Snowshoes!!

Today we tested out our new showshoes! It was so fun!! Granted I do not feel well, so I am not my usual cheerleader self right now, but it was a blast!

We also put a deposit down on our new floor! We ended up going with the laminate because it will be better with the Maddie feet and the high traffic area. It is a very pretty color, called Cherry Bronze. I am super excited!

Now if I could just get over this 11 day cold everything would rock!!

Baking Day!

Today is Baking Day. Tim took the day off work so we could bake cookies all day. So we did all the ingredient shopping this morning and now we are ready!

We are baking:

1. Sugar Cookies
2. Snickerdoodles
3. Chocolate Snappers
4. Chocolate with Peanut Butter Chips (Billy's Favorite!)
5. Peanut Butter Surprise Cookies

I help my Dad make Spritzers yesterday afternoon, so things are festive and cookie-heavy in Littleton/Englewood!

Ohno, sick.

I think I am sick. I don't know if it is a sticking around sick, or just today sick. I woke up in the middle of the night with my throat on fire. It hurts so badly, I don't even like breathing.

Today is pilates day and then cookies with my Dad day. Tomorrow is cookies with Tim day. YEAH! I have a lot left to do around the house (cleaning, cooking, baking, etc...) but at least everything else is done.

I finished all the shopping, wrapping, shipping, etc...that is going to be done this year. Very happy. Also, Maddie had her holiday bath, so she smells yummy.

Now if only my stadium-sized headache and sinus pain would go away, I could get on with the cleaning...

Holiday Shopping...CHECK!

We FINISHED!!! All the shopping and wrapping are DONE! WhooHooo! If people don't like their gifts, they can feel free to return them. On their own time.

I also got the best shirt!! I am going to wear it every single day. It says, "I only date Republicans." LOVE IT!!

In one week from today, Mary will arrive! And in one week from tomorrow, BILLY will arrive.

Happy Ann!

Holiday Outings

We really don't have much going on for the holidays, except for today. We have two get together thingies today. We have been to one and are getting ready to head to the next one.

I am baking a sweet potato bake in the oven right now to take to our next thingy. It sounds yummy, but very, very bad for you. I wanted to try it, so this is the perfect occasion. You boil up three or four whole sweet potatoes for 30 minutes or so. Then let them cool. When cool enough to handle you peel them and cut the into squares. Mach the squares up with butter, sugar, salt and vanilla. Whisk in two eggs. Pour this mashed sweet potato mixture into a casserole. Mix butter, pecans, flour and brown sugar in a small bowl. Pour this mixture onto the sweet potato mash and bake it all for 40 minutes at 350 degrees. It smells awesome, and hopefully it will taste good too.

After tonight, we have no other plans until MARY gets here!! And then the next day BILLY gets here!!

At some point some shopping will have to get done I suppose. Happy Weekend!!

Thursday

Today has been a very nice day. I slept late for the third day in a row, as Tim has had meetings and had to leave very early in the morning. I also went to pilates, which is still very much harder than I want it to be. Then I went to my parents for a bit as I like to keep in touch with them, as opposed to other siblings. Then Tim came home early with WINE! Then we went to dinner at my parents and ate YUMMY tortilla soup. Then we went to the musical at the Littleton Town Hall. It was very good.

Then we came home and drank more wine which led us here: http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1381425907

Holiday Greetings from Ann & Tim!!

Gotta love the postal service

And I do, really. Except I am a little bitter still about not getting my People Magazine that week of our blizzards last year. But I should be over that.

Anyway, when I started getting more serious about the eBay stuff in September, I ordered these free shipping boxes from the USPS that were labeled with eBay on them. I had COMPLETELY forgotten about them when I found them on my front porch today. December 11. Three months after I ordered them. Isn't that crazy!?!

Snowy Decorating Day

This is such a nice weekend!! Last night we were running a few errands and it was so foggy and romantic that it put me in the mood to get our Christmas tree and decorate! So we went and got our tree and then got a pizza and had a drink. It was a super great evening. Today is snowy and cold and a great day to stay inside and decorate. That's what we have been doing.

