A New Reality...

Hmm, it is very difficult for me to end a vacation.  The past ten or so days have been amazing in so many ways.  I don't want to go back to my "real life".  I think, back to reality.  Well, I have just decided that a person can change whenever they want.  Here we go.

A Perfect Day

We slept in, had a great breakfast at a place called Yolk, walked back to the hotel in the snow, went to the art institute, hung out with mom, bought carmel corn at Garrett's, and had one of the best dinners ever at Fogo de Chao.

Port Huron to Chicago!

We were smiling in the photo...yeah.  I'm glad we took it.  I slept a lot of the way to Chicago.  I apparently missed all of the snow that Dad had to drive through.  Yay!  When we made it to the hotel Dad took a nap, while mom and I took a walk down Michigan Avenue north towards Millennium Park.  It was cold.  It was nice.

A White Christmas

It was a nice day, a little bit stressful for sure.  I took my therapist's advice and cried.  I felt better afterwards.  I've had a wonderful time getting to know Darell and her family more this trip.  I can't wait to visit again.

I have a sister-in-law!

My brother has a family all his own.  That is amazing to me.  I am so happy for Darell and him.  They were beautiful yesterday and always will be.

It's Snowing!

I have finally seen snow fall from the sky!  Darell's mom is calling it a flurry.  I am definitely calling it snow.  It is not rain.  It is not hail.  It is white.  It's snow!

New Day 9 and 10

Hmm, well, not so great emotionally, but ok eating.  I lost 10 pounds in the past month so I'm really hoping the dress fits on Friday.  If it doesn't, I'll just figure something out.  I wait until the last minute to pack.  Blah.  I did stop my mail though.  Woohoo.  I paid bills and did a bunch of other stuff...granted, a lot of that is online and I can do that "anywhere".  I am ready for some time off.  Time to recharge.

New Day 8

It was a fine day.  I ate 4 think thin bars so that was the only minor bad part.  I wrote a lot of christmas letters to people so that was fun.  I listened to a ton of holiday music and that was nice.  The girls basketball game wasn't the best, but it's always fun to go out and cheer for students.  I decided to try out a methodist church in cerritos/artesia tomorrow.  It should be interesting if nothing else.

New Day 7

I ate well today.  I did not drink well today.  I had 2 cans of diet coke and 2 large americano's from Starbucks.  I added half and half and 2 splenda to each.  Given the craziness that happened today in CN, I think that's not too bad.  My heart hurts for them.

New Day 5 and 6

I can't tell if this week has gone by quickly or not.  The eating has all been fine.  I do want this dress to fit.  I'm a procrastinator so I waited until the last minute to do this.  I'm not going to finish their large granny square crochet throw unless I crochet like a mad woman this next week.  Maybe I'll have time...I will be in Michigan where it'll be flippin' cold.  I'm ready for the weekend.  The prayer vigil was fine.  I still haven't cried.  I still have hope.

New Day 3 and 4

Pretty good.  It's gonna be a long week but the eating has been fine and today I didn't have soda or coffee.  I'm lovin me some water.  :)  They still haven't found the missing kid.  They're putting together a prayer thing for him at the high school Thursday at 5:30.  I haven't cried yet.  Maybe I will then.  Blah.

New Day 2

Another good day.  Very productive but in a different way than yesterday.  Today I went to Stater Bros and Costco, I went to church, I did 2 loads of laundry, I did the dishes, I went to the gym, I looked at Geometry homework, I took out the trash, and I ate 1120 calories.  I know that's not enough calories for a typical day but the wedding is in less than 2 weeks and I'd really like the bridesmaid dress to fit.  I can't even check that out as it is with my parents in Memphis.  The kid is still missing in Tempe.  I have not cried for him yet and I know that I should.  I'm seeing my therapist tomorrow.  I'll probably cry then.  Great...

It's a new day!

Alright so today I didn't eat very much at all, 910 calories.  I know that's not really enough.  I'm not hungry at all.  I wasn't hungry much so I didn't eat.  I ate when I was hungry.  Amazing.  I dunno.  We'll see how this goes.  And by "this", I mean life.

