Warming up but not thawing out

Well we are warming up a bit - still not enough to thaw out, however, I'll take it.

Current weather in the Azores for those that care ... 64 F. Current weather in my neck of the wood 12 F. That's a 52 degree difference that makes me long for the country I should be living in.

Since I'm not, let me move forward. I'm debating whether it would be wise to ride into work tomorrow or not. No final decision yet...will let you know.

Nothing exciting has happened this weekend, it's been a typical weekend. Yesterday we cleaned house until lunch time - big house lots of kids, it went quickly and they all cooperated. Since they all did such a good job getting things done we all walked up to Jimmy Johns for lunch. After that we stayed in all night. I must admit that I didn't make dinner - it was a fend for yourself kind of night and everyone vegged out on the couches watching Fearful Planet (I really recommend watching this show it was fabulous), followed by Minute Men (on Disney channel). Then the boys and Bob watched a movie and I went upstairs, got comfy on the bed and started reading a book given to me by a friend (romantic vampire novel)...it passed the time nicely.

This morning I'm working on my grocery list. After going grocery shopping I plan on doing the always dreaded laundry and then making tacos for dinner.

Be happy and safe!

-24 F

Well that's with the wind chill but either way that's damn cold. It's -8 F right now without the wind chill.

Too cold to try & ride a bike. Too cold to go outside! Personally, I'd like to light a fire in the fire place and curl up on my rocking chair with a blanket a book and a hot cup of coffee or tea. That would be ideal.....

Now back to reality...I have to get my shoes on, take the kids to the bus stop, and then take myself to work...

At least I'll be sitting in my new chair at my new desk. LOL...consolation prize.

Temperature right now in the Azores? 57.6 F....perfect bike riding weather...

Be safe and happy. Thanks for checking in.

New Stuff

Got my new desk at work today. Let me clarify. I have been asking for a real desk as I've had a credenza to work on for about 6 months now (due to getting my own office instead of sharing one). I filled out a capital budget request form the other day and our regional came in and approved it - handed it to me and said "Order it"!
When it came in it was missing the drawers...so they had to send those...then Monday the drawers came in but the maintenance guy wasn't able to get it all together until last night long after I had left work.

This morning I was told that it was ready and to let them know when I wanted it moved in there (6 months ago....) so I had to move everything, put stuff in boxes and milk crates in order for them to take the credenza out and then put the new desk in. It's a beautiful Lexington Executive desk...I also got a new chair with it...not leather because I really am not a big fan of leather but it's super comfy.

So, it was a happy day and I spent about 2 hours working on the new desk thing (packing up and then unpacking and rearranging).

All in all it was a good day! I even accomplished some stuff. So, happy happy joy joy!

We took Vivian to the vet the other day who suggested a diet for her..so we've been watching what she's eating. I don't think she's really happy about this, she keeps picking up her bowl and dropping it in front of us. Then gives us this look like "What the heck is wrong with you people...I need food."

Okay maybe that's not what she's thinking but it is what my guilt is telling me she's thinking.

I also am being very careful with what I eat...although I did eat a chocolate chip cookie today ....it was damn good too!

I've lost 12 lbs so far...Which is great except I need to drop about another 38 lbs! UGH!
I also need to buy new running shoes - the treadmill isn't getting much use because I've worn the back part of my shoe away and so I get blisters on the back of my foot from running...which is why I haven't been doing much running.

Bob's been working a lot again - thankfully - we never seem to have enough money lol - I know this is everyone's plight! I am thankful though that we have a house to live in that I LOVE! Our kids are mostly healthy and the only medical stuff I have to worry about right now is Cardiology check ups for the twins and glasses for Gaven, Bob and myself...everything will be staggered out over the next few months.

Oh, and I have 2 more families who have kids that need to be prepared for a baptism so I'll be doing classes again soon. Pretty cool.

That's it for now!

Be safe and Happy!

Let it snow...

Woke up this morning to about 5 inches of snow on the ground. It was really beautiful. It's only about 12 F out, so not so nice when you have to walk out into it.

Today my baby girl starts her Drivers Ed. class! Watch out people! :o)~ Just kidding - she'll be fine.

Trying to find a ride into work - hubby had to be at work so early and I just couldn't drag myself out of bed. I may end up calling the cab company and getting myself picked up...hate to spend the money but it's my own problem and fault. Too bad he hasn't been able to find that water pump for the jeep - then he could drive his own darn vehicle to work :)

Okay, I have to get going...Fun times and happy day!

Blue Monday.....

because the Pack lost the game last night. Even though I was born in New York, my allegiance lies with the Packers.