Before I show you the Christmas pictures, here is the picture of the birthday present I bought myself. I love, love, love, love, love it. When I saw it, I knew exactly where is was going to go. And it fit perfectly. Love.


Here is a cute picture of Tim under our tree putting the lights on...



And here is our giant tree all decorated and with the lights on. We had to move one of the chairs over to where Maddie's cage usually is, so it has been a slight adjustment day.

When it started snowing I wanted to go outside and decorate in the snow. I didn't realize how cold it actually was, though, so this project was a little less fun than I imagined.

Here is the sideboard all decorated and filled with holiday fun (including Christmas m and m's....totally Tim's idea!)

Here is Miss Maddie on the couch wondering why her people are always moving things around when they were fine the way they were and couldn't we all just snuggle more??

Thursday

I like Thursdays. I think it is because it was always a good tv night when I was growing up. Alex P. Keaton and all. Today I finally got all the paperwork stuff done for November. I am mailing the check off tomorrow! Whoohoo! It is only the 6th. Bad Ann. I need to list the last items for my Dad and that will be all.

Today I went to pilates and walked the Maddie. I am feeling much better about the working out and eating this week. I haven't gotten near the scale, but I bet it is much better as well.

Best Time to Date

Today was so busy and crazy that I didn't even eat lunch. For those of you who don't know me well, that might not seem bloggable....but to those who do (Hi Mary!!) they will know that it is INSANE. I eat all the time. Constantly. All day long. Today I didn't even have time to think about eating lunch.

First thing this morning, 9:30, I had acupuncture. So very, very good.
Then I went to Target and bought new black t-shirts. Needed.
Then I went to pilates which btw, is totally starting to work again and feel good. My muscles finally remember.
Then I raced home to finish wrapping SW items and then rushed to the post office and UPS.
Then I rushed like a crazy driver woman home before it got any darker to run.

Here is the big news people!!! *** I ran 4 miles in 38 minutes!!!! My best time by far ever. Ever. WAHHHOOOOO!! Now I am eating carrots like they are going out of style. Hungry!

Happy Birthday!

Last night was the second Annakah dinner. It was also awesome!! Which leads me to my funny (to me) story. When Tim moved in and we started cooking more he kept wanting to make meals with pork. I was very hesitant because I didn't have very good pork memories growing up. I remember dry tough burned up meat with dry side dishes.

But he insisted pork could be good. He grew up in an 'I' state which I always think of as hog states...you know, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana.

But! He has really shown me that it can be yummy. Last year for my big birthday dinner we had stuffed pork chops with lots of dried fruit in a yummy, yummy sauce. This year we found a recipe for Pork Roast with Onion, Mushroom and Bacon Ragout, so I totally wanted to try that. It was awesome!!

When we were shopping we found the CUTEST little baby carrots and zucchini, so I had to have those. Marinated in a little evoo and some sea salt. Then in the oven at 400 degrees for 10 minutes. AWESOME:
Here is Tim carving the Pork Roast:
Here is the Bacon, Onion and Mushroom Ragout. It was awesome. And easy. Although finding mushrooms around here is tough. They go bad so quickly. Why is that....does everyone have that trouble? These were crimini (baby bella's). It was supposed to have twice as many, but I had to through away a whole package. The bacon added a really good flavor! Next time I would try pancetta maybe...
Here is the pork, the sweet potato (those things are SO giant, we had to share) and the roasted veggies:
Here is the full dish with the ragout:

We paired this dish with the Pinot from Cosentino's. It was awesome!! We wanted to have two Cakebread wines this weekend but really had an impossible time finding them. Tim said next time we would just order from the website. But I don't know how it could have been any better.

Today I am going to pilates and then over to my parents for some shopping. Then tonight we have dinner at my favorite restaurant (in Denver) and then cake!!

Birthday Dinner number 1

Ever since I was little my birthday's have been a long celebration. My Mom is terrible at keeping secrets, so as soon as she would buy me a present she would give it to me -- she just couldn't wait! My Dad always teased me that it was like Hannakah. So, I named it Annakah. And it does last a long time! Last night was the first dinner of Annakah this year:

We made New York Strip steaks with mushrooms, roasted asparagus, baked potatoes, two kinds of cookies and we had lots of wine! It was awesome.

