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Julie Loses it, My Weight Loss Journey

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 I plan on losing close to 100 pounds in the year to come.  It is way past due for this 51 year old lady to get her act together. Archives | Subscribe to Alerts Alerts Subscribe to Alerts | Feeds
   

All About Me

  Hi All.  Welcome to my Journal.  Just my thoughts, agree or not, just my life, dull, but at my age, that's fine.  Thanks for stopping by.




   

















     

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Thursday, July 24, 2008
8:03:12 AM EDT

Bike riding journal gone private


    I went private on my bike riding journal.  I added everyone I could think of who used to read it but if you can't get in let me know.   Someone at work stumbled across it and it just felt weird so, private it is.

   We had a big storm all night.  No rain in the house.  Yippy.  I missed work last night.  My toe is just throbbing and the thought of wearing shoes on my swollen foot made me want to cry.  Believe me when I say rebreaking it so soon after the first time was twice as painful.

   Have a good day all.




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Wednesday, July 23, 2008
7:39:59 PM EDT

I'm Singing in The Rain




       It rained cats and dogs and my roof isn't leaking.  WTG Rick.

       Poll time
 

     Is it me or does Madona look more and more like Tammy Faye Baker everyday?



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Tuesday, July 22, 2008
1:02:17 PM EDT

I married a MacGyver




      When picking a husband try to see how his home and car repair skills are first.  It can save you a ton of money. 

   Rick is a true MacGyver.  Able to take gum and duck tape and repair almost anything that is broken.  True I have a garage so full of stuff while my vehicles sit outside, but when the furnace breaks down in the middle of the winter, when a tree crashes through the roof in the middle of the night, when the car breaks down 200 miles from a service station, when the boat breaks down in the middle of the biggest wilderness lake in Canada, etc etc etc.....  Rick has something saved he can fix it with.  He's clever that way.  Born that way because you can't learn this stuff.  Glasses break in half in the wilderness, Rick just happens to have contact cement in his pack pack......might come in handy.  Car blows a fuel line, Rick just happens to have some tubing just the right size.  And sure enough I now have a roof without a hole in it.

   Good thing too because we haven't seen hide nor hair from our insurance adjuster.  Personally I suspect they are at the dunes.  The dunes is the rich side of town. Doctors, Lawyers and other VIP's live there.  And they got hit hard also yesterday.  Difference is they probably already have checks in their hot little hands from their insurance companies where we just have empty promises of repairs in the future.

    Rick spent yesterday on the roof with sheet metal, some black tarry stuff, and old roofing shingles patching our hole.  It didn't rain after all so we aren't sure it won't leak but personally, since I married a MacGyver type man, I have faith it will see us through.

    I proved not to be any help at all getting the tree limbs cleaned up.  Running through the house to get ready to clean up I hit my.... you guessed it, toe again hard.  You should have heard the screams.  Lifting the roof right off the house.  Thats OK, we need a new one anyway.  Really got it off center this time so off I drive to the doctors using  the gas with my big toe as my foot was in throbbing pain.  Xrays showed it to be fractured pretty bad and off kilter so they straightened it, ouch and gave me some pretty good pain pills and sent me off with instructions to wear wooden shoes and stop kicking my husband.  The toe which was almost unbruised is now bruised all over again so I start from scratch.  I have it all taped up and they said no croc's.  How am I going to work with my regular nurses shoes.  Hurts like the dickens getting them on.

    Also he told me to stay off the bike for just awhile.  If I keep bending the toe it will not heal.  Unless I can ride in wooden shoes.  Or splint my toe somehow.  Wonder if Rick could rig something up with things he has in the garage?  Lets see, leftover shims from setting the cabinets 4 years ago, duck tape.....


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Monday, July 21, 2008
12:36:08 PM EDT

There's a hole in the bucket.....and my roof, two




      Got some of the tree off my roof.  Found 2 holes around 6 " across.  One still has the branch.  Now how to plug it until we can get it repaired.  Because guess what its suppose to do all week?  Why rain of course.  Can you tell we are getting very tired of this all.  Still haven't heard from the insurance man except to tell me I have to pay 1% of our appraised value of house.  Guess I am glad I don't have a very expensive house.  Since I was taking picture anyway, aren't these pretty.






