Week 2, Day 2, Babies & a Conehead

I wish I could say that todays running was easier, but it seemed like it was the same as Sunday. Friday should be better, but we shall see. It seemed a little chilly this morning when I was out and was a little harsher on my lungs and throat ,but I managed.

We have these adorable baby birds in one of our apple trees. However, the parents aren't so adorable! They try to dive bomb you! Not so fun when you are just out in your own backyard minding your own business. They don't seem to bother you when you are near their nest though. Strange. I really wish I had my digital camera when I first discovered the nest. I had to use my 35mm so the pics are still on the film. Remember the movie Coneheads I loved that movie...I really enjoyed the skits on Saturday Night Live too.
Well, we now have a conehead of our very own! This one is MUCH cuter!Lucy was spayed last Thursday and I noticed the other day that the incision area was looking a little red and she had developed a bump under it. I went to my neighbor, who is a vet tech, and had him come over to take a look. He said she was licking her incision and I needed to get an E-collar for her. So, first thing in the morning on Monday I went to the vet and picked one up. She didn't like it much and didn't really want to walk with it on. She also had trouble with the stairs as she is short and the bottom of the collar kept hitting the steps so she would think she was stuck. After about 12 hours of wearing it she seemed to have adjusted pretty well. She was even out in the backyard racing with Cameron. It was pretty funny to watch her try to catch her ball. I kept waiting for it to land in her collar. I love this picture of the two of them. I like how they are looking at each other while running. Cameron sure does love her!I need to study for my microbiology lab mid-term that I have tomorrow. I think I will do okay at it. I finally got back the test in my lecture that I took last Monday. I got a 92% on it. Much better than I thought I did so that made me pretty happy. I also just took my Nutrition mid-term this morning and missed .5! Yay me!

Well, off to study and try to write the beginnings of a paper. I've had since May 8th to work on it and I haven't started it yet. The rough draft is due on June 27th. I have procrastinated on it because I really don't know what I am doing. That's not a good thing.

Pictures

We went to Red Butte Gardens today and then to the park to eat lunch and let the kids run around. Here are two pics I took with my new camera. I think they turned out great! I have lots of other pics, but most of them have other people's children in them and I am not comfortable posting them.
I think I am going to have to go to the gardens with my mom when she is here. My mom would LOVE a job at the gardens! She has this strange fascination with pulling weeds. She has asked that I save her some so she can pull mine. Not a problem as I HATE to do yard work. I called her one day and she was at the neighbors pulling weeds because she had run out of weeds in her own yard. STRANGE!!!

I hadn't ever been to the gardens before and walking around with a guide and kids isn't my idea of enjoying the beautiful grounds.

Father's Day and a New Toy!

Cameron was so excited to wake up Michael and give him his Father's Day present. We went and bought him some much needed new tennis shoes. I wouldn't let Cameron wake dad up because it looked like he didn't really sleep well during the night. So, when Cameron was doing some chores he saw that Michael's eyes were open and ran and asked if he wanted to open his present. Michael opened it and Cameron was beaming! All day long while we were out and about Cameron kept saying things like "It's your day, you can do what you want" or "Mom, we need to hold his hands because it is his day and you need to love him forever because he is your husband" Lucky for him, I do and will love Michael forever. He is the best dad! He is so great that even Cameron and I got presents too!

I noticed yesterday when searching online that the camera I wanted was out a month early. So, after Michael woke up I mentioned it to him and told him I needed it by today so I could take it on the field trip.

Well, we went to look at it and it just didn't feel right and had a cheesy lens cap that would come off when lightly touched. We went back and forth and back and forth, from store to store, only to get this...a Nikon D40x.
We looked at the Canon XTi and the Nikon D80 and Michael chose this one after looking at the specs of them all. The Nikon D80 was quite a bit bigger than the one we got. So, I am going to take it with me to Red Butte Garden today and see how it performs. I played with it a little bit last night and it seemed to take some pretty good pictures. Happy early birthday to me!

Cameron's present was a Nintendo Pokemon game. He was so excited to have it...however, I just don't get the excitement. You see, on Saturday, Cameron counted his money from allowance and found that he had enough money to buy the Pokemon DS game that he had been saving for. So, now he has two new Pokemon games and is already talking about saving for another one. WHY would you need more than 3 Pokemon games? He got one for Christmas too.

