Quick dash through this morning in between students. We've got this week and next and then the semester is over, so panic mode is starting to set in for everyone.
Bless you,
Ruth, for gardening in this weather. I feel so much colder after last week's heat. My blood is revolting and refusing to readjust to the cold.
Sucks, since we're supposedly due for snow tonight!
Cat and
Mandy, I never thought there'd be Mexican restaurants in LA...not sure why, but it seems terribly incongruent to me! That looks like a super-fabulous place, though. YUM! Sorry about the sleep Cat! Mandy, I have to avoid most Mexican places now, though they were my favorite restaurant before, because resisting chips is VERY hard!
Sometimes I bring a WW tortilla and get fajitas, which feels rawther decadent, but I have to say "NO CHIPS!!!" at the beginning so I don't have to deal with it.
Darling
Kara, I'm so sorry you're having such a hard time!!!
I really wish I could come over and help cheer you up, hon. Okay, thoughts--
- Go for a run! Everything looks better with endorphins in your system, and you can pound out your anger at the unfairness of having to deal with all this
.
- Sit down and figure out what you can do before the craziness hits to help make it easier. Just thinking about it now is a GREAT step!
- Can you ready packing boxes? Enlist the kids' help? I know my friend Ange, who's a longtime military brat, is one of the best movers I know because she had to move so many times and her parents made the kids help. It's a wonderful skill to have! Even your littlest one can learn about sorting and such by helping to put toys in one box and clothes in another.
- What information can you glean beforehand about the housing situation in Germany? I find it exceptionally helpful to find support communities (like this one) for any big things I undergo or experience. There has to be at least a community of international military wives/families and you may even find one specific to Germany. Ask them what pitfalls they faced and what tips they have. It could be priceless!
- Can you talk with Jandaman here on 3FC about housing in her part of Germany? I know it's a different area, but she might be able to help you understand how things work there and maybe she (or some of her friends) has some links to housing websites she can recommend? It doesn't always work perfectly, but you can translate entire webpages using Babelfish.
- Are there any ways you can shorten the time you have to spend on housing by doing some research now? Maybe you can get a feel for prices in the area. Maybe you can find a realtor to help you look?
- Talk with Tom. It's really important that he understand how you're feeling so he can prepare on his end to try to make the transition easier. At the very least, you can make some kind of agreement to make the first couple days less hectic--i.e. Tom agrees to just go along with the schedule you guys are using until you're all in Germany and have things set up. That way you don't have to renegotiate everything twice.
- Can you enlist friends and family to help? Packing might be easier with helpers...and perhaps some of Tom's friends can keep him occupied for a few hours each day so you don't have to stress about getting used to him being back for the entire day?
I really feel for you, hon! I get stressed out just like that whenever I know something really stressful is coming. The best way you can handle it, IMHO, is to do as much now as you can to make it easier and focus on getting as healthy as you can, physically and emotionally. If you've been running regularly and eating healthy, getting lots of sleep, and doing things that reduce stress and increase joy, you'll be much better fortified to face whatever comes.
And, of course, I'll be praying for you--I'm sure we all will!
Schmoo, I'm with you on your rant. I think the key here is that, since different plans work for different people, if you try a plan and it doesn't work, that just means that it doesn't work for YOU, not that it doesn't work period.
People who make sweeping generalizations of the effectiveness of a plan based on their personal experience annoy me.
Especially when they didn't really follow (or LEARN!!!) the plan in the first place. I get so frustrated when people say they quit SBD because they couldn't handle eating all those salads. Oy!!! There's no requirement to eat even one salad--it doesn't take too much creativity to consider making a piece of lean meat with a side of frozen veggies, right? Anyways, off the
right?
Fluffy, I'm with you on the "girls"--I tried on this darling shirt yesterday and it fit perfect everywhere but was straining at the buttons over my boobage.
I am definitely planning on having a breast reduction as soon as I finish feeding my future children. Are you sure your insurance won't cover it? I think you simply need to show that it's affecting your health--I have permanent grooves in my shoulders from my straps, tons of pain in my back, neck and shoulders, etc. from trying to hold these two up for years. As much as I want to fit into cute clothes, I really want to be able to sit up straight without feeling like I'm running a marathon!
LC,
It sounds painful! I hope you feel much better very soon.
HMac, sorry the conference wasn't helpful. That's so frustrating! I know it can be hard to stay OP in situations like that. I usually bring a bunch of food with me. If the hotel has a fridge, that's a huge plus. I'm also a wiz at taking stuff that doesn't have to be refrigerated out of the wet bar and stowing it elsewhere in the room to make room for my stuff, then replacing it in the fridge before I leave.
However, you can make do with a cooler--just bring gallon ziploc bags and refill with ice from the ice machine each morning. I usually bring some protein bars for breakfasts, or cottage cheese in little containers. I give in and buy the small SF yogurts (usually I eat plain organic) and also bring SF puddings. Lots of places are also willing to make you something different if you ask. I'm usually too shy to ask, but when I have, people have been very generous and considerate. At one event I attended, one person at my table had a whispered conversation with the waiter, and fifteen minutes later, he brought out a gorgeous dish of fresh fruit for her dessert because she can't have sugar. I never thought of asking...just picked a couple pieces of fruit from the dessert tray and drank coffee.
Don't beat yourself up, though--focus on how well you did and move forward, just like you're doing. Just watch out for cravings and, if they show up, make sure you do P1 until they're gone.
Wow,
Natalie'sMom, what a wonderful morning!
Cuddling with babies is just fantastic, especially when they're sleeping! Enjoy your day. We've been grilling out too and find it so easy, quick, and yummy!
TDI, are there good bike trails in the Buffalo area or do you just ride around the neighborhood? We are SO looking forward to getting our bikes out. We went for a ride 3 weeks ago--it was cold, but so much fun!
iammare, we live pretty close! Wow--I just didn't realize!
Me:
I'm SO glad to have the night off tonight and tomorrow night. I need it! DH is still sleeping off jet lag from a recent 2 week trip to Asia, so he's not all there at night, but I really want to get going on doing activities from the Beck Diet book, so I'm glad to have a little "me" time.
Off to the gym after work today, then off to do some quick grocery shopping (they didn't have any mint at the grocery this weekend, and I'm making tzatziki!) and a quick run to Blockbuster to return a movie. Then time with the dog, dinner making, and hopefully a somewhat peaceful night. Hope you all have a wonderful day!
WOW to the making-it-through-chix-liver-smell Ick!!
