I had a great time on vacation......once we got there. It was the first real ME vacation in a zillion years. I was able to decide what time I wanted to get up, sleep, nap, eat and just sit an read. I was lucky....I didn't like the desserts they served...LOL. I did get in the pool every day and jogged too. I didn't stress about getting in the pool with strangers or worry about what people thought I looked like in my bathing suit. For one glorious week I didn't think about work, the dog, what to make for dinner or any of the other things or people that bring stress to my life......it was heavenly!!!! One afternoon, I actually fell asleep while reading by the pool. Another morning, I sat on a deck near the ocean and read while listening to the sound of the ocean. If I didn't want to do something....I didn't. How fabulous is that??? Yes, I did indulge a little.....those lovely island drinks.......an occasional snack......nice breakfasts......I didn't go berserk and still got in my daily exercise. I don't think my blood pressure went up a point....in fact it probably went down a lot......
Now I am back home......
back to the gym......back to healthy eating......back to focusing on trying to lose weight. I think the vacation rejuvenated me. Back to portion control.......back to what's for dinner? Back to reality.....
Hopefully, some of the magic from vacation will stay with me......for a while......or until my next vacation. It gave me a chance to recharge and to see what life is like when I don't have to answer to anyone but me.....guess wha......t it was nice.......more to think about.
OK vacation is over.....time to get back into 4 to 5 trips to the gym each week, healthy eating and Dear God some weight loss......the pounds are going to come off come hell or high water!!!! When things get bad....my mind will wander back to that deck and the ocean and the water and me.....just me....
Monday, July 30, 2012
The Ups and Downs of the Internet....
This week I have faced the highs and lows of the way we work and communicate.
The low......
I had to do some work at home this week-end. I brought home my laptop and hooked it up to my extra monitor. I even figured out how to have both screens with different info. I spent hours working on a project for work. I know I hit the save button.....I know I did.....I am absolutely sure I did.......I think......
When I went back to open the report and the spreadsheet.....all my notes were gone. I will admit I started to cry....all those hours of work ......gone. I got myself together and tried to re-create the wheel. It took about 1 1/2 hours and I was lucky that I had copies of e-mails I had sent.....so once again I finished and I saved it to my desktop, my file, my e-mail and anyplace else I could. The one good thing is that I checked it while I was at home and I didn't find out about it after I arrived at the office this morning.
The high.....
My cousin set up a family site on Facebook. He started it last week and it already has almost 90 members. I have reconnected with cousins I haven't seen in years and am getting to know their children too. People are posting pictures and sharing memories. There is even talk of a reunion next year!!!!
I definitely experienced the good and bad of having a computer.......
Thank goodness there is an auto save on this blog site or you might have missed some great entries!!!!
The low......
I had to do some work at home this week-end. I brought home my laptop and hooked it up to my extra monitor. I even figured out how to have both screens with different info. I spent hours working on a project for work. I know I hit the save button.....I know I did.....I am absolutely sure I did.......I think......
When I went back to open the report and the spreadsheet.....all my notes were gone. I will admit I started to cry....all those hours of work ......gone. I got myself together and tried to re-create the wheel. It took about 1 1/2 hours and I was lucky that I had copies of e-mails I had sent.....so once again I finished and I saved it to my desktop, my file, my e-mail and anyplace else I could. The one good thing is that I checked it while I was at home and I didn't find out about it after I arrived at the office this morning.
The high.....
My cousin set up a family site on Facebook. He started it last week and it already has almost 90 members. I have reconnected with cousins I haven't seen in years and am getting to know their children too. People are posting pictures and sharing memories. There is even talk of a reunion next year!!!!
I definitely experienced the good and bad of having a computer.......
Thank goodness there is an auto save on this blog site or you might have missed some great entries!!!!
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
I Am Not An Experienced Traveler
I have never traveled outside the US before.......
What a learning experience this has been.
I had no idea that I had to go through Customs and Immigration going into Barbados.
I knew I would have to go through Customs on the way back. But I did not plan on immigration, having to go get my bags in Miami, bring them somewhere else to be rechecked and give them back to be put on another plane ( I learned the key is direct flights to skip that step. But unfortunately the airports within 100 miles of my home do not have direct flights to Barbados). We had to go through security again. At our gate 5 TSA agents showed up to check ID's and carry on bags at random.
