My life in pictures...well, some of it.

Warped Tour
The pictures really tell the story. Awesome experience...The crowds were HUGE!!

My Endocrinologist appt.
Unfortunatly, I do not have pictures of this event. I wish I did. Because then I would blow it up and hang it on the wall and throw flaming darts at it.
Basically, it was a BIG waste of time. He had no solutions and really didn't seem alarmed with the 20 lb weight gain while dieting.... He just said I was healthy and fine. He's said that he wished he could help with people's weight problems but he can't. (???) And he said I'm doing all the right things and that my food journal was "disgustingly healthy," just sometimes THIS IS JUST HOW IT IS. He told me that as far as EVOLUTION goes (Yes, he told me about evolution) I have the BEST metabolism because during "feast and famine" times, I would have been golden. I would have been a lot better off then the thin people and I would have survived.
Yes, I am serious.
Thanks a lot, guy.
So, I guess I just go on as normal and just be fat and miserable and uncomfortable? I truly am disgusted and I can't stand my body. I can't stand my clothes. I'm spending too much money on bigger sizes and nothing looks good....I guess I just need to swallow my pride and start loving myself "as is" and accept that I just may be this size forever no matter what I do. Atleast he said I am very healthy. I'll keep counting WW points and stuff. And watch everyone else have success.

My time in NYC with Donnie and Hughes Sanders
HOW FUN WAS THIS!?!?! I landed at Laguardia around 1pm on Saturday the 13th. I took a cab to Donnie's apartment and we stores my GIANT suitcase under the staircase in his building (I wasn't carrying that honking thing up six floors! So what if everything I owned got stolen!) and we walked a few blocks to a quaint little restaurant where we ordered some brunch foods and chatted away. Might I also mention that it was 400 degrees in the city that day. NYC is like a giant grill. But it was nice and cool inside while we drank coffee and ate hash browns. And then my favorite person on earth strolls in, Donnie's brother, Hughes. I had not seen Hughes since LMC graduation in 1999! We were extrememly close the summer before my senior year in college. He lived in the Sanders Family vacation house in Banner Elk and worked. Donnie went to London and to NYC that summer for his intership with William Ivey Long so Hughes lived in the Banner Elk house and hung out with me and Denny. We three were inseperable and that may have been the most fun summer of my life. Then Hughes went away to his college, Warren Wilson, and moved on and now is going to GRADUATE school at NYU. I feel old. But it was SO WONDERFUL to see him again and he hasn't changed a bit. The way he talks, the way he listens, his sense of humour, his caring nature - all that. And it was totally refreshing and reminded me that I need to see him way more often than once every 6 years!
So, Hughes joined us for brunch and then we went back to Donnie's apartment and braved the 6 story walk-up this time. Donnie will be moving to a new place at the end of September that is on the 3rd floor - thank God!! We rode by the new place and looked at the outside and took pictures. There is a beautiful park at the end of his street where he can walk and look at trees and breathe in oxygen if he feels the need. :) Can't wait to visit again once he is there. Then we met my boss Steve, his girlfriend Jennifer, Donnie's boyfriend Scott for a very hot (air conditioner was broken!) dinner at a nice restaurant next to the theater. We fanned ourselves with our menus as we ate. After dinner, the boys left us while me, Steve, and Jennifer attended the broadway production of the Producers which was FABULOUS!! What a great show. And there is NOTHING like a broadway set. Incredible. After the show, the boys met us outside to give me back my giant suitcase and I rode back to Connecticut with Steve and Jennifer to the Marriott Hotel in Stamford where my next adventure began...

