Project Awesome (aka Mo's Life)

Tentatively optimistic...

2011-09-07T19:57:00.000-07:00

I went to the lab today, expecting things to be the same...I was actually expecting my hematocrit to be up (no solid reason, just superstitious I guess!). Well....(drum roll), the results are:

Hematocrit: 39.6, down from 40.3
WBC: 7.1, down from 7.4
Platelets: 780, down from 995

WOO HOO! My platelets have not been this low since I was diagnosed!!!!! I am hopeful this means the Pegasys (Interferon) is working at my current dose. I am happily not having ANY side effects from it at all, but don't want to increase my dose either. I would gladly decrease it, though! I've been "conversing" with some people online and sounds like many take half the dose I'm on...that would be amazing!

Ok...I would love to write about all the fabulous stuff I've been doing lately, but I'm sooo tired. I need to go put my feet up and turn my brain off for a bit. Gotta work the next two days, and I need my strength!

Love and hugs to all,
Mo

Yummy cereal and a new veggie!

2011-08-21T14:20:00.000-07:00

In my efforts to be as healthy as humanly possible, I went to the farmer's market today in search of delish organic produce. Sadly, most of the farmers at the market use pesticides, making it a not-so-healthy experience after all. I did happen across a couple of organic stands, and picked up something I've never had before...a lemon cucumber! Isn't she pretty?

I am going to try to pick up something new every time I go...I also went to the Co-op and got a few new fruits (I forget what they're called...one is a melon and the other was a type of plum or apricot or pluot...I don't remember, but I'm sure they'll be amazing!). As for the cereal I made today...super delish! Here's the recipe:

Mo's Awesome Breakfast Cereal
1 cup or so of fresh organic berries
1 T freshly ground flax seed
1/4 cup or so of chopped raw walnuts
1 T of hemp seeds
1 T raw shredded coconut
1/4 cup raisins
1 tsp cacao nibs (optional)
1/3 cup raw granola (optional)
Almond milk

It's so good! I just realized a drizzle of agave nectar or honey would be super yummy too!

In other news, I took my third shot of Interferon on Friday night. I slept like a rock, then had another loooong nap on Saturday. Happily, I don't work any Saturdays for the next 6 weeks, so I can get a feel for how the medication affects me. If I keep up my napping habit, I'm going to have to tell my manager I can't work Saturdays, but would really rather keep things on the down-low until I get hired into a permanent position.

Off to clean the house before I totally run out of steam!
Mo

Homestead Mo

2011-08-14T15:56:00.000-07:00

When one makes green juice, one goes through the vegetables in a big way. For example, my absolute most favorite juice that I would like to drink every day has 4-5 carrots, 4 stalks celery, one apple and one lemon. I am constantly going to the Co-Op for carrots, celery and lemons! I buy the apples in bigger quantities b/c they last a while, but even when I buy the 5 lb bag of carrots, I am still always running to the store! And some juices take a whole head of romaine plus a bunch of other stuff...so while it is a great way to pack in massive amounts of nutrients, it is rather time/money consuming.

So...I am planting vegetables! Tom took out two or three rose bushes that were getting all our great vegetable-growing sun and I planted romaine, broccoli, swiss chard and onion in that spot. Yesterday at Home Depot we bought a wine barrel planter and in that I planted some other lettuce (butter maybe?), chives and some other kind of onion. I also picked up some carrot seeds. I need to find a pot or two and get those babies going...apparently carrots around here do better in pots b/c the soil is so dense.

Once we get our bathroom/plumbing project finished, I'll have another area in the back that gets pretty decent morning sun...might be able to plant something there...not sure. The tree in the yard has gotten so big that it's casting a lot of shade, which would ordinarily be a good thing!

Aaaand, for our anniversary we planted a Meyer Lemon tree...he's a little dwarf tree and so cute! No lemons yet and probably won't get any until the spring, I'm guessing...especially if he gets cold over the winter. He looks pretty hearty though...a fighter! Ha!

There is an awful lot to learn about gardening...it is rather overwhelming. Maybe I'll look for a gardening class somewhere...though there is a ton of information online...where to start? Anyway, I'll take pics in a few weeks once things take hold and start to look less pathetic...they always look so pathetic straight out of the little containers. The chives and onions are all floppy, but I'm sure everything will perk up soon!

My platelets are under a million!

2011-08-11T20:00:00.000-07:00

Yippee Skippee! I just got my results back and everything else is normal. My platelets have been over the million mark since I got checked on July 21st, and though I'm still in the "way too high" range, I am no longer in the "oh my god, I could have a stroke any minute" range. At least I hope not (knock on wood folks, in case I just jinxed myself!)

Needless to say, I will continue on my regimen of fish oil, vitamin E oil, aspirin and such (all of these decrease platelet clumping and basically "thin" the blood). Tomorrow is my second injection of interferon, so not sure yet if it's the interferon that's working or my body's amazing ability to "literally heal itself" (to quote Michael Scott...name that episode and win a prize!).

In other news, I may have a broken toe. I bashed it up pretty good and it's an unhealthy shade of purple. I went to get an x-ray and will hear tomorrow if it's broken or not. Nonetheless, I had to call in sick for tomorrow as I can't be on my feet with a maybe broken toe...it hurts!

Wish I could celebrate the platelets with a glass of wine...guess I'll settle for a glass of green juice instead...

On a mission!

2011-08-09T17:07:00.000-07:00

I am now on a mission to get as healthy and toxin-free as possible. TaDa!

How am I accomplishing this huge task, you ask? Here is my evil plan:
-Detox diet for 7-21 days (depending on how long I can stick to it...I'm on day 1)
-Following the detox, adopt a healthier diet overall (whole foods, mostly raw; lots of green juice!)
-Get rid of all toxic and chemical-laden household products (almost there, still gotta use up some laundry detergents and a few other things)
-Replace amalgam fillings with porcelain (this is in the works...have to get two regular fillings done, then I'll start the replacements)
-Oral chelation therapy (aka: metal detox) as I am getting the fillings removed, this will necessitate the next item on the list
-Consult with a naturopath (free 15-min phone consultation is tomorrow morning)
-Exercise more (I got on my bike the other day...woo hoo!)
-Filter my water (done...bought a filter yesterday)
-Get plenty of rest (usually not a problem for me at all!)

So far my evil plan is going well...started a detoxifying cleanse diet today...here is a picture of my juicer in action...that purple stuff is red cabbage which is the base for a very tangy juice featuring cabbage, celery, apple, lemon, lime, kale and ginger. It is sooooo good!

Ok, off to dinner with a friend (farm fresh and organic, of course!)

Hugs,
Mo

Pegasys Injection Numero Uno

2011-08-06T12:40:00.000-07:00

I took my first dose of Pegasys last night around 8pm. Other than being ready for bed at 9:30 (which is my usual time anyway), I have felt zero side effects. ZERO! I was told by one of the nurses I met with yesterday that the side effects may not kick in until the next dose...so I guess I shouldn't get too excited yet. I eve =n went for a 17-mile bike ride this morning, and actually felt great!

Next week will be the real test, as I have to work both Friday and Saturday. Keep those fingers crossed!

In other news, I am going to make some onion rings in my dehydrator today...well, I'm going to start them today. Dehydrating takes a looooong time. Trying a new recipe, so stand by :-)

Hugs to all!
Mo

What's on top of my strawberries?

2011-08-05T10:19:00.000-07:00

Why, it's a 2-month supply of Pegasys. Woo hoo! I am taking my first dose tonight around 6 or so, accompanied by Tylenol ATC (around-the-clock) for the first 24-hrs to help alleviate the flu-like symptoms. So...stay tuned for more, and wish me luck!
Mo

Awesome Day at Work!

2011-08-03T20:53:00.000-07:00

So...in non PV-related news, I had an awesome day at work today! I took care of two patients (one sick and one not-so-sick). The not-so-sick one was an adorable older gentleman, while the sick one was trying her best to keep me on my toes! At one point her BP skyrocketed from the 120s to over 200, while her heart rate dropped waaaaay down. Then, later on...she decided to raise her heart rate sky high and drop her pressure. It was a wackadoo day, let me tell ya. We got her somewhat squared away, though...hoping she doesn't give the night-shift RN too much trouble. Needless to say, I was G-L-A-D to be done for the day!

Annnd, this may sound goofy, but I got to help a co-worker out today! I am finally getting familiar enough with things that when someone needs help I can be somewhat useful. This is HUGE in the ICU, as we rely on our colleagues so very much. It's been very important to me that I be a contributing part of the team and I'm starting to feel that way...even if it's just a little bit at a time.

Speaking of work, I am moving to night shift in four weeks or so. I guess it's inevitable, so I might as well welcome the idea. More details when I'm not so freakin' tired!

Hugs to all!
Mo

The Debate Continues...

2011-08-01T09:53:00.000-07:00

I have been researching drug options like a madwoman the past weeks, trying to figure out which is the least evil. Seems there is a bit of debate amongst the experts, with conflicting studies galore and a lot of usage of the phrase "large-scale studies recommended." UGH!

Here are the two front-runners:
Hydroxyurea: The mainstay of PV treatment, HU (as it is called amongst the online community of PVers) has been linked to the development of cancers, plus has a bunch of nasty side effects. It's cheap and commonly used, so many docs are comfortable with it. I'm not so sure I am.

Pegylated Interferon alpha-2a: Once-a-week injections of a protein that occurs naturally in the body (well, we have interferon in our bodies, not entirely sure how similar this is to that, but at least it's in the same zipcode). Anecdotatal reports of the side-effects range wildly, but that may be because the dosage can range wildly as well. This drug has been used for years to treat Hep-C and has recently enjoyed a renaissance as a med for younger patients with PV. Why younger patients? Because it has shown the ability to cause complete remissions and even REVERSE the mutated gene. Side effects are mainly flu-like, but it was reported that it was well tolerated at low doses by a test done in Texas.

I printed out a bunch of studies to take to my doctor's appointment today. Stay tuned!

Hugs to all!
Mo

p.s. Got labs done yesterday. RBCs were down (despite not having any phlebotomy, which is kinda weird), platelets are still on the climb. Darn platelets. Need to talk to doc about why RBCs are down though...that is odd and is hopefully not a sign of ominous things. Think happy thoughts!

Interferon!

2011-07-29T13:32:00.000-07:00

As ya'll can see from my previous updates, I haven't been too excited about the two drugs my doc mentioned. So, like the good patient advocate that I am, I researched things on my own and came across some studies for a drug called Pegylated Interferon (the pegylated part has to do with what it binds to and it's ability to stick around in the system longer...so you only have to take it once a week).

For the geek in all of us, here are links to two abstracts:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19826111
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18650451

So,what does this mean in good ol' plain English? Well, this particular drug has been used to treat hepatitis and some smarty pants decided to see how it would work with people who have PV...perhaps because one of the side effects of the drug is bone marrow suppression (which is exactly what us PV folks want!). In many patients it created a COMPLETE REMISSION (or "complete response" as the abstract states), and in some cases it REVERSES the gene mutation! Holy Cow Batman!

Anyway, I emailed the studies to my doc and he responded right away that they looked very promising. We are planning to meet on Monday, so let's cross fingers that he's done some more research and can get me on this drug (and that it works, of course!).

In other news...planning a brunch for a few friends on Sunday (and yes, we're going to eat outside in the semi-madeover backyard if it's not too hot). Cleaned out the fridge today, found a bunch of healthy stuff I had forgotten about in the cabinets and managed to fit my dehydrator AND juicer in the kitchen! Hoping to start doing more raw-foods, and having a permanent home for the ol' dehydrator beast should help.

Gotta get back to work!
Hugs,
Mo

All by myself....

2011-07-28T16:54:00.000-07:00

I have that song running through my head...All By Myself.....lalala. Why? Because I am going to spend the night all by myself for the first time since this diagnosis. Hopefully I'll be able to sleep, though of course, I'll be waking up every two hours as is my norm. Not planning to sleep through the night until the platelets are below 600,000. Anyway, just reporting in...wish me luck!

My platelets are stupid

2011-07-27T15:35:00.000-07:00

Just spoke with the doc...he'd left me a message the other day saying it was time to start considering platelet-lowering agents. The two he mentioned, Hydroxurea and Anagrelide, have icky side effects and I'm not too keen on taking either one of them. So, when we touched base today I thought he was definitely going to push for meds. However, since my hemoglobin has dropped to normal he says I'm not "high risk" for stroke right now...I guess just moderate risk (which is still rather poopy), but since I take an aspirin every day he says we can watch the platelets for a bit and see if they continue to go up or if they drop down below 1 million. If they stay below a million, I can just take an aspirin...otherwise it's time for meds.