Here is Tim cooking the steaks
Here is the wine - Keenan Cabernet 2003:

Me cooking (actually using my Grandma's double boiler that I haven't ever used before!):

Our table! And my flowers Tim got me to start Annakah 2007:

The Peanut Butter Surprise cookies and the Chocolate Snappers (SO YUMMY!):

Tim in jammies opening Ice Wine for our dessert:

Happy December!

I love December! It is one of my favorite months. Today we are making two kinds of cookies - one peanut butter and one chocolate. Then a special dinner tonight and tomorrow night. New York Strip Steaks tonight and Pork Roast tomorrow night. I hate the every year my birthday weekend is when the parade is, so going out downtown is too much of a hassle. So we are staying in and cooking and having lots of wine!!

Last (mandatory) Post

I did it!! I managed to post every day in November. This is 28 times more than Moary posted in November!! YEAH ME!

It wasn't even very hard. I don't talk about anything interesting anyway, so doing that 30 days in a row was fine. I only had one day where I almost forgot and that was it, the rest I remembered early in the day.

Today is hopefully the last big eBay push day. Also pilates and a little run or something. (also laundry and cleaning the bathroom, but that's totally beside the point.) I am feeling much better after the run finally and pilates yesterday didn't kill me.

I know that some readers (Hi Mary!) must think that it is odd for me to have bad days like I did yesterday, since I have no job, kids, responsibilities, family, etc... But that's exactly why I had the bad day. I am trapped in this not moving forward crap-filled place with no hope of a light at the end of the tunnel. Some people think it will end some day and then we can move forward, but I think he is full of shit. And lying. So I just try and keep pretending to be happy until I can't pretend anymore and I lose it...like yesterday. I think the keeping it together times are getting shorter and shorter.

ever have those days?

The kind where you just want to drink 10 bottles of vodka?

Sore!

OMG. I am so sore. Sitting on one's ass for 8 entire weeks and then finally getting up and doing something leads to very sore thighs. And by sore I mean REALLY, really sore. Like stairs hurt.

But tomorrow will be better! And I took the day totally off exercise today like I am supposed to, so yeah me! Tomorrow is cardio and pilates.

Also tomorrow is lots more eBay stuff. I really want to get everything else listed this week!

Less than a week left...

**edited to include exercise!!

I have less than a week of being 31 left. This year went fast. And remarkably I have very little to show for it...just more weight and gray hair.

I am seriously thinking that I need to get a job or something. I really wish I could just get paid for spending time on the computer in my office with Maddie snoring beside me, but I don't know who would hire me for that. I love the eBay stuff, but it is completely unpredictable and I don't actually make much money for all the time I spend.

I was pretty willing to wait out the year doing little except working out, because I thought big changes would be happening in my life, but they aren't and I can't work out that much anymore.

**I finally tried running!! I finally got the nerve up to give it a go and it worked!! I ran three miles. The last 2/3 or so was a bit run/walk-y as my left knee was giving me troubles. I am sure it is only shoe issues as I should have gotten new running shoes in September, but didn't because of the not being able to exercise thing. Happy, happy, happy. It wasn't the prettiest or fastest run (I think I did the whole thing in about 35 minutes) but it was a run!!**

Cyber Monday

It is actually working. I think people are shopping online at work!! 20 action figures are selling!! WHOOHOOO!!

Today I finally went to test out the gym. I took it very easy and did 25 minutes on the elliptical. Then I stretched a lot! It felt great to be back in the action and I am hoping it still feels that way tomorrow morning!

I am very proud that I have posted 26 days in a row and haven't yet been stuck for an idea. Although the blogs still seems a bit tedious when I really just end up telling Mary everything twice anyway. Once here and once on IM.

Tomorrow is supposed to be warmer, but windier. If it isn't too bad I want to walk/run here. If it is too windy I will go to the gym again. Salads for lunch are also my new plan. If only I wouldn't eat 800 ginger snaps after lunch I would be in better shape.

