tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14920714169140438982024-02-19T16:41:55.803-08:00Life as a ButterflyBecause life as a drifter sounded sad.Delinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12798309934390398414noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1492071416914043898.post-59705774935473794812011-11-25T15:14:00.000-08:002011-11-25T15:14:51.488-08:00Vacation...Valium without all the side effects (Part 1)Actually now that I read the side effects, there may be a bit of overlap: changes in appetite, restlessness or excitement, changes in sex drive (hello hotel room sex), shuffling walk (you'd be shuffling too after a day of walking around D.C. for 8 hours too, so don't judge), and drowsiness or tiredness to name a few. But on vacation you get an excuse to take a ton more pictures! And since you all didn't get to experience the joy that is vacationing with me (poor Jay is still recovering), here are some of the best pictures from our adventures in Columbus, OH and Washington, D.C.<div><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgalaXgaVbt2WunXWB2aSN_f9cKMV0_GlQPEssEQXEktAzo1SAwTm4ncTwqrDsz35usTZ0aCf6f_MRViXYI4xY4A9aseBa4zWP3oIsq6Ruzl9sAYIrQymIMiezblJmLP49ryuEDyTnX5jzh/s1600/P1000078.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgalaXgaVbt2WunXWB2aSN_f9cKMV0_GlQPEssEQXEktAzo1SAwTm4ncTwqrDsz35usTZ0aCf6f_MRViXYI4xY4A9aseBa4zWP3oIsq6Ruzl9sAYIrQymIMiezblJmLP49ryuEDyTnX5jzh/s320/P1000078.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and Jack Hanna (sort of)</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikrAVyR-wOkJwzceGFdDWLSfZu6L0MRqjlZRTUtf0eW4ZfItyc9a7Tkg7T4Rr7RBvmRxddJe0VLrXSkWO_C6R2F17fIAr35gBCVEzGEbLBh7bim6xSBt_rM2CENKZpHi5YwulB5EWQvV2g/s1600/P1000088.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikrAVyR-wOkJwzceGFdDWLSfZu6L0MRqjlZRTUtf0eW4ZfItyc9a7Tkg7T4Rr7RBvmRxddJe0VLrXSkWO_C6R2F17fIAr35gBCVEzGEbLBh7bim6xSBt_rM2CENKZpHi5YwulB5EWQvV2g/s320/P1000088.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Isn't he sexy?</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOC3YkkZOnTn_opMv0tOhwfb4juwom7Lo_ST_c3jlr_ig4AwGH6qY5H0DL2u3z13cEakcFcAQ5cDlcD6JWHV5IIx3Rmojnge0WXcNWqqaECEdvSw2zr8DSrCdr2kg7FYPL4Lnjc7GHYTGB/s1600/P1000106.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOC3YkkZOnTn_opMv0tOhwfb4juwom7Lo_ST_c3jlr_ig4AwGH6qY5H0DL2u3z13cEakcFcAQ5cDlcD6JWHV5IIx3Rmojnge0WXcNWqqaECEdvSw2zr8DSrCdr2kg7FYPL4Lnjc7GHYTGB/s320/P1000106.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jay is so small compared to a Polar Bear!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3X8eowVpJE-nhWo1IkjrdH9ffmS_bs-S1BugIKdjzPjUR-L3hScDkDeQYxJU-JuZ12Z6Ytb4iPHF6h4bixZmGVN3A8jj2JsAagkGHCiVZGrTLo1w0RAjHoNyeE1MTGHL0gKpId-xxbMET/s1600/P1000141.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3X8eowVpJE-nhWo1IkjrdH9ffmS_bs-S1BugIKdjzPjUR-L3hScDkDeQYxJU-JuZ12Z6Ytb4iPHF6h4bixZmGVN3A8jj2JsAagkGHCiVZGrTLo1w0RAjHoNyeE1MTGHL0gKpId-xxbMET/s320/P1000141.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me "in a cage" or just looking out at Jay from the other viewing area for the Chimps.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div>Next is a very serious series of photos called animal butts. Don't ask me, ask Jay...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKxE8wNmDhtNSlmaPCI4DYXAHLDjSyIRd-cmHqNno1X0xiyPZkcjv3C1LoGQBKj7zY8oNzYgChnDfiVmR1sUrfBc5-vwAohOww3LKsw4DlgK7A5z7Yg_H9ivdHBhmzkyS1oep_s_Yzhqaz/s1600/P1000115.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="display: inline !important; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKxE8wNmDhtNSlmaPCI4DYXAHLDjSyIRd-cmHqNno1X0xiyPZkcjv3C1LoGQBKj7zY8oNzYgChnDfiVmR1sUrfBc5-vwAohOww3LKsw4DlgK7A5z7Yg_H9ivdHBhmzkyS1oep_s_Yzhqaz/s200/P1000115.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwWY7RJNbn4Mi7UAxsqKhVlq5WerQCdYnKS_zoCJvKMSk1-2zfi9hs0qeoGEdpMMTFIn34CCiNWzdCqF5lnOftTZHuo1cXfmLtVyuWY34KErgS53_gF_IPdq-kRBBA09KEufeW7zR02Ndt/s1600/P1000097.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwWY7RJNbn4Mi7UAxsqKhVlq5WerQCdYnKS_zoCJvKMSk1-2zfi9hs0qeoGEdpMMTFIn34CCiNWzdCqF5lnOftTZHuo1cXfmLtVyuWY34KErgS53_gF_IPdq-kRBBA09KEufeW7zR02Ndt/s200/P1000097.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjX-Dgao997bczu5KNW364-t178MhqVeXQTJKK8SO44-5qvThL5qXpHuEUJbrgXGzo6Ys5T2XFb1lEh0LGdomeFMsXo0P4lJh4uk0DKcAAJj9YD2bL59Sr_qx-ZP_1Gqrg7OE-HeqluTU4/s1600/P1000076.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlOfMJY0pu4hGAENmwhTI718Gywcz5jL41Ownm9MgsyQNpAijwktonaX_BDezl0YuNZUna9Iz3i62yufJDodN1BsuvRcx6qz-TmSrAylhFf3Xtt-8pIpfBK1IPsdpU0ktjo0Ib9cT7MWWt/s1600/P1000072.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlOfMJY0pu4hGAENmwhTI718Gywcz5jL41Ownm9MgsyQNpAijwktonaX_BDezl0YuNZUna9Iz3i62yufJDodN1BsuvRcx6qz-TmSrAylhFf3Xtt-8pIpfBK1IPsdpU0ktjo0Ib9cT7MWWt/s200/P1000072.JPG" width="200" /></a><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjX-Dgao997bczu5KNW364-t178MhqVeXQTJKK8SO44-5qvThL5qXpHuEUJbrgXGzo6Ys5T2XFb1lEh0LGdomeFMsXo0P4lJh4uk0DKcAAJj9YD2bL59Sr_qx-ZP_1Gqrg7OE-HeqluTU4/s200/P1000076.JPG" width="200" /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4nKWxXtrNs_g2T9GC3mBPxtaZacO0Z-kToTzY7DO9mZ0EJsDmXivzqqVR7MT_sJnOlJarUeeOfDIN4VcEhmZUXNLyk17Zx03F9LtMue_kqSyQikmyOT1YHMe8oFpet8V81-IQoSrwsEd5/s1600/P1000083.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4nKWxXtrNs_g2T9GC3mBPxtaZacO0Z-kToTzY7DO9mZ0EJsDmXivzqqVR7MT_sJnOlJarUeeOfDIN4VcEhmZUXNLyk17Zx03F9LtMue_kqSyQikmyOT1YHMe8oFpet8V81-IQoSrwsEd5/s200/P1000083.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Merry Madagascar in ICE! at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWNVOC8_XbjmzKrcs5cZdvQsProEGYeSSQ0xpKXwU-j4KauF5YnLdHsp-8fPwzmWFo9WZs6VK4QYSuubdx4bBD1yU0Ylq56dnMsoIJKPeUsKaiSF_LakRiyuEBgiX7sIsasRq1-0LZTRV1/s1600/P1000148.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWNVOC8_XbjmzKrcs5cZdvQsProEGYeSSQ0xpKXwU-j4KauF5YnLdHsp-8fPwzmWFo9WZs6VK4QYSuubdx4bBD1yU0Ylq56dnMsoIJKPeUsKaiSF_LakRiyuEBgiX7sIsasRq1-0LZTRV1/s320/P1000148.JPG" width="320" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS414tCYgdHJALPBNuFBKEaK7Sp1OARDnxR3v_vKMR0XZ8G971uTXSQ2ce1gjDrY0xkqYpVuauNC5RnzuU9piyYVWlDsNaksznVNSfltb8GnDwonltvlB0HnUriIUVd8lLkiEZ84t6wGkk/s1600/P1000152.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS414tCYgdHJALPBNuFBKEaK7Sp1OARDnxR3v_vKMR0XZ8G971uTXSQ2ce1gjDrY0xkqYpVuauNC5RnzuU9piyYVWlDsNaksznVNSfltb8GnDwonltvlB0HnUriIUVd8lLkiEZ84t6wGkk/s200/P1000152.JPG" width="200" /> </a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_nV4VyiNcd5HRZekWRpaYb1zGxLgVDars9gvZDGDzRAZR7wGVQVD4oPj4PCDj6ZD6JKxq445WOdZsMCf6swBwOM1ZqgDm0IGdT-nXhyphenhyphendeNXmiO0sSmn7D9mzkr3qZ4aEZMJ5WXPtEKdXD/s1600/P1000154.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_nV4VyiNcd5HRZekWRpaYb1zGxLgVDars9gvZDGDzRAZR7wGVQVD4oPj4PCDj6ZD6JKxq445WOdZsMCf6swBwOM1ZqgDm0IGdT-nXhyphenhyphendeNXmiO0sSmn7D9mzkr3qZ4aEZMJ5WXPtEKdXD/s200/P1000154.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS414tCYgdHJALPBNuFBKEaK7Sp1OARDnxR3v_vKMR0XZ8G971uTXSQ2ce1gjDrY0xkqYpVuauNC5RnzuU9piyYVWlDsNaksznVNSfltb8GnDwonltvlB0HnUriIUVd8lLkiEZ84t6wGkk/s1600/P1000152.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br />
