Treadmill Report

48 minutes, 45 seconds; 2.61 miles; 335 calories burned.

Treadmill Report

54 minutes, 25 seconds; 2.92 miles; 376 calories burned.

Treadmill Report

Saturday's Report: 101 minutes, 10 seconds; 5.17 miles; 664 calories burned.

Today: 144 minutes, 49 seconds; 7.36 miles; 947 calories burned.

Cooking Urge

I had an urge to cook today. I think it's the orange vanilla candle I have melting on the candle warmer in the house. But I made biscuits tonight and a cake. The cake is low fat. I substituted applesauce for most of the oil/butter and used fat free egg beaters instead of real eggs. I also used orange extract instead of vanilla, again thanks to the candle. I made a drizzle frosting for the cake, also orange flavored, out of powdered sugar and water - no fat in there. The trick will be to not eat the whole thing tonight. It was made in a loaf pan and is probably half of a recipe. I guessed at the measurements.

Alias

Well, I put the game on the pc and played with it last night. It's very frustrating because it doesn't tell you how to operate the game. It gives you a few instructions, but basically, it doesn't really help you at all. You'd think they could have a help button on there to tell you what to do for those people who don't have the patience or desire to sit there for hours trying to figure all this stuff out.

Anyway, I am up to disc 5 of Season One while working out on the treadmill. I just finished episode 14 this morning. I'll post a treadmill report later when I'm sure I'm done for the day. I think I'll probably get back on there for another episode today.

This past week's episode of Alias, Solo, was a good episode. Very funny and entertaining. I just wonder how long Sloane will put up with being someone else's puppet. I'd say in the next couple of weeks he will snap and Gordon Dean will suffer. At least I hope he suffers. I don't like him at all. And the new chick on the show, character's name is Rachel Gibson, is great. She brings a lot of humor to the show and I can't wait to see what develops between her and Tom Grace. He's cool too. I like him much better than Vaughn. Not that Vaughn didn't serve a purpose on the show, but Boyscout really was a good call sign for Vaughn. I miss Weiss though. How can a man who gets caught on every field assignment get a job heading White House security?

Today

Today started out with a visit to mom and dad's house. I hooked up their dvd/vcr combo thing to their tv and satellite receiver. Then I installed the cats and dogs computer game onto one of their pc's. Visited for a bit and then went on to do my shopping. I shopped a bit at Dollar General, dropped off some mail at the post office, and then decided it was time for lunch. My parents would be very pleased to know that I actually ate real food today instead of sticking to my diet. I ate at Ponderosa. I had meatloaf, mashed potatoes, a hot roll with butter, a bowl of cheesy potato soup, a bowl of taco salad, and a small bowl of ice cream. After that, I went to Walmart and bought another pair of pants and a couple of sweaters. I also bought a storage bin to store a bunch of summer clothes and all my old jeans in. Someday, I plan to use the jean material for place mats or rugs, or some other creative project, but right now, they are in the box. The pants I bought are supposed to be the same size and style as my favorite pants, just not cords. Strangely though, when I put them on, they are looser than my favorite pants. I think I'm done buying tops for a while. But I would like to lose more of my evil belly so I can buy more pants later. I told mom today that I would be a size 2 if it wasn't for my belly. My waist is already there thanks to the crunches I do every day. After Walmart I went to Krogers to buy some groceries then went home.

Once at home, I let the dogs out for a bit and walked outside while they were running around. I didn't get on the treadmill today. I probably will tomorrow. Tonight I made spaghetti sauce to freeze so I can have individual spaghetti in the evenings after work once I am completely done with the weightloss plan. I ate a little bit of spaghetti tonight just because I always have to try what I've cooked if it's something I'll eat.

Hopefully, this weekend I will get around to installing the Alias game on the computer and playing with it. I need to put Flight Simulator on here too. I'm just not much of a gamer. I do bring the cats and dogs out every night on my catz/dogz game. But that's because the game says my cats and dogs will run away if I don't play with and feed them every day.

Walmarting

I went to Walmart tonight and bought a new pair of blue jeans. Are you ready for this? They are a size 4 and they are loose fitting. These manufacturers have got to review these dress sizes.

I don't think Walmart carries any pants smaller than this, so I might be looking at the end of the weightloss saga. I still have a belly though. I think dress pants are sized more conservatively, so I might be able to lose just a little bit more of the belly.

How Much to Eat

I found a website today that calculates how much you can eat to maintain, lose or gain weight based on your height, weight and activity level. If I wanted to maintain a weight of 125 pounds and stop working out, I would have to eat approximately 1596 calories a day. If I wanted to maintain a weight of 125 pounds and work out 3 to 4 times a week, I could eat 1900 calories a day.

Well, gotta go feed the dogs before the thunderstorms get here and knock out the electric.

Treadmill Report

44 minutes, 40 seconds; 2.37 miles; 304 calories burned.

I now weigh 125 pounds. That's a loss of 6 pounds in the last month.

Treadmill Report

Fritz is having a nervous breakdown because of the thunderstorms so I couldn't do the whole 45 minutes tonight.

27 minutes, 16 seconds; 1.42 miles; 182 calories burned.

What's Up with Me

Well, I've had a cold the since Friday, but I'm doing better now. Good enough to get back on the treadmill. I got the Alias PC game and the Petz5 game today in the mail. I'm so excited about the petz game. There's a pig in it. I love pigs. I haven't played the alias game yet. It requires more thought and concentration. And I don't have that to spare tonight. This is the first weekday I've had satellite for a couple of weeks or more.

Hello Old Friend

Back on the treadmill today after three days of a cold.

2.4 miles; 44.43 minutes; 309 calories burned.

Satellite News

I have satellite tv again! Yay!! And for some reason I have the soap opera channel when I shouldn't. Oh well.

Treadmill Report

Yesterday: 9.06 minutes; .5 miles; 64 calories burned.
(walking in place during the Nova episode on PBS: 35 minutes)

Today: 31 minutes, 51 seconds; 1.68 miles; 217 calories burned.

Anti-Spam........ Not

Norton Internet Security once again sucks. The anti-spam program that comes with it has labeled all the email I subscribe to as Spam, but all the viagra email gets through no problem. I turned this off too.

