Amy's New Start : Comments Welcome!

[Amy&Dan]

Thanks Lisa and Tracy.

I worked out today again, I got to go by myself and it was really nice. Sometimes its so nice to just work out alone and do my own thing. I felt like I got a really good workout in.

Ate out tonight, Del Taco. We worked out in the yard, dd had a really hard homework assignment that took me about an hour to even figure out how to help her and suddenly I just couldn't face cooking dinner at 7:30. I did pretty well but am irritated with myself that we ate out for both money and nutrition reasons. Big sigh.

We have friends coming tomorrow night for dinner, I plan to just keep it simple. I am making this recipe called gooey butter cake, need I say more? I intend to offer them leftovers, if they decine, I'll save enough for one piece for the kids and throw the rest out. Its tasty, there may not be many leftovers to worry over!

I was planning to go to WW tomorrow but I have backed off. We are trying hard to trim down our budget, just not sure I want to spend forty dollars a month right now. I may weigh in at the gym once a week (their scale is a good one and consistent unlike mine at home) and see how that goes. I want to join, I just don't want to pay yet AGAIN!

I can't belive it, dd turns 13 two weeks from today. I'll have two teenagers!

 

[traceycooper]

Hi Amy
i'm glad your feeling happier now,
i can relate on the teenage thing - had 6 teenage girls camping in my garden last night!!!
sending lots of for the job situation and a for you

 

[toystoryduo]

Great job getting your workout in, Amy!

I hope you have a nice time with your friends this weekend.

 

[eyor44]

Hi Amy
Hope you had a good weekend. Homework really stinks when the parent can't figure out how to do it. Frustrates me to no end. I hear you about the not being able to cook after that. Don't be too hard on yourself. Happens to all of us. Hope y'all were able to get the homework done though and I'll be your DD really appreciated the time you spent with her. It all balances out.

I think you have a good handle on what you need to do workout wise and with eating. Why don't you take a break from WW and just use the gym scale. We will be your cheerleaders. and give you all the support we can.
Do you have a WII? My friends have WII fit and I finally tried it. Lots of fun and a great work out. It tracks you and you input your goals and I think it programs things for you to do based on that. I really liked the step areobics and I am not coordinated at all. I have considered getting one for a while and now really want one. We have the WII so I just need the program. Plus the whole family can do it.

 

[toystoryduo]

How was your weekend, Amy? Hope you had a great time!

 

[Amy&Dan]

Thankds Tracey, Lisa and Tracy.

Oh my, where does time go? Our weekend was really nice, we had dinner with friends Friday and then Dan and I went to Sams Club and bought basically a full month's worth of groceries. What a job. We came home, got everything divided up, put away and then I planned all my menus based on those groceries. Then it was church on Sunday and getting the kids homework done and back to school Monday.

I have been hard put to get on disboards! My normal routine of going on in the afternoons and evenings is shot by the kids using my computer. So I need to start getting on during the day when they are gone. Ds needs his own computer, may have to do that soon. Like really soon!

School is good for both kids, they like their teachers. And its nice because this year they have different schedules which makes mornings much easier becasue Ds leaves about the time dd gets up. Much calmer mornings with less knocking (or should I say POUNDING) on the batrhoom door by both kids with yelling "I need to get in and do x". Much nicer. Until dd goes to highschool and is on that same schedule of course.

