Tuesday, January 24, 2012

I beat the dishwasher. Yes I did!


Normally, the dishes get clean from good ole elbow grease.   Well a couple of weeks ago, I figured that if I have a dishwasher, it makes sense to start using it instead of drying up my beautiful model hands. 

Well one night I attempted to use and abuse my dishwashing machine.  Well it did such a horrible job, that I tried it a second time.  Well after the second attempt, I gave up.  But I still wasn’t going to hand wash the dishes, because I have a lot of dishes in that washer. 

So I go to work and ask my coworkers.  Any humility I have was left at the door.   I’m embarrassed that I’m the only American that does not have this domestic chore in check yet.  I’m desperate to have control over this.  Well, apparently there is a trick to washing.  Everything gets washed in the “Pots & Pans” setting.  Always use heat to dry.  And use Cascade Complete (all-in-one). 

Well I went home and washed my dishes one more time.  I didn’t even take them out to re-wet them or anything.  Well… low and behold… I mastered the dishwasher.  When the dishwasher finished it’s cycle and was done drying the dishes, I hesitantly opened the machine to find my dishes not only clean, but also spotless!!! 

I want to thank Cascade, Adriana, Troy and most importantly…   my dishwasher;  for having patience with me.

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

And Now for your Listening Pleasure...

This weekend I decided to clean up my iTunes library.  Shouldn’t be too difficult, right?  Well, I’ve spent all weekend and only got through the “S” songs.  I have managed to place a dent into my library though.  I went from having 54 consecutive dates of music down to 25.6 days.  Most of my music was duplicated because I would make CD after CD of songs for my car.  This, of course, was all done before I started saving on iTunes.  As I stated, I’m up to the letter “T”.  I’m not looking forward to this letter or the letter “U”.  I have no idea how many songs that are known as Track 1, 2, 3… or Unknown Artist/Song: and to have the music set up in multiples too! 
I have a way around all these unknown tracks.  I upgraded my Shazam to the SuperDuper song finder.  Okay, so I purchased the plan where I have unlimited look-up.  So, for the next day or so, I will be busy going between my iPhone and iTunes. 
This is the best I could do for Shazam.
I know, I know… I lead a very exciting life.  So, why am I doing this?  Well, I wanted to make a new “soundtrack” for my listening pleasure.  I have to admit, this is the best soundtrack thus far!  It has some indie, rock, punk, ska, techno, swing, rancheros, folklorico, salsa, easy listening, new wave, alternative and even some country and bluegrass.  Only thing missing is my classical, but it definitely wouldn’t have blended in smoothly with the other songs I picked. 
Not my playlist.  mine is WAY cooler than this
Now… I just need to convince BF that we need to get a new speaker system for my iPod/iPhone.  My goal is to get us a Bose speaker system so we’ll be able to hear our music (okay my music) anywhere in the house.    Listening to the music from the computer speakers just isn’t cutting it anymore.


Friday, January 13, 2012

It's a Wonder...

... that there aren't more car accidents in the world.  As I drove to work this morning I witnessed at least 3 "almost" car accidents.  Crazy drivers!  One zoomed across three lanes, with out a care that he might run into any of the cars nearby.  It was as if I was watching professional drivers that do all those fancy tricks on the commercials  Two other cars forced their way into lanes where there was obviously no room for them to merge into, but they squeezed/forced their way in anyways.  What is up with people now-a-days?!?  We all know how traffic is gong to be in the morning - on the freeway.  If you are that determined to get somewhere on time, then just leave a little earlier in the morning. 



Rant over.

Thursday, January 5, 2012

Old Farmer's Advice

A long time ago I found and saved these sayings.  Hope y'all enjoy them.


Your fences need to be horse-high, pig-tight and bull-strong.

Keep skunks and bankers at a distance.

Life is simpler when you plow around the stump.

A bumble bee is considerably faster than a John Deere tractor.

Words that soak into your ears are whispered and not yelled.

Meanness don't just happen overnight.

Forgive your enemies; it messes up their heads.

Do not corner something that you know is meaner than you.

It don't take a very big person to carry a grudge.

You cannot unsay a cruel word.

Every path has a few puddles.

When you wallow with pigs, expect to get dirty.

The best sermons are lived, not preached.

Most of the stuff people worry about, ain't never gonna happen anyway.

Don't judge folks by their relatives.

Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.

Live a good and honorable life.  Then, when you get older and think back, you'll enjoy it a second time.

Don't interfere with somethin' that ain't bothering you none.

Timing has a lot to do with the outcome of a rain dance.

If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop diggin'.

Sometimes you get, and sometimes you get got.

The biggest troublemaker you'll probably ever have to deal with, watches you from the mirror every mornin'.

Always drink upstream from the herd.

Good judgment comes from experience, and a lotta that comes from bad judgment.

Lettin' the cat outta the bag is a whole lot easier than puttin' it back in.

If you get to thinkin' you're a person of some influence, try orderin' somebody else's dog around.

Live simply, love generously, care deeply, speak kindly, and leave the rest to God.

Don't pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight, he'll just kill you.

And .........................................
 

  ... Livin' is about bein' content with where we're at .... and .... expectin' more good to come our way!!

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

So I don’t look like Sofia Vergara, but she is what I aspire to look like.  I also didn't want the picture for this post to be me in fat-vision.

Here is a picture of what I currently look like.  I won’t admit my weight on the internet, but suffice it to say, that I’m still under 200 lbs.  (Thank goodness for little miracles!)  Notice the weight difference between me and my hunk-a-hunk-a-burning-love.  Ugh!  THIS is the reason I do NOT like taking pictures

This is what I want to look like again…  Contrary to what one sister thinks, I have been skinny in my past.


Well I received a book from MIL regarding weight loss and metabolism.  I joke around with her about her thinking I’m fat.  She has already stated that the reason for the book was because she has read my blog and wants to help.  (Of course MIL won brownie points with me twice on this comment.  Once for wanting to assist instead of condemn and twice for stating SHE READS MY BLOG!!!)
I read the book “The Metabolism Miracle” by Diane Kress, RD, CDE (e.i.e.i.o.)  It seems pretty easy to me.  Very much like Atkins, but with limitations.  The limitations are that protein is your friend, but shouldn’t be your only and best friend.  My only hesitiation is… another diet!!!  Oh wait… I’m not supposed to call it that.  I’m supposed to call it a Way of Living (WOE) or Way of Eating (WOE), but let’s face it.  It will be yet another diet to get on and if it works will be the diet for life.
Back to the book.  The whole premise of the book is if our metabolism is infact different than a normal metabolism is, then this new WOE should help it get back on track.  To say my metabolism is normal is a farce unless being sluggish and non-existent is normal.  I can’t really get into the ins and outs of the whole thing, but it teaches you to eat appropriately for this alternate metabolism.  What the heck, can’t be any worse than I already am – right?  It also emphasizes that exercise is required, regardless of what kind of nutritional plan you are on.  Yeah…  the word I dread the most – exercise. 

I have Step One read and seared into my brain.  I’ve purchased “The Metabolism Miracle Cookbook.”  Hey don’t judge me.  I’m going to do this all the way.  I’ve gotten my blood work done to confirm there is no reason why I can’t lose weight.  I’ve also made up my new grocery list.  Now, all I need to do is shop and sweat.