Treadmill Interruptus

Well, I was on the treadmill when my parents showed up. Dad yelled at me until I had to get off of it. He kept yelling about how I was skinny enough. Blah, Blah, Blah. You'd think "moving out" would mean something to him. This just means I'll have to work out more this weekend. I am still determined to work out and lose just a little bit more weight. They need to worry more about their own lives.

Treadmill Report

46 minutes, 08 seconds; 2.49 miles; 320 calories burned.

I also walked outside for probably an hour today.

Treadmill Report

91 minutes, 10 seconds; 4.74 miles; 609 calories burned.

What's up with me

Friday: I had to stay late at work. Someone wanted an explanation of our accounting system. She still doesn't understand it all so I'll have to meet with her again I think. I had wanted to go to the bank Friday after work, but since I got out late, I couldn't. I'll have to wait probably another week before I can go. I may run out of cash by then.

Saturday: Went shopping. Bought a sweater jacket, a shirt, some socks, a printer for my computer, and a bunch of other stuff. Came home and cleaned some around the house, moved some furniture so I could hook up the printer. A leaf came off some vine-like plant Polly gave me, so I planted the leaf in some dirt to see if it will grow. I don't really have luck doing that. I tried with a leaf from my African Violet and it died. But we'll see what happens. Last night I downloaded some updates for the Norton Internet Security program that came with my computer. Well, my computer is so secure now that the only way I can actually do anything on the internet or get my email is if I turn the Norton thing off. So, it's off. Good thing that was free. I watched the first Tomb Raider movie last night. Getting ready for the next Bond movie since the new Bond played Alex West.

Sunday: So far I have cleaned the carpet in the dining room, worked out on the treadmill, washed up a couple of dishes, taken the dogs for a walk. There are some other things I'd like to do before going back to work. But luckily I have Monday off too (I took that day off) so maybe I'll get more done tomorrow.

Observation: my right ankle has been bothering me this weekend. I can't stand on my toes without it hurting. This is the foot that suffered a broken bone a few years back. I think the height of the heels on my shoes is what's causing the problem. I'll have to switch to the flats for a while and see what happens.

Treadmill Report

46 minutes, 15 seconds; 2.48 miles; 319 calories burned.

So Much For Plans

I had planned to get on the treadmill tonight after work, but mom and dad were here when I got home. They were getting mom's computer and the computer desk and another storage cabinet to take to their new place. So I ended up helping dad load and unload the furniture instead of working out.

I did get Season 4 Alias on dvd today in the mail. I've already checked out the bonus features. This dvd rom thing is pretty handy.

And I got another telemarketer call tonight. I think I'll have to just let the answering machine get all the calls. I've named my answering machine Sergio after Sergio Garcia, the golfer. So, if I talk about Sergio taking messages for me, you'll know who it is.

Let's Talk About Computer Manners

It is very rude to send someone a huge attachment when they are on a dial up connection. It blocks the email program and you can't turn it off without having to deal with the huge attachment later on. People should be asked before someone sends them something that could inconvenience them this way.

Dish Saga Continues

Well, I called the 1-800 number and talked to a sales person named Tim. He sounded cute and really nice and friendly and helpful. Which is why he talked me into the 18 month lease/contract thing that I absolutely didn't want. But at least it's done. It is supposed to be installed on November 5th. I hope they can find my house. I will stay by my phone in case they call looking for better instructions.

Now I can get back to the week day workouts and come home after work every day instead of traipsing around town looking for a satellite. The dogs will like me being home sooner too.

Bless the Weatherman

He finally said something I like. He said he thought this winter we would have a snowier, but warmer winter than usual and that we would find it hard to keep snow on the ground for more than a day. Bless him. I hope he's right.

Dish Scam

So, I went to a local dealer in the Dish Network business today. They explained to me that I could buy the receiver and antenna instead of doing the free equipment with an 18 month commitment. But, I have to contract with them for one year's worth of programming and if I cancel during that year, then I have to not only pay the rest of the programming charges for that year, but I also have to forfeit the satellite dish I bought. I can understand paying the rest of the year's worth of programming fees, but giving back something I bought and that I have ownership of is ridiculous and just plain punitive. And I'm betting it's illegal. That's like buying a new GM vehicle and canceling the onstar service before your year's commitment is up. The local car dealership would not seize your $30,000 car because you canceled the onstar service. I'm gonna call the 1-800 number and see what scam the Dish Network people will try to con me into if I buy from them direct.

By the Way

Scarlett and Riambra need to send me email so I can get their addresses in my new email address book :)

Back on the Web

Well, I got my new phone number today. So, I'm back on the web. Going to all the websites I went to on mom's pc is a different experience. Everything looks so different on this new pc. But at least I'm here. Yay!! Unfortunately, I still don't have a satellite dish. I'm getting very frustrated about the dish issue. You would think dad would have told me about three weeks in advance that he was going to take it on a certain day so I would have the time to either find a store in town who would sell me a dish or to order it direct from the company. But no, just like the man he is, he just up and took it.

Yesterday, I downloaded the software for my digital camera on my new pc and got some pictures of deer that were grazing in the back yard.

Back on the Treadmill

Sunday, Oct. 23rd: 72 minutes, 10 seconds; 3.73 miles; 479 calories burned.

Today: 44 minutes, 21 seconds; 2.36 miles; 303 calories burned.

More on the PC

I had some time tonight to check out more about my computer. I found Microsoft Works on there so I don't have to install it. I don't know why they gave me a cd of it if it's already on the computer. Must be a tech geek thing. My computer plays dvds, which is exciting. I set up a workout spreadsheet on the new pc since I don't have corel software on there. And I saved a bunch of pictures from cd's onto my new computer. John at work asked me what my processor was and a bunch of other stuff and I just said "I don't know John. It's number, number, number, dot, number, number something". He likes it when I get all technical. LOL! I also asked John about the phone situation and he said I could either get a different modem (not likely) or find a phone accessory that would give me the extra plug in thing for the phone.

Mom and Dad went to a couple of places today to check into Dish Network for me. One place would only do the free equipment with an 18 month contract thing and the other place would sell equipment but the owner was so busy mom said I might have to actually make an appointment to see her. HAH! I found out that Sears and another place in town also do Dish Network, so I think I might stop by them tomorrow after work and find out more. I was tempted to just order it online, but I think I'd be better off talking to a live person.