Dh and I have made a really tough decision. We are selling our DVC. On one hand I am bummed, crushed and sad, on the other I am so relieved. This DVC contract was never supposed to be financed. Back in January of 2005 when we bought it, Dan was owed a rather large sum of money by his employer for back pay he never received. We thought we had it worked out and that we could pay off our contract before payment was due (we had six months after purchase before payment was due, that was our incentive, receive 10% off the price but you couldn't use it for six months while they completed SSR). Problem was that then the six months came up and instead of paying him the money, he ended up getting a temporary pay cut (that got resolved thankfully) while the company restructured. They finally sold it, but he never did get that money back. And so we began to make the payments on this thing and now its four years later and we can in no way pay off that contract anytime soon. We still have almost six years left. With two kids staring college in the face. And cost of living raising, bad economy and me still not working. So we made the choice to sell. We can still go to WDW, but we'll have the flexibility to take advantage of free dining and pin codes, we won't be staying in deluxe level resorts in one bedrooms but we'll be at Disney. And if something comes up, we can not take a trip, cancel, downgrade, postpone etc., and not be out a monthly payment that never ENDS! So its all good. But I had some tough days where I was kicking myself for buying it and feeling sorry for myself that I had to sell something we love so much. Oh well, that's why God invented moderates and values! And the good news is that even in this crappy market, we can break even and I carefully figured out what we had spent on dues, loans etc, and we came out even. So we didn't lose anything but we gained a good lesson. Don't buy until the cash is in hand! Somewhere, Dave Ramsey is applauding me I hope.

So we will use it this last time in October at Disneyland and we are set to close in December. Not sure if we'll go in March or wait until summer. Now that I am paying cash for my stays, Easter Week is awfully darn expensive. We could get a better deal in early June. So even though I have my airfare bought, it will only cost me $200 to change it and I bet I can save more than that on a cash stay in the summer. So that trip is in the air as to when it will happen.

So that's my news of the week. I am still waffling on WW. Since I haven't done all that great on my own (surprise, surprise) I may go back on Friday. Its a holiday weekend, but I need to start sometime!

Here is today's food, I will post now which seems to increase my chances of behaving, plus Lord knows I wont' have my computer to post it later!

Breakfast: Slim Fast
Snack: 1 cup grapes
Lunch: Chicken salad sandwich, fruit
Snack: Yogurt
Dinner: Meatloaf, green beans, salad and one roll

Not counting points but am really trying to get those fruits and veggies in!

And I got a 70 minute walk in today which felt very good.

 

[Amy&Dan]

Okay, back from lunch, I behaved but I did have one regular coke. I have had the worst headache all day today and most of yesterday. Its not a migraine but sinus probably from my allergies which are worst than ever. We have a high weed pollen count right now and also the smoke from California actually has made its way here. In the mornings in particular its awful. I can't even imagine what its like there, we have had our fair share of fires here but nothing like those. I stopped and got some decongestant. I have an allergy prescription but my stupid insurance will only let me get Allegrea without the decongestant. So my sneezing and wheezing is better but I am stopped up. Duh, should have thought of that yesterday. Hopefully this stuff will take some of the pressure out of my head!

Had lunch with my friend at Chick Fil A which was really nice. They leave for WDW on Friday, staying at the GF for 8 nights! I had major WDW envy but am so happy for them.

So a good day in all, I am over my afternoon hump where if I'm going to do bad, that is when I will so I should finish off the day nicely.

Just praying dd doesn't come home slammed with homework again tonight. Why do 12 year olds need to do hours of homework? And so much of it is busy work in my opinion.

Good news: I can now say "I leave for Disneyland next month"! Love that feeling. Now if they'd just put out the calendar so I could actually plan what we are doing, I'd be all set.

 

[toystoryduo]

I am sending a big your way. I know the decision to sell your DVC was not an easy one. The wonderful thing is that you will still be able to go to Disney. There will be pin codes and free dining and maybe even a 4/3 deal that you can take advantage of as well. Dave Ramsey would indeed be proud!

I'm glad that school is going well for the kids. There are lots of good deals on computers now so if you need one for your DS, you may want to check around.

Great job getting a 70 minute walk in! How did your meals go yesterday?

I hope you have a wonderful day today!

 

[eyor44]

Oh Amy.I'm so very sorry you have to sell. But as you said (and Tracy) you will still be able to go, which is a good thing. I have learned through some very hard lessons, that everything works out for a reason. Your food looks great and way to go with the walking. I hope you have a really great day. and I hope your allergies are better also. Seems to be that time of year for all of us.

on Disneyland. Next month.

