Dangit, Netflix...

...sometimes you REALLY make me angry!

I've had Rome: Disc 5 & 6 at the top of my queue for some time now and I sent Disc 3 & 4 back after I'd held on to them for a little over a week and yet, you REFUSED to send me the the next two! You 'claim' they are on a short wait, but I've have my doubts.

Don't think that I don't know what you are capable of. I've read the articles in which people claim you restrict them because they return their movies in a timely fashion, even though we are all paying for unlimited monthly rentals.

Well, Netflix, you've won this time. I'll watch the two you've sent me, but if this happens again...oh...you and I are going to have it out - and it's not going to be pretty.

Happy Leap Year!

I wanted to get a post out today, considering I won't be able to post on this day for another 4 years!

Hope it was a great one!

Ski Trip Recap

via photos is now available...



Although I'm not as sick as I was on Monday, I'm still recovering and I don't have the enery to post a long blog. So check out the photos on my Flickr site.

We're back.

back.
sick.
had fun.
more later.

Greetings from Red River!

Written and attempted to post on Saturday, February 23rd.

We've been here for almost 2 whole days now and in that time we've gotten in some terrific skiing! Yesterday was awesome - great snow - sun - not a lot of people - it was great! Today brought a few more people, but nothing I would call crowded. This morning it was snowing - HARD! But it laid some fantastic powder that was great to ski on! I'm proud of myself this trip - I've ventured to the blues and I've had a blast! I held my own, albeit I'm a bit slow coming down, but I'll work on that another trip. This afternoon my legs got the best of me and I had to quit about an hour early. But I have one more day! Can't wait. The back (knock on wood) has held up so far, but I've been wearing my brace, so it's definitely helped.





Poor Sarah has contracted pharangitis - apparently an after effect of a cold she's been battling for a few days prior to the trip. She went to the med clinic here in town and got some drugs to help her out! Hopefully she'll be feeling much better tomorrow, but it's doubtful she'll get any skiing done this time around.

Gone Skiing

Headed to Red River in the morning - our flight leaves at 11:40....I think. For once, I'm not in charge of flights, I left that to Jeff (calm yourself, Colleen. You don't have to control everything).

It's 11:36pm and there are at least 101 more things I need to get done by tomorrow morning. I think Jeff has ruined my time management skills. Yes, let's blame someone else aside from fessing up to laziness :) ... oh well, as Jeff always says, "The world's not going to end..."

I'll post pics, and I'm sure a few crazy stories, when I return. Let's hope the 'ole back doesn't act up.....*knocking on wood*

Decorating for Dummies

I think I need the book... I've probably changed my mind regarding decorating more times than I've changed my underwear in the past two months - well that's probably an exaggeration - you hope at least! ha!

At first, I wanted to go with cool gray walls, black furniture with hints of taupes and blues. However, the rest of the house resisted this color pallette. To start, the tile, which is probably 40% of the house is mostly brown. Jeff and I painted some gray on the wall - to see if it would work - but it's just not happening. And since it's cheaper to change the paint than the tile, I figured we'll go another route.

Jeff and I returned the beautiful blue rugs that we received as a gift last month. I was sad to see them go, but I knew they weren't going to work. So we bought some neutral rugs that have more earthy tones. I think it looks good. Once we get some paint on the walls and hang some pics in the hallways, things will hopefully look better. Hopefully.

Wish I knew someone who was a professional at this type of stuff...

Diagnosis

Well, I went to the doctor this morning to get my back checked out. I brought him the x-rays that my chiropractor had taken a few months back. Regarding my upper back, he said that it was a muscular issue and has prescribed me some muscle relaxers to take at night so it can "cool the muscles" - I asked him about theraputic massage and he said it would probably be a good idea. Good excuse for me to get massages too! :)

Issues with my lower back didn't go so hot - currently, he's diagnosing it as a spondylolysis, or a lower back stress fracture. However, we are reserving the final diagnosis until I have a lumbar MRI which will be in two weeks. I've read a few sites online and it looks as if I'll have to be immobile (aside from work, etc) for about 6 weeks and that I might have to have a back brace. Not sure.

Anyway, this raises an interesting thought about my upcoming ski trip. I'm stubborn and don't like to hear the word "no"....but I'm going to think things over. No final decision until we get there, I think.

Personal Redemption...sort of

Willpower. Something I thought I possessed a bit more of, but the past two days at work have proved otherwise. Due to a certain holiday, such as Valentine's day, which brought in over 10lbs of chocoalate to my office(I guesstimate) and more notably, this week brought the delivery of, you guessed it, Girl Scout cookies. Damn you, Girl Scouts for selling your delicious cookies.