I haven't called to get set up with internet service on my pc yet. I might do that this weekend. If I do that during the day, then I might get a different tech geek who won't be so slow.

ABC sitcoms are much funnier than NBC.

Well, I bought a computer today. It's a Compaq. I think I might have a bit of a problem however. With mom's computer there is a place to plug in the phone line and a place to plug in the phone so that you can use the phone and the computer from one phone cord and one jack. But I don't think my computer has the option of plugging in the phone. I will have to investigate further or set up the computer with easy access so I can plug and unplug the phone line constantly. Mayber there's a phone accessory I can get to make this easier. A jack with two plug-thingys or something. I did get a semi-good deal on the computer. It was originally $592 and I got it for $395. The box had been wet and some of the instructions were destroyed, but I managed to get it all hooked up.

The one thing I am missing is Wordperfect software. I think we got that from my brother in law. I don't know if he left the disk with us or if he kept it. I will have to ask mom if she has a copy. The new computer came with Works so I will have something as soon as I install it.

I tried to sign up for Citynet internet service tonight but the guy on the phone (His name is Chad) was just too confused about the idea of mom, the phone number and the computer moving to a new house. Then we got disconnected. So, I figured it was God's way of saying "Miranda, wait until you get your own phone number and then call them. They are tech geeks, don't expect too much from them." And you could tell he was bored with his job. He ran through the questions at lightning speed as if everyone could understand all the words when they are run together that way. Sure, he may have said the same thing hundreds of times before, but this was the first time I heard the speech so he should have spoken a bit clearer.

Dad took the satellite dish today. So, I'm stuck watching the Biggest Loser right now. At least I have the antenna for local channels and I have dvds. But Mom and Dad are supposed to get me a dish to replace the one they took and I'll probably have to help them hook it up tomorrow. This show is interesting. I applaud the weightloss aspect, but you can tell that it's true that if you lose weight too fast, then you have skin hanging on you that won't shrink back.

Treadmill Report

1.95 miles; 36 minutes, 37 seconds; 251 calories burned.

Today

Well, Mom and Dad have moved into their new house. We spent the last two days moving a bunch of stuff in there. In fact, today I was so busy I didn't get to work out on the treadmill. But I carried a bunch of stuff and was on the move most of the day so I did get exercise. Soon I will be without phone and internet and possibly even sooner, I will be without the satellite dish. So, reports may be few for the next couple of weeks.

I'm off to get some vital information. When Martha is on the local channels since I won't have the dish. Instructions for getting internet service for when I have to sign up for my own service. And Dish Network info that I might need if I have to get my own dish.

Treadmill Report (Belated)

Saturday's result:
80 minutes, 30 seconds; 4.18 miles; 537 calories burned.

Finally!

I have returned to the treadmill. 37 minutes, 57 seconds; 2.06 miles; 265 calories burned.

Well, I haven't worked out since Monday. Yesterday, I got home and there was a bull dozer in the yard, but no people. No parents and no septic tank people. So, I had no idea what was going on and figured I'd better not start working out only to have to stop when someone showed up pounding on the door. But no one did show up. Today, the septic tank people were here working so I figured I'd better not get all sweaty and dirty working out if they were going to have to do something about the water. But they left at 4:30 pm. I don't know what they did or didn't do but when I looked out the window, they were digging a hole. So, tomorrow I think I'm going to go shopping since Alias is on at 8pm and I won't want to work out anyway. I have to buy a bunch of stuff for the house since my parents are getting closer to moving into their new place. And Walmart has some new clothes in I might check out.

Treadmill Report

68 minutes, 43 seconds; 3.69 miles; 475 calories burned.

Treadmill Report

84 minutes, 58 seconds; 4.61 miles; 593 calories burned.

Back On the Treadmill

83 minutes, 7 seconds; 4.46 miles; 574 calories burned.

If It Weren't For Bad Luck........

Today was planned as a shopping day. I woke up to find it was raining. Strike #1. I got ready and got in my car and started down the driveway, only to encounter a tree across the driveway. Strike #2. Dad cleared that tree away and I started off again. Made the sharp turn in the driveway only to find another tree in my way. Strike #3. I got out of the car and cleared some of it away, but couldn't get the bigger stuff. And I got dirty to boot. So, I called Dad on the cell phone and made him come down to get this tree out of the way too. An hour after I first left the house, I finally made it out of the driveway. I was convinced that God did not want me to spend money today and was placing these obstacles in my way to prevent me from shopping. But wait, it gets better. I hit town and decided to stop at the gas station to fill up. It was packed. Consider that strike #4. So, I continued on to the bank, planning to stop at another gas station on the way. It was packed. We're now up to #5. From the bank on, the rain was the biggest challenge. And the old people driving around looking for farmers' markets to crash into. I think the last big disappointment of the day was when I didn't find many clothes to buy. I only bought one shirt. And, at Walmart, one of the silicone pot holders I wanted to buy got sucked under the conveyor belt and no one could find it. That was another little communique from God.

Four Days Off. Alias Tonight. Shopping Tomorrow. Golf This Weekend. Sounds Wonderful To Me :)

I just have a comment on this:

From the New York Post:

PREGNANT GOOF BY MARTHA FOR someone trying to improve her image, Martha Stewart just made a bad boo-boo. The domestic diva is having a baby shower-themed show for actress Jennifer Garner today complete with an audience of expectant mothers. The problem is, her staffers invited more mommies-to-be than they could accommodate. Loads of the infanticipating women were disappointed when they got calls yesterday afternoon telling them they were being dis-invited, due to "high turnout." While they were offered tickets to a future show, one future mom told PAGE SIX, "All ticket holders are pregnant and having babies soon, so another show is not practical." The urbanbaby.com message boards were buzzing with threats to boycott Stewart's products. "I turned down tickets to go to synagogue for Jewish high holidays for this taping," said one. "I've been subscribing to her magazine for more than 10 years, so this really stings," wrote another. After calls from The Post, Stewart's staff reinvited many of the women to watch the show from the green room. A rep for Stewart said, "This was an unfortunate incident. Thanks to PAGE SIX for bringing it to our attention."

Here are my comments: The woman who gave up tickets to the religious celebration: You've disappointed God and your child. I think you should spend more time at that synagogue learning the importance of religion. And the other pregnant woman: sounds like she just wanted the freebies and wasn't a fan of Martha's show, so Martha's better off without her.

