A little left of center...

The Loss of our Baby

2006-03-20T09:50:00.000-05:00

Some of you may already know, but on March 8th 2006, we lost our precious unborn baby to miscarriage. It is one of the saddest things I have ever experienced in my life, and I still have good days and bad days. You go from being extremely excited, to being extremely sad. Although we never saw our baby, to us he/she was very real, and we will never forget them. I know God is with us and will guide us through this dark period.

WHAT MAKES A MOTHER

I thought of you and closed my eyes
And prayed to God today
I asked "What makes a Mother?"
And I know I heard Him say.

"A Mother has a baby"
This we know is true
"But God can you be a Mother,
When your baby's not with you?"

"Yes, you can," He replied
With confidence in His voice
"I give many women babies,
When they leave is not their choice.

Some I send for a lifetime,
And others for the day.
And some I send to feel your womb,
But there's no need to stay."

"I just don't understand this
God I want my baby to be here."
He took a deep breath and cleared His throat,
And then I saw the tear.

"I wish I could show you,
What your child is doing today.
If you could see your child's smile,
With all the other children and say...

'We go to Earth to learn our lessons,
Of love and life and fear.
My Mommy loved me oh so much,
I got to come straight here.

I feel so lucky to have a Mom,
Who had so much love for me.
I learned my lessons very quickly,
My Mommy set me free.

I miss my Mommy oh so much,
But I visit her every day.
When she goes to sleep,
On her pillow's where I lay

I stroke her hair and kiss her cheek,
And whisper in her ear.
Mommy don't be sad today,
I'm your baby and I'm here.'

"So you see my dear sweet ones,
your children are okay.
Your babies are born here in My home,
And this is where they'll stay.

They'll wait for you with Me,
Until your lesson's through.
And on the day that you come home
they'll be at the gates for you.

So now you see what makes a Mother,
It's the feeling in your heart
it's the love you had so much of
Right from the very start

Though some on earth may not realize,
you are a Mother.
Until their time is done.
They'll be up here with Me one day
and know that you are the best one!"

It's been awhile for good reason...

2006-03-10T22:37:00.000-05:00

Well, I haven't posted in awhile, mainly because I haven't known what to say. I am going through one of the darkest periods of my life right now, and yet still trying to keep a positive outlook on life. There is still hope, and that is what I am clinging to right now.

I'm not ready to talk about it openly, but believe me, soon I will want to write it all down and get it out. Luckily, my work has been so good and understanding. I just couldn't face the world for a couple of days. My family and friends have been great, and are basically the only reason I am still looking forward with hope.

I was hoping to have the answers back by this weekend, but now it looks like I might not know until Monday. I am going to try and speed up the process though, as I really need to get back to work on Monday, and I would like the weekend to deal with the news whether it be good or bad.

Please keep me in your thoughts and prayers. It is a very tough time for me, and I do believe in miracles, so I do believe every prayer makes a difference. I just hope God will show favor on me, but if not, I know there is a reason.

If you live in Ohio, please voice your opinion

2006-02-28T10:59:00.000-05:00

Awhile back I blogged about how certain Ohio school systems are going to Online Physical Education. Basically, students are able to complete homework for Physical Education online. The idea to me is compeltely ridicoulous since we all know kids who need exercise are not going to be held accountable to complete their daily homework. Heck, I am not even sure I would have been motivated enough in high school to be doing exercise outside of school and I was even an athlete! There is a bill in congress right now that would require standards be placed around Physical Education in Ohio that would require schools to adhere to a set curriculum. According to the P.E. conference my husband recently attended, this would cut down on schools that would be able to have online courses. Here are some facts that suggest this bill (State Bill 44) would be a good idea:

Ohio is the 13th fattest state in the country with 33.7% of Ohioans being overweight and 24.4% of our population being obese. These rates have doubled since 1985. Ohio's children are disproportionately affected with 30.3% of Ohio's children ages 6-11 overweight and another 15.5% of the youth categorized as obese. The more a child weighs, the increased likelihood of adult diseases, such as Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, asthma, and joint injuries presenting in pediatric patients.

Only a handful of states across the nation including Ohio do not currently have state physical education (PE) standards. Ohio's Department of Education also does not have a PE Coordinator position. Senate Bill 44 would remedy both of those issues. As such, we have been strong advocates of SB 44; however, the bill has been languishing for months in the Senate Education Committee.

Please go to this website a submit your support for this important bill. You will be asked to register quickly with your address only so they can make sure your email is sent to the appropriate representatives.

Contact your state representatives about State Bill 44

Call Me Trendy

2006-02-21T19:06:00.000-05:00

If you know anything about our dogs, you know that one of them can be classified as part werewolf. Flashback to two years ago, shortly after we were married. We were in need of a cell phone plan where we could share minutes and happened to sign up for Verizon and got two free phones. First week we have them, Archie chews up Jeff's brand new phone. It was pretty bad too. The outside had teeth marks on it, and the LCD screen was cracked, and the antenna was ripped out. Needless to say, although it looked like a disaster, it was actually usable (thank goodness it wasn't my phone!). Of course, we didn't buy the insurance for the phone, so for two years, Jeff has been using this beat up phone. Poor guy.

Well, two years have come and gone, and low and behold...our contract is up, YEAH! When your contract is up, they offer you deals for staying with the service like buy one get one free deals. So we went on Monday night and got the latest and greatest Verizon phone with V-CAST. This is the phone with all those annoying commercials where they start playing music from there phone, but either way, the phone is pretty cool, and a little high tech to say the least...at least for me. I am still trying to figure the darn thing out. The cool features of it are that it is a camera and video phone, and of course the famous MP3 player feature...woo hoo. It came with the software to allow you to sync your CDs to your phone, the SD memory card, and the headphones for MP3 listening. It is pretty cool. For all you techy people, it is also enabled with bluetooth technology so you can talk with a wireless headset...ooh. I feel so trendy and hip...I make my teenage sister jealous, finally.

