Happy Birthday Dad!

I miss you so much.  Hard to believe it has been 8 months.

This weekend I am going to have a Rusty Nail in your honor.

Then maybe some Royal Clown!!!

End of January

As January draws to a close I am down 11 pounds this month.  On top of the 20 I lost in January. That puts me at 31 pounds.  Mind you I have done this via diet alone.  I have not exercized at all.   I realllllllllyyyyyyyy  need to start.   This weekend work effort will at least be able to be done from home, so I don't have to worry about all the snacks that will be available at work.   This weekend Deb is gone on a GIRLS trip, so I am on my own.  Fun Friday night, I think I will do my grocery shopping for the week tonight.  My guess is that the store will not be that crowded.

Near the End of January

Went to cardiologist Monday.  He said that if I can lose the weight and KEEP IT OFF, he would like to take me off the blood preasure medicine.   This is strong motivation.  My project is 52 days from going live.  We have a Dress Rehersal this weekend.  What that means is that we do EVERYTHING that we will be doing the weekend we go live.  I am hoping that after these 7 weeks I can get some of the stress out of my life.  Bowling was interesting last night.   A friend of mine shot 300 - 211 - then started the last game with the first 10 strikes then threw the 11th shot a little wide and the ball came up high and he left a 4-7 and picked it up.  He shot 288  for a 799 series.  He knew that he needed the 9 count, so you could see his disapointment as soon as the 2 pins were left.  I shot 656 but CHOKED in first game.  Oh well. 

I am below 290, so around 30 pounds lost.  Good news is with the Bears out of the Super Bowl, I will not even watch the game, so not tempted to eat there.  I need to go get my knee looked at.  I should start walking, but I have not got motivated.  I wish it were a little warmer.   I really did like the running when I was doing it.   So I want to get back to that.

New Year - Goodbye 2010

Last year was a Yo-Yo year.  Started the year off right with Traycie and Jayson getting married.  Soon after that things CHANGED.  Dad had to go to dialysis then on Feb 25th our lives turned upside down for the first time with my Mom's accident.  June 1st was the next flip with my Dad passing away.   Fast forward to Dec 30th.  Things WAY UP.  Niece Reese was born at 8:08 PM to my little sister.  There were troubled times durring her pregnancy, but we know Dad was up there making sure everything went right.  The perfect ending to that day was the 10 minutes I spent "videoing" everyone in Traycie's room with Reese just inside.   The reason "videoing" is in quotes was because I did NOT have the record button pushed.  Ironically DURING the taping I even asked Traycie if she wanted video or me to take pictures.   This is SOOOOOO a Dad thing to do.  So I really felt as though just me watching it through the video was his way of "seeing" what was going on.  I think that he took those 10 minutes or so and now has them for him to view at all times.   I really wish he was here to be Grampa for Reese, she will never know how much he would have loved her.  

So Traycie is in to PINK, so is my wife.  So Reese is already SPOILED with TONS of pink clothes from Debbie. 

Now about me.
I have lost the Holiday weight.  Now I just have to workout and get back on diet.  Have not been eating alot, but I have not been following the 1,500 calories either.

Got a keyboard for Rock Band 3 for Xmas.  I AM GOING to learn to play.  My goal is to spend an hour a day learning.

Christmas come, Christmas gone (almost)

Had a great weekend celebrating Christmas.  Had my side of the Family over for Christmas Eve.  We all went to Church and then came back to our house.  We ate snick snacks, open presents and order chinese.  All was great.   Got Donkey Kong Country (oooh Tag Me Tag Me!!!!!!!!!!!!), a car phone charger for my iPhone and a U of I hand made blanket from my 9 month pregnant (and DYING, inside joke) little sister.  I have another one that I use EVERY day and now I have one for downstairs when I play my new video games, so I have MORE Orange & Blue.    Christmas Day was a busy driving day.   Left home at 11:30 to go to Glenview to pick up Deb's 96 year old grandfather.  He is still able to drive, but I just felt safer going to go get him.   So we got there at 12:15 to pick him up.  Then start the hour long trek out to St Charles.   We got to Deb's Brother's house at 1:15.   We ate snacks and opened presents.  I got a Snorkel shirt that has a Sun Factor of 35 SPF so now I can snorkel without having to lather up in sun tan lotion, or worry that my wife will spray STRIPES down my back for all to see. I also got a NEW controler for the Wii.  I got Kirby's Epic Yarn.  A wireless Keyboard for Rock Band 3 (now I just have to go buy that, Santa did not bring).  Got a realy neat pillow with UofI and the Chief on the front and when you flip it over there is a cup holder to hold my "soda".  Around 4 Lynda's family came by.   I played Kirby's epic yarn with Ryan, VERY FUN 2 player game.  Wonder if it will translate as a 1 player game.

Today we are going downtown to eat at the Walnut Room and look at the Macy's window display.   Tonight we are going to Lou Malanati's to see Deb's cousin Carol and her husband Rick.

Going into the weekend my weight was down to 295.  I figure this weekend I gained about 5 pounds.  I am going to start walking next week, so hopefully that will take some of this Holiday weight off.  I have blood work on the 7th and then meet with Doctor on the 11th.

Ok, Guess I have gone 2 weeks without writing

I can FINALLY bowl my weight again.  Weighed in at 300 this morning.   So happy that my little sister is doing great with her Baby progess.  We are having Christmas Eve at our house and this is the weekend I am supposed to eat.  Hope I don't gain to much.  I think if I keep it under 5 pounds I will be okay.  Christmas day will be a fun Driving experience.   Schaumburg to Glen View, Glen View to St Charles then reverse.   I am doing this so that we do not have to worry about Deb's Grandpa driving.  Since I never knew my Grampa, this man means a TON to me and I want him to be safe.   I love to drive.  So I was the one to offer.

WORK

I spent 10 hours at work today.  If only I would not wait until the last minute to do things, then maybe I would not have to do this.  I did get a TON done.  We had 2 good group meetings where we made some strong decissions.   It is SOOOOOO cold outside.   Listening to the Sing Off.  I LOVE A Capella music, so this show is made for me.  So holiday season is the time for parties and luncheons.  I have had to turn down 2 events to prevent giving in to temptation.   So far I am down 14 pounds, and I have YET to start exercizing.  I think tomorrow I will start.