Performance Review

I've completed almost six months of employment at my new place. Gosh, the time has flown. OK, so that's not news I guess.

It was probably the least stressful, least anticipated, MOST refreshing Performance Review I HAVE EVER EXPERIENCED.

I am an all or nothing type person. If I don't feel I'm doing my best, I bow out. I was scared to death when I started this job and was FULL of doubt and questioned my self-worth. I almost ran away scared from this position as Administrative Assistant to a Community Television Station.

OMG, I just love it! Six months in, and I'm totally captivated. It's not a hard job, but it sure has it's peaks and valleys of stress. Huge deadlines and the show goes ON. My title is more like Chief, Cook, & Bottle Washer, but that's ok. Figure I have had 24 years of motherhood training to prepare.

My job involves keeping track of everyone and "all" the money, lol. I put "all" in quotes because we are non-profit...there is no "all" if you know the business. I thankfully don't have to make many business decisions...just keep track of it all.

So back to the Performace Review, sorry I strayed. If typical corporate style, the Executive Director (my only boss) had emailed me a template to complete...What have I accomplished, What did I think my biggest accomplishment was, blah, blah. OK, so I filled that paper and added MANY more lines! He was totally complementary of my accomplishments, work-ethic and maturity, yeah, yeah...but I guess what impressed me the most was that he said I possessed the ultimate cheer factor. Always can deal with stress, don't let the little things bother me, and get to a successful and positive outcome. Ya know what? I think THAT'S what I'm most proud of. Not to mention that I've taken an office that was in moral shambles and am half-way to revamping just about everything. The Board of Directors had just about elimated the entire Staff last summer. New ED and all, it was an emotional year to have to follow in it's footsteps.

It made for a wonderful close to the week. Not to mention, we have also finished our first complete session of Summer Camp, new session and new kids next week. Oh, that and I'm looking foward to my Sisters Family Reunion!

ONWARD!

A study of my diet

I use a program called CalorieKing for my diet journalling. I have lots of limits, but the software keeps it all graphed and has almost everything already in the database. This includes many of the restaurants we frequent which is important because we eat out at least 3 or 4 meals each week. The database is updated frequently too.

These are the limits for me, considering my BMI. As long as I continue to loose weight, I keep the BMI entry the same. When I plateau the BMI gets adjusted according to my new #s.

1396 calories
168g carbs
111.5g protein
min. 25g fiber
40.5g fat

Today I've consumed 903 calories, I'll likely have a Beef Jerky snack this evening, not because I'm hungry, I need to boost my protein level!

My meals today:
Breakfast
Wheatena
strawberries
fresh pressed apple juice, nothing added
Lunch
White flour wrap (LaTortilla-see note below)
corned beef
celery sticks
apricot
Snack
apple
Dinner
1-1/2 sausages (Hillshire Light)
white flour wrap
salad w/lowfat dressing

I consider 2 foods our "wonder foods". LaTortilla White Flour Wraps and Beef Jerky. The wraps have only 90cal., 3g fat, 8g protein, 20g carb and a whopping 13g fiber. We give away the carbs to gain that pesky fiber, we are always on the low side! Beef Jerky is something I've loved since being a kid. 80cal, 1g fat, 12g protein and 6g carb. Oh yum!

My downfall is water. I have NEVER liked it. We've turned to the fruit flavored carbonated ones and I do drink a little bit more, but it gets expensive. I'm going to have to start forcing it I guess. Maybe before each cup of coffee I have to ingest 8oz of water? Hmmm, interesting proposal.

Any ideas?

Never enough time!

Will this be done Thursday by 4pm? Considering I have a Chamber Mixer to decorate for, and OH! I work, remember? Sheesh!

Laz, our Sports Director, is leaving after 17 years of service. He told us that in no uncertain terms were we to give him a big send-off. They did do a big shabang for his "Sweet 16" years of service anniversary, so we surrendered to his wishes this time.

We decided to give him a special gift instead! Can I ever just SAY NO? Um...NO. See? I can say it, just don't like the sound of it I guess, lol. Hopefully it will generate some leads tho, I'd really like to get this business back up and running.

Off to decorate some signs for the Mixer, woo-hoo...(OK, so I love it, lol).

Never enough time!

Will this be done Thursday by 4pm? Considering I have a Chamber Mixer to decorate for, and OH! I work, remember? Sheesh!