Septic Tank Search

Well, they found what was used for the septic tank today. I won't go into details but suffice it to say, if Dad and I had dug just a little deeper on Sunday, we would have found it. So, it's good to know we were on the right track, but even better that I don't have to dig any more. My arms killed me for two days after all that digging. That only proves that even if you work out everyday, you are not in shape. You're just in shape for whatever exercise you're doing. Cross training is not such a bad idea. So, it looks like we will be getting a new septic tank sometime within the next week. Yay!
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Also, my uncle from Indiana will be in this weekend, and whether he knows it or not, he will be moving a lot of the heavy furniture from this house into Mom and Dad's new house. What a way to spend a vacation. So, I will be shopping on Friday for the things I will need when the parents move to their new house. It will be nice to finally buy some things off the list I keep writing. I think I've written that list 4 times now.

And I will probably buy some more clothes to wear to work, even though I'm not quite finished losing weight. My supervisor found out today that no matter how freezing cold we are, no one will change the thermostat. So, I need sweaters or jackets or something. Definitely no skirts.

For Janet :)

Janet, a new reader of my blog, has requested more information on my diet and exercise plan. So, I will post the whole shebang below. To answer some of her questions: I don't know how much weight I've lost because for years and years, I never weighed myself so I didn't have a starting point. I honestly didn't think I would lose weight this time when I started working out earlier this year. I mainly started working out because Polly and Scarlett, my friends from work, were partcipating in their office's health fair stuff, and I thought I would work out too. And then when my jeans started getting looser I just decided that this was not something to squander away so I really dedicated myself to following through with it. Chances to actually lose weight come so rarely to me that I was taking full advantage. I can say that I started out a size 14 and now I'm pretty much a size 4. I may have to go to a size 2 to be totally happy (aka to get rid of my fat belly, which I still have even though I am an unbelievable size 4). As of Monday, I weighed 131 pounds at 5ft. 2 inches. So, I've lost 5 dress sizes since early June.

Many other times I've tried to lose weight through exercise and diet and for some reason it just didn't work. I tried measuring my workouts on the treadmill by distance and time with no results. So, this time, after reading the statistic that there are 3500 calories in one pound, I decided to measure my treadmill workouts by calories burned, since my treadmill counts that. I aim for 300 calories a day on the treadmill. I also read on the internet that there is carryover calorie burn that occurs after you stop working out. That, if you burn 300 calories in your workout, then for the next hour, you'll burn 150 calories, and the hour after that 75 calories. It diminishes by half each hour after your workout ends. I really think measuring calories burned is what did it for me.

As for the diet - I'm a very picky eater. Which means, the only vegetable I eat is a potato. Unfortunately, I've banned potatoes and white bread from my diet. So, my diet is very restrictive and tailored mainly for me. But it's basically the Slimfast plan. I try to eat something every 2 or 3 hours to keep my metabolism up. And I think I added up the calories one day and it's about 1200 to 1400 calories per day. I think. I really believe that you could subsitute Healthy Choice dinners for the Slim Fast stuff and still do this diet. There's no magic in Slim Fast. It's my choice because it has chocolate and sugar in it.

I also keep a spreadsheet that logs my workout stats: distance, time, calories burned. As of today, I've walked a total of 233.66 miles, burned 30,051 calories and walked off 8.59 pounds based on just what the treadmill has calculated. I know I've lost more than 8.59 pounds thanks to the diet, the carryover calorie burn and the extra outside walking I do that isn't included in the stats. I find that when I reach 2 pounds or so with the treadmill stats, then I've lost a dress size.

I caution anyone reading this to check with your doctor before starting any diet and exercise plan. I know if I went to the doctor, he or she would have a heart attack to see this kind of diet. What, no vegetables? LOL!

So, here's the plan in a nutshell:

I mainly just do the treadmill 5 or 6 days a week. I aim to burn 300 calories a day on the treadmill. It takes me about 40 to 45 minutes. On my days off, I switch to weekend warrior mode and double the workouts. And of course there's the slimfast diet. Here's what a typical day looks like:

5:05 AM - 5:30 AM - Pilates workout and 4 pound weights. This is mainly just on work days. Days off I sleep in until about 7:30am and skip this workout.

6AM: Slimfast meal on the go bar, 8 ounces 2%milk, One lunchbox snack-size container of applesauce. Weightsmart Multi-vitamin and 1000 mg of Vitamin C (I take the vitamin C because I believe it might help prevent colds, not so much for diet purposes. Although studies have shown that it revves up the metabolism.)

10:30AM - 4 Reduced fat Triscuits, water

12:30PM - Slimfast meal on the go bar, water

3:45 PM - 5 Reduced Fat Triscuits or a Special K cereal bar, water (I eat right before leaving work because as soon as I get home, I get on the treadmill. I can't work out if I'm hungry so I eat a little something first.)

4:30PM - Treadmill, water

5:15PM - Lean Pocket or homemade dinner*, water

7:00PM - Small bowl of low fat ice cream (Krogers has FMW half gallons for $0.99 each)

8:00PM - 6 Reduced Fat triscuits w/low fat melted cheese, water

9:30PM - one lunchbox snack-size container of mandarin oranges

10:00PM - Bed.

Sometimes I change the evening snacking to low fat popcorn or an 8oz glass of chocolate milk. I try to stay away from the popcorn though because people say your body doesn't break it down well - I don't know if it's an old wives tale but it doesn't hurt to listen to it and vary my snacking options.

* right now dinner is shredded baked chicken and low fat shredded cheese melted between two corn tortillas, but it could be Barilla whole grain pasta (the kind with the omega 3 added in) with low fat italian dressing or spaghetti sauce, or healthy choice dinners. On the weekends, I sometimes switch and eat the dinner for lunch and the slimfast bar for supper. When I'm at home, I tend to munch more so if I put more calories (and more non-sugar calories) in the middle of the day, it might keep me from munching during the day.

Sprinkled throughout the day is the munching of Gobstoppers hard candy or Sweetarts. This doesn't mean a whole box full of candy in one day, however. I get by on one piece now and then.

On the weekends and days off, I try to do more than 300 calories on the treadmill.

