy mayo, several "cocktails", loaded nachos, mozerella sticks, and the Triple X (Tri-Chi as it's known to the locals) Breakfast Special in the morning would've done me in. Guess not.

It felt great to eat like shit. Does that make sense? I guess I haven't really indulged in whatever I wanted since roughly October, so it felt good to put the points bracelet in the drawer and go out and enjoy myself. I suppose as long as I don't do it on a regular basis, or even a semi-regular basis, it's ok. Plus it quenched my craving for a big, fat, juicy cheeseburger for a while.
All right... now I'm hungry...

All I Want For Christmas...

Is my two front teeth (and someone to pay my Discover bill). This post serves a dual purpose. I got to test out my new studio lights, and I got a good pic of Vincent sans teeth. I thought it was so cute that he lost both of his front teeth for Christmas.

The only way I could convince him I needed him to pose (again) was to take a picture of him with his dozer. Actually, I shouldn't post this, because I only had really half of my lighting available (I'm waiting for a stand for a reflector for the right side) which is why the right side of his face is so heavily shadowed.... is that TMI? Just trust me :)

Oh well, it's still cute, and I had to put something on so my trusty readers didn't wonder where the hell I've been...

Tonight I need to finish up some Christmas stuff, and get started on my wrapping. Well, at least thinking/planning my wrapping. Ugh. This is the part of Christmas I hate...

Dog Gone (Almost)

I really like our border collie. He's G-R-E-A-T with the kids, and has never shown even a hint of aggression. The only problem is that he loves me too much. Any time I leave (a lot of the times anyway) he tears shit up. Whether he's inside or outside, in the garage, whatever. Something pays the price for me leaving him. Separation anxiety? At it's worst.
Aside from that, Brian often sleeps during the day. If the dog is in a crate, he howls and yips until Brian wants to kill him. If I leave him out, he runs up and down the fenceline to the point he has actually created muddy trenches in the paths he runs through the yard (which is a whole acre big, mind you). He is incessant about chasing cars, trucks, UPS men, when ever one even drives down the road (behind the fence of course, he just goes up and down the fence line, over and over and over and over and over and over...)
If we tie him up, he paces and/or barks the whole time. I know he is a herder, but it is really ridiculous. He gets so much exercise he looks like a greyhound, and is nothing but muscle.
We are just getting sick of destruction. Whether its the yard or something in the house.
We don't know what to do. When we're home, he's fine. He'll lay down and usually mind his own business (when he can see us). Let him out for more than 2 nanoseconds, and he's a muddy mess from running the trenches. So then it's into the garage to dry off, and if we leave him there too long, something gets chewed up. We've tried bones, toys, everything. He even steals food (bread, namely) off the counters and eats it the second we leave.
Yeah, I see the obvious solution, don't leave stuff out, but I don't want to have to pack up the house each time I want to leave. He even stole a chicken breast I was thawing in the sink one time.
Ug. Patience is wearing thin, but I hate to get rid of such a good "kid dog." Any suggestions?
Check out my poll on the right...
What kind of dog was your "best dog"?

Weigh In Friday

Ok, so this week wasn't nearly as successful as the past few. I decreased my points to 20/day, which isn't very much. I kept track of my points well, at least I think I did, and my grand weight loss total was an impressive ZERO pounds. Nil. Nada. Nothing. Zilch.
I think I've hit that "plateau" which, naturally, is right at a major hurdle that I have really never overcome for more than a few days. I can't remember the last time when I was one-fourty something, and it wasn't related to water gain/loss.
I kinda expected this though. I knew at some point the pounds/week would taper off, and I guess now is the time.
Hopefully, next week will be better, but as Christmas carry-ins, parties, and gatherings are starting, it's going to be a rough couple of weeks for me.

Ticket Follow Up

Wow, that post got your attention!!! Anyway, there were a lot of comments I feel like I should answer, so I am doing a separate post.

Q: How do you feel about those officer association stickers? What about PBA cards? I have heard people swear it helps.
A: Not really. There are a few stickers that cops recognize, but they are usually only the kind cops can get. I'd say, for me, they are neutral. They don't help but they don't hurt either.