My conference in Connecticut
This conference was for FBI National Academy Grads and their families. There were classes and workshops offered for the grads; and outings for the families during the days. At nights, there were sponsored dinners and receptions. And a 24 hour hospitality suite for attendees that WE sponsored (complete with a jagermeister machine and a frozen margarita machine. I steered clear of that place!) We sponsored a large part of this conference (AKA gave them money to buy stuff) and in return we had a trade booth in the dining area for 3 days and we also conducted a workshop to teach the attendees about counterfeit and contraband and how to recognize and deal with them. It was very successful, I thought. It's not glamourous sitting at a trade booth from 7:30 am - 5pm and then attending LONG ASS company dinners where people WILL NOT SHUT UP about work....but all in all, this was the best conference I had attended. Partially because it was in Steve's hometown and he showed me all around and I got to meet his daughters and their families. And it was only an hour away from NYC....so on Wednesday of that week, Steve let me skip my trade booth duties and I hopped the train back into NYC to see my brother on the Conan O'Brien show!!!

The Conan O'Brien Show
So I go to the train station in Stamford on the morning of Wednesday, Aug 17 and I manage to find the right place to buy a ticket and I get on the right train with no help. Amazing! In less than an hour, I got off at Grand Central Station in the heart of NYC. That place is like a maze!! I made it out to the street where I quickly hailed a cab. I got in and said "Rockafeller Center, please." and the cabbie said "You should get out and walk. It's right there!" HAHA! I had no idea! So I got out and walked 6 blocks or so to Rockafeller where I immediately recognized Dean and Deluca from watching the Today Show every morning for the last 20 years. There was still a crowd left over from the Today Show since by this time it was only 10 am. Hughes and I had arranged to meet at Rockafeller around 10:30 am and he was SUPPOSED to have gotten there at 9:30 am to try and get audience tickets to see the Conan Show. Well, I didn't even need to call him - I literally ran into him on the street at I was rounding a corner. You don't BUMP INTO anyone in a city of 600 million, but we did! We laughed about that and then Hughes told me he had JUST gotten there - no Conan tickets for him! We walked around some and sat and talked some and then decided to get in a cab and go to Chinatown/Canal Street to look for counterfeit purses. And we saw alot of them! I didn't buy one though. I think it's kind of silly to buy something just for the name - I'd rather pick a bag I like at Wal-Mart that has all the compartments and features that I want and need! So, I bought a necklace and a watch....for $20 total....and then we headed back to Rockafeller Center for lunch before I needed to be at the NBC Studios. We ate lunch in a cafe and I had delicious Lobster Quiche (it was the special. I am NOT rich.) and Hughes had a salad. Good boy. We laughed and talked and then said good-bye as I headed to the studios and he headed home. I love you, Hughesy!
I wander into the Studios and talk to a guard who gives me my backstage pass and told me which elevator to get on. I go on up and wander around and find the green room where MCS is chilling before rehearsal. They are all trying to be mellow, but you could feel the electricity in the air. The green room had lots of food and drinks available and a television to watch the show. The cutest kid walked in the room and said hi to the boys and I was wondering who the heck he was...and come to find out, it was Max Weinberg's son, Jay. Max is the band leader/drummer for the Conan Show and he's a drum legend. Jay is 14 and was SO super sweet. He's a big fan of the band and hung out with us all day. He took me, Matt, and Tony up a couple flights to the SNL set and then to the NBC Cafeteria. And told us stories of celebrities and musicians he had met in his 14 years. He was very humble and hospitable to us. If I was 14, I'd have a big crush!
So I got to sit in the empty audience area for the rehearsals but had to watch the actual performance from the green room; which was such an experience. Talk about surreal. I was a nervous wreck by the end and actually busted into tears during the double chorus at the end of the song. It was so emotional seeing little Matt up on that screen!!
I was back on the streets of NYC at 7:30 pm, trying to find my way back to Grand Central Station. I HAD to stop in a few stores along the way, of course. I found my train with no problems and was safely back in Stamford by 8:30. I watched the airing of Conan at 12:30 am from my lonely hotel room and thanked God for one of the most amazing days of my life!
My flight left Laguardia the next day at noon and I was back in Richmond by 2pm. Back to reality.

