Back it up!

I bought a Mac about four years ago and thought they were totally indestructible. I'm here today to tell you that no computer is indestructible. Last week my computer died--dead. I was totally freaking out as I called Apple to get some help. When I took my computer in to the Genius Bar, Tyler the 'Genius', asked me how he could help me. I told him that my computer had died to please help me (no I didn't scream or cry--I was so proud of myself :)). I was very scared that I had lost everything. He asked me if I had backed up the data and I told him no that I hadn't backed it up and I thought Mac's were perfect and nothing would go wrong.

Well, I learned the valuable lesson that NO computer is indestructible. I got my baby back today and it's working wonderfully. I also found out about this wonderful thing called 'Time Machine'. Basically if I have an external hard drive plugged in to my machine it will back it up every hour if something has changed. Whew! Now I don't even have to think about it and if something does go wrong I'll still have all the data. --Love backups--and Genius Bar guys who can answer all my questions and fix my computer!!!

I've been on Weight Watchers (WW) for two weeks now and have shedded four pounds. (I don't want to lose them because I don't want them back--same thing with 'dropping' them.) I am so happy about that!!! I really think that for me it's all about planning. If I have a plan about what I'm going to eat during the day then I don't go for stuff I haven't planned. At my meeting today the instructor said that exercise is only 20% of weight loss. I thought that was really interesting and good for a few of my friends who have joined lately, but don't have time to exercise. It also reminds me that even though I work out a lot, it's more for toning and making my muscles look good for when all that extra fat that is surrounding them are gone.--Not for gaining food points or for losing more weight.

I was asked to bring a dessert for a lunch I'm going to tomorrow. I was a little scared about that because I didn't want to bake. So I just went to the store and bought cookies there. I also left the cookies in my car so I don't even have to think about having them in the house. So, not only is this good for my plan, but I'm also not eating the gluten that I'm not supposed to have. It feels so good to be motivated again. I am looking forward to fitting back into all the clothes in my closet!!!


My friend Carrie had a Birthday last week. You look great Carrie! It was a fun party and it was great to see the changes she had made to her house. Lots of people came (because we love you Carrie) and it was nice to meet some new people. When I moved last year I moved about an hour away from everyone so I really have not gotten out much. I don't think I have actually socialized with singles that I didn't already know in ages! Because of my weight I also don't feel like being out socializing, but I was fine there and didn't feel uncomfortable. Happy Birthday Carrie!

Happy New Year!

Every year I spend New Years in Utah with my family. This year I went home earlier so I came back earlier. My good friend Melinda invited me to go with a group to "The Legwarmers" concert. Oh my gosh it was so much fun!!! We met earlier at Allison Pond's house and got ready. I had nothing to wear because I can't fit into any of my clothes. I have one pair of jeans that fits--though a bit uncomfortably--from before I lost the weight (that I have now gained back and more). Melinda let me borrow legwarmers and a long sleeve black shirt and Allison let me borrow this t-shirt. My sister Julie bought the crown for me as a stocking gift. It actually lights up and blinks around the flower in the center. Very cool! I was so happy to have it. Tons of people had New Years hats on at the concert, but mine was the best. :)

Me, Michelle, Erin, Melinda, Suzette, Allison showing off our hard work making us into 80 chics.

Melinda and Suzette brought makeup to put on. Melinda had blue eyeliner and silver with sparkles eyeliner. It looked so great! I also used a lot of blue eye shadow. Oh the 80's. :) Personally so glad not to be in them anymore.
Here we are at the concert. Me, Melinda, and Erin. She had leopard print/leather pants. They were great.
Here is the band. It got really packed. They had a balcony upstairs where there were fewer people so some of us were up there and were really having an amazing time dancing, screaming, singing. Just before midnight I went down and joined the rest of the group as they had balloons fall from the ceiling at midnight. Cindy had given me glow-stick bracelets so I brought those with me and gave them to people. It was just a blast! Most people dressed up in the 80's style. It was so fun to see what people wore. The band was awesome.
Here are Michelle, Liz Anderson, Allison, Suzette and me.

It was such a fun way to ring in the new year. I just felt alive and crazy. I haven't been dancing like that in ages and you were supposed to be crazy so it was awesome!!! Happy New Year!

Serenade Birthday 2010

Carrie, Melinda, Alison, Sarah, Me, Melissa, Kristina, Tiffanie, and Christal

This year for my birthday we went out to Busboys and Poets in Shirlington for dinner. They put us at a round table on their stage. It was great because we could talk to everyone at the table in normal voices. It wasn't loud where we were and it was all decorated. Traditionally we do dinner and then go see the National Tree. However, the tree wasn't lit until the next night. It was so incredibly cold that I was actually happy we couldn't go this year. :) Tiffanie brought two cakes from Trader Joes for me. They were both delicious!!! She had asked me what cake I might like and I gave her several store suggestions. She ended up going to three stores to find a cake I would like. That was so nice! One looked like a giant cupcake and the other looked like a wrapped gift. Yummmyyyy!

