Week 4

Down another 3.8 lbs.

-8.8 lbs total.

That's a 5lb bag of potatoes and a couple melons worth of weight apparently. ;)

A picture of me my senior year is hanging on my fridge for motivation.

<--this isn't it, but it would do. :)

My terrible, horrible, no good, really bad day

Looks like a bad CARS movie, huh?

The day started off pretty good. Especially when you compare it to the middle of the day. It was sunny, I got compliments on my shirt, had a good meeting with some exciting projects, then planned on going to our "PD Fun Day" at the park for a little lunchtime break.

PREPARE FOR SOME VENTING!!!

I was driving down Rice Street, listening to my beloved Juno soundtrack, eating some carrots, and NOT talking on my cell phone (that part was unusual). I went about 1 block and glanced at my directions to see if I should take 36 East or West. It was West. Next thing I know, my head is slammed against my steering wheel (ouch) and the front of my car is crushed. I look up and see that not only did I hit one car, but I then made THAT car hit a third car. What a nightmare. The first thing I worry about is that the people in the other car are all okay, which they are, thankfully. Next, I fear for my life since, well, let's face it, Rice Street is kind of shady and I was worried about WHOSE car I ran into. Again, I was fine. I get out to survey the damage and check on the other cars. First, I see my license plate lying next to my car door. That's nice. Next, I see green coolant pouring out of my car as well as a loud screeching. That's right, I should probably turn my car off. So, I do. I cry, of course, because I'm scared and super embarassed (especially that this happened ON Rice Street). Police came and we got everything figured out (once again, I was lucky because the police officer was really, really nice). When the police officer showed up, of course the girl whose car I hit decided that her neck hurt and she should probably be checked out. While we were sitting waiting for them to come, she said, "Well, you're probably going to get the worst of it. We were parked." Gee, thanks for that uplifting remark. Then, "my car is probably totaled since it's older and all" and I reply "Well, I guess it is your lucky day then". For the record, her car was so far from "totaled" that I can't even believe it. She had a small dent. ANYWAY, I then get a mandatory ticket for "inattentive driving". My car gets towed since I can't drive it.

OK, so I make it back to our office and am lucky enough to get a ride back to Woodbury right away.

I talk to insurance and call the transport and recovery place to find out about my car (note that they don't even tell you WHERE your car is being taken. They said it was on Concordia, so thank goodness for Google). This leads me to Twin Cities Transport and Recovery. Don't ever go here if you have a choice. I call and they let me know that in order for my car to be towed for repair, I need to drive to this place and pay the fine first. They don't say that I need my license, proof of ownsership, and proof of insurance OR that I needed to pay with cash only. Luckily I learned these little pearls of wisdom before I left. I'm sure MOST people these days carry that much cash around though, so that shouldn't have been a surprise or inconvenience...RIIIGHT. Once I got there (driving Ryan's big ole Chevy truck through St.Paul with my trusty Tytan by my side) and got that part figured out, I finally got to pay the $149.80 they charged me to pick up my car and hold on to it for a few hours. But wait, they then realize, after I signed the receipt, that they had forgotten to charge me a $25 fee for 24 hour storage. I think they're crazy, because my car was only there for 3 hours. It's not like I was a bad person who got their car towed in for some other reason, I had no choice to have my car sent there. So, despite my best efforts, my bill then jumps up to $174.80 with that nice little fee (not to mention that they also charge a $25 admin fee. Seriously?).

So, my car will hopefully be transported to Woodbury tonight and this day can't possibly get any worse.

So, for some comic relief, here's 1 more picture. Note the white spot on the windshield. That's the 100 calorie pack of ranch veggie dip I had on my seat for my carrots. That's right, it must have been thrown against the window and dripped down. That will be REALLY nice in a couple of days after sitting at the tow-yard and now the shop. Ugh.