My pampered chef party
On Sunday I had a Pampered Chef party. My friend Leslie is a relatively new consultant and she does an AWESOME job. I invited a lot of the women in my life and it was so much fun! I thoroughly enjoyed myself and I got some really get PC kitchen stuff. Maybe my new toys will inspire me to cook more! Toby hopes so. :)

My 29th Birthday
On Tuesday, I worked until noon and then I was OUT OF HERE. I decided to take 1/2 day vacation because my bosses were all out and I deserved it. I went to a new nail salon and got a manicure and pedicure...complete with a little flower on my big toe. It's so cute! I went by my 2nd home, Kohl's, and got a few things on sale. Toby and I headed out to meet my family for dinner. We ended up at Julian's and got a big table and all squeezed in. It was me, Toby, Mom, Dad, Matt, Kristen, Denny, Morgen, David, and Steve. David and Steve were last-minute attendees and I am SO GLAD they came! I enjoyed everyone's company so much and there was so much laughter. After dinner, a few of us went to see Kristen's new CUTE AS HECK apartment in the Fan and had some cake. It was a lovely birthday.
My husband got me the DVD of the first season of the Gilmore Girls (YAY YAY YAY) and a $50 certificate to Michaels for scrapbook stuff! That'll be gone this weekend. :)


Sooooooo....... Lots going on. All wonderful things. But even though they were wonderful, my routine got out of whack and we all know what happens when Stephanie's routine gets out of whack: CHAOS. I have become behind in ALOT of things; most of which is communication with my friends and updating my blog!!

My Sister-in-law's baby shower is this Saturday and on Sunday I am going to an all-day scrapbooking get-together. THis is where I hope to get SIL's present (a scrapbook! Imagine that!) completed.

After this weekend, life calms down until September 5 when Toby and I hit the road to Banner Elk for our LONG-AWAITED HONEYMOON VACATION.

Life really is good.

Pisser of an update

I'm SORRY! I'm sorry. I am a poor excuse for a blogger.

Things have been NUTS. (see previous entry) and I owe this site a BIG ASS update to include:

Warped Tour
My Endocrinologist appt
My conference in Connecticut
My time in NYC with Donnie and Hughes Sanders
The Conan O'Brien Show
My pampered chef party
My birthday (today!)
Kim's Baby Shower preparations
Upcoming honeymoon trip

Right now I am heading out to get a mani/pedi because I DESERVE IT. Tomorrow, BLOGGING. Promise.

Summer? What summer?

I don't really differentiate between summer and "the rest of the year" anymore since I am not in school and I do not have school age children and I have to keep working like normal and don't get any time off and never get to take week-long vacations like the rest of the world...The only reason I know it's summer is because it's hot as hell...but anyway, I digress.

My summer is flying by. My schedule for August is NUTS. Please indulge me for just a moment:

Aug 6 - Attend a Wedding
Aug 9 - Vacation from work. Warped Tour in VA Beach to see MCS
Aug 10 - Vacation from work. Warped Tour in NoVA to see MCS
Aug 11 - WAS going to take vacation day but don't think I can now. Too much work. BUDGET IS DUE.
Aug 12 - Long awaited Endrocrinologist appt. YAY! And work.
Aug 13 - Leave in the AM for NYC, Attend Broadway Show, go to Connecticut that night after the show.
Aug 14 - 18 - FBI Conference in Connecticut.
Aug 17 - MY BROTHER WILL BE ON CONAN O'BRIEN AND I'LL BE IN THE AUDIENCE
Aug 20 - Father-in-law's birthday and a Scrapbook Workshop (2 separate events, of course)
Aug 21 - Pampered chef Party
Aug 23 - My 29th Birthday!!
Aug 27 - Sister-in-law's baby shower that I am basically hosting
Aug 28 - Parents' anniversary

Quite a calendar!! I'm excited about all of these things but also anxious that there is so much. It'll be fine. It's THINKING about all the stuff that gets me in a tizzy - I actually enjoy DOING them.

Ramblings...

I am sooooooooo procrastinating. I need to organize all of my boss's files. I don't want to. He is highly unorganized and I don't think it's fair that he let all this go to sh*t for 4 years and I have to come in and try and sort HIS paperwork - that I can't do alone - unless I ask him about every single freakin sheet of paper.

Do you need this anymore?
Will you need to reference this soon?
What is this?
Where do you want it?