Samsung V-CAST Phone

Not a fan of the current IOC

2006-02-16T17:38:00.000-05:00

Well, as most of you have heard, the Olympic Commitee has confirmed that fastpitch softball and baseball will not be part of the 2012 London Olympic games. This to me is very sad.

The reason behind the axe is because the IOC believes that there is just no competition in the sport with the U.S, and that it is not picking up in other countries. I beg to differ. For instance, a lot of the MLB players are from different countries, and it is well known that countries like Cuba are heavy competitors in the baseball community. In softball, the U.S. women's team lost a major international game to China just this past year. You can't tell me that softball in other countries will never be able to compete.

This is very sad for me as a coach of a 12 and under girls fastpitch team. These girls love the game and I have heard many of them say it is their dream to play for Olympic Gold someday like Jenny Finch or Lisa Fernandez. I think the decision did not really analyze the sport as a whole, but just played on the fact that a lot of countries are not very fond of U.S. politics. This also is the reason why our only U.S. IOC member was also recently voted off, and we no longer have any U.S. representation.

In the end, this decision hurts women's softball more than baseball, although both are equally dissappointing. Guys at least have the major leagues to look forward to and strive for, but this is a major blow to girl's athletics.

I just hope that maybe something will change before 2012 as it is very sad indeed. That is my rant for the day.

Can we say anemic?

2006-02-10T16:40:00.000-05:00

So, I got my test results back regarding my thyroid and such and I am happy to report there is nothing wrong with my thyroid....YEAH! However, it did come back to say that I am battling with my dreaded anemia again, which was somewhat expected. However, when I went to the pharmacist to pick up my new iron supplement, I was shocked to see how much iron they wanted me to take! My goodness! Mind you, I have to take one of these pills twice a day, and one alone has 65mg of Iron which is equivalent to 361% of your daily iron. How freaking anemic am I?! The doctor just said a little.

So, I called the doc's office back to see what my counts actually were, and it sounds like my hemoglobin (I learned that is what transports the iron) is very good. However, my actual iron count is 32 (good range is 50-170) and my iron saturation is 6 (good range is 15-50). SO definitely a little anemic. So, I am hoping with all the iron I was missing out on I will now have a little more energy after taking these supplements.

On another note, did anyone catch the O.C. last night? There was a very obvious plug for Victoria's Secret. I thought it was neat being I am an employee of VS. Not sure how much longer I can keep up the two job thing though, but the discount is just so nice...but how many more bras do I actually need. The answer is of course a lot more since now I am obsessed!

Oh, and on a side note since a very 'mature' co-worker just walked up and looked over my shoulder (he really isn't that old, but I like to tease him), check out his blog at Cool, Calm and Collected. It can be pretty interesting...if you are in to old time stuff and such:-)

Why watch Animal Planet?

2006-02-07T20:40:00.000-05:00

I think I've seen this one before on Animal Planet...

The scene starts with a deep voice over announcer talking about the preying habits of wild animals, and the skill of the natural hunter. Then, enter stage left, my two dogs. I'll let the pictures explain for themselves. Poor Simba never had a chance. Nothing left but to pick up the pieces:-)

.

Archie defends his catch

This and That

2006-02-03T16:16:00.000-05:00

So, I haven't posted in a couple of days...the main reason being, I really haven't had much to say. I am still fighting being sick, and I had a nasty reaction to the medication I was on at first. About an hour after I would take it, I would get a severe headache along with a fever. I took it for three days before I gave up and asked the doctor for a new script. The new medicine I am on has been treating me well, but I got a sinus infection on top of everything else this week. When it rains, it pours I guess.

On a positive note, I am down 8.5 pounds this month, woo-hoo! I have to lose 5 1/2 more to meet my 10% weight loss goal and win some money...which I desperately need. I really haven't been trying hard this month, so I will kick it into high gear and hopefully lose the 5 pounds by the end of February. I just am not that dedicated, so I will need to mentally prepare myself to get it together. When I first lost all my weight I had a goal in mind of fitting into my bikini and looking great (which was accomplished!), and now I have maintained my weight loss for almost a year without much effort. So, basically, I want to lose weight to win money, but I don't really need to, but it would be nice to. Does that even make sense? At my lowest I was 125 pounds, and I need to get down to 120 and maintain...that is going to be a tougher task then it sounds. I purposely drank a gallon of water before I weighed in the first time to gain 5 extra pounds of water weight, so don't think I am that fab losing 8.5 already...the water weight came off quick. I need to buy a treadmill...

Other than that...no big plans for the weekend. I work at my second job, and will probably watch the Super Bowl since Big Ben is playing. I really don't get into NFL at all, but since Big Ben is from my area, you want to see him do good.

Well, so long for now...hopefully, I will think about something exciting to post about soon!

Sick, sick...sick

2006-01-26T17:44:00.000-05:00

So, I stayed home from work today due to the fact I was running a 102 fever. I went to the doctor and I have some sort of bacterial infection (it just sounds bad). Thus ends my winter free of illness...I knew I wouldn't make it much longer.

To top it all off, my doctor has ordered me to get mutliple blood tests run because my lovely anemia is rearing its ugly head, as well as to test my thyroid for hyperthyroidism. I looked it up on Web MD and basically, it means your thyroid is producing too much hormone and causes your metabolism to work negatively against you. From what I understand, it can cause your body to metabolise everything including helpful nutrients you need causing you to lack essential nutrients and cause a whole host of problems...yuck. I am hoping that it is just my anemia, and not the other one at this point. However, I have noticed lately that I have been wanting to eat everything in sight (and I have been) and yet still am losing weight. Of course, yes, that is a good curse, but it is also causing me to feel sick because I am so hungry all the time. I absolutely have a fear of needles ever since my brief hospital stay in 2003. I think I had every medical student in the city poking me with a needle and by the time I left, I was black and blue...not a fun experience:-(

On a positive note, my blood pressure was down to 128 over 82, which is really, really good for me. When I was in college, I was actually on a water pill because my blood pressure was in the 170s.

