Diet Coke how I love thee....

So if you know me you know about my addiction to Diet Coke. I've considerably cut back in the last few years. Now I average any where from 3/4 of a can to 2 cans a day. Last week I decided to give up Diet Coke for 2 weeks in hopes that it would help jump start some weight loss. The first few days were BRUTAL! I thought after a few days it would get better but as the days go on I want it more :( But I'm holding strong. Today is day #10 and I told myself I'd do it for 2 weeks. (this water only is so tough. I gave up all soda really, not just Diet Coke so that doesn't leave much left to have besides; water, water, crystal light and water.) All you beware...on Tuesday the 8th everyone better get out of my way because I'm heading for the biggest, closest Diet Coke I can find.

You might remember a few weeks back about my Running ADD. I decided to try really hard to like it. Some people suggested I try Couch to 5K podcast. So for the last 2 weeks I've been trying it. It's not so bad, I'm only on week 2 and I am a slow runner, so we'll see if this works (I doubt, even after 9 weeks i'll make 3 miles). It makes it easy to put in one ipod ear bud and turn up the TV real loud. If I keep myself distracted I can make it the whole 30 minutes running/walking.

So long October

It seems like it's happening more and more where I look at Erick and say, Where did the year go? I feel like our time here in Nebraska is just flying by and although we are excited for the new things that will happen in our future, I don't know that we are really ready. Luckily (or Sadly) we have 2 more years to figure it out. So since October has just flown by, here's just a short recap of what we've done.

Erick went to California for our new nephew Justin's blessing. Allee waited patiently for her Dad to come back.

The next Saturday morning we woke up to this:

I wasn't quite ready for snow. But I guess Mother Nature didn't really care what I was ready for. Luckily most of it melted off by the mid afternoon. I was happy about that because I hosted a baby shower for my friend Jana that afternoon.

I made a diaper cake for the shower. When I told Erick I was making a diaper cake he thought I was making a cake shaped like a diaper and tried to talk me out of it.

The Sunday after the shower I headed to California for work, that same night Erick was on his way back from California. We just barely missed each other in Phoenix. So sad.

I spent most of October in California for work. It wasn't my most favorite time, but I was able to be there for my sisters birthday. She didn't know I was coming. I flew in Sunday night and went to work the next day and after I went to her house and surprised her. She almost didn't open the door.

I spent the rest of the week at work. I forget how stressful it is to be there. AND I forgot what the commute was like. This is what my commute looked like on a good day. It averaged an hour and 25 minutes to go 30 miles. I certainly don't miss that.

Friday was my sisters birthday. I made it out of work just barely in enough time to make dinner at Chi Chi's in Santa Clarita and then we went back to her house for presents.

I got to spend some time with my cute nephews.

Sadly after 10 days it was time to head back to Lincoln.

Lastly, the end of the month Erick and I finished up a few home projects we've been working on. We put up Wainscoting on the little halfie wall by the basement stairs. It looks so good. I love it. we just have to reinstall baseboards and it's done.

I wish we had a before picture for this one. The left side of our house has a little retaining wall/planter box that we've put red mulch in and planted some plants. But the right side of our house was about 2 feet of dirt, weeds, rock, etc. No retaining wall/planter box. It's been that way for as long as we've lived here and it just looked ghetto, and I mean GHHHHEEETTTOOO!!, So we finally bought some bricks and bricked in a planter box. Erick put some red mulch down. We haven't put plants in it yet. We'll have to wait for spring for that. Since it's gotten cold nothing will grow now. But at least our house looks evened out. The only problem we have to conquer now is the 2 different color reds in the mulch. The front and left side is a lighter color. Oh well. One problem at a time.

Blame it on the ADD

Just about everyday I have at least 2 friends on Facebook updating their status about their "Run" a little part of me wishes I was a runner, I wish I had that hobby, I'd love to go out for an hour and tool around the neigborhood, get into shape. When I was younger my dad would run 5 miles a day. He would go out to the middle of no where on a deserted stretch of road next to Lockheeds Plant 42, it was exactly 2 1/2 miles down and 2 1/2 miles back and he would run it everyday. I went with him a few times and road my bike along side. I never understood his happiness, he would get back to the last 1/4 mile just huffing and puffing covered in sweat but he was happy.
So I tried it and let me tell you I hate it. Like HATE with a capital H. It's not fun, my knee hurts, my lungs burn, and by the time I get 2 doors down I'm bored. Where is the happiness? So I tried the treadmill, I thought... Warmer air, cushioned floor, TV....BORING!
I even tried the stationary bike, I get so bored about 15 minutes into it I just want to quit. When we lived in Utah I went to the gym every morning and did just fine, now I can't get passed my boredom.
I have 20 lbs to lose and can't find anything I can stand doing.
What do you do to stay motivated? Do you get bored on the treadmill or bike?