Darn these Whole Foods allergen free, trans fat free, nut free, but full of goodness cookies.

Relaxing Sunday in the Sun

Well, for Maddie anyway. She has been in the sun since she woke up....searching out even the smallest slice of warmth. Tim is nearing the very end of Harry Potter #7. And I have paid bills and gotten organized for the week. A good feeling.

I have acupuncture at 8:30 tomorrow and then another full day of eBaying. Also some form of cardio. Either the gym or walk/run around here. Tim and I are going to go on a walk soon with the Maddie.

I don't have many plans at all this week actually, and I am looking forward to that. I need to eBay the last items and finish some paperwork on that stuff. I am going to meet the architect people when they come for the last walk through of my parents kitchen on Wednesday. I am glad that project will be over.

We are going to eat out of the freezer for a few weeks. We have so many leftovers that things fall out each time we open the freezer door. I like making big recipes and freezing 4 - 8 servings each time we cook, but now we need to go through and eat them!

11.24.07

More leftovers...check.
More football on tv...check.
More vacation days...check.
More beer...check.

Happy Ann!!

The Day After

The reports are in and all the results have been tabulated....Our Thanksgiving rocked!! The food was so good, the house was so cute and clean, Maddie was very good - not even annoying. Everyone got along incredibly well. We played games and ate lots and really enjoyed the day!!

Today is cold, snowy and perfect!! I hope everyone's holiday weekend is going as well!!

We've got a Turkey in the oven!!

Happy Thanksgiving to all the internets!! (Hi Mary!!) We put our hen in the oven at ten and at eleven we will be basting. At Noon we need to flip her over to the boobie-up position.

Today I am thankful for many things:

1. That a Starbucks was open after all this morning!
2. That we finally got some snow and cooler fall weather.
3. For my Maddie and her snugly-ness!!! I love her so much.
4. For my 4-baby and my laptop. Also my pretty, pretty jeep.
5. For flip flops.
6. That I didn't hurt my hip until after Mary and I got to compete in the triathlons.
7. For Ruby, my new bike, who is patiently waiting for me to get better.
8. For my Grandma's Pumpkin Cookie Jar that is the centerpiece of our beautiful Thanksgiving table.
9. For the very pretty fall bouquet that Tim got me for our holiday.
10. I am even thankful for the fact that even though it might go incredible poorly and sucky, we have family to get together with today.
11. For all the wine and beer I bought in case it does start to go poorly.
12. And mostly for Tim. I wished so hard and so long for him to be here and he is! Lucky me.

Thanksgiving Eve

We have literally worked all day to get ready for tomorrow and I think we are doing very well!! We polished silver, cleaned blinds and ceiling fans, washed family dishes, ironed table clothes and baked a pie.

The table is very pretty and festive and Thanksgiving-y. Tomorrow we cook the turkey, mash the potatoes potatoes, make the gravy, cook the stuffing, etc...

Maddie has also been very helpful and eager to be involved. She ran errands with us this afternoon and wore her sweater all day. It has been super, super cold here so she hasn't wanted to go outside much. Tomorrow should be a little warmer.

Holiday Week!

I am so happy that it is Thanksgiving week. Tim's last day at the office is today, so that means 5 days in a row of vacation!!

We are almost all ready for the dinner. The 'natural' turkey came home last night. She's a biggin. Her plastic wrap says 'naturally broad breasted' which Tim loved! He thought that it was silly to want your hens any other way. I bought pecans yesterday for the pie we are making. The stuffing and the mashed potatoes don't worry me. Just the Turkey and the gravy and the guests. Those are the scary parts!

Tonight it is finally supposed to snow!! It has snowed once here so far this year, but I was out of town, so this will be my first snow of the season!! I washed Maddie's sweater in preparation and her coats are ready. Even the mittens we bought her are ready. Although the trial wearing of those went poorly. I will try and get a photo in the mittens, but I can't promise anything as she was pretty perturbed at me...

Getting ready for cold!

SW

Someone paid $33.00 for Burger King toys! WHOOHOOO!!

Organic shopping!