On our way to Barbados we learned that American Airlines in order to keep their on time percentage up closes their flights 15 minutes before departure time. So if you are there 10 minutes before flight time (as we were.....you are out of luck). It wasn't just our flight this happened to........I saw it happen to flight after flight while we spent 5 hours waiting for the next flight to Miami. I even saw a Platinum member of the American Airlines travel group told "sorry we can't get you on the flight even though the plane is still at the gate and isn't scheduled to leave for another 10 minutes". Can someone explain to me why the security at Charlotte Airport sent every person through the full body scanner???? Should it take close to 60 minutes to get through security? I was then patted down since the scanner showed I had something in my shoulder and knee (I didn't know it was also an arthritis check too!!!) I told the agent to pat away. I am sure that made her day.
We finally get to Miami 5 hours late. Now we have to wait another 5 hours to see if we can get on the last flight to Barbados that American has going that day. We didn't know whether or not we would get on the flight until about 5-10 minutes before the flight took off. We think it had to do with a persistent family member calling everyone and their brother on our behalf.
Finally, we arrive in Barbados 19 hours after we left our house. We go through Immigration and Customs again......at this point I have to watch myself or I might be sent back to Miami as the ugly American. Jenn worked her way through the crowd and lines.......I followed shortly behind her. She went out to get us a cab when she saw that family was there to take us to the hotel. I am having major leg cramps which I am told may have to do with no drinking any liquid all day and standing for extended periods of time.
By the time we get to the hotel everything is closed so getting something to eat is not an option. Fortunately, Jenn goes with her cousin to a gas station and buys a pre-cooked hamburger.and some chips. When she gets back to the hotel, she tosses the bun and we share the pre-cooked burger and some chips.......welcome to Paradise...LOL.
I learned a lot from this traveling experience. I admire people who do international travel on a regular basis. At least, I will know some of the drill for next time.
But I think for a while I may limit myself to domestic travel.......
What a learning experience this has been.
I had no idea that I had to go through Customs and Immigration going into Barbados.
I knew I would have to go through Customs on the way back. But I did not plan on immigration, having to go get my bags in Miami, bring them somewhere else to be rechecked and give them back to be put on another plane ( I learned the key is direct flights to skip that step. But unfortunately the airports within 100 miles of my home do not have direct flights to Barbados). We had to go through security again. At our gate 5 TSA agents showed up to check ID's and carry on bags at random.
On our way to Barbados we learned that American Airlines in order to keep their on time percentage up closes their flights 15 minutes before departure time. So if you are there 10 minutes before flight time (as we were.....you are out of luck). It wasn't just our flight this happened to........I saw it happen to flight after flight while we spent 5 hours waiting for the next flight to Miami. I even saw a Platinum member of the American Airlines travel group told "sorry we can't get you on the flight even though the plane is still at the gate and isn't scheduled to leave for another 10 minutes". Can someone explain to me why the security at Charlotte Airport sent every person through the full body scanner???? Should it take close to 60 minutes to get through security? I was then patted down since the scanner showed I had something in my shoulder and knee (I didn't know it was also an arthritis check too!!!) I told the agent to pat away. I am sure that made her day.
We finally get to Miami 5 hours late. Now we have to wait another 5 hours to see if we can get on the last flight to Barbados that American has going that day. We didn't know whether or not we would get on the flight until about 5-10 minutes before the flight took off. We think it had to do with a persistent family member calling everyone and their brother on our behalf.
Finally, we arrive in Barbados 19 hours after we left our house. We go through Immigration and Customs again......at this point I have to watch myself or I might be sent back to Miami as the ugly American. Jenn worked her way through the crowd and lines.......I followed shortly behind her. She went out to get us a cab when she saw that family was there to take us to the hotel. I am having major leg cramps which I am told may have to do with no drinking any liquid all day and standing for extended periods of time.
By the time we get to the hotel everything is closed so getting something to eat is not an option. Fortunately, Jenn goes with her cousin to a gas station and buys a pre-cooked hamburger.and some chips. When she gets back to the hotel, she tosses the bun and we share the pre-cooked burger and some chips.......welcome to Paradise...LOL.