My dog is half crazy!

2006-01-24T11:09:00.000-05:00

So, it has been awhile since I posted about my two babies...my dogs Archie and Cooper. If you know either of them, Cooper is my laid-back fluff-ball cockapoo, and Archie is my half schnauzer, half jack russell, half crazy dog! Well, yesterday I could have killed (not really) my crazy Archie!

The day started off good. Work was slow so our boss let us leave a little early which worked out for me because Archie had a vet appointment that afternoon. We switched his dog food about three months ago because he just stopped eating his current brand and I was tired of trying to bribe him to eat it by coating it with gravy or wet dog food. Well, recently, he developed what looked like chapped lips (which I had no idea dogs could get). So, I called the Vet and made an appointment to check it out, but I was pretty sure it was probably an allergy of some sorts.

Well, if you know my little angel at all, you know that he is one crazy dog (or at least I have told you a couple times already in this post!). I got home early from work and decided to take both of them for a walk, hoping that it would calm Archie down. Then I drove to the appointment right on time. As soon as I pulled into the parking lot, there was a huge black lab that Archie started screaming at...yes, screaming. You see, my dog doesn't bark, he lets out an absolutely blood curdling, ear piercing scream (I think he has wolf ancestery). Well, I decided to keep him in the car for awhile to see if they left, no luck, so I went in and informed the lady that I was going to just be outside until they were ready for us for everyone's sake. Mind you, every single time a dog or cat walked in, Archie broke out in his ear piercing scream, and some people asked me if he was really a dog (yes, it is that bad). I even tried to pick him up, but that only resulted in a bloody lip from him flinging his head back. Well, a half hour had passed since our appointment time, so I decided to put Archie back in the car and go and check how long it would be. Didn't you know they forgot about us?! How could they have with the baby like screams coming from outside the door?! Anyway, long story short, the vet confirmed it was an allergy to wheat which is the main ingredient in the new food I was feeding him (which I must mention he absolutely loves).

I then decided I needed to stop at the pet store on the way home and buy him a new food. He had calmed down considerably, so I decided to take him in. He was really good, no screaming, until a girl came with her beagle dog and wanted him to say hi to Archie. Well, it was okay until Archie and the other dog started to play and ripped the leashes out of our hands. Archie tears through the store with the other dog, all the while we are trying to catch them, and of course, my little angel is lifting his leg on everything he can! I finally caught him as he was peeing inside, yes, inside a fish tank (luckily, no fish).

So, that was my night in a nutshell. The vet appointment ended up costing me $55 for allergy shot and allergy medicine, and the trip to the pet store cost me about $50 too since I remembered I only had to Jan. 31st to get the dogs licenses. So, it was an expensive, and stressful night. I was so tense, and stressed I decided I wanted to do nothing but snuggle up on the coach and watch tv.

Don't get me wrong, I love my dogs, but next time, my hubby is taking Archie to the vet!

Probably the coolest thing I seen in awhile...

2006-01-17T14:31:00.000-05:00

Two posts in one day! Crazy! However, I had to post this link because this is pretty cool. The folks over a My Hertiage.com have really come up with a cool idea. I caught wind of this from a link on my local news homepage. Basically, you upload a headshot of yourself (It also works if there are multiple people in the picture), and it scans your face and it links your facial features to celebrities. Pretty Cool!

It is just a Beta version now, but you can sample it for free. You do have to sign up however. It is neat to play around with. Have fun!

My Heritage link to face scans

Blogging Around

2006-01-17T13:35:00.000-05:00

For those who may not have noticed, I have updated my links and such. I added a few links from some strangers blogs that I have found particularly interesting. Here are a few highlights:

1. I don't like you in that way - This is a new twist on the whole celeb gossip thing. Very funny entries and updates.

2. Stupid Criminal Files - These are just plain hilarious. Especially this one.

3. Parent Hacks - Yes, yes...I am fully aware that I am not a parent yet, but as an aspiring one, I think anyone would find these helpful tips useful. They actual have some pretty practical ideas.

Baby Boom!

2006-01-13T15:51:00.000-05:00

Does it seem like everyone is having a baby, or am I just noticing it more? It seems like all my friends are having them, and even the stars like Brad and Angelina are...what's in the water?! There are even people adopting that I know of. Whatever it is, it is seriously putting me in a baby crazed stuper. I suddenly really, really want one. But am I really ready for one? Not really sure. I am only 24, married, and my husband is just finishing his last semester of college (finally, thank God!), so you think I would have plenty of time to enjoy life before commiting to such a big thing, right? On the other hand, I am tired of watching all these people with their beautiful babies. So, I have decided that I either need a kid, or I need to get another dog. I need something to fill that nagging gap with, or I may just go crazy.

My biggest fear is that I won't be able to have kids. I don't really have any facts to support this theory, but in my mind their could always be the possiblity. It always seems like the people who get pregnant are the ones who don't necessairly want to be pregnant, not the ones who are actually trying. So, basically, what I am rambling about is that it may be awhile still, so I am green with envy at all you people with your cutesy-tootsy babies.

However, the best deterrant may be the fact that my husband is quite a handful as it is...

Weird, weird, weird.....WEIRD!

2006-01-11T13:51:00.000-05:00

This post will be solely decdicated to the all the weird stuff I have seen, heard, or encountered in the last week or so. Please feel free to add any weird stuff by leaving a comment.

1. As most of you know, I decided one full-time job was not enough, and I got a part-time job (seasonal) at Victoria's Secret. Recently on one such working occassion, the girl at the register next to me was ringing up a certain 'Sexy' two-piece outfit when she happened to ask the customers age. To our suprise the girl was only sixteen! This blew my mind. I think when I was sixteen I was still embarassed to enter a VS store, let alone buy one of our most barely there pieces. So weird. Even weirder is that a local high school teacher got caught with a 16 year old student just yesterday having an affair in a car...makes you wonder. What is this world coming to?!

