Saturday, July 10, 2010

Day One Hundred and Ninety One


I had an awesome day today! First Cyn and Sandra came by and we went rollerskating at the Bellevue Skate King, and I didn't break any bones! Then we went by Big 5 Sports and tried on different boots and looked at pads and skates and then we ended the day at Red Robin where we had a yummy crispy chicken salad. Very good day!

Friday, July 9, 2010

Day One Hundred and Ninety


I started the day planning to get the dishes done and ended up going on a cleaning spree! I scrubbed floors, counters, door jams, and picked up and organized things. I also re-hung the mirror that fell, put my license plate cover on my car, and put up a picture in the bathroom. Oh yeah.. and did laundry!


After a busy morning of cleaning and organizing, I spent the afternoon laying in the sun and actually got some color! My face got nice and pinkish and my arms and legs got lots of color!

Thursday, July 8, 2010

Day One Hundred and Eighty Nine

Holy cow it was warm today! I had to put the top up on my car while I was out, around 3ish because it was actually getting too warm with the sun beating down on me. It got to around 101 today which is toasty for this area,. Summer finally hit! Woo hoo! I think Riley and I will hit the lake tomorrow and cool our paws!

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Day One Hundred and Eighty Eight


See the black VW? On the other side of it stood three Asian girls confused at how to open the gas cap and then how to pump the gas. Luckily they were brave enough to ask a stranger (me) how to do it! It is things like this that make me wonder how many other things we do on a regular basis that we take for granted. Simple things that may be second nature to us, but confusing for someone new to the country or area.

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Day One Hundred and Eighty Seven


Finally another movie night with the Charters. We had a slight break from them and it was nice to hang out again. We had omelets with chorizo and mushrooms. And then I made mini trifles. Yum! We then watched a bunch of South Park episodes. Very fun night!

Monday, July 5, 2010

Day One Hundred and Eighty Six


I went on two long walks today (yes, two!) to try out the ankle braces I got and was surprised by the results. I thought I would like the shorter one that had more arch support, but that extra arch support really made my foot hurt and I had to take it off before the end of the walk.

It was a good lesson to learn because I always though with high arches I needed more support, but I think all the extra support I have been trying out is what is actually causing all the foot pain I have when walking/jogging. I will use it in place of an ace bandage for swelling, it works really well for that.

The taller one with the stays on the side worked really well. I could barely tell I had it on and my ankle felt really supportive and then was no pain. I plan to buy a second one so I can wear one on both ankles when doing anything that involves movement!

Sunday, July 4, 2010

Day One Hundred and Eighty Five


I started using the cardiotrainer program on my phone again to record my walks and I was pleasantly surprised to see that my pace hadn't changed from when I was walking last year, pre-break. I walked just about two and a half miles today and it took about 40 minutes. That was at a 3.5 average pace with inclines and declines. Not too shabby for a girl with two weak and pathetic ankles!

Saturday, July 3, 2010

Day One Hundred and Eighty Four

It is no secret that I like Astrology and find a lot of it eerily accurate.  So as a break to my normal blog posting, today I decided to post something that I feel accurately describes me! I found this description which talks about the Sagittarius/Dog, which combines both the eastern and western astrology signs. I think I mainly like stuff like this because it lets me say things like, "I am only blunt, easily distracted, curious, nosy, and rebellious because I am a Sagittarius, sorry!"

I have pasted all of what I found below the break... but here are some clips from it that I thought were pretty descriptive of me in case you can't find what I mean by 'below the break' (that would be you, mom).

Sagittarians like to be frank and to expound. Dogs, although circumspect and mistrustful, tend to lash out with words, toppling adversaries like tenpins.

You will often find these people in the medical or healing professions. They can't help wanting to help others, improve their lot, comfort their sorrows.

At their very best, Saggitarians are: Generous, Courageous, Honest, Intelligent, Reasonable, Adventurous, Philosophical, Enthusiastic, Resilient, Caring and Loads of Fun.

But when they go too far (which is every other day) Sagittarians can become: Rebellious, Reckless, Outspoken, Tactless, Inconsistent, Perverse, Overbearing, Self-centered and Ill-mannered. 

Saggitarians don't do anything. They overdo everything.

Saggitarians seem to live on on a perpetual spree. Generally, they can be found studying yoga and taking piano and French lessons and have also decided to become a martial arts master and a gourmet cook while perfecting their skills on the zither - all at the same time.

... because they cannot stand to be tethered or tamed, Saggitarians often fall prey to their own large gaping mistakes. They are forever marrying the wrong person, taking some goofy professional fork in the road .... They are in perpetual danger of screwing up and need to discipline themselves from a young age to keep out of harm's way.