So Long September

Jiminey Christmas where has the time gone? I can't believe it's already nearing the end of September. We have been so busy we haven't even noticed that 2009 is just slipping away. My iphone ticker app says it's only 96 days until Christmas...I guess I better start making my shopping list. As I sit here pondering the passing time I wonder...what have we done with the time we've had?
We successfully survived the 1st year of Law School....Hallelujah!! Can we get another....Hallelujah!!
Summer came and went with no unbelievable excitement...Erick finished 3 classes into his 2nd year and by July we were SO ready for a break!
California and family...loved it...my nephews: SO ADORABLE!
Hawaii here we came and left....We relaxed, visited our great friends from Utah, got robbed, got facials (I got a facial, Erick golfed) got burned, got home.
School started again and we're back to our same routine.
Some where in there, I had shoulder surgery, we saw "Wicked", We made 2 road trips to California, I planted a garden, had numerous dinners with great friends, I blogged, Erick golfed, I finished 6 more classes for my degree, we went to the State fair, I got a new car, we went to the Apple Jack Festival, I started P90X (Gotta lose that surgery weight), and we're making plans for the future.
We have lots to look forward to: More Husker football, The leaves will soon change, Erick's family is coming for Thanksgiving, I have never made Thanksgiving dinner for 12 people (this could be an adventure) I have a few more classes to take in school. Christmas Shopping, Pumpkin Dinner at Halloween, making new friends and I need to get out of the house more. Any takers? I spend too much time there!
Nebraska has certainly been an adventure. Who knows where the next few years will take us, but for now, our life in Nebraska is good.

I few weeks ago I had a post about giving away one of my things.

I still cry a little when I see this picture.

My poor little baby was beginning to give in to old age. Her repairs started to exceed her worth. With the winter coming, Erick and I weren't sure what we were going to do. The poor thing was only rear wheel drive and last year we had put 200lbs of sand in the back just so I could get back and forth to school and the store as needed, but now she needed new tires, windshield and various other repairs indicative of a 7 year old, 150K mile car. We could have limped her along for another little bit. We already knew she wasn't making it back across the plains when we left our experience in Nebraska.

So we set out for a little investigation....no commitment, just an investigation.

Boy did we pick the wrong time to look for a car....pickens were slim, since it was the end of the cash for clunkers. We were so surprised when we made our way around dealerships and were only offered 2 or 3 cars.

Being a Nissan family we tried to stay true and went looking for a small SUV, the Rogue, when we got there...2 options, neither good...and I REALLY wanted the beautiful blue Murano that was sitting there just CALLING for me. The minute I showed interest another couple pretty much ran over, peed on it and claimed their territory. We left a little discouraged and decided to go home to regroup and maybe just pay for the repairs on the ol' girl. The next morning the sales man called and said he was able to find a Rogue in another state, I asked, half-kidding, if the other couple bought the blue Murano and to my surprise he said no. I ran into Erick and said "It's meant to be...it wants ME!! and I want IT!!!"

Long story short - after wheeling and dealing and alot of haggling we got a heck of a deal! Probably better than buying the less expensive Rogue.

I put my poor baby out to pasture and brought home new one just WAITING for new memories!

TADA...Here she is!

There are days when this is how I see myself at work. Today being one of them. Once a week I have to work the "night shift" if I'm lucky the phone never rings and I can get a decent amount of restless sleep. Then there are nights like last night when I actually have to work. I love it when people pass me their stuff and tell me, oh it'll be fine, the last flight leaves at midnight. Well what they don't realize or understand is midnight for them is 2AM my time. Then factor in that rich people are NEVER on time and I usually have to call when they land, so 2 turns into 3 which turns into 4. So then by the time I gather up the dog, shut off all the lights, wash my face and crawl into bed it's close to 430ish and just as i'm about to drift off to another restless sleep the phone rings. "What? Huh? I'm up!" Thank heavens for the answering service who will give me at least 15-20 seconds to compose myself before talking to someone important. Finally I drift to sleep after the morning shift takes over at 6. Less then 2 hours later...phone rings again...Guess my east coast clients are up and ready to work, which means I am too. Start the Diet Coke a-flowin' it's going to be a LONG day!

I {HEART} FALL

There is something truly magical about a Nebraska Fall....I know it's a little early to be writing about Fall since we aren't technically there yet. But as I sat here today with ALL of my windows open and a sweater on, I realized the little pieces of Nebraska I actually enjoy.

The weather almost overnight turned cool. The humidity was gone just as fast, the mosquitoes have gone back to their mosquito hiding places, neighbors spend the evenings in lawn chairs in their driveway sipping on bottles of their drink of choice, and it's starting to get darker earlier. The tips of the leaves are starting to turn a buttery yellow but just ever so slightly.

The people of Nebraska start to get a little crazy right about this time. You see, College Football begins on Saturday. Friends on Facebook are gloating about picking up their season tickets, the grocery stores are jam packed with more Husker paraphernalia than usual and tons of invites are filling my inbox for "tail gating parties". Erick and I are now worrying about how we are going to fit our chores around the football games and outdoor activities.

So although as a whole Nebraska isn't my favorite state I am willing to admit:

I {HEART} Nebraska Falls