My Day

Thanks to a FB friend, I heard about FLYLADY.  I went through her site this past weekend and signed up for the daily emails.  I was all excited to get on task again.  So, when I went to bed, I reset my alarm for 6:45am (15 minutes early) so that I could empty the dish washer and shine my sink, possibly throw a load of laundry in.  Well, my morning didn't quite work out as planned.  Yes, my alarm went off at 6:45am and I started hitting the snooze button.  I finally got out of bed at 7:12am (12 minutes late).  In a slight blur, I do get myself ready, make Addison's lunch and make it into the car by 8am. 

I was dreading going into work.  My stomach was in knots all the way in.  I got into the office and had a really crappy morning.  A little after lunch, off I go to one of my properties for tenant visits.  I visit practically every tenant and met with two vendors.  Off I go back home, change pants and shoes and head to my orthopedic appt.

I swear the PA thought I was faking the ankle pain!  Yes, I love wearing the big giant ugly boot, please, please, never take it away.  He then called in the actual doctor.  He checked out the ankle again and took another look at my MRI.  He again stated that the "MRI PPL" read my MRI incorrectly.  ((I wonder, do I have to pay for the MRI if it was read incorrectly?  I may have to check on that, I'll put it on the "list."))  That there are several tears, yadda yadda yadda.  So, surgery it is!  Currently scheduled for April 9th since I couldn't do it this week - client coming in on Wednesday, Easter this weekend and I couldn't do it the first part of next week as we have our Giada day planned at LakeSide.  Fun fun!!!

On the way out to the check-out desk I noticed that I had a hole in the side of my shirt.  Great.  I had been in the office, visiting tenants, meeting with vendors and at the doctor's office ... while all along I had a ripped shirt.  Lovely.  So now I look like a homeless Herman Munster.

Picked up Addison, who had just fell at the rec and hurt her ankle.  What is it with ankles lately?  We just took a quick trip over to Little Ceaser's to pick up a nice healthy dinner.  Got home and settled in to eat ... the crazy bread was stale and the "hot and ready" pizza was kinda cold.  :(

Then at 5 I hit the taxes, again.  By 10pm I was done (well, done enough to get our estimate calculated and our extenion filed).  Whew!  That is a relief, for now.  Hopefully I can get the final tweaking done before the drop dead date in October.

So, the plan for tomorrow:  up at 6:45am to start the FLYLADY plan.  Fingers crossed.

To the Point of Distraction

Well here I sit / lay (I need a term for this position) in my bed.  Yes, I am aware that it is 4:30pm.  I came into the bedroom about 2 or 2 1/2 hours ago with laptop and pile of tax stuff in hand.  All ready to spread out the papers all over the bed and start my spreadsheets.  I chose the bed because it helps to have "the stupid ankle" stretched out. 

Since I have been in the bedroom I have watched 1 1/2 episodes of "I Shouldn't Be Alive" (I'm completely addicted to that show and truly believe that now I could survive being lost in the Amazon Forest; the freezing wilderness or attacks by wild animals) and am now on my second episode of Kirstie Alley's Big Life.  Why?  I have no idea - it's on, so I'm watching.  It's like watching a train wreck - I just can't stop.  Plus, maybe I relate to her now?  ICK, that is a scary thought.  She just weighed in at 230, at least I can't relate that much!  Plus I have been playing on Facebook and Farmville all the while.  Shocking huh?

I seem to be distracted continuously these days.  I can't focus on anything that I need to do, so I end up not doing anything, and then of course, I'm further behind.  It's an EVIL EVIL cycle!  Humm, is that ADD?  Could I possibly get a script for Ritalin?  Doesn't that help people lose weight too?  It might be a double bonus!  Things to ponder this week.

The Cards (well, calories) Were Stacked Against Me Today

I couldn't sleep last night.  I finally crawled into bed about 2 this morning.  Yes, I was hating life when my alarm went off at 7am.  But, I got up and got ready for the new day.  Dropped Addison off at school and then headed to LakeSide for a morning meeting.

My first stop is Starbucks (shocking right?).  I had to get coffee and snacks for my meeting.  Of course I had to get my new favorite drink ... skinny dark cherry latte.  If you have not tried this drink yet - stop reading and head to your nearest Starbucks immediately!!  It tastes just like you are sucking the middle goo out of a chocolate covered cherry.  Heavenly.  But, back to the story.  While getting my drink and goodies for the meeting, I was reminded that today was Free Pastry Day.  What a great day!  So of course, I had to have a piece of banana nut bread ... that counts as a fruit for the day right?

Off to the meeting.  Then off to my office.  I did pretty well at the office, I took the remainder of my Chili's dinner from last night (1/2 a burger and some fries) for my lunch.  And I only had 1 diet pepsi, and only 1/2 of a cream cheese pastry (left over from the meeting goodies).  Finished my day and headed to get Addison from school.