2. Human skin bound books.....what?! I read an article that some of our nation's finest libraries, including Harvard's, are now carrying books bound in real human flesh. I guess the practice of binding books in human skin was quite common in early days. Now, libraries mainly acquire the books through private donation and are allowed to ethically use them for educational purposes as long as they are not displayed for objects of curiosity. Very weird. Read the full article here: Human Skin bound books in many libraries

3. Father needs saving after a hide n' seek game with kids goes bad. This is one where you just want to say...what was he thinking? The man had to be rescued after becoming wedged in his washing machine while trying to hide from his kids. It is reported that the man waited for an hour with his kness to his chest before being rescued. The father was quoted as saying " I hope they (my kids) don't go hiding in any washing machines now". Well, duh Dad, good example. Too weird. Read full article here:Dad needed rescuing during game of hide and seek with kids

Fox's Reunion Cancelled...so sad:-(

2006-01-09T13:43:00.000-05:00

I don't watch a ton of TV, but this is basically why I try never to get attached to a show. I originally got hooked on Fox's O.C., basically because I like the whole soap opera appeal, and the drama of it all. I haven't been into it as much lately though, because really, how many times can Ryan and Marissa break-up and get back together??

Anyway, back to Reunion...I really like that show. I Tivo'd it every Thursday night, and I actually thought it was a clever storyline. Basically, the show started with a group of 'friends' on their high school graduation. The show flashes back and forth from the present to the past because one friend is murdered on their 20 year reunion. Each episode was a year in time. So, of course, as we were all just getting into it....Fox cancelled it and won't even tell us who the killer was. How crappy! They could have at least let the season end. Well, if the O.C. isn't any good this week, I may say so long to FOX all together.

Well, that is my rant for the day.

Golf

2006-01-05T22:37:00.000-05:00

I would have to say that I am truly a person that enjoys sports of all kinds. However, I tend to not enjoy sports that don't come easy to me (who does?). Now, I am not saying I am the best athlete, but I have athletic ability which typically allows me to hold my own. One sport however, that I just can't seem to get is golf. Unfortunately, it is one of my husbands favorite sports next to baseball. He has tried and tried since high school to get me to play, and I will occassionally humor him with a few hits at the driving range. I am pretty good with the driver, and can for the most part hit it pretty straight, but I struggle with any other club. I have told him that if he will let me play the whole course with a driver then I will play, but he doesn't seem to think that is a good idea...why not?!

For your viewing enjoyment, I have included a pic of the last time I tried to golf. Try not to laugh too hard...my shoulder looks like it is about to be ripped from my body. Needless to say though, I did hit the ball pretty far on that swing and it would have gone farther, but I hit a tree. I swear it came out of no where. Last but not least, I had to include a pic of my husbands swing...he does look like he really knows what he is doing.

Jen golfing...watch out!

Jeff golfing...his swing is a lot nicer.

Another use for those extra holiday pounds...

2006-01-05T13:00:00.000-05:00

I couldn't resist posting this...this is probably one of the most far-fetched thing I have ever read. Read this article, and down a few more ding-dongs:

FAT PEOPLE GOOD FOR UNIVERSE

Trapped in the Closet (he should have stayed there)

2006-01-05T11:17:00.000-05:00

Okay, so we got pretty bored at work the other day and decided to have a private (there was like 5 of us) viewing of R. Kelly's 'Trapped in the Closet' chapters 1-12. Yes, pretty pathetic, but there is actually 12 chapters! I had actually only seen chapters 1 and 2 before, so I was kind of interested to see where the heck he was going with this.

OMG, it was way out in left field! Lets just say, past chapter 5, there is some crazy stuff that happens. Can we say an ashmatic midget who poops and faints! It makes you wonder if he was really serious at all when making this video, or if he was smoking something. Okay, I will have to admit that it was pretty artistic in the fact that he sang every word...come on people, they even gave awards to Evita, but I think I almost felt more dumb for watching it, but I will admit it was a good laugh.

Well, if you are interested in watching it, I think it is coming out on DVD soon. I would actually suggest watching it at least once. Like I said, it is pretty entertaining. After you have watched it in its entirety, then check out this Mad TV spoof 'Trapped in the Cupboard'. It is pretty freakin' hilarious after you have seen the original.

Mad TV-'Trapped in the Cupboard

I think I found the solution to my problem!

2005-12-27T10:24:00.000-05:00

I think I found the solution to my problem. Check out this link for the "National Husband Care Program". I think Canada has really got it right with this program. Just think ladies how great it would be!

Check out the video link courtesy of joe-ks.com. Just click on the link to view the video.

Husband Care Program

Husbands of the world, please weigh in!

2005-12-27T00:30:00.000-05:00

Okay, please explain to me how women can do twenty plus things in an average day and expect no recognition for it, but a guy does one little thing (lets say the dishes in this case) and he wants not only a pat on the back, but you to recognize the fact he did it once every single time you even think he is not pulling his weight? Please explain this to me...I am dying to know the answer. Do you see where I am going with this...

Online Physical Education....what's next!?

2005-12-25T21:56:00.000-05:00

My husband recently attended an Ohio Physical Educators convention in which it was announced that some schools in the Columbus, Ohio area are going to online Physical Education programs. That is the most ridiculous idea I have ever heard of! Don't get me wrong, I think a lot of courses can be taught online, but Physical Education is not one of them.

From what I understand of it, the course would be a self-paced online course that could be taken from home. Now, lets think about this, for the kids that really need motivating, do you think they are actually going to do any physical activity from home? For this program to even remotely work, there would have to be major parent involvement, and lets face it, there are some parents that aren't even invloved in take-home assignments as it is, let alone monitoring that there child is getting their daily physical fitness dose. In a time where childhood obesity problems are at their worst anyway given the fast food age we live in, how could Ohio even think it is remotely a good idea to leave teaching fitness, and healthy lifestyles up to a computer program? I am really upset by the whole idea, not just because my husband is a Physical Educator, but because I feel strongly that kids in schools need an actual hands-on fitness program not only to encourage healthy living and exercise, but also to give kids a much needed break in the day and an endorphin rush provided by exercise.