</a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Vn3SBFrbYoLK_bfmQJuPDKqS6wvgJM7_b6Rm057EvgpxgM8S96g-d_Nw2zOgoTFrWh5dWN39zI7LnRDX6tYoJUFy58m3dwuJoEoG807wKL146Bj83XFlDZjFEYm9ib_Iu_Ul305YMRux/s1600/P1000158.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Vn3SBFrbYoLK_bfmQJuPDKqS6wvgJM7_b6Rm057EvgpxgM8S96g-d_Nw2zOgoTFrWh5dWN39zI7LnRDX6tYoJUFy58m3dwuJoEoG807wKL146Bj83XFlDZjFEYm9ib_Iu_Ul305YMRux/s400/P1000158.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aren't we so sexy in our huge blue coats?</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_tswPWESA5-_qHPQ4P55fX5jKTvEbd6Zoeq3apDl_8hY75ytjD2QjTxB_mvEv4iYfQS0DunYB-9LD-QPWLXjMvofnhRLluEl2hva70j5wnjiKhmUk_EPliHaYLwt4PmRDDZy91UgHPKIe/s1600/P1000161.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_tswPWESA5-_qHPQ4P55fX5jKTvEbd6Zoeq3apDl_8hY75ytjD2QjTxB_mvEv4iYfQS0DunYB-9LD-QPWLXjMvofnhRLluEl2hva70j5wnjiKhmUk_EPliHaYLwt4PmRDDZy91UgHPKIe/s320/P1000161.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQgmOtKOqpsf6AlXBPcYiRbtGBUPB_vftYFhJCsxGGqCnxT1s3eOMyI45Gu_UlNqsNlcI_4GSaQg2ZgLHbGZLKco0E10uEjdvKdacfe2m7_VW5AcAbih7J-fDB6m0ioiFRA9c3ZY5HzcYk/s1600/P1000170.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQgmOtKOqpsf6AlXBPcYiRbtGBUPB_vftYFhJCsxGGqCnxT1s3eOMyI45Gu_UlNqsNlcI_4GSaQg2ZgLHbGZLKco0E10uEjdvKdacfe2m7_VW5AcAbih7J-fDB6m0ioiFRA9c3ZY5HzcYk/s400/P1000170.JPG" width="300" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4bk47g-juOE3VDYWifxzYCsNrxj2Wyu-hLkkzXl4CydrBqpXDkYzUAiI7vIab_pLssEicjoC2W-aopINHDbUwh9irF8vOcASi3GFc62I9JTbvGAeOIpSXGMjcxm6kR2CjIy3RIHaorsLK/s1600/P1000189.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4bk47g-juOE3VDYWifxzYCsNrxj2Wyu-hLkkzXl4CydrBqpXDkYzUAiI7vIab_pLssEicjoC2W-aopINHDbUwh9irF8vOcASi3GFc62I9JTbvGAeOIpSXGMjcxm6kR2CjIy3RIHaorsLK/s320/P1000189.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The nativity scene was at the end of the ICE</td></tr>
</tbody></table>I will add more photos in the next post talking about our exploration of Washington D.C and the Capitals game!<br />
<br />
<div><br />
</div><div>P.S. I give up on getting these pictures to display in a pleasing manner. I don't know how to get them to show up where I want them. Sorry!</div>Delinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12798309934390398414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1492071416914043898.post-70495539096651980192011-08-31T21:20:00.000-07:002011-08-31T21:20:11.261-07:00What I do alone in my hotel roomOne of the many perks to my oh so glamorous job is that I spend way more time alone in a hotel room that any sane person can really take. In order to keep my insanity levels at bay I explore the internet. Some nights I find hilarious blogs, or great informational news articles. <br />
<br />
Tonight was not one of those nights.<br />
<br />
Here are a few of my many exciting, creative accomplishments of the night:<br />
<br />
Its a BOY!<br />
<br />
Thats right I took an <a href="http://www.thepregnancytester.com/">online pregnancy test</a> and guess what they told me:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Pregnancy detected! </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig4nU2UK-FJvT318uqnMnft2POHEbpbOlT2Sjlzr7ET6NYMxFfrMl5g_mt787OchzrIpy9ChwqINGZZ1i3PWxJnaRfiayoRl8BcB7Moze5n5bmrpJMSp4wKX62BttX9TZedDN2o2GrBAxv/s1600/baby+boy+mccann.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="153" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig4nU2UK-FJvT318uqnMnft2POHEbpbOlT2Sjlzr7ET6NYMxFfrMl5g_mt787OchzrIpy9ChwqINGZZ1i3PWxJnaRfiayoRl8BcB7Moze5n5bmrpJMSp4wKX62BttX9TZedDN2o2GrBAxv/s200/baby+boy+mccann.jpg" width="200" xaa="true" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baby McCann's first public appearance!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Congratulations, Delina! You're "with child". Our remote testing system has detected that you're pregnant. The Miracle Of Life has begun! <br />
<br />
<em>Thats right people, here is when you really start doubting you can trust everything you find on the internet...Hmm, I wonder if I am far enough along to determine the baby's sex?</em><br />
<br />
<div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;">It's a Boy!</span></div> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh_yhXBYk17pRYqBQJT-8iswF6S0piVVrGyFDEYSwFwLJvqIMAlq3sACDBBV0xDPUEb1X5Ldc-oSUBkGgYe1_O4oVh28gsEhzxbsleXYRMm8_8CoO5ffe9ufvES3LoEkXHDhSYAHhtfYm9/s1600/baby+boy+mccann+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh_yhXBYk17pRYqBQJT-8iswF6S0piVVrGyFDEYSwFwLJvqIMAlq3sACDBBV0xDPUEb1X5Ldc-oSUBkGgYe1_O4oVh28gsEhzxbsleXYRMm8_8CoO5ffe9ufvES3LoEkXHDhSYAHhtfYm9/s200/baby+boy+mccann+2.jpg" width="197" xaa="true" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baby Boy McCann</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;">Delina, you're going to be the proud parent of a baby boy, and just look- isn't he just so damn cute! Based on our remote test results, your beautiful baby boy will weigh about 14 lbs, 13 oz and have brown hair and hazel eyes. Truly a Wonder To Behold! </div><br />
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Would you like to know who the lucky father is? Our Genetic Validator module has processed that data and determined who the father must be...</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em>Oh My God! I am so on the edge of my seat (well bed actually), who got me knocked up?! I need to find him and punch him in the face for making me give birth to a turkey sized baby. It can't be my boyfriend we both have blue eyes... </em></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Bill Clinton</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMyrZs1-HOgXaFn3sWlLFD2t70QM09Aov6yIiyU-Od7hVsozumxg0vSyXUsx681o9RDl-Lnl6BC3mtpG16RbEurB_adK1a9i0fBTFryDI75NywQeuYUnSMgMd5RKkGZ052xfY3Ohg8c_NY/s1600/my+baby+daddy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMyrZs1-HOgXaFn3sWlLFD2t70QM09Aov6yIiyU-Od7hVsozumxg0vSyXUsx681o9RDl-Lnl6BC3mtpG16RbEurB_adK1a9i0fBTFryDI75NywQeuYUnSMgMd5RKkGZ052xfY3Ohg8c_NY/s200/my+baby+daddy.jpg" width="193" xaa="true" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My baby daddy</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;">Like thousands of other women of breeding age, you did the Horizontal Bop with Bill. Looks like he really 'felt your pain', along with a few other things. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><em>Hmm...I guess it could be worse, he can at least afford to pay for the reconstructive surgery I'm going to be needing down south from pushing out his bowling ball of a son.