And while I drink water with everything - I don't think I get the 8- 8oz glasses a day like they say you're supposed to have. I drink about a liter at work every day and a couple of 8 ounce glasses at home. I do drink caffeine free diet soda on the weekends, but I also try to get in some water if I'm working out.

So, that's what's helping me lose the weight. I hope Janet and anyone else who's interested also have success in their weight loss no matter what plan they decide to use :)

Jennifer on Martha

Jennifer Garner was adorable on Martha's daily show. She really is a big fan of Martha Stewart and apparently has the distinction of being the very first subscriber to the Martha Stewart Living magazine. What would the odds be of that happening? You guys should really check out Martha's show. I didn't think I'd be interested in the Baby Day theme of today's show, but there were some really good ideas and interesting guests. And Martha is doing a really good job of giving away goodies to the live audience.

The Septic Tank Saga (continued.....)

Update on the septic tank: The guy couldn't find one in our yard. So, he was going to check with the health department to see if there was ever one recorded for our property. But it looks like we may be spending about $4000.00 to put one in. Good thing I'll be paying half of that. Dad has about three different things his half could be used for other than this, but it needs to be done. And he is rather philosophical about it. He said that in all 26 years we've lived here, we've never had to do anything about it until now so we really can't complain about the cost.
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Change of subject: Mom and Dad once again harped on my size tonight. So, I broke down and told them how much I weigh. I weighed myself Monday morning because I know I'm nearing the end of the weightloss experience and I need to come up with a target weight to finish with. After I told Mom and Dad how much I weighed, they seemed satisfied that I was still sufficiently fat enough to work out, so hopefully I won't be getting harrassed anymore. Today at work everyone in the kitchen was commenting about my weightloss and they were asking April how I was accomplishing it. I don't take lunch in the kitchen so I missed it all. But poor April had to answer the questions and she doesn't really know what I do on my diet. But then, I always get asked where she is and how she's doing when she's off from work, so it's good that she gets to be my keeper once in a while. LOL! It's funny how the people at work think if you work well with someone that you're each other's best friends and spend all your time together or something. April and I never spend time together outside of work and during her whole broken leg experience, I never had her phone number, home email address or anything. But people would still ask me how she was doing and if I'd heard from her. Funny how offices work that way.

Treadmill Report

42 minutes, 17 seconds; 2.40 miles; 309 calories burned.

Well, yesterday Dad and I went hunting for the septic tank. We didn't find it, but boy are we suffering today - Dad with his shoulder and me with my arms from shoveling all that dirt. Dad tilled up the ground with the garden tiller and I shoveled. Anyway, last night he called some guy who does septic tank work and the guy's going to come out and locate the tank for us and probably dig it up and clean it out. Yay!!

Jennifer Garner is supposed to be on Martha Stewart's daily show tomorrow. I will definitely watch that. There will be plenty of new mommie and baby stuff on the show and it will be cute watching Jennifer learning and participating.

I plan to go shopping Friday for a bunch of stuff. Things I will need once Mom and Dad move out, regular grocery shopping and maybe clothes shopping. I also need to wash and wax my car and do my laundry and on top of that, this weekend is a big golf weekend.

Treadmill Report

43 minutes, 26 seconds; 2.36 miles; 304 calories burned.

Treadmill Report

27 minutes, 42 seconds; 1.45 miles; 187 calories burned.

Also 35 minutes outside walking and a ton of dirt shoveling. We are trying to find our septic tank and not having much luck.

Treadmill Report

35 minutes; 1.63 miles; 209 calories burned.

70 minutes outside walking.

I've Been Bad

I missed the treadmill yesterday because I did my weekly grocery shopping after work. And today, I missed the treadmill because I went to the bank after work and because I'm lazy and wanted to see who was playing on the golf coverage. I did go outside for about 10 minutes and walk. Yesterday we had our employee appreciation luncheon and I ate real food for the first time in months. I had chicken, mashed potatoes, a hot roll with butter and some pasta salad. I had lemonade and chocolate milk to drink. We got all kinds of goodies for employee appreciation and for the team meeting we had today. Yesterday we got a leather notebook thing with a calculator built in and a paperweight that said "Good Job". Today we got to choose a grab bag at our team meeting and in my grab bag was an insulated lunch box, a pen that has both red and black ink, a desk calendar and the bag itself was a tote bag.

Today at the team meeting, the regional manager emphasized that pajamas and full, head to toe camoflage is unacceptable business attire to be worn under the new dress code. She said that she expected us to be mature about the dress code and if we didn't like the new dress code then we could get a new job. That last part she phrased a little bit nicer. So, it will be interesting to see who wears what on Monday. The regional manager said I looked very nice today. It was one of my new outfits. I think she's happy that I started complying with the new dress code a week early.

I've been watching Martha Stewart's daytime show and this week has been pretty entertaining. Conan O'Brien was on and they did a comedy skit. They were riding horses and Conan was dressed as a Fabio-like romance novel cover man. Conan said at one point, "Martha, that long ride has made me hungry. And not for food." And Martha acted like she was swooning. It was hilarious. And today's episode has wild animals from Busch Gardens. Martha's hands-on with the animals and she's not even upset that the animals are eating the plants in her garden set. I think she might be more concerned that the animals might not be eating good plants. And Martha asked the one question that I've never heard any other interviewer ask. She asked where the animals and the woman from Busch Gardens stay when they are in New York. Apparently they are staying all on one floor of the Ritz Carlton. I don't think the zebra is staying there, but I could be wrong. Martha really loves animals. You can tell by watching this episode.

Last night, Alias's first episode of the season aired. We are supposed to believe Michael Vaughn died, but I think Jack and Sydney faked his death so he could heal from the hundreds of gunshot wounds he received when the bad guys tried to kill him. No one ever really dies on Alias so I expect to see Vaughn back at some point.

Treadmill Report

39 minutes; 2.14 miles; 275 calories burned.

Once again Mom and Dad are hounding me about the amount of weight I've lost. You would think after knowing me for over 30 years, they would know that I don't work out because I love it. I will stop eventually because I am inherently lazy.

Treadmill Report

42 minutes, 41 seconds; 2.36 miles; 303 calories burned.