Ohio is one of the only states that does not have teaching standards defined around certain educational programs, Physical Education being one of them. This is why this is even being allowed to proceed. If you feel at all as strongly as I do that this is a bad idea, please write your congressman. I would hate this idea to catch on further in Ohio just because it saves a few bucks for the state.

2005-12-25T21:53:00.000-05:00

Merry Christmas!

2005-12-25T21:44:00.000-05:00

Okay, so once again, it has been awhile since my last post. I know it is not quite the New Year yet, but one of my early resolutions will be to start updating my blog a little more. So, from my family to yours, have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Violation of first amendent?

2005-05-25T12:35:00.000-04:00

Recently, I heard a story that just made my skin crawl with anger! In one of our local schools, a assistant principle took it upon herself to order a mass collection of the popular colored bracelets (similar to the livestrong bracelet) because she felt it posed a "gang" risk of violence without any warning. Mind you, we live in the suburbs of Toledo...what gangs??

I guess the way it went down is during lunchtime the principal had a couple of policemen go around with her and demand kids remove the bracelets and give them to her. Mind you there was no pre-warning that she would be collecting them, or any indication, or "gossip" going around the school that the bracelets were an issue. She just showed up during lunch with a police officer and demanded they be removed. I guess this sent a couple of kids into tears, one in particular who's father is serving in Iraq and was wearing a bracelet in support of him. I also heard, that a few students refused to remove them, and the principle or police cut them off of them.

As you can guess, there were some pretty upset parents and I am sure the school was flooded with phone calls. Enough so, that the next day the school held a assembly in which they describe the reason for their actions and returned the bracelets to the kids. What the heck?! I would really like to know what that principle was thinking!!

This defintely violated some rights, and I am actually suprised this didn't make the news, even locally. This is just terrible that their are people in our school system that our on a power trip or something, and feel the need to "flex their muscles". I amamazed at how "clueless" some people are.

What do you think? I would love to hear comments from people!

I do not even have kids, but this story upset me greatly.

The Bod Pod

2005-04-28T15:54:00.000-04:00

Okay, Okay...I said my goal weight loss was 35 pounds, but I decided to go 5 more, and lose 40. So sue me:-) Anyway, this got me to thinking about healthy weight ranges, and true fat to muscle ratio as there is such a thing as losing too much weight.

I had been trying to follow the standard Body Mass Index Chart that gives you a standard "healthy" weight range based on height. However, as a former athlete, I know that this chart does not at all account for muscle (which weighs more than fat). So, I heard through a family member of mine about a place in Columbus, Ohio that has a machine called the "Bod Pod" that measures body/fat ratio by using air displacement technology. The Bod Pod was created using the same principle as the 'gold standard' hydrostatic (underwater weighing) testing, without all of the challenges. The Bod Pod uses air instead of water to measure body volume and is said to be much more accurate.

Check out Baseline Fitness in Columbus, Ohio

The Bod Pod

It has been awhile...sorry!

2005-03-29T13:58:00.000-05:00

So, it has been quite awhile since I updated my blog...sorry! I have just been so busy, but I know that is not really an excuse. Here is just a quick update on what I have been doing, where I've been, and where I'm going...

First off, life is treating me pretty well. The diet is going great and I have hit my target weight loss of 35 pounds! Yee haw! So, I am now just concentrating on toning and strength training. I am sure I will shed a pound or two here and there while doing this, but for the most part I am done losing weight for now. I am now just trying to maintain, and so far so good. I am very happy now...I dropped two pants sizes and two shrit sizes as well! It is so nice to be able to fit into that clothes I still have left over from high school! However, I will never fully go back to weighing the 98 pounds I weighed back then...I would look sickly now!

The dogs are doing good. I think a few posts ago I said how I was taking Cooper to get the "big clip" (neutered for all of those who don't know what I am talking about!). I was really upset at the vet because they accidentally gave him a nasty razor burn cut that became infected. The poor little guy was in so much discomfort because of it. Needless to say, they admitted their mistake and gave me money back. Also, don't think we will be going to that Vet anymore. Archie is doing good as always, he is starting to calm down some, at least as much as a jack (parson) russell can! Jeff is doing good too. His high school baseball team has their first game tonight, so hopefully they win.

If you didn't catch it on the news...my almamater made national headlines with their much contested bid to the NCAA Men's basketball Tournament. Way to go Oakland! We were very excited and actually got to go see their first game down in Dayton where they beat Alabama A&M. Unfortunately, they had to play North Carolina in their next game...so needless to say, it was a short lived tournament for them. I just think it is great they made it that far! Hopefully it won't be the last.

Well, that is the quick and dirty on what has been happening in my life. Hopefully, it won't be so few and far between for my next post....stay tuned!

OSU defeats #1 ranked Illinois

2005-03-07T09:37:00.000-05:00

So, we got a call late Saturday night to see of we were interested in taking two free tickets to the Ohio State vs. Illinois game. Seeing as how we had nothing planned and we hardly ever turn down Buckeye tickets we decided to make the trip down to Columbus. If any of you have watched ESPN, you know what happened. It was an awesome game! Ohio State upset number one ranked Illinois and ended their 29 game win streak! I got tons of pictures, and a video of the chaos that followed the last 5 seconds. I am trying to figure out how to upload the video to my blog since it is pretty awesome. I will hopefully get that up soon.

Go Bucks!

OSU beat #1 Illini

A little of everything

2005-02-23T16:10:00.000-05:00

So, I have been very bad recently on updating my blog. Sorry! I have just been so busy! Anywho...I thought I would take the time and just update you on my life and the strange little things that interest me! Enjoy!

