Thursday, February 25, 2010

Phlog from Pittsburgh trip, and other news.

It's been ages since I last blogged, and for that I'm sorry.

Since I last wrote, I:
- have lost - and kept off - a total of 10 lbs. since the beginning of January
- received a dozen red roses for Valentine's Day (for the very first time in my 32.5 years!)
- took a weekend jaunt to visit friends in Pittsburgh
- was declared a girlfriend. :)

My trip to the 'burgh was my first full weekend off since Halloween, and I so desperately needed it. I'm happy to report that there was a ton of booze, food and friendship from the whirlwind Friday-night-to-Sunday-morning trip - and I maintained my weight! In fact, I ate whatever the hell I wanted, but knew when to call it quits.
{Naturally, I am quite proud of myself!}

Following are some photos from the trip. It's been a while since I've done a phlog!

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Self portrait en route.

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Pretty Pennsylvania landscape whizzing by.

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Blue skies all the way across the Keystone State!

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I was fascinated by this teeny, tiny toilet in the handicapped stall at the Altoona Sheetz!
{By "fascinated," I totally mean I wanted to use it!}

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More Pa. landscape, but there's a train track up on that there mountain!

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Told you!

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A dilapidated Hungarian restaurant just inside city limits.

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"Because you deserved better than hotel soap."

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Now that's what I call a welcome basket!

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First highballs of the weekend!

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... and in plastic cups!

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Our first brews at the amazing Church Brew Works (read all about it here:)

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The absolutely fabulous ones.

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Me and Tiff - who I hadn't seen since her Oct. 17 wedding!!

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The most amazing fish sandwich ever! I talked about it all damn weekend!

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In front of the tanks at HofbrÀuhaus Pittsburgh - they did not let us put straws in, though we did try, Lord, we tried!

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Taaa daaa!

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Like booze, documentation is a form of preservation!

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This is where the team that won SIX Super Bowl rings plays!!

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Even closer to the Steelers' field!

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Frolicking among Andy Warhol's "Silver Clouds." (Learn about his museum here)

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Tiff in the clouds.

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Johnny in the clouds, or my "avant-garde photo."

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Andy!

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We're always up to no good!

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On the bridge outside the Grand Concourse.

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Snowy tracks.

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Goth of the North, Nanook's long-lost sister.

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In trying to hide the fact I was eating ice cream before a photo, I tried to hide the cup inside my coat, which caused ice cream to get all over my coat and sweater.
{In case you're wondering, it was Hershey's cake batter ice cream.}

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See, you can't even tell I housed ice cream directly prior to this photo!!

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The PGH skyline at sunset.

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Ceiling inside the Grand Concourse.

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Our wares from the Warhol: Johnny's are the soup cans; I have Jackie and the Andy quote: "I wonder if it's possible to have a love affair that lasts forever."

Fin.

Saturday, February 13, 2010

Happy Valentine's Day, friendos!

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You know when, in a relationship that's in its infancy, you feel lit from within again for the first time in a long time?
Where you can't wait for your phone to buzz, for the doorbell to ring, for your next time together?

I'm in that phase right now, and it feels really good.
Like it's supposed to be.
He's chivalrous, kind, compassionate, just as affectionate as I am, hilarious as all get out, worldly and I daresay the first real man I've dated.

On this Valentine's Day eve, I wish you much love and affection - whether you're single or married, believe in Valentine's Day or not.
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Thanks for reading Ramblings On.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

YES I AM!

Guess who right this very second is wearing THE jeans??

The jeans that were her favorite?
The jeans she hasn't worn in YEARS?
The jeans that fit PERFECTLY?

If you haven't guessed, it's ME ME ME ME!

Sunday, February 7, 2010

Cheater, cheater.

I'm down another three pounds, which brings my total loss since the beginning of January to nine - and FINALLY taking me out of the same group of ten pounds that I've been in for the last three years!!
PLUS I did 40 minutes on the Air Climber today!
SUCCESS!!

However, the way I found that out today kind of makes me feel like a cheater.
Instead of weighing myself on Monday, as is always my custom, I weighed myself today.
Not because I intend to gorge myself at a post-work Super Bowl party this evening, but because I do plan on eating at said party.

Let me explain.
I get out of work at 7 p.m. on Sundays, which I find pretty late to be sitting down for a meal, but I do because there's really no time to eat at work. During the week, I have my daily Skinny Cow ice cream sandwich between 7-8 p.m. because I mentally Close the Kitchen immediately following dinner.

I just know that by the time I get to the party and have a few healthy nibbles - fingers crossed I steer clear of my arch nemesis chips and dip - it will be well past 8 p.m.

And weighing myself tomorrow will only get me down because I know it wouldn't really be a true number. Does that make sense or am I a retched no-good cheater of my diet system?

If the latter, if I promise never to do this again, am I still a bad person?

In other diet confession news, I went to a fantastic pizza/wing place, Frog Pond in Wilkes-Barre, Friday night.
{check out its Web site here: Frog Pond}
I indulged in two cuts of Sicilian and five wings, which I never had before and which were amazing. I didn't feel guilty one bit because I knew I had been good all day because I had saved my points. I hadn't had the pizza in eons, it used to be a Tuesday night tradition at the Weekender many moons ago, one in which I'd house about half a tray by myself.

The next day, I had two leftover cuts - which quickly turned into two more (they're cut into really small squares I swear).
Suddenly, as I mindlessly ate cut No. 4 in like 30 seconds, I envisioned a flashing "Danger Danger" sign. Having five cuts remaining still in the fridge, I did the only thing I could do.

I looked at them longingly for a second before I dumped them out of the box into the garbage. Drastic measures, but a necessary measure. I'm glad I was able to enjoy them when they were fresh and oozy with cheese and as cold leftovers, but I wasn't doing myself any favors having them in my fridge.

Have you ever resorted to such a tactic to save yourself from temptation?

Saturday, February 6, 2010

Coming up sunflowers ...

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This picture kind of captures how I've been feeling the last two weeks.

While I adore roses, like any good girl does, sunflowers have always been my favorite flower. They're just so sunny and happy and hopeful.
Three things I've been feeling lately.
It's a good feeling.
{A really good feeling.}

Monday, February 1, 2010

January success!

Well, I'm happy to report that I am down a grand total of six pounds for January!

I was hoping for more, naturally, but I think the most important thing is that I did everything at my own pace, made it fun for me and finally, finally, finally did it right.

So right it's what has always been, for me, that elusive Lifestyle Change.

If I keep up the good work for February as I damn well plan on, I'll be where I want to be by Easter at the latest!

And then it'll be spring and walking after work and in the morning and and and!