WLW: One Month Later...

So, it's officially February – lets see how I've done with my 2012 to-do list so far!

1. I will start actually keeping a daytimer and start actually using it. I mean it this time, I even went out a bought one! It's red, very cute.

This I have in fact been doing. My little red daytimer with it's wise advice on the cover has held meetings, practices, and upcoming events. So I think that one deserves a great big checkmark.

2. I will stop drinking pop. Period. Not even diet pop will be allowed. This is a vice I seriously need to kick.

Okay, actually quitting pop cold turkey was probably a pipe dream, but in the last month I've only had, I think maybe four pops? Considering I used to have at least one or more a day, I'd say that's a vast improvement.

3. I would like to participate in the Emperor's Challenge, which is a half marathon over a mountain. I've been meaning to do this for the past few years, but I've always been out of the region on holidays at the time.

This is still a number of months away, and registrations hasn't even opened yet. But I've started doing the running program in hopes of getting ready for it. So we'll get back to this one.

4. I'm going to purge my closet and donate all the clothes to some organization that can use them. I have so many clothes of various sizes, as I've been various sizes since moving here, so lots of different women could wear them.

I've partially purged and remove one garbage bag full of office clothes. It turns out I am a total t-shirt fanatic. I don't know why I have so many t-shirts, but the majority of them have gone into another garbage bag.

5. I'm going to get that second bedroom organized so I can use it as a writing room. I just finished Stephen King's On Writing, and now I feel like I could actually get some of these stories in my head out and into text form.

Have not started this yet. I have started a couple of short stories though. Check back later.

6. I'm going to try that Project 365 thing, where you take a photo a day for a year. I'd like to see if I could actually stick to it.

Now this, I have definitely been sticking to. Check out Week One, Week Two, Week Three and Week Four. One month down, only 11 more to go!

So, yeah. Not doing too shabby, I don't think. The running has been good – I feel good when I'm done.

I had a few 'why the fuck am I bothering' days this week. I want the numbers on Scale to go down faster, but they aren't. I'm up like .2 pounds this week, which isn't that big of a deal, but it's still frustrating. I just really, really, really want to get out if the 220's, and I'm so fucking close... three lousy little pounds, that's it!

Sigh.

I've just had three very long weeks at work, and it's not helping my stress levels.I think I'm retaining stress fat. That's a real thing, right?

I decided I wanted a sandwich for dinner instead of my usual salad and chicken/fish. So I had a sandwich. And it was lovely.

I'm out of town this weekend, which means restaurant food, which totally fucking sucks, but I'm going to attempt to keep the gorging to a minimum.

Peace and Love,
Ginger.

Project 365: Week Four

I had a few nights this week where I pretty much scrambled to take a photo because it was ten at night and I still hadn't taken anything. It's been a long week.

However, I did grab a few while I was out on assignment, so I think it evens out pretty well.

So without further ado, here's my photos from week four.

January 22

The cold snap finally ended, warm sunshine on my toes.

January 23

Beads and feathers and chains, oh my!

January 24

Cows go Moo!

January 25

Apples stuffed with cinnamon and brown sugar, yum!

January 26

Rawr, I'm a dragon!

January 27

One more month until I can strap these one again...

January 28

Say hello to bendy Mr. Bacon. He'll kill you in your sleep.

And there we have it! Four weeks down, only 48 more to go!

Beads and Bacon,

Ginger.

WLW: Confessions of a Workaholic

Good god, this was a long week...

I've been working perhaps just a bit longer than I should be, but it's for a good cause, I swear! That cause being my livelihood, by which I mean my job. People don't wanna buy a newspaper that's crap, and I don't want my name attached to a paper that's crap. So we're working on some schedule shifts and whatnot in order to make that happen. So there.

Being at work so much means I'm bringing a lunch and snacks with me to work so I don't walk down to the corner store and buy chips or other such junk. This has actually worked out in my favour, as all I'm eating during the day to soup, salad, fruit and green tea. Oh, and a yogurt cup and maybe a fibre bar. That's it. I'm actually starting to feel full on just a soup and salad... which is something I never thought would happen considering how much I used to eat at lunch.

I've been crazy busy with work, but I'm still getting my workouts and running sessions in, so that's a bonus. And it's paid off...

Last week I had a bit of a gain, and I was at 223.4 lbs. Between saying goodbye to a coworker with a dinner of chicken souvlaki and all the trimmings, I still managed to get down to 222.4 lbs.

Huzzah!!

And now I have to get back to work. Lame update this week, sorry about that. I'll do better next week.

For now, here's a photo I took this evening. As part of Family Literacy Week, a Discover Cooking class was held. I didn't get to stick around to see the end result, but their dessert of baked apples looked like they would be delicious.

