Looking forward to the future

No better time for a blog than lunch break!

My holidays were amazing. I couldnt have asked for anything better. I not only got to spend them with the man I love, Jeremiah Parris, but I got to spend them with my family and his! It was truly one of the most special christmases to me. Christmas has always been a big deal to me. It makes me happier than any time of year. I put up my Christmas decorations two weeks before Thanksgiving and still havent taken them down. I LOVE IT! I think theres such thing as Christmas Magic. People start being kinder to one another, little miracles start happening...its a beautiful thing!

Jer's family from his mom's side came to visit right after Christmas. I'd met all of his dad's family, and this was my first time to meet Debbie's siblings. They were wonderful!! Unfortunately one aunt and cousin were unable to attend, but I had a great time with those who did visit. I think I've truly found a man with the most wonderful family ever. They are all so sweet and welcoming. I consider myself lucky.

Jana and Ryan took Jer and I out for a double date extravaganza. This meant we went ice skating and to see the movie Black Swan. Ice skating was fun, though my ankles werent really letting me enjoy it. I swear I could only get around the rink once before my feet cramped and my laces loosened. And Black Swan, well, weird. It was not what I expected. It was amazing and beautiful and dark and twisted and wow. I had no idea it would be so graphic! It was awesome though..in a "I have no idea exactly whats going on" kind of way. All in all our date extravaganza was a win. I love Ryan and Jana so much. They're two of my favorite people.

Preston , my mama's man, came to visit. And I must say....Im really hoping this is the man my mom is going to marry!!!

Ive started going back to the costume shop now that the elevator is fixed. Its a zoo. An out of control zoo. Ive slowly gained a little control but there's still SO much to do. So for the next months or so I will be spending a few hours a week there to get it under control. Madness I tell you. There are going to be some rules set for that place if Im going to continue to work in it. I refuse to pick up after someone who doesnt have the respect for others enough to throw their halls wrappers away, or not throw bobby pins on the floor. I dont need the money that bad to have to put up with that crap. So ya, this year I'll be back around a bit more. I will be stage managing the big show this summer under Cyndi....plan on helping out with ushering/concessions/sets etc a bit more. Ive missed the theatre...and from what I hear it misses me. The good news is, Jer is interested in helping with the set construction etc! So how awesome to be able to get to share something I love with someone I love and vice versa!! So exciting.

Last fall I did HCG and lost 30 pounds. This new year I've been teeter tottering around with the idea of a round 2. The only thing keeping me from it is the idea of eating more tomatoes makes me want to vomit...and being that was one of the only vegetables I liked that I could eat...its hard to go back. BUT I think, I think, Ive decided to do it. It will either be when the groceries I just bought are run down or the first of february. Why not do another round and lose another 30 on the easiest diet I've ever done in my life? Sure. I'll give it it a shot...i think. ;)

I still love my job at Coldwell Banker, though right now my boss has been severely sick so my work load has been weird. Ive been trying to keep things afloat while finding enough to do while I'm at work. Needless to say its a bit difficult. AND I miss her! She's such a life force to have around, its sad when she's not been her in....2 weeks? Ya that sounds right. I want her healthy and healed asap.

Speaking of jobs!!!! Jeremiah started a new job working for Stillwater National Bank. This week he said goodbye retail and hello office job! Its a super awesome thing for him. Its what he's wanted to do since I've known him. Not neccessarily the exact position he works, but he's always hated retail and wanted to work in an office setting. So after a month or so of applying for any job available, he got hired! This is his third day of training and I think its going to be a good thing...for him and for us (though its making him super duper tired right now...his body isnt used to really functioning that early anymore). I couldnt be more proud of him.

2011 is going to be one hell of a year. Im excited about all its going to bring. Lots of changes, lots of events. Its super exciting. Its the year of penny pinching, weigh watching, planning, organizing, loving, and so much more. 2011 will be my year. I couldnt be happier about it.

On a final note...apartmement dwellers. PLEASE be considerate of your neighbors. And I dont just mean dont turn your tvs up so loud I can feel your subtitles (yes, i know)....I mean with your love lives. If Im sound asleep and I get woken up because your head board is banging the wall and your girlfriend is screaming and talking so loudly I can understand what she's saying.....THATS A PROBLEM! And if it happens TWICE in one night....I should come down there and knock on your door just to interrupt you. That is NOT okay!! Yes each person pays rent and has the right to do what they want in their own homes...but when it affects me and my sleep, you're being disrespectful. I dont do my jumping jacks and stride jumps early in the mornings because I respect your sleep. But dammit, if you dont start respecting me and the noise levels (which they talk about in your lease about respecting others with after 10pm...) then expect me to start running marathons and doing jumping jacks that sound like elephants at 6am. Im over you and your ridiculous sex noises....honestly, its not natural....and I think she's faking. The end.

Discouraged

Today Im totally discouraged. Not neccessarily about the diet. Or weight loss.Or portion control i.e. being hungry. But Im discouraged about food today.

I ate this lunch, that smelled awesome when I cooked it, but tastes horrible. Its extra lean groung beef, a small tomato chopped up, and minced garlic. Ew. Ew. Ew. I couldnt do it. I forced myself to eat it a few days ago and today I couldnt. I ate all the meat out of it, and tried to eat some tomatoes and couldnt.

Then for dinner I went out on a limb and prepared some shrimp. Ive never bought or fixed shrimp in my life. However it looks delicious and Im very excited about it. The issue was I didnt know what vegetable to fix with it. SO last minute I grabbed a baggie and put fresh spinach in it. Im sure that wont be real delicious by any means.

So here's where I am. Ive eaten everything I know I like fixed just about any way I know how to for two meals a day for 19 days. Im out of ideas. And not only am I out of ideas but Im burned out on things. Im burned out on chicken. Im burned out on tomatoes. Im iffy about raw spinach. I really only like (or atleast how i'd know to cook it) beef, chicken, shrimp...onion, tomato, mixed greens/spinach. SO my diet has been very limited. Ive been all over websites finding receipes but my issue is that I need receipes that I can throw together in a total of 30 minutes. Im in real estate school at night after working a full day and the last thing I want to do is cook up some grand meal. Not to mention lots of the meals require a ton of spices that I dont have and probably wont use again (im not much of a cook to begin with).

Im not saying Im quitting. Im just discouraged. I need to know something delicous, particularly in the vegetable department, so that I dont get so discouraged I give up. I have amazing encouragement not just from my friends, boyfriend, and family here but from NYC (yay harrods!). But its getting hard to be bored and unpleased with food.

Any suggestions? Id gladly appreciate them. I can only eat the following:

100 grams of veal, beef, chicken breast, fresh white fish, lobster, crab, or shrimp.
One type of vegetable only to be chosen from the following: spinach, chard, chicory, beet-greens, green salad, tomatoes, celery, fennel, onions, red radishes, cucumbers, asparagus, cabbage.


and I have the one fruit down. I just need help with creativity for the vegetables and meats. Badly. No sauces, oils, spreads, starches, sugars. Pretty much any seasoning though. Got it? Ok. Who wants to come cook for me?

OOO I am excited about being reminded about eggs. I can have 1 whole + 3 whites. I bought that stuff last night. Trouble is, I have to be able to cook it at the time Im going to eat it. Which means Monday - Thursday, and Sunday lunch is not an option for egg. Bummer right.

On the bright side I have lost 21lbs in 21 days. On the other side, Im running out of gusto with food choices and still have 10 more days of this particular phase of the diet. Atleast after that I can eat things like cheese.

Wow. This took me the few minutes of my lunch break left and my whole afternoon break. Oh well. Its worth it.