So, I'm a bit blue this morning! I'm still hosting the Super Bowl party and will be cheering for New York....for a couple reasons.
One being I'd like to see Eli Manning take it, the kid doesn't get a lot of credit and is always in the shadow's of his big brother.
The others I won't say out of respect for at least one of my pals on here who I know is a New Englander through and through!

Happier note: the school principal called me last night (thankfully before the game started). She is going to try to get the kid who keeps causing problems dropped off right in front of his house instead of at our bus stop. Let's hope!

Quiet weekend, Gaven spent the night (Saturday) at his friends house to celebrate his friends 10th birthday. Yesterday morning we got up and went to breakfast, we being the family - Gaven. On the way home we picked up Gaven (who I assure you did not care that he missed breakfast with us) and came home. At 1 p.m. Cody had a birthday party to go to for his friend at the gymnastics academy...they tumbled....he had a blast and came home telling us that he wants to take Gymnastics...which I am good with but which Hubby needs to sleep on. Cody's party was over at 3 p.m. and we picked him up and on the way home dropped Brendon off at his friends house for a sleepover since the kids are out of school today for Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday. I made Taco's for dinner. Luke was here visiting Cassy of course, so he was the only other person here, which is very odd, and I think my DH was a little confused that there weren't more people around (and maybe a little lonely for the company of my family although he won't ever admit to it).

Going to work now, might as well get a few extra hours in since the kids are home. The house better still be clean when I get back....A girl can hope can't she?

Ride safe to my friends who are still riding ... a little too cold for my liking...10 F a little too cold for me...feels like 3 F with the wind...yeah, I'll stay warmer in the car...

Have a great day everyone!

Bad Kids....

For those of you who follow my blogs you may remember the kid who choked Brendon on the bus at the beginning of the school year. Well, apparently he has not learned a lesson and today dragged Gaven and smacked his back against a bunch of rocks in the yard by the bus stop.

I've had it...if the school won't do something about it - and technically they were still at the bus stop which is according to the school (when it's convenient to them) considered school property, well I guess I'll have to take it further.

I will file a report with the police tomorrow. This is the second time the kid has physically assaulted one of my children. I will send an email to the school and let them know what happened expecting to hear a response back before the end of the school day on Tuesday.

Bullying kids is not acceptable behavior, physically assaulting them, according to the schools own rules is unacceptable. Yet, this kid keeps doing it and getting away with it. I guess two college kids in a car stopped and yelled to break up the "fight". If that's what you can even call it, Gaven started trying to kick him to get him off of him...

How sad!

Marsha, Marsha, Marsha

Well, No Gary Fisher for me yet. My plans had a wrench thrown into them and I have to say I was feeling sorry for myself all day yesterday.

The best laid plans.... :(

Anyway, daughter has finals today - until 9 a.m. then is done for the day...rough day for her LOL!

Not much to talk about - maybe more tonight when I get home....12 hours at work is sure to bring frustration and things to talk about.

BLAME IT ON MONDAY....

Didn't work a long shift today but it felt like it went on forever, not for any reason other than it was a Monday, at least I think that's what it was. It finally got over with and I took off with wings on my shoes - I was afraid I'd get called back :) lol!

Starting to get nervous that I won't be able to get the Gary Fisher on Wednesday - had a couple things come up that depending on how they work out may keep me from paying off the bike at least for a week or two. :( Either way, I'll deal with that when it comes.

Other stuff ...my daughter starts DRIVERS ED. in a week!!!! How is it possible that she's going to be 16? Something is wrong with this picture! Oh, wait...I'm getting older!

Oh yeah, happy note - the Cowboys lost to the New York Giants - this makes me happy for a couple reasons...#1 - I was born in New York, #2 - as a Packer's fan it is always nice to have home field advantage!

Unhealthy Eating was the theme in the house tonight --- I made Nacho's with everything on them.... melted cheddar cheese, refried beans, guacamole, sour cream, pico de gallo, and meat. It was good! Yeah I was feeling a little lazy tonight - like I said earlier it was just one of those days...BLAME IT ON MONDAY!

The crunch is on for mom's party - we are down to about 1 1/2 months until the day. We have the D.J. lined up, photography (will be courtesy of my beautiful daughter), invites are out, decorating is on Cassy's shoulders too as she is certainly the person to decorate...she and I will be going to the local Factory Card Outlet to get the decorations. Catering is still to be hammered out.

I think I'm going to make a rule book for the kids and give each of them a copy....because they remember every single thing I say we may do...but they never remember the things I told them to do or the things they should know after years of repetition that I expect them to do each day....Going to start working on that this week.