Why am I doing this if I CAN'T do it without asking him a million questions? He should do it himself, that's what I think.

Please excuse me. I am PMS ing AND I am so over being an "assistant" I could die.

Moving right along.................

So, my neice will be here in 8 weeks! I'm so excited. I really am. I met the baby's father for the first time on Sunday (LONG STORY) and I really liked him and I am praying hard that the whole family will come together to support my sister-in-law and to support this innocent child - who by the way is a GIRL and her name is KENDALL. Loving it......... I've been picking up a few little girly outfits when I'm out...I might spoil this child to pieces. Actually, there is no MIGHT about it. I'm going to. And I'm really proud of Kim for being so strong, taking such good care of herself, and for overcoming adversity from her own family - the ones who should be the MOST supportive.

Toby and I almost looked at a house this past weekend. My Equinox dreams were put on hold for a few days...but they might be back on now. Don't know. We're really evaluating our money and our priorities and starting to thing seriously about our OWN family and what we need to do. Move? Get a new car? Sell my car?Paint? Get off our butts and fix our current house up? All of the above? Yes.

My brother called yesterday and we chatted - he sounds great. We'll see him next week at 2 Warped Tour dates. On the 13th, I leave for NYC for work...and it just so happens to be the same time that MCS will be performing on Conan O'Brien at the Ed Sullivan Theater! So I am 98% sure I get to attend the taping!!! So be sure to watch Conan on August 17. After the Conan show, Matt will get to come home for almost a week and then he's off to Australia. That lucky bastard. I love him.

Denny moved to a new apartment this week. I'm kind of sad since I no longer get to go see him at Allison Street - the apartment where we began our Richmond lives together. Change is good though! I've certainly done my fair share of that in the past few years. It's his turn now. :) I know he'll enjoy his new place and I'm very excited to see how he and Troy decorate. They are so talented. I need them to come decorate my house. Don't think that would fly with Toby though.

This month is busy. Lots of exciting and fun things....but I'm kind of dreading it at the same time. I'm such a quiet, homebody anymore. All of this excitment and traveling and event attending...I'm scared!! I know that sounds ridiculous and I'll be FINE - I'm just a little anxious. WHAT'S NEW, huh??

Did not Equinox. Yet.

I went to the dealership last night and can I just say:

I LOVE THE EQUINOX!

I test drove it and it drives like a dream. Like I was floating on a cloud. It's MUCH bigger than what I am used to; but I know I would get used to it soon. It's great to be up high and actually SEE the road! It's wonderful.

HOWEVER, they wanted to give me poop for my trade-in. Thus making my pay-off amount (the deficit) on my Eclipse astronomical!!

So, I have decided to sell my car myself. The dealership wanted to give me only 5K for my 2002 Eclipse with 38K miles! NO! I looked on the internet and these cars are selling for 8 and 9K...SO, I am going to start advertising and sell it myself and deal with that first. I'll take out a small personal loan at my Credit Union to pay off whatever deficit is left....

THEN, I will go back to the dealership and buy the Equinox on my own as a separate transaction; with no trade-in or negative equity to mess with. THUS ENDING THE SNOWBALL CYCLE! That feels good to say that.

Granted, I won't get the "Employee Discount" that ends on Monday but the extra money I will make selling it myself will make up for it. And hopefully I can negotiate the list price down some. But honestly (don't tell the dealer this) I think the base price for the Equinox is TOTALLY affordable for what it is. Did I mention that I love it?

So, I'm pleased with this car plan! I feel peace. Finally.

To Equinox? Or not to Equinox? That is the question.

I want that car and I might go buy it this weekend! I'm feeling it. I'm feeling the overwhelming urge to get it. I've been eyeing SUVs for a year, but now I've got some sort of fire under my butt to do it NOW. Should I??? I'm scared!!!!

I hate buying a car. I hate dealerships. I feel like everyone is out to screw me. I have a "special" situation where my trade-in is a BAZILLION dollars upside-down in value because of that year of deferred payments in the beginning...so it's really not going to be as FUN of an experience as it would be if I was just going to make an easy trade and pay some money and get a car. It's SCARY. I feel like every decision I make regarding a new car is going to haunt me forever and after I die, it will haunt my children and my children's children. All this stuff about VALUE and RESALE, and blah blah blah.