I admit, I bought two packages. I felt guilty denying the purchase, since so many around me had committed to a few boxes themselves. I didn't want to be that person, but in hindsight, I'd rather be that person the person I am now, which is easily 2-3lbs heavier than I was last week (though, I've yet to hop on the scale to confirm my suspicions).

Today was probably my worst cheat day since the beginning of the year. I'd say that this has been the worst week on my diet since the beginning of the year. And what's worse is the ski trip is right around the corner, and there is no way I'm going to meet my goal of 15lbs. I could shake myself I'm so angry.

However, today I've redeemed myself...somewhat. Instead of coming home and sitting on my ass, something I've done too often of late, I went outside and played with our dog, Sonny. Then, after he was thoroughly exhausted, I came inside, changed in to work out clothes (but wait there's more), proceeded to actually follow through and hopped on my treadmill for a strenuous 30 minute work out.

I tried one of their weight loss programs and I was impressed. Last week, using my own workout method, I would burn roughly 300 calories in 30 minutes, but that was walking 3 minutes at 3.5/mph and running for 2 minutes at 5.5/mph at an incline of 1% or 2%. Using the computer program, I walked for 3 minutes at 3.5/mph and jogged for 2 minues at 4.0/mph, however, the incline was at 5%. I burned 300 calories and crossed a distance of 1.77 miles. However, I sweated more then my workout AND at 4.0/mph you end up lightly jogging and not doing the huffing and puffing running that I was doing at 5.5/mph. I actually ENJOYED my workout and I had a graphic to watch, which helped me "see the light", if you will.

Basically, what I'm trying to say here folks is, I'm glad I actually got some dignity back by burning off some of the crap I ate today, but I fear I still ate too much to warrant any weightloss. I need to get my goal back in focus and continue on with my progress. I refuse to give up on my goal of losing 25lbs. Hopefully I can still salvage some of the pounds I lost and add to it in the next few weeks.

Hope you had a wonderful Valentine's Day and that your honey gave you something other than chocolate. Mine gave me some beautiful pink roses! :)

Salad and Suprise!

Today a few coworkers and I dined out at Souper Salad for lunch. While we all awkwardly tried to fit our plates, drinks and gigantic cafeteria trays on the table, my coworker exclaimed, her gaze fixed on the opposite wall, "What are those bananas doing?!?" All five heads turned towards the wall where we saw this:




















"Yeah, good question..." I said,"What are those bananas doing?"

After a few baudy comments and a lot of laughter, we started analyzing the other 'art' that was hung around the restaraunt; all by Greg Brown.

I'll post a few more images so you can get an idea of his vegetable fetish (?)...












And two more that didn't make it to the walls, but that I think are noteworthy:




























I'll never look at a bell pepper the same way again....

t.a.x.e.s.

Done. E-filed. Now where's my return!?! I procrastinated doing my taxes this year. And while I know I'm probably ahead of about 65% of America, perhaps more, I'm behind on the Colleen calendar. Because we cancelled DISH Network today, I had no other means of amusement, er, distraction. I guess that was a sign or something along those lines.

Next week, we head to Red River for the annual ski trip. I'm so looking forward to it! I've toyed with snowboarding and wondering if I should give it a try - but I've not convinced myself yet. I'll be lucky if I can even ski...

...as some of you know, I've been having some back issues the past several months. What started as a stress knot in my back and a "not-so-often" catch in my lower back has evolved into about 4-5 knots on my upper left back, and as of this weekend, a continuous pain in my lower back. I know! It's killer to say the least, but I think since I've been dealing with this for awhile I'm becoming numb to the pain. I've taken it upon myself to make a doctor's appt - this time a REAL doctor - no more chiros! I've got a Friday appt with an orthopaedic doctor - I'll update you with the results then!

As far as the diet goes...last week was not good. It wasn't so much about the quality of the food as it was the quantity. I stuffed about every 100-calorie pack I could find in my mouth, not to mention everything else! I didn't hop on the scale this morning - I didn't want to see in numbers what I could most definitely feel around my waist. This week's a new week - I'm back on it!

One Month Down

The first month into 2008 is finished - and I just wanted to give a quick update. I've lost 6.8 lbs since January 1st. Considering I've got a goal of 25lbs to lose, I consider losing 25% of that so far is pretty good. Sure, I've cheated a few times, but not anything extreme. For instance, the birthday cake I had - I'll eat a piece of cake, but instead of eating the whole thing, I'll eat half or a quarter. It's all about moderation - didn't anybody ever tell you that? ;)

I also consider this a success since my exercise has been minimal. Jeff is going to pick up the treadmill we ordered 3.5 weeks ago tomorrow - back ordered...who'd of guessed. I've got big plans for the t-mill - and I'm hoping it will help me shed the additonal 8.2 lbs I need to get ride of before the ski trip :) - let's hope so.

Hope all of your ambitions are going equally well :) - I'll post again this week!