Week 2, Day 1

Holy Hannah! Todays interval training kicked my butt! I didn't think adding 30 more seconds on to my running would make that much of a difference, but man was I tired! I need to ice up the tendon on my groin today. It had been hurting a little bit Friday and Saturday and I could feel it a little bit when I was walking today. I need to learn how to breathe correctly too.

I'm going on a Field Trip tomorrow to Red Butte Gardens. I've never been there before so it should be fun. I wonder if I am allowed to take a camera when I am supposed to be chaperoning.

Well, I am off to read a chapter in Nutrition and take a test. These chapters are LONG too.

Week One DONE!

I did it! I completed week one of the Couch to 5K program! Today was great! I was out the door at 5:45. It was such a nice morning to run. I didn't even really feel too tired during my last interval this time. I was like...BRING IT ON! Sunday starts week 2. Then my intervals are 90 seconds running/2 minutes walking. I can do it! Today I wanted to keep going when the guy told me to start walking again after my 60 seconds were up. I know I will not be feeling this way on Sunday.

Today I have my WW weigh in. Hopefully I don't have too much water in my system still by the time I step on the scale. I want it to be a DOWN day today. I was pretty good all week. I didn't track my points at all, but I "think" I was okay.

Tonight I am having a Lia Sophia jewelry party. I love their stuff and can't wait to get some more great pieces.

Week 1, Day 2

Well, another run/walk down! This one was easier! I got up at 6:00, got everything on, hair up and I was out the door. This time I didn't run around the park. I ran down to the high school and back. It worked out great. However, I thought there were only 6 intervals and I think it ended up being 8. So, I ran for 8 minutes and walked for 720 minutes. My next run/walk is set for Friday morning. I weigh in Friday too so we shall see if adding the exercise really helped.

Today on my agenda:
Take Cameron to school 8:30
Mow & weed whack the lawn 9:30
Shower & get ready 10:45
Go to the bank 11:45
Write a journal article 4:15
Start a journal summary
Read a chapter in nutrition
Take chapter test
Read a chapter in microbiology
Get Cameron's hair cut 4:45
RELAX

If I can get all of that completed I will be happy person!

Couch to 5K anyone?

I'm sure some of you have heard of this "Couch to 5K" running program before. Well, I downloaded the podcasts for it during the winter and told myself that I wanted to start it.

Today was the day! I woke up and had the urge to start. I grabbed some shorts, a tank top, put my shoes and socks on, put my hair up and grabbed my iPod and I was ready to go. I really didn't want to go alone so I asked Cameron to come along with me. He rode his bike while I walked my first 5 minutes and by that time we were at the park where he played and I did the program around the park. I went around 3 times and then I was done.

The first week you start with a brisk five-minute warmup walk. Then alternate 60 seconds of jogging and 90 seconds of walking for a total of 20 minutes. The plan is to do this 3 times the first week and then it changes a little the next weeks until week 9 when you are joggin 3 miles continuously.

I will be amazed if I can do it, but there are so many people that have started this way so I think I can too. One minute of running right now is tough! I looked forward to the 90 second walks! I didn't stop at all though, I told myself that I could do it and I did.

I decided that I needed to throw a little exercise into my weight loss plan and today was the day. I have been doing Weight Watchers now for 18 weeks and have lost 17 pounds. I should have lost more by now, but I have had my ups and downs. Mostly downs though so all is good! Hopefully I will be down even more this week after starting the running program. I might even have to buy myself some good running shoes as a reward! The shoes I wore today are actually good running shoes, but they are my work shoes so I should get some just for running!

Well, I think I am cooled down enough now to take a shower and start my day. I have lots of studying to do. I have a Unit test tomorrow in Microbiology and there are a few things I need to memorize.