</em></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I know after the excitement of my pregnancy, labor, and the shocking Maury like paternity revelation nothing else seems quite as great, but that only took about 2 minutes of my night, so.....</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Here are some of my recent works of art:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhkhzROuQ5GEr0BQhpcBjgl1gdIgZi7bLkXdYW-Yg2H0Tnkn-5AZZvUPf0nJopMMAjGNgxcc8tXLKrE27YQ3dwSr32Ym2YM61hesGhjWce-m5H1QE5a1piVXCm9pOcQX-pqZ1uAM98Vism/s1600/Work+of+Art+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhkhzROuQ5GEr0BQhpcBjgl1gdIgZi7bLkXdYW-Yg2H0Tnkn-5AZZvUPf0nJopMMAjGNgxcc8tXLKrE27YQ3dwSr32Ym2YM61hesGhjWce-m5H1QE5a1piVXCm9pOcQX-pqZ1uAM98Vism/s320/Work+of+Art+2.png" width="320" xaa="true" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Work of Art 1</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPXv3sK2UQpWNOCt7h1aC2l9UzqKHfoNs_B4H5tiJn-1fJO7ZW7lblyEdGJmf7h5c50MFv3E-ogENfS3ZP96BsVh0CxlIe8Da40DWakcgB2aqlclk49ohrLikIs_5T9NeJC98y64vWKIm8/s1600/Works+of+Art+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPXv3sK2UQpWNOCt7h1aC2l9UzqKHfoNs_B4H5tiJn-1fJO7ZW7lblyEdGJmf7h5c50MFv3E-ogENfS3ZP96BsVh0CxlIe8Da40DWakcgB2aqlclk49ohrLikIs_5T9NeJC98y64vWKIm8/s320/Works+of+Art+1.png" width="320" xaa="true" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Work of Art 2</td></tr>
</tbody></table><em>As you can probably tell I am really committed to creating a successful wall paper design business. Don't tell me you don't want these on your bathroom walls. And I am totally willing to let you submit designs you've created <a href="http://escher.epfl.ch/escher/">here</a> to my business where I will then take credit for them and rake in the money.</em><br />
<br />
I also drew this pig. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiij04zyk6ghSdBA4HopxugX7A_1xbR2yfTL2DrB0aampKZXjzuMo0S1OkC3xxNc4hWQrBM8LsYDMkupHBJDI8QAaGXjq2pS6or0ZPeTNHeD6nrAevNVe02rKnaS0PneSuCdOyQYTT62Mga/s1600/my+pig.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiij04zyk6ghSdBA4HopxugX7A_1xbR2yfTL2DrB0aampKZXjzuMo0S1OkC3xxNc4hWQrBM8LsYDMkupHBJDI8QAaGXjq2pS6or0ZPeTNHeD6nrAevNVe02rKnaS0PneSuCdOyQYTT62Mga/s1600/my+pig.jpg" xaa="true" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That weird squiggle behind the pig is supposed to be a trough. In case you didn't get that.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Supposedly my artistic ability with a laptop mouse pad says a lot about my personality. According to the expert opinion of the people at <a href="http://drawapig.desktopcreatures.com/">http://drawapig.desktopcreatures.com/</a> I am positive and optimistic, direct, enjoy playing devil's advocate and neither fear nor avoid discussions, emotional and naive, care little for details and am a risk-taker. I am also secure, stubborn, and stick to my ideals, am an okay listener, and have a not so good sex life <em>(apparently if I had a good sex life I would have drawn a much bigger tail).</em><br />
And last but not least I wrote an awesome letter to you my dear reader. And trust me it is amazing! I mean I wrote it in back hair. But since it is flash and I'm not all that smart at adding things beyond links and pictures to this blog you must click <a href="http://hairy-mail.com/?key=72E0AFAD7B474518A7A0F3915459837E">HERE</a>.<br />
<br />
Yeah that's right I wrote "I'm I pirate bitches" in <a href="http://www.fissio.com/pirate.pl">pirate speak</a> on a hairy mans back. <a href="http://hairy-mail.com/">Write me a note back</a> if you dare! But remember, I'm a pirate bitches!!!Delinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12798309934390398414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1492071416914043898.post-78943103228895980502011-08-30T18:31:00.000-07:002011-08-30T18:31:55.288-07:00I really shouldn't have to tell you this but apparently I do1. If I can smell your perfume from a block away you probably are wearing too much. <br />
<br />
2. Don't eat ethnic food on an airplane. No one wants to be stuck in a tiny plane for hours smelling your chinese leftovers.<br />
<br />
3. The left laine is for fast drivers, not drivers who feel like they are pushing the limit when they go 5 under. Seriously drivers of the midwest get in the right lane (and I am not just speaking directionally here).<br />
<br />
4. Posting passive agressive statuses on Facebook when you are mad at someone is not going to solve anything. Stop telling everyone but the person who upset you that your mad and go talk to them. Maybe then you won't have as many issues you feel the need to tell all of us about in the future.<br />
<br />
5. Texting shorthands are not real words. It takes longer to say LOL than it does to laugh, and you won't sound like a preteen.<br />
<br />
6. Public bathroom stalls are not the appropriate place to hold a phone conversation. You do know that when a person flushes it shoots little tiny particals of pee and poo into the air probably getting it all over your phone right? And you are holding that phone really close to your mouth.... (Plus its just weird I can't imagine the person on the other end wants to hear that.)<br />
<br />
7. No my dog isn't mean, but if you ride your bike full speed up on his ass he will probably growl at you.<br />
<br />
8. No one really wants to hear about your baby's bowel movements. Unless of course it involves them shooting you in the face with pee or something similarly hilarious.<br />
<br />
9. Starting to cluster up around the gate before the gate attendant even says that boarding is starting does not get you on the airplane faster. It just makes it a pain in the butt for anyone who is trying to get to the next gate down and anyone who is called to board before you.<br />
<br />
10. Leaning your seat back on an airplane is the fastest way to ensure someone is plotting to kill you. And while my plots never pan out I will try my best to jab my knee into your back through the chair.<br />
<br />
What about you my dear readership (of about 2), do you have anything to add to the list?<br />
<br />
Delinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12798309934390398414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1492071416914043898.post-51373350185121424602011-08-24T19:40:00.000-07:002011-08-24T19:40:21.765-07:00High School Health Class Scarred Me for LifeAnd no not in the way that you're probably thinking. I actually managed to be sick the day they showed "The Miracle of Life". So my issues with pregnancy, labor, and babies are all of my own making. However, I was there the day that my teacher told us to see if we could make our thumb and pointer finger touch when we wrapped them around our wrist bone. (Kind of like the whole seeing if your hands can reach when you hug someone but with your wrist...) This seems innocent enough but trust me it so isn't. Apparently healthy non-fat people were supposed to be able to have their fingers not only touch but overlap a bit. I however could not even get mine to touch.<br />
