I've been adjusting to my new life :-)  Jeff started working again...YEAH!!!!  Sadly the poor guy is working his little hiney off, 6 days a week for 11-12 hours a day.  I know he is tired but gosh he feels better that he is back to work.  Was a long two years for him!!!  Trying to get used to doing everything alone again.  Guess I got spoiled with help with the laundry and dishes!!  Oh well, I'm just glad he is working...

He actually leaves for work as I'm getting our youngest up and moving (a scant 40 minutes before we head out the door) and we get home 1-3 hours after he does depending on after school activities.  He is often in bed or headed that direction so I'm going back to using the crock pot...a lot! 

Speaking of food...long weekend = bad for one's health.  So I'm trying to get focused again.  Actually starting a walking/running regimen along with healthier eating.  I can run for 3 minutes without dying!  The good news is that except for what we call my 'fybro days' (those are the days where the fybro is kicking my butt!!!), doing better overall.  Haven't seen any weight loss but hey, I FEEL thinner--that's gotta count for something, right?

Tonight its' slow-roasted BBQ chicken, corn bread and beans for the meat eaters.  Yesterday I made a killer pot roast (I hear) that went extremely well with some hearty beer bread...a recipe my friend Tiffany had on her blog (http://bake-bake-bake-senora.blogspot.com/).  She is an incredible cook and often my inspiration to try new things.  I did that this weekend as well so here goes my own concoction. 

I love, love, love potato soup and I really miss eating stew so I became Tiffany-brave and made up a vegetarian potato stew that I thought was really yummy!  I got the idea while making gravy for my husband's pot roast yesterday and it just kind of worked.   I made a cream gravy (onion, garlic, salt and pepper sautéed in butter, then added flour and milk until I had enough). While that was cooking, I diced up potatoes and onions and started to fry them up like I would hash browns but only cooked until tender, not brown,  Put them in the gravy and finished cooking it.  It was sooooo good!  I made enough for 3 people and ate almost all of it (I know, bad!). It was sort of like a robust potato soup but the consistency of stew.  I was happy.  May not be something that catches on but by golly it was yummy for me!

OK, enough about my unhealthy side...for now I check off.  But if you love to cook, check out Tiffany's blog.  Some really good recipes on it!

Hope you all have a stellar day!

J
 

Car Rentals Suck

So adding to holiday stress...which I'm supposed to be working on decreasing...on top of hubby having no job and the car accident in the snow storm, I have to deal with a darn car rental place...and let me tell you (in case you didn't get it from the title)...THE CAR RENTAL PLACE SUCKS!!!!! 

I rent cars quite a bit and from various businesses but had never rented from Enterprise before because the hours are inconvenient and the prices are higher.  Well, my insurance company has some sort of deal with them so we have to use them (or pay completely out of pocket which we can't afford).  So OK, I'll go with it.  Should always give everything and everyone a chance right?  Well, I'm about done giving chances.  Don't get me wrong, the people who are IN the office are very nice but appear to be limited by corporate rules. 

Isn't Enterprise the place that advertises that they will pick you up?  Apparently not if you are doing it through an insurance claim (unless you are at the place where your car is getting fixed...which if I could have driven there, I wouldn't have needed a darn rental to begin with!).  Then, since they don't carry economy size cars (the only car rental at or under the $20 fee worked out with my insurance) I have to pay the difference between the economy car cost and the car they rented me.  I found that odd since they don't carry or offer economy rated cars at there store!  Later when the car I had finally managed to pick up (see previous blog) needed a repair and I was asked to take care of it I figured enough was enough and called my insurance agent and then Enterprise corporate office.  My insurance agent was surprised to find out I had been asked to pay anything and was going to take it up with corporate...they were more surprised to find out that Enterprise didn't pick me up but had me go twice to their location to pick a sucky car that they later asked me to take in to have services.  Corporate said they were upset as well...but I'll hold my breath on that one.  They are supposed to call me back...I'll update you later on that.

Ultimately it was taking back a little control over the stupid situation and ranting here that has made me feel better...so I guess thanks.  Between this, a little therapeutic window shopping and a nice glass (bottle) of Riesling later this evening, I may just be feeling better after all... :-)

J 

Bahumbug! I'm stressed!!

Think I have the get enough sleep part down pat...lovin' that!!!!  I've been so good at getting sleep, I haven't even taken time to write!!!  Anyway, it's the rest of these 100 days of health are killing me!  I think I like food and drink too much...hmmm, what to do, what to do...

I think the hardest part was making myself sleep, but now that I can do that it really is getting out there and exercising!!!  And who's stupid idea was it to start this just before the holiday??? Oh yeah, mine.  Not my brightest idea...I think initially I hoped that I would be eating smarter and the holiday foods wouldn't kill me.  If they don't kill me, they will impede my slow start.  I will say thought the sleep part has had a positive impact on my health and productivity so that part is good...guess the doctor did know what he was talking about after all...go figure.