Now this bluntness for which the Sagittarian is so famous, is not at all like the viper tongued sudden sarcasm of Scorpio. Sadges don't say your hair looks disgusting because they want to make a snotty remark or jab you one in the gut. No way. Sagittarian bluntness is pure childlike candor in the rough.

Number one Sadge profession is Doctor or nurse or some sort of caretaker. That sounds odd because Saggitarians seem so flighty. But they are also deeply caring people and understand how to reach out and touch those in need.

Also, I thought it was interesting to know that if I was a Sagittarius dog I would be known as "The Problem Dog".

Sagittarius / Dog
The dry hero that is Sagittarius/Dog embodies all of the Sagittarian's idealist traits, the adventurousness, the


(CLICK ON THE POST HEADING TO READ THE REST)
future vision, the bravura and the fire. But this person also takes on those creditable qualities native to all born under the sign of the Dog: honor and sincerity, loyalty and respectability. Both signs are endowed with a loose tongue. Sagittarians like to be frank and to expound. Dogs, although circumspect and mistrustful, tend to lash out with words, toppling adversaries like tenpins. This is a worthy person whose nose for what's happening on the world scene and how to fix it is enviably accurate. You will often find these people in the medical or healing professions. They can't help wanting to help others, improve their lot, comfort their sorrows. The private lives of these people are very private indeed. They are extremely sexual. But never air their dirty linen or kiss and tell about this or that affair.Good Compatibilities - Libra Tiger

THE DISQUIET DOG
Dogs are: Attentive, Well meaning, Helpful, Altruistic, Modest, Devoted, Philosophical, Dutiful, Discreet, Loyal, Intelligent and Enthusiastic.But Dogs can also be: Mean-spirited, Disagreeable, Bad-tempered, Self-righteous, Judgmental, Quarrelsome, Accusing, Nervous, Anxious and generally Impossible to live with.

Man's best friend indeed you are: honest, faithful and sincere. You give pure tenderness in return for affection. You are (mostly) an agreeable companion. To know you is to love you - except when you let go with a brutish comment or snap sarcastic zingers at us poor unsuspecting bystanders. You have a bark on you, Doggie, that makes even your most ferocious bite seem painless. But you selflessly redeem yourself. Knowing how to say you're sorry is one of your most charming traits.You believe in justice for all and willingly take up worthy causes and bear weighty crosses against unfair practices. You respect tradition and value honour. You take real pleasure in helping a senior citizen cross a busy street. In life's big western movie, you definitely wear a white cowboy hat.A finely-honed critical sense allows you to sniff out deceit and track down fraud. Trouble is, this flair for truth is so keen that it sometimes causes you to become pessimistic. Terminal disappointment and even depression may ensue. As a hedge against this tendency to hopelessness, try to surround yourself with amusing people whose optimism and joie de vivre help you maintain your own equilibrium. At a tender age you will begin to notice that the world is a very unfair place.My advice? Try not to be so painfully self- righteous. Marry up with a carefree Tiger, a fantasy-loving Horse or a cozy, reassuring Cat person. 

All Sagittarians are born between November 23 and October December 21 

At their very best, Saggitarians are: Generous, Courageous, Honest, Intelligent, Reasonable, Adventurous, Philosophical, Enthusiastic, Resilient, Caring and Loads of Fun.

But when they go too far (which is every other day) Sagittarians can become: Rebellious, Reckless, Outspoken, Tactless, Inconsistent, Perverse, Overbearing, Self-centered and Ill-mannered. 

Saggitarians don't do anything. They overdo everything. They leap at life and gobble experience and inhale learning. They take each day in one huge gulp and barely go to bed for a quick rest, get up smiling and raring to devour the next day with the same verve and fire as the day before. Saggitarians pounce on time, using it up flagrantly as though every day were both their first and their last on Earth.

Needless to add, Saggitarians are always on the go. Never try to hold a Sagittarius back or in any way hinder his freedom of movement. If she wants to trot off India and live on an ashram for a week in order to try to understand Indian culture and learn about Buddhism as well as be able to report on the meaning of every single Indian god and goddess that ever existed when she gets back... drive her to the airport and pray that she doesn't decide to stop off for a weekend in Tokyo on her way home to try and pick up a few words of Japanese and learn how to make sushi in her own kitchen. 

These people are all about motion and knowledge and most importantly, they are about understanding the world and its workings. Saggitarians seem to live on on a perpetual spree. Generally, they can be found studying yoga and taking piano and French lessons and have also decided to become a martial arts master and a gourmet cook while perfecting their skills on the zither - all at the same time. It is amazing what they can accomplish and it is also amazing how often they shift from one discipline to another without batting an eye.