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10:57:24 AM EDT
Feeling Depressed

I suppose it was inevitable


   That with one of these storms we have had we would get hit.  Last night was the night.



   I had gotten off work at 11 for low census.  We were having a severe lighting storm so hurried home.  Around 1225 am I decided I had better shut down the computer and get the flashlights out.  The computer was almost done when boom, sounded like we got hit by lightening and our transformer blew.  Stumbling in the dark to the kitchen to get the flashlights and boom something hit the house.  Hard.  Boom boom boom. 



The rain was pouring.  When the lightening flashed we could see out the window and tell a tree was on our house in the front. I have to admit to being scared to death. We could hear things crashing outside and were making our way to the basement when I felt something wet under my foot.  Shining the light on my ceiling I was a couple of cracks with water coming through.  Oh crap.  Forget the basement and get out every pot and bucket in the house.  Then sat down to wait it out.

   Finally about 6 am it was light enough to see the damage.  We have a large branch on our roof.  Our plum tree that the woodpecker hollowed out was down.

 

 Branches down all over the road and trees down all over.  What mess.  I need coffee before I tackled the insurance company and taking the tree off the house so we drove to the cafe.  Trees and wires down all over.  A couple of other neighbors have tree damage and one neighbors car is flat. 







So this is suppose to be my day off.  We were going to do the big ride today.  Instead we are doing the big cleanup.



 On no sleep.  But they did get our power back on after 9 hours.  And the weird thing.  On my microwave.  A year or so ago the digital numbers stopped working.  The microwave worked well, you just couldn't tell how much time you had.  Today....all the numbers are up and running just like new.  Isn't that strange?

      The weird thing about the branch, it was from the top of the tree.  In the back by the road.  It had to go straight up and over the rest of the tree to then fall back on our house.  They say no tornado.  Winds clocked at 78 miles per hour.  Sure sounded like the end of the world.  Sure hope my insurance is worth the money I have been paying.


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Thursday, July 17, 2008
1:56:51 PM EDT
Feeling Bummed

The Price of Vacation




      The price of taking a vacation is adding up.  Almost to the cost of feeling very guilty about such wasteful spending.  A year ago when we planned it the cost of gas wasn't so high.  The cost of food was quite a bit lower.  Boarding the dog, went way up this year.

     Rent the cabin for 800, figure gas will cost us around 600, the dog boarding costs 270, loss of income for 3 weeks 3500.  Food another 300 or more.  Getting the bikes ready 100, new hitch on the new van 500 and the list goes on and on and on.

     I try to tell myself that I work hard all year and I haven't taken a vacation, a true vacation for 8 years.  But still. It is a lot of money. And the Black Hills isn't even that far away.  This trip will cost me more then it did when I went to Canada for a week fishing 15 years ago.  I am seriously tempted to just cancel the whole thing and go camping locally on my 6 days off.  8 dollars a night. 15 for a fishing license.  4 bucks for sunscreen and 2 dollars for worms.

    I don't know how a whole family can afford it.  Staying in a motel, going to amusement parks, out to eat.  Yikes.

       Off to work tonight.  I am hoping and praying it is a good night.  We are once again expecting severe weather.  They keep saying golf ball size hail.  Oh my poor van.  Hope it is wrong.  We are suppose to be running around getting some chores done but can't budge Rick from working on his motorcycle.  I will give him another 15 minutes and go onmy own.  We are suppose to have rain the next week so I won't miss out on any bike riding days.  Now I will keep my fingers crossed my toe survives the weekend without a bed or cart rolling across my toe.






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Wednesday, July 16, 2008
11:21:54 AM EDT
Feeling Determined

Last day off


 

        There is something sad about that but I am grateful to have a job.  Things could be worse and the truth is I like my job so that helps.

      We are getting ready for another ride this morning.  We have been reading the site on the trail to get us pumped up.  I am really looking forward to it.  I have to start doing hills though.  Some of the hills are 14 miles long of just a gradual incline.  After awhile your muscles just scream doing that.  But then the joy of a downhill.

