Unmasqued by Colette Gale

I finally finished Unmasqued! I've been reading it slowly since I got it in late August. Not because I haven't enjoyed. In fact, quite the opposite. I had waited so long for this book, that I wanted to make it last a while. So I read it a few pages here and there until I read the last page just last night.

I will admit that Colette got some not-so-nice reviews on this book. She actually talks about some of those reviews over at The Spiced Tea Party.

However, the book tells you exactly what it is as soon as you pick it up, so the sex is no reason to NOT be happy with it. (Or, at least, the fact that there is a lot of it!)

While I have not read all of Leroux's The Phantom of the Opera (yes, I know this could be considered a sin by some), I find that Colette has retold the story very well. She really shows us WHO the characters are and how corrupt some of them are. The book is dark, exciting, and I wasn't always sure what would be happening next.

She has done a good job of altering perceptions as well. I have to agree with Pam Rosenthal's comment that harp music will never be heard quite the same way. I, however, have an increased desire to find a tall, free-standing mirror....

Colette Gale is actually a pseudonym for another historical novelist. This book is different from her other work, although I have enjoyed both. (And I figured out the connections all on my own and AM NOT TELLING. You're on your own with that mystery!) If you liked Unmasqued, or generally like retellings of other stories, Master will be coming out May 2008.

Caving

I caved a bit last night on the 'diet'. But that's ok. I STILL have some flexies left. Not exactly sure how many though because I haven't done the tracking yet. :) Guess I should do that huh?
*********************
15 flex points left to get me through Tuesday evening. I think I can do that. I will have to kick butt at the gym on Monday though.
I should probably go today and get some stuff in, but I don't know when we are supposed to head over to the inlaw's. My FIL wants to get the boat out (something that hasn't been done since before I met Josh!) so I don't want to miss the opportunity. And Josh hadn't told me last night when we were supposed to be there. Asshat. (Yes, I call my hubby names. Who doesn't?)

I can still manage to get through this week on track with weight watchers. Just because I went 10 pts over on one day isn't failure. That being said, I've been on track for 10 days straight now. I think I'm doing pretty darned good! Now I just have to keep it up for a few more weeks.

I'm still trying to come to terms with my cholesterol having gone up to 248. (Not sure if I had mentioned I got that test result in or not!) I have a doctor's appointment Monday afternoon to talk to one of the doctors at the university clinic about what I should do. It was high in January, but no where near this high. I hope she doesn't just tell me to go on a diet. I'm doing that already!

Well, tired of the depressing. I'm off to write a book review for y'all and who knows what then!

Just the facts! And opinions, etc...

Yeah, whatever. It's something in the title field anyway. I think I have a slight inkling of how authors feel when they try to give titles to their work. Only a slight on though because I cannot imagine writing a whole book!

So, good job and congrats to all the nice folks doing the Christmas Challenge. As those who actually read here already know, I lost 5.5 lbs this week. Which is awesome. And will hopefully happen again next week. (HEY! A girl can dream, right?) Everyone I've heard results on so far has done wonderfully. And, one nice blogger was very courageous this week. Visit That Skinny Bitch for her before video.

I might have to do one of my own. Just to let all you wonderful folks see my fat ass and hear my horrible Southern accent. (It's real, I promise! And I'm not 12 either!) ;)

In other news, it's a good thing that I have come to terms with my own body a bit. I had an 8 year old not comment on my fatness last night, but my big ears!!! Another reason to try the video, right? Let y'all see them in their HUGE glory. Too bad they don't help me hear any better! (My hearing SUCKS!) I told him I had big ears because my Daddy gave them to me. :)

Also, I JUST finished reading Unmasqued by Colette Gale. I'll be doing a book review on it either tonight or tomorrow. It's taken me forever to read it. I felt I should draw it out since I had waited for so long to get my hands on it.

Y'all have a wonderful weekend!

UUGGH

I wasn't going to do a real post today after deciding to do a TT instead of just a regular post about guilt. But I've decided to. I feel like crap now, so why not!?! :)

My day was going pretty good, then I got pissed. I'm not gonna say about what because I might get made again. I went to lunch then and couldn't explode about it because I shouldn't take it out on my friends that had nothing to do with it, right? So I held all my anger it. I know from experience that this gives me seriously bad headaches, migraines even. And I get enough of those without knowing why. So, now I have a seriously bad headache that is trying to turn into a nasty migraine. I've taken some stuff, but I don't know that it will really help much. I'm sick to my stomach, but that will hopefully start easing up soon. I have water aerobics tonight, but I can't go if I'm still feeling like this after work. :)

If I don't have any more difficult customers to set me back off I might manage to get completely past my anger and start to really feel better. It's slowly slacking off. However, I don't really expect to NOT have someone come in and be a total asshole to me about something that is totally not my fault.

******

Okay. I just finished my second phone call with a terrific student who made me feel wonderful, even if it did take two phone calls to get what she wanted done. That is certainly helping my temper, if not my headache. I'll let you know tomorrow whether or not I end up at the gym.