In conclusion:

Citation for inattentive driving: $120

Tow to a worthless recovery company: $149.80

24 hour storage fee for 3 hours of "storage": $25.00

Deductible for insurance: $500

Spilled veggie dip: $1.00

$795.00, a headache and some aches and pains worth of a bad day and a few steps backwards in my attempts to get my camera. :(

I'm shrinking!

Well, I'm not getting any bigger.

I've restarted on my journey to lose weight. I started "unofficially" 2 weeks ago and had my 3rd weigh-in today for weight watchers. Week 1 I still ate coldstone and pizza and, guess what, didn't lose. I gained .8. Week 2, however, resulted in a 5.8lb weight loss. Yippee!!! So, here I am almost 6 lbs lighter than I was last week.

So, I'm writing it down and announcing my weightloss endeavor to the world through my blog (or, at the very least, to Christy).

Yesterday I mentioned losing weight to get my camera. The plan right now is that once I lose 20 lbs I will get the camera I want. Then, I keep working towards my ultimate goal (50-60 lbs). If I don't keep losing or if I put the weight back on, Ryan would sell my camera on ebay. That's tough love, huh?

So, wish me luck and lots of skinny vibes. I think I just might be able to do it this time. Stay tuned. :)

I think the camera could be mine...SOON!

I spent the weekend at my parents house. I had the whole house to myself for most of the weekend until they decided to come back early. Ah well. I took a few photos too. I'm REALLY getting into this photography thing...obviously. Ryan and I put up a weightloss wager today and it involves the camera. I'm crossing my fingers it will be mine soon! The baby boy is Rachel's little man--Preston. He looks so much like his dad it is ridiculous. Most of the time I can hardly tell, but he definately does. The tree...well. It's my parents'. :)

I LOVE PHOTOSHOP :)

W R O N G

Something is seriously wrong with me and Tytan's bedtime routine.
W R O N G!




Ryan only has to look at the dog and say kennel and Tytan trots right in, knowing that Ryan is serious business. For me, however, he senses that I might be even THINKING about a kennel and he keeps his distance. If I go near him, he lies down, knowing that I can't physically carry him across the room to his kennel. It must be ridiculous to see. No one else has witnessed this though, since Tytan is a good dog when Ryan is here at night.





So, I try to lure him over with treats to no avail.


I try the "kennel" and look and he looks at me like I'm crazy. I don't understand why lying on the floor next to my bed sounds like a better option to him than being safe and cozy in a nice kennel. Dogs these days.


My main goal is that I at least get him across the line of the couch because my odds of carrying him are better at that distance.





Tonight, like most nights, I had to resort to dragging my poor dog. I do it gently, of course, but it was a drag for approximately 5 feet. Drag and scoot, drag and scoot. I inch him ahead a few inches, then push his butt a few more. Drag and scoot, drag and scoot. I managed to get him directly outside the cage of his door and he STILL wouldn't go in. He just rolled over and looked at me.





This morning I let him outside and then wanted him back in his cage when I left for work so Ryan could sleep. I had to stoop even lower. I had to get a blanket and ROLL the dog into and then I became a human crane and had to hoyer him in the blanket to the kennel.





What a circus. I thought that getting KIDS to bed was supposed to be hard. HAH! Try moving a naughty 85-lb puppy.












OK, so THIS might look a little more comfy than the cage, but he RARELY stays in the bed anyways. ;)

Next time I have an extra $500 lying around, this will be my big purchase. Mostly due to other peoples' blogs, I am really, really set on buying a digital SLR camera. Kind of an expensive hobby, but what better hobby than taking pictures of people to keep forever? I LOVE looking at professional pictures and seeing all the awesome photos that pro photographers take. I want to do that!!! Ryan doesn't quite see why I would need this camera when I have a perfectly good digital camera now. It's not the same. This one is FANCY and I could do all kinds of cool things! My scrapbooks will be way better when I have a cool camera to do things with. Until then, I'll keep my eye on craigslist and ebay until the perfect (cheap) camera falls into my lap. Boring blog, I know, but it will be WAY BETTER when I have this cool camera and can take cool pictures. Just think!