I have, however, been reading some promising studies regarding something called 'pegylated interferon'...apparently plain ol' interferon is nasty stuff, but people seem to tolerate the pegylated version much better. Studies have been done on patients with PV and it has shown an "excellent" response...some people even go into a lasting remission. I plan to print these out and take them to my appointment on the 1st.

Now for some awesomeness...Tom and I are giving our backyard a little touch-up. Not a total re-do, but we're putting in a fresh layer of decomposed granite and new bender board for the flower beds. It has made such a huge difference! I'm going to get a few new plants on Friday and re-mulch the beds...it is going to be party ready in no time! If we can finish our bathroom project we could potentially have an end-of-the summer bash. Fun fun!

And...without further ado...our new addition!

And here is a shot of the interior:

Isn't she just adorable?
Hugs to all!
Mo

New car and more lab results :-)

2011-07-26T05:21:00.000-07:00

Ok, let's get the business end of this out of the way...went to the vampires yesterday and got another unit of blood drained. My hemoglobin is now 11.9 (goal was 14...so I'm well under that), WBCs are back to being within the normal range (on the high end, but still within normal limits), and my platelets are still climbing, though at first glance it looks like they haven't jumped by quite as much...but what's it really matter when they're over 1 million anyway (normal is 150,000 to 400,000)? Call me Super Clotting Girl! Ok, not funny...since a clot is the evil little demon lurking around the corner of my every thought these days. Hence the reason I set my alarm for every two hours in the middle of the night...I figure if I wake up and find I've had a stroke, I've still got an hour to get to the hospital and start thrombolytic therapy. I seriously can't wait until I can sleep straight through the night again...I wonder if this is how parents of newborns feel? Well, they're probably a lot happier than I am right now...my mood has been a bit on the downer side and I have to say, I do not like it. Not one bit.

And now for the awesomeness....I got a new car! An adorable little Subaru Impreza hatchback...she's white with beige interior. I'll take some pics soon and put those up.

Ok, off to get ready for work. The awesome thing about being at work is that I hardly have time to think about my health...I'm too busy taking care of others. It's a wonderful feeling, and I'd do it more often except for the fact that: a) overtime is frowned upon, and b) it's totally and completely exhausting.

Day off tomorrow! Yay!

Hugs and fuzzy warm kitties,
Mo

I'm almost there!

2011-07-21T16:24:00.000-07:00

Got my 2nd phleb done yesterday and my levels today were almost to goal! Yay! The nurse at the infusion clinic initially thought it would take about a month to get to these levels. She obviously did not know who she was dealing with. However, my platelets are all out of whack, so not really sure what's going on there. WBCs are also on the rise. Could be due to stress or just this icky disorder. Meeting with the Doc on the 1st, so will find out more then.

Awesome thing of the day....Trudi!!! She is sporting one of her many costumes (she's the canine Cher, I tell ya), and it just makes me smile. Animals are indeed AWESOME.
Hugs to all!

Awesome News!

2011-07-19T19:20:00.000-07:00

I got blood drawn at the lab today...and I am happy to report that my hemoglobin dropped by 1.8 points...after just one phlebotomy! My platelets are still rising (darnit), but am trying to focus on the positives. At this point the platelets are close to 1 million (normal is about 100,000 to 450,000), and I'm not sure at what point meds come into the picture. I have an appointment with my doc on the 29th. Stay tuned.

Something awesome happened today:

My friend, the Yoganazi, surprised me with this over-the-top surprise present. What's the occasion? She's awesome, that's the occasion! Apparently, this particular bag was chosen because it will match my new car...hopefully going to pick it up tomorrow! Will the awesomeness ever end? Let's hope not!

Diagnosis

2011-07-19T19:14:00.000-07:00

The past week or two have been a real roller-coaster...hope mixed with terror, curiosity mixed with avoidance...it's been trying to say the least. Based on my EPO levels (a hormone produced by the kidney to stimulate the production of red blood cells), my doc has essentially confirmed that I have Polycythemia Vera. It's a disorder of the bone marrow that causes it to produce too many cells..in my case RBCs and platelets. This causes the blood to essentially become too thick leading to awful things like blood clots which manifest as stroke, heart attacks and pulmonary embolism. Not happy thoughts.

So, the goals of therapy are to get the blood levels down to normal ranges while reducing the blood's tendency to clot. To do this I take aspirin every day and also get a phlebotomy 2x a week until my levels are normal. A phlebotomy is basically like donating blood except they throw it in the garbage. Here is a picture of me after my first phlebotomy.

I was very nervous going in...but my good friend Kerry came along and held my hand when they poked me with the huge needles. When the first set of IV tubing clotted off almost immediately due to the extreme sludginess of my blood, I got a little bit scared. Happily, nurses are very clever, and they figured out how to use a different type of tubing that was a little larger in diameter. I hear that as the phlebotomies progress and the blood gets thinned out, you can see the difference in how easily it's able to move through the tubing. I'm going again tomorrow, and will video tape it. Yes, I know it's dorky...but I'm doing it anyway :-)

Referral

2011-07-08T12:06:00.001-07:00

So my doc referred me to a hematologist (who also happens to be an oncologist). So when I called to make the appointment, the woman who answered the phone said "Oncology, this is So-and-So." Needless to say, my heart dropped down to my shoes. After setting up the appointment time she says, "Now, I don't want you to freak out, but when you come to the appointment, the door says 'oncology'...it's all in one unit." Don't you think she could have said that FIRST? Geez!

Regardless, I am still a bit freaked out as there is obviously something funky going on. And the reason my doc is both a hematologist and an oncologist is because blood disorders and cancer are so closely related. Great. Anyway, I have vowed to stay off the internet and stop trying to self-diagnose myself. In the meantime, I'm just focusing on drinking my 64 oz of water every day and eating foods high in iron. For breakfast, I had a green smoothie with blackstrap molasses, which is super high in iron. Plus, it was yummy! And high in fiber! And full of vitamins and nutrients! Loooove my green smoothies. I think I could work this angle and get Tom to buy me a Vita-Mix...hm.....

Anyway, Tom gets home today from a camping trip...he cut the trip short so he could be with me in my freak-out-edness. I think staying busy is the key. It's when I get in bed at night and there's nothing to distract me that my mind starts going to those scary places. Today has been good so far...this morning I went to an ICU Skills Fair for work where I had to get checked off on a bunch of stuff like ScVO2 monitors, IVDs and lumbar drains, temporary pacemakers, PA caths, sepsis screening, pressure ulcer prevention, rotational therapy...so, that was nice and busy! Saw lots of people from my unit there...starting to feel like less and less of an outsider. In a few minutes I'm picking up my pal to grab lunch and go scrubs shopping...she starts her new job on Monday, so now all my friends have found nursing jobs...awesome!

Ok, off to make the house look like I semi-cleaned it before T gets back from his trip. Hugs to all!
Mo

Honk if you love my blog.

2011-07-04T17:02:00.000-07:00

Hey friends and fam...I don't update this much because I am not sure anyone else reads it. Probably due to the fact that I have my privacy settings set to "If I told you, I'd have to kill you." Anyway...if you've been in touch with me at all lately, you know I landed my dream job in the ICU. It is all kinds of awesome!

In other news...dealing with some troubling blood work but am trying not to get too freaked about it. My red blood cell count is high which means I've got a horrible disorder or I'm pretty darn dehydrated. I'm going with dehydrated and as a result am drinking a ton of water...I downloaded a little app for my iPhone called Water Tracker. It's pretty neat...you can set random reminders throughout the day that say, "Hey, drink some water!" I've set my goal at 12 8-oz glasses and have done good for two whole days in a row! Apparently it takes a bit to reverse chronic dehydration, so I'm going to stick with it until I get my next blood test. I also have super high platelets, which can also be a horrible disease or an iron deficiency. Since my ferritin levels came back low, I'm hoping that's the reason for it and not Something Else. Tom (and everyone else) thinks I need to eat beef every now and again...and honestly, I probably would because this shilolah is scaring me awfully bad. However, I'd like to try alternatives first...and one of the things I've been reading about is celiac. Apparently, a significant number of people who are diagnosed with celiac have NO gastrointestinal symptoms at all....they get tested for it because they have iron-deficiency anemia (like moi). With that said, being a vegan AND following a gluten-free diet would be rather restrictive, and I may have to throw something back into the mix to replace my beloved seitan (which is 100% gluten and one of my all-time favorite things). Sigh...we shall see. I just want to get this blood work back to normal so I can stop lying awake at night thinking about all the horrible things that can happen. And I also may have a B-12 deficiency...I'm telling ya, I am one really untalented vegetarian! I am sure my doc will do more tests, so stand by...if anyone is out there, that is.

In other exciting news...Tom and I found a little house we'd like to buy. It's two streets over from us and is absolutely darling! It would make a great little rental. Not sure we have enough saved for a down payment yet, but T is supposed to call a lender tomorrow and get some ideas. I may have talked him into staying in this house, but there are some things I'd like to do to it to get it more organized and functional. Namely, I'd like to turn the office into a humungous walk-in closet. That would be The Most Awesome Thing In The World. It would also cost Way Too Much Money, but could possibly be a fun DIY project. We'll see...need to buy the little rental first, so stand by.

Oh, speaking of buying things, I bought a new car. Or rather, I committed to buying a new car. It is enroute from some mysterious place and will arrive on the 20th...only 16 days away! Yippee! It's a white Subaru Impreza hatchback. Super super cute. I'll take pics once it's in my hot little hands...or maybe a video using Tom's dorky GoPro camera. YouTube here I come!

Ok, that's enough rambling...do me a favor and post a reply if you are still reading. I'd kind of like to see which of you I've suckered into following this almost non-existant blog.

Love and hugs,
Mo!

Hi from Mo Land!

2010-11-16T11:01:00.000-08:00

Howdy friends! I am just popping in to say hi...things with school have been pretty busy and iIve generally just had a case of "the blahs" brought on my a severe case of senioritis. Only four more weeks of school and then I am a FREE WOMAN! In other good news, I only have three clinical shifts left and I'm getting one of those knocked out tonight...the last two are Sunday/Monday (knock on wood that my preceptor doesn't get called off).

In other news....wait, there is no other news. All I do is school stuff! I've been making lots of cookies lately...I'll have to post some recipes soon. Also, I recently discovered Soy Curls. OMG! The best thing evah!!!! More exciting photos and details to come as soon as I'm done with all this school BS and have time to cook and basically live my life. Oh yeah...and hunt for a job (it's bleak out there folks...very very bleak).

Ashtanga Day 1

2010-06-28T14:26:00.001-07:00

In my quest to be less fat and more awesome, I am exploring Ashtanga yoga. Yes, I've been doing yoga for something like ten years now, but I've never full heartedly committed to one type of practice or another. And Ashtanga is pretty darn cool. Plus, and I hate to say this because it's very un-yoga-ish, but it's great for those of us who are rather goal oriented. By doing the same practice over and over and over, you can easily see where you are improving and, as such, there is always something to work on. I like that aspect of it very much. It is, however, very difficult....especially when you look at doing the whole primary series with all the jumping forward and jumping back. I do not have anywhere near the strength needed to do a proper jump back, and my forward jumps are rather clumsy (in my opinion)...exhibiting none of the floatiness of David Swensen or other Ashtanga gurus. Sigh.

But today, I was reading my Asthanga Practice Manual (Swensen), and in it he says he could not make it through the primary series at first. So, that is my motivation...because obviously, if you keep at it then it will get better...right? I have been going to a yoga studio to practice with Bill Counter (who is awesome!!!), but my lack of a job makes it difficult to go as often as I'd like. So, I am going to try very hard (notice the lack of the word "commit") to doing an Ashtanga practice daily and supplementing that with one or two trips to the studio each week. Now, when I say that I will do an Ashtanga practice daily, I do not mean I will do the entire series each day. I know me, and I know that I cannot commit to 1.5 to 2 hours of yoga every day. I will, however, at least do one of the short forms that Swensen outlines in his book, and will commit to a full series one or twice a week.

So, to report on today...I practiced in my office using Swenson's audio CD and book as guides. I left out the jump backs in the seated series and did "take-it-up" instead, hoping that this will help me gain the requisite core strength for those gorgeous floaty jump backs. Even with that adjustment, I only made it up to Supta Konasana and then decided that I was beat. I also decided that the office is no good for this practice, as there really isn't room to do a good Supta Konasana and the floor is rather dirty. So, I need to find a better spot that has more space and less dust. Maybe the living room if I move some stuff around. I really look forward to the day when I can have an entire corner to devote entirely to yoga...that will be awesome! I hate having to move things around...it's just one more barrier and excuse to keep me on my duff and off my matt.