We got home and settled in ... it was my intention to take a little cat nap before doing the dishes and starting dinner (since the exhausation from my lack of sleep was finally catching up with me).  Then Addison, sweet girl that she is, reminded me that today was Free Ice Cream Day at Ben & Jerry's.  Wow -- a double freebie day.  So, off we go to Ben & Jerry's.  The line was relatively short - about 10 mins - I took this as a sign that we made the right decision about partaking in the ice cream adventure.  Addison got "chocolate therapy" (which is probably what I need) and I had "cake batter".  Wow, it was fabulous.  It tasted JUST like real cake batter.  This could be a very dangerous discovery for me. 

Back at home, I finished watching the remainder of Gilmore Girls while checking my farm (does farming count as exercise?).  I still had a bit of a sweet tooth after the ice cream, so I just had a little spoonful of peanut butter and nutella.  Then, on to chores.  Dishes, done.  Dinner started.  Dinner wasn't too bad I guess - we had goulosh and cornbread ... I know, I know ... but you just can't have goulosh without cornbread.

That was it for the day.  If it wasn't for all of the FREEBIE FOOD today, I would have done pretty well.  But, how can you pass up FREE pastry and FREE ice cream? 

We shall see what tomorrow holds ... but I do have a FREEBIE dinner planned at the new Brickhouse Restaurant, so humm...

Stress = FOOD = BLAH

Why is it that when some people are stressed they lose weight?  You hear them comment, "oh, I just can't eat."  What?!?  I'm sorry, my mind just does not comprehend that concept.  How is that?  How does that happen, that you can't eat?  I can just type the word STRESS and gain 5 pounds.  Oops, there it goes -- better not try to wear those jeans tomorrow.

And speaking of jeans.  That's ALL I can wear with this stupid boot on my foot / ankle.  Oh, I take that back, I can wear sweats.  YAY!  Yes, I have been feeling so sexy and femine lately while walking around with my Herman Munster foot!  Stress Factor #1.

I have been in such a whirlwind lately that half the time I'm not sure what day of the week it is (but, believe me, I do know that today is Monday).  It seems to just be one thing after another.  Work is absolutely insane with no hopeful outlook that it will calm down anytime too soon.  Stress Factor #2.

Then there's the tax prep that I have to get done and to our CPA so that we can estimate the amount of blood loss necessary to file an extension, to lose even more in October.  Stress Factor #3.  Yes, I am so happy with our government, can't you tell?  What else would you like from us? arm? leg? first born? 

There is paperwork all over my house.  Seriously, I am drowning in paper!  Stress Factor #4.  Many, many trees have died in order to clutter my house.  But of course, the clutter is not due only to the paper ... it's everything ... cleaning, dusting, sweeping, mopping all needs to be done.  Oh, yes, that's Stress Factor #5.

So, you ask, how do you handle all of this?  Well, I wish I could be one of those "I just can't possibly eat" girls ... but, nope I become the human Hoover!  Why is that? Why? Why? Why?  When I got up this morning I told myself that today was going to be the turn around day.  I was not going to pig out.  I had my morning conversation with God on the way into the office and was staying strong.  I believe my stress level rises upon entering my office building.  Humm, is that medically possible?  So, how did I do today?

Breakfast?  Somehow this morning, my fried pie (apricot, yumm) that I bought on the way home from Oklahoma on Saturday had made it's way into my purse.  So I had that and a cup of coffee.  Followed shortly by a Diet Pepsi (yes, I am off the caffiene wagon).  Lunch?  I had not planned on eating; however, by this time I was shaking like a leaf from the huge amount of sugar and caffiene that I had consumed earlier.  So, after rummaging in the breakroom, Peanut Butter crackers became my lunch.  I was still shaky, so I decided to have oatmeal ... not too bad.

Run, run, run.  Meeting, meeting, meeting.  Then off to Physical Therapy.  I was actually nauseous after that ... not sure if it was from the pain in my ankle or from the crap I had eaten earlier.  Picked Addison up from school to start our Mommy / Daughter Monday.  Addison suggested Chili's for dinner and I was too tired to argue.  So there was a healthy dinner of a cheeseburger and fries (well, half - I bought half home).

As I get home, and walk by the sink full of dirty dishes, Mitchell is calling me to ask if I'm working on the taxes.  Yes, it's on the list.  I put the dog out and all of the dogs start barking and barking and barking.  Great.  I try to get on Farmville - and it's down!  WAH!  So, what do I do?  Pile all of the paperwork on the couch and grab a spoonful of peanut butter and nutella. 

Way to stay strong today Chasity ...

Too Relaxed?