Today we did almost all of our Thanksgiving shopping. It involved lots of stores and lots of money and was VERY FUN!

What is a Free Range Fertile Egg? It creeps the crap out of me to even imagine??

Saving the Earth

Yesterday, after several discussions and an odd dream about the issue, we decided to stop buying bottled water. We will be lessening our carbon footprint(s) AND saving money. And more importantly!! We now have room in the fridge for our "natural" turkey.

Generally we go through 3 cases of bottled water a week. Four weeks a month, 12 months a year, and on and on. So that's a lot of plastic bottles in a landfill.

We got a new filter for the water in the fridge. We got a super cute little brita filter pitcher for inside the fridge and we got a faucet filter thingy for the kitchen sink. Quite the new set-up.

The only issues I have with the whole thing so far are that it isn't at all convenient. It is stupid slow to fill the pitcher. The water out of the fridge still tastes like crap. The sink thingy leaks all the time and doesn't shut off very quickly. And I can't drink out of any of our glasses because 1. They taste like milk residue (blech) and 2. they are filthy.

Why are they filthy?? Because the dishwasher sucks. It always has. I'm sure it was the cheapest model the builder could possibly find. And the water here is too heavy to get anything clean. It leaves buildup or something all over the dishes. Especially the silverware and glasses.

What? Try a new dishwashing detergent? Oh silly, that doesn't work. I have tried them ALL. Literally. I actually went to Wal-Mart yesterday and got a new kind that was recommended by the random Sears employee I talked with. But alas, no work-y. I tried it out over night by putting in clean glasses and silverware. They actually came out dirtier and filmier than they went in. GROSS!

I used to get this great hard water specific dishwashing detergent from some amway friends, but it was expensive and I am not really friends with them anymore. And I don't want to buy stuff that way....So I am out of options.

Yes, if you have stuck it out this long to read all the way through to here you can tell it all makes me grumpy. But also!! It makes me grumpy that I am in exactly the same situation I was in 4 years ago. Same crappy dishwasher, same bitching about people coming over to eat and having gross dirty dishes and silverware to serve them dinner on, and same glasses that taste like milk. Ugh. The literal only difference is that instead of having Tim come over with his wife while Chad cooked, is that Tim is here and his wife isn't invited.

All of this follows on a few weeks of feeling again like I am just going nowhere, getting no further down the line in anything. It makes me want to drink heavily and swear.

GREAT DAY!!

For those of you who know me, (HI MARY!) you know that I don't have a lot going on in my life right now. I don't work, I don't have kids, I don't leave the house for boot camp or the gym or Pilate's anymore, I don't have extra money to shop with, I rarely have anything big to do or plan or what not. It is a simple life right now, really.

So imagine how I felt on Monday when all of a sudden my FAVORITE pen went missing. It was just gone. I looked everywhere. All the places pens go and some where they don't (fridge, trash can, car...) But I couldn't find it.

I immediately wrote my sadness to Tim and told him to steal me another just like it, but alas he couldn't find the exact one. But he did bring home a nice sharpie. But it wasn't the same!

BUT! LO! Today I put on a dirty sweatshirt and it was in the POCKET! YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!

Nov 14

My ass/hip/butt/leg hurts again. I have a funny bruise in the middle of my stomach from acupuncture. I need more sleep. Maddie is desperately searching for sun today, but it is pretty cloudy. She wants to be warm.

A few weeks ago I did something that I doubted was a good idea, but my Mom thought it was a great idea. So I went ahead and did it. I mailed a letter to someone I know in my gut doesn't like me and won't ever, but I keep reaching out.

My Mom is a lot like me, she just assumes that people are good and nice and will come around. More over, she always believes that people will like me. The other thing wrong with this situation is that the other person involved hasn't always been very honest with me either, so I should have trusted either of them.

Motivation....

I am in serious need of motivation. I can't seem to get up enough to list more items. It seems like 1/2 the items sell well and 1/2 don't sell at all. I can't figure out which half. It seems to me to be completely unpredictable. Like Wicket the Ewok goes for big bucks, but Han Solo is a bust. Who knows??