Laz, our Sports Director, is leaving after 17 years of service. He told us that in no uncertain terms were we to give him a big send-off. They did do a big shabang for his "Sweet 16" years of service anniversary, so we surrendered to his wishes this time.

We decided to give him a special gift instead! Can I ever just SAY NO? Um...NO. See? I can say it, just don't like the sound of it I guess, lol. Hopefully it will generate some leads tho, I'd really like to get this business back up and running.

Off to decorate some signs for the Mixer, woo-hoo...(OK, so I love it, lol).

40 and still rollin' on

A big F-A-T forty pounds gone. Aren't I the proud one?!

The ongoing diet and lifestyle change is still in the works. DH has lost 47 and is in "his last 10" to loose. He wants to stay between 160 and 170. I will get to 150 and not exceed 160. We've been on this track since January 1. A winning combination of healthy eating and food journalling.

I've lost 40 twice before, but I am now at a weight where I've never been "down to" on previous diets. Those diets were both carb elimination diets. I never learned how to get to the maintainance part, and missed the carbs terribly. All my previous no longer fit. I've gone down 2 full sizes, gosh it's nice to shop off the rack!

Todays meals consisted of lots of goodies...fresh pineapple and Cheerios with Skim milk for breakfast; DH and I met for lunch and each had a very large Chinese Chicken Salad and a diet Snapple Tea. For dinner we sauteed shrimp with garlic and onion, served with 6oz rice and frozen vegetable medley. I won't need a snack, but if we do it'll likely be beef jerky. All day (without the jerky) I've only consumed 1100 calories. I've not gone without any food groups, and have kept the major players at their correct levels (carbs, fats, proteins & fiber). I'm convinced it's the only way to go.

Celebrate with me and do a Happy Dance. Go do something good for yourself and feel me smiling for the both of us! I couldn't do it without your support.

Airing of the Quilts 2006

I joined with many quilters across the world in Airing of the Quilts today. Check out "2006" on that link. I neglected to put up the one I'm working on...*sigh*, maybe I'll cut and paste that "on the fence" for next year, lol.

The one on the left was made as a going away present by my bestest friends The Serial Quilters. It's on our bed in the summertime (we're blanket heapers in the winter!) The rail fence on the left was a gift given to my dh as a Christmas gift. It was from a swap on About.com.

Enjoy!

Last Weekend

Over Memorial Day Weekend, if you take:And add one now very slim DH:Zip it up in a cozy (and thankfully VERY dry):You get to see this:
Because you're taking the wrong dang road down the backside of the mountain. You can't end just "a little off course" either. What started out to be a 75 mile round trip ended up more like 230, lol.

Had a blast, froze our hineys, ate like fools (while still on our diets!) and didn't want the weekend to end.

That's my story, and I'm stickin' to it!

I know now, "I have arrived!"

I come, most recently, from a very small town, 20,000 people. A place where everyone knows everyone else. A place where you can't get into trouble without everyone reading about you in the local police report. A place where the worst crime is mailbox smashing. A place I consider just short of heaven to have raised my three daughters. People recognize your voice in the next aisle of the grocery, your kids get tattled on if they've been up to no good, and you know every Coach, Teacher and Administrative Board Member by their first names.

Exactly one year ago I went westward, WAY west. 8^)

I have spent the first year kind of out-of-sync. I went from knowing everyone to being a total stranger. I met a few of hubby's co-workers, but commuter traffic is hell and people come from a really vast area to work in Silicon Valley. Haven't hardly sewn, read a little, but just couldn't sink my teeth into much.

OK, ok, WAKE UP! Sorry, got lost in thought.

Tuesday, hubby and I were in the grocery after work. A voice came from behind me, scaring the bejabbers out of me. SOMEONE KNEW ME, they said, "Hi, what are YOU doing here?" I HAVE ARRIVED. May sound trivial to you, but I just haven't realized until now what was missing! This little thing was HUGE to me, and made me very happy.

I'm carving out my new slice. I have a great job that I really, REALLY enjoy. I'm learning how to be a "commuter". I've finally started to sew again. (I still really don't know where the best quilting stores are.) Hubby has been my best friend, my rock. Good thing we kinda like hanging around together!

NOT TO MENTION...2 people, yes 2...actually told me to update my blog! You missed ME? ME? Amazing.

All is good, I have arrived. (And having the same cell phone provider as my kids really keeps the costs down, lol.)