Also, I have had NO CHOCOLATE so far today. Really trying to make it all day!

Rainbow Cupcakes

2010-06-28T14:25:00.001-07:00

This is the sort of trouble I get into when school is not in session:

I used the Basic Vanilla Cupcake recipe from Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World, then got fancy with food coloring. They are just so precious, I had to take a pic. Took a dozen to a friend's house for dinner and all but one got devoured, but only because I practiced restraint and only had one cake. Gotta get less fat, and all this baking is NOT HELPING!

Peanut Butter Cookies

2010-05-23T09:58:00.000-07:00

I made the PB cookies from Vegan Cookies Invade Your Cookie Jar. I used the wrong molasses, so they turned out kind of dark and I may have cooked them too long b/c they have a slightly burnt or toasty flavor that I'm sure was not intended. So, my verdict with these is they are so-so if you use the wrong molasses. I'll pick up some of the light molasses today and give them a do-over sometime.

Curried Carrot Dip

2010-05-22T12:47:00.000-07:00

I just received what some call the Big Kahuna of vegan cookbooks...Veganomicon. Though I am not famous for following through on projects (note the aborted Callanetics experiment), I am going to try very very hard to cook everything in that book and post my reviews of the recipes here for my pals and anyone else who loves vegan cooking.

So, without further ado...today I made the Curried Carrot Dip. Normally, I would not choose a dip for my First Ever Veganomicon recipe, but I had a bunch of carrots to use up, so the recipe caught my eye. It was either that, or end up tossing them out. I am so glad I made the dip! I did, however, learn that I really need to invest in a food processor or a VitaMix b/c my blender suuuuuucks. I ended up mashing the remaining chunks with a fork, so I'm sure the texture would be much creamier with the proper equipment.

I would also probably use a bit more garlic than the recipe calls for...but I may be speaking too soon as I did not wait the suggested 30 mins before devouring the dip on a whole wheat pita. No worries...there is still a substantial portion left in the fridge, so I'll see how it tastes after the flavors have begun to meld.

All in all, it was an easy recipe to make and I could see using this spread to kick sandwiches up a notch...or simply enjoying on a pita is pretty yum, too. It's also a gorgeous color! Since my version is lumpier than what it should be, I didn't take a picture...but if I get a food processor, I'll make it again and post the photo...it's so pretty!

I hurt all over...

2010-03-14T17:16:00.001-07:00

Just checking in to say that the Callanetics video kicked my bootie. My body hurts from head to toe...well, from neck to thighs. Went on a bike ride today for 90 minutes and thought that would help...I suspect I will be even more sore in the morning.

Callanetics Experiment Part II

2010-03-13T15:24:00.000-08:00

The reason I thought the "Great Callanetics Experiment" sounded familiar was probably b/c I keep stopping and starting these "experiments." Not sure why I do that since I am notoriously bad at finishing things...great at starting things, crap-tastically cruddy at finishing them.

Anyway, I am once again embarking into the world of Callanetics. I always peter out right when I'm starting to see results AND I HAVE NO IDEA WHY!!! Probably some weird psychological weirdness, but that's for my future therapist to figure out.

So this experiment entails completing 50 Callanetics workouts by my birthday in 15 weeks. That's 3-4 workouts a week. And because I love rules (as long as I'm the one that makes them), I have come up with some rules for this experiment...I'm calling it the "Fabulous by Forty" experiment. Catchy, eh?

1) If I do 4 workouts in a week, then 1 of them can be one of the short 15-minute workouts (hips or legs) and one of them can be one of the Bar Method videos...don't want to get too bored!
2) Stick as closely to my vegan diet as I can...I'm at about 80% compliance (it's the darn cheese that gets me!)
3) Drink 64 oz of water each day...this is probably a 50 oz increase over my usual water intake.
4) 3 glasses of wine each week (instead of 2 glasses each day...can you say hellloooo to herbal tea?). I expect this little rule by itself to result in a few pounds of weight loss all on its own.
5) Use my whitening toothpaste 2x a day.
6) Never ever ever go to bed with makeup on. Ever. (this is a tough one for me)
7) Deep condition hair once a week (also a difficult one for me to stick to)
8) At least 5 servings of fruits and veggies each day (this one is also tough for me)
9) 2-3 cardio workouts each week...either a walk or bike ride. Running is out d/t my old lady hip issues I've had off and on since I was 30.
10) Measurements and pics after each block of 10 workouts. Oh the shame. Oh the humiliation.

Week 1, Day 1, Callanetics 1:
I did the original Callanetics video today. Not so bad, except I petered out on the first leg exercises and the blasted, evil pelvic rotations. I also had to support my neck during about half of the ab exercises, but I suspect I'll only have to do this for the first 4-5 workouts or so. I was supposed to go on a bike ride, but my friend cancelled and since I can't be trusted to do anything like that on my own, I went shopping instead. Plan for tomorrow is either a bike ride or a walk in the morning. Leaning torward an hour long walk, b/c I have got to get back home and start studying for my Peds exam coming up on Friday. Oh, and I measured...but I'm not posting the numbers until they shrink a little. It's too horrific and this is a family show (ha!).

3rd Callanetics DONE!

2009-07-04T13:49:00.001-07:00

Here's an update on the official Callanetics Experiement. I have completed the workout three times and have already seen a half inch decrease in my waist! Yippee! I took a few other measurements, but it's so hard to remember EXACTLY where I put the tape measure, so I'm not trusting the other measurements just yet. I think there could have been a half inch or quarter inch drop in the thighs, but until it's down a full inch I can't be sure I'm measuring in the same spot. But all in all, this is very promising!

Yesterday I did the workout without the video, and I have to say it was MUCH less boring! I just printed out the sequence and watched something interesting instead. In general progress:

-I didn't have to take a full break in the first leg exercise, but this is probably because I was able to pause when things got hairy. Granted, I paused in the plie, so it wasn't a full pause!
-I felt like I curled up higher in the ab exercises...yay!
-The pelvic rotations hurt, but I didn't curse at anyone this time.
-I swear that I can see a "line" defining my quadriceps from my leg fat...in the right lighting, of course...but still!!!

My goal is to do the Callanetics workout 18 times in January, which will bring me up to a total of 20! So far, I have done 2 of those 18. Go me!

The great Callanetics experiment

2009-06-28T09:56:00.001-07:00

Have I started a Callanetics experiment before? It sounds so totally familiar, but even if I did I am SURE I did not finish it as that would go against everything I believe in. Ha!

Callanetics is a form of deep-muscle exercise developed by Callan Pinckney way back in the 80s as a way to alleviate her severe knee and back pain. The exercises are rooted in ballet, but are actually very unique and INTENSE! She has a book that I read back in high school (so it must have just come out actually...see what a trendsetter I am?) called "Ten Years Younger in Ten Hours"...the routine takes about an hour to do, hence the name.

I have the book (I think I do anyway...will have to search the bedroom closet after hubby gets up) and three of the videos: Callanetics (which is based on the book), Quick Callanetics for Hips and Behind, and Quick Callanetics for Legs. I have started and stopped this routine several times, but I'm not sure why. Whenever I take body measurements after 3 or 4 sessions there is always a loss of inches. SO, I am going to STICK TO IT for 10 whole sessions over the course of the next 2.5-3 weeks and re-measure after I have completed by 10th session of the one-hour program (I'll count each Quick video as half a lesson).

The reason I am tracking this experiment on this blog is A) I'm bored and on summer vacation, and B) while there are a lot of snippets of Callanetics anecdotes out there, there isn't much in the way of following someone through their experience...and since that's what I was looking for, I thought I'd just do it myself. (Geez! Do I have to do EVERYTHING???) :-)

So, my recap for Session 1: I found that I was really glad the ab exercises are toward the beginning of the video, because I always dread those and they're over before you know it! I'll also have to FORCE myself to do the entire warm-up, but I can see how that could get skipped by someone if they are short on time. But, in the interest of being experiment-y, I will do the warmups. They're just kind of boring, but they must be there for a reason. By far the hardest things for me to do are the leg exercises...I can't do all the pelvic scoops without stopping several times and the pelvic rotations make me want to hurt someone.

All in all, I felt pretty good after the workout...though my legs were a wee bit wobbly. Today I feel slightly sore all over, but nothing horrendous that will keep me from popping in a Quick video for later tonight.

One down, nine to go! (And yes, i took measurements...SCARY STUFF, so I won't post it here)

Black Bean, Mushroom and Quinoa-stuffed Peppers

2009-06-21T13:41:00.000-07:00

I thought I was going to make a breakfast dish next, but then realized that would be about a week since it will take me that long to finish the batch of scrambled tofu I made.

So, for lunch today I made these yummy bell peppers from Vegan with a Vengeance! This is a picture of the peppers before I put the tomato sauce on top...they're so pretty!

The nutrition info is pretty, too! 294 calories per pepper, 11.4 g of Protein, NO cholesterol and a ton of Vitamin A and Vitamin C (62% and 232%).

I haven't tasted them yet, but I did sneak a bite of the filling before I put them in the oven, and I think we may have a home-run here!

Vegan Cooking Club

2009-06-21T09:40:00.000-07:00

In the interest of celebrating health and vitality as I come to the tail-end of my 30s, I am starting a Vegan Cooking Club with a few friends (only few because I suspect some of the people I invited are teaming up and thinking of ways to avoid joining the club). Doesn't that sound totally fun?

Anyway, along those lines, I decided it would be a fun idea to cook my way through the Vegan with a Vengeance cookbook, otherwise I tend to prepare the same five recipes (kind of like when I go to Napa I go to the same ol' wineries every time...just call me Rut Girl). Anyway, I started this morning with recipe #1, Scrambled Tofu. It makes about 11 half-cup servings at 67 calories a serving...so even if you nosh out and go for a whole cup it's still a low-cal and high-protein, healthy-carb breakfast! Oh, did I mention the "no cholesterol" thing?

So, please bear in mind that I am not a professional photographer, but here is a picture of the completed scramble:

Next up: Asparagus and Sun-dried Tomato Frittata!!!!

So what is 2,4 Dimethylhexane anyway?

2008-09-03T16:57:00.001-07:00

With opening lines like that I plan to be ASTOUNDING at cocktail parties. So obviously this semester I am taking Organic Chemistry, but before you start freaking out let me clarify that this is a survey course of O-Chem and Biochem...so it's not as horrific as straight O-Chem. I've heard it's actually not that bad...AND, we get to make soap! Cool!

The other classes I am taking are: Introductory Statistics, Cultural Anthropology and English Composition. So, yeah...I'm pretty busy. I am also getting ready to start filling out my school applications...think positive thoughts for Sac State! I am totally nervous about Sac State...mainly because I do not get any of the extra points for things like knowing Mandarin or living in abject poverty. I may get two points since my parents didn't graduate from college...but I'm so old...does that even count anymore?

Plus, since I didn't go to college in Kansas, will they accept all my transfers? Totally stressed!!!!! On top of that I have to take the TEAS (Test of Essential Academic Skills) on the 11th, and the GRE on the 21st or so. Am I ready for the GRE? NO! I have taken the TEAS once before, but I think I can do better score-wise. I got a 94.1 and I'm aiming for a 96%.

I am sooo ready for winter vacation! Tom and I are thinking of going to Oregon for a few days skiing at Mt. Ashland, a few days at the beach and a few days in the town of Ashland. Since I'll be starting at Sac State in January (positive thinking!), then this will be our last vacay for awhile.

Not sure if I updated ya'll on my A&P class from this summer. Totally rocked it. Another A ;-) Though that class was horrendously compacted and the lectures were insanely long there is one good thing about it...now even my two hour lectures seem amazingly short! Yay for that!

On the Fitness Front...

2008-07-08T19:25:00.000-07:00

Ok, so don't tell my hubby but for his B-Day I got him this cool thing by Nike that you put in your shoe and it logs your running mileage...somehow it communicates all this to your iPod so you can analyze your running program on your iPod. It's way cool. So, in conjunction with that I signed the two of us up for a 5K on September 14th...that's not very far from now considering that I get winded if I jog for more than 2 minutes straight.

So...to gear up for our big run I am running with the help of a Podcast called "Couch to 5K", which basically turns even the laziest person ever (me) into a runner in 9 weeks. Since I am also trying to talk my friend Cheri into doing a duathlon on August 24th, I am compressing my 9 week running plan down to 7 or so. And yes, I know that the whole idea is to gradually ease into running, but hey...I can bench press 40 pounds and do 3.5 "real" push-ups, so it's not like I'm starting at groun zero here. :-)

Oh, I also got him a wobble-board, which is kind of one of those things that I think he'll like but that I KNOW I'll like. If I were cool enough to do links I'd do them here so you could check it out, but alas...I am not that cool.