Guilty Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen Things about Cory and Guilt 1…. I can find myself feeling guilty over the craziest things! 2…. I feel guilty when I'm doing well on my diet and other bloggers are having problems. 3…. I feel guilty when I'm not doing well because I don't feel that I'm providing a good example to others. 4…. I feel guilty when I drive to work instead of walking. I feel like I'm cheating myself because I'm not getting that extra exercise, although I know I shouldn't be carrying that much weight around. (My backpack with work and school stuff PLUS my gym bag!) 5…. I feel guilty that I'm losing weight because it means that I'll have to spend money on clothes instead of using it to pay off my debt a little quicker. 6…. I feel guilty that I haven't been doing Thursday Thirteens for a long time. 7…. I feel guilty that I haven't actually visited all the Christmas Challenge participants and put their blogs in my feed reader, even if I have done a blog roll for them. 8…. I feel guilty when I don't feel like cooking at home just because I get seriously light-headed since the heat builds up too much in our tiny kitchen and makes me sick. 9…. I feel guilty that I don't get to go see my parents or the rest of my family as often as I would like. Gas just costs too much! 10…. I feel guilty (sometimes, not all the time!) that I'm not more interested in doing all the things my husband loves to do. But I have my own interests too! 11…. I feel guilty because ever since I decided to do the RIP II reading challenge I haven't felt like reading books that really qualify for it! 12…. I feel guilty because I didn't go to water aerobics Tuesday night because I wanted to try the KuKuwa Dance Workout class. 13…. See, I wasn't joking about the crazy guilt I feel! I know it's crazy, but I feel it nonetheless. Anyone else feel guilty about wierd things that they know they shouldn't? Links to other Thursday Thirteens! 1. (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

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Yes, Yes

That does say 5.5 lbs lost for the first week of the tracker. I was in complete and total shock. I guess tracking really does work. That and the gym. I had 18 activity points last week. I'll just have to be sure and do just as good this week!
Needless to say I'm on a bit of a high right now, hopefully it will stick around a little while. :) Although I know I will be spending the rest of the morning (when I'm not working!) studying for my test this afternoon. But that's just part of life.

Y'all have an awesome day!!!!

And tomorrow shows the results...

Well, I know that tomorrow I will find out my official weight for the week. And I'm excited about this. I think I might also be disappointed. I've stayed on plan fairly well this week, and wish for a 3 or 4 pound loss. I'm thinking I'll have about 1-2 lbs gone. But that's ok. We always want to see those high numbers on the scale. And I know I'll be thrilled with whatever loss I mange to show. That's just the way of things.

I do really feel good today though, although I did have a nasty headache after lunch. I didn't do very good today food wise, but I have plenty of flex points to cover it. I had gotten an voicemail on my cell telling me about a blood drive being on campus this morning. So I ate a really big calorie breakfast to be sure I would be ok to give blood right before lunch, then I was going to eat a salad for lunch (no time for anything else!) and it would be balanced out. Well, I get to work and I couldn't find anything anywhere telling me where this blooddrive WAS, so I couldn't give blood. I ended up eating about an average calorie lunch today, and I'm out of my points. Only to find out that the blooddrive was on campus today, but I didn't find that out until after they had shut down. Just my luck. But it'll be ok.

I'm going to the gym tonight. I'm going to take the Kukuwa dance workout class. It should net me 3 or 4 activity points. And I might go a little early and hit one of the exercise bikes first. Just depends on how I feel.

I also have 12 pages of notes to memorize tonight for a test tomorrow. I'm slightly worried about the test, but I'm sure I will be fine. Everyone have a fantastic evening!

BITCHOLOGY

I friend at work sent this to me, and I felt it was worth sharing!

When I stand up for myself and my beliefs, they call me a bitch.

When I stand up for those I love, they call me a bitch.

When I speak my mind, think my own thoughts or do things my own way, they call me abitch.

Being a bitch means I won't compromise what's in my heart. It means I live my life MY way. It means I won't allow anyone to step on me.

When I refuse to tolerate injustice and speak against it, I am defined as a bitch.

The same thing happens when I take time for myself instead of being everyone's maid, or when I act a little selfish.It means I have the courage and strength to allow myself to be who I truly am and won't become anyone else's idea of what they think I 'should' be. I am outspoken, opinionated and determined. I want what I want and there is nothingwrong with that!

So try to stomp on me, try to douse my inner flame, try to squash every ounce of beauty I hold within me. You won't succeed.

And if that makes me a bitch, so be it. I embrace the title and am proud to bear it.

B = Babe
I = In
T = Total
C = Control of
H = Herself

B = Beautiful
I = Intelligent
T = Talented
C = Charming
H = Hell of a Woman

B = Beautiful
I = Individual
T = That
C = Can
H = Handle anything

'If you can't do something right, get a woman to do it.'

It's Monday!!!

I read something interesting on Carolyn's Blog this morning. And it's great enough that I have to share it here. Her husband tells her to appreciate Monday's because they are 1/7th of her life. I think that's a good way to look at it. I've gotten to where I don't hate Mondays on prinipal, but I will have to keep this in mind for the occassions that I get upset about a Monday.

My Biggest Winner weigh in this morning showed a 1.5 lb loss, so things are looking good for my weigh in on Wednesday morning. I hope I can show a bigger loss, but I will certainly be satisfied with a pound. (Don't we all WANT to see the large losses.) I really do hope to see a big loss though. I would love to have a good jumpstart on the Christmas Challenge.

I have created an added to the sidebar a blogroll for the Christmas Challenge participates. If anyone in the challenge would like the code to add to their blog, just let me know. I'll gladly share it and hopefully manage to keep it up to date. I think I have everyone listed. (I know I'm not one of the organizers for the challenge, but I still figure I can help!) Some of the participants have already posted losses on their blogs. So can give them some encouragement and support!

I'm glad to say that my Monday is going well. My coworker appears to be over her snit and is actually talking to me again. I just deleted my user profile off my old laptop and put it in my boss's office. I'm so happy to be rid of it. It's nice to be 98% moved to my new laptop. I still haven't installed my mp3 players or my camera. I will get that done soon though. I feel so good because I have tracked every day since my last weigh-in. I'm definitely planning to make it the whole week. As of this morning I still have 29 or 30 of my flex points left to last me. I'm taking a chunck of them today. I wanted a treat at lunch so I got a mocha. It's 9 points, but I like them. I'm excited to be headed back to the gym today. I have a goal of getting in at least 2 pts on the cardio machines there. I will probably go for 3 again and do something similar to what I did last week with hitting three different machines. I may even carry a book up there with me for my last bit. Maybe I will get carried away and burn more calories that way. ;) Think anyone would mind me doing that?

Well, I'm off to do real work. Y'all have a wonderful week!

Darkfever

I just finished reading Darkfever this morning. I picked it up at the library after having it recommended to me by Amazon. I wasn't expecting to pick up a book with a Romance sticker on the side, so I went into the book slightly skeptical. I wasn't really in the mood to read a romance. But that's what the book seemed to offer, and I had it to read. The cover you will find on the author's website and on Amazon.com is not the one here.

In Darkfever, we are introduced to a somewhat average young Georgia woman. But, of course, that will change. One day she gets a call that her older sister was found dead in Dublin. After a couple of weeks the cops there quit looking for her killer, and MacKayla simply considers this unacceptable. She leaves her grieving parents and heads to a country where she can't understand hardly anyone, even if they are speaking the same language. After that, things start to get really weird.

MaKayla learns the hard way that she is a sidhe-seer, and that being one is very dangerous. She is thrust into a world that she is completely unfamiliar with, and has no idea of the rules. Luckily, or maybe not, she finds the mysterious Jericho Barrons, a man who has a good idea of what is going on and ends up cluing her in a bit.

While the cover and sticker lead me to believe that this would be a romance, it was not. I can see how the series, when complete, could be a romance, but that's not it's main function. This book is a bit scary, although I think the series will get darker and maybe more frightening as the story continues. While the book doesn't exactly have a cliffhanger ending, it does leave you ready for the next volume. Luckily, Bloodfever will be coming out Oct. 16th so maybe I won't have to wait too terribly long to get my hands on it!

The Harlequin

I finished reading The Harlequin this afternoon. I spent a good bit of yesterday reading it. I absolutely loved this book. Although, I can't say that I have not enjoyed any of the Anita Blake books.

The newest volume in the Anita Blake series is definitely a must read. There are many things that happen in it's pages that should prove essential in understanding what goes on in the next volume.

I'm happy to say that it isn't like the last few volumes. Hamilton doesn't spend a lot of time in the erotic portions of Blake's life, although they are the topic of many conversations. While I have no problem with erotica, it was nice to have a book more centered on solving a problem in the characters' lives as opposed to being spent in bed.

This book has a lot of character development. Many characters have realized things about themselves since the last volume, and learn many more things about themselves in these pages. Some of these are developments that I have been hoping would come along, and others are expected, although I hope they eventually come to better arrangements. (Yes, this is the romantic in me talking!)

While I don't want to give away anything, I will tell you that we see Haven, Edward, Belle Morte, and Mommie Dearest again in this volume. And all of the men in Blake's life. I was very happy to see Edward again and see how things were going in his life. He's been a favorite of mine ever since he first appeared. While I wish he were in more volumes, I think he's a better and more loved character because he isn't at the heart, or the sidelines, of every event in Blake's life.

Well, I can't think of anything else to write at the moment that I don't feel gives away something major in the book. Which sucks because I want to write about all kinds of things I have read in the past few hours! So all I will say now is that it's time for you to go and read it yourself!!!! Go! Pick it up, be entranced and spooked! It's that time of year anyway!

Blog Roll!!!

I've created an account with blogrolling and added one to my sidebar. It is no where near finished, and will probably take me several days to get every blog listed. If I list you and you either don't want to be listed, or want to be listed differently, just let me know. Or if you aren't on there within a week and would like to be, let me know. It's quite possible I will miss a few blogs and I don't want to hurt feelings. I never mind adding a new blog to my reading list either, so I will take you on even if I've never read you!

I hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend. I just finished reading The Harlequin by Laurell K. Hamilton. I will be posting a review of it soon. Maybe today, maybe not. No guarantees on that. I'm also nearly done with DarkFever by Karen Marie Moning, so expect to hear about it within a week or so as well.

And, it's a little late, but I'm really happy that Poppy is posting on her blog again. Poppy, I've missed you while you were away!!! So everyone go over and read her blog and check out how life has been treating her!

Feeling better!

Ok, I'm feeling a bit better after lunch, and the couple comments I've already gotten on my last post. I'm wearing my Dell shirt. I feel like a walking billboard. I generally don't like to wear shirts that have stuff across the entire chest, although I'm slowly working my way through this discomfort. I've already gotten a few more than normal stares, I guess due to the attention being drawn by the huge DELL Higher Education printed across my breasts!

But my allergy meds have finally kicked in a bit and that isn't annoying me quite as much. And I turned off my fan to make sure it wasn't blowing anything in my face. :) Should have thought of that one earlier.

I decided I still wanted a soft drink after lunch. I refuse to have anything to do with the Dr. Pepper, so I bought a 12ox Pepsi on my way back to work. I have both it and an open bottle of water on my desk. The water will hopefully be gone by the time I get home. I may not drink the whole Pepsi. I think I just want a taste more than anything. (Kudos to veggie paparazzi for bringing this up the other day!) I did good on my eating at lunch, hit none of the snacks hidden at the apartment. Not even the not-so-hidden ones, even if I did think about it.

I hope that y'all have a wonderful rest of the day!!!!

Bad Again...

Today is crap. It's just one of those crap days when I should have stayed at home.
I woke up and wanted to lay around for a couple of minutes, which ended up being more than 30. Then I didn't have a clean shirt that I actually wanted to wear, so I just grabbed something.
Got to work feeling ok. Then tried to open the Dr. Pepper I brought with me only to have it decide that me, my chair, my counter, my laptop, and my chair mat thingie needed a Dr. Pepper bath. Not much got on the laptop thank goodness.
My coworker came in. Some of the Dr. Pepper dripped on her floor mat so she is back to completely pissed at me rather than the slowly getting over the section. Even though I apologized, cleaned up as best I could, and am trying to catch the janitor to get a mop.
And now my allergies have freaked out. So I'm PMSing, sneezing, trying not to claw my eyeballs out, and I'm getting a major headache from all this.
I really hope my day gets better. I'm going home at lunch to try and find another shirt, eat something relatively healthy, and read the latest Anita Blake book which I got last night.

I might have more to say later....I dont' know. Depends on if my mood improves any....

Good Again!

I feel good again this evening. I went to water aerobics and had a blast. She even did a good stretch period at the end. I've never had one that good in a class before. I've stayed on track fairly well today too. Although the day didn't start as well. I hope I can get past my four day early cramps and not attack the chocolate I bought tonight. I put it in the kitchen cabinet so I will avoid it tonight. And I'll post food again...

Breakfast:
Mocha - 8 pts (non-fat. I woke up late and decided to just grab something on my way to work!)
Limeade - 2 pts

Lunch:
Salad (lettuce, spinach leaves, ham, cheese, carrots, ranch dressing) - 6 pts
Melon and grapes 2c. - 2 pts.

Supper:
Boston Market Beef Sirloin Meal - 6 pts

Evening Snack:
1c. Chocolate Milk (Part 2% milk, part 1% milk, Nesquik no sugar added) - 4 pts

Exercise:
Water Aerobics - 4 pts.
Walking - 1 pt.

Points Target: 28, Food Points: 28

I hope tomorrow is as well. I have no idea what lunch will be though. I plan to get up early enough to have my breakfast at the apartment though.

Proud

I'm proud of myself today. I went to the gym for Circuit Training today. I hit the bike for a few minutes because there were already people waiting to start the circuit, and I refuse to start in the middle. I hate to do it out of order. :) Then I did one round on the circuit (yay! strength training!). Then I hit the elliptical and did an interval program instead of the fat burning workout they have. I set the level at 3 (I know nothing about the levels) and think I might set it a bit higher next time. Then I realized how soon my husband would be coming in for Aikido and decided I wanted to see him. If I headed on home I would probably miss him since I walk. So I hit another bike in the open area of the gym (one with arms this time) and worked out for another 10 minutes. I loved this machine. I jacked the arms up all the way and they were still EASY (ok, I wouldn't have minded working a bit harder there) and left the legs at the lowest setting and did an interval program again. I burned 325 calories on the cardio machines!!!! I was so happy. I think it was about 35 minutes total, but I'm not positive. I love the machines that take in my weight and calculate the calories for me. It makes it so much easier to figure out my activity points for weight watchers.

As for food, I think I'm gonna post it here today too. And I even ended up a little high at lunch because the Pizza Hut we went too had closed!

Breakfast:
Sausage, Egg, & Cheese Hot Pocket - 4 pts.
8oz. 2% Milk - 3 pts.
8oz. Limeade - 2 pts.
Lunch:
Baked Potato with bacon bits and cheese - about 11 pts.
Sweet Tea - 0 pts.
Snack:
Apple and 1 tbsp Peanut Butter - 3 pts.
Supper: (Cooking now, could be slightly off!)
Chicken baked with Italian Chicken - 5 pts (I'll probably eat a pretty big piece!)
Whole kernel corn - 1 pt
Green beans - 0 pts

Exercise:
Cardio Machines at gym - 3 pts
Walking outside - 1 pt
Strength Training - 1 circuit

Thats 29 pts in food, and I have a target of 28 right now. I think this is a wonderful start to the week. 2 milk products, 4-5 fruits and veggies, and by the time the evening is over I should be well over 8 glasses of water!!!!

I doubt that I post my food here every day, but this is the best I've done in a long time. I'll hopefully manage to keep it up!!! I'm so pumped....

New Ticker!

You'll notice a new ticker at the top now. I'm participating in Carolyn's Christmas Challenge. I've set my goal to be at 200 at by then. I might not make it, but I'm going to try. So that's 16 pounds as of my weigh in today. I'll do my best to remember to update both tickers every Wednesday!

Love and Hate?

Ok, so I couldn't think of anything else for a title. And that probably won't fit it either. But I don't care. At least it's something different than my normal, right???

I think I have my new work laptop completely ready to go for work. Which is exciting. I still have a few things to install, but those are personal and for fun, not a job function. I shut down my IBM and have stashed it in a drawer. If I haven't had to boot it up for something by Monday morning, I'm deleting my profile on it and turning it in. My coworker, on the other hand, didn't even get her dell out this morning. d She's just working on her IBM. Don't know why, and I'm not asking! She's decided she doesn't like me, yet again.

I have a love/hate relationship with my dell I think. Yesterday we couldn't get one of the programs I use to open properly. Today it worked fine, although it freaked out a little earlier. Seems ok now though. I'm not sure I like widescreens though. It's nice to have the extra space across, but it's not as tall, and that means more scrolling for me! Oh well, I'll get used to it, I guess. I runs WONDERFULLY FAST, so I can live with it.

I did go to the gym last night. Hit the circuit training room and the elliptical. It felt good. I'm going to water aerobics tonight. Which will be fun. I did a little straightening up in the apartment last night, but not a lot. I plan to do a bit more tonight after the gym.

I watch the season finale of Saving Grace. It was cool. I can't wait for the next season. It was a bit of a cliffhanger, without leaving the episode's main storyline unfinished. I can't wait to see what happens to Grace next.

I've started reading Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning. I like it so far, and will hopefully have time to get it finished. And not get tired of it instead.

I keep thinking today is Wednesday for some reason. I really wish it were. We would be that much closer to the weekend.

I think I might have actually gained some weight back this week. But I'm not going to agonize over it. I'll just keep hitting the gym this week and all will be well! Well, I'm off to read some blogs!

Sunday!

I like everything about Sunday except the prospect of going to work the next day. But not everything can be absolutely perfect. While I'm typing up this I'm also watching the video posted below. What can I say, I REALLY love this guy's voice.

I did make it to the gym yesterday, and spent 30 minutes on the elliptical. Todya I plan to clear my husband's crap out of the floor AGAIN and do a taebo video, or something. And do homework. I don't want to do the homework part, but it's kinda required!

I have almost finished getting my new laptop set up. I just have to doublecheck that I have all my files moved over. And that will leave me with stuff that I have to wait until I get to work to do. I'm excited to be so close to finished with my IBM. And even getting used to teh Dell keyboard again!

Well, I should go eat lunch and get busy. I have a lot I want to accomplish before the hubby gets home again! Y'all have a wonderful day and a great week!

Call me, call me - Seatbelts Live

My husband and I enjoy watching anime series, and I fell in love with the voice of Steve Conte when I watched Cowboy Bebop. Here's some video of a concert Yoko Kanno and the Seatbelts (composer and band) did at a convention in Japan. You can find other wonderful videos from the convention by visiting YouTube and searching for the Seatbelts. But I really wanted to share this because it is one fo my favorites!

Your Mind is PG-13 Rated

Your mind is definitely a little dirty. You're naughty, but not trashy. You don't shy away from a dirty joke, and you're clearly not a prude.

Do You Have a Dirty Mind?

Good News!

I got my new work laptop in finally yesterday! We weren't even supposed to get them out of this shipment, but my boss, the wonderful Nick!, went and said "Yes they are!" and had three delivered even though they were technically supposed to go to other people. I'm thrilled. I brought home both it (I love my new dell. She's beautiful and pretty fast!) and my IBM so I can work on transfering stuff over the weekend. I have almost everything installed that I can do from home though, so now it's just doing the files and getting things set up the way I want. I imported my favorites and feeds this morning, so it looks like I'm behind on my reading again, but at least I know I'm not really that far behind.

I have plans to go to the gym this morning. The circuit training room isn't open on Saturdays this semester, or so the schedule now says, but I'm going to hit the Work Out Zone. I'll hit the elliptical for however long they will let me. an hour would be nice, but I think that will depend on how busy they are this morning. They open at 9, so I'll get breakfast after I finish my post and head over there when they open. I hate that I didn't make it last night, but I really didn't feel like it. My head is still iffy this morning, but I think it's because I haven't had breakfast yet this morning. We'll see though!

Josh is going to the local gaming convention, HubCon, today and tomorrow. Today he will be heading over there for unknown period of time. He wants to play in the Dreamblade draft, but it doesn't have a set time. It's whenever Greg sees four people who will play. Sunday he will be going for a constructed L5R tournament at 2. Which is cool. This all leaves me to do whatever I want to for a good sized chunch of the weekend. So I will possibly be able to hit the gym again tomorrow... We'll see.

I haven't started in on my recipe books yet. But I will. I have to rearrange that shelf anyway. It's a mess! Rae had a wonderful post that I read this morning regarding a food find I've been looking for. I'm gonna have to keep looking now that I know other people like it. So, slip over and see her sometime soon.

I think that's about everything for the moment. Time for breakfast!

Is it weekend yet???

Sorry I've been slightly missing the past day or so. I got a horrible migraine at work Wednesday afternoon and stayed at home with it yesterday. I still have it today, but I came to work anyway. I had to stop by the clinich and have blood drawn for another lipid profile and I had class. And he actually HAD CLASS today. But he talked about cars first. :)

I have a program due for his class. I hope I can get it written at work this afternoon and be done with that. Although he does have to give us a test soon, so I may take the book home anyway. I need to type up chapter 3 notes anyway. I also have to do some cleaning, MIS homework, and prepare for my MIS test on Tuesday. The test I still have NO info on. Such as when I have to be where and with what in order to take the stupid test.

I haven't been the gym but once this week, and I have no plans to go tonight. But I will be doing something at home tonight.

I watched Saving Grace last night. I missed it Monday night. I really enjoyed the episode, and cannot wait to watch the season finale on Monday. I'll be watching the reruns after that to catch the first two episodes that I missed. I think I might have to get it on dvd.

I bought a pair of running shoes this week. The guy at Hibbet was semi-helpful in helping me pick out a pair. It's the most I've ever spent on a pair of shoes. I'm wearing them today. One of them hurt my foot this morning, but I think I had tied it too tight. I did a 25 minute walk at lunch today, and hope to start actually running next week. I will probably try the C25K program again. I really do want to do this, and I'm hoping that part of my trouble was worn out shoes that weren't made for running.

I went and got blook drawn for a lipid profile this morning. And I got them to show me the results from my last one since I had never seen them. It was 243 in April. I hope it isn't so bad this time, but I'm going to have to take the whole low-cholesterol diet thing seriously now. So I'll hopefully find time this weekend to look through my cookbooks for low-cholesterol dishes. And get a menu planned for next week.

Y'all have a wonderful weekend! (And I might post something this weekend since I'll have to get online for classes anyway!)

Wednesday Update!

Well, I lost another half pound. That puts me at my lowest during this journey. I'm happy about this.

Instead of going to the gym last night I went to a "fun" party. I only get to go to one a year, and my husband and I needed some supplies. :) And I had a lot of fun! Only drank 1 margarita. Since I was driving.

Going to the gym again tonight. The houseguest will hopefully be leaving today or tomorrow. So my husband and I can try out the new stuff... And I'm going to say goodbye to my friend John since he's heading back to Oklahoma after lunch.

Well, there might be more, but I'm not worried about it right now. :) Y'all have a fantastic day!

Update on My Friend

Well, she did apparently get the kids back last night.

But, he's said he'll do it again tonight. So he can see her again. Apparently he's decided to use the kids to try and get her back or something. Which is really ridiculous because she isn't going to.

Oh well, I'm hoping he will get better, but that probably won't happen.

Prayers for my Friend

Sorry to come in late with such sucky news, but I wanted to ask everyone to keep my friend Brandi and her family in her prayers. She and her husband have been going through a bad divorce.

She got a call not too long ago that her husband kidnapped the kids. His grandparents pick them up from school. He went to their house, fought with his grandfather, and took the kids with him. He told Brandi he would bring them back when he got ready too. And that she MIGHT see them tonight.

Needless to say she's a bit upset. She's about decided that she's going to give up on living in her house and just move in with her parents. I know she plans to stay with tonight. I'll let you know if I learn anything new.

New Look!

Good greif! It took an act of congress to get a new template on here! I had to delete out every extra thing, so it might take a little while to get all my links and stuff back in. I might work on it today, might not. But I think I like my bunny.....I might change it later though. Who knows?

I typed up my chapter 2 programming notes last night and sent them to the teacher. I did a lot of page and figure referencing in them, so he might want me to make some changes. BUT, I can go in and type in all the tables and stuff if he wants. It's not like I'm getting a grade on this. I just typed up what I would do for my own notes...well, a little more. But not much. I just expounded on some of the stuff I already knew before he talked about it.

I logged into my WebCT account last night to check and see if there was anything new related to my MIS online class. And the class wasn't there. I called the WebCT admin this morning and talked to him. He has no idea what's going on, but is going to check with the MIS department to see what they are doing. I'm going to call my teacher during her office hours this afternoon if it isn't fixed by then.

I went to the gym last night. I did a round in the circuit training room and then 25 minutes on the elliptical. I thought at points I was gonna have to quit. Then my the time I was close to finished I decided I could have gone longer. But I needed to get home. It was fun though. I won't be going to the gym tonight. I've been invited to a "fun party". I haven't been to one since my friends threw one instead of a lingerie shower. I plan to buy something, but I don't know what yet. We'll see what I feel like when I get there tonight.

Well, I hope that everyone is having a wonderful day. And a wonderful week!

Just to fill the time....

So, I know I've already given a basic update today, but I have to cover the university switchboard for an hour, and I figured this was a good way to fill a few minutes. The switchboard has slowed down a bit now, and I'm away from my computer for the time.

I ordered a 1gig SanDisk Sansa a while back and actually received it in the mail last week. I brought it to work today so I can attempt to get some music loaded on it. I have a ZenMicro that's 5gig, but I'm a bit scared of dropping and busting it while I'm working out. At least I'm out less than $20 this way. I'm trying to get some of my music transferred, but it's not cooperating very well. Hopefully I will make some progress this afternoon on it.

I'm currently up to date on my MIS homework. I just have to get my programming notes typed up for the teacher. I plan to work on that tonight. Since I'll be sitting for two hours in front of the tv I figure I can at least work on that during the commercials. I have the season finale for The Closer to watch tonight as well as the next to last episode for Saving Grace.

I don't know what the guys are doing tonight. John (the out of town friend) wants to go see a movie, I think. I want to see the movie, but not at the expense of seeing my shows. He can kiss my ass. I'll see the movie this weekend. Tonight I have to work out and watch tv.

As much of the weekend as I spent gone, and considering the hous guest, I STILL have a clean apartment. Or mostly clean. Chris's clothes are a piled up mess, but it's not in my way. I didn't want to read for MIS yesterday, so I did housework instead. I washed and put away a lot of laundry, did the dishes, took out the trash... I rarely take the trash out myself. I normally make Josh do it. I REALLY didn't want to read that book. I eventually put myself in the situation that I had nothing else I could really do. But I did eventually do it. At least I have a cleaner apartment too. I still need to mop and vacuum. But I didn't want to procrastinate THAT badly yesterday. I might do that later this week though.

I'm excited about the prospect of going to the gym after work. I can't wait to work out. I'm going to do circuit training, then spend at least ten minutes on the elliptical. I hope I can manage more. I'm just going to hit it for a short time in the circuit training room. And I will hopefully enjoy my time there. It would be nice to hit 30 minutes, but who knows! I'll let you know tomorrow!

I'll let you know about the sansa situation too. Hopefully I'll get it figured out this afternoon and get some decent music on it. I think that might help me keep my mind occupied during the elliptical time. Otherwise I have trouble!

Y'all have a wonderful day!

Back again...

Sorry I haven't gotten back to a regular posting schedule yet. That should be changing.

I managed to go to the gym three times last week, Circuit Training on Wednesday, Water Aerobics on Thursday, and the Master Fitness class on Friday. I didn't stay for the entire MF class, but I worked out for an hour. I did kickboxing and Kukuwa dance. It was fun and I really enjoyed it. But I was exhausted afterwards...

We've been doing all the hanging out lately. I spent both Friday and Saturday night at my friend Dee's place. We had her place completely packed Saturday night. She and I spent the evening on her back porch chatting with a revolving door of people. She burned her old couch, as well as a bunch of other wood and stuff. She plans to clean up some more of the Katrina damage in her back yard for a couple more bonfires this year. She'll probably get her oldest son and his friends to actually do it. (They can have one of their own if they gather enough wood for two fires kinda thing...)

Sunday was sitting at home and doing homework. We still have our friend Chris sleeping over. His grandmother is still cleaning out his bedroom so he can go home. He only gave her two week's notice that he was moving back. But he should be out in a few days. While it's nice to get to see him (he's lived out of state for a year or so now), I'll be ready to say goodbye and get back to a normal schedule. My closet is in the room he's sleeping in. Makes it difficult sometimes!

I might be back to chat later. Y'all have a wonderful day!

I made it to the gym!

I did about 20 minutes in the circuit training room, and 7 minutes on the eliptical.

Then I went to the gym's fitness assessment center for my Biggest Winner pretests. They didn't tell me they were actually doing a fitness assessment. So my numbers were a bit skewed, but that's ok. The personal trainer, Devon, is really cute. And I think that I might hire him later on to be my trainer. Maybe next semester. I should have more money by then. (I paid off a credit card bill this past month!!! I'll hopefully pay off another this month and get it closed because I don't want to keep it.) Anyway, they took measurements and some skin-fold measurements and calculated my body fat percentage at 41.3. I was happy with that number. I was not happy with my sit and reach score, so I'll be working on stretches some this semester. I managed 17 pushups and 22 curlups (1 minute time for each). He said that was really good. I don't know that I'll manage to be able to do MORE pushups by the end, but I hope to make them easier.

One of the ladies in parking management (the office next to mine at work) was in the circuit training room when I went. So I chitchated with her a bit during my workout. Easier to do considering it was circuit training. She told me I should go to water aerobics. and I have my bag packed and under the desk for this afternoon.

...Lunch...

I think this might take all day to do. I'm going to try and remember where I was and finish up though....

I got the paperwork I wasn't given on Biggest Winner's earlier. One of my coworkers decided at the last minute to participate. She and another guy in our department are on another team. Next semester we are going to do it together. A couple of other girls in the office want to do it with us next time, but I honestly don't know if they will qualify. You have to have a BMI over 25 to participate, and I think they might not. We'll find out later.

I have a mini goal in mind. "mini" not meaning small, but that in that's it's more an "I would like this, but it isn't something I'll be worrying about." I want to lose 20 pounds between now and the new year. Considering it's taken me 11 months to lose 23, that's a stretch. But it's only 5 pounds a month. So it really is possible. This is probably something I won't bring up often though.

In conjunction with the R.I.P II Challenge over at Stainless Steel Droppings is the R.I.P.ing 5 Challenge. It's to lose 5 pounds during the next two months. Since it falls in with everything else, why not?

Well, y'all have a wonderful evening, and a wonderful weekend if I don't get back!

OH!!! The guys made it in. My friend Chris ended up bunking with us last night.

Update!

Yeah, I'm so no managing this catch up thing apparently. But I will! At some point. We still get really busy.

So, after I went and signed up for Biggest Winner ALL FOUR other members on the team decided not to do it. So I'm on a team of strangers. I'll be going for my fitness assessment this evening.

My friend John comes into town tonight. I'm so excited!!! Even if it does put a crimp in my life with stay over company. ;) Josh has already informed me that there will be no threesomes. Shucks! ;)

Yes, I'm in a good mood. Right after work I'm going to the gym. And I'm going to make this a habit.

Y'all have a wonderful week!

Dark Possession by Christine Feehan

First, I just have to say that I LOVE this cover. It's beautiful.

Now, on to real stuff. :) I've loved Christine Feehan for a while now. I don't remember when I first picked up one of the Carpathian novels. All I know is that I was hooked. Solidly. Over the years I picked them up as a saw them at the small local bookstore. Then about two years ago I went searching until I owned a copy of every one. That wasn't an easy tasks, but I put my all in it.

The first novels weren't fantastic, but I felt Feehan had some real potential with the world. She had several too-stupid-to-live heroines, and several heroes that parroted the same lines in each book. But she had some real treasures tossed in too, such as Jacques, who is still my favorite Carpathian.

This story takes place shortly after Dark Celebration, when we really saw a major attack on the Carpathians by their enemies. In Dark Possession Manolito De La Cruz wakes up very confused and disoriented. And his family's guest, MaryAnn Delaney, has no idea why she is so terribly upset at the death of a stranger she had never spoken too.

This story really kept me on my toes, and not only with the romance that Feehan writes. We find out more about the Carpathian's enemies and their plans. And we are introduced to yet another race! But I won't tell you which one. Keep it yourself.

This book kept me from closing the cover at all. I even carried it downtown to read while waiting to buy tickets to see Chevelle. And I imagine I was amusing to watch, standing outside a bar at 11:40 am reading a novel will everyone else is chatting with strangers and smoking.

If you read some of the early Carpathian novels when it was really repetitive, you should really give Feehan another shot. In the past few novels there have been some kick-ass heroines, and some seriously sexy men finding them.

The Dead Girls' Dance by Rachel Caine

I just finished The Dead Girls' Dance, the second book in Rachel Caine's The Morganville Vampires series. And I'll once again say that Young Adult novels have come a long way since I remember reading them growing up. They are actually good now.

I read the first book, Glass Houses, a couple of months ago and absolutely loved it. This book definitely lived up to the standards I held for it.

Claire Danvers' parents decided that she should go to a small college for her first year when she finished high school at the tender age of 16. They didn't know they were sending her to a vampire town.

This book picks up right where the first left off with Shane's father in the house with plans to shake things up in town. And things certainly get shook up. The landscape of things in town changes a bit from the beginning of this book to the end. It's exciting, it's dark, and it holds the unexpected. I was unable to put it down today until I finished it. And I can only say that I'm thrilled that the third book, Midnight Alley, will be coming out in October. This series is definitely worth a read, no matter what your age!

R.I.P. II Challenge

So, I had mentioned earlier that I planned to partake of this challenge. Well, I've put together a preliminary reading list. And, by preliminary, it means they MIGHT be read, and they MIGHT qualify for the challenge. :)

The Dead Girls' Dance is the sequel to Rachel Caine's Glass Houses that I read earlier this year.

Of course, I've already talked about The Rest Falls Away and Rises the Night by Colleen Gleason before. I've been planning to reread these since I finished the second one.

I read Necroscope by Brian Lumley back in high school. I had intended to read the entire trilogy, but never could get into the second one. So I'm going to try again.

Unmasqued by Colette Gale is a new version of The Phantom of the Opera. I plan to read Gaston Leroux's version as well. Although I don't have a copy of it yet.

Dark Possession is the newest volume of Christine Feehan's Carpathian books. I actually finished it today, and will be posting a review soon.

Jonathan Barrett, Gentleman Vampire is actually a volume containing four novels by
P.N. Elrod. I read it in high school as well and have had a desire to reread it again for the last month or so.

There are several other books that I hope I can get my hands on to read during this challenge. But this stack should keep me somewhat busy for a while!