I just want a practical family vehicle that will accomodate children (when we have them) and lots of storage for STUFF and a trunk that opens with ease that I won't have to be an accomplished weight lifter to get it open to put my groceries in. Is that too much to ask?

(Oh yeah, the FABULOUS Chevy Employee Discount runs out on Monday.)

So what should I do?

"Next Time" is NOW

I have 45 minutes to waste - I mean, WORK - and I am going to tell stories RIGHT NOW and update this here blog and henceforth will KEEP IT UP-DO-DATE. I just typed "henceforth."

So, my brother visited last weekend and it was nice. I took off work last Friday and picked him up from the airport. We then went shopping. He is FANTASTIC to shop with - he's one of them "metro-sexuals" and actually enjoys clothes and shoes and smelly body products. My husband, on the other hand, would rather poke his own eye out with a dull pencil than go shopping. But sometimes he'll offer to go with me...which is nice...and bless his heart...but...it's not really fun to go to Kohl's with the mission of finding new pants (we all know what a feat that is...) and have your husband stand there and stare at you and tap his foot and look around and sigh and subconsciously let you know that he is MISERABLE. I usually look for about 2 minutes and then offer to just come back myself some other time. It's sweet that he offers but really, I like to ENJOY my shopping. Not feel rushed. I have no problems roaming a store for 3 hours... and neither does Matt!!! I love that boy.

When he was home, I purchased his "old" digital camera - which is actually a very nice, rather expensive Canon Powershot S400. He wants something newer and better. I feel like I got the deal of the century. I've had fun this week playing with it and learning how it works...I plan to become a full-out picture whore! And this leads me to my new hobby....(not the whore part)...

SCRAPBOOKING!!

I am attending my first ever "Christmas in July" all-day scrapbooking workshop hosted by some Creative Memories sales women in the area. I'm going with my cousin Jenn (who introduced me to this hobby.) It's my understanding that it's just a group of women who meet (this time we're meeting at a church) and set up their stuff and sit and scrap all day! But you get to share supplies and they sell supplies there and they give away door prizes. I'm so stoked! Does this mean I am officially a geek?

The Dottie's Weight Loss Zone Twenties Challenge is well-underway and everyone is doing SO WELL! I'm really proud of all of us. Here is the food journal that I am keeping on the DWLZ site...we all post in each other's journals and offer support, encouragement, and/or a kick in the pants if needed. So you can actually look at that journal and see what I have been eating and how much I have been exercising...and then give me YOUR opinion as to why I keep gaining weight. :) Yes, I am still harping on this issue and will continue to do so until I get some answers... But anyway, I'm eating healthy and really proud of myself since I'm not getting any PHYSICAL results from my actions.

Here are my fellow challengers. Aren't we beautiful?


We meet up again on November 12 in Richmond and I need to get started on planning a fun and affordable weekend for all of us. Any suggestions?

It's now 4:41 pm and I'm ready to head home. I have an exciting night of cleaning, dishes, and organizing scrapbook supplies ahead of me. And maybe cleaning up some cat poop. But I am the lucky one that gets to do that EVERY NIGHT! (Shout out to Ms. Easter)

So, I feel good about this update. See you next week! (If not before, now that I feel like I got my Blogspot mojo back.)

Safe weekends, everyone. Especially you, Liv and Mike.

Long Overdue Update

I am really going to get better about updating this thang. Especially since it will now be one of the sole means of communication to a very special friend in Texas. (Hi Liv!)

So....lots of nothing going on here.... No life altering events, just LIFE. Which is just fine with me at the moment. :)

Now my BROTHER'S life on the other hand is pretty darn exciting. And I try to live vicariously through him. (More on MCS next time...)