Fun thing is that my million meter pin arrived.  :)

Day 14 of the dress diet

Again, not an appropriate title.  This is a bit ridiculous.  4 cookies in the morning and 4 tonight.  Whatever.  They confirmed a shoe they found by the river in Tempe is the missing kid's red van.  I celebrated with my friend tonight.  Her proof copy of her book arrived.  I'm very happy for her.  I need sleep.

Day 13 of the dress diet

Still not an appropriate title.  I had 4 cookies today.  Not gonna lie...they were good.  I went to the gym and did a workout 54 seconds faster than I did back in April so that was kind of fun.  I corrected geometry quizzes so that was productive.  It could have been a worse day.  So glad tomorrow is Friday.

Day 12 of the dress diet

I think the title is not appropriate today.  Talk about falling off the wagon.  Too much going on.  I let too much bother me.  Major suckage all around.  I have a huge headache.  I need sleep now.

Days 10 and 11 of the dress diet

Hmm, well I haven't been over on calories but life is always stressful.  A former student has gone missing out in Tempe.  He was last seen on Friday at a fraternity event at a restaurant/bar.  I had him in 10th and 12th grades.  I had his older brother too for stats.  His dad passed away this summer from cancer.  The family anticipated that so they took a "last" vacation together in May.  Ugh.  It's just too much.  I want to eat through the wall but I know I can't.  Side note...chocolate mint coconut milk is VERY good...so good I drank all 400 calories in one day.  Can't buy it again for awhile.

Day 9 of the dress diet

Today was a pretty good day.  SO much better than yesterday.  I got up fairly early and I think that helped.  I went to Target before it got busy.  I tried out a new church that I really liked.  I'll go back next week for sure.  I did a ton of "chores"...2 loads of laundry, dishes, cooked food, took out the trash, put away "fall" decorations, and put up my very limited this year Christmas decorations...4 items total.  I just don't really feel it this year.  I finally decided to try and "joyfully" listen to some Christmas music today and that actually happened.  I wasn't so bitter.  It felt good.  I tried a "festive" drink...chocolate mint coconut milk!  So good.  100 calories in a cup.  I rowed 5000m.  I'm trying to get the Holiday Challenge pin again this year, I guess.  I've rowed 70,000m towards the 200,000m that I need to complete before I leave for the wedding.  I can do it but it's a lot of rowing.  We'll see.  I'm anticipating that tomorrow is going to suck on some levels because I have to deal with all these cheating kids, their counselors, and their parents.  I'm trying to mentally prepare for that now.  Woohoo and oh joy!

Day 8 of the dress diet

I slept in a bit yesterday which completely threw off my day.  I was not in a good mood by the time I arrived at the gym.  I smashed my right big toe doing "wall climbs".  I ran a bunch of errands and ended up at Sprouts buying half a pumpkin pie.  I got home around 12:30 and ate it all...960 calories.  It was good.  My first pumpkin pie of the season and I'm guessing my last.  Then I took a 3 hour nap because that's how much I felt like the day was sucking.

I think the "best" part of the day was finishing my million meters rowed and documented.  I know I've rowed more but this million has been logged so I'm getting a free t-shirt and cheesy pin.  I'm actually excited about that part.  I also got to download a certificate (see below).  I went to bed late and I'm up "early", kinda.  I just had 2 pillsbury cinnamon rolls with carmel icing.  I threw the rest of the tube (6 more) out.  I would have eaten them all.  I did not want to do that.

Today has to be better than yesterday...I hope.  Tomorrow is gonna not be fun because I have to document/call parents/talk to counselors about the 8-10 kids who cheated on Friday's geometry quiz.  Blah.

Day 7 of the dress diet

Friday was SO much better than Thursday.  I rowed 10000m.  I have 8000 to go.  I probably ate all of my 2300 calories for the first time in a week but I was alright with that.  I had a lot of coffee but I have to be ok with that too.  Today should be fine as well.