Call me Super Nerd

2008-07-08T19:12:00.000-07:00

I will be the first to admit that I am having The Most Un-Summer Summer Ever. I am taking the second component to Anatomy & Physiology and it is surprising how things like this just take over your life. One minute I'm chatty and interesting at parties and the next I'm only able to discuss lymph nodes and afterload. Riveting.

At this point I am halfway through the class...we have our third exam next Thursday, then there's only one more "regular" exam...the last one is take-home, I'm thinking because it's given just a couple of days after text #4 and there's no way to assimilate all the information in that short of time. Plus, the final is optional, so as long as I do well on my next two tests, then I can kind of skate for the final week or so of class. So, that means only 2.5 more weeks of super-intense A&P. Yippeeeee!

So right now we're studying the circulatory system, having finished up on the heart last week. I have to say that this stuff is much more interesting than I thought it would be...just the regulation of blood pressure alone is really really interesting. So, the good news is that even though I'm borING I am not at all borED. For this chapter, the main challenge is memorizing most of the arteries and veins of the body and being able to recite a pathway, say from the ascending aorta to the anterior tibial artery. I'm doing pretty good on all the extremities, it's the trunk that is the most confusing...there are a lot of vessels in that area! I'm almost got the arteries down, though...and will start memorizing the veins probably tomorrow. Again, I am just riveting at parties.

What else is new? My hubby is interviewing with a fire department in the armpit of California, and knowing our luck this will be the one that he lands. Plus, only 5 guys showed up to the initial cattle-call interview and they're hiring 3 or so. So, compared to odds of about 100 to 1, this is pretty good. The only thing I can think of to keep myself sane is that I'll be so busy with nursing school that I won't notice what an armpit I'm living in...is this the case? Anyone? I don't even want to THINK about what would happen if I didn't get into a program...that would be really not good with a capital R-N-G.

Ok, off to read all my other favorite blogs...wasting time when I should be studying is one of my guilty pleasures!

I can bench press 40 pounds!

2008-06-09T22:31:00.000-07:00

Ok, when you look at it written out like that it doesn't sound like much. But I was totally stoked anyway. That means I can probably lift the bar now...no weights on it, just the bar. How cool is that? Ok, it's not totally cool. Totally cool would be racking up some weight, but I'll settle for graduating the to the bar...at least for now!

First day, first impressions

2008-06-07T17:09:00.000-07:00

So I went to my first day of summer school yesterday at the Sutter Center for Health Professionals...an extension campus that is muuuuuuch nicer than the digs at American River College. For those of you who can't keep up with my ridiculous course schedule, I am taking the second segment of Anatomy & Physiology after having killed the first segment last semester. However, this course is compressed into only 8 weeks, so I'm expecting it to be a different kind of hell entirely. After one day (and 5 hours of sitting in the same spot), these are my first impressions:

- My instructor is young and kinda cute. I doubt I'll want to crawl under the table when he talks about penises and vaginas in the upcoming chapter on the reproductive system, the way I would have in Dr. K's class (instructor from last semester)
- He seems very organized...but his lecture style and slides/outlines are COMPLETELY different from what I'm used to. It took me 2-3 hours last night to type up my notes from class because I had to look for information in at least 4 different places. Yuck.
- Facilities are very nice. There's a little break room with a vending machine that spews out really bad coffee (but hey, it's coffee!), a microwave and a really nice outdoor area for lounging.
- All the models are brand new
- No wet lab...meaning no dissecting!!!!!! Yippeeeeeee :-)
- The schedule is hellish. I have a test in less than two weeks. Good lord.
- The last exam is take home!
- The final is optional since he drops your lowest test score...so yay...hopefully I'll be able to ditch the final!
- Quizzes every day using those new-fangled "clicker" things.
- The chairs are kinda weird, and aren't deep enough to allow me to sit cross-legged...a major bummer
- Did I mention no dissecting??????

So...that's it! I'll try to update this blog at least once a week while I'm in school because I am simply not going to have time to stay in touch with my peeps "one-on-one" the way I normally do. Consider this your link to Mo for the next 8 weeks!

How many 5 year olds could YOU beat in a fight?

2008-04-18T21:51:00.000-07:00

According to this snazzy web page, I could take on 20 five year olds in a fight. I guess this site was spawned perhaps by that plot of grade school children to kill their teacher? Or maybe it was there before and I just happened across it. Great great fun. I sooo love "the internets".

Item #1 on my List of Things I Never Dreamed I'd Say: "This cat's skin does NOT want to come off!"

2008-04-03T15:21:00.000-07:00

Yes, you read that right. I have skinned a cat. That is not a typo...SKINNED A FREAKIN' CAT! And yes, that sound you heard is me throwing up in my mouth.

My Anatomy & Physiology class requires the dissection of a cat. Don't ask me why as I am not going to vet school, nor do I plan to become a surgeon or a doctor. Needless to say, this experience puts the "un" in unpleasant. We got a very large black boy kitty who we promptly named Mr. Bigglesworth. How big is he? He's so big that his tail hangs off the end of the dissection tray dripping cat juice all over the floor and onto our clothes. UNpleasant!

Day 1 of the cat dissection involved removing the skin, and let me tell ya...our cat was one tough cookie. Not only is he huge, but he has very strong and tough fascia. For those of you who don't know what fascia is, it's that stuff that makes the tearing noise when you pull the skin off something (the sound you just heard was you throwing up in your mouth.) His skin was firmly adhered to his musculature via the fascia from hell and it was n-a-s-t-y trying to get it off. Mostly I just held Mr. B while my lab partners tugged (literally TUGGED) at his skin. It was all I could do, though I did help a little...I think I used the scissors some and maybe the probe. It's all a formaldehyde-induced blur.

Day 2 of the dissection involved isolating muscles. All I have to say about that is: dark meat turkey. 'Nuff said. Drumstick anyone?

So...while I'm saddened and disgusted that we have to do this useless task, I am proud of myself that I have done as much as I've managed so far. Thank god for awesome lab partners who aren't as squeamish as little ol' me. If I was on my own I would be so totally screwed.

On a brighter note...I got a 96 on my practical and a 95 on my written test. Toot toot with the self-blowing horn!

Peace!
Not-so-mighty Mo

Algebra miracles and sore buns

2008-03-17T13:18:00.001-07:00

You might want to sit down for this. OK, are you ready? Here goes...yours truly, a self-proclaimed number phobe, got a 96% on an Algebra test.

(brief pause while you sit in shocked silence).

Yes, it is an Algebra Miracle...and just in time for Spring Break! I am off school this week and am spending today preparing my taxes and the rest of the week working on the yard and studying bones for my A&P test.

Speaking of school, I am having some school anxiety...I just want to get into a nursing program already, and the more I think about it the more I want to get a second bachelor's since I know I'm going to want an advanced degree at some point. So, my plan, at least for now, is to apply to the ADN programs that start in January and commence with school this fall as though I won't get in (which I very well may not, the programs are totally impacted), and then apply to a BSN program (Sac State has one, and so does Samuel Merritt if I want to cough up oodles of dollars). In fact, some BSN programs are accelerated and I could maybe even finish another Bachelor's in the amount of time it would take me to get an Associate's Degree (or close to it.) Anyone have any thoughts on this?

In order to apply to one of the accelerated BSN programs I need four additional courses...Organic Chemistry, Pathophysiology, Pharmacology and Statistics. Think that's even possible in one semester? Oh god...it sounds insane...probably because it is insane .

Anyway, that's the school thing...now on to the sore buns.

I am seriously needing to do something about the enormity of my butt, so I started doing my Bar Method DVDs recently as well as Callanetics. Stay tuned for updates...I will probably measure the mass in a couple of weeks. My first impressions are "ouch"... which is a good thing when it comes to exercise, right?

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!!

"But who will take care of you when you're old?"

2008-03-02T16:35:00.001-08:00

People often throw this one out there when they talk to someone who doesn't plan to have kids, as if having a child is any guarantee that you'll have a dedicated caregiver in your old age. If you don't believe me, just ask Terry Caffey, who is the lone survivor of a brutal attack that killed his wife and two children. His daughter and his daughter's boyfriend are the main suspects. Terry, who was shot in the head (quite possibly by the same person who was supposed to care for him in his old age) will be lucky if he even lives that long. You can read the horrible events here: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080302/ap_on_re_us/texas_deaths

Of course, I'm not saying all children end up murdering their parents, but the shocking number of people who are killed by their parents or their children is proof enough that not everyone is cut out for this, and further proof that stock answers and generalizations do not apply to all.

This is what happens when you don't, "change your mind."

2008-02-21T09:31:00.001-08:00

I found this post on a website that is like the most addicting train wreck you have ever seen...True Mom Confessions. About half the "confessions" are positive, "I have the best baby who sleeps through the night at 2 months and is already potty-trained...I'm sooo luckeeeee", and about half are of the "I want to die, motherhood is killing me" variety. A big thanks to the blog Child Free Clique for turning me on to this train wreck.

All too often people think it's necessary to force their advice and opinions on me in regards to my choice to be childfree at 37 (with a 10-year birth control device in place..thank you very much), and they tend to say things like "Oh you'll change your mind", or "It's different when it's your own kid" and a whole load of other nonsense. It's called Child Free Bingo for a reason...the same old tired phrases get thrown at me again and again. But I digress...

I came across this confession (one of hundreds) that proves that it is not DIFFERENT when it's your own...well, actually it is different. When it's your own kid you can't hand it off to its parents when it starts in with the crying and the runny nose and the poopy diaper and whatnot. So, without further ado, here's the confession:

"I am a better mom when I drink. Really. I don't get drunk. I just get buzzed enough to be relaxed. I am more tolerant of their loudness and annoying behaviour after I have had a few drinks. I will sit and listen to them ramble on about some stupid crap they are interested in when I have a drink in my hand. I am more lenient and laugh easier with them. When I am sober, I am selfish and mean. I just want them to be quiet and leave me alone. I don't want to listen to them or even be in the same room with them. I haven't always felt this way. They are teens now and they just bug the crap out of me. I HAVE to have alcohol so I won't go INSANE. I feel so awful because of this."

Do you really think this woman should have had children? Do you really think that she "changed her mind" or feels that it's "different because it's her own?" Obviously not...but someone somewhere probably forced their ideas onto her and she caved...whether it was her husband, her family, her girlfriends or just society in general...she chose a path that deliberately put her into her own personal hell. People...do yourselves a favor. Think about it long and hard BEFORE you have kids. If it's something you want then do it and PLEASE BE GREAT AT IT. If it's not your cup of tea do not cave to societal pressure. Doing something that is 100% permanent and involves innocent others because you "might change your mind" takes a very special kind of stupid.

As I've always said..."there's not enough wine in the world."

San Francisco Yoga Conference

2008-01-31T10:14:00.000-08:00

I just realized I never really talk about yoga in my blog. Why is that? Probably because I have been a baaaad yogi since school started and have not been yoga-ing as much as I would like. Anyway, in an attempt to get my Yoga MoJo back (a process initiated by no longer teaching my Saturday yoga class), I attended the San Francisco Yoga Journal Conference. If you haven't been to one of these conferences and are interested in going, you should know that it is crowded. As in lots and lots of people all over the place. And, I was really lame and only went to 3 out of the 6 classes...but the three I went to were great and taking a class with Ana Forrest was divine. I really felt my yoga MoJo in her class, and had a "yoga moment" in David Life's class, when I did my best Tittibhasana ever! Here's a pic...but that's not me...that's just some random pic I found online to show how cool this asana is.
So...my overall impression of the conference:

Thumbs up: Ana Forrest, good freebies, great Yoga Marketplace
Thumbs down: Too crowded, expensive, floors carpeted

Try Ojai instead! It's a fabulous retreat :-)

Sad news about Shakey Jake

2008-01-31T09:58:00.001-08:00

It's been a few weeks, so I can write this without tearing up. Poor little Jakey is no longer with us. His fungal infection was just too big for his little immune system, and after a scary episode of labored breathing I took him to the emergency vet where I was told he was "oxygen dependent." He was such a great little cat, and I can't help but wonder why I keep getting all the sick animals. I have made Tibi and Oliver promise that they'll just keel over...no long, drawn-out illnesses...please!

