Remembering 9/11 8 Years Later

Do you remember where you were when you got the news the planes hit the Twin Towers? I do I remember it all to well. I was listening to the radio when they were saying turn on the TV and about 4 minutes later the next plane hit. I can remember crying for all the victims and all the heart ache of it all. I was glued to the TV for weeks watching everything there was about this tragic even in America.

Even though I didn't personally know someone who was killed or hurt it has touched me all these years that life is so precious and you should never take things for granted. You should always stop and say I Love You because tomorrow may not come.

SO when your in a hurry it takes 2 seconds to tell you spouse and kids and family I Love You!!!! Most of the 3000 people never got to say those words one more time!

One more thing be thankful for living in a free America!

Great Holiday Weekend & 10lbs Lost

It was a great weekend once again. Friday I got to spend time helping Mick move into his new place. He will not officially move in till the middle of November. That's great because I love going to the cabin to relax. Then Saturday we went to Sumpter days which is like one big yard sale through a town in the mountains. Imagine going to Idaho City and finding a big flee market going on. They do it 3 times a year. Mick and I didn't stay long he just was not feeling well and can not walk a long distance. Then that afternoon we spent it just hanging out. Sunday I spent at home relaxing and just enjoying the house to my self. The Monday I went to the cabin and Mick and I went for a drive for 4 hours through the mountains. It was so great to know there is so much untouched land still where the trees grow and it's not logged.

As for my diet I made it to a 10lb weight loss and I could not be happier. Do I notice a big change no. I say I think my brains leaked a little. Still no caffeine or pop. I try and walk every day but if Mick is in town I don't get to. Need to learn to do it and leave him home. I am still eating good. Lately I have had the craving to eat at Mc Donald's and will actually drive towards the place to turn around and go home and make something healthy. It is like when I stopped drinking pop I had to learn to drink Milk instead.SO when I get the craving I eat a veggie or fruit.

Another big thing in my life is I'm looking to make a big career change. I am thinking about going to work at a prison as a drug and alcholl counselor. They will put me through all the training and schooling and the pay is about the same but a little less. I went and applied today. I get scared and nervous when I think about it. It's not that I don't like my job I have been there for 4 and half years and the staff are like having 35 kids. I have prayed a lot about this and will continue to. If I do I plan to go back to college and get my masters in this degree. I look at it as I am 39 and have a good 25-30 years still of working. I will keep you all informed.

Jeff is doing great with really buckling down on doing homework. Tonight we had another heart to heart about paying bills and responsibility. He hates the talk but he needs to learn how to do it.

To all my family yes I do read your blogs daily or when updated. Judy I just don't see yours I am blocked. I love reading about everyone lives. Janet you inspire me with all your different things you learn from church. Thank You!

Ever Had One Of Those Days?

I'm telling you it must just be me or I have just had a long day..........

1. It started out with waking to someone texting me at 6am which wakes me and can't fall back to sleep.
2. Then I go to leave for work and I have 2 very flat tires. Probably some kids thinking their funny.
3. I had to pay $300.00 for new ones because of the type of the car you can't just replace a couple.
4. I get to work and remember I left all my work keys in my car at home. Then after going to get the keys
5. I loose some very important papers I need for a meeting. Still never found them,
6. Then after all that I get home and I end up spilling stuff on my bed and have to wash all 4 layers of blankets.
7. Then My day ends with forgetting to shut off the sink water because I was busy talking to Jeff about his day and I literaly flooded the upstairs and it poured to the down stairs. Jeff said this is a great way to get the floors mopped.
   
   Now on a good note I tried to get a picture of Jeff on his first day of school for everyone to see but he was not having any of it. He was so excited to go! I can't believe it he is finally a senior.
   
   I got a message from Samantha she is having surgery Friday she has a Tumor on her uterus. She would all like us to pray for her. I know I will!
   
   Plans for the weekend- Relax and help Mick move into his new apt he got for the winter.

Diet Update:

It's going great lost 9 pounds and still no pop. Don't crave the Pepsi anymore it's just been a great life changing experience. I am excited to quit smoking in a month. I still eat good and stick to my routine daily! It has been 20 days and I am going strong. I still walk 3 miles everyday.

I do want to share with you my experience with looking on the Internet about diets. Now that is scary everyone has a theory and wants you to do something different. I think I will just keep doing what I am doing!

Jeff is a Senior in High School/Summer/POP/Diet

So the other day I went to go register Jeff for school he made it to his 12th year! I just looked at the lady and said lucky him he is still alive! She said I know what you mean most parents say that to us. I am so excited for him. He has been very busy he has a girlfriend who is in the 11th grade. She comes from a very good Mormon family and they just love him to death. I think he will do great this year sense his one friend is off to the Military and his other friend is leaving on his Mission in November so he can concentrate on seeing the end of this.

Visit From Sisters & la-la-
As of other news it was so nice to have Janet and Judy come visit. I am so glad they got to see where I lived and worked. I am proud of myself and my accomplishment's and hope they see me in a different lite now, that maybe I am not such a bad person after all. I just loved getting to meet La La finally! Judy I still think she might have left La La with me for a day then you would have had to come back for him. Your kids are very beautiful children! Janet your kids are so down to earth you have done well. If any of you have time stop in I would love to see you!

As for my Pop & Caffeine intake here it goes. Ok so this has been a hard road to tread this past 2 weeks but I made it! I have lost 6 pounds. Don't think for a minute I don't crave pop. It is so funny last nite my girlfriend was over and we decided to make cookies and I had one just the taste brought back the taste of that Pepsi with chocolate. I had a glass of water instead. I found that if I am really craving Pepsi I drink a glass of 1% milk. It helps for some reason.

The next 2 weeks I am going to work on walking my 2-4 miles at least 5 days a week. Who knows maybe I will 7 days a week. Today is not a good day for me start it for I look at Sunday my lazy day. I will come Monday it is like work to me.

I can't wait for my surgery for the problems I am having will make me feel so much better about me.

Diet:
I just want to share a few diet things I do that helps: Eat Breakfast! Eat a small lunch like I eat cottage cheese & tomato's with 16oz of V-8 juice. Dinner indulge yourself with real foods. Don't be afraid to have a Mc D's Cheeseburger. Drink lots of water and have at least 2 glasses of 1% of milk a day. KEEP A DIARY Be Honest of what you had! OVer all watch your stomach getting smaller and making it hard for you to eat as much as you use to!

My next big thing is QUITING SMOKING Oct 1! I'm going cold turkey like I did pop!

Caffeine & Soda Pop Free

Hello Everyone,
I have been busy this summer but will tell you more about later!

But wait there is big news for me........ I have made it 5 days with no caffeine or pop for 5 days and it has been hard. I have also lost 4 pounds which I need to loose a total of 15 for surgery Nov 2, 2009. I do want to share this experience of no Pepsi or diet coke with all of you if you ever think of doing it.

As most people know I drank more then a 12 pack of pop a day. Then I went to the Dr and he says I need some major surgery but before he can do it I have to do a few things.

1. Stop drinking anything with caffeine
2. loose 15 pounds
3. Go on a strict diet of eating better
4. Cut back or quit smoking

These are all things that have caused me to now have surgery for my issues at such a young age, He said usually the woman is 59 not 39 when he does this. So I took him serous and I changed my life style. One other thing he said walking every night is not going to help me loose the weight.

So here is my journey:

1. Day 1 I had migraines like no other migraine. I could not bear the pain I had to sleep and hope for the best. The migraine came on about 4pm. Drank tons of water!
2. Day 2 Migraine was back about 4pm and started to 2 sweat bullets. I wanted to drink a pop so bad. I drank a glass of milk which I NEVER do. I became very tired and went to sleep until 8pm and then got up and started the migraine and sweating all over again. I drank tons of water today.
3. Day 3 I was so tired at work I thought. I had no energy then by the time I got home the mother of all migraines came and so did the throwing up and sweating and I knew then I was doomed and just decided to cry it out saying if this is what detox is like then I never want to do this again. MY friend Mick was there to help and said how can I help I said I just need a Pepsi. He had a coke there and said would a little sip help? I said that's like asking a alcholic if they just want a shot of whiskey. NO I do not need nothing I will be OK. Drank tons of water and some milk
4. Day 4 I took migraine medicine at 3pm and didn't wait for the migraine to come. It was great. Drank a couple glasses of milk
5. Day 5 No migraine today. More energy, but feel depressed. Took a long drive and wanted the Pepsi but had my water. I seem to crave the pop at night more then any other time of the day. Maybe because I am not busy.

Hopefully I am on the downside of the detox of it all. I watch everything I eat and make sure no caffeine is in anything, I stay away from chocolate because I know it has some. I eat breakfast every morning ( special K cereal measured out and a fat free yogurt. High protein shake for lunch and a healthy dinner some days.) I snack on special k bars. their not bad at all.

After 30 days of making sure I got through my soda issue I am hopefully quiting smoking. I can only tackle one issue at a time. If I did it all at once it would probably killed me. SO I know I can over come one big addiction I can do another. NO get me wrong I never through out the pepsi or diet coke in my home it is all there still. I just dont have a desire to drink it anymore and feel like if I threw it out I would have wanted it more. So it's still there for anyone who comes to visit.