<br />
Ever since this day I have lived in constant fear of the frist. You know what I am talking about, the wrist version of a cankle. Its completely irrational because even now when I weight 10lbs more than I weighed then I know I am not at risk for either. Despite this I still find myself subconsiously grabbing my wrist just to check that my fingers still touch. (Yes I can touch now, though still no overlap. Somehow while gaining 10 lbs my wrists got skinnier? Or maybe my fingers got longer?) I just realized this today when I was sitting at my desk and had for the 5th time checked to make sure my fingers were actually touching. They weren't yesterday. Maybe I ate too much salt that day?<br />
<br />
Thank you 10th grade health class. Delinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12798309934390398414noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1492071416914043898.post-77046519569196207502011-06-15T08:12:00.000-07:002011-06-15T08:12:18.630-07:00Catching UpToday I am sitting alone, sick, in a hotel room. To make myself feel less bored and lonely I was catching up on all the blogs I love to read and realized its been FOREVER since I last wrote. Okay so it hasn't been forever, but it has been five months. Its amazing how much has changed in that short of a time though.<br />
<br />
First off I am no longer working up in Tahoe at the hospital. I quit that job to be a Medical IT consultant. I work Monday through Thursday onsite with my client and then get to spend the rest of the week with my wonderful boyfriend and puppies. I admit I was pretty nervous about all the travelling but its actually been really great.<br />
<br />
Next big change is that my little sister is now married. On June 11th she was married to a wonderful man, Aman Makaju, and we are so happy for both of them. It is wonderful seeing them together. You can just tell they are both so happy to be with each other. Now they just need to start making me little nieces and nephews...And yes pictures of that will be coming soon!<br />
<br />
Finally we are moving! Yep thats right we will be officially living in Pittsburgh PA as of July 3. It took a lot of work to find a landlord that would rent us their house with our two adorable puppies but we finally found one and I am so excited to move in. I've realized I'm way more domestic than I thought when the pictures of the kitchen is what completely sold me on the house. Next thing you know I'll be picking out cars based on their cupholders...(lets hope that never actually happens).<br />
<br />
Otherwise life has been pretty normal. Maybe someday it will be exciting enough for me to post more than twice a year :)Delinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12798309934390398414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1492071416914043898.post-72240648110294308172010-11-23T20:08:00.000-08:002010-11-23T20:10:02.244-08:00Snow Day Fun!<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Yep thats right, even grown-ups get snow days in the mountains. At least you do when they close the roads so you can't actually drive in to work. I have to say that is one of the incredibly nice things about working for an IT department. We have the ability to work from any computer, so instead of dealing with the white out conditions, I could monitor my e-mail from my phone and spend most of the day having fun. And oh what fun we had. </div><br />
Early this morning Jay and I took Jaxson and Atlas out to the park across the street so that they could play in the snow. Its so funny how much our dogs love to run around in the stuff. Here are some pictures from our fun at the park <br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibBBx7ReoVPCr75XHlll8knuILhbcgci6W6wuG-mVjad5w3POOX8FM503iAl8PhAWI2NnGzl68qQUXydJuqrTm_r3fWet8Zv860QSFgygw9wWoPFu4Q8xYjNKXM7ZPHNhiiWJGBbjRU7vA/s1600/snow+day+1+11-23-2010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibBBx7ReoVPCr75XHlll8knuILhbcgci6W6wuG-mVjad5w3POOX8FM503iAl8PhAWI2NnGzl68qQUXydJuqrTm_r3fWet8Zv860QSFgygw9wWoPFu4Q8xYjNKXM7ZPHNhiiWJGBbjRU7vA/s320/snow+day+1+11-23-2010.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jay thought standing under the tree <br />
would protect him from the snow....</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUlayIyUgv-fNRTgYdfchyMF4ILomo3foahoO6cGKH08qv0KX0LyYzRYc7QyRYz-S4CAYHm2_2TSQX_vAw957LSpgkVGKYb5QAgojyOZ4qE8Gf4UeC4c2_ZcdbdKCWdxBOz5lfdyn1RcE5/s1600/snow+day+3+11-23-2010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUlayIyUgv-fNRTgYdfchyMF4ILomo3foahoO6cGKH08qv0KX0LyYzRYc7QyRYz-S4CAYHm2_2TSQX_vAw957LSpgkVGKYb5QAgojyOZ4qE8Gf4UeC4c2_ZcdbdKCWdxBOz5lfdyn1RcE5/s200/snow+day+3+11-23-2010.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...but it didn't protect him from this <br />
snowball I hit him with...<br />
it stuck to his back :)</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7MrnKBdJr9Ac16dbfJL-3iX7Xm7OiC0rYgXndiT4lOJIocTVZaxOPYww1xM0yMezoqRXJNczIoXWrEct-HCRjVaTqG-2t7iOPUbyH6FXnZAtoj68KSrnzt4uMuE-yQgxI2AECJsMkpfak/s1600/snow+day+9+11-23-2010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7MrnKBdJr9Ac16dbfJL-3iX7Xm7OiC0rYgXndiT4lOJIocTVZaxOPYww1xM0yMezoqRXJNczIoXWrEct-HCRjVaTqG-2t7iOPUbyH6FXnZAtoj68KSrnzt4uMuE-yQgxI2AECJsMkpfak/s200/snow+day+9+11-23-2010.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Isn't the park all covered in snow pretty!</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizyarmnMj8dY_S99c75flF4W0bdIZRxSbvvsPb4TGEfxzylUSOrA12Y-L16NhELOGugT2lkEMAFqtTwVA4U-v_ghlJFihCbG6PtRQ9uG6Gkp5DcXgRPsGOaRfq8p-S9_MsjAKytwdfzGZs/s1600/snow+day+8+11-23-2010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizyarmnMj8dY_S99c75flF4W0bdIZRxSbvvsPb4TGEfxzylUSOrA12Y-L16NhELOGugT2lkEMAFqtTwVA4U-v_ghlJFihCbG6PtRQ9uG6Gkp5DcXgRPsGOaRfq8p-S9_MsjAKytwdfzGZs/s200/snow+day+8+11-23-2010.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jaxson and Atlas ruined the pristine <br />