We are sitting around talking--just having finished our dinner and this man (above) comes over and said there is some problem. He sits down with me on my chair and serenades me with a rendition of Happy Birthday. It was so much fun--loved it. The chorus of happy birthday from friends and family is great, but this was way better. :) Later he came by the table again. I was standing there talking and he put his arm around me and serenaded me and everyone at the table with "I'll Be" by Edwin McCain. It just made the whole night. When we left he was standing at the entry and leaned over for me to give him a kiss on the cheek. My friends said I got my birthday kiss, but I don't think that counts. :) When we were at the cabin several people were trying to figure out how to get Tiffanie a birthday kiss. They suggested a few people in the grocery store and going to a bar. Sadly nothing panned out so maybe my kiss on the cheek should count. :)

It was just a fun birthday evening!

A West Virginia Thanksgiving

My wonderful friends Tiffanie and Kristina organized a Thanksgiving getaway in West Virginia. It was in Davis West Virginia near Black Falls. It was a fabulous way to spend Thanksgiving.
I drove up on Thanksgiving day so by the time I arrived dinner was very close to being done--therefore the perfect time. :) I brought a veggie tray--from Cost-co--no cooking for me.--Well not much at least. Tiffanie (front) had a birthday on Friday and I made--from scratch--a carrot cake. It was SO good! Thanksgiving dinner was delicious and as you can see so beautiful!

We went on a very short hike to Black Falls pictured here. They were really beautiful. It was somewhat treacherous going to down to them because it has snowed and make the stairs icy, but it was worth it.

I was feeling better after being on my antibiotics, but I only felt good for two days and then of course the day before Thanksgiving I started getting sick again. By Friday I was not feeling good and Saturday was just horrible and it went downhill from there. I ended up having to go home early because I just felt horrible, but I really did enjoy being with my friends. It was a fantastic Thanksgiving.

We just relaxed, talked, played games, ate, ate, and ate. It was also fun celebrating Tiffanie's birthday with her all weekend.

Biltmore 2010

Julie and I in front of the Biltmore estate. From the entry gate it is about three miles to the estate. It is so grand. It would have been cool to be a guest here.
We weren't allowed to take pictures inside the manor, but they have wonderful dinning places and shopping where you could take pictures. There were decorated Christmas trees everywhere. It was just beautiful and very tastefully done. It gave the estate just a wonderful feeling.
At the front doors they have two lions as sentries guarding the door. They decorated them with Christmas wreaths.
They have a few fountains around the grounds. We like the fish fountains.

My mom has always wanted to see Biltmore at Christmas. Julie moved to Atlanta this year and my mom and sister Cindy decided to visit her there and then meet me in Ashville North Carolina to go to the Biltmore estate. I was sick and had been on antibiotics for two days, but the eight hour drive took it out of me. It was still a beautiful drive and pretty calm--not a ton a traffic.

We got an incredible deal for the hotel and our visit to Biltmore. It was a super quick trip. I left on Thursday and came back Saturday. My mom and I had been to Biltmore a few years ago, but it was great visiting it again--especially with the Christmas decorations.

When I drove back home I stopped at a Walmart in Tennessee as I needed to get some groceries and this one was just an on and off the freeway. It was the best Walmart experience! There were almost no shoppers so it was a very calm nice experience. I really enjoyed it. When I checked out, I had brought in a Whole Foods bag and the lady behind me and the cashier and I were chatting. They had never heard of Whole Foods. It reminded me that though where I shopped was very busy--always--I am still very spoiled with all the stores I could want close to me.

2010

I went home for Christmas and was told by everyone that they were tired of seeing my ugly finger on my blog. I agree! The finger is still not better and I will not put pictures up as they are really gross. I had to have the nail-bed removed. Once the anesthetic wore off it REALLY hurt!!! I was wishing for some intense drugs. I think it is now infected as it’s still red and swollen. So it does hurt to type, but really this no blog thing has gone on long enough. This will be somewhat of a downer—honest blog, but then I’ll post some more about some fun things I did in November and December. ☺

I am very happy to say goodbye to 2010. It was a really hard year for me. I recognize that from the outside looking in it doesn’t look so tough, but for me it was. In fact, I just got enough courage up this morning to weigh myself and found that I have gained 20 pounds (closer to 25) this year. I knew it was bad, but I didn’t realize it was that bad. I think the weight gain has a lot to do with my being unhappy.

In 2010 I changed careers, moved, had a boyfriend, broke up with same boyfriend, started dating a new guy, new guy didn’t work out, realized that I found my job really boring and tedious, hate all the stairs up to my apartment, became completely unsocial because I’m so far away from everyone, got sick for two and a half months, and started to question what I really believe in. I was on some medication that I think caused me to become depressed. I also came to the conclusion that I only have four more year (from this past December) to have children—if I even want children at this point.

So, though 2010 had some really wonderful moments, it kind of went downhill and stayed down there. I’m still processing stuff and figuring out life, but I am no longer on the depressing medication—so I’m no longer depressed and I FINALLY found my motivation to lose weight. I am going to join weight watchers again and get these pounds off of my body. This extra weight makes me not want to be social and it makes me want to emotionally eat. I wasn’t able to go to the gym while I was sick so now I am finally going back which feels great! I just need to start eating within a certain amount of calories and the weight better start pouring off!