I've been tagged

A friend from back home tagged me.... Colleen!

james brown or marvin gaye? James Brown

chinese or indian takeout! EEEWWW, yuck to both.

fleece or knitted blanket? either one. I have three throws in my family room. One is fleece, one is microfiber and one is flannel.

girls with makeup or without? well, for me, I can't go anywhere without makeup. I try on the weekends to not wear any, but usually end up with a full face

costco or whole foods? We're getting a whole foods here so I might be able to experience it. I don't have a costco membership any longer, but have been thinking of getting it again.

wildflowers or arrangements? Wildflowers in the yard, arrangements in the house

tradition or shakeups? Little of both

cello or trumpet? I like the sound of the cello

watch-wearing or no? Can't forget a day!

salt water or fresh (for swimming)? Don't know how to swim

pants or shorts? Jeans. Who wants to see my legs in shorts? I wear capris

chatspeak or absolutely NOT? Only online

digital camera or old-school? Missing my digital. The cat knocked it off the counter. Waiting for this one to come out in July.

Plugged in or wireless? We have a wireless network throughout our house, but I think I am plugged into the wall. I do have a wireless keyboard and mouse.

waltz or tango? Tango is so much sexier to watch.

brian williams or anderson cooper? Cooper

time or newsweek? Time

waterbed or mattress? Mattress

cream and sugar or not? I don't drink coffee and rarely ever drink tea. The tea would have to have both

CNN or BBC News? CNN

iTunes or something else? iTunes. I spend way to much money on music

scented candles or unscented? sented Gold Canyon!

prairie or mountain? Mountains

socks or barefoot? Barefoot at home, socks at work

matt damon or ben affleck? Ben

brass or pewter? Brushed nickel

wool or cotton? Cotton

willow tree or pine? I miss the pines back home. Willow trees are pretty though

gerald ford or jimmy carter? Ford

france or italy? Would love to go to either

electric or gas stove? Electric but would love gas

thrift store or outlet? Thrift stores for books, outlets for anything

japanese garden or english garden? English

sophia loren or liz taylor? Sophia Loren

I tag.... Lilian

Camping

We just got back from camping up Big Cottonwood Canyon. It was a company function with Carquest. The weather was nice, but the nights were COLD! This morning I woke up to frost on the top of the tent. Cameron is taking a nice long nap, but I should probably wake him so he can go to bed tonight at a decent time. We weren't able to take Lucy with us as the campsite is a watershed so she hung out at Erin's. I work with her and she has a pomeranian named Gizmo. They had a great time together.

While we were hanging out at the fire last night the kids were walking around in the woods next to us when they came running back saying "Moose!" There were two female moose munching on the grass not too far away. We were told the day before by the camp host that there have been two moose in the mornings in the area where we had our tent. They were pretty to see, but I was very thankful that they stayed where they were and just minded their own business.

I have a quiz tomorrow in microbiology so I tried to study as much as you can study when camping. I didn't want to seem like a total loser hanging out in the tent for too long while the rest of the adults were hanging out, but I needed to read in the quiet.

We were supposed to camp this next weekend too up on Fairview, but I don't know if I really want to do it again so soon. I mean, I like camping and all, but it still is a bit cold in the mountains at night. We would be able to take Lucy next weekend, but I think I want to hang out at home. Perhaps Cameron and Michael will still go.

Well, off to finish cleaning my house and studying a little more. Shannon is picking up Cameron for me Monday and Wednesday night since I have school and Michael will be in Evanston working on a store. I have to get my house in order before she comes over.

A new semester

Well, today starts Summer semester. I attended my microbiology class today. I have to write a paper on a journal article. I haven't written a paper since 1991! I was a little freaking out about this during class. I am also taking an nutrition class online. I got home after my micro class and looked up my nutrition syllabus. I have to write 5 (FIVE) papers! Not cool! I am sure I will be visiting the writing lab at least a few times this semester. I had the opportunity last semester to write a paper if I wanted to bring a test score up. I was going to write it, but it was too overwhelming for me that I deleted it and said "Screw it!" I didn't write it and didn't need it, but now I am sort of wishing that I had done it just to say I have written one lately.

I will keep you all posted on my progress. I hope all goes as planned.

OH MY GOSH!!

I haven't been so good with updating my blog. I have been working on studying for my damn Biology final. I took it on Tuesday. That test was HARD! I don't know how I did on it, but I just checked my overall grade online and received a 4.0! I must have done pretty darn good on the final because I had a 92% before taking it and that wouldn't have given me a 4.0. Wahoo! I literally cried when I saw my grade. That class was hard.