Q: Sometimes you honestly don't know why you got pulled over...Do you have one for how I can keep from feeling like one of America's most wanted when I get pulled over by a policeman...I sit there, not crying, but shaking in my shoes!
A: We are just people, just like you. We eat, poop, fight, laugh, cry, and get nervous, too. I think the first part of that question says a lot. Lots of times people truly don't know why they are getting pulled over, which, in a large part, is what makes pulling people over necessary. When people are JUST NOT PAYING ATTENTION is when they are the most dangerous. You weren't aware you were going 92? Well, I was aware, and it makes me even more scared that you didn't know you were going 92. That means if you had to swerve, stop, whatever, you'd do it like you were going 65, or 55, which is a recipe for disaster. I've been pulled over since I was a cop, and I still get that cold sweat when I see lights in my rearview mirror. I think that's just a normal response. And remember, we act like you are America's Most Wanted until we know that you're NOT America's Most Wanted. You might know who we are when you're getting stopped, but I have no clue who you are (whether you're in a minivan or not) and I have no idea if you just robbed a bank, or killed someone, or both. We do it for our safety, and so that we don't get complacent thinking, "It's just another minivan..."

Q: You must have been really naughty, to get pulled over in your own driveway!
A: Not really a question, but if you look at the picture really good, you'll see Vincent in the passenger seat effecting the traffic stop :)

Q: I had an MP tell me one time, another tip was to just answer yes or no. When a cop pulls you over and says, "do you know how fast you were going?" that it's better to answer yes or no than to answer with the speed. Is that a good idea?
A: That's a good strategy if you want a ticket. That's more so that the cop doesn't have a "speed confession" from you. To me, personally, "yes, I know how fast I was going" is kind of a condescending answer.

I hope you enjoyed this post, I know I enjoyed the questions and responses...
And thank you to all who thanked ME for doing my job... often times it's thankless, but we realize poople generally don't like the police... till they need one. Many times we encounter people at their worst, but look at places like Iraq. Unfortunately we are necessary to keep "civil disobedience" at bay as much as we can...

WFMW: How Not to Get a Ticket

I figured as we are all running around, spending our last pennies on Christmas gifts, juggling kids, cell phones, and ...

What?
Is that cop pulling ME over? Yup. In the day of too many distractions and not enough time, many of us find ourselves pulled over. With those festive red and blue flashing lights and strobes right in our rear view mirror...

What to do? How do you NOT get a very merry ticket?

Read on for a few tips from someone who knows (these are not guaranteed to get you out of a ticket, but they will sure help, usually).

1. TELL THE TRUTH!!!! I put this as number one for a reason. As cops, you must understand that we spend 99.9% of our time being lied to. That makes us literal human lie detectors. When the cop asks you how fast you were going or if you had your seatbelt on, we are not asking because we don't know the answer. We just want to hear what you have to say. So fess up. Yeah, I was going 78 in a 55 and I know that's way too fast with all the other people out on the roads... Whatever. Just tell the truth. I actually gave a guy a WARNING for better than 30 mph over the limit just because he told the truth... which leads me to my second point.

2. BE ACCOUNTABLE. Don't blame YOUR speed, YOUR failure to signal your lane change, or YOUR (insert infraction here) on someone else. I actually had a lady blaming her 2 year old in the backseat because she was speeding. Uh, yeah, I don't think that kid was reaching into the front seat pushing the gas pedal. So be accountable. You are in control of your car, and really, your whatever is really your fault. If "that guy" was tailgaiting, intimidating, driving recklessly, blah, blah, blah, then pull over and get away from him. Don't speed up, or pass on the shoulder, or whatever other great idea you have.

3. DON'T CRY. For God's sake. No tears. My goodness, it's just a traffic stop. Tears will surely get you a ticket from me. And most other cops I know. Enough said.

4. DON'T ARGUE AND DON'T ASK TO SEE MY RADAR. The United States of America has a great judicial system. If you weren't (insert infraction), go to court and let the judge decide. Police officers REALLY don't like holding a mini court session while they are standing on the side of the road trying to not get run over. Also, just for the record, NO I don't have to show you my radar!!!

5. DON'T ASK FOR A WARNING. I don't care if you haven't had a ticket in 3 years. 5 years. 10 years, whatever. Thanks for the information, but I can find that out on my own. And really, asking for a warning is just obnoxious. Your attitude (see points 1, 2, 3, and 4) is what dictates whether or not you get a ticket (usually). Believe me, you suggesting a warning isn't going to make the cop say, "oh yeah, I forgot I could issue those, too).