1) Weight loss to date....26 pounds! Yee haw! I have kicked my exercising in gear and I am now working out twice a day. I have been combining a mix of pilates, cardio, and weight training. I am finally getting some muscle definition again...you better watch out!

2) Celebrity Gossip - Instead of boring you with a lot of updates, I will just say that the biggest thing in the celeb gossip news is RELATIONSHIPS! Basically, Brad and Jen are trying to work it out, Jessica and Nick are having problems, and a lot of new romances are blooming (i.e. Ashlee Simpson and Vilmer (Fez from That 70's Show)).

3) Dogs - So, my dogs have been driving me completely insane this week! I think it is a full moon or something. Long story short...Archie has gotten into everything and anything,and Cooper is his faithful accomplice. Today he decided to go in the pantry and grab a whole roll of paper towel and shred it to bits! He was pretty proud of himself too and brought it to me to show me....gotta love him.

4) Jeff and I have been sooo busy! Jeff started coaching again on Monday at the high school and is still also working part-time and going to school, and I have been just working a lot lately in general. Not to mention, in our spare time we are coaching a 12 and under girls fastpitch team! All in good fun though...at least it is keeping us active!

Well, that is basically the highlights. I promise to try and find something more interesting to write about next time. Bye!

A step in the right direction...

2005-02-11T12:32:00.000-05:00

What is one of the easiest ways to burn calories? Walk them off!

One mile is 2,000 to 2,500 steps (depending on stride length) and can burn about 100 calories depending on a person's height and weight. The American Heart Association suggest that people should try and walk 10,000 steps daily, which amounts to burning about 400 - 500 calories. Remember, it takes 3,500 calories to lose one pound, so if you are up for the challenge, try walking about 87,500 steps, the equivilant of about 35 miles!

Here is a break-down of how many steps it takes to burn off some of our favorite foods:

7,500 steps - one cheeseburger

5,750 steps - one doughnut (glazed)

3,450 steps - one 12 oz. soda

3,220 steps - one 12 oz. beer

Here are some ideas to increase the amount of steps you take in a day:
1. Park in the farthest parking spot away from your building at work
2. Take a quick walk around your building mid-afternoon
3. Try walking to your co-workers desk to ask a question instead of e-mailing or calling
4. Take the dog for a walk
5. Take the stairs instead of the elevator

Keep in mind that walking alone will not help you shed the calories. You must also commit yourself to eat healthy!

**Update - I found a really cool calculator tool that helps you calculate how many calories you will burn. It also suggests food you could eat by burning those calories, but I think you might want to consider what it is before you eat it! Try it out:
Walking Calculator

Virtual Model

2005-02-02T18:23:00.000-05:00

At Discovery Health online, they have a nifty tool that allows you to create a virtual model of yourself and see how you might look if you lost some weight. It is pretty neat because you can compare your current weight model to your ideal weight. Of course it is good to keep in mind that these "virtual models" are not made to scale, but they give you a decent idea. Try it out at...My Virtual Model (You may have to click on "My ideal body" if you are not taken directly to the page). Let me know what you think!

Oakland gets some recognition!

2005-01-31T13:23:00.000-05:00

I was very proud and surprised to see my almamater get some recognition this past week on ESPN. Oakland University played Michigan State this past weekend, and I just happened to catch the pre-game show on TV. It had a nice little segment on Oakland, and it even highlighted our most famous graduates...the guy who played Freddy Kruger and Booger from Revenge of the Nerds! We are so Proud:-) They forgot about David Hasslehoff, but I think maybe he just attended for a couple of semesters! Not to mention, they forgot about me too (Just kidding...really!).

Anyway, for those of you who didn't catch the game...unfortunately, Oakland lost. However, we were leading the game at halftime. The final score was 92-75. Not bad for a smaller school.

Strange but True...

2005-01-27T18:19:00.000-05:00

The local news reported today that one school district is enacting a new policy to prevent students from skipping out on homework assignments...court time! A student who habitually fails to turn in homework can be suspended for three days. Principal Dennis Ford says a second offense could lead to the student being declared unruly for disobedience in a juvenile court, which carries the possibility of probation.

Wow...I guess that is one way to make sure kids do their homework. I wonder if it will work?!

Read the full article here: Students Who Skip Homework Could End Up in Court

A bunch of nothing

2005-01-27T13:26:00.000-05:00

I really don't have any cool topics to talk about...so I will just give you an overall update on my life!

So, for those of you cheering me on...today I weighed in for my diet and I have lost 21 pounds! I was shooting to get down to 20, but I exceeded my goal for the week, so that is great! I have been really sticking to my diet, and have increased my exercise to 3 days of pilates and strength training, and 2 days of cardio. It seems to be working out good. I'll keep you updated!

On the home front, nothing much new to report. Jeff started back to school, and will start coaching baseball again soon at the high school, so I am enjoying all the time I see him now in the evenings before we start playing hit-or-miss with our schedules.

The dogs are good, and are as hyper as usual! Cooper has an appointment to get fixed (no, he isn't broken...just coming of age!) in a couple of weeks. I am taking the day off of work so that I can be around when he comes home from the vet. I wasn't nearly as worried about Archie when we got him fixed, but Cooper is so small and frail. Archie, on the other hand is the exact opposite. He is tough as nails, and I have always jokingly said that he is the kind of dog you will end up seeing on emergency vets with a wrench in his stomach...the dog eats everything and anything! Cooper on the other hand is quiet, and sensitive, so I am more worried about his recovery. I know, I'm babying him, but I can't help it!

Other than that, nothing new. Hopefully my next post will be a little more interesting! Thanks!

The movie "Troy"

2005-01-24T15:59:00.000-05:00

This past weekend, we rented the movie Troy with Brad Pitt. I actually thought I wouldn't like it all too much, but to my surprise it was a really good movie. I found that there were a lot of characters that I really liked, and it was also neat to see such a historical epic put to modern day film. However, although it is not entirely accurate historically, it is still very well done and entertaining. Not to mention that there was quite a few good looking actors, including Brad, Orlando Bloom (The Lord of the Rings), and Eric Bana (Black Hawk Down), Diane Kruger (National Treasure)...added that one in for the hubby!