Considering selling stuff on E-bay again. It's been a while since I've done that. I did make decent money back when the twins were younger since there was so much clothes to get rid of. Now they wear it till it's in shreds lol.

All right, gonna hit the sack. I'm bushed! 9:32 and I'm heading to bed....lol...I remember when we first moved up here and my mom was going to Beauty School and working - I couldn't understand why she was in bed so early on the nights she didn't work...now I assure you...I appreciate exactly what the reasons were and I am amazed at what she accomplished by herself....I have the help of both Bob and Cassy...she didn't have my help most of the time, I was too busy being angry about things that neither she or I could change...stupid teenage kid that I was.

Anyway, not walking down memory lane tonight...another day another blog!

Safe and Happy riding everyone! Stay safe out there...there are lots of nuts on the road and lots of STUDENT DRIVERS!!!!

Bike Swap Meet: Madison, Wisconsin & Green Bay Packers Win!

Today I went with Karen, Victoria, Linda and Gregg (from the bike club) to Madison, Wisconsin for the Midwest Bike Swap Meet. It was fabulous fun! It was good to hang out with people from the bike club, winter is one of those times when you don't see the group too often.

I also managed to find some super deals on stuff I needed...well something I needed and something I wanted.
I got a pair of Louis Garneau Thermal biking pants (waterproof too) for $50.00 normally pants like that run at around $100.00 or more so that was a great deal (with the tags still on).

I also got a Mt. Borah Women's Sleeveless Jersey (for in the summer of course) in a really cool print it's all red and burnt orange which go well with my Auburn Red Hair!

It was really a blast! There were people there that I knew from Bike Shop's I've frequented and even from one that I have only visited twice but the guy remembered me and asked if my husband had ever found the bike he was looking for! SO COOL!

Maybe next week if there is snow they will get me out to cross country ski---now that I have the pants for it!

Also, we managed to get back right at the start of the game....GREEN BAY PACKERS game that is....and what a game it was!

So it was a GREAT DAY!

Tomorrow I'm going to try to get up early and go log some miles on my bike with my new thermal tights!

Safe and Happy riding my friends.

Everybody's working for the weekend....

And it is finally upon us. Just another 9 hours until work is done for the week! HURRAY! This weekend we have the Midwest Bike Swap Meet. There are at this point I believe 6 of us driving up there...should be a fun time! CARPOOL/ROADTRIP...I don't know if we are now too old to call it road tripping :) I'm really excited about this - it should be a lot of fun! I have to wear my woodstock 30 sweatshirt (from the softball team I used to be on) so that some people from Bike Journal can find me so we can put faces to names.

I'm 2 hours into overtime when I punch in this morning - excellent - which means I can leave at 3 p.m. without feeling any guilt at all!

Oh - I don't think I've mentioned but in the a week ago I had weighed myself and was down 10 lbs. Today at weigh in I was down another 2 lbs! (HAPPY DANCE).

You guys have a great and safe day! Ride safe!

Just plain funny.....

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,23032131-23109,00.html?from=mostpop



I don't even think I have words.

Bike Swap Meet

I found out about a bike swap meet happening in Madison, Wisconsin this weekend (Saturday the 12th). It's at the Alliant Energy Center. More details are posted in the forum on bikejournal.com. Some of the girls from the bike club are going up there, including me.

I've never been to one but I think I could make a habit of hitting the swap meets in the winter.

I'm also getting stoked because I pick up my new bike in less than a week now! WOOHOO!!! Can't wait to wrap my thighs around that! (quoting my friend Karen).

Not working till 10:30 a.m. but will probably get a lift because the only way to get home tonight (safely) is riding down the bike path and quite frankly - that thing is scary as hell late at night!

Riding produces more riders

A girl who works with me, I suppose I shouldn't call her a girl as she's in her 40's, asked me if I would teach her to ride a bike this summer!!! How cool is that. She's from Africa and has never learned to ride a bike but always asks about my biking and said she's like to learn and wanted to know if I'd teach her! I'm so excited! I think I'll start looking for a cheaper road style bike for her to ride in the summer, one that I can keep in my garage to loan out or give away if someone starts enjoying it.

I think it's fabulous - and she thinks I'm crazy to ride in temps under 80 - but apparently my craziness somehow has drawn her in...because she is going to learn!

*****Doing a Happy Dance*****

Safe and Happy Riding my friends...sometimes our actions really do inspire others!