snow look pretty quickly.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdQs4CtFVDdji76iTPV_dorhkJb5fsgkv4Nby3nL77kSs1PuAOz-M0EDUqPPgfLnkcC2CxML2pnFe9HPe92-UjFEwtRZOXL2PYOJ9t_0kinLky1-SdLBoGonUq-Vo-6BSPAvGv37dBrLqZ/s1600/snow+day+6+11-23-2010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdQs4CtFVDdji76iTPV_dorhkJb5fsgkv4Nby3nL77kSs1PuAOz-M0EDUqPPgfLnkcC2CxML2pnFe9HPe92-UjFEwtRZOXL2PYOJ9t_0kinLky1-SdLBoGonUq-Vo-6BSPAvGv37dBrLqZ/s200/snow+day+6+11-23-2010.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Atlas' first snow day ever!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlzkrUVpwiYEZhzVg8hL6u3C2B6_1VC84qQmHIzq3E1pqKcq7gwirGak2hfvpKCn5WU3nqG95Yb1a0-9ayKzTNNPLT9ZVHippltx5J7FB7Ptvc3adQwdUvuH2cn56QohuHV44Vp-WoHSn3/s1600/snow+day+4+11-23-2010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlzkrUVpwiYEZhzVg8hL6u3C2B6_1VC84qQmHIzq3E1pqKcq7gwirGak2hfvpKCn5WU3nqG95Yb1a0-9ayKzTNNPLT9ZVHippltx5J7FB7Ptvc3adQwdUvuH2cn56QohuHV44Vp-WoHSn3/s320/snow+day+4+11-23-2010.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My sad little snowman...I know its hard to see but he is there!</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">After fun time at the park, the puppies and I group cuddled and relaxed with some Madagascar. We definitely looked like a little pack laying all together on my bed. Though that may not be a good thing when Jay and I actually decide to spring for a bed that is more than a futon mattress on the floor. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> <br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Jay and I also finished our Thanksgiving day preperations today with some shopping for the last few ingrediants on our list, and then a trip to Scheels to pick up my race day packet for the 10K Turkey Trot I'm running Thanksgiving morning. Neither of us had ever been to Scheels and the only thing I knew about it was it was a giant sporting goods store. Well guess what...it is a sporting good store that sells some kickin' homemade fudge. How awesome is that?! It also has cool displays of outdoorsy stuff all over the place. Here are some pictures Jay and I thought were cool:</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXa3eHfr8MIlMbRILRy9tGCtFQZRx_xg8OJPCeHxxjFDlF8uG33RYkKutshdHpTR5a2kkzFhi-kJMgXYX5uCclic3e8Ircb21pwvpnMOHRRhsfIYfhRjd11zixcrrI8iQw_9vySLzMIiw7/s1600/scheels+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXa3eHfr8MIlMbRILRy9tGCtFQZRx_xg8OJPCeHxxjFDlF8uG33RYkKutshdHpTR5a2kkzFhi-kJMgXYX5uCclic3e8Ircb21pwvpnMOHRRhsfIYfhRjd11zixcrrI8iQw_9vySLzMIiw7/s320/scheels+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: right;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOu0eOpG84i4bx8bf5LhpjdrjEeLkVS_T3wanYbqCay_LwKn1_s22g1z-hF7sH_LBm9yn-QyktHMmIfBiPBF1rfq-XtDBDIg7lsmhq96293WNZL7YzAP45YWApAMuCTX7ntGx5erK1oNwu/s1600/scheels+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOu0eOpG84i4bx8bf5LhpjdrjEeLkVS_T3wanYbqCay_LwKn1_s22g1z-hF7sH_LBm9yn-QyktHMmIfBiPBF1rfq-XtDBDIg7lsmhq96293WNZL7YzAP45YWApAMuCTX7ntGx5erK1oNwu/s320/scheels+3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHpr5HQ0VTnj1zP8jZBX3LVOC-WGw0kYVuOdB9_5cifECQLEhy6tQVYTwpMnutMAVKNe7aJ08SdXLnECy-SDhXPTqpwcvrhcP31UmZqBc1bMQ79JwfjYqko7cslCRTW82oJCWftszN9TZQ/s1600/scheels+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHpr5HQ0VTnj1zP8jZBX3LVOC-WGw0kYVuOdB9_5cifECQLEhy6tQVYTwpMnutMAVKNe7aJ08SdXLnECy-SDhXPTqpwcvrhcP31UmZqBc1bMQ79JwfjYqko7cslCRTW82oJCWftszN9TZQ/s320/scheels+2.jpg" width="238" /></a></div> <br />
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Of course the day had some hiccups. We got home from the store and realized that a pipe under our sink was leaking grossness all over the place. But luckily I have an awesome boyfriend who cleaned everything up for me. All I had to do was rinse out rags in the bathtub and start the wash when it was all over. Who can complain about that?</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">All in all it was an awesome day. And now I am going to go curl up with a good book and my boys on the couch! Happy snow day all!! </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Delinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12798309934390398414noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1492071416914043898.post-58436534523866832592010-11-20T11:16:00.000-08:002010-11-20T12:15:15.662-08:00Joining the UnperfectsMy friend Sarah, recently posted about <a href="http://theyoungestmoecks.blogspot.com/2010/11/for-jennifer-kunz-and-rest-of-un.html">celebrating the unperfectness of our lives</a>, and I thought it was a great idea. I know my posts have been negative recently and this one doesn't seem like it would be adding any happiness, but actually I think the unperfect parts of life are the most interesting and fun. And though they provide stress, I am happy that my life isn't just a fairytale ending. I like the blood sweat and tears that make up my life.<br />
<br />
So here it goes 10 things that make me so far from perfect:<br />
<br />
1) I hate taking my dog on walks. I know that sounds terrible, but its true. He doesn't walk easily, and its so boring to just walk around the neighborhood. Of course if I had trained him better when he was a puppy I'm sure he would walk like a pro, but I didn't. And so instead he is constantly pulling, rips my arm out of my socket if he sees another dog before I have a chance to brace myself, and sometimes thinks its a great idea to try and take the leash away from me.<br />
<br />
2) I have only run 7 times since I finished my marathon in July. Thats right, I trained for 6 months, and now have lost a huge amount of the gains I made because I've had no drive to run. When people at work ask me, I try and make it sound like I've been keeping up the running, but I haven't. Just last Sunday was my first run since the marathon that was longer than 3 miles.<br />
<br />
3) I am way in debt. Be it student loans, loans from my parents, a car loan, or credit card, its going to take me 2 years of severe austerity just to get myself down to only having my student loans. And thats only if I am super good about sticking to my budget. Which means no fun trips, no skiing, no nothing. I don't know if I am going to be able to do it, but I really want to.<br />
<br />
4) I'm jealous of married couples. I know I say I don't care and don't want to rush into marriage. But sometimes thats complete bull.<br />
<br />
5) I burn food more often than I don't.<br />
<br />
6) I spend most weekends in my pjs. Sometimes I get the energy up to actually make myself presentable, but it just seems like such a waste of time. I never go anywhere besides the store it seems and who cares if I am in sweats at the store?<br />
<br />
7) I've wanted to write a book since 7th grade, and so far have only made it through the first page of about 3 different attempts. I just have no imagination it would appear.<br />
<br />
8) I don't care about watching basketball. Sure I talk a big game about how basketball is the best sport in the world, but I honestly don't really watch until March Madness usually. Jay who thinks basketball is one of the worst sports watches more of it than I do.<br />
<br />
9) Since I was 6 weeks old, I've never been outside of the United States. I've always wanted to travel to Europe, Asia, really everywhere but I never follow through on my dreams. I don't have the willpower to actually commit and save for anything.<br />
<br />