When I went to pick up his ashes, they had made a little ceramic paw print, which made me cry like a baby. It is just the sweetest little thing, and I have added it to my growing shrine to all my dead loved ones...so far I have a picture of my mom, a painting and photograph of Truman, Jake's ashes and paw print, and a wooden cat that sort of resembles Judi. It's kind of sweet in a sad sort of way...my little shrine of love or sadness or appreciation and gratitude...depends on my mood.

Hug your kitties!

May I ever so humbly....brag?

2008-01-31T09:52:00.000-08:00

Ok, I can't resist! After reading through some not-so-recent posts, I realized I never provided closure to the whole Microbiology thing. Let's just say there was a highest grade in the class and that I know this person VERY well. Was that modest enough? The really amazing thing is that I got a higher grade than Doogie Howser, this total science geek that sat next to me for all of two weeks before I had to relocate thanks to his constant muttering and criticisms of the instructor. So, toot-too...that's one more horn tooting for moi! Who knew?

One of my favorite sites...

2007-12-04T10:00:00.000-08:00

I know...it proves I'm a cat geek, but this website has the funniest cat pictures. I love this one...the kitty looks like my Trumie.

moar funny pictures

There's a Fungus Among Us

2007-12-03T14:13:00.000-08:00

So for anyone that has not yet been bored to tears with long-winded recitations of my kittie's horrible illess, the good news is that the vet listened to kitty's lungs today and said they sounded "good." Jake (AKA Shakey Jake) has a fungal infection in his chest...poor little baby. It is actually quite a nasty bug with the most expensive drugs on the planet. Let's just put it this way...I could lease a Prius for what I'm paying for his meds.

He has been on the fluconazole for about 4 weeks and just started a 2-week run of amphotericin last Friday. Today was his second amphotericin dose (which has to be done at the vet's office...of course! Nothing easy about my life!), so Jake and I are just really hoping things will start looking up soon. Even after he is clear of the fungus he will stay on the fluconazole for three more months...Prius anyone? Not me!!!

What else is new? I am killing it in Microbiology, though I must admit I got Bs on both of my lab practicals. They were totally trying to trick us with some of those questions...but whatever. I am cleaning up with all my other exams and projects, so an A is pretty much assured, as long as I don't choke on the next exam or the final. And tomorrow I sign up for A&P...woo-weee! Keep your fingers crossed that I get the class I want. I am trying to talk my current Micro lab partner into taking the same class so she can be the one to skin and cut into our dissection kitty. I can't even think about it.

Toot! Toot!

2007-11-23T10:27:00.000-08:00

That's me...tooting my own horn again. I got a 98.8% on my last Microbiology exam. Whooo-hooooo! OK, I know it's not cool to brag but I can't help it! I am so darn amazed at how this whole school thing is turning out. Is this a sign that I am finally looking in the right direction? Science is just so fun (that's the school nerd in me talking....the same school nerd that has an Excel spreadsheet so I can keep track of my A!). And now we're finally to the section of the class where we learn all about nasty diseases. I am a walking encyclopedia of nastiness right now...a word to the wise: get your tetanus booster. You do not want tetanus. Period.
Happy Thanksgiving!

I have a New Identity!

2007-11-13T10:33:00.000-08:00

I kinda feel like Jason Bourne as I now have in my possession a driver's license that says Maureen Nicole Osuna. I guess I'll eventually get used to it, but it feels kind of make-believe-ish at this point. Like maybe I could travel "off the grid" under this assumed identity.

Yoga Etiquette Tips from an Almost-Ex Yoga Teacher

2007-11-07T13:13:00.001-08:00

After months and months of being exhausted, depleted and all around cranky I have finally decided to lighten the load a bit and take a break from teaching yoga. There are LOTS of reasons for this, the main one being that I simply need to give to ME for awhile and get my Yoga MoJo back. For me it is hard to immerse myself into yoga student-ness when I approach every practice like a prelude to teaching. I'm constantly breaking down the sequences, thinking about how I would teach them, etc... Plus, it's the time commitment. The Saturday class has kept me from being able to totally unplug on the weekends, and I think that little battery-recharge is one I so desperately need.

So, with that said I present the Top Ten Yoga Etiquette Tips or Top Ten Things That Interrupt My Yoga Mojo. If you ever take a yoga class, keep this Top Ten in mind to ensure a happy teacher and happy fellow students!

1- BE ON TIME. I can't tell you how basic this is. I am a perpetually on-time/early person and feel that it is a show of respect to the activity you are partaking in and the people you are joining to be there on time. When you show up late, you throw off the teacher's meditation or pranayama session...THE most important part of the class as it sets the tone and intention for the class. You also disrupt all the other people as you open the door, close the door, drop your keys, take off your shoes, turn off your cell phone, go to the bathroom, unroll your very noisy mat and finally have a seat. If you are new to the class or instructor, this counts as doubly rude since you now do not have a chance to let the instructor know of any injuries, limitations or concerns.

2- GO TO THE CLASS THAT IS APPROPRIATE FOR YOUR LEVEL. If the description says it is for intermediate students and the only yoga you've done is bending over to tie your shoes, PLEASE do not attend that class. if you are BRAND NEW to yoga, even if you are physically fit and really smart, you still need to attend a beginning level class. The reason is that the teacher in a beginning class will explain all the basics of the poses and go at a slower pace to account for all the instruction-giving. Showing up to a more advanced class forces the teacher to either A) slow the pacing for everyone in the class so you don't hurt yourself, or B) risk letting you hurt yourself and feel like a doof as you try to flow into and out of poses that you should have learned in a more basic class. VERY beginning students who are new to yoga AND physical activity should plan on spending 6-8 months in a beginning level class. Beginning students who are pretty fit could probably get by with 3-4 months of basic instruction before moving on. There is NOTHING wrong or embarassing about being a beginner...it is the best part of your yoga journey....enjoy it!

3- WHEN THE TEACHER TELLS YOU NOT TO JUMP UP INTO YOUR HEADSTAND, LISTEN TO HER! I finally had to stop teaching headstand because people were scaring the shit out of me. I would patienty demonstrate how to do a partial headstand (with one or two feet still on the ground) and then the option of gently lifting up into a headstand...all the while admonishing students to AVOID JUMPING and putting strain on their necks. Lo and behold....what always happens? Because people cannot listen, I decided to cut my losses and avoid the whole enterprise all together. PLEASE DO NOT JUMP INTO HEADSTAND...what part of that do you not understand? Geez!

4- WATCH THE DEMONSTRATIONS. The teacher demonstrates poses and sequences for a reason. Watch. Especially if you are new. Even if you are not new, watch anyway...you might learn something new. I have been taking yoga for years and always stop to watch the demo...even if it's something I've done a hundred times in my sleep. It is always inspiring to learn how someone else approaches an asana, and it gives me a moment to appreciate the beauty of the yoga asana in action. Occasionally the instructor will tell advanced students to continue without the demo, and advice newer students to watch the demo. If you are new, watch the demo and ignor the other students. Watch the demo. Got it?

5- DON'T BE A LOOKIE-LOO. Frankly, I do not attend yoga class so other students (and guys in particular) can stare at my ass or watch me do my yoga. If you are taking a break from an asana, look straight ahead and meditate, assume child's pose or tadasana, or just sit quietly with your eyes closed as you visualize YOURSELF doing the asana.

6- DON'T TELL THE TEACHER HOW TO TEACH THE CLASS. She (or he) is not your bitch. If it is too hot for you, chances are the teacher has the heat on for a reason. If you are too cold, amp up your practice and your breath to generate some heat. Bring layers. No one likes a complainer. Get it? Got it? Good.

7- TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR OWN PRACTICE. You do not have to do everything the teacher covers in the class. If it is going to make you miserable, exhausted, injured or cranky leave it out. If you need modifications DO THEM! One of my biggest pet peeves is students NOT doing modifications when they know they need them. If you know backbends tweak your back and the teacher has given you a modifciation three weeks ago, IT STILL APPLIES TODAY! If you are ever in pain in yoga class, it is always and only always your own fault. BE YOUR OWN GUIDE!

8- WITH THAT SAID, QUIT BEING SUCH A WUSS. Yes, yoga is hard. And yes, there are times when it can be immensely uncomfortable. Learn the difference between being uncomfortable and being in pain. Attending beginning level classes for many months will give you the body awareness you need to understand this distinction. Just becaue you are feeling your muscles stretch does not mean "it huuuuuuurts." If you are really that suseptible to injury then you need private lessons for awhile, or the assistance of a physical therapist.

9- DO NOT WEAR PERFUMES OR COLOGNES TO CLASS. Contrary to what the full-page ads in Vogue magazine say, your cologe or perfume stinks. Really really bad. I don't care how expensive it is, it stinks. Plain and simple.

10- COME TO CLASS CLEAN AND FRESH. And please let that cleanliness extend to your feet. I have seen some scary feet in my day and they usually (but not always) belong to men. Also, this may sound basic but you'd be surpirsed...please shower before class and wear clean clothing. If you tend to sweat a lot, use a towel to mop up the sweat you drip on the floor....ewwww....nothing worse than walking through somebody else's sweat drops. Nasty.

Ok, with all that said and done you can consider yourself ready to attend any yoga class with confidence and good manners intact! If you have thought of something I left out, please comment!

May I Introduce...The Incredible Shrinking Boom-Boom

2007-10-16T09:06:00.000-07:00

Well, after years and years of poo-pooing low carb lifestyles, I have finally become a believer. For the past two weeks I cut out ALL sugar and ALL refined carbohydrates plus all grains, wheat, pastries, cereal, pasta, donuts, pizza, etc.... I am now in the 120's again! I seriously cannot believe it...and the best part is, it wasn't hard at all. I felt crappy around days 2-4, but have felt amazing ever since. I am slowly adding more carbs back into my diet because I seriously do not want to lose weight THIS fast as I want it to stay off forever! I do think I will be done with sugar...I haven't had a single headache in two weeks AND my blemishes are clearing up...my skin looks great! PLUS, my husband agreed a while back to give me $50 for every pound lost...I've already made $350! I'll end up with a total of $1200 to go shopping...happy dance happy dance!

So, if anyone is interested, here is what I've been eating: LOTS of veggies...as in TONS AND TONS of veggies. Eggs for breakfast, salads for lunch and either salad for dinner, a vegetarian entree of some kind or fish and veggies. Did I mention the veggies?

The website that totally inspired me and has kep me on track is www.sugarfreesheila.com. Not only is she cute as a button, but extremely helpful and motivating. If you are interested in exploring a sugar free life, please check it out!

It's a Microbiology Miracle!

2007-10-01T19:35:00.001-07:00

Who knew I would end up being a Microbiology Genius? I scored a 95.5% on the first test, and the class average was 75%...AND, this is even with me SKIPPING FOUR QUESTIONS. Not sure how those questions escaped my careful scrutiny, but I somehow managed to skip right over them in a rush to get to the essay questions. Assuming I had answered all four correctly, I could have had a 99.5%. So needless to say, I am feeling pretty good right about now. Let's hope the genius-ness continues!

I Survived my first microbiology test!!!!!!!

2007-09-24T19:22:00.000-07:00

...AND I have it on good authority that Microbiology gets much better after all that icky metabolism stuff. So YAY! I counted up all the questions I totally guessed on, and that totalled about 9, so I figured I might, MIGHT get an A if I slam-dunked my essay questions AND my bonus question. Stay tuned!

Microbiology is kicking my Macro-Booty

2007-09-23T21:38:00.000-07:00

I am lame...I haven't posted in almost TWO MONTHS...which is really pathetic. I started school at the end of August (which only partially explains my lameness) and have been a complete whack-job ever since. I have class Monday-Thursday nights and the rest of the time I am trying to get my freelance business up and running, help Tom with his business, take care of the house and three cats + one child (oops, I mean + one husband), and maybe squeeze in time to shave my legs once in a while.

Microbiology is kicking my butt. It makes Chemistry look like a walk in the park...and I studied my butt off for my A in Chem. I have my first test tomorrow night, so we'll see....but from where I stand it does not look so bueno. Not so bueno at all. I am hoping that the semester will get easier now that we have Microbial Metabolism behind us, but the chapters ahead (Recombinant DNA Technology, Microbial Genetics and other exciting topics) do not bode well. If anyone has taken Micro please let me know if it gets better!!!! I am mainly looking forward to the section of the book where we see what kinds of nasty disesase people get from bacteria and viruses...icky pictures and all!

My lab though, is FUN! It's really neat to see what kinds of disgusting things grow from our cultures. Plus my lab partner is really nice and every day I thank GOD that I do not have Annoying Guy as my lab partner. Annoying Guy is this major science geek that smirks all the way through class and corrects the teacher's pronunciation and every little thing under his breath (and sometimes out loud to the whole class). I had the joy and pleasure of sitting near him for the first three weeks until I had HAD IT! I soooo wanted to tell him off, but instead took the path of least resistance and just sat on the opposite side of the room...."Take that you science geek!"