Trouble is, because they cannot stand to be tethered or tamed, Saggitarians often fall prey to their own large gaping mistakes. They are forever marrying the wrong person, taking some goofy professional fork in the road or squandering their fortunes on tricky deals. If only for the thrill of doing it, Sagittarians are apt go overboard on everything from shopping for presents for their families to ingesting illegal substances. They are in perpetual danger of screwing up and need to discipline themselves from a young age to keep out of harm's way.

Outspoken is an understatement. Saggitarians (unless they have succeeded in getting their natural bluntness under control) always tell it like it is. "Your hair is all flat. What did you do? Didn't it used to be bigger? Fluffier?" 

Good old hawkeye Sadge notices right away. But does he stop for one second to think that you may be having a bad hair day and that's why your head looks extra flat today and so maybe he should button his tactless fat lip before he "notices" in your face that you look like a smashed Easter egg? Nope. He pipes right up and splat! Your day is ruined for life. 

Now this bluntness for which the Sagittarian is so famous, is not at all like the viper tongued sudden sarcasm of Scorpio. Sadges don't say your hair looks disgusting because they want to make a snotty remark or jab you one in the gut. No way. Sagittarian bluntness is pure childlike candor in the rough. Where you might put on a velvet glove when hinting to your best friend who needs an urgent face lift by saying, "My, Hilda but you're looking tired these days." The Sagittarius friend blurts, "Hey Hilda honey you better get yourself a face lift before it's too late." I know that you may think this is part of the inimitable Sadge charm. And indeed it can be. Especially if the Saggitarian in question is eight years old. But grownup Sagittarians take heed. Most people do not wish to hear the flat out truth, so if you must speak the truth, wrap is in some attractive manner so that your unsuspecting interlocutor doesn't go out and shoot herself before she can even get to the phone to call her plastic surgeon.To stay in love with a Saggitarian, you must be first of all be an independent sort yourself. Never cling or appear needy. You must not mind being alone for months on end whilst your lover or fianc¨¦e is in the Antarctic or at Igloo university in Alaska or on the golf course in Scotland or in the Seychelles hunting for dead coral or resting in the south of France on a pebbly beach next to a blackjack table. Lots of Saggitarians never marry or else they marry late. It¡¯s no mean feat to pin down a moving target and the successive possible marriage partners of most Saggitarians often get discouraged and defect before they even set a date. Contrary to popular myth, men like to be married and have few compunctions about leaving the little woman behind to tend the hearth and children. So Sagittarius men marry a bit more often than their female counterparts. But I know oodles of Saggitarian women who have never married. Too choosy? Too busy? Too easily bored? All of the above. 


Friday, July 2, 2010

Day One Hundred and Eighty Three


OMG. Sometimes I think I shouldn't even leave the house. As I was walking outside to take Riley for a walk I misstepped on a stepping stone outside my door and twisted my ankle! It freaked me out because I imagined it breaking!

I hobbled inside and got some ice to put on it when I started to feel dizzy, nauseas, and clammy. I realized that I was so freaked out that I was going into shock. I hurried and put the ice on it and then laid down and propped up my feet. That helped tons, I am glad I was thinking clearly!

As you can see from the pic my ankle is swollen, but hopefully putting ice on it right away helped and it won't be too stiff tomorrow.

Sheesh, I swear I can't get a break in my quest to get healthy. At least I am back to recording my food and I can at least control that.

Thursday, July 1, 2010

Day One Hundred and Eighty Two

Today was MUCH better. I got my wallet back, with everything intact, and my classes went real well today. We had a Chemistry lab that was actually fun and we picked a topic for our group biology paper. I am soooo looking forward to this four day weekend of doing nothing but exploring and playing videogames (and studying and doing homework!) Such a hard life I lead. :)

Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Day One Hundred and Eighty One

I don't have too much to report today. I had class, stopped at the store to get a rolling backpack and some reflectors for my mailbox, lost my wallet, realized I was out of gas, and dug ten bucks out of my change jar to get gas. I am trying to relax so I can look for my wallet with fresh eyes. I hope I find it!

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Day One Hundred and Eighty


School is exhausting! I forgot how tiring it is to sit in class and listen to lectures and absorb information. I didn't have class until 1230 and I got out at 1500, but as soon as I got home I laid down for a nap! After the nap I got a bit more active and finally cleaned up the section of the cottage I use for storage. I also did some homework and ate a healthy dinner; grilled chicken sandwich and a peach.

Sandra had mentioned this weekend how horribly she eats around people and how good she eats when she is alone and I found out I do the exact same thing! It is official, I can no longer hang out with people! At least not around meal time. :)

Monday, June 28, 2010

Day One Hundred and Seventy Nine


Today was my first day of school and my brain is reeling! Oh my gosh... first day of Chemistry and so much to learn. I knew this would be tough since it is a summer course, but both Chemistry and Biology at the same time in a sped up faster should be interesting!