 

[DisDee]

Amy, sorry that you have to sell the DVC but I'm sure it will work out for the best. You can now adopt our philosophy...why own when you can rent points for such a great deal!

Have a super weekend!

 

[Amy&Dan]

Thanks everyone. I will miss the DVC, we bought that as a long term thing, but the long term benefits are too far away to outweigh the short term crunch with that payment! I'll miss the discounts on rooms, AP's ($400 a year on that, ouch) and the fact we love SSR so much. But in the grand scheme of life, it will be fine. And Dan and I still hope that someday, we'll have the cash to actually buy one outright. But that's a ways away!

I worked out yesterday, did aquasize which felt good. That class has been cancelled a lot lately for pool maintainence and the instructor was gone but they said it was back on track. So that's good, I really have missed it. Between the kids' swine and the above stuff, its been about a month I think since I went. I really feel like its a total body workout. And a nice change from the bike and walking.

Today I am washing all my blinds and windows and deep cleaning the house. So I may run out of time to go to the rec center but that's okay. I am still huffing and puffing!

Had dd's back to school night last night. I have had a total of five hours worth of those in the last two nights and must say, I am glad they are over! But its good to meet the kids' teachers and see their lockers etc.

Food yesterday was not that great. I just grazed all day long. Not good. Today I feel much more on track. I did get all my veggies and fruits in yesterday, just too much other stuff.

I plan to join WW next Friday. I just don't have the confidence in myself to do the program on my own. But since this weekend is a holiday weekend, dd's family birthday party, and then Thursday is her actual birthday, I feel like joining next Friday is a better idea. I can have a big hunk of dd's cake on Thursday night and then go in the next day and weigh in! I can't believe she'll be 13 on Thursday.

Other than dd's family party and church, we have nothing planned for the weekend. Which will be sort of nice. We have been so busy lately, I think we all need some downtime. For three nice days.

I'll check in with journals later!

 

[eyor44]

Hi Amy
Sounds like you have been busy the past few days. Way to keep moving. I am always more tired from housecleaning than walking. Think you use a lot more muscles.
I'm glad you got back to aquasizing, you always seem to enjoy it. and early Happy Birthday to your DD. just in case I don't remember on Thursday. I hope she has a great party.

Have a great weekend.

 

[toystoryduo]

Great job on the aquasize, Amy!

Any chance I can get you to come to my house and do a thorough cleaning? I just can't seem to find the energy to clean right now. Great job on getting the house clean and on some burning some serious calories while cleaning it!

Have a wonderful weekend!

 

[Amy&Dan]

Thanks Tracy and Lisa. I am telling you, I moved all the furniture, did all the baseboards and windows and blinds and I was pooped. But it looks nice.

Yesterday was dd's family party. Thanks to my sister the evening was pretty much ruined. She has been better since my mom died probably because I am the only family member left that will have anything to do with her. I guess last night she decided to revert back to her old ways. She baited me about politics (bit on that one stupid me), she told some story that basically was in all likilhood a lie merely told to demonstrate how worthless stay at home mom's are and she was just a female dog the whole night. Dh was ready and willing to kick her out of the house. But we got through it. She arrived empty handed but managed to leave loaded with leftovers and a movie of mine I'll probably never see again.

To cope with the stress I drank too much, ate too much and just wished an alien mother ship would beam her up and out of my house.

Nephew was sullen and depressed, I tried to cheer him up by talking a bit a about our DL trip we are taking him on and showing him pictures of the villa at the Grand Californian but to no avail. His girlfriend was a doll as always and the only bright spot to the evening. Well thankfully we won't have to do this again until next month for my sister/son's joint birthday party. And I wonder why my stepdad and brother won't have a thing to do with her. Oh well, another family dinner done and survived.

Today we have church and not much else. I am ready to just chill and be with Dan and the kids. We may get together with friends later for one last summer afternoon or we may not. Just going to play that by ear.