In other news, I am no longer working in the office...did I post about that already? I got "released" from employee status back to my independent contractor status (another thing I am thankful for every day), and am now back to my insane self-employed-ness. The kittens all got exceptional homes, my hair is long enough to put in hot rollers and I am still as fat as ever. I'm working on it though...I promise I am going to get on a schedule and start taking my morning walks again. PROMISE!

I'll also promise to try to not be so lame and to update my blog more regularly. At the very least I have to let you know how easy my Micro test is...ha!

Kitten Update

2007-07-30T13:45:00.000-07:00

So it's been about a week and the kittens are coming along nicely in their socialization process. So far, Pearl (Nathan if a boy) is the bravest...she and Midge (aka Marvin) are at a friend's house getting socialized to kids AND big dogs. Fun! They are doing great and no longer hiss when you approach or reach for them. Pearl may get adopted today...she's got a potential mommy coming over to see her!

William (or Wilma) is now sitting on laps, purring and letting himself be petted. He hissed at me this morning, but I expect that to stop in a day or so. He has a potential home already! Keep your fingers crossed.

Quincy went to the SPCA this morning to get spayed/neutered...guess I'll find out soon enough if I need to rename him. He was soooo scared and meowing up a storm. I was in tears after I dropped him off. Poor little baby. He let me pet him through the wires of the cage yesterday, and we'll work on picking him up and holding him in the next day or so after he feels a little better from his surgery.

Wish them luck!

Kittens!!!

2007-07-27T15:15:00.000-07:00

So here are three of the four kittens I've rescued so far. Though I wasn't going to give them names, I couldn't help myself. Without knowing their gender I just guessed....the little black and white one is William, the little beige one is Pearl and the black one is Midge.

Want one? ;-)

Operation Kitten Rescue!

2007-07-25T15:29:00.000-07:00

Well I've gone and done it. I have become an Animal Activist...whoo hooo! Last night I trapped three feral kittens from our neighborhood shopping center and have two more to capture tonight. Next I'll go after Big Mamma, but that will strictly be a "fix and release" scenario. Frankly she scares the shit out of me. I am hoping to be able to socialize the kittens so they can be placed in homes. I already have several potential mommies/daddies:

1-Friend's neighbor whose cat just died. May take two!
2-Same friend's other neighbor whose cat went missing :-(
3-Guy from the shopping center who watched me trap 'em
4-Girl at work
5-Another girl at work (a very tentative maybe...she may have just been humoring me)
6-Nurse that came over today to take hubby's blood and tinkle for insurance screening

Hmmm....seems I have more potential mommies and daddies than I do kittens...I may have to auction them off on ebay! Anyway, they are soooooo cute, but they won't yet let me get close enough to pet. They hiss and act all fierce...it would be funny if I didn't know how sharp their little teeth and claws are. So far I have snagged a tuxedo kitty, an all-black kitty and a cream colored kitty with darker colored points. Super duper cute.

I will snap some pics as soon as I can...they're pretty wiley.

Reason #432 why I shouldn't breed

2007-07-12T15:50:00.000-07:00

I had lunch yesterday with a friend of mine who brought along her really super super cute 2-year old boy. He was basically really good throughout the whole meal, but when things got sticky and borderline cranky I just kept passing the kid animal crackers. I mean I seriously had aboslutely *no idea* how to placate a bored 2-year old. The little guy ended up eating something like 15 animal crackers for lunch...he was pretty happy though! Given my own enjoyment of food we then had a rousing conversation of "Do you like...(insert food item here)." What else do you talk to a toddler about?

Then the subject came up of how to discipline children. My friend said the little guy had recently embarked on a hitting phase and that she had to turn to the trusty "Internets" to figure out what to do. I realized as we were talking about it that I too was at a loss for discipline tactics, namely since my best (and only) idea involves duct tape. I think if I were a parent I would probably get reported to CPS on a regular basis...there are just so many wonderful and necessary uses for duct tape. Is your child hitting people? Duct tape his little arms to his sides! Does your kid squirm to get out of his high chair? Duct tape him to the chair! Does he do that annoying "Mom, Mom, Mom, Mom, Mom" thing while you're talking to another adult? Duct tape his little mouth shut! I would be a horrible parent.

Hats off to all my friends who do it and make it look so easy. Your kiddos are lucky to have you (and not me) as their mother!
Signed,
Auntie Mo

Cool Jellyfish Picture

2007-06-28T10:14:00.000-07:00

I don't really have any excitement to share, just this really cool picture that I took all by myself at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Hubby and I went to Monterey for my birthday. NOTE TO READERS...do NOT go to the Aquarium on a weekend during the summer, unless you enjoy chaos and loud children.

5 inches in 2 weeks!

2007-06-21T18:28:00.000-07:00

Ta da! As promised, I measured today and I am officially 5-inchess less fat than I was two weeks ago. Did you catch that? 5 Inches!!!!! For the first week I did Chicometrics but honestly, that got pretty dull, so I switched it up in the second week to The Bar Method, which goes by lots lots faster. I measured after 4 of these workouts and have lost a total of 5 inches throughout the bod...a litle bit here and a little bit there...amazing!

So, stay tuned as I shrink back into all my adorable clothes. In case you care, which you probably don't.

Mermaid Hair

2007-06-13T15:50:00.001-07:00

OK, last post for the day...I PROMISE! I have mentioned several times that I am attempting to achieve "Mermaid Hair." For those of you who need a visual...here it is (in wig form at a Halloween party and in a color totally different from my natural hair color...but you get the idea).

Get. Me. Out. Of. Here. NOW!

2007-06-13T15:07:00.000-07:00

Today is a two-fer...mainly because I am so freakin' bored at work I could pull my hair out, scream, start a small fire...ANYTHING to releive the monotony of cube land. What the F*#%@! was I thinking when I said, "Sure, I'll ditch the freelance life and get a job in corporate America? Oh, and I'll also take on a 45 minute commute every day, uphill, in the snow, both ways."(OK, I'm kidding about the snow and the hill). I was lured in by the promise of a steady paycheck and 2-weeks vacation. Bah Humbug! (eeeek! I'm no doubt jinxing myself here and will lose my job and thus no longer have a paycheck but LOTS and LOTS of vacation time).

I was bored to tears working for this company as an independent contractor, and now that ALL of my big projects are on hold, I am experiencing entirely new levels of boredom. And frustration. And "The Blahs." And an occasional homicidal fantasy involving one unnamed co-worker (we'll call him Ned). Ned drives me crazy. Ned makes me want to take up kick boxing. Ned makes me hurl obscene hand gestures his direction from the safety of my cube.

Why does Ned make me crazy? Let me count thy ways...
1. He thinks he's my boss. He's not.
2. If he ever does geet promoted to VP (which I know he is totally gunning for) and becomes my boss, I will die instantly so it is safe to say that he will never actually be my supervisor.
3. He has an unavoidable compulsion to tell me how to manage my projects. (See #1)
4. He makes snide comments about my schedule (when I negotiated for the position, I told the guy who actually IS my boss that I needed a flexible schedule to accomodate working at home and teaching yoga)
5. He asks me stupid questions like, "How much will it cost to print a brochure we haven't written yet....ballpark". As if I can pull a number out of my ass even though... a) I'm not a print broker, b) we don't know how many pages the piece will be, and c) we don't know the quantity.
6. He made a comment about me taking a day off after 4 months of employment...it's called PAID VACATION, it's so you can take a VACATION...get it?
7. He comes in early and stays late...and always asks me if I got projects done at night or over the weekend. No, this is my job, not my LIFE!
8. He's very smart and wants to make sure no one ever forgets it.
9. He's a man. Men can be a pain.
10. I don't have ten...I am trying to be positive.

Actually, the ironic thing is that he is a nice guy...very smart, good at his job, etc... he just makes me nuts. And in an office of 9 people, one nut can make you effing crazy.

Call me "Grain Girl" or "Gluten-Free Girl"...your choice

2007-06-13T11:45:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Science Experiment #3!

I have been reading about nutrition a lot lately, and one approach that appeals is macrobiotics. Essentially, it's a grain-based diet that includes lots of fresh, local veggies (and some fish, but I'm not too keen on the fish thing). I like it because I like brown rice a LOT and I'm now getting that box o' veggies from the community farm every week. So, for my third Science Experiment, I am "gaining the grain"...this is how one macrobiotic cookbook puts it. The idea is to incorporate more whole grains into the diet (brown rice, amaranth, quinoa, etc...). So there's that...and there's also the gluten thing. I was reading a book last night called "Ultrametabolism", and it has these nifty little check-off boxes so you can determine why, exactly, you are so fat. One of the lists indicated I may have a gluten intolerance so I am conducting part B of my Science Experiment as going gluten free...no wheat, no oats, no soy sauce (yes, soy sauce has wheat in it), no bread, no pasta...you get the idea.

As for other Science Experiments, I am a bit sore from doing my Chicometrics video...and surprisingly, it's in a spot I wasn't sure I was getting effectively. Guess I squeezed my buns juuuuuust right!

Still no word from the hospital....don't they know what a gem I am? And that I barely flinched????

Science Experiment #2

2007-06-11T14:47:00.000-07:00

In accordance with my now honored tradition of conducting science experiments on myself, I am embarking on The Great Isometric Experiment!!!

Currently, I own three different exercise videos that are based on isometric exercise...Chicometrics (see my "Got Flab" link to the right), The Barr Method and Callanetics. I am going to cycle through all three (to prevent the major boredome that will ensue if I stick to just one for months on end), recording my measurements (not my weight, mind you!) along the way (yes, I will have to come to direct terms with my fatness).

I have heard really astonishing things about each of these programs...mainly Chicometrics and Callanetics...I think they may be a bit more intense. I will let you know!

Here is my schedule...I will do each video 2-3 times per week for two weeks and then switch to a different video to keep the Boredom Monster at bay:

June 11-23: Chicometrics
June 24-July 7: Bar Method
July 8-July 21: Callanetics
July 22-August 4: Chicometrics
August 5-August 18: Bar Method
August 19-Sept 1: Callanetics

I will take measurements after each two week period so stay tuned!

In other news...Science Experiment #1 is going OK...we had to go to the store last night because Tom refused to eat whole wheat pasta, and I went to the store today while at work because I had a hankering for miso soup. Plus we ate out a lot (at Whole Foods mostly) while we were in Vegas. The Whole Foods in Henderson Nevada is orgasmic...dessert bar, chocolate fountain, tapas bar, asian bar, grilling station, a taqueria...the list goes on and on. Did you catch that...A DESSERT BAR!!!! Of course, I didn't have any of the dessert, but it was comforting and exciting just to know it was there.

I barely flinched

2007-06-10T20:06:00.000-07:00

So in light of my recent decision to again pursue my nursing career, I am happy to report that I saw my ickiest thing to date and barely flinched...I did feel slightly light-headed but only for a moment. A dear relative of mine had surgery last week and DH and I went to ensure his comfortable recovery for a few days. For reasons totally foreign to me there was a drain inserted in the pectoral area that pulled puss and blood out of the body and into a handy little plastic bottle. Fine.

Once we were ready to leave the hospital, though, things got a bit less fine. The drain came out, leaving behind a gaping wound hole, about the diameter of a pencil...maybe a weee bit smaller. Now, I don't know about most of ya'll, but I"m not used to seeing holes in people...especially people I love. Much much less, holes that are oozing puss and blood and who knows what all. But, I am proud to say that after the first few looks, it got a lot easier...proof that one of my biggest fears about nursing won't affect me too much (the fear of gaping wound holes that produce puss and blood in copius amounts). It was actually kind of interesting, and I had to resist the urge to fuss, fluff pillows or dress any and all available wounds.

While there we took one quick foray to the Las Vegas strip where I am pretty sure I saw a total of THREE prostitutes, scored about 4 free drinks and played with the same $25 for about 2 hours. But of course, by 8:00 we were tired and, rather than wait for them to offer us a high-roller suite (which they most assuredly would have!), we called it a night and went home to bed. We are such the party animals.

Is Anybody Watching???

2007-06-05T13:52:00.000-07:00

I just learned that my super uber-blogging brother just posted MY blog on HIS blog, which is read by oodles and oodles of ubergeeks. Great...now I have to try to be entertaining, interesting, witty and adorable so that I don't embarass the King Geek of them all, my uber-entertaining, uber-interesting, uber-witty and (yes, it's true) uber-adorable big brother.

Hmmmm.....I'll get started on that straight away.

Since I'm not geekly enough to figure out how to do a hyperlink, here is the URL for his King Daddy Blog of Them All: http://www.geekweekonline.com.

Volunteer Mo!

2007-06-05T10:55:00.000-07:00

I was just browsing around the website of Most Popular Hospital in Sacramento in an effort to find a job that I could do with absolutely no healthcare experience. I heard from a friend of a friend that all the big hospitals in town reserve space in the impacted nursing programs for their employees...if I can get a gig at one of the hospitals then I get into school on my first try. Bueno, no? My preference is to attend the accelerated program funded by Most Popular Hospital, so I would love to get a job there. The problem is...no jobs posted that even remotely match my education or experience. So, I am applying for the next best thing...a volunteer position! The great thing about a volunteer gig is that they have availability in all the really cool areas (ER, ICU, Med Surg, OR Recovery) and I wouldn't actually be responsible for saving or killing anyone. This is a wonderful solution for a life-long baby stepper like me! AND the best part is, the nurses will let you watch them do procedures...cool, huh? I am hoping that once they see how wonderful, caring, intelligent and all around fabulous I am, then I can secure a regular gig and then hopefully a spot in their program. We shall see.

In hopes that I will get a volunteer gig and have wildly fascinating stories to tell, I am keeping the name of the hospital a big secret...that way no one from HIPAA will come after me with a big ugly scowl and lots of forms to fill out.

And lookie here...my updated weight loss ticker!

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Good Kitty: Rode my bike for 2 hours (and 27.7 miles) all by myself on Sunday. Thank dog I did not get a flat :-)

Bad Kitty: Did not wear sunscreen...big X on my back marking the spot where I was stupid.

It's for Charity!

2007-06-01T08:39:00.001-07:00

I have signed up to do a charity ride in Napa Valley for the American Lung Association...you know, clean air, global warming, asthma, lung cancer, etc... You can sponsor me (no amount is too little or too large) by going to www.sacbreathe.org and clicking on the link for the Bike Trek in the first paragraph and then "Sponsor an Individual" on the left side of the page, and then "Find a Participant." I am listed under Moore. It will be about 150 miles over three days, and it would be great to know that I am riding for a reason (other than the beautiful scenery, fun, friendship and CALORIES BURNED!)

Here's my fabulous and fascinating Weight Loss TIcker:

Kind of a pain in the neck to update...I was thinking of doing a Fundraising Ticker, but naah...you can check my fundraising progress at the aforementioned sacbreathe.org website.

Hugs all!

Lost Half a Pound...I'm back baby!

2007-05-31T09:27:00.000-07:00

I am just trying out my new weight-loss ticker...see if this works.

Did it work? Yes it did!

In hair news...I am entering the bag-lady stage. Here's proof:

I've Gained a Pound...WTF?!?!?!???

2007-05-30T16:35:00.000-07:00

Either I am seriously retaining water or I have been pigging out waaaaay too much lately. Stepped on the scale this morning, fully expecting to see a drop of a pound or two. Nope! It went up by a little over a pound!!!!!! So, I am going to do an experiment...no refined carbohydrates, wine, Tofutti Cuties or sweets for a whole week...I will weigh in again on June 6th. Stay tuned! (oh woe is me...a week without Tofutti Cuties! What is the world coming to?!?) My friend Liz says I need to "eat more protein and less carbs", but the food I love is awash in refined carbos...I will do my very very best to stay away from the Tofuttis and the wine though. Here's a look at today:

Breakfast: Pineapple and a banana and a whole-wheat, organic pop-tart type thingy
Snack: Eggplant Hummus & half a whole-wheat pita
Lunch: Apple & Tomato soup (see how good I am today!)
Snack 2: Beans (Vegan baked beans to be exact...not just a boring ol' can of beans)
Snack 3: Jolly Rancher (Sugar Alert!)
Dinner? Hmmmmm....maybe some Edamame and Indian food...it's Fusion Cuisine at its finest!

p.s. I am sooooo hungry today!

In other news, our Science Project is going well! It is now Day 4 of 30 without any grocery shopping or dining out (at least on my end...Thomas likely cheats and goes out to lunch). Slowly but surely the goods are getting all 'et up'. I really should take a picture of my fridge, you would not BELIEVE it! We have more condiments than a frat house full of bachelors...seriously.

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Good Kitty: Started my financial filing stuff...wasn't as fun as it sounded in the book, so I stopped part way.
Bad Kitty: Aforementioned Jolly Rancher
Short Term Goal: Go to early morning yoga at least ONCE in June!

Hugs to all my peeps! Oh, here's a cute picture of Shakey Jake to please all you cat lovers out there...he's my little Killing Machine..isn't he just grand?

Welcome to my Science Project

2007-05-27T20:19:00.000-07:00

Our fridge and cabinets have gotten to the point where it is impossible to squeeze any more items in...putting anything in takes an advanced degree in physics and since I barely squeeked by with a BA in Communications, then Hubby and I are embarking on an experiment: Not to go grocery shopping for an entire month! Soy milk is the one exception...and since we signed up for a CSA (community supported agriculture) and will be getting a big ol' box of fresh, organic produce every week...we really have no other reason to go to the market. Yay!

The interesting thing will be what we actually eat...you know how it gets when you get down to eating whatever is on hand.

Tom's Dinner: Leftover Turkey Burger and Tomato Salad
My Dinner: Edamame and a vanilla Tofutti Cutie (these are THE BEST soy "ice-cream" sandwiches EVER!!!!!)

See what I mean about weird meals? We are also going to try our hardest to NOT go out to a restaurant until my birthday...June 24th. Think of all the money we'll save:-)

Can we do it?????

Science Experiment Day 1 of 30.

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Good Kitty: Went to yoga this morning
Bad Kitty: Ate a Tofutti Cutie for DINNER. Hellooooo!!!!!?????!!!
Short Term Goal: Get my filing system set up for all my financial info according to David Bach's Smart Women Finish Rich.
Long Term Goal: The usual...save $$, pay off the tax man, be more philanthropic, love more

My big fat ass

2007-05-22T15:23:00.001-07:00

So my friend Pam came to visit for a few days and during that time she got suckered in to messing around with my husband's flight simulator computer game. Well, the experience "turned her ugly" (her words), and she proceeded to tell me to sit my "fat ass down and try it". The sad thing about this little ditty is that she's right...my ass is fat. I have been working on some weight loss strategies lately, but kinda goofing them up. Example: I read a few books about NOT dieting...using your "thintuition" and just eating when I was hungry and stopping the food fest when I was no longer hungery. The problem? I took this as a license to eat junk food and didn't eat much "real food". Not good.

So now that I am back to my "nearly vegan" ways, I am expecting the fat to just slide right off, provided I don't fall into the vegan junk food trap. One bonus I have noticed after 3 weeks of NO dairy and NO meat...LESS CELLULITE! Now, I haven't quantified it or anything, but my buns look decidedly less dimply (though, according to Pam..still fat). I will see if I can count them or something and report back.

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Good Kitty: Went to Wendy's for a quick lunch and got a baked potato (dry) and a side salad. NO FRIES!!!

Bad Kitty: Meant to workout this morning...opted to snuggle instead.

Short Term Goal: Increase my run/walk laps from 6 to 8 by June 4th, with one full running lap in there somewhere.

Nursing Goal Update: Enrolled in Microbiology and Sociology for next semester. The Biology class is going to take some creative scheduling with my work folks. Hmmmm...

Going back to my old ways...

2007-05-22T15:16:00.000-07:00

Well, I am going back to my old ways ladies and gents...and no, that does not mean I'm practicing the wild and loose behavior of my college days. It means I am "going veg" baby! The reason I say I am "nearly vegan" is based on two things: 1) I am not perfect and occasionally take a bite of a luscious restaurant-created dessert that more than likely includes dairy; 2) Like many gals, I have a shoe and handbag fetish that I hope to cure someday. So rather than put myself out there as a full-on vegan, I am being completely honest with my "nearly vegan" lifestyle. The main challenge will be not freaking out my husband who, for some reason, gets all uptight when I talk about being a vegetarian. So, I'm just not going to mention it...it's already been 3 weeks and he hasn't even noticed (or at least he hasn't complained!).

I am also in the process of trying to lose some weight, which is one of the reasons I turned back to my nearly-vegan lifestyle. I was vegetarian for a couple of years (vegan for most of that time), but got hit with some major food boredom once I stopped spending any quality time in the kitchen...I hardened my heart, repressed everything I knew about animal suffering and health and embarked on a 3-year journey back to the average American diet. Not only have I gained about 20 pounds (ugh!), I never did feel quite right about it, but went along with the crowd and chose convenience over compassion.

Well those days are over...the more I read about the food industry and the intelligence and beauty of animals, the more I want to do my small part to help end animal suffering AND achieve optimal health. So...come along with me on this exciting journey as we explore the scrumptious world of vegan eatin'!

I can't take it anymore!!!

2007-02-16T16:45:00.000-08:00

Ok, I have given it incredible effort, but there's just no way around the fact that my hair is crap. It sticks out into 50 different directions, never looks good (except for the first 5-minutes after I style it in the morning), and takes waaaay too much time to coax into some sort of not-homeless look. See...it's a mess! I can't even bear to look at it anymore.

I am thinking of going back to the way it was right around the time of the wedding...it looked really good then...but want to make sure that I don't look "matronly" with short hair. Care to weigh in? See the cute short hair pic up above...

Someday I really will stop obsessing about my hair...

New Nephew!

2007-02-10T08:48:00.000-08:00

Just a quick update to show everyone a picture of our new little nephew..Gavin Osuna! As you can see he gets his good looks from his Uncle Thomas :-).

More soon!

Hair Hair Everywhere

2007-01-29T13:50:00.001-08:00

Due to "popular" demand, I am posting pics of my hair..mid-growout. It has taken all of my strength and resolve to get to this point. I only hope I can keep going! My goal is to get it to a chin-length bob-type do and then decide if I want to grow or go back to my short (easy) ways.

So, without further ado...

I'm growing out my hair!

2006-11-06T12:25:00.000-08:00

Here is a picture of my hair as it is entering the awkward stage. Please help me stay on track with my plan to have long Mermaid hair!

My husband, the firefighter

2006-09-16T09:00:00.000-07:00

Tom just got "the call" from Sacramento Metro Fire that he will be receiving an offer letter any day now. He has to attend a mandatory orientation where they tell you how grueling the background check is...based on passing the check he'll be putting out fires, saving lives, sticking people with needles, rescuing kittens and helping little old ladies cross the street sometime next year!

It's funny...I'd always thought firefighters were "hot", and even went so far as to ask a woman I know who is married to one if they knew any single guys. This was a looooong time ago, before I even met Tom. Looks like I got my wish...now all I need to do is wish for my bestseller to be published and for Brigadune to come up for sale at an impossibly low price. (Brigadune is the house we rented in Oregon for the wedding...my dream house!).

So thanks to all who gave Tom love and support over the past THREE YEARS as he pursued this goal :-)

We're hitched!

2006-08-25T14:20:00.000-07:00

Tom and I just returned home from our wedding vacation. We had a wonderful time with all of our friends in Gold Beach and can't wait to return to the ocean. We're currently scheming on how we can buy the beach house we rented...lottery tickets may be in our future...after all, you can't win if you don't play! I am happy to report that we had no wind (also no sun, but oh well!) and the beach was deserted! Jeff and Jim did an AMAZING job putting together the "circle of love" and Ted blew me away with the walkway he created entirely out of driftwood. It was awesome! Our friends Tony and Terri-Lynn went waaaay beyond our expectations with everything they did for us...food, music, planning, officiating and video taping! We are truly blessed and we love all of you so much :-)

On our last morning in Gold Beach, most of us (meaning everyone but Tom) woke early and walked down to the beach at low tide. It was really cool to walk out past the rocks and say hello to all the starfish and mussels who live there. I can see how doing this could easily become a daily ritual...I really must get on top of those lottery tickets.

The only glitch in our plans was a wee bout of food poisoning on the last night of our stay in Ashland. We missed the end of "Cyrano de Big French Word Here", and I subsquently missed an entire night's sleep while introducing myself to the commode on an hourly basis. Other than that, though, things in Ashland were fun as well.

It is nice to be home, of course, and we are gearing up for our big picnic on Sunday. Love to all!
Mrs. O

Life is Hard

2006-07-04T15:48:00.000-07:00

It is with great sadness that I report the passing of my kitty, Truman. He was assisted on his journey by his vet, who came to the house today around 2:00. I had spoken with her the day before, and so I spent Truman's last night with him...on a Thai Massage Mat laid out on the kitchen floor. He's been so despondent and weak lately, I'm hoping he knew I was there for him.

Today was even more difficult, and I could not bring myself to be present for his passing. I just did not want that memory in my mind, so I gave him some love and wished him a peaceful journey, then let Tom and the vet take over. I have to say Tom did an admirable job...staying with Trumie until the end, then wrapping him carefully in a cloth and laying him to rest. We just went and got a red hydrangea plant that will go right above my sweet little baby, so that his beauty will live on.

It's an odd feeling...sadness, grief, guilt, and relief all at once. I know he is released from his misery and pain, but I will miss him terribly, especially when things around the house remind me of him...his favorite spot on the sofa, the recycling box he'd sleep in at my feet, his spot on the bed, the absence of his impatient meow when breakfast is served, the sound of his purr as I fall asleep. For all of my sadness, I have countless happy memories of Trumie and feel so lucky that he chose me to be his mommy. All he wanted to do in his life was to give and receive love. He did both better than most and I know the soul of him, the thing that made him so precious and lovely, lives on.

So if you have pets in your life, give them some extra lovies today.

It's a good thing I don't have a problem with alcohol...

2006-05-17T16:17:00.000-07:00

It's a good thing I don't have a problem with alcohol because I could NOT give up drinking wine. Went wine tasting in Napa yesterday with Tom, his friend Eric and Eric's squeeze Melanie. The boys, for reasons completlely lost on us, went on a bike ride while Melanie and I rented a chauffered Mercedes and traipsed around Napa sipping wine and having a grand ol' time. I am proud to say I did not get nearly as tipsy as I did the last time I went to Napa, so I feel I've regained some dignity in that regard...there's nothing like being gently asked to leave Mumm and having to walk to dinner thanks to a blood alcohol level almost as high as George Bush's IQ.

Before we dumped the boys and hopped into the S-Class, the four of us went to Sterling...here's a picture of us on the Gondola ride up to the winery...note to self...drink BEFORE getting on the Gondola...do not make Sterling the first winery of the day.

Our second winery stop was Frank Family Winery...they were very low-key and super nice. They also (BONUS!) had a big black kitty and great champagne. We spent quite a bit of time there talking with the wine pourer guy (who I think has my dream job, by the way) and, of course, drinking wine. The thing about wine tasting is that it's almost impossible to remember what you like well enough to buy, so at Frank Family I ended up with just one bottle of champagne, though now I'm regretting not getting a bottle of Zin. Oh well...

The third winery was V. Sattui (I probably spelled that wrong), where a friend of mine (Hey Coop!) had a gorgeous wedding. Talk about chatty and friendly wine pourer guys & gals. All that goodwill must have rubbed off on me because I gave a strange man from Israel a Fig Newton, which he described as a "very bad cookie." See pic of Me, Mel, the cute Isreali guy and his buddy from Colorado (who wasn't so cute and I think may have been stoned...but then again, if he were stoned he would have been jonesing for my newtons!)

Our fourth, and final, winery was up a windy mountain road...the type of place I would never be able to find on my own. Here is where we met The Rain Man of Wine. He was actually very nice, but he kept asking us impossible trivia questions like, "how much does an oak barrel cost? (Something like $750!), and I forget what all...I was liking his wine, though. It was here where I blew caution to the wind and dropped a cool $100 on four yummy botttles...can't wait to see what I got (Ok, I might have been a wee bit tipsy!).

In other news...Trumie is having appetite issues, but I'm hoping that will clear up as the Leukeran clears out.

A reason to NOT procreate

2006-05-15T16:58:00.000-07:00

So, what's a compelling reason to NOT procreate? Pants pulled so low the entire butt-side of the underpants is exposed. If my child did this I would be moritfied.

I can only hope that my friends will teach their children the basics of good fashion sense.

Breaking out of Food Jail

2006-05-15T11:10:00.000-07:00

Just recently I realized that I constantly, constantly think about food...when can I eat and what will it be? Once I've eaten I think constantly about what I just ate, fretting over it, worrying about it, obsessing with the guilt. Well I am sick to death of thinking about food all the time. Every time I go on 'a diet', all I think about is the next meal, the next snack, those extra 200 calories at the end of the day I've managed to snag by sweating my buns off at the gym. I'm sick of logging what I eat, tracking my calories, buying special "on-the-approved-list" foods...I am sick to death of it all.

So, I am officially breaking out of this prison of food obsession. I remember a time in the not so distant past when I didn't really think about food at all...when I was hungry, I ate something. When I wasn't hungry anymore, I stopped eating. I ate pretty much whatever I wanted, though this was when I was a pretty strict vegetarian so it was mainly healthy food. The great thing about being out of food jail at that time was that I was teeny tiny...well, teeny tiny for me...actually I looked darn good now that I think of it. Everytime I go on a special diet like Weight Watchers or South Beach or whatever, I always obsess to the point where food becomes the sole focus of my life. Bah humbug, I say!

Though I have only been out of food jail now for a few days I feel SO MUCH BETTER. So free...I am not beating myself up about every little thing. If I want some freakin' chocolate, I'm going to have a piece, enjoy the heck out of it and move on. I really feel like a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders....aaaaaah, what a relief. I am reading a book called "How to Become Naturally Thin"...I'll let you know if there are any pearls of wisdom that must be shared.

So, that's the latest news...in other news I am sad to report that Truman doesn't seem to be feeling well right now. It may be the effects of the Leukaran, and I'm hoping once his bone marrow and white blood cell count recover in a couple of weeks or so he'll be back to his regular self. He did vomit a little blood this morning, but it was much less than a few days ago. Lets hope he doesn't have an ulcer...I cannot handle seeing him suffer. :-(

Thanks to everyone for their well-wishes on Mother's Day. I was mostly weepy the night before, but then was so busy preparing brunch for Tom's family that I didn't have time to sit around and feel sorry for myself. Stay tuned for pics...I may have outdone myself with this one. See my cute table???

Much love to all my peeps!
Mo

Happy Mother's Day

2006-05-13T22:50:00.000-07:00

Well here it is, my second-most weepy date of the year.

I seem to always spend Mother's Day crying in solitude, though it is supposed to be a celebration. It simply reminds me of how much I've missed out on in these past 16 years and all I'll have to miss in the future. I do, however, cherish all things "motherhood" whether it's a friend of mine who has a new baby or the memory of my mother's Sunday-morning pancakes...I just want you to know you are loved beyond your imagination, even if it's been years and years and years. Much love,
Nik

35 5/6 years old and STILL getting carded!

2006-05-12T21:57:00.000-07:00

It's a really sad state of affairs when the highlight of your week is being asked for your ID at a sushi restaurant. Not sure if it's because I look young or was acting like a dork (probably the latter), but it made me happy nonetheless. After dinner we went to see Poseiden, about which I have just one word...Netflix. It was entertaining, but not something that is so special-effectsy that you must see it on the big screen. The most amazing thing about the flick is how long those people hold their breath...David Blane look out!

Well, it has finally happened...Truman has started to refuse having anything to do with his tuna-water/medicine combo. The wiley little guy finally got hip to me. He has been off his "meds" for two days now and I'm hoping to see some improvements...the prednisone was doing icky things to his stomach, and I am beginning to see the benefits of a more holistic approach.

Good kitty: Kept at least 3 feet between myself and a box of Krispy Kreme donuts today at my client's office
Bad kitty: Ate more than my weight in sushi, edemame, agedashi tofu, wine and popcorn.

Why is everything so centered around food? I hate that I'm so obsessed with food...I wish I could just stop thinking about it and get on with my life!!

Nightie night!

The Garden of Eden

2006-05-09T18:39:00.000-07:00

Hey there! If you've noticed my vocabulary lately has words in it like, "foxglove", "drip system" and "mulch", then it's because Tom and I have been working on the backyard! Yay! What started out as a huge expanse of weeds has become a mini-oasis (sort of...you have to squint and only look at one section of the yard under optimal lighting conditions, but hey...it's a start).

Here is a peek at our little slice o' paradise:

In other news...went on a bike ride on Sunday...I am happy to report that I made it up Daffodil Hill without stopping! It was touch-and-go there for awhile, but I managed to pull through. The reward was a nice long down-hill in which I may have broken my speed barrier. If not, I got close (it was either 36.1 mph, or 36.7 mph...next stop 37!)

A few of you have asked about Truman...thanks so much for your concern and kind words. He is doing good, though today there was some blood in his regurgitated catfood, but the vet prescriped some anti-vomiting meds and Pepcid. I'm hoping the vomiting isn't related to the cancer, and is just a factor of having a sensitive tummy. Poor guy. He says "thanks for thinking of me" and "meow" and a bunch of other indecipherable cat things that sound vaguely like "is this all that's for dinner?" and "where's my mousie?'.

Let's see...what else? I'm really trying to do exciting things so I'll have something exciting to tell you. Tom and I are doing the "Bay to Breakers" run on the 21st of May. Well, he's running and I'm walking it with my friend, Cheri. For anyone who doesn't know what this is, it's an annual run in San Francisco that starts at the Bay and goes all the way across town to the ocean. It's supposed to be rather outrageous as most things in San Fran are...outlandish costumes, people in their birthday suits and painted blue, music, etc... We're staying the night at a B&B in the Castro area...he doesn't know we're staying in a 99.9% male neighborhood and I'm going to just wait and see if he notices. Kind of like when I took him to "Brokeback Mountain" and told him we were going to see a western.

Well, gotta run and go help with dinner. Ciao and hugs!

Good kitty: Resisted the pull of "The Cookie Connection" while getting lunch today.

Bad kitty: I'm letting the laundry pile up...I hate laundry.

Ignorance is Bliss

2006-05-05T10:26:00.000-07:00

As you probably know, my kitty Truman was diagnosed with gastric lymphoma just over a month ago. According to the doctors, in all their infinite wisdom, he should be dead by now, or dead soon. Truman, however, seems to be the only one who did not get the memo. He's tooling around the house, purring like crazy, jumping into my lap, giving me love-bites and basically doing all his normal, cat-like things. The big question as of late has been whether or not to medicate. I tried a cancer drug called Cytoxan, but Truman knew something was up...not sure if it was the funky smell of the food, or the fact that I was wearing rubber gloves while I prepared it. Anyway, he took one taste and the jig was up.

For some reason, he hasn't tuned into the fact that his nightly "tuna-juice-treat" is prednisone in disguise, and we're going to try another drug starting Monday. We'll see how it goes. For now, he's doing great and sends his volumous love.

If we learn nothing else from Truman, it's that you're only as sick as you think you are. Oh, and of course, beware of chefs wearing rubber gloves.

Have a beautiful weekend all! We're planning a bike ride on Sunday...the dreaded Daffodil Hill...3 full miles of up, up, up. My butt gets sore just thinking about it.

Hugs!
Maureen & Truman

P.S. Check out this cute T-shirt I got at J.Crew!

Short-term goals: Same as yesterday, only I forgot what they were.

Good Kitty: Initiated an apology to Thomas this morning :-)
Bad Kitty: Should be working right now :-(

I've Got Better Things to Do Than My Hair

2006-05-04T15:19:00.000-07:00

Well, after months of suffering through the dreaded "grow-out" stage, I have whacked off all my hair once again. Here is a not-so-great picture of me...I should've taken the time to put on some lipgloss. The great thing about short hair is the freedom factor and the fact that it always looks good, no questions asked. The downside is that I can't leave the house without lipstick and earrings, or else I look like a boy.

Other items of self-interest...I have recently started using my Bar Method and Chicometrics exercise DVDs. I will take measurements and try to keep track of the horror as it lessens over time. I've read some pretty amazing testimonials about both videos, especially Chicometrics (www.chicometrics.com). The guy on the videos is funny in a folksy kind of way...keeps me from taking it too seriously. I decided since I've got a birthday (36...yikes!) and a wedding coming up I'd better start getting serious about losing some flab. Besides, I've got a ton of cute clothes that I can't squeeze my tushie into...time to change all that, for the sake of fashion if nothing else.

The wedding is less than four months away, so I figure it's probably time to start doing some planning. The trouble is, we have no idea what our budget is and never know how much money we're going to make. Ah, the joys of being self-employed. So far we do know it is August 19th in Gold Beach, Oregon. Stay tuned for more!

Goals today: No more chocolate (I've had my share...twice!)
Goals this week: Get all files off my old computer so I can be a single-computer gal, throw out old clothes & organize closet.

Good kitty: Exercised this morning :-)
Bad kitty: The cookies at the office :-(