I feel like I am getting through the stuff, but then I look around and there is more. Lots more. I think I just shift from one end of the basement to the other. So it isn't really getting lower, it is just an optical illusion. I do need to get the Christmas stuff listed. Soon.

Long Weekend

I waited too long for acupuncture. I should have gone Thursday or Friday. It made for a very long weekend. I won't wait that long again.

I wouldn't say that I am grumpy or pissy or bitchy, I am just disappointed I think. The weird thing about acupuncture is that it makes me not have to talk about stuff or deal with it right away, it makes me very calm. Usually I have to get everything out right away and talk it all to death. Acupuncture makes me apathetic. More in the not so much concern about anything way...

I think a lot about how a year ago I was going absolutely insane waiting for things to happen and wanting thngs to be on a better path. I was truly driving myself nut-so. This year the only thing that is different is that I don't get worked up. Nothing is better, or different, or on its way to being better, or different. I just react better. (Better wouldn't be MY word, but I know it is the word other people would use.) I think I actually don't react at all. Like my expectations are all gone. I am apathetic about it all. Sorta like I gave my life a xanax. Haha. Except really.

Lazy Sunday

It is a bright, sunny, lazy day here. Maddie is napping and I would love to join her. Today we went through all the china to find out if we had 8 matching set of anything for use at Thanksgiving. I do! I also have lots of partial sets of lots of other stuff. But not as much as I had really imagined, so that's good.

My butt is still a bit sore, so I don't think a bike ride is the best of ideas. I think a Maddie Walk will be good. Tomorrow is acupuncture again, and I am really looking forward to that.

I hope more Star Wars stuff starts selling. It is much slower this week than last week. I thought it would just keep picking up through the holidays. Tomorrow is another big listing day. I need to get more of the action figures up to see if they will sell.

The Day After....

I'm sore/tired in my butt-hip. I don't think I will be bike riding today. Perhaps tomorrow. (fingers crossed!) I am very glad to be back on track exercise wise, but it will take awhile to be back to where I was. Especially given the not-two-days in a row rule.

So, I have been trying to be more social lately. I get stuck in w rut from time-to-time where I just like to be alone and with Maddie. I think it isn't the best idea to let that happen to long as I don't want to go back to feeling badly. So I have been meeting up with friends (three this week!) and emailing more people. It is weird though, since I have to keep track of who knows what about certain things....Sometimes it almost seems too complicated and I should just stick to myself with my Maddie.

On the other hand, it is fun to talk with old friends and catch up with people I haven't talked with in a while.

Back to pilates.

Today was my first day back. I really missed it. I can't believe how hard it was! I am out of shape. I hope it comes back fast.

Everyday I think I might write about something really cool, but then I can't thing of anything. Is it really bad when your own blog bores you??

I need to write about something more, but I don't really want to write about politics, my relationship, religion, etc... What else is there?

Holiday Season

So today when we went to get our coffee, Starbucks had already switched to the holiday cups and sleeves. I am as big a fan of Christmas as the next person, but it is November 8th. Won't it get old in 6 weeks?

As I have stated many, many times in the past, I think Christmas decorations and plans and music and all should wait until AFTER Annakah is over. Technically it should all wait until the 10th, after my Mom's birthday, but that might be stretching it for some people (Tim.)

I think Starbucks should have Thanksgiving cups. A pretty orange and brown fall themed cup to use in October and November. Wouldn't that be fun?!?

Webfession #2

A few months ago I had a webfession. Now I have another.

My bank account has been off by $50.09 for months. I don't know where it went wrong but it did. Very odd as I am a bit compulsive about balancing my checkbook, but it is off. Always the same amount. Weird.

In other news, I am attempting the knitting again today. As you all will remember, this is what happened last time I tried to knit... So, obviously I need a new needle. And I need to keep the knitting higher when I am not actively knitting. (I think the problem is that Maddie doesn't like it when she can't sit in my lap, and the knitting had prevented that.)

Big Day at the Office

Yesterday was a super busy day at my office. I am really pleased with how it all went. Today is shipping day. And paperwork day. Then tomorrow I can list more items in the morning.