The other parts of this included reducing stress and improving financial management.  I'm actually doing OK on the financial management even with Christmas...of course it helps that there is no money to spend beyond necessities and bill catch up but even the kids are really OK with the decreases in holiday expenditures--maybe more than I am.

The stress part is an issue...Jeff is still not working but on the upside, he has had a lot more interviews and contacts in the last month than in any month before this (since being unemployed) so things are looking up there.  On the down side Sam hasn't had that same success and of course the bills keep mounting.  Then of course there was the accident...that was Sunday.  The car is not drivable and I have to be in a rental (we only have one car and have to drive to get to school and work)...don't even know when it will be up and running.  But you know, as stressful as that part is, I'm so relieved that Jeff is OK, I don't even care. 

Now dealing with the rental company...that is a whole different issue.  Let me just tell you, Enterprise really sucks to work with!!!!  I would never personally rent a car from this company EVER!  Not only are they expensive but aren't organized and when something goes wrong with the car...they asked ME to take the darn thing to the shop to get fixed!  I didnt' freakin buy the stupid car people--I'M RENTING THE CAR--means IT'S NOT MY PROBLEM!  Grrrr....wait let me go back to my happy place...Jeff's OK, job situation is looking up, my kids are super wonderful and life is really pretty good compared to how it could be...ahhhh.  Blood pressure going down...breath in, breath out.

Crap, I think I just fell asleep...oh well...here we go...marching along to work hard on our 100 days to health journey :-)

Positive Thinking SAVES the day!!!

OK, so new health regime not happening fast.  Yesterday my fybro kicked me in my butt...I still walked and ate OK, but I did not accomplish all I wanted to (does anyone ever really do this???).  Today, I am recuperating from the really bad day yesterday and travel today...

Today, I had an out of town meeting...and for a change it was AWESOME!!!!  But the drive back about killed me and then on getting back to town had to wait for the kidlet to finish up with school activities.  Good news, we were done an hour earlier than I expected!  Bad news, I was too tired and too sore to move to exercises.  Does it count that I put my sweats on to try to work out???  Apparently I'm not too tired or I would be asleep and in bed.  Well, I tried that.  See, this fybro really messes with a person.  Tonight, I hurt too much to be too mobile and can't relax enough to go to sleep.  From what I read that is common.  I have noticed since we lost our insurance and my meds have run out that this really is the case.  Well it sucks.  I really hope increased activity, healthier diet and better mental outlook will all have positive affects on this.  For now it kind of bites the big one.  Let's start with the good and see what happens...

Today's good: 
1) It SNOWED!!!!  And it was beautiful...it was fun to get the dogs out this morning and watch them romp.  2) Off to work (the drive in wasn't as much fun as watching the dogs) but only 3 cars off the road and 1 spinning SUV on the bridge...we avoided it!  Travel to meeting was slightly less fun than the trip into work but still got their safely...lots more cars off the road and some accidents but none looked to serious. YAY!!! 
3) Working on my CCAP and our trainer is Charles McCann...amazing man and wonderful, dynamic trainer.  Good thing because this project is a LOT of work!  Thankfully, Community Actions are something I am passionate about and believe in.  Somehow that always makes tasks easier, doesn't it? 

[Staying focused on the good is making me feel better!!]

4) After the meeting, got caught up on a little work and then got to spend time with my family...and that always makes my day.  My family is so awesome :-)
5) Jeff actually has strong leads on 2 jobs...they aren't what he wants but he would do well at either.  Either way...prayers and positive thoughts welcome...he really needs a job!!!
6) Liz is working on her Mock Trial project and this year is a lawyer...interesting to listen to her...she's all excited about this.  I love it when teens are excited...everything about them just screams HAPPY!!!

There...6 really good things about today.  And now that I'm thinking about it...I can come up with many more.  Hmmm, i"m already feeling better.  Maybe today was a success after all.  I may not have been able to work out like I wanted but I sure do feel better now that I started thinking positively.  I think I won't review the negative.

Hmmm, I do believe positive thinking is good and yes, I am counting today a success!!

May I just end with a request for a prayers and thoughts...a friend of mines brother just passed away.  Poor gal, she has had a time of it.  When she was a girl she awoke from an accident to find out her mom had died...her brother was all she had left.  He was diagnosed just 2 months ago with cancer and it took over his body so quickly.  We are thankful he doesn't have to suffer anymore, but  he has left behind not only his sister but his wife and two little girls.  Please think about this family and others who have experienced loss...send positive thoughts, prayers and even reach out to help.  They need us!!! 

Chris...thinking of you babe!  LOVE YOU!!!!

~J~