10) Even though I know how to eat healthy, given the choice of a cheeseburger or a salad, I'd probably pick the cheeseburger 95% of the time. And of course the next day I feel fat and gross, but it doesn't matter the next time I'm given the choice I would still pick the cheeseburger.<br />
<br />
There you go. I am sooo far from perfect. But the funny thing is, I actually had to think hard to come up with 10 things that aren't perfect in my life. Despite all of these things, I have a really great life. And it feels good to look my baggage in the face and say, you will not drag me down. Despite you I am happy!Delinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12798309934390398414noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1492071416914043898.post-22656622466591387652010-11-18T19:55:00.000-08:002010-11-18T19:55:22.836-08:00The Never-Ending BattleRecently I have been feeling really unhappy with my body image. Every time I look in the mirror, I swear I'm noticeably fatter. I'm petrified of the scale, and when I finally get the courage up to weigh myself I am only let down more by either a lack of movement or a small gain. I feel like I'm in a losing battle and there is nothing I can do about it.<br />
<br />
Did I always used to feel this way? I try and think back to a time when I was happy with my body and I honestly can't remember that time ever existing. I can remember not caring. But thats not the same as being happy. I do remember the moment that I started to care though. It was fourth grade. We got weighed by the school nurse. I weighed 99 lbs. Now I definitely wasn't fat, I was also 4ft 11in at the time and so that gave me a BMI of right around 20. I'd kill to have a BMI of 20 right now. But as a 10 year old its hard to be rational all the time, and when all your friends weigh around 75 lbs and you weigh basically 25 lbs more than them it doesn't matter that you're a perfectly healthy weight for your size, all that matters is you weigh SO much more than everyone else.<br />
<br />
Since then, I have never been happy or comfortable with my weight or body. All through middle school and high school I was terrified of ever being asked my weight. While my skinny beautiful friends would talk about their 26 inch waists I would hope that they didn't want to know my waist size (it was only 28 inches, but in comparison that seems like a lot). While my friends tried on their size 4 jeans I would grab my size 8s as fast as possible and immediately try and hide the label so no one would know how much bigger I was.<br />
<br />
Why have I contined to terrorized myself for the last 14 years of my life? Why can't I just be happy that I am safely in the healthy range for weight and body fat composition? Honestly, I have no idea. I wish I did. I'm completely at a loss. I keep telling myself maybe if I get down to my dream weight of 140 lbs I'll be happy. But I remember being 138 lbs my freshman year of college (a feat that was only accomplished through exercise and severe and constant nausea due to stress), I was no happier. In fact I didn't really notice much difference at the time. Maybe someday I'll discover the answer. Until then I guess its back to the daily battle with body image. Let me know if you have Excalibur hidden somewhere, I'd be happy for the help.Delinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12798309934390398414noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1492071416914043898.post-85090617390133166052010-11-07T17:59:00.000-08:002010-11-07T18:08:07.167-08:00Outside Looking InIts a strange feeling, realizing that your more of an outsider than an insider in your own group of family and friends. Now when I peruse Facebook I see inside jokes between siblings, high-school friends hanging out together, and great friends moving on in life far far away from my own.<br />
<br />
I know it is my own fault. I chose to go to a school across the country from my friends and family.And of course when we all graduated from college we went our separate ways, me especially far away to Reno. But it doesn't seem fair. On TV you always see the friends who move in together after college, and are like a surrogate family to each other. That sounds so nice.Why can't I at least have that? Instead I live in a state where I know pretty much no one. And even the people I know I wouldn't feel comfortable calling up and seeing if they want to hang out.<br />
<br />
Now don't get me wrong. I love living with Jay and my two puppies. I mean look how cute they are together:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSQrAi1N6_k9qRz2U5qWr2qtT5QWpxKBZ6DlrulAEJrYu74mRL55IF0PsWsASZsnkXWS9e3MpAyC73X3SXw8I5ZYwKUkF-t2WI0cw8Efj9v_MDsyOTr4MMID2n9BQ7dvBlDymJwfAGO_y7/s1600/my+boys.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSQrAi1N6_k9qRz2U5qWr2qtT5QWpxKBZ6DlrulAEJrYu74mRL55IF0PsWsASZsnkXWS9e3MpAyC73X3SXw8I5ZYwKUkF-t2WI0cw8Efj9v_MDsyOTr4MMID2n9BQ7dvBlDymJwfAGO_y7/s320/my+boys.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
But I do miss having friends to hang out with and talk to on a regular basis. While Facebook has made it easier to keep in touch with people it has also made it easier to see how all those people you wouldn't have kept in touch with are doing. Life seems like it has suddenly become a race, and I am falling far behind the pack.Delinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12798309934390398414noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1492071416914043898.post-14443644812183185102010-11-06T14:49:00.000-07:002010-11-06T14:49:03.282-07:00Happiness is.......a clean house!<br />
<br />
Okay, I know that seems weird, but honestly it is amazing the difference in my happiness levels when my apartment is clean. I don't know why I ever let it get dirty! (Well yes I do, I get lazy, but you know what I mean.) Luckily Jay also really likes things clean, so we never get truly out of hand, but even the small difference having a clean, picked up floor makes is noticeable. Which is probably why my wonderful boyfriend knew the best birthday present he could have gotten me was a new vacuum.<br />
<br />
Yes it sounds lame I know. Turning 24 years old and her biggest wish is for a vacuum. I don't care though. When you have 2 dogs who track in the outdoors every time they have to pee, going a month with a broken vacuum is WAY too long. Just looking at the clean floor now makes me smile.<br />
<br />
Here are a few other things that make me happy:<br />
<br />
That tired feeling after a really good workout.<br />
<br />
Seeing my adorable dogs having the time of their lives at the dog park.<br />
<br />
Tasting a delicious creation I've made after spending WAY too long in the kitchen.<br />
<br />
Laying on the couch with Jay.<br />
<br />
Knowing that I have an awesome family who will always be there for me.<br />
<br />
Drinking hot cocoa and enjoying the cool fall weather (from the safety of my couch)<br />
<br />
NappingDelinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12798309934390398414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1492071416914043898.post-60678149013764165842010-10-06T10:20:00.000-07:002010-10-06T10:20:54.339-07:00How Important Is It?Yesterday while I was at the gym I happened to overhear a personal trainer talking to one of her clients. The personal trainer was asking her client what she had done in the last couple of weeks. Was she exercising and following the plan? Why wasn’t she pushing herself? Was her family being supportive and helping make sure she had some time to dedicate to herself? And then she asked a profound question, “How important is this to you?”. The client quickly said it was important, but immediately started listing off excuses as to why she wasn’t dedicating herself. The personal trainer stopped her and asked again “How important is this to you?”.<br />
<br />
<br />
Maybe to you this doesn’t seem like that profound of a question, but to me in that moment it was a revelation. So often through my life I have struggled to stay motivated and meet the challenges and goals I make for myself. But how important were those goals to me really? If the goal of not eating junk food for a month was so important then why when I had my first craving did I give in? Is my goal less important to me than being able to eat whatever I want whenever I want? Is having that shiny new electronic or new shirt more important than my goal of sticking to my budget and saving for the eminent rainy day? <br />
<br />
When I ask myself this, the obvious answer is “No”. Of course saving money or eating healthier is more important. But my actions show my real answer. Yes that junk food, at that moment, was more important to me that feeling good about myself and eating healthy. Yes that new shirt was more important than having another $30 saved for when I really need it to buy food or pay the bills. Actions in this case not only speak louder than words, they drown the words out completely. So how do I change so that my stated priorities are my real priorities? Honestly I don’t know. For now though I will just try and ask myself when I am torn between doing the thing I know I should do and the thing I want to do. “How important is it?” Maybe forcing myself to acknowledge my priorities or change them will put me on the right path. I’ll never know until I try.Delinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12798309934390398414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1492071416914043898.post-40459757835924063072010-09-27T17:00:00.001-07:002010-09-27T17:00:35.878-07:00Da Bears!Delinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12798309934390398414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1492071416914043898.post-51038323914736719552010-09-25T09:10:00.000-07:002010-09-25T09:16:52.036-07:00Time FliesIts been a little more than a month since the last time I posted, but it seems like it should have been years considering how drastically my life has changed since then. Here are a few highlights of the past month:<br />
<br />
I flew to Pittsburgh to help Jay pack up and move out to Reno<br />
<br />
We drove 3 days across country, stopping in Utah to have a reunion with my family and some awesome extended family I haven't seen in years.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS_lDTYK6GAEI2uQ0ZPGwb5ZwYcV-m6HUTi2WNL4JEnYcugVtaTwZDazTeg5bn70EHaJS_pR24eKN6a1HCk-pymyzjc1u_RO2_9R8U8VOWXjXQ9lUyXHmyvVcct-p9-XpVn-itMKLQhwlS/s320/Cross+Country+Road+Trip+Views+1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The never ending road....</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS_lDTYK6GAEI2uQ0ZPGwb5ZwYcV-m6HUTi2WNL4JEnYcugVtaTwZDazTeg5bn70EHaJS_pR24eKN6a1HCk-pymyzjc1u_RO2_9R8U8VOWXjXQ9lUyXHmyvVcct-p9-XpVn-itMKLQhwlS/s1600/Cross+Country+Road+Trip+Views+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><br />
We added a second puppy to our family. (Who went through probably 10 names before we landed on Atlas/Monkey. Though I still just call him Monster or Little Man, he may have an identity crisis in the near future thanks to our indecisiveness.)<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcRCTH43Yj0Yi0sj0TRiJ5yTL429UbAW1Tols50gDDC_hJPOOrsM2QA7Xg81eO5L5xYnNLWUSYWxZKhGZY0uuDbPgbBGrLULBAdQr6bRRQw6oLAG9sFGuHhjWlCYEnbGVF2eBKlqM-yYdD/s200/dexter+2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="200" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little Atlas</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Jay moved in with me. (Yes that means I am now drastically out numbered with 3 boys in the house.)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
And finally....I became an Aunt! My nephew Aireus Kane McCann was born at 10 pm on Thursday, making me a proud aunt of an adorably huge baby. He weighs in at 8lbs 11 oz and 21.5 inches even coming a week early. We are so thankful that it was an easy delivery and that he is healthy.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-kuuLBwCchWXXM8-oB2mgwY0JkMLTm87E7ENIb3ehLKjG4l1bJrsNLfvl_RTGjhXWl5nKuvYzcByDG_Ap2ZL-vjbr6syln7KOh1LmrtTIpUdEyH0yCaHZscVuVkrnaufDh0hKqLatMlph/s1600/aireus+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-kuuLBwCchWXXM8-oB2mgwY0JkMLTm87E7ENIb3ehLKjG4l1bJrsNLfvl_RTGjhXWl5nKuvYzcByDG_Ap2ZL-vjbr6syln7KOh1LmrtTIpUdEyH0yCaHZscVuVkrnaufDh0hKqLatMlph/s200/aireus+2.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ9xLsgvdUGAeWXmvna0N-krRrSTiWIlhW1jD-A81JcZ1iOdTg4DvZ9j7i4DixQZREuENW1IjL8AFowAU3UxVBoMiVFqhD4yNjpg1ZLX0yNyt32ZqiXvzzrkuu4xV7NQhWipwyp1suDPg0/s1600/aireus+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="111" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ9xLsgvdUGAeWXmvna0N-krRrSTiWIlhW1jD-A81JcZ1iOdTg4DvZ9j7i4DixQZREuENW1IjL8AFowAU3UxVBoMiVFqhD4yNjpg1ZLX0yNyt32ZqiXvzzrkuu4xV7NQhWipwyp1suDPg0/s200/aireus+3.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
So as you can see life is good. I love having my boys around, though it is killing my food budget. We may have to work on adjusting that. But otherwise I have nothing to complain about. I am happy and so blessed.<br />
<br />