As I was leaving the grocery store this evening the sunset caught my eye. It certainly isn't as beautiful as an Arizona sunset, but it was close. That is one thing I miss about Arizona is the beautiful sunsets! But luckily there are a lot of things I love about Washington. But who knows, in five years I may be in love with another state... or even country!

Sunday, June 27, 2010

Day One Hundred and Seventy Eight


Well.. I made it back across the border! It was quite a wait to get back into the States, but they did let us. It was a long weekend but I had tons of fun. I am so glad Cyn and Sandra invited me to spend the weekend with them. :) Oh, and it was pouring rain as we were leaving Canada... I think Canada was crying because it was sad I was leaving :(

Saturday, June 26, 2010

Day One Hundred and Seventy Seven

Has a great time today! We picked Chickie up from the bus station so she could join us for the day and then we went to a huge park and then to have Pho and then derby.  I will write more later when I get home because we are getting ready to play some Scene It! (and drink some cranberry and vodka!!)

Friday, June 25, 2010

Day One Hundred and Seventy Six

I made it to Canada! It was a nice drive and we didn't have too much trouble at the border. The border guard did ask me, "How long have you been in the States", which I answered 39 years. He then got frustrated and said I didn't hear him right and we should start over and then asked me a totally different question. 

I KNOW what he said, and Cyn heard the same thing as me.  I think he just messed up and didn't want to admit it! But we made it across and that pic is a view from in front of Sandra's place. Pretty mountains!
Cyn then made us some yummy nachos which we ate while watching "Whip It", in preparation for the bout we are going to tomorrow! I am excited about seeing our friend Chickie who will be joining us!


And Sandra and I jammed playing some "Lips" on the Xbox, after we figured out that we had to sync the mic's before playing!  Duh!

Thursday, June 24, 2010

Day One Hundred and Seventy Five

Very busy day today. So busy I didn't even get a picture taken! First I had a 3.5 hour workshop at school in regard to CAT/TB. These are benefit extensions when you are on unemployment and permission to go to school while you are on tuition. There was one of those people in the workshop that kept asking questions all the time and kept asking questions about things that the person leading the workshop had already gone over so it went pass the three hours it was supposed to be.

Also, I almost finished cleaning my car. I wiped down all the interior and got a lot of the hair off, but my dustbuster was charged so I wasn't able to vacuum at all. I think I might have to go to one of the self service places and vacuum. 

And then my friend Sara called around 9pm and asked me to come over because she was having problems and needed a friend. So I only just got home and barely made my time to post this! Leaving to see Sandra in Canada tomorrow. Woo hoo!

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Day One Hundred and Seventy Four


Today could be categorized under clean. Well sort of. I took Riley to the dog walkers to hang out and she had a blast hanging with the pups... there was about 25 of them there today!  Holy cow that is a lot of dogs! While there Dana volunteered to give Riley a bath in this cool bath setup she has. Riley was scrubbed clean.

Later I kind of cleaned out my car. Sort of. I got the papers and junk out. But there is still a lot of dog hair! 

And the third thing I cleaned was the pathway and stairs in front of my patio. I had already used the weed whacker on it but hadn't got around to clearing off the grass I whacked.

I also downloaded this cool program on my phone that takes pictures and then applies a cool filter to them (Susie, it is called FxCamera check it out on the marketplace). The one I like best is called toycam and it makes the pics look retro, you can see one of the filters in the above dogs pic. There is also a filter called Warholize or something. 

I tried the Warholize on Riley and it was a bit too dark inside so I wanted to get more light. This is how it played out. ME: "Riley, I need more light for the picture, come outside please." I open the door and step outside, Riley follows me outside. I stop and point at a spot and say, "go there". Riley walks over and turns to face me and sits down. I say, "Pose" Riley titls her head and poses. I take the picture, wait for the filter to apply and see if it looks good. ME "Thanks Riley" Riley stands up and walks inside and lays down on her rug. I swear she must have been a model in her previous life! 

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Day One Hundred and Seventy Three

I spoke to the worker retraining advisor at Bellevue College and was approved to take courses starting this summer to fill some pre-reqs I need for the nursing program I want to apply for next year. So that means I start school next week! Woo hoo! I am going to be a college student again! :) I have a TON of science credits to take and I hope some of my other credits like math and speech will transfer over.

Monday, June 21, 2010

Day One Hundred and Seventy Two


OMG! I am stuffed! I made a yummy stir-fry which consisted of tofu, quinoa, peppers, spinach, broccoli, garlic, and cherry tomatoes sautéed with soy sauce and teriyaki sauce, all around 400 calories. I can't get over how filling it was and at 400 calories.

Also, I have done yoga two nights in a row and I think it made a big difference in my sleep. I also didn't realize how stiff my back is! I guess that makes sense since I have been having horrible back problems the last few weeks. I need to keep up this yoga for sure.