      I have been happy to see more plus size people out on the trails.  I know when I started I was so self conscious.  I am my own worse enemy.  It doesn't help that my face sweats terribly and I burn instantly.  By the end of our rides a look like I am going to have a stroke.  I still love it and hope the woman and men that are riding are having as much fun.  Maybe I should start a bike club.  Call it plus peddler's or something.  There is safety in numbers.  What do you think?

       Yesterday I got my hair highlighted.  It looks pretty good. We ended up not getting our ride in as we had to many candles burning.  So today we are going for sure.

     I was talking to my hairdresser, yes they are just like a bartender, about my worries about Rick having early Alzheimer's.   I haven't mentioned it here as sometimes he reads my journal but I finally voiced my concerns to him.  Some of the things he does is what we all do, forget names or calls the phone the iron, right Donna!  But some things he is doing worries me.  Like forgetting how to use something he uses daily.  Like starting the car!  Or dates.  And when you tell him he swears you never told him.  Plus he has had these anger bouts.  Not like him at all and out of the blue for nothing.  Lots of little things but they go slightly past the things we all do.  So I am nervous.  And try getting him to a doctor.

         Last year I finally convinced him to go and see the doc for a checkup.  Took me 3 months to talk him into.  Get there and voiced many of our concerns to the doc who completely dropped the ball.  Found out he was in a fib and that is all he cared about.  No sleep apnea test, nothing about the depression or memory loss, nothing nada squat.  That happens alot.  So I am thinking about getting a different doctor.  One that will listen.  because early treatment is important.  And I hope I am wrong.  Pray I am wrong actually.

    Anyway it was good to talk to someone about it.  It runs in Ricks family.

     Besides that worry Luke's divorce hearing is today.  His x has kept changing their agreement thanks to her Dads so he has been very depressed and upset.  He couldn't get into the lawyer yet and we can't get them to hold off.  Whats the big hurry!  I guess they want to keep on ruining his life.  I worry about him as he is as depressed as I have ever seen him and have made him promise not to do anything stupid.

         So some things of concern.  Heavens forbid we just have a quiet happy little life here. LOL.

     Oh and of less concern.  My puter is really causing problems.   I have lost all my memory.  I have nothing downloaded.  My son came over and checked everything out.  There should be tons of memory but there isn't.  At night Rick and I watch Netflix instant movies on the computer and cuddle on the spare bed, just cuddle.  Now I don't have enough memory to even do that.  So we need a new computer with as much memory as possible.  No one seems to know why this is messed up, but I don't have a huge memory card anyway.  With my pictures I need a bigger one although I don't store them on it.

    Last but not least.  Have you ever noticed how often you bang your little toe?  I keep hitting it.  I hate wearing shoes so that is part of the problem but sheesh.  The bruising is going away but it still crunches when I walk so I can tell it isn't set very well.  From the bottom it is completely numb.  Like I don't have a toe at all, but from the side, yikes, touch and yell.  I keep telling myself.  5 more weeks and it will be healed if I don't break it again.

     Well, Rick isready so I had better get ready.  My trusty bike awaits me.

              name taqg




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Monday, July 14, 2008
12:21:10 PM EDT
Feeling Relaxed

My first and only Memenna


   I read this on Donna's and decided to do it.  First time for everything right!