Random thoughts on a sleepless night

I tried going to bed but I had a thought that occurred to me about an hour ago and it woke me up immediately from the 15 minutes or so of sleep I was in to ----now I'm wide awake and totally feeling like I'm going to have a panic attack! No, I don't normally have these - just once in a while I totally get freaked out about something and I can't sleep because of it.

So, now here I sit at the computer because there's nothing else to do right now.

I see that someone from Portugal visited my site...that's so cool - considering that I am 100 percent Portuguese! I am stoked and hope they come back and visit often.

I commuted today - it was raining but warm this morning but by afternoon had turned pretty nasty and upon being offered a ride home I took it. So, only a partial commute today. Not sure what will happen for tomorrow.

The Medicaid surveyors are still in the building so my life was again gofer girl....ugh...not quite a manager not quite clueless gets you stuck at being gofer girl! BLAH! Actually, I've learned a lot during this survey already.

The interim administrator told me she thinks I should go get my Administrators License...I find it interesting that so many of the Administrators that have come into the building suggest that to me...I might look into it just to see what all is required.

Welp, I'm off to try going and taking a hot shower and then going back to bed.

Ride safe! Drive Safe----and remember; in Illinois you must give a cyclist on the road 3 feet clearance as you pass them :o) Everyone wants to get home safely at the end of the day!

Rainy Tuesday

Good morning! It's still wonderfully warm out this morning. I've decided I'm going to ride into work today despite the rain. I hear it might be pretty chilly by the time I get out of work so we will see, I might have to beg a ride home or suffer lol!

Yesterday the Medicaid surveyors walked in to the building. They intend to stay approximately 4 - 5 days. I've been made the runner while they are here...which isn't too bad except making all those darn copies! Oh well, nothing to complain about because it's not going to change that :)

I'll try to write more later - it's time for my morning crunches.

Manic Monday

...not really. Things have gone pretty well in the 3.5 hrs I've been up. Took the hubby to work, got the kids up, got myself into my sexy spandex biking clothes for the commute to work, packed my messenger bag with my work clothes and such, packed the kids lunches while they got ready and now we are all ready to walk out the door - 25 minutes early! If only every morning with the kids could go this smoothly!

Possibility of thunderstorms this morning but not enough to keep me off my bike in January when the temps are in the mid 50's. (currently 45 degrees but hey it's supposed to hit the 50's today!). Either way it's super warm for this time of year and my road bike and I are going to go have some fun!

I hope everyone has a safe and wonderful day!

Saturday Running

Good Morning everyone. It's 9:20 a.m. on Saturday 1/5/08!

I haven't ridden my bike at all in the first days of the new year which makes me very sad! I also still don't have my new bike :(

I got up at 4 a.m. this morning - couldn't sleep any longer even though I tried my hardest to stay asleep!

So, I got up and started picking up around the house. Incredibly the only things I have left to do are
1. Laundry (the bane of my existence!)
2. Vacuum the loft and upstairs hallway
3. fix dinner

So, I think I'm doing pretty darned good - I've even changed all the sheets this morning!

The boys are eating cinnamon rolls - which I would love to have....but, instead I'm drinking my last cup of coffee for the morning and then I'll eat a sensible lunch around 11. This whole idea of having to work at loosing weight really really ----SUCKS! I used to be able to eat anything; now if I even eat 1 bite of something bad for me I gain 2 - 5 lbs! I'm pretty certain that's the case!

The goal is that by the time our Club rides start up again I'll be a MUCH Slimmer me and at least 1 person in the club won't recognize me because of all the weight I've lost.
I've been trying to be good - staying away from unhealthy snacks - except that peanut butter cookie that the marketing department gave me yesterday! Otis Spunkmeyer cookies are the BEST! If you've never had them - don't try them otherwise you'll never be able to say no to them again.It's much easier to say no if you don't know how they melt in your mouth!

Okay, that's it for now - going to go take a shower and make myself as pretty as make up will allow so that when hubby gets home he doesn't think he is married to the crypt keeper :)~

Safe and happy riding! Oh, yeah temps in the mid 30's today - I think I might go ride!

Oh Yeah....GO PACKERS

So I've decided that my blog should match my favorite teams colors. Since I'm a die hard Green Bay Packers fan I think these will be my colors...at least through the winter...maybe in the summer I'll change it to my favorite baseball teams colors.

Anyway...
GO PACKERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Working on getting back to normal

As you guys probably know - my boss has been off work for a couple weeks due to an illness.


It's been a long couple of weeks - and hopefully I can get back on schedule with everything soon. ...if only I could squeeze in more biking hours and sleeping hours...
;o)

Be safe out there!!!