The Oscars

Ok now that the previous distraction has been addressed.....

I love the Oscars! I know what everyone says..."Stuck up celebrities patting themselves on the back".....I know I know....and I agree to some extent. But I still love watching them. I love most award shows for that matter. But the Oscars are different. They are the best, the #1 honor an actor/actress can receive. I love seeing all of the stars glammed up and looking their best (you know they starved themselves, waxed, pulled, dyed, tweaked and stuffed their selves into their dresses/tuxes). I love seeing the genuine surprise of the underdog winning....even the big stars can't help but get overwhelmed when they win. I love the speeches....even the unknown people like "sound editing" and "set design". I saw a lot of unknowns last night win...that's really cool. Left, is one of my favorite actors....Johnny Depp....he was nominated for best actor for his role in "Sweeney Todd"...I have not seen it yet- but Lizzy has and she said it's really good. I'll have to rent it when it comes out. He did not win- but I'm not sure he deserved to considering his company.

Ok, it has to be said.....

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm sleepy

I went out last night to entertain a few co-workers from out of town. I was not out late but I had a drink and it's made me feel kind of sickly today. It's reminded me why I don't drink...haha I guess I have to be reminded every once in a while. Now- I'm sleepy.

I'm on day 45 of being a non-smoker. Not one puff. I almost caved last night when I felt a tiny bit tipsy from my drink....but I didn't. I'm proud of myself.

Dinner tonight to say goodbye to a friend that's being let go. She's a nice person. The company I work for is letting her go after 8 years because they are closing down the AL office. The one remaining person is going to work from home now. I feel sad for her, but I guess that's life. You can never feel completely secure with any job.

I went to the Cheesecake Factory for lunch! Mmmmmm one of my favorite places to eat. I only ate half my food- remembering my diet! My whoe family is on a diet right now...we are all doing well so far. Eating right and excercizing. Feels good.

Sumos Bath...and oh yeah it's Valentines Day too!

Yesterday early evening Jeff and I took Sumo to have a bath at Petco. He only gets to have a few baths a year so he was ready! In fact, this is only his 2nd "real" bath since he's been too big for the sink. Akitas are extremely clean dogs- so only 2-3 times per year is necessary. Anyway, he's been blowing his coat for over a month now ....I've been cleaning hair (Vaccuming, Swiffering) every single day at my house just to keep up with it. I knew he was on the tail end (no pun intended) of his shedding so I decided to get him in for a bath. You should have seen that room after we used the blowdryer on him! There was hair on the walls and probably the cieling! Anyway, he looks terriffic and I think we got most of the loose hair off of him.

Today is Valentines Day! I made Jeff a picture- I think he liked it. I'm going to go home and make a nice dinner for the fam and tell them over and over how much I love them. V-Day is not just for couples...it's for family too.

Debut of the Bangs

What do you think?

Bangs

I cut bangs tonight. Not sure what I think yet. I'll take a pic soon. I have not had bangs in about 7 years....so this will take some adjusting. I've been wanting to do it for a while....so we'll see how fast I get use to it.

Stuff

Smoking Update:

32 days...yes, it still sucks....I hope someday I start enjoying being a non-smoker!!

Sumo Update:
Almost a year old! His birthday is March 22nd. He's HUGE...

Kids:

Kids are great.... Lizzy has a violin concert tonight, she is still really into playing and she is so good! I'm glad she's kept w/ it. Jewel is working and still learning how to drive so she can take her test. Chris has already started baseball practice...each Friday night, and his last basketball game is this Saturday. We stay very busy with sports and school activities.

Life:

We have begun the process of buying our house. We've rented it for almost 2 years now and dispite the repairs needed....we love the house and the neighborhood. I'm hoping we can get it at a "fixer uppper" price so that we can afford to fix a few things right away. There is a laundry list of "have to have" and "wants" when it comes to repairs. I'm sure a lot of people would think we're nuts to buy a home that needs repaired....but if the price is right and we can do it we will. The very first thing I'll do is PAINT! Inside and out.

Oh I dropped the few lbs. I wanted to thank goodness. I can watch what I eat for a week or so to slim down a bit. I was looking at pictures last night and realized I use to be SO THIN!!! I'm going to try damn hard to lose about 10 lbs in the next month. I want to be that thin again! If I could weigh 126 (10 lbs. from now) I'd be really happy!

Need to Drop a Few Lbs.

Damnit! Yes, I've gained a few lbs. since I quit smoking (23 days btw!). I weighed myself last night and I was 142! My average is 136. I weighed myself this morning and I was 138. So- who knows where I REALLY am...but I'm NOT ok with 142...so I am eating light and cutting out sweets this week. I have a weakness for sweets. I'm going to get into the gym this week too...something that I find hard to do. I have a YMCA membership and I rarely use it. I hate that about myself. Anyway, I want to maintain my weight...not GAIN.

Is your life what you expected it to be?

I'm not sure if I really thought as a youngster what I wanted to "be" when I grew up. Unfortunately my actions crippled my ability to have unlimited choices. I had a child at age 14 and that set my life into motion. Jewel baby. The light of my life. I grew up very fast. I learned to be selfless. I did not have dreams in high school of moving away for college. I just wanted to graduate. When I graduated, I made a short lived attempt to enroll in college...I enrolled at Emporia State. I never made it though...the arrival of my next child came instead. Lizzy girl. The most beautiful little blonde angel you've ever seen. I did make it to college for 2 semesters at Central Missouri State...but it was not meant to be. Fast forward through a time I don't like to think or talk about much and you end at the birth of my third child. Christopher Daniel. My boy...my heartache kid. I've pained over this kids health problems and accidents more than both of my daughters put together. So- 2001 I wind up working an office job...learning a lot about business and just getting by as a single mom. This job led me to my current job, which led me to my husband. My kids are now 16, 11 and 7 and I've been married for two years. I live in a house I love, I have a great job and I am overall extremely pleased with how my life turned out. I would have never expected to be who I am today. I realized today that I've never really laid a path for myself. I've never thought "I want to be ____" I just survive. I was talking to Lizzy today and asked her what she wants to be when she grows up. Of course, she said "I don't know"...well she's in 5th grade...so I did not expect her to know just yet..haha I love the fact that all 3 of my kids have opportunites that I did not have. I talk to them a lot about making a plan for their futures. You know, I don't think that they need to be thinking about this stuff too seriously yet- but it can't hurt to open up communication and start planting seeds. I wish that I had spent more time with Jewel having conversations like this when she was younger. She is going to be a senior next year and WOW that's a scary thought. She's had a great HS career so far...she is not pulling straight A's but I'm very proud of her. She's planning on going to college, but we have the rest of this year and next to firm up those plans. Ok, I just realized that I'm droaning on and on in this post.....so I'll wrap this thought up. I just think it's a good idea to stop and think about where you are in life and answer if it's what you expected. I know that what I have now is far better than what I expected for myself.

Wow

Ok, so I was just talking to someone who quit smoking a year ago December 4th. She told me she STILL craves cigarettes. Even after a YEAR! In fact, she said "oh yeah, I want a cigarette right now!".........it's a DRUG people....a drug. Why does it have such a hold on us? I'm on day 18 and I will not turn back ...but I feel like I'm mourning. I'm in a bad mood a LOT, I'm emotional...I'm sure I'm not that much fun to be around. I just want so bad to have the cigarette. I can use my mind to tell me not to..that it's going to kill me if I allow myself to turn back...but I hate it. I want that comfort...that companion. Geez, we're talking about a cigarette here! Agggggggggg