I am so ready to start WW on Friday. Now that I have made up my mind to go back, it feels like the right decision. I know, I say this every time, but I do feel that when I lose weight, that will be the program that helps me to do it! And I still dream of being a leader someday.

 

[toystoryduo]

I'm sorry to hear that your sister had a not so nice attitude yesterday. Did something specific trigger it?

Way to go on getting your house clean!

I hope you have a relaxing Sunday.

 

[eyor44]

Sorry about your sister Amy. Hopefully your DD was still happy about her party.

Grand Villa in CA? I bet that is awesome. I am going to look that one up. Didn't even think about there being DVC in CA. The grand villa we stayed at in June was very nice.

I hope you have a very nice day with your family.

 

[traceycooper]

sorry DS was a pain in the a**!!! but you coped really well so well done for not letting it get you down
sorry you have to sell your DVC but at least you will still get to go
Happy 13th to DD - woohoo the teenage years are upon you

 

[toystoryduo]

How you doing today, WISH sis? I hope your Tuesday has been a good one!

 

[Amy&Dan]

Hello everyone. Today was a good one. I had my mammogram. Such a piece of cake. I mean you have your bossom crunched for like five seconds but its really so easy. So don't put it off when your time comes! Leaving the office I thought of my mom. She'd be alive today if she just would have gone in for mammograms. I owe it to my kids to keep up with mine.

Food today, yesterday, the day before and the day before that: AWFUL.

I simply must get a handle on my food. I was set to work out after my appt. and right before I left to go, I saw ds' housekey on his desk. I knew he'd be locked out (I wouldn't have gotten home until about 30 minutes after him) so I thought, I'll just work out at home with a WATP DVD. Never did happen. I told him next time he can wait on the porch if he forgets his key, that my schedule is important too! He apologized profusely.

I am just really sad I have let myself gain back that 16 pounds. I mean its September, I started last January and I am right where I was then. I just have to stop making excuses.

I plan to join WW first thing Friday, then go straight to the gym. I really don't get myself sometimes! I say I want this more than anything but clearly I don't.

I did drink all my water today and I did eat all my veggies. So that was something.

Dd will be 13 on Thursday. I will be the mother of two teenagers! Seriously, she is still so sweet and easy, I wonder when the teen drama will hit? She rubbed my feet tonight while we watched HGTV and talked about Disneyland. Doesn't get any better than that. I am currently a baseball widow since dh has to watch every blasted game the Rockies play. Oh well, thank goodness for HGTV and dd's foot rubs!

Tracy: I am not sure if something triggered my sister the other night or not. She just seemed in a really angry mood and it was like she was picking a fight all night. I talked with her Sunday and she was fine. I can't keep up with her moods.

Lisa: The villas at the Grand Californian are brand new (not even opening until 9/23) and I can't wait. It will be a nice way to end our DVC days! They are absolutely gorgeous. And I scored the last one bedroom they had for our dates which was totally awesome.

Tracey: I just keep looking at this DVC sale as nothing but a change of gears with our Disney trip. As long as we can still go, I am happy. Thanks for understanding!

 

[eyor44]

Hi Amy
Yay! on getting the mamo. I do also. Faithfully. Every year. Last time was a new technician who kept apologizing and made a comment about being as bad as the dentist. I told her no, I would rather be there doing that then at the dentist. My mother had breast cancer and a few years ago I found out that a great aunt died of breast cancer. AS soon as I told my doctor he sent me to get a mamo and I have every year since.

Glad you were able to talk to your sister. You are a much bigger person than I am. I think it would have been a while before I would have been able to. Maybe she is jeolous of your upcoming trip?

Two teenagers in the house! Wow! For some reason E thought the hormone aliens would arrive overnight when her DS turned 13 this past December. She is still waiting for them to appear.

Getting to stay in a brand new villa. How awesome is that!?! I just know you all are going to have a "Grand" time.