I learned a lot from this traveling experience. I admire people who do international travel on a regular basis. At least, I will know some of the drill for next time.
But I think for a while I may limit myself to domestic travel.......
Long Distance Family...
I have cousins on both sides of my family that live far away and I haven't gotten to see as often as I would like or should. Two of my cousins from my Dad's side of the family came to Mom's memorial service. I hadn't seen them in 27 years. I have cousins from Mom's side of the family out west that I haven't seen in 25 years. OK that is really not acceptable......on my part.
I have very different relationships with these cousins.
The cousin's from my Dad's side .....we spent Easter's, Christmas's and many week-ends together when we were young. We made up games and put on plays. We bonded over my grandmother's chocolate chips and chocolate cracker pudding ( I may be the only one who likes chocolate cracker pudding...LOL). When we saw each other back in April......it was as if we had never been apart. I couldn't believe how wonderful it was to catch up and make plans to see each other again in the NEAR future.
The cousin's from my Mom's side......we didn't see each other often. It was usually a major trip and we would get to spend a few days together. We bonded over international meals (including homemade Kim Chee). Each part of the family would cook their family's specialty.......the Raboni's had Italian night....the Corona's covered the Mexican food.....and on and on. On one trip my family actually flew to Colorado with a suitcase filled with frozen Italian sausage, a suitcase of bagels, a suitcase of salami, cheese and Italian bread. My brother carried a gallon thermos of homemade sauce on the plane (obviously pre 9/11).
The relationships with both sets of cousins are very different.......but equally important. My time with them had something to do with the person I am today. I would give my eye teeth to be able to reach them within a few hours.
My father and his siblings are gone. My mom along with 3 of her siblings are gone. We are fortunate to have 5 of her siblings to connect with......
Part of my journey to discover me includes getting to know all these cousins better. It is time to get to know them as adults, parents, grandparents not just as children, teenagers and young adults. I want Jenn to know them too. While she has great relationships with her cousins, I think it is important that she know my cousins.
So a new item for the agenda.......no more waiting for the right time to see each other.......no more waiting for an invite.......no more waiting until we have enough money to go (if I wait until I have enough money I might never see some of these people again)........no more saying we will get together next year.......I have to start seeing them NOW.
So this is fair warning to all of my cousins........I will be getting in touch to plan visits.......I hope you are looking forward to it as much as I am!!!!
I have very different relationships with these cousins.
The cousin's from my Dad's side .....we spent Easter's, Christmas's and many week-ends together when we were young. We made up games and put on plays. We bonded over my grandmother's chocolate chips and chocolate cracker pudding ( I may be the only one who likes chocolate cracker pudding...LOL). When we saw each other back in April......it was as if we had never been apart. I couldn't believe how wonderful it was to catch up and make plans to see each other again in the NEAR future.
The cousin's from my Mom's side......we didn't see each other often. It was usually a major trip and we would get to spend a few days together. We bonded over international meals (including homemade Kim Chee). Each part of the family would cook their family's specialty.......the Raboni's had Italian night....the Corona's covered the Mexican food.....and on and on. On one trip my family actually flew to Colorado with a suitcase filled with frozen Italian sausage, a suitcase of bagels, a suitcase of salami, cheese and Italian bread. My brother carried a gallon thermos of homemade sauce on the plane (obviously pre 9/11).
The relationships with both sets of cousins are very different.......but equally important. My time with them had something to do with the person I am today. I would give my eye teeth to be able to reach them within a few hours.
My father and his siblings are gone. My mom along with 3 of her siblings are gone. We are fortunate to have 5 of her siblings to connect with......
Part of my journey to discover me includes getting to know all these cousins better. It is time to get to know them as adults, parents, grandparents not just as children, teenagers and young adults. I want Jenn to know them too. While she has great relationships with her cousins, I think it is important that she know my cousins.
So a new item for the agenda.......no more waiting for the right time to see each other.......no more waiting for an invite.......no more waiting until we have enough money to go (if I wait until I have enough money I might never see some of these people again)........no more saying we will get together next year.......I have to start seeing them NOW.
So this is fair warning to all of my cousins........I will be getting in touch to plan visits.......I hope you are looking forward to it as much as I am!!!!