Sunset on the Mountain

Well nothing much is happening here. I have spending a lot of time up on the mountain with Mick. It is honestly just so surreal that I have him in my life. Last night I was there and the sun was going down and so I wondered out to take photo's and this happens to be the one I like most. It is hard to get a good sunset photo because there is trees everywhere. The funny thing about this photo is this morning Mick texted me to say it was snowing up there. I wish I was there to get a photo maybe if it happens again I will.

As you know my son Jeffery is turning 18 this Monday and if that is not scary I think he is very scared. He will finally be an adult. For his Birthday he has asked for money to go to Idaho Falls for the weekend. Hell be going yes but that is all I can say in case he reads my blogs. I will just keep you all updated. I can say I am honestly proud of Jeffery and all he has done in these 18 years. He is devoted to the church and does well in school. So if your reading Jeffery I love You as a mom and when you say I just don't care because I just don't go buy you whatever it is like a truck because I Love you so much.

Spent The Weekend On Little House

OK so I took a chance and went to spend a weekend with some friends at my friend Micks cabin. Now to explain it fully my friend is a guy who lives up on this mountain all winter long and comes down by snowmobile every 2 weeks to a snow park to meet up with a bunch of us to roast hot dogs and marshmallows by camp fire. Mick has chased me for 2 years and never did I give him a second look or a chance until I was invited to the campfire day a couple of months ago. That was the day I found this wonderful friend. He has a similar story as me his girlfriend of years died exactly 5 months before Richard and when I met him I just happen to walk into the tavern a month after Richards death and he walked up to me and said I have just got to meet you because a angel just walked through the door. I thought he was drunk and needed his eyes checked out. So from that point on I never really gave him the time of day and for 2 years he has told me how much he is in love with me and told anyone who would listen. So after that campfire day he actually turns out to be this great guy.

So he spends all winter up at this cabin. No-one can get there unless they are on snowmobile and he enjoys his quiet time there. So now most of the snow is gone and you can actually drive there by car he invited a bunch of us up for a weekend there. I had never been there but everyone talked about how great it was. Well of course I was the first one there and I was actually surprised. I walked in and there was 3inches of dust on everything. I didn't mind because I do NOT dust anything in my home. It was very beautifully built which he did with his dad years ago. So as time wore on no one showed up and we had the camp fire going and ate hot dogs. I took pictures while there which everyone knows I love to take photos. I just didn't get the inside pictures done before my batteries went dead. At first I was so nervous I had to use the bathroom and thought well he said he had running water but didn't say where. So I asked where the bathroom was and he said at the outhouse outside. I wanted to die. He wasn't joking there was a outhouse with the moon shape on the door. So as night started to come on we figured out our other friends were not coming and he explained there is no POWER to the cabin. So he fires up the generator to get lights on. He explained to me he only runs it for 3 hours a day. I was thinking you got to be joking. Well after 5 hours of light we decided to go to bed. He has 2 of the oldest beds up on the loft. Yes there was 3 inches of dust on the bed I was going to use for I don't think anyone ever slept there ever. So before we could go up the stairs he has to shut the lights out to turn on the lantern. AT that point I could resist and say to him com on pa lets so to bed. He didn't find me funny. Oh but before we could do that he had to hook up the car battery to the TV upstairs so he could watch TV all night long. I was sweating bullets for the cabin was 210 degrees. So we get up stairs the TV is going full blast he is somehow changing the channels with the remote pointed downstairs and I a having a heat stroke. He then shuts the lantern off to light it again to say he needs to put more wood on the fire at that point I said no. So morning comes at 6am. I look outside and it has a inch of snow on the ground. I could have died thinking I may not make it out of here. I'M tired and I think Ill go home at 8a but then his brother arrives to talk about hunting this past 40 years. Every dear or elk they killed was mentioned. 5 hours later I was falling asleep.

So to really sum this all up there was no running water indoors and if I wanted to shower he could warm up water for 4 hours on the wood stove to pour in a box and then pumped out to a shower head. If I wanted a drink of water he had 2 water containers from a spring out back. If I wanted to eat I probably could have on the propane stove. Then if I need the bathroom it is out back at the outhouse. If there was an emergency and need to call someone you could by his cell that is hooked to a antenna. My goodness and this man lives like this all year round. He he has done well for himself. He isn't poor by all means he has money. He just chooses this life. He says this is the last winter there well see.

Overall it was the best weekend I've had for a long time. It was going back to the basics. He was so much fun to talk to and laughed 90% of the time. I wonder if our friends wanted us to have this time and if they did I am grateful. I will keep you updated. Oh I forgot I never left till 6pm to go home and still wanted to stay.

The pictures above is the small red cabin is one he rents out. The other one with the truck is his he lives in.