Kevin Sites Has a New Website

Kevin Sites, brave and daring International News Reporter/Correspondent has a new website on Yahoo called Kevin Sites In the Hot Zone. I have added it to the blogs of note section next to his old blog. Check out the new site for news like you've never seen it reported before. Well, I guess you have seen it reported this way before if you've followed Kevin Sites' reporting in the past or read his blog. But anyway, check out his website.

New Beginning

The new dress code at work goes into effect on Oct. 1, which means next Monday, we can't wear our blue jeans. I'm starting a week early though. Thanks to my weight loss efforts, I have shrunk out of my smallest pair of blue jeans, and I don't see any reason to buy a new pair of blue jeans when I can only wear them for a week. So, I bought black pants Thursday night at Walmart. At first, I wasn't sure about them. They seemed really baggy down at the ankles. But then I tried them on tonight with a pair of dress shoes and they looked much better. I have four skirts to wear along with the black pants so I will be wearing dressy clothes this week while I decide whether or not to do additional shopping this weekend. I guess this week will be another week of whining, belly aching co-workers complaining about the new dress code. I got so sick of it Thursday that I was practically counting down the seconds and minutes to the end of the day so I could start my three day weekend.

Treadmill Report

66 minutes, 6 seconds; 3.5 miles; 451 calories burned.

15 minutes walking outside.

Treadmill Reports

Friday:

49 minutes, 24 seconds; 2.70 miles; 348 calories burned. 35 minutes outside walking.

Saturday:

67 minutes, 48 seconds; 3.60 miles; 463 calories burned. 25 minutes extra walking while watching the President's Cup.

I went shopping tonight and bought some new clothes to get ready for the new dress code. I also bought an INXS Greatest Hits cd this morning and played it all day at work. I can't wait until their new cd comes out at the end of November. Today in the mail I got the Pretender Season 2 dvds. Hopefully I will get to watch some of them at some point. This weekend is the President's Cup golf event. So, I'll be watching that.

From Riambra

You are like Animal


A Crazy, unpredictable, rambling fool who thrives on parties, perversions, caffine and sugar. A welcome guest at any party but not marriage material.

Which sorry excuse of a Muppet are you?

JetBlue Emergency Landing

This was a spectacular event on live tv. The front landing gear wasn't in the right position and the jet had to make an emergency landing. The plane landed perfectly and the landing gear didn't even break off. I've always been fascinated with planes and helicopters and this was something to see.

I stayed up late last night and watched INXS choose their new lead singer. I was quite pleased that they chose JD Fortune. He was my pick from the first time I watched the show. I think he will do great and I do plan to buy the new cd. I may even buy a greatest hits cd if there's one out there.

Tonight the Martha Stewart Apprentice show starts on NBC. If it isn't boring, I plan to watch it every week. I already watch her daily daytime syndicated show.

Treadmill Report

41 minutes, 09 seconds; 2.18 miles; 280 calories burned.

Last night I had to make no-bake cookies for work today so I didn't work out. Today at work, I was only slightly bad with the pot luck lunch. I had small amounts of nachos, tomatoes, carrots, and mashed potatoes and no desserts. I think I did ok.

I got another Alias Calendar from Walmart today. This one was in a cardboard envelope so it didn't get folded, spindled or mutilated. So, my opinion of Walmart has improved. Maybe I will buy stuff from them online again.

I watched some of the Emmys last night. Ellen was funny. It was nice that William Shatner is winning emmys since star trek fans love to gang up on him and criticize him. I liked Donald Trump's performance. Marcia Cross looked good with that red hair and green dress. I didn't care for all the women who wore their hair swept over to one side. Jennifer Garner I'm guessing didn't win an emmy. She should be winning emmys. What does she have to do for goodness sake? She cries, she laughs, she kicks butt and that's just in the first few minutes of an episode. The show Lost won an emmy or two (I don't know how many). I don't know why they did a tribute to Johnny Carson. Has he only been dead for less than a year? I swear these award shows drag up the same old stuff year after year. The movie The Wool Cap I could have sworn was nominated last year.

Dad just gave the dogs some pork chop meat and steffi got choked. He knows better than to give them unapproved food, but he does it anyway. You can't tell him anything. That's just like a man.

Treadmill Report

43 minutes, 59 seconds; 2.35 miles; 302 calories burned.

Treadmill Report

59 minutes, 22 seconds; 3.18 miles; 409 calories burned.

I also walked outside for an hour today.

I've been helping Mom gather up boxes to pack her stuff in. I go buy plastic storage bins and then move all the stuff I have in boxes into those bins which frees up the boxes for mom. So far I have filled four big plastic bins and given Mom 6 or 7 boxes. And before you ask, Mom wants boxes, not storage bins. Boxes are small enough for her to carry. Mom's packed some things, but she and Dad are working on bigger things with the house right now - getting the appliances and carpet that they need. The appliances should be delivered next week. The carpet is supposed to be installed next week too, but I don't know if that's going to happen or what. The saleslady was supposed to call them about something but she hasn't.

I dyed my hair today. It doesn't look all that different. I deliberately chose a color close to mine so if I screwed it up, it wouldn't look so bad. It's only temporary and will wash out within a couple of weeks. But I like it. It's a little bit red. I will have to practice more with it.

I finally got my Alias Calendar from Walmart.com today. The stupid mailman folded it and stuffed it in the mail box. I guess Alias is just jinxed for some reason.

Treadmill Report

61 minutes, 54 seconds; 3.32 miles; 426 calories burned.

I also spent about an hour total outside today walking.

I'll Take You Kenny!

I'm not even that much of a fan, but I'll take Kenny Chesney if Renee doesn't want him! Aside from that police officer and his horse incident, I haven't heard one bad thing about Kenny Chesney. He seems to be a nice guy and he's a very talented performer and writer. He should be treated better than what he's getting right now with all the speculation about what "fraud" could mean. Sounds like a sour grapes claim to me. If she didn't know what she was getting into before saying I Do then she deserves what she gets and she should either make the best of it or file for a no fault divorce. It's not like she was young or naive or anything. She's been around for a while now. And I'm sure there would be no dispute over the assets they each brought to the marriage after only being married for a few months. The annulment probably wasn't the smartest way to go about dissolving the marriage.

I didn't do the treadmill today, but I did walk for about 40 minutes outside today. Today at work, the boss bought us pizza for employee appreciation week. So, I went off the diet, but not by much. It had ham on it, not the other fattening meats. And I skipped dinner tonight.