Like apple pie, but without the actual pie part.

Work smarter, not harder

Ginger.

Project 365: Week Three

This was a most chilly week!

Lots of icy, shivery, frozen photos, but some others as well. I had a couple days where I took a photo, but didn't like it because it was similar to one I'd already taken. So I took another one. I don't know if that's allowed, but that's how I'm rolling.

Anyways, here are my photos for this week:

January 14

Our snowy owl that we carve for High On Ice.

January 15

The trophy that we won for carving the snowy owl at High On Ice.

January 16

It was so cold, frost was forming on my balcony door.

January 18

The hoar frost wasn't as hoar-y as I'd hoped.

January 19

Hey look, a person! Oh wait, it's just me and my giant forehead.

January 20

Shiny disco balls at a goodbye dinner

January 21

A note from the guy that was parked in my space for over a day.

So there we go! Three weeks down, only 49 more to go!

Flashy flashy!

Ginger.

WLW: Hibernation Mode

Oh, hey there Winter, when did you get into town? Oh, by the way? You're a fucking jerk.

Holy shitballs, it got so goddamn cold last week – we're talking -40C windchill here people! And of course, that just so happened to coincide with the High On Ice winter festival.

Oh Joy.

Granted, I didn't want it to be unseasonably warm over the weekend like it has been for the last two months, but I never wanted it to be this cold... this is like what Hell would would feel like if it actually froze over.

And it was also the weekend that coworkers and I agreed to take part in the media ice carving challenge. Six hours outside in this weather, yay!

But it was worth it. Tim and I took first place with our awesome owl, so all was well in the world.

And it was so fucking cold!!!!

Being that cold has weird effects on your appetite. It is just as easy to get dehydrated being out in the cold as it is being out in the heat. Also, you can go hours before realizing that you're so ravenous that you'll practically inhale anything that's put in front of you.

We get fed at HOI – in previous years it was things like soup and sandwiches. This year it was fish and chips, with soup and salad. I had two pieces of fish and salad. And a few fries. They were a little cold, so not very good.

After all was said and done, and after being out in the cold for something like 9 hours, I went back to the office to get some pages done. Upon arrival, I chugged almost an entire litre of cold water (sooooo good!) and didn't even blink when my boss said she was going to order pizza for us since they would deliver and we wouldn't have to leave the building.

Twist my rubber arm, peeps.

I didn't even realize how hungry I was until that first bite – carbs are comfort food after all and I really needed something warm and comforting. I downed three slices from a medium pizza, which is definitely not on my diet, but when your brain had turned to frozen yogurt, you don't process consequences quite as readily.

Beyond that, I ate very well this week. Though that didn't help much on Scale this week. I'm pretty sure my body went into hibernation mode and stored as much fat as possible so I wouldn't die.

Rawr, I'm a bear!

I'm up to 223.4 lbs from 222.0 last week. But I'm not overly upset by that, as I said I was in hibernation mode and after a weekend like that, I'm not going to beat myself up over it. Just do better next week!

Sister and I have started the Learn To Run program, which isn't much fun when I forget to bring my inhaler. But it wasn't too bad. I figure, if I can quickly jog from the middle of the Safeway parking lot to the store without breaking a sweat, I should be able to handle the running program.

And now I'm going to curl up under a blanket with some hot tea and watch me some Lost. Clearly, I'm still somewhat in hibernation mode.

Cozies and Snuggles,

Ginger.

Project 365: Week Two

I had a few days this week where I had to think of a photo towards the end of the day, so I cut it pretty close a couple times. But, I still managed to get seven more photos.

This week kind of had an animal/food/toys theme going on. Not on purpose, it just sort of happened.

January 8

Stormy decides that my legs are the perfect place to sleep.

January 9

Who's a happy puppy? Molly's a happy puppy!

January 10

Chicken and salad. Looks pretty bland, actually...

January 11

An egg within an egg... Egg-ception!

January 12

Rubber ducky, you're the one... you make bathtime so much fun!

January 13

Hey Cookie, you got a little something on your face, there.

January 14

Oh, I bet that ice slide was cold on the ass.

So there ya go, two weeks down, 50 more to go!

Happy picture-taking!

Ginger

WLW: Ugh

I did bad things on Friday.

Friday was a very weird day, filled with many extremes and little in the way of comfortable middle grounds. I woke up and realized I was completely out of breakfast food, so I just grabbed a breakfast bagel from the coffee shop around the corner and figured I'd be better at lunch and buy a salad.

