I Made It!

I'm a day and a half with no sodas.  Wooo Hooo!  I was most worried about the killer caffeine headaches I've been known to get when I stop soda.  I curbed this yesterday morning by taking three Excedrin Migraine, and getting a coffee.  I didn't have a caffeine headache. 

I also slept really good last night.  :)

HH and I are back teaching GED classes.  We have classes on Monday and Wednesday evenings for the remainder of the month.  This first week of classes went pretty well, and it looks like we've got a decent hardworking group of 10-12.

In an effort to make my Kindle happy, and thus myself happy....I downloaded three new books last night:

I found out about this book from a blog I follow....she actually knows this guy personally!  I remember when the tragedy happened, and she asked for prayers that he would be found alive!

I heard about this one on NPR, and it seemed too good to pass up!

I've been a long time follower of Jennette's blog, and loved her last book.

Again, this was another read recommended from a blog I follow.  Allowing people to get close to me is something I've struggled with, and after reading another bloggers reaction to this book I decided to give it a go. 

Now, bring on Spring Break (16 more days), so I can READ!

I Confess...

"

I do this a LOT to HH!

You've Come a Long Way Baby

Shame...It Just Never Works....

Please read this post about the Georgia Billboard Campaign.

Knowing Your Enemy

"Our greatest foes, and whom we must chiefly combat, are within"

- Miguel de Cervantes

The subject of Coca-Cola has been no stranger on this blog.  I've admitted how highly addicted to the stuff I was.  I know I can never go back.  For almost three years after WLS, I didn't have any soda.  I actually tried to have some probably four months post-op, and felt like I was dying.  (I was doubled up in the fetal position for almost an hour, bad.)  So fear was my biggest motivator for not drinking soda for some time.  The longest time I've went without soda prior to that was probably two months.  Even in college when money was really tight, I always seemed to have money for Coca-Cola. 

Now I am almost four years post-op, and I love the generic version of Diet Mountain Dew.  I have transferred the quantity of drinks right back to where I was pre-op, except this time they are sugar free.  I am going to give up soda for good.  I asked one lady at work how she did it, and she said she simply started with, "It can't come into my house anymore."  Simple enough.  What isn't in your house you can't consume.  Also, I am doing it for the sake of my teeth.  I have awful teeth.  My mom has a two inch thick file at the dentist, and I am getting a running start on that.  I can actually see where my enamel has eroded. 

These next few weeks are not going to be easy, but I CAN do this.  I remember when I always had a water bottle in my hand.  It was all I knew post-op for so long.  I can go back to this.

Is Soda Harmful?

Via: Term Life Insurance

Maybe I "Should" Teach the Babes.....

We don't go in "big church" hardly ever at night.  We do our own Cubbie program for the 3-4 year olds.  Tonight we go inside and listen to a few songs being sung by the Children's Choir.  During the singing, this boy Daniel tugs on my pants to tell me, "Did you know that monkeys can eat strawberries with their toes?"
A few minutes later he says, "I hope they don't sing another song."

Festive Friday

We started out at 732 Social.  We were there before they opened, but they let us come in early.  I loved the music and the atmosphere of this restaurant.  It was also not too loud as the Friday crowd picked up.

I am a lover of mac and cheese.  This is probably number two in the best I've ever ate.  The first being lobster mac and cheese.  You just can't top that.  I didn't share any of this.  It was lovely.

Short Ribs....mmmmmm

Picture with my HH: Priceless

J.B. Speed Art Museum: Impressionist Landscapes: Monet to Sargent

The exhibit was nice, I just wish that we were enough city to attract big exhibits.  We always seem to get the "leftovers" and smaller exhibits.

I am loving RUFFLES.  I have three tops with ruffles on them.  I'd like to get a few headbands too.  They make me feel ultra cute. 

On Dating Your Spouse:

Let the phone calls go.  It never fails that when we are out on a date we will get a call from one of our parents or my best friend.  HH and I just came out of a season with my BIL where we had to answer every phone call, not knowing if we were going to receive "the" news.  We are out of that season now.  I do check voicemails, but I think it is important to show your spouse that your time with them is sacred and protected.  So many times I can't give HH my full attention, but on our date nights I need to make extra effort.

Awaiting us at home in the mail was a lovely jewel from LG&E:

Our bill saying we owe $660.  Remember back in December when we had the whole discovery that we had been paying the electricity for another condo for six years?  Well, the bill has been reconciled, and that is what we owe.  I don't think it is fair that we have to pay it, but it would take more money to fight it than to simply pay it.  So, I am reluctantly paying it.  I did set it up on a 24 month payment plan, so that works out to not being too bad on the budget.

I am leaving you with a link by another blogger called, "I Don't Want to Be a Teacher Anymore."  My heart broke as I read this woman's essay, and just how much a system can break a person down.  I related to so much of this article.  It is a length piece, but please give it a read, even if you are not in education.

I Got Plans

This week has been tough.  I was out of commission last weekend with bronchitis.  I was feeling better, but energy wise I had nothing!  I have gone to bed almost every night by 9:00!  (Except Monday, I watched the Bachelor!)  I thought I had a four hour meeting tonight, but that is next Friday!  I am going to enjoy this weekend! 

I have a new restaurant and an art exhibit planned!  :)

Random

Last Post of the Night!

Last night we order Domino's pizza. Here is HH's pizza:

Apparentely, they aren't too big on cutting the pizza!

I also made Hungry Girl's Yum Yum Brownie Muffins! I saw this while I was half-awake on the sofa yesterday. It only had two ingredients, and I looked it up on the internet to make sure I didn't miss anything. Talk about easy....and they were delicious!

The only sad part was I wanted them to turn out looking "prettier."  But, the ones on TV and her website had this rough look to them as well.  That made me feel better.  The neighbors in my condo are happy, and so my coworkers tomorrow will be.