I've been watching Martha Stewart's show all week this week. I think she's doing great.

I'm saying that I've lost another dress size. I'm skipping the jeans buying part this time so I can't say for certain, but my stats support another dress size lost. That's 4 dress sizes so far.

I still haven't gotten my calendar that I ordered from Walmart.com. When I do finally get it, I plan to send a very terse email to walmart.com commenting on their poor customer service. I didn't get an apology or a refund, discount or anything for them NOT mailing out my purchase for a whole two months. They've had my money for those two months, they should have to pay me interest on that.

Treadmill Report

43 minutes, 06 seconds; 2.29 miles; 294 calories burned.

Of Rabbits and Rascals

Fritz was a rascal today. Apparently he found a way to get to the dead rabbit that mom threw over the fence. Dad said that Fritz had gotten into the rabbit twice today. I complained that he should be watching my dog and Dad said "I can't watch him all the time." Gee, I guess it's hard to pull yourself away from the solitaire game and wake yourself up from naps. I wonder how well he'd watch my niece and nephew if they were visiting. I hope Fritz doesn't get sick again and have to be taken back to the vet. I went out and attempted to dig a hole to bury what was left of the rabbit so Fritz couldn't get to it anymore. The ground was very hard and it was tough to dig that hole. But I managed to dig a small hole and stuff the rabbit head and feet inside. I placed a big rock on top of the covered rabbit so maybe Fritz won't get to it. It was disgusting having that rabbit eye staring at me though. Yuck!

Martha's Second Show

I love how much she loves her dogs! They wore ponchos today. They were so cute. The little black dog nearly made a snack out of Elmo and Martha didn't have anyone on her staff come out to get the dog. And Martha had the daughter of the woman who made the famous poncho on the show. That was good that Martha didn't forget the woman who was so nice to her in prison. Martha and David Spade prepared foods from microwave recipes Martha used in prison and it was fascinating to see how resourceful she and the other inmates were in making due with what they had.

Treadmill Report

36 minutes, 27 seconds; 1.98 miles; 255 calories burned.

Martha Stewart's New Show

Thank you TLC for airing Martha's live daytime show on your network. I can watch it in the evenings without having to record it. I watched it today and it was a pretty good first episode. I think once Martha gets more practice with the live interviews she will really kick butt.

A Real News Story

From WV Metro News

Lincoln Holiday On It's Way Out

Republican state lawmakers aren't at all happy with a bill that eliminates the birthday of former President Abraham Lincoln as a state holiday.

The bill, introduced by the governor, has widespread support in the House of Delegates and State Senate. It would combine the Lincoln and Washington state holidays in February and make the day after Thanksgiving an official state holiday.

Senate Republicans wanted to name the day after Thanksgiving holiday after Lincoln, but were turned back by Senate Democrats. The name of that holiday will be Family Values Day.

Senate Majority Leader Vic Sprouse says the former president is being unfairly targeted by democrats because he was republican. Sprouse says what Lincoln did for the nation, and West Virginia in particular, transcends politics.

Mercer County Senator Don Caruth reminded fellow senators of the Lincoln Walks at Midnight Statue outside the state capitol. "That statue is there to depict the suffering of Abraham Lincoln over the debate about whether West Virginia should have statehood into the union."

Raleigh County Senator Russ Weeks says a vote to eliminate Lincoln's holiday is nothing more than the re-assassination of the popular former president.

The Senate approved the holiday changes on a partisan 21-13 vote.

Treadmill Report

45 minutes, 13 seconds; 2.45 miles; 316 calories burned.

Treadmill Report

58 minutes, 10 seconds; 3.16 miles; 406 calories burned.

Also spent about 50 minutes outside walking.

Couldn't Take Anymore

I suffered through a little more than an hour and a half of the benefit concert but decided I couldn't take anymore of the non-country stuff. Bon Jovi was ok as was U2, but there just wasn't enough in the concert to keep my interest. I am now watching ReDesign with Kenneth Brown on HGTV. Good thing the hurricane victims aren't depending on that concert to get me to donate money.

The Benefit Concert Tonight

So far (8:56 pm Eastern), there's been only one true Country artist to perform: Big and Rich. Kid Rock performed with Lynard Skynard earlier. Where's the country? CMT is participating but so far not too much participation from the artists. And quite frankly, I hardly know anyone else on this show. Rob Thomas sang the Cyndi Lauper song and did a good job. It's a good thing they tell you in the upper right hand corner of the tv who's performing, otherwise I wouldn't know Green Day from Coldplay. Except that the Green Day song was played during PGA golf telecasts last week. I'm guessing Trent Reznor (is that his name?) wrote the Johnny Cash song he's singing?? I think I remember something about that. Still have no clue who this guy is though.

A Charitable Change to the Blog

I have created a permanent list of Hurricane Relief charities over in the sidebar. Yes, there are more pet related charities listed than people ones, but The Red Cross is the big one that everyone on the news is advising people to donate to.

Treadmill Report

59 minutes, 23 seconds; 3.19 miles; 411 calories burned.

I also spent about an hour total outside walking up and down the driveway. Working out outside is a nice change of pace after walking 190 miles total on the treadmill since 6/12/05.

Last night after work I went shopping. Didn't get to watch any golf yesterday. I did buy a few more kitchen utensils that I will need once my parents move out. Today I've been working out and I dipped the dogs again to get rid of fleas. I finally wrote a letter to my oldest friend Jenny. I am very bad about not keeping up with her. I guess I write so much on the blogs that I just never get around to writing a letter. I'm trying my best to lose as much weight as I can before our new dress code goes into effect at work on Oct. 1. I don't think I'll be where I want to be by then but I'll be close. If I could just lose this belly I've got I would stop because everything else is fine. I may need to get some calcium supplements since all the press on calcium says it gets rid of belly fat. I'll do the treadmill report later. I don't know if I'm done with exercise today.

No treadmill tonight

I'm just lazy today.

Help the Displaced Pets

Please donate $ to help the pets stranded and in need due to Katrina:

http://hsus.org/
http://www.noahswish.org/
http://www.petfinder.org/

Treadmill Report

46 minutes, 02 seconds; 2.40 miles; 309 calories burned.

