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!

Chicken Recipe for Kim

Oven "Fried" Chicken

1/2 cup fat-free buttermilk
1/2 cup cornflakes, crushed
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
2 pounds chicken parts, skinned
4 teaspoons canola oil

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F, spray a large baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray.

2. Pour the buttermilk into a large shallow bowl. On a sheet of wax paper, combine the cornflake crumbs, flour, salt and pepper. Dip the chicken in the buttermilk, then dredge in the cornflake mixture, coating completely. Place the chicken on the baking sheet; drizzle with oil. Bake 30 minutes, then turn the chicken over. Bake until cooked through, 15-20 minutes longer.

Enjoy!

It's Menu Plan Monday just a few hours early...although, if you are on the East coast it is already Monday!
Monday: Oven Fried Chicken with potato wedges
Tuesday: Oriental Chicken Salad
Wednesday: Grilled Salmon with asparagus and salad
Thursday: Spaghetti with meatballs and salad
Friday: Soup and sandwiches

Enjoy!

It's been a week!

Time sure does fly right on by! I never did get my menu up for this week and I am not going to do it this late in the week. You will have to wait for next Monday when I will attempt to post it.

I had my WI this morning and I am down 5.2 pounds! I haven't felt good this week so I wasn't getting in all the food I should be eating, but I still managed to lose weight! Hooray!

I had to take my biology test today. There were 12 questions I pretty much had to guess on. If I got them all wrong and everything else all correct I will have a 76% on it. Not good! There were some extra credit points too so those should help if I get them correct.

I am not doing much today. I need to try to get better. My head feels like crapola! I've been dealing with a sinus problem since Monday and it is making my head and teeth hurt. I hate feeling like this. I was the same way a few weeks ago too. I thought I was over getting sick for the season. Oh well.

So for my agenda today:
Clean house
Read biology lab for tomorrow
Read chapter 7 in book
Watch some shows I have tivo'd
Relax

First Tooth

LOST!

Cameron has been waiting and waiting to lose is first tooth and it finally happened. When he was about 5 I told him he would lost his first tooth when he was 6. Well, 6 came and left and no sign of a lose tooth. He remembered what I had told him and then told me that I lied. I told him I didn't lie, but most children do lose their first tooth around the time they are 6. Yesterday was the day and he was so excited! When I picked him up from school he told me that it was bleeding and that he had twisted it. I told him I would pull it when we got home. He wasn't too keen on the idea, but I told him it wouldn't hurt, but it would bleed. So, he put his head in my lap, I had my kleenex and I just put a finger under it and yanked. It was out. He said hey don't pull it that way, it hurt. Then I told him it was out and he had to feel it to believe me. Then we had to clean his mouth out and put some gauze on the site to stop the bleeding. He put his tooth in a bag and right under his pillow it went!

I'm a LOSER!

Wahoo! I had my weigh in and lost! I lost 2.8 pounds...I was hoping for more, but considering I didn't work out at all I'm good.

Today is a day of cleaning. I am determined to get my scraproom clean. I haven't had too much motivation to do it and things keep piling up in here. I will do it after I get home from picking up Cameron in a few minutes. The rest of the house won't take too long to pick up since it usually is pretty kept up.

Sorry

I forgot to post the Monday Menu list...so here it is a few days late


Monday: Soup and sandwiches
Tuesday: Parmesan Chicken with brocolli and salad
Wednesday: Shake & Bake Chicken with green beans and salad
Thursday: Spaghetti with meatballs and salad
Friday: Turkey Chili with cornbread

I got my test back on Tuesday! I got a 98!! I was so thrilled. I am not looking forward to the next test I am taking next Friday. There is so much information and the instructor was so motivational when she said that most people do not do well on the second test. She says it is the hardest one. I guess I will be doing LOTS of studying this weekend and all next week to prepare.

I'm going in to meet with an advisor today because I had them evaluate my former college classes to see what will transfer. I ended up having 37 credits transfer and I won't have to take the psychology or English, but I think I really should take the wrting class because I haven't written anything for a class since 1992! I am sure there will many papers I will need to write during my schooling and I could use all the help I can get. So, essentially I am going today to see what they advise.

I have my WW weigh-in tomorrow. I think I have been doing pretty good. I guess only tomorrow will tell.

I am still working on Beary's sweater. I'm almost done with one arm then I have to start the other. It isn't hard once I get started, but I am using the smallest needles possible when I first start the arm and it really hurts my hands!

Bears sweater

Here is the little sweater I am working on for Cameron's bear Beary. I tivo Knitty Gritty on DIY network and watched a bunch of them after class yesterday. So, I downloaded the pattern, ran to Roberts for some sport weight yarn and came home to start knitting. I stayed up until 2:00 in the morning trying to fix something I messed up on, but ended up starting over this afternoon. So, here it is so far...it is a pretty red, but looks pretty orange on my screen.

Hello!!

Not too much to report today. I took my test last Tuesday and won't know the results until this Tuesday hopefully. I liked it when I took my math tests I could just get the instructor to correct it when I was done, but I can't do that with this one. Oh well, I just have to wait a week or so to see how horrible I did. Actually I didn't find the test too difficult, but that sort of scares me. I could have either done really well or really bad. Alot of the class thought the test was pretty hard.

I would love to report that my scraproom is all cleaned up and organized, but it really looks worse than it did in the picture last week. Hopefully I can work on it today. I had plenty of time to work on it yesterday, but I ignored it. Both Cameron and Michael were gone Friday night and Cameron came home last night. We pick up Michael at the airport tonight. Cameron went to Moab to go jeeping with a friends family. He had fun, but he said he thought they were going to die. He must have gotten that from Cindy! She told me she is never going to do that again...I guess I really don't want to know what happened. Michael has been in Orlando since Friday for a business conference. He says he can't wait to be home.

I finally took the plunge and joined Weight Watchers. I am hoping that you all will be seeing less of me now. I've just been so bummed about my weight for so long that I just had to do it. I prepaid for 10 weeks so I need to stay commited. I know I can do it!

I know I said I didn't have much to report and here I am rambling on and on and on. On that note, I booked us a short trip to Disneyland next month! Cameron is so excited! We were supposed to go last March, but Michael had his accident in December so it was postponed. We are driving and only staying for 3 nights, but I think that will be plenty of time and we can always go again if we need to some other day.

I've been knitting again. My fingers are aching from lasts nights adventure. I finally finished a scarf my mother-in-law wanted me to make so now I am just making something fun. I'm trying my hands at a fair isle sweater for one of Camerons teddy bears. I will post pictures along the way. This is my first time using 5 needles to knit with. Talk about confusing.

Ok, I am done. I am going to shower, get to the grocery store and come home and watch The Devil Wears Prada!