So, as you may have already guessed...Brad Pitt was very hot in this movie! Which brings me to my next point, who wouldn't want to have a baby with Brad Pitt?! It is reported that Jennifer Aniston didn't want to, or wasn't ready to have a baby with Brad and this is one of the many possibilities of their split. I know, relationships are a lot more complicated than good looks and babies, but come on, they would have had a beautiful baby! In fact, I have even heard mutters from others (including men) that say they would want to have Brad Pitt's baby as well! He is just plain and simple, eye candy.

Our family Portrait

2005-01-22T23:41:00.000-05:00

So, since we got like 10 inches of snow today, and were pretty much in all day, I decided to work on my photo albums. As I was sorting through them, I realized that since Jeff and I got married in October 2003, we haven't had any real pictures taken of us together since then. Most of our recent pictures consist of us with our dogs, but never just us two. So I decided it was about time we get our portrait taken and called and set it up.

My problem is, I absolutely hate pictures of myself. So, I thought I would ask you guys what you think. Let me know if you like pose #1 or #2. I want to get a big size of one of them. Thanks!

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A sucker for celebrity gossip!

2005-01-20T13:12:00.000-05:00

Okay, okay…I’m guilty! I absolutely love celebrity gossip! I can’t resist picking up the latest copy of US Weekly or another equally gossipy read while I am in the line at the grocery store…it is like kryptonite! I can’t help it…

So, to confirm my obsession, I recently signed on to E!Online and took their celebrity gossip quiz. Needless to say, I got them all right with ease. I am now officially a junkie!

Just in case you are not as up-to-the-minute as I am on celeb gossip, here is your weekly update:

1.Brad and Jen call it quits! – If you didn’t know this…you don’t get out much!

2.The Olsen twins split up! - Mary Kate packs her bags and heads to Soho for some much needed personal space and her own apartment. Don’t worry though, they say they are still the best of friends!

3.Paris and Nicole are bad influences! Duh! - New Jersey residents were not too thrilled when they learned Paris and Nicole would be serving their kids lunch at their school as part of the duo’s new show “Interns”. Needless to say, the idea was nixed, but replaced with a trip to an Atlantic City Firehouse. Hmmm…do you think the firemen minded?

4.Trump goes Broadway! - Rumor has it Donald Trump and Mark Burnett are in talks to make a Broadway version of “The Apprentice”. Will you tune in?

5.Don’t mess with the IRS! - Richard Hatch, the original Survivor, got in trouble with the IRS recently for not claiming all of his winnings. Not too smart.

Not as "Whole" as I thought...

2005-01-19T13:41:00.000-05:00

I wanted to follow-up on my previous posting regarding General Mills producing all their cereals with whole grain. In an article I read today on ediets, although the cereals are taking a step in the right direction, they still have a long way to come in regards to being "healthy".

According to the article,"While the new whole-grain offerings do not contain the dreaded partially hydrogenated oils (the nasty stuff that can gum up your arteries), they do not contain the extra fiber or protein you would expect from whole grain. We found the numbers for protein and fiber are pretty much the same as they were before the switch."

"The numbers are pretty much the same as Kellogg's, Post and other cereal makers... it appears the processing eliminated the benefits of whole grain," the article goes on to state.

So basically, we all need to be careful in regards to claims about products being "healthy". Although brands may make the "low-fat", no-fat", or "healthy" claims, we need to make sure that we are still getting a well-balanced meal. With that said...make sure you check the labels!

By the way...I am down a total of 18 pounds this week! Wish me luck hitting the 20 pound mark! Also, check out the new MTV Pilates Mix DVD...I bought it and love it!

Food for thought!

2005-01-12T22:41:00.000-05:00

Here is some food for thought...

I'm sure everyone has heard of the 5-second rule when it comes to food dropping on the floor at some point in their lives. However, I always thought it was a joke, but I have found that there are truly some gross people out there who live by this rule! Check out the chart below printed by USA Today snapshots. Be careful though, they say you are what you eat. See other snapshots provided by USA Today here: USA Today

USA Today Snapshot - 2005

Are dogs capable of human emotions?

2005-01-11T13:52:00.000-05:00

I know...I know, I talk about dogs in general a lot, especially my own dogs, but what can I say, I am throughly intrigued by animals in general, and I just happen to own two dogs myself.

One of the topics that has always intrigued me a lot is whether or not dogs, are capable of human emotion. Any good animal behaviorist will tell you they are not, and that dogs are not capable of holding grudges, displaying jealousy, etc., and that their display of emotion is pruely animal instinct. I beg to differ...

My dog, Archie, a Jack Russell/Schnauzer mix, is one of the most intelligent animals I have ever encountered. He is also one of the most interesting, devious, and sometimes down right mischevious animals I have ever met. For instance, when Archie was only three months old and not potty trained, we would kennel him while we were away from home. One such day, Archie fought me pretty hard and whined terribly when I put him in his kennel. Luckily, I was only to be gone for a couple of hours, and upon my return I quickly went to release him. After doing so, I ran upstairs for a few moments and when I came back down, Archie had collected about 3 pairs of shoes and neatly placed them in the middle of the living room floor and had retreated to underneath the coach to watch my reaction...needless to say I was quite impressed. It was almost as though he was getting back at me for leaving him...

On subsequent occassions, Archie has displayed a wide range of emotions that seem almost human like. When Cooper, our other dog joined the family, Archie, who was not a lap dog, would spend more time snuggling up next to us, and also would take his toys from Cooper and hide them. Although he seems to love Cooper to death, he always will jump in the way of a picture, or nuzzle up to you when Cooper is around as though he is jealous. Also, more recently, Archie has started another strange habit. Since he is very mischevious, he tends to get into a lot of trouble. Recently, when we scold him or take something away from him, he immediately will go to the corner of the room and start to wretch terribly as though he is going to throw up. Of course, being the concerned pet owners we are, we run to him, and then he stops just like that. I don't know about you, but it almost seems as though he does it to get our attention as he knows that we always make sure he is okay.