This is an exciting story

Remains of Gold Rush Ship found at Construction Site

Tennis Anyone?

I've been watching the US Open in the evenings. Tonight Maria Sharapova got robbed when the blind as a bat chair umpire didn't see a stray tennis ball bouncing across the court. What good are the lines judges if they don't see what's going on too? That was a disgrace. John McEnroe is quite knowledgeable when it comes to women's tennis. I think that's great. He seems to genuinely be interested in the girls' game. Petrova, Sharapova's opponent, seems to be a bit argumentative. She wins the point and the game and she still complains. She reminds me of Tiger Woods, except Tiger wins more. And lastly, I really like the Andy Roddick Lexus commercials. They play on some suggestion about Roddick's intelligence I think.

Treadmill Report

46 minutes, 54 seconds; 2.58 miles; 332 calories burned.

I was very good today. They had ice cream at work to celebrate the September birthdays for three employees and I didn't have any of it.

Treadmill Report

59 minutes; 3.26 miles; 420 calories burned.

Treadmill Report

59 minutes, 51 seconds; 3.14 miles; 404 calories burned.

I also went back outside today for more walking up and down the driveway. It's a good sunny day here so I figured I should get outside and enjoy the weather.

Dad is once again telling me that I need to stop dieting. *sigh*

Check Out This Blog

Gretchen's Travels

It contains posts regarding the government's actions in the aftermath of the hurricane. And it answers the burning question that has been posed in my office at work for the last few days: Where is Dick Cheney?

Treadmill Report

90 minutes, 02 seconds; 4.74 miles; 610 calories burned.

I also spent a half an hour outside walking up and down part of our steep driveway trying to shape up my legs a little better. The treadmill isn't doing much to make them look good.

What's Up

So, what's been going on in my life lately? We got a new dress code at work. Starting October 1st, we will not be allowed to wear blue denim pants. We can wear any other color, just not blue. So, I'm wondering how much more professional red and yellow checkered pants are. I guess we will find out. If anyone can think of hideous color combinations to wear to work, let me know.

A co-worker told me on Friday that she didn't want me to tell the boss when she isn't doing her job right. Duh. What co-worker does want you to tell the boss when they are screwing up? In fact, this co-worker tried her best to antagonize me into a fight with her. But I ignored her. Which is probably going to tick her of even more. Oh well, I am an expert at giving people exactly what they ask for and letting them find out that it's 10 times worse than what they had before. So, we will see just how much she comes to regret her request. I've already got something in mind for Tuesday when I get back to work.

Walmart still hasn't sent me the Alias wall calendar I ordered back in April. It was a pre-order and I was supposed to have received it by July 31st. But the listing on the website said after I ordered it that the release date was supposed to be Aug. 31st so I waited until September 1st to see if Walmart was going to process the order and ship out my calendar. They didn't. So, I contacted them and asked them when I would be getting the calendar. Their preliminary response was "be patient, we have been disrupted by Hurricane Katrina". I love how the hurricane is being blamed for everything now. I'm betting that co-worker I talked about above will be blaming Katrina for all her screw-ups.

Save some Gas

Got some tips from this website for how to reduce fuel use with your vehicle:

Avoid High Speeds: As your speed increases, your aerodynamic drag increases in an exponential fashion. Driving 62 mph (100 km/h) vs 75 mph (120 km/h) will reduce fuel consumption by about 15%. Do Not Accelerate or Brake Hard: By anticipating the traffic and applying slow steady acceleration and braking, fuel economy may increase by as much as 20%. Keep Tires Properly Inflated: Keep tire air pressure at the level recommended by your vehicle manufacturer. A single tire under inflated by 2 PSI, increases fuel consumption by 1%. Use A/C Sparingly: When the air conditioner is on it puts extra load on the engine forcing more fuel to be used (by about 20%). The defrost position on most vehicles also uses the air conditioner. Keep Windows Closed: Windows open, especially at highway speeds, increase drag and result in decreased fuel economy of up to 10%. Service Vehicle Regularly: Proper maintenance avoids poor fuel economy related to dirty air filters, old spark plugs or low fluid levels. Use Cruise Control: Maintaining a constant speed over long distances often saves gas. Avoid Heavy Loads: Remove the sand bags from your trunk in the spring and pack lightly for long trips. Avoid Long Idles: If you anticipate being stopped for more than 1 minute, shut off the car. Restarting the car uses less fuel than letting it idle for this time. Purchase a Fuel Efficient Vehicle: When buying a new vehicle examine the vehicle's rated fuel efficiency. Usually choosing a small vehicle with a manual transmission will provide you with great fuel economy.

Katrina Blog

Check out Eye of the Storm.

Katrina News

It appears Fidel Castro has offered to help the US.

The phrase 'better late than never' has never seemed more inadequate.

Donations pick up as the news media shine a wider spotlight on the devastation.

NBC's Benefit Show

I just watched NBC's telethon and it was very moving. I'm glad I mailed off some money to the Red Cross today. The one surprising, or maybe not so surprising, part of this show was Kanye West's comments. You could see he was very heart-broken and distraught and he was doing what he could to support the people of New Orleans in his own fashion. NBC cut him off when he started commenting on the Federal Government's lack of response and his opinion on Bush's loyalties. I can understand why NBC would cut him off - the negative tone West's comments were taking could actually turn people off from donating, but still, the honest emotion inspiring West's comments was probably one of the strongest factors motivating people to donate. Hopefully, people can look past the political slant of his comments and see his compassion and his devotion to helping those suffering in the aftermath of the hurricane.

Today I donated money to Hurricane Katrina Disaster Relief at Walmart. And I have the mailing address for the American Red Cross and will be mailing a money order to them tomorrow. Everyone should donate to the Red Cross or other official charitable organizations. It's very clear that the US Government is dropping the ball when it comes to providing aid to the victims of this disaster. It shames me to see people dying in the streets in New Orleans while President Bush holds press conferences in the extravagant comfort of the Oval Office while wearing a suit that costs enough to buy probably 1000 gallons of water or more for those victims. I applaud the news organizations for showing the reality of the situation American citizens are facing in the wake of this tragedy. The world needs to know that the current administration is letting down its own citizenry while pouring money and resources into Iraq, a country we shouldn't have been involved in to begin with.

Donate Now!!!

Click here for the Red Cross.