Saturday, July 14, 2012
Let's Just Call It Temporary Insanity
Have you ever been pushed by rude people to the point where you have had it???
This morning I went to the gym. You guessed it....as I walked into the gym so did a woman with 6 kids. You know where they were heading with beach balls and floatation devices......the pool. As I went by the pool, I dropped my towel on a chair. I went in the locker room to get changed and here comes the woman and her entourage. I tell her nicely children under 12 are not allowed in the locker room. She says she doesn't know how else to get to the pool. UGH!! I also let her know nicely that there will be a water aerobics class starting soon and children are not allowed in the pool during class......she looks at me like I was speaking Chinese. I go out to the pool and the family has piled all their stuff on the chair where my towels is.......why couldn't they pick any of the 20 other empty chairs. Jenn moves my towel on her way to the workout floor. I get in the pool and start to jog. A beach ball goes floating by me. I turn around and the woman and her tribe are all playing on the stairs to the pool and the Mom tells me she and her kids don't know how to swim so they can't get the beach ball which is in about 5-6 ft of water. I swim over get the ball and pass it back to them. I now move to the other end of the pool. When I finish my workout, one of the kids is sitting on my towel and the kid is wet. Is it me?????
After the gym I went and got my haircut.
Then we went to Publix.......
Jenn went in and got what we needed. Then I backed out of my parking spot. I noticed in my mirror than another person was getting ready to back up but since I had moved first I continued to back up. Next thing I know the other person who started backing up AFTER me is leaning on her horn like I had just broadsided her......so I stopped moving......she continues to back up honking her horn at me. Then she manages to swerve around me.
I have to admit something in me snapped........I had been taking crap all morning and I was done. So I took the mature NY reaction......I followed her honking my horn through the parking lot and onto the road, yelling at her (and I wasn't saying Happy Birthday).....we exchanged hand gestures and then I moved in front of her and drove 5 miles an hour.......
Well, wasn't that mature on my part?? Sadly, after a short distance we parted ways never to see each other again.
OK so it wasn't one of my best or proudest moments but I had taken so much from inconsiderate people that I was tired of acting like it was OK for people to be rude, not follow the rules and do whatever they wanted.........why do some people feel like the rules do not apply to them or that they do not have to be polite to others.......I am tired of being treated like a doormat......
This morning I went to the gym. You guessed it....as I walked into the gym so did a woman with 6 kids. You know where they were heading with beach balls and floatation devices......the pool. As I went by the pool, I dropped my towel on a chair. I went in the locker room to get changed and here comes the woman and her entourage. I tell her nicely children under 12 are not allowed in the locker room. She says she doesn't know how else to get to the pool. UGH!! I also let her know nicely that there will be a water aerobics class starting soon and children are not allowed in the pool during class......she looks at me like I was speaking Chinese. I go out to the pool and the family has piled all their stuff on the chair where my towels is.......why couldn't they pick any of the 20 other empty chairs. Jenn moves my towel on her way to the workout floor. I get in the pool and start to jog. A beach ball goes floating by me. I turn around and the woman and her tribe are all playing on the stairs to the pool and the Mom tells me she and her kids don't know how to swim so they can't get the beach ball which is in about 5-6 ft of water. I swim over get the ball and pass it back to them. I now move to the other end of the pool. When I finish my workout, one of the kids is sitting on my towel and the kid is wet. Is it me?????
After the gym I went and got my haircut.
Then we went to Publix.......
Jenn went in and got what we needed. Then I backed out of my parking spot. I noticed in my mirror than another person was getting ready to back up but since I had moved first I continued to back up. Next thing I know the other person who started backing up AFTER me is leaning on her horn like I had just broadsided her......so I stopped moving......she continues to back up honking her horn at me. Then she manages to swerve around me.
I have to admit something in me snapped........I had been taking crap all morning and I was done. So I took the mature NY reaction......I followed her honking my horn through the parking lot and onto the road, yelling at her (and I wasn't saying Happy Birthday).....we exchanged hand gestures and then I moved in front of her and drove 5 miles an hour.......
Well, wasn't that mature on my part?? Sadly, after a short distance we parted ways never to see each other again.