Wel, as the day wore on stress levels were going up and thing happened that were going to directly impact our department, which led to the wonderful idea that we all needed cheeseburgers for lunch! Let me tell you, that was a lot of grease for someone who hasn't had a whole lot in a long time.

Like this, only more fast food-y

Then someone who actually likes our newspaper brought us a little treat – doughnuts. And not the crappy kind from Tim Horton's, oh no. These were freshly baked, still soft and sugary doughnuts from Safeway. Which, by the way, are like twice the size of a Timmies doughnut.

So after the breakfast bagel, combo meal from Wendy's and the doughnut, I figure I probably won't need much in the way of dinner. Some carrot sticks if I have anything at all. Went to the walking track and really power walked for the whole hour, just to try and maybe work off some of the doughnut, if nothing else.

It wasn't until I got home that things turned ugly.

As soon as I laid on the couch, my stomach got all swollen and I spent about 30 minutes in the bathroom waiting to puke. I didn't, and that was kind of irritating because as much as I hate vomiting, I think I would have felt a lot better if I had.

So I spent the rest of the night walking around with a little trash can, you know, just in case. Initially I thought I was getting the stomach flu, since Facebook statuses have been informing me that it's going around, but then I realized this wasn't unlike that incident back in August in Montana. I figured it was just my eating a bunch of really shitty food in a few hours that did it. Moving forward, moving along.

Until it happened again on Sunday.

I was just sitting on the couch, minding my own business, browsing some super cute boots on ShoeDazzle, when all of a sudden I got that vomiting feeling in my throat again. Which was made ever weirder by the fact that my stomach didn't hurt. At all.

At that point, I was getting very very annoyed. I'd eaten mostly vegetables on Saturday, and I'd only eaten breakfast a few hours prior, trying to get back to normal and I'm still getting a barfy feeling? Not cool, body. Seriously, not cool.

Upon further investigation with Google, all I could find was that a lot of pregnant women get that barfy feeling and it's linked to heartburn and acid reflux. Since I'm definitely not pregnant, but I am a chronic heartburn sufferer, I figured it can't hurt to try and do some of the things they do for relief. So for the time being I'm going to self-medicate with apples and chamomile tea. Oh, and Zantac. Definitely Zantac.

An apple a day keeps the barfy feeling away

Okay, so that was my physical drama. Onwards to the the weigh-in/measurements!

I was a little disappointed in my measurements. I've lost about five inches or so total, and I was kind of expecting a higher number. But then, I realized two things: One, the starting number for my bust size wasn't in my sister's spreadsheet, which ought to bring the number up somewhat since I'm not filling out shirts the way I used to. And two, these starting numbers are only from November – if I'd actually measured myself when I started this back in June, the number would be considerably higher at this point.

That's me trying to be positive. How'm I doing?

As for weigh-in, well, I had to do it twice because I really almost didn't believe what I was seeing. I almost started crying.

Maybe it was the Friday fuck up, maybe it was the shitty feeling I had afterwards. Maybe it was the fact that since then I've cut back on my meat intake and consumed copious amounts of veggies. Or maybe it's all the exercise FINALLY catching up, because gentle readers, I am, for the first time since October (holy fuck, really?!), able to post a loss. A REAL loss.

Last week I was 224.7, this week, I weighed in, and I'm totally not kidding here, 222.0.

Holy shitballs.

I am down 2.7 pounds... I haven't had a loss that substantial since... Thanksgiving weekend... Wow, it's kind of amazing that I haven't just said 'Fuck it' and quit. I'm actually a little paranoid that this week was a fluke, that Scale is just trying to get my hopes up only to have me gain back the 2.7 and then some next week.

But I can't think like that and I can't quit now. The dress I ordered for the weddings this summer arrived, and I purposely ordered a size smaller than I am now. Now I have to work my ass off in order to fit into for June. How's THAT for motivation?

Here it hangs in my room:

The red dots are actually little skulls.

Super cute, right?

So anyhoo, hooray for little victories, I'm going to celebrate with a kiwi.

Fruit and veggies,

Ginger.

Project 365: Week one

So the first week of my attempt at Project 365 is done. I took seven photos in seven days, and hopefully I can stick with it and continue on through the next 51 weeks.

You'd think being a photographer by trade this would be easy. It's not. Unless I'm covering an event or grabbing a standalone, I don't take many photos during the week. The weekends are a different story, but it's been an interesting challenge so far.

The first week consisted of photos of objects and places I spend time. This week was easy, but by week 12 I imagine I'll really have to start getting creative.

So anywhoo, without further ado, hereare the week 1 photos of my Project 365.

January 1

You saw this one already, but it didn't feel right leaving it out.

January 2

The Northern Vac Walking Track in the Pomeroy Sport Centre.