1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE?  My grandfather Julius
2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED? When I broke my toe the other day
3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? Used to but now a days its messy
4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT? turkey
5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS? 2 by birth and 2 by the fact they were here all the time and I basically helped to raise them
6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? Of course.
7. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT? Sarcastic humor
8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS Got a bad infection and they rotted off, gross I know.
9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? when I was younger definitely.
10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? Toasted cinnamon square thingies my grandson turned me onto.
11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? ties?
12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG?  Mentally yes, not so much physically now
13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM? Moose track frozen yogurt.
14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE? Smiles, natural or forced.
15. RED OR PINK? pink, its my granddaughter favorite color
16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? Weight
17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST. My Mom.
18. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO SEND THIS BACK TO YOU? Please send the links.
19. WHAT COLOR  SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? barefoot but usually black or nurse white.
20. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE? supper last night, chicken, spring salad and veggies.
21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? the radio, Rush Limbaugh
22. IF YOU WHERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE?  yellow
23. FAVORITE SMELL?  The woods in the fall
24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? dentist
25. FAMOUS PERSON YOU WOULD LIKE TO MEET?  Nikola Tesla
25. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU?  Why yes I do.
26. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH?  Motocross
27. HAIR COLOR? light brown
28. EYE COLOR? hazel
29. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? glasses
31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? Happy Endings
32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED? Born into Brothels, didn't have a happy ending...
33. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING? Maroon
34. SUMMER OR WINTER? summer
35. HUGS OR KISSES? both
36. FAVORITE DESSERT? Apple slices dipped in melted peanut butter
37. MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND? no Idea
38. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND?  no idea
39. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW? What Would MacGyver Do?
40. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? Ruby Lane Antiques
41. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON TV LAST NIGHT? No TV
42. FAVORITE SOUND? Children laughing
43. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES? Beatles
44. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME? Flin Flon Canada
45. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT? Gee, I can flare my nostrils, does that count?
46. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? Iowa, across town actually.
47. WHOSE ANSWERS ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING BACK?  All of them :)


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10:55:32 AM EDT

The start of another week.


 

  Yesterday we went on a great bike ride.     My toe didn't bother me at all so today we want to go for a longer ride.  One with hills as I have to start getting ready for that.  Times just flying.  We will be on the trail in the Black hills soon.  I can't wait.  I ordered some bike shorts and we both are getting our bikes in to get tuned up for the ride.  Rick is having trouble with his brakes and I want mine oiled and adjusted. 

      Today, except for riding we have no other plans.  Of course I could clean house, but it isn't going anywhere.  Later we are going to try and get hold of my BIL and get the 400 he owes me.  Now that he has his money...and owes me some of it ....we haven't heard a word from him.  Before he got his money and wanted some we got calls everyday.  Typical.  Of course he always thought I had money running out of my ears. What tipped him off.  My paint peeling house or my 16 year old car?  Giggle.  The rumors nurses are made of money!  Remember I am in Iowa, state of the lowest paid nurses in the country.  Lower then Guam and the Virgin Islands.

    My toe actually feels a little better today.  So I will just hold off on the doctor for now.  As long as I don't bang it again I can live with it.  I can even get my bike shoes on.  What else do I need?




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Sunday, July 13, 2008
8:54:35 AM EDT

Sunday already




       And my front and side yards are covered with the orange wild lilies.  definately a summer attraction.  I love these flowers as they are so easy to grow and transplant.

     Yesterday was a bad day.   We had some running around to do in the morning.  The longer I was on my foot the worse the entire darn leg felt.  You find yourself favoring the leg with the broken toe.  So then your calf starts hurting.  So you favor the calf and the toe and your hip and back complain.  Oh the importance of good posture.

     The toes is numb and swollen.  Unless I hit it.  So yesterday I hit it again on Ricks big old shoe.  Put me through the roof with pain.  And throbbing, oh my.  And it hasn't stopped since.  So I laid around the rest of day with ice on it.

     I have been having trouble with this same toe and foot.  This is the same toe I broke a couple of years ago.  Then I got arthritis in it.  So this isn't helping.  I have gotten 2 different suggestions.  One says I should go see the doc in case it isn't set correctly.  It it needs to be a lined better or even have screws put in it it will heal better reducing my chances of getting arthritis worse.  Plus I would get pain pills.  The other suggestion is to just tape it like I am doing and suck it up for a few weeks until it heals.  That the doctor would probably just tape them together anyway.

        So...Poll Time


        The weather looks nice out right now.  I am going to still try a bike ride.  It might make my calf feel better.  I don't use my toes to ride, just my middle foot so it might be OK and it would do wonders for my mood.

      Well, just wanted to whine a little.  Hope everyone has a wonderful day.




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