Here are some views from one of our many adventures:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR6UigPFcUa4koVUvadDJw7nJt-gmVeXfqbGAOUQOnrSmlnx_FhzoTwX91jmrMMr2de3jV4RdQ2TqqDG-u2HYL6OJoZzI-ftFHjk2GNKlSnkIorj4rn9NHYZAmpPTmGP1gaMINs8GZzL8e/s320/Hiking+to+Velma+Lake+1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jay and my mountain climbing dog (he thinks hes a goat).</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1FxaoidGVydAYm-RaIO3L1Ew2eArrlG5XKat09jA78w8YwGgwVdoe11eitaVdB4wIzk8MJg6EmWWHsN-LtmPluJbD-O5hz2n6ggxmjriG4sdh3xigwKKLUsfNOpDP0Zvbj-8n4eIiQnLb/s320/Hiking+to+Velma+Lake+4.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A cool forest we came across.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjwH_TOwJ0UDSFwJJnaIz7rYLvfaqGRNL-LlAPky1vzAh1KhQWtDdERO_njvqgMaEzCSbILmnju3DkvmordQIU1znly94QFmdS1vj70iYW-LcZPBqVtjML4abARA-KuyPR0Y3lNf_uRbES/s1600/Hiking+to+Velma+Lake+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEwGOUWnSdCWqQ_wlRWSwO7hWMuxx1CSU_g7xzDAXaofto5iwuhwHe1R47nzrazW01dXA2z41bevY7ojnLfF-DsOtPwg_9I5xzZTvyKVAtM6mjCA9xqu4_PywdS22AsZ4lVG82BbEPaqe9/s320/Views+of+Lake+Tahoe+1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Views from our hike.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Delinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12798309934390398414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1492071416914043898.post-47652075195458697062010-08-15T21:05:00.000-07:002010-08-15T22:07:31.005-07:00Life Lessons Learned in TrafficOver the last few weeks I have spent many many hours sitting in construction related traffic trying to get home from work.And at the time it seemed like an unbearable ordeal. But looking back at it in light of the events that occurred this past week (my car getting hit in the parking lot of the gym, among other things) I've come to realize there are much worse things in life than even a lot of traffic. Here are some other lessons I've learned:<br />
<br />
1. Construction signs lie approximately 50% of the time.<br />
2. Going over 10 miles per hour for longer than 30 seconds is exciting.<br />
3. The Black Eyed Peas get annoying really really fast.<br />
4. If you see a car with a lot of shiny chrome detailing or a giant spoiler that obviously doesn't match the car douchbaggery is probably afoot.<br />
5. No matter how annoying it is to see motorcycles driving in between the two lanes of traffic you should not open your door really fast in hopes they collide with it. They actually are legally allowed to do that when traffic is at a stand still.<br />
6. Being self-righteous doesn't get you anywhere in life but stuck in the slow lane.<br />
7. It is fun to drive down the center of the road to prevent jerks in the back from cutting in the merge line.(And apparently very common out here, I've never seen people do that before.)<br />
8. If I am ever cornered by a angry herd of cattle my dog will defend me.<br />
9. Being stuck next to 3 cattle trucks for 2 hours is not fun for your nose.<br />
10. Go to the bathroom before you get in your car. 2 hours is a long time to hold it. (Though it does make that next trip to the bathroom one of the best experiences ever.)<br />
11.Learn from past mistakes. While holding it for an hour isn't as bad as two it still sucks to need to pee while stuck in traffic.<br />
12. And finally attitude is everything. If you stop thinking about how much it sucks to be stuck in traffic, you will not be nearly as upset about the whole experience.<br />
<br />
Along with these lovely realizations I have had some other exciting things happen this week. I found out that while I don't have cancer, I did have a <a href="http://dermatology.cdlib.org/102/original/spindle/maurichi.html">Spindle Cell Nevus</a> that needed to be removed, and now have 3 lovely blue stitches in its place. I also found an awesome website <a href="http://mint.com/">Mint.com</a> that allows you to create budgets and track your spending, savings, debts etc and make financial goals along with plans on how to meet those goals. It is pretty much the sweetest thing ever. It is a partner of Quicken which I've tried to use many times but could just never get into the habit of, but I think this site will be different. Already I've made a budget and if I stick to it I can be completely debt free (minus my student loans) with a good rainy day fund in savings in just 2 years time. Its going to take some discipline but I can do it! I'm so excited. Admittedly 2 years is a long ways away but really in the span of my life its not that far away and if I can get my financial life straightened out by the time I'm 25 I'll count that as an amazing success.<br />
<br />
As for my other goals. I failed at all of them this week. I went to the gym only once (which is where my car got hit in the parking lot). I did not do a good job of drinking enough water. Though I did put in more effort than usual. And I definitely wasted money on candy, but that should be changing as I start to stick to my new budget (which does not have candy anywhere in it).But even though I failed at all of my goals I actually am feeling really good about myself. Its been a rough week but a good one and I am on my way to even bigger an better things!Delinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12798309934390398414noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1492071416914043898.post-41552441613521371702010-08-08T21:04:00.000-07:002010-08-08T21:04:04.376-07:00Falling down to EarthI always thought that when I managed to accomplish something monumental it would be life changing. Like somehow I would suddenly be able to do anything. Now two weeks after running and finishing my first marathon I know how wrong I was. Instead of feeling powerful and in control I feel like I am spiraling back down to earth where reality has once again beaten me into submission. I am not any more able to stick to my goals now than I was 3 weeks ago. In fact I feel less motivated. I'm struggling to even think of goals that are worth accomplishing.<br />
<br />
Of course there are always the stock goals to fall back on like "I want to workout consistently", or "I want to kick the candy habit", even the "I want to not hate myself when I look in the mirror" one has been floating around. The problem is I've never been motivated enough to tackle those goals before and today is no different. Instead of feeling like I can do whatever I set my mind to when I think about those goals I feel like I am doomed to failure. Two weeks after accomplishing the hardest thing I've ever set out to do I am already falling back into the perpetual <a href="http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/2010/06/this-is-why-ill-never-be-adult.html">guilt cycle</a>.<br />
<br />
Can I break the cycle? I have no idea. But I am going to try. This is my new goal: embrace and accept my ADD. I am never going to be one of those people who can stick to every plan they make but I can be someone who doesn't hate myself when get distracted by a pretty flower, a new book, or just the siren song of a few more minutes of sleep. Of course this goal is hard to track the progress of so I have a few other goals I plan on working on too. For this week: drink 72 oz of water each day, whenever I feel like complaining about something add "but it doesn't matter" to the end of the complaint, exercise 3 days this week, and don't spend money on candy. Seems reasonable right?Delinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12798309934390398414noreply@blogger.com0