Is there such a thing as getting too relaxed?  You know - when reality slips away and you just don't want to rejoin the real world.  Yes, isn't that a strange question from me?  Well, I headed up to my cousin / "sister's" house (near Oklahoma City) on Wednesday along with Addison.  We wanted some quality girl time with Jana, Randi, Kali (and of course little Morgan).  Thank you Scott for letting us invade!

It was so nice to just unwind.  To unplug from the world of constant "on-ness" and work.  Believe it or not, I turned OFF my cell phone quite a few times!  I only checked my email a few times.  The only computer "work" that I did was Facebook and Farmville (I couldn't let my crops wither).

We stayed up late every night.  Slept in late.  Drank coffee in our PJs.  We got pedicures, lunched out (yes, I survived Oklahoma Sushi and tasted the nastiest soup ever served -- that Jana and Kali actually liked ... I wonder if that had anything to do with the saki bombs???), shopped and just layed around.  It was so great!  It was like being in a really cool B&B.  Jana is an awesome cook, so we ate really well (I had my very first Indian Taco, not to mention HOME-MADE donuts ... oh, and the BEST EVER peanut butter pie, which I will be making at Easter time).

While we were out shopping on Friday the temperature was in the 70s ... after leaving The Market (cool little Mercantile with great items in case you are ever in Oklahoma City and have some time to kill), the temperature dropped about 30 degrees in less than an hour.  We got a nice little blizzard that night so we all woke up to a white, winter wonderland Saturday morning.  Beautiful.

Addison and I drug ourselves away Saturday afteroon (after another great feast prepared by Chef Jana).  Thank goodness for my all wheel drive Subaru for getting us out of the somewhat icy driveway and home safely (after a quick fried pie run of course, along with the worst cup of coffee that I have ever purchased-gag).  It was nice to get home to my dear hubby and my sweet little Gracie; however, I was so sad to leave my Oklahoma family. 

Saturday night Mitchell and I watched "What About the Morgans?" ... which was a decent movie.  Then I got to wake up again this morning to a blanket of white.  God is so awesome.  After serving at church and attending a great service, it was off to lunch at Love and War in Texas.  Yummy.  When back home, Addison and I snuggled up and watched New Moon.  I have spent the rest of the day, reading the paper and playing on Facebook while watching tv and chatting with Mitchell.  Could life get any better?

Reality is slowing starting to set in.  My phone rang earlier and the sound actually pissed me off.  Tomorrow is Monday, which means back to getting up early, making Addison breakfast and lunch, carpool, traffic and of course, heading into the office to start another glorious week of hell.

Pajama Pants in the Car

Ok.  As a lot of you know, I have been having this ankle issue for quite a while now.  I will be in the lovely giant black boot for 2-3 more weeks at least.  Oh joy.  Every morning while I'm in my closet getting dressed, my gorgeous springy heels are calling out to me -- WEAR ME! WEAR ME!  But, I just avoid the stares of the unopened shoe boxes, slip on and velcro up my boot and hobble out of the closet - for yet another day in the fashion forefront.

Well, as if that wasn't enough, I threw my back out (yet again) at church on Sunday by picking up a crying toddler.  Lesson learned -- hobble away from all crying toddlers and do not look back!  Needless to say that after serving at church during the 9am service and sitting through the second service ... I was SO not feeling great.  But 2 Vicodin and a lunch at Razzoo's later, I was feeling better.

I could barely walk Monday.  I did manage to make it to my early morning doctor's appt and limped out with a steroid dose pack and muscle relaxers.  Of course, work had to continue as usual and I made it through my meetings and was able to work from home, thank goodness.  I ended the day crawling around on my bathroom floor looking for one of those sticky hot patches to put on my back).  Of course I couldn't find one so then I had to beg the hubby to rub Icy Hot on my back, yes - sexy huh?

Well, on to my point.  I was so busy at work this morning, running around (sorry doc, can't stay off my foot).  Then off to a lunch meeting and building walk.  I was in extreme pain by the time I was able to slink back into my car and to my heated leather seat!  Back in the comfort of my home sweet home, I put on my usual around the house wear ... PJ pants and a tank top.  So, 2 steroid pills, 2 muscle relaxers, 1 vicodin , and a little couch time later - I was feeling quite a bit better.

Well, it came around to the time for me to run and get Addison from school - off I go to fetch her.  About half way there, I looked down and realized that I hadn't changed out of my PJ pants and was barefoot.  I wonder if the above mentioned pain killers had anything to do with this?  They may have something to do with me not being able to find my favorite silpada silver loop earrings too, humm...

Thank goodness I (1) didn't get stopped by the police, (2) run out of gas, or (3) have to run any errands.  Addison didn't even comment on the pants and neither did her friend Ashley (thank you Ashley!).

Addison and I made it back home ... safe and sound and still in my PJs!