6. LAST BUT DEFINITELY NOT LEAST.... DON'T TELL ME YOU PAY MY SALARY!!! Let it be known to all motoring public. Police officers pay Federal, State, and Local taxes just like you. So essentially, we pay our own salaries.

Hopefully this helps.

Be sure to check out my other WFMW posts:

Easy last minute meal...
Easy way to cut kids food...

Take a better group picture...

Taking better pictures...

How to keep holiday gift giving under control...

The best hair tie ever...

Keeping your linens organized in one easy step...

Turning lunch bags into diaper bags (are those raisins you're having?)...

Visit Shannon at Rocks In My Dryer for other great tips and ideas!!!

Weigh in Friday

I did it. A solid, positive 150 showed up on my scale this morning. With me standing on it! I lost another 2 pounds this week, and overcame a real hurdle. For some reason, even when I've dieted before 153 seems to be the number I get stuck at, so the 150 looked pretty damn good to me! This week was different than the first few in that it was the first week that I subtracted 2 points from my daily allowance. It was also the fist week since I started this that we didn't go out to eat at a restaurant. It came the end of the week, and I realized I still had over 30 "flex points" left. I ate snacks in the evenings, and indulged in a few "calming" drinks, and still had a bunch of points left over.
I'm sure that won't be the situation as soon as all these Christmas parties and stuff really kick in. So anyway, this plan continues to work for me and I feel great.
Till next Friday...

A True Miracle

I know it's the Christmas season and all, and I know that everyone is talking about miracles (well, in theory anyway). But this is a real, live, miracle. My grandma FINALLY has new carpeting. Without going into real detail, lets just say it was well overdue. Let's just say, I haven't seen anything but the green shag ever in her house, since I was a little girl. Well, the day has come that the non-English speaking workers overtook her house, and in a matter of hours, transformed it into a modern miracle.

Funny thing is, they say if you wait long enough, it'll come back into style. Funny thing is that when I googled "green shag" I got a bunch of stuff that is, well, back in style (apparently). I thought I'd get a couple of links to someones family portrait from 1952, but I'm seeing where I can actually order some NEW green shag of my very own!!! Imagine that. That's ok though, believe me, this family is glad to see it go. Along with the green slate tile that was under it (or is that back in, too?). Contact me. I know where you can find about 150 square yards of the stuff. Free.

I love how they now call it "retro green" shag rug to attract young, trendy buyers. Lets call it what it is. 1970's flashback OD green brushable carpet. Anyway. I took these pictures as evidence for any of those distant (Sissy) family members who may not believe the day has actually come that it is in... behold. No more green shag...

I know, it's pathetic that I have about 10,000.00 worth of camera equipement at my disposal and this is the best I can do to document the miracle, but you can thank Motorola and Razr for these high quality images...

I'm so happy for her. Now we just have to get the Hummels back in the cabinet...

WFMW: Easy Last Minute Meals

I'm glad I checked, because I had a really good WFMW post for this week that I'm sure many of you would've enjoyed, but I remembered this was a theme week, so, in the name of playing nice, I'll comply.
Shannon wants our best last minute meal ideas. I guess this is it. All you need is:

about a pound of ground beef (or ground whatever)
a box of regular old macaroni and cheese
one can of any vegetable that your family will eat
a can of cream of whatever soup
some shredded cheese, if you have it.

Preheat your oven to about 325. Brown the ground beef while cooking the macaroni noodles. When the ground beef is done, drain it, dump in the cooked (and drained) noodles, soup, vegetable and cheese powder from the mac and cheese and mix it all together.
Dump it all in a 13x9 pyrex, top it with the shredded cheese (optional) and stick it in the oven for 10-15 minutes, just to cook all the flavors together. While it's in the oven, pour the drinks, get the plates and silverware out, even do the dishes. Voila, as easy as it gets.

It also makes great leftovers, and the kids usually eat it up. You can also add any random spice you may have in the cabinet (garlic powder, italian seasoning, whatever) to jazz it up a little.

Be sure to check out my other WFMW posts:
Easy way to cut kids food...
Take a better group picture...
Taking better pictures...
How to keep holiday gift giving under control...
The best hair tie ever...
Keeping your linens organized in one easy step...
Turning lunch bags into diaper bags (are those raisins you're having?)...

Visit Shannon at Rocks In My Dryer for other great tips and ideas!!!