I spend many hours a week here.

January 3

My new Kindle.I always said these things were the devil, but it's actually pretty cool.

January 4

Went out with a few friends and proved we're extra awesome by just having tea at the pub.

January 5

There was a murder at my desk. The investigation is ongoing.

January 6

My Walking Dead lunchbox. Zombies gotta eat.

January 7

Some of Keisha's generic My Little Pony knockoffs. I play with these all the time.

So there ya go. One week down, only 51 more to go.

Keep on shutterbuggin'!

Ginger.

WLW: Tea Parties

I'm on a tea kick.

See, as I'm trying to stop drinking pop, I need to find another drink to take its place. And while many would say "water, duh!" I say I need something else. So nyah.

I drink cold blueberry tea at home, which is so freakin' refreshing I don't know why I everyone doesn't drink it. I can finish off a pitcher in a day and a half, I love it that much. I like to have a nice mug of hot tea before bed to relax after a stupid day at work.

Makes the stupid day go away.

Despite all the loveliness of tea, I already miss pop. It's only been three days and it's taking a lot for me to not walk up to a cooler and pick one out when I'm getting lunch, or on the way home form work, or when I go grocery shopping.

Sigh.

It'll get easier, I'm sure. And then eventually I can say it's been six months since I had a pop, like I can say that now with cereal.

I'm starting to sound like a broken record/scratched CD/corrupt MP3. Every week the same damn thing, almost. Weigh-in results are not exactly stagnant, but not moving very quickly in the downward direction.

Two weeks ago, which was the last time I actually posted weigh-in numbers, I was at 224.8. As of this morning, I'm 224.7.

Okay, I know it's a loss, but I wish it would just go down a wee little bit faster. Although considering the last two weeks were all-encompassed by Christmas and New Year's, I guess that's not so bad.

I had every intention of sharing my measurements this week, but circumstances beyond anyone's control have prevented that from happening. Next time for realz, I promise.

I'm currently working through a little bout of insomnia, which I'm hoping will pass soon. I really dislike being wide awake at 2 or 3 in the morning after going to sleep at 10:30-11. It's making me not want to get up and do my morning workout, which is bad, but then I'm so bagged at the end of the day that I don't want to go to the track, which is worse.

Hopefully I'll get my sleeping patterns back where they ought to be tonight after downing several mugs of chamomile tea... or I'll be up peeing half the night. Whichever.

Happy Tea Time,

Ginger.

In the New Year...

Holy shit, where the hell has the last decade gone?

It's officially 2012. It's the year I will turn 30 and mark the fifth anniversary of my working at AHN.

What else will it bring? Who knows? I don't have a crystal ball. I had a Magic 8 Ball once, but it was a snarky little fucker that found it's way into the trash, I'm pretty sure.

I don't believe in New Year's Resolutions because they're completely ridiculous. No one ever sticks to a specific list of things to change about themselves, so why even bother making said list?

However, it can be a good jumping off point for a lot of people. But really, that can really happen any time of the year. Yes, January is is when we go buy a new calendar, so people think it makes sense to start then, but why wait until you hang a new kitten/travel/outhouse calendar to make changes? I started my changes back in June. Seemed like as good a time as any.

That being said, I do have a couple things I intend to work on to better myself, or at the very least, shit I should have done ages ago but never got around to it. So in the spirit of NYE and all that jazz, here's my 2012 to-do list.

1. I will start actually keeping a daytimer and start actually using it. I mean it this time, I even went out a bought one! It's red, very cute.

2. I will stop drinking pop. Period. Not even diet pop will be allowed. This is a vice I seriously need to kick.

3. I would like to participate in the Emperor's Challenge, which is a half marathon over a mountain. I've been meaning to do this for the past few years, but I've always been out of the region on holidays at the time.

4. I'm going to purge my closet and donate all the clothes to some organization that can use them. I have so many clothes of various sizes, as I've been various sizes since moving here, so lots of different women could wear them.

5. I'm going to get that second bedroom organized so I can use it as a writing room. I just finished Stephen King's On Writing, and now I feel like I could actually get some of these stories in my head out and into text form.

6. I'm going to try that Project 365 thing, where you take a photo a day for a year. I'd like to see if I could actually stick to it.

Six things is enough, right?

And to kick things off, here's the first photo from the Project 365.

Good morning, 2012.

And I promise it won't be a year of sunrise/sunset photos. This just seems like a natural starting off point. I don't know if I'll post every single photo here, but if I can find a way to make it feasible, I will. Otherwise, they'll be on my Facebook.

And with that, I wish everyone all the best in the New Year.

Resolutions and Resolve,

Ginger.