Matt was home for a few days this past weekend. I did not think I would get to see him until WARPED TOUR in Virginia Beach on August 9...but he was able to come home for a long weekend. It was great to see him, as always. I took Friday off of work and picked him up at the lovely RIC that is under construction. When Matt emerged from the plane, the first thing he said was "Richmond is the hottest f*ing place on the planet" as sweat rolled down his face. I said "Yep. Ain't it grand?!" As if I don't feel like a giant pig already, put me in 100+ degrees and I'm REALLY feeling super. (More about Matt's visit next time...)

My body is still plotting against me as I anxiously await the Endocrinologist appt on August 12. I'm doing great with Weight Watchers - on all fronts (food, exercising more, water consumption) but neither the scale nor the tightness of my pants are feeling the need to reward me YET. But they will. And I will be victorious against my fat ass. And I will take all of my friends' money. (More on the DWLZ challenge next time...)

Can you tell I'm in a rush to get this posted? I figure if I mention things I want to talk about later, I won't forget. Hold me to it.

I'm leaving in a few minutes to get on the interstate (before rush hour) to go to my photographer's house and pick up my wedding album!! Then Mom is making me go by her house. She is having her girlfriends over for dinner and for hot tub and pool time...and she said "it would be great if you would swing by with the pictures...HINT HINT" So that's where I'll be this evening. :) (More on pictures, scrapbooking, and my new digital camera next time....) LOL!

In the meantime, here's our dog.

Hitch is good. Life is good.

Have you guys seen this movie? I rented it from the store at work yesterday and Toby and I watched it last night and both of us just loved it. I don't think we have 100% agreed on loving a movie this much since Old School. Kevin James had me nearly peeing in my pants. (The dancing scene! Kevin James, "I'm startin a fire. Makin a pizza. Here come the q-tips." And Will Smith, "This is home. This is where you stay.") Hilarious.

And the overall message of the movie is fantastic. It was so funny, but so touching at the same time. It made us feel good. :)

And I think it inspired my wonderful husband because he surprised me this morning. He gets up 2 hours before I have to...so in that 2 hours, he downloaded a CD off of the computer for me and had it sitting on the kitchen table with a nice note. It is a CD of a Kevin James stand-up routine "Sweat the small stuff." So I spent my morning commute laughing my head off, which is a PERFECT way to start the day.

Go rent Hitch!

Rambling on the 4th

We've had a really great 4-day weekend for the 4th of July...and what did we do?

NOTHING.

THAT'S why it has been so good! For once, we did nothing unless WE wanted to. We didn't do anything for anyone else. We didn't feel guilted into showing up somewhere. We laid around. Piddled around the house. Cleaned some. Went to Target. Bought a couple books. Took naps. Listened to my body's energy level (which is still low) and didn't force it to go anything it didn't want to do.

And it was lovely.

Our only "drama" is about Abby, the dog. Toby is at the emergency vet (hello $$$$) right now with her...she's got some kind of break-out on her skin and she's shaking and convulsing. So, OF COURSE every time we get a TAD bit ahead, something eats away our money. And this would be it. But it's OK. That dog is his LIFE so any money to fix her is worth it. But DAAAMMMNNN!

I'm heading to Mom and Dad's house in a minute for the family pool party. :) Should be wonderful. Toby is going to stay here with Abby. I probably won't stay at M and D's long because I'd like to get home and mentally prepare for heading back to work tomorrow.

I know I am weird.

Tomorrow I need to crack down and get a menu plan going for the week - and coming weeks. We've been eating "for convenience" lately which involves a lot of leftovers and frozen foods. I have not been eating very many vegetables - although I'm doing well with fruit. I just need to GET IT IN GEAR ALREADY. I am also taking my workout pants and shoes to work tomorrow and will find 30 minutes to go walk. Even if it's at 1.2 speed and no incline. I need to get back into some sort of activity. I think I'll get Dad to blow up my Exercise Ball today when I am over there. He's got the air compressor - so I don't have to sit here for 10 years trying to blow it up with that crappy little THING they include in the box - know what I'm talking about? Geez!!

Anyway, I need to get back to health. For me. For Toby. For US and our FUTURE. Some of this is out of my control right now. And some of it is not - and THAT is the part that I need to do something about.

Happy 4th, ya'll!