OK so it wasn't one of my best or proudest moments but I had taken so much from inconsiderate people that I was tired of acting like it was OK for people to be rude, not follow the rules and do whatever they wanted.........why do some people feel like the rules do not apply to them or that they do not have to be polite to others.......I am tired of being treated like a doormat......
The Week That Was...7/8-7/14.......
This past week was hectic.
I had a training class Monday - Thursday from 8 to 6. The first obstacle was getting to work BEFORE 8. I had to be in the class AT 8. This was a challenge for me but I am proud to say I was there every day on time. The class involved a lot of numbers, graphing and work done on laptops. I learn best by doing so at times it was hard unless I was the person driving the mouse (you know me I have to be the driver). I also learned how to do a Power Point presentation (I know younger people would say what kind of big deal is that but for me it was something new). I had to stand up with 2 other people and do a presentation. I hate speaking in front of groups of people and there was a person who was able to question things about our presentation. This job has forced me to face a lot of things I am not comfortable with.....flying and group presentations being two of them. Growth......it's all about growth. (See I have heard that phrase before.....right Jan and Mary??)
Each night I had a salad before dinner to curb my appetite....yum.
I opted not to dress up for "Geek Day" at work.
I tried not to let others upset me with their negative attitudes and actually I did well with this......it was probably partly due to being tired when I got home from the gym and work to let anyone bother me.
My sleep pattern has not been great. I fall asleep around midnight. I wake up at about 1:30 and then have trouble getting back to sleep. I toss and turn. I finally fall into a deep sleep around 5:00 and have to get up by 6:00. I am hoping this is just a temporary pattern and had to do with worrying about oversleeping and being late for class.
I also managed to squeeze in 3 trips to the gym, a pedicure, a face waxing and a haircut........so there was some ME time........whew.......what a week.
I had a training class Monday - Thursday from 8 to 6. The first obstacle was getting to work BEFORE 8. I had to be in the class AT 8. This was a challenge for me but I am proud to say I was there every day on time. The class involved a lot of numbers, graphing and work done on laptops. I learn best by doing so at times it was hard unless I was the person driving the mouse (you know me I have to be the driver). I also learned how to do a Power Point presentation (I know younger people would say what kind of big deal is that but for me it was something new). I had to stand up with 2 other people and do a presentation. I hate speaking in front of groups of people and there was a person who was able to question things about our presentation. This job has forced me to face a lot of things I am not comfortable with.....flying and group presentations being two of them. Growth......it's all about growth. (See I have heard that phrase before.....right Jan and Mary??)
Each night I had a salad before dinner to curb my appetite....yum.
I opted not to dress up for "Geek Day" at work.
I tried not to let others upset me with their negative attitudes and actually I did well with this......it was probably partly due to being tired when I got home from the gym and work to let anyone bother me.
My sleep pattern has not been great. I fall asleep around midnight. I wake up at about 1:30 and then have trouble getting back to sleep. I toss and turn. I finally fall into a deep sleep around 5:00 and have to get up by 6:00. I am hoping this is just a temporary pattern and had to do with worrying about oversleeping and being late for class.
I also managed to squeeze in 3 trips to the gym, a pedicure, a face waxing and a haircut........so there was some ME time........whew.......what a week.
Picture Me With A Headband
When I got in the pool today I noticed part of my Aquagear earpiece was missing. At first I thought I would just have to use one earphone. Then it dawned on me the earpiece was still there and I was just missing the part that hooked over my ear. I put the earpiece in my ear and it stayed so I was good to go. Later, I thought what if the earpiece didn't stay in place....what could I do? I decided to buy some headbands.....the wide kind that go all around my head. I had already decided I would not put the headband on top of my hair so it would flatten it out........I would wear it in front of my hair and let it push my hair back. Better to push it back than have my hair flattened. OK I was already expending too much energy worrying about all of this just because I couldn't find one little ear hook. I must have spent 10 minutes in CVS examining headbands. Well, I finally selected a few in different colors. I was planning to try them out tomorrow at the gym and really didn't care how foolish I looked.
You know of course how this turned out..........a few hours ago.......I found the ear hook. So at least for the moment I can put off wearing the headband.......thank goodness.......another fashion crisis averted.
You know of course how this turned out..........a few hours ago.......I found the ear hook. So at least for the moment I can put off wearing the headband.......thank goodness.......another fashion crisis averted.
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