I need a craft idea for a silent auction. Last year I made a Fall Wreath and Tim liked it so much he bought it back for us. This year I was thinking something baked, but then I will just want to make some for us and eat it. So that's a bad idea. Other ideas of non-edible crafty things??

Tonight I am thinking I will make RR's Pumpkin and Sage Pasta. It sounds so yummy and fall-y. Maddie insists upin wearing her sweater lately and lounging in the sun. The only bad part of the office is the no-sun factor for her.

Things I Do Not Like

1. Headaches
2. Being Cold
3. Being Hungry
4. Crappy Jackass Drivers
5. Spiders, especially big ones in the basement
6. Sci-fi books
7. Scary movies
8. Brussel sprouts
9. Black Licorice
10. Mean people, especially when they are mean to ME

Post #100

Today's post is my 100th post since I began writing my blog. As you all know, this started as an exercise blog to discuss my training for the KC half marathon.

Since then, and really forever in all reality, I mostly just recount my day. Nothing special or thoughtful.

Perhaps the next 100 will be more enlightening and enjoyable!!

Star Wars Movement!

Wow! I am getting lots of Star Wars action! (that sounds so dirty!!) But I actually am!! I got three questions just today about my eBay items. Mostly legos seem to be the hot item, but playskool is big too. I am selling lots of groups of things to people. So cool! Monday is the last day for the reduced listing fees, so it will be a big work day. Lots to list!!

Today was an awesome Fall day here in Denver. We woke up super late...even Maddie! Then went to Starbucks and a model home furniture store. We needed a new bed for the guest room, but couldn't find one there, so we just bought one at AFW. We then came home and got the guestroom all situated and complete. Now we can have three people stay with us. Yeah!

We did all the final winterizing of the yard today too. Took down the hammock and patio furniture. (the table and chairs are all set up like a conference room in my office!! anyone want to have a meeting??)

Finally, we had a date evening. We went to see Michael Clayton and then had dinner. It was very fun!! Even better, we came home and are having some wine and answered eBay questions together!

Tomorrow we are playing 9 holes of golf with my Dad and then having lunch with both parents. It will be the first golf for me since my hip troubles, so keep your fingers crossed that it goes well.

Perhaps tomorrow I should find something to actually discuss, rather than just listing my daily activities...

Things I like...(besides Tim)

Stolen from Mary.

1. Beagles

2. Snuggling

3. Cooking

4. Full-bodied red wine

5. "Working" from home

6. Bon Jovi and the Dixie Chicks

7. Vacations

8. Reading

9. Taking pictures

10. Hiking

11. Baking

12. Coffee and Lattes

13. Organizing and Cleaning

14. Pilates

15. Fall

Just a few....

November 1

I guess I need to make some changes around here. I didn't finish at WW and I didn't run in KC, so I need a new focus and to keep all my loyal readers (Hi MARY!) coming back. Perhaps I will try and participate in NaBloPoMo (National Blog Posting Month) and post everyday. I can try anyway...

This is Official Diet Month at my house. We have all gained some weight. Maddie is up to 27 pounds! That's huge! Mostly she is just a big girl with long legs and hips. (Or is that me....?) But I think she could stand to lose a few pounds. Tim and I are also very interested in losing a few. Well, I am interested in losing more than a few... So, if I agree to blog everyday it will be a good way to keep accountable.

It is very hard to not gain weight when not working out. I don't know how people could possibly expect to ever lose without a serious exercise program. Since I haven't worked out since the end of September, I have lost muscle tone and gained fat. I am heeled up enough in the butt area to start a program again. I just have to be smarter about rest. As in, I need to rest at least once a week or more. Also as in, no more 5 hour workout days.

So! Here is to Official Diet month, Seeing progress on the scale, Getting sensible workouts in, and not eating crap!

Happy Halloween!

As per usual, the weather here tanked today. It was 80 yesterday and about 36 today. It ALWAYS does that on Halloween. Luckily we planned ahead and got a warm costume this year.

Game 4...

Today is the day that the Rockies HAVE to win. It has been very hard to watch the last three games, so hopefully today is the turn around. I thought our new hats would have been the thing, but they didn't work.