Next I am taking Microbiology and Foundations of Nutrition. The nutrition class is online so hopefully it won't be too difficult. I also signed up for Fall semester. I didn't realize that you could sign up for classes already, but decided to look and see what they were offering and when. I am so glad that I did because the classes that I need were already filling up. So, in the Fall, I will be taking Chemistry and Anatomy. So not looking forward to Chemistry. I got a D in high school chemistry.

Not too much has been going on since I posted last. I am heading away this weekend and taking a few books with me. I haven't really read this year so I am hoping to finish two books while I am away. Reading biology isn't as fun as reading fiction.

Off to get Cameron ready for school! Have a great weekend!

I still live!

I got a new computer last weekend. It's been fun trying to figure it all out. It is a 20" iMac. The cool thing about this computer is that the entire computer is in the monitor! What an innovation. Now I have to find some software like I used to manipulate my photos. This has something called iPhoto, but from what I see it doesn't do what I want. I have the book on the program coming to the library soon so I can read more.

We had a good Easter. My brother and sister-in-law drove out from WA. They were heading through on their way to Zion National Park. They say it is amazing. I suppose since we live here we really should head down there someday to check it out for ourselves. Adam and Jenn only stayed for one night before they headed out on their adventure. It was great to see them...just wish it could have been a little bit longer.

I've been studying for tests and finals lately. I took a test last Tuesday that I virtually had to guess my way through it. I thought I had studied for it too. However, all was not bad, I got an 84 on it. My last test for this class is on Thursday of this week and then the final is the following week. I hope I do okay. So far I am still getting an A out of the class. I took my Lab final today. I got 100% thanks to the extra credit problems! So, I ended up with a 97% in the lab. Too bad the lab is only 20% of my overall grade.

I am all signed up for next semester too. I will be taking Microbiology and Fundamentals of Nutrition. I will be taking the nutrition class online. I hope I can be strict enough to actually follow through with it. I haven't ever taken a class online...should be interesting.

Michael and I celebrated our 11th anniversary yesterday. It took us 9 years of dating to finally get married. In October, on Cameron's birthday, we will have been together 20 years! WOW! That to me is amazing! We've sure had our trying times, nothing too bad except for the accident in 2005.

I'm sorry I haven't really kept up my blog, but I just haven't been into it much. Well, off to study!

WOOHOO!!!

I got 102% on my test! I thought the test was pretty hard too. I have to take my next test next Friday. So NOT looking forward to that one. I have until then to read and try to understand the 3 chapters we just covered that it will be on. I didn't really want to get too into the chapters until after I took the test I just took. Didn't want too much extra crap in my head to confuse me.

Taking little Lucy to the vet today. Not really sure what is wrong with her, but she has a fishy discharge smell and her little potty area keeps looking weird. I wipe it off and something comes back. Don't know how to describe it...it was pretty hard to tell the receptionist what I wanted to come in for too.

Not too much will be going on at our house today. We bought Guitar Hero II for xbox 360 yesterday and that is the first thing Cameron wanted to do when he woke up. So, I know that is what he will want to be doing all day. He is going to have a new babysitter tonight. We are going to someone's birthday party that works at Carquest. FUN...I don't know these people that well.

Looks like the same ol' post, but it's not!

So, I didn't post at all last week, but here I am back with another menu plan Monday!


Monday: Filet Mignon with salad
Tuesday: Soup & Sandwiches
Wednesday: Chili Macaroni
Thursday: Roasted chicken with stuffing
Friday: Something new we haven't tried yet...don't know what it will be as of today

So, I have continued to lose weight. I am down 12. 4 pounds. I am hoping to be down 30 by my birthday in July. I think I can do it. I just need to stop eating the Girl Scout cookies I bought from Kaitlyn, Shannon's daughter. Hmm, that gives me 3 months. It's taken me 2 just to lose the 12. 4. I should step it up a bit and actually start exercising at the same time to see results.

Lucy is getting bigger and bigger every day. She isn't getting the whole going to the bathroom outside, but I was told that it could take up to 6 months for smaller dogs. I am starting to clicker train her so we should hopefully see results in other things too. I've been trying to walk her everyday to tire her out for the evening. So far it is working. Today we made it to 30 minutes with her. I think that just about did her in. We probably won't be able to walk for an hour for another few months.

I was supposed to have a biology test last week on Tuesday, but when I went to take it it still wasn't available at the testing center. So, she said it will be ready to take on Friday. I get there and it STILL isn't ready! Talk about upset..ok, more like fuming! I was so ready to just be done with the test and move on to the new information that we have learned. I called the testing center today and they have it so I will take it tomorrow before class. I should get an A since I have had an extra week to study, but I am not getting my hopes up. I ended up getting a 74 on the last one! I was so disappointed to get a friggin' C! However, there were a few problems with some of the questions that people argued and I ended up with an 84! So, my average for the class is still an A so far! I am writing a paper to make up for some lower grade though. I really need to start it as it is due on April 16th. I decided to write about Periodontal Disease being linked to Heart Disease. I have NO idea how to even start it, but I will figure that part out.

Do any of you readers have a Mac? Michael is thinking that is going to be my next computer. We just can't decide if it will be an iMac, iBook or Mac Pro. Michael normally builds our computers and really wants me to learn Linux since he hates windows and Macs are pretty similar to Linux. The cost of the Mac hardware is outrageous so he is sort of having a hard time justifying a Mac. I guess I will wait and see.

Well, off to do some MORE studying for the test tomorrow.

I almost forgot! I have finally finished some books for the year. I normally would have had about 15 books read by now, but I have only read two. Here is my booklist:

3rd Degree by James Patterson
These is My Words by Nancy Turner (this one has taken me FOREVER to finish)

Menu Plan Monday...a few days late!

Monday: Grilled Chicken salad
Tuesday: Taco Salad
Wednesday: Beer Can Chicken, mashed potatoes w/ green beans
Thursday: Soup and sandwiches
Friday: Chicken Tortilla soup

I'm sorry it is a few days late, but I just haven't been on the computer too much. I got my last biology test back yesterday and only got a 78! That's a C+! YIKES! Now I have to write a paper on some controversial biological topic in hopes of getting a better grade trade with a low test score. I'm hoping I don't have any other low scores! I have NO idea what topic to write on or even how to write a friggin' paper anymore! Oh well, I'm sure I will come up with something. I need to figure it out by this weekend so I can start writing. It is due on April 16th.

I had my WI last week and they said I gained 1.6 pounds while on my trip. However, I don't think I did. I think it was all water weight. I was so swollen while we were gone. I could barely get my wedding ring off and normally it slides right off. Later that day I weighed myself at home and weighed less than they said I weighed...which to me means I lost weight because my scale is ALWAYS more than what theirs says. So, we shall see what it says this Friday when I weigh in. It better be a LOT less than what it said last week.

Can you think of a biological topic for me?

The Happiest Place on Earth!

We got back Friday night from a few days in Disneyland! This was Cameron's first visit and he LOVED it! We were supposed to go last March, but when Michael had his accident in December that was out of the question. This trip was a little rough on Michael. We did one full day at Disneyland and he was hurting from all the walking by the time we were done...actually he was hurting before we were done. However, he braved it again the next day. Cameron wanted to go back to Disneyland to ride the Buzz Lightyear ride again and Michael wanted to hit the Matterhorn since we didn't do it the day before. Cameron got to get his own Astro Blaster and meet with his favorite character, Buzz. After a few hours in Disney we went across the way to California Adventure. We only stayed for about 6 hours there. It was fun, but not as fun as Disney. Our second ride there we went on a river raft ride and I got SOAKED! It wasn't too fun having to walk around all wet, but fortunately the weather was nice and at least my shirt dried fairly quickly.

Michael is not a big ride person and I really wanted to go on the big roller coaster. I ran and got fast passes for everyone in hopes that they would go on the ride with me later. Cameron was having second thoughts about the ride himself. We all rode the coaster about an hour later and it was FUN! Michael even thought so. I had to ride the rocket by myself. If you don't know, the rocket is a ride that you sit on and it shoots you up over 200 feet in the air super fast, then you come back down. I had to get right back on as soon as I got off, but I did try to get them to go on with me. That didn't work.

I'm hoping that we go to Vegas in August with my family and I will see if my brother will do the rocket that is on top of the Stratosphere with me. Can you imagine being up over 1000 feet? How cool would that be?

After our first day at Disney we went do Downtown Disney. Cameron and I had a mission to go to the Lego store. Michael was hurting too much so he found a bar in the middle and had a few drinks while Cameron and I went shopping. Cameron loved the lego store. He got to pick out three things and was very happy. He couldn't wait to get back to the hotel so he could start building. We ended up going to dinner and he brought a bionicle along and built it there. He liked the star wars guys built from legos in the store...I have to admit they were pretty cool.

It is good to be home. Thank you Shannon for taking care of Lucy for us.

Pictures of Lucy

We've had Lucy for almost 2 weeks now and she has actually grown a little. She is now 11 weeks old. She went with me to Petco today to exchange the jacket we bought for her for one that can fit her now as she doesn't like to go out in the cold.
She follows me EVERYWHERE! Sometimes she ends up getting kicked because she is right under my feet. We are working on taking her on walks. She is actually doing pretty good now on her leash. She used to fight it where we would have to drag her, but she stays on my left side for the most part now. She is so cute when she prances around.

I'm washing my sheets today and my comforter and blanket are laying on the floor...this is where i just found Lucy taking a break. Yes, she was actually away from me for awhile.We're still working on potty training her...it's not going too well. Well, I shouldn't actually say that as she is for the most part going outside only because I physically put her outside every time she wakes, starts smelling or pretty much every 1.5 to 2 hours. I hope she gets it soon!

Cameron is at the rec center for a few hours today for their kid sport program. He is going to it on Tuesdays when he is off-track so I can go to class. I figure it is much more fun than daycare for him. He wanted to go today, Friday, because they open the bigger slide in the pool on Fridays.

Well, I am off to clean the house so Shannon doesn't see what a sty it has become when she comes over tomorrow night. We are getting together for dinner. YUM!

I have my WI today at 3:00. I think I lost more weight, but we shall wait and see! Did I mention that I now weigh what my license has said I have weighed for 3 years! I have lost about 20 pounds since moving to Utah. Yahoo!

Another week gone by...

I have been too busy to update the ole blog. So, I am doing it today. Here is my menu for the week...


Monday: Sloppy Joes with fries
Tuesday: Chili rubbed pork chops, broccoli with salad
Wednesday: Szechuan chicken with peanuts over rice
Thursday: Turkey with stuffing and cinnamon apples
Friday: Parmesan chicken fingers with salad and peaches

I had my WI last Friday and lost another 2.2 pounds! I am down 8.8 now. I am hoping that I make it over the 10 mark this week! Howevever, we are going on vacation next week so I hope I don't blow it too terribly! We will have a fridge and microwave though so I might just have to take a trip to the store for stuff for me to eat.

I have another test tomorrow...wish me luck. There are still so many things I am not sure of this time around. I hope the test isn't written as confusing as the last one.

Nikki...I made sure there were new dinner ideas for you this time around! LOL

Menu Plan Monday...a day late

Monday: Hamburgers with chips
Tuesday: Crunchy tacos
Wendesday: Spicy Oven Fried Chicken with salad
Thursday: Soup and sandwiches
Friday: Chili rubbed Pork Chops with green beans

Okay, so I was a day late. The reason for the soup and sandwiches almost every week is that Michael goes out one night a week usually and I don't like to cook for just Cameron and myself.

I FINALLY got my biology test back today that I took on the 16th. I totally did NOT want to see my score when the girl next to me called my name. I didn't feel good about this test at all. I was very excited to see that I received a 93! I got an A! One point lower and it would have been a B. However, if it wasn't for the 7 points of extra credit I would have had a B anyway. Thank goodness for those extra credit points.

I had my WI last week and lost another 1.4 pounds! I am down 6.6 pounds altogether now. I would have done better, but we ate out 3 times last week! They said I must have made some good choices since I didn't gain anything. I think I did too.

Our new addition!

Meet Lucy (at least that is what we think her name will be)

She is a rat terrier. She is 8 weeks old. It's hard to take pics of a moving pup!