Admitting it

When Emily Potter and I were roommates, we'd have lots of conversations about futures and plans and wishes and such. She had decided to apply for graduate school, but was reluctant to tell anyone, because somehow she felt that if she told someone the magic would wear off and she wouldn't get accepted. I agreed--I, too, hesitate to tell people my real plans for fear that once the universe knows about them, they'll fall through.

Emily made the decision to tell a few people.

And in the tradition of becoming vulnerable (as I told Emily I would), I am now telling the universe. This might seem trite and easy to some people, but it's hard for me... but I need help and support from everyone, so I'm cluing you in.

I've told everyone that I want to lose weight, and that Hubby and I are changing our lifestyles so we can do that. As I approach my 1-month mark on my diet, I've finalized my goal.

One month ago, I weighed 216 pounds... the heaviest I've ever been.
This morning, I weighed 208 pounds.
That means about 8 pounds a month, if I keep plugging along and doing it right.

So.... that means that in 6 months, I will lose 48 pounds and will be at my target weight of 160. I don't think I've weighed that since 7th grade.

Thank you all for becoming a part of this with me... for your support, tips, and love.

Dinner and pumpkins

Kadra and Bryce came over for dinner Sunday night.















Toby was very cuddly with them both. Shortly after this picture was taken, he curled up in a ball and nestled himself in her lap.

After dinner, we carved pumpkins! (James' pumpkin is on the far left. You can't see it, but he did manage to cut a lid in the top and scoop out the insides.















Final products...

Party weekend

Saturday evening was Emily's baby shower. Any day now we'll meet little Neaman! I'm very excited, and Emily is the cutest little pregnant lady.













After the shower, James and I went to a Halloween party of a classmate of mine. We had a blast! It's been two years since I've dressed up for Halloween. We went as Goths. I even straightened James' hair!












Christina, the hostess, has a python named Spike. I love him! We became fast friends.

The rest of these pictures are my cohorts and some of their significant others. I have such fun friends! I was impressed with the costumes. I didn't take too many pictures, so this is just a sample of the party population. Also in attendance was Fidel Castro, a (working) keg, money, a few vampires, and others.

Baring it all

So, Toby got snipped.

He's just as playful as ever. And I don't think he realizes how silly he looks with his bum shaved. He still waves it around in the air, pointing it at our faces while doing the "skunk shuffle." I wanted to take a picture of it, as I think he looks rediculous... but James won't let me. He says that we've stripped him of dignity enough for one day.

*sigh* oh well.

Updates

James and I are going to a Halloween party on Saturday. We're going as suicidal goths. I'm very excited... finally, an appropriate place to wear black makeup, fake piercings, black fishnets, huge buckley boots, and all the zany black clothing I own. And a wig!

















I'm totally stressed out. I should start doing yoga again.

Toby's getting snipped tomorrow.

In three weeks: another Praxis test. This time--Math: Proofs and Models, and Integrated Science.

Bought scale. Lost another pound! Tummy hurts, though.

Doing okay at school, just super super busy. Realizing that most other people in my cohort got placed at relatively calm schools, as most of their students are "perfectly well-behaved."

Teaching every Friday.

Time to take out winter clothes! Getting chilly.

One year anniversary in about two weeks.

I've got big urges to paint, but no time to do it. They keep calling me in to work both Saturday and Sunday. Last time I had a day off from school and work: almost a month ago. GOING CRAZY.

Counting our blessings. :)

All's well

Update: One of the kids apologized to me very nicely, and we're a-okay now. The other kid's mom never showed up--the principal (a large black man) spoke to her, and apparently she wanted to turn it into a racial issue, and he told her that she wasn't to talk to me unless he was present at the meeting. That was enough to deter her from coming in, so the meeting never happened. Her son tried his hardest to ignore me yesterday, which was fine, but I taught today so he was sort of forced to interact, but it seems just fine. I think (knock on wood) it's behind us now.

I taught today--my own lesson, etc. etc., and my supervisor came in and observed me. Fortunately, the class he came in to observe is the most well-behaved class. They were great! We made rafts out of straws and tape and floated pennies on them. The group with the most buoyant raft won candy. It was pretty fun... and Kristin (my cooperating teacher) sees improvement with my mad skillz.

Bad news!

Remember the two kids that got suspended? Well, one of them wasn't suspended, as it turned out... but they did call his parents, and now his mom is coming in Thursday to talk to me. My cooperating teacher, as well as the safety officer at the school, will be there. But did I ever tell you why they were suspended? For "sexually inappropriate actions" toward Yours Truly.
This awkward situation is just escalating. I just barely started! I'm not even a real student teacher yet!

Good news!

I've lost four pounds since October 4th!














I felt that this post needed a picture, so I found one taken of us about a year ago by Kristin.













Here's another. :)

Today, in my last class...

One person kicked out...
One person has detention..
And two people were suspended.

My second day of teaching.

This is hard sometimes.

We feed our skunk on carrots and love

This afternoon, James walked through the door from work to the sound of clattering and skunk stomping.
Toby had scaled the kitchen drawers... all the way to the stovetop. He found my hanging onions, the garlic clove, the sugar jar, and the butter dish, among other things. And of course, he knew he was being naughty.... but James just couldn't be mad at the little dude! I mean, hauling himself all the way up to the stovetop must have been a great challenge. And the comedy of being greeted by a stomping skunk on the stove was hilarity, I'm told!
I took these pics last week. See how big he's getting!
















Can you find his little nose in this one? He sleeps with us at night. He's a bedhog. Last night, he slept on my neck! His warm, soft belly fur is heaven...





























When we're typing and we can't hold him, he still likes to be near us... (like my funky slipper socks?)

I'm hungry!

I'm on a diet. A serious one this time. 1500 calories, per my dietician. So far (it's been two days), so good. Veggies really do make you feel good! And I'm starting to like cottage cheese. She says I need more protein in my diet. Other than that, I'm eating well, I just have to cut some proportion. Good news: I have lost a little weight since July, unexpectedly. I thought I had gained. Tip for others who are trying to lose: the 100 Calorie packs of popcorn are a lifesaver! You have the satisfaction of shovelling food into your mouth, yet only 100 calories so it's guilt-free and easy to fit in to your daily allowance.
Does anyone have any good suggestions of how to eat zuchini? I really only like carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, and greens. I need to branch out (no pun intended).