So, are dogs really capable of human emotions, or do I just have one strange dog on my hands? Not really sure since my other dog Cooper does not seem to be as complex as Archie. I guess I will never truly know, but for now, I am truly convinced of the possibility. For further readings on this subject read these articles:
Canine Emotions
Emotions

Any New Year's resolutions out there?

2005-01-10T13:14:00.000-05:00

Since I have been in this whole health kick mode recently, I have become more and more hip to ideas and hints regarding weight loss and healthy living. I have also noticed that a lot more companies are getting on board as far as offering healthy alternatives to their normal lines of production. One company, General Mills, has become the first leading food manufacturer to make all of its Big G breakfast cereals with whole grain. "Eating more whole grain could have a significant impact on the overall health of Americans," said Dr. David Kessler, former Commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. "The science shows a strong connection between whole grain and a reduced risk for heart disease, cancer, diabetes and obesity, which are the biggest preventable killers in the United States." Check out the whole article at www.wholegrainlife.com.

Also this week, my local newspaper printed a list of activities that we may take for granted that can contribute to weight loss and healthy living. Just a side note though, these activities can't be the only thing you do. You have to make a commitment to eating healthy and exercising.
-Climb stairs if given a choice between that and escalators or elevators.
-Walk to a co-worker’s desk rather than using the phone.
-An interesting new way to make sure you are getting enough exercise to improve your health is to count the steps you take during the day with a pedometer. The target is 10,000.
-If you decide to splurge on a donut or pastry, throw half of it away before you start eating.
-Switch from potato chips to air-popped popcorn for weekend snacks.
-Shovel the sidewalk instead of using the snowblower.
-Replace your candy bar with fruit.
-Add 5 minutes to your regular workout each week for a month, and you will burn more calories easily.
-Eat at home. Studies show that meals consumed at home are usually lower in calories than restaurant meals.
-A pound of muscle takes up 3/4 the space of a pound of fat, so strength training helps you slim down even if you don’t lose weight.
-Walk your dog.
-Park the car as far away from the entrance as possible.
-Include at least one non-starchy fruit or vegetable serving in every meal or snack.
-Choose whole grains over refined grains (whole-grain bread versus white bread, for example) because whole grains are more nutritious and satisfying.
-Sip water or non- caloric drinks while eating and you will be able to feel the satisfied feeling easier as well as digest your food faster.
-Drink 8 glasses of water a day to help lose weight.
- Increase your metabolism by as much as 40% by using hot and spicy foods such as hot peppers of all varieties and mustards.
- Get 8 hours of sleep at least every night.

Cooper the Snowball!

2005-01-08T17:51:00.001-05:00

To our suprise, we woke up this morning to another 5 inches of snowfall! Unfortunately for our pup Cooper, the snow likes him a whole lot:-) The snow basically clings to his fur to the point he can't walk anymore. If you look at this picture, and the one below, you can really tell how much snow was on him. We had to hose him down with warm water inside the house to get the snow off of him. Luckily, he is an indoor dog!

2005-01-08T17:51:00.000-05:00

Cooper the snowball!

Another Hollywood Break Up...

2005-01-07T22:45:00.000-05:00

I think that it is safe to say that if you are an actress/actor and decide to get married that almost positively you are going to split. Today, one of Hollywood's most famous couples, Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston, became officially seperated...which more than likely means that they are seperating until they can hash out a decent settlement. I can only imagine the joint assets that will somehow need to be divided...probably more than any of us would ever see in a lifetime. I really hope that they might be able to work it out and get back together, but it never seems to work out that way.
It is almost as though if you choose to be rich and famous that you might as well say goodbye to any idea of a normal life, relationships, etc. I don't know about you, but I think I am quite satisfied living the "normal" life...besides, being "normal" doesn't mean you can't be out-of-the-ordinary:-)

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=514&u=/ap/20050108/ap_on_en_tv/aniston_pitt_split&printer=1

Christmas 2004

2005-01-07T22:36:00.001-05:00

A belated merry christmas and happy new year! I hope the past year brought you a lot of good fortune. I know for my husband, Jeff, and I, the past year was great. Here are a couple pictures from our holiday season.

2005-01-07T22:36:00.000-05:00

Christmas 2004

Waist Away!

2005-01-07T16:00:00.000-05:00

About 6 weeks ago I signed up at ediets.com after seeing promising results from some fellow co-workers who had been using ediets to battle the bulge. Since graduating college a year and a half ago, I really hadn't done much in terms of working out so I thought what the heck!
Much to my pleasure, I have lost a total of 15 1/2 pounds to date! The website offers a variety of diet plans, and support options, and is relatively easy to use. I had never been on a diet before in my life, so I was a little skeptical, but this has been very easy. I have learned how to eat foods that are healthy and also how to prepare them for my family. My husband, by just eating the same things I have, has lost 16 pounds as well! I would recommend the website to anyone...it is that easy. They provide you with the foods to eat, the recipes, the shopping list, and other helpful tools.
Check it out! www.ediets.com

Meet my Pups!

2005-01-06T23:42:00.000-05:00

Archie and Cooper - Here is a picture of my two pups. Archie is the gray one and he is a Jack Russell/Schnauzer mix. Cooper is the apricot colored one, and he is a Cock-a-poo, or a Cocker Spaniel/Poodle mix.

Blogs Away!

2005-01-06T14:29:00.000-05:00

So, this is my first post. I am hoping to use this as a way to chat about the stuff that interests me, and such. A couple of guys I know from work opened my eyes to this whole "blog" thing, and I thought, what the heck, I'll give it a try.