I am getting a little stir crazy not working out. I have to go out and do something soon, but I am so scared of getting hurt again. That was not fun. I am thinking of doing a Turkey Trot race on Thanksgiving, but then I can't do the pedal, pump and pilates at the studio....so I can't decide.

That's all, not too much to update. Star Wars week starts tomorrow. I like having the office hours be more consistent and focusing. It makes me feel a tad productive.

KC in Pictures

As my devoted readers and the internets know, the whole reason for this blog was to capture my experiences training for the KC half-marathon and getting my lifetime membership in WW. So far both have been a complete bust. But at least I have my loyal followers.

I was not able to run in the KC half-mary because of this:

My butt and hip are still very painful. But I was able to go to KC to cheer on my sister as she ran in her first half marathon in several years!! Here is my trip in detail.....

Tim, me, my Mom and Dad made the trip. My brother couldn't go because he had to work. That was very sad, but he might come to visit in December! My Mom and Dad are always so excited to see Mary. They are always asking about her and wanting to know the details of her life. She says I tell them too much. I am trying to stop.
When we arrived in Kansas City on Thursday, we did what we always do when we get to KC. We ate at George Brett's! It is my favorite place and always fun. I hope they stay in business.
That's my Mom. She is a very good cheerleader and always up for taking silly pictures with me! She is very fun.

After dinner we went back to Mary's to drink more. I was very happy about that...
I think Tim was too! Although the next morning he had to do some work:

Friday we went to the race expo to pick up the packet and see what free stuff they had. It was a very nice expo. Tim and I went to lunch with my aunts and uncles. Mom won the cake eating contest we had at the end...

Friday night we made the special pre-race dinner at Mary's house. It was pasta with Italian sausage, red peppers and onions. We also had salad, bread and drinks. Mary decided to drink darker beer before races for the nutrients. It seemed to work out for her!

After dinner we all put the finishing touches on our signs for Mary's race. We wanted to make them readable from a far distance while she was speeding by:

Early the next morning, Mary and Tim and I headed for the start line

It was still quite dark out as we parked and headed down to Crown Royal Center. This is when we encountered the first little trouble of our trip...

The lines for the porta-potties were SO LONG. Mary wasn't very happy at this point:

She told me to never arrive too late to a race and to always go to the bathroom just before you leave home. I think this is good advice.

She finally made it through the line!! But sadly the actual race had already started by this time. But we assured her that the chip time was the most important thing. Success! She is running out of the potty and heading to the start line. GO MARY!! Tim and I were able to see her at mile 3, my parents saw her at mile 6, Lisa, Hazel, Tim and I saw her at mile 8 1/2 and then we all met up at the finish line to see her there!

Here she is at mile 6 right on the plaza!

Here is Lisa and Hazel coming to cheer Mary on. Lisa is the reason we all agreed to do this in the first place.

Mary ran so fast!! She finished in 1 hour 52 minutes. She ROCKS! Here she is at the end of the race drinking a beer. It was 9:15 in the morning.

Mary only had one minor injury from the race. She hadn't cut her toenails quite short enough, so there was some bleeding.

The rest of the day was spent watching the Buffs and baseball. It was a Super Day! (well, except for the Buffs)

Sunday morning we had a Pancake Fest. This is a traditional Family meal. It involves lots of eating. Just like all the other traditional family meals. But this one is in the morning. Tim is the best breakfast maker. He also learned the trick to using Mary's griddle, so the pancakes were Yummy! After breakfast we all climbed into Dad's filthy rental car and headed for a family field trip.I was in the WAY back of the filthy rental car. I tried not to touch any of the surfaces, but that was hard. We headed to tour the WW 1 Memorial. Here we go:
It was an awesome museum and lots of fun. Mary, Tim and I also went to the top of the tower. It was cool up there and had lots of great views.

Sunday night we are LOTS of BBQ and then did the next Traditional Family Field Trip. We always do this part when we are in Kansas City.

I had SO much fun on my trip and Mary did such an awesome job in the race. I hope that next time I can run with her! I love my fall vacation and am pleased with how well it went. See....Happy Ann: