Author: Diana

Day 125 – A Cold Day in Ohio

By Diana

It was like 48 degrees here today and rainy – BOOOOOOOO!!!   Had another good session today and traveling to the next hotel wasn’t that far.  I have been relaxing in the room for a couple hours now.  Wondering when I am going to get hungry enough to go across the street for some food :)  Or maybe I should just go down to the pub here and get food.  That sounds much better.

We went to a place called the Beer Bar (I think) and I had some deep dish pizza.  It was great.  I had said I wasn’t going to eat any pizza this trip, but I couldn’t pass it up and I split it with the guy next to me – who was amazing :)

No pictures today, you would think it wouldn’t be that hard to just snap something, but it is!

The new tennis balls I ordered for the puppies arrived at the house today – they should be very excited.   Mom said she had to lock my bedroom door and I thought it was because they had figured out how to open the doors now and she said she was just kidding!  I guess she gets some of her funniness from me :) ha ha ha ha

My friend made one of my recipes and she sent me pics, it looks great!  It was the Yummy Brownie Chocolate Chip Cheese Cake.  I asked her if everyone liked it, but I haven’t heard back – I am sure they did – unless she decides not to share it :)

There is a Panera near by, I think I might have to get up a little early and get some breakfast from there – it was been forever since I had it.  I think the last time was when the boys and I were in Washington DC.

Dad said they moved my old trailer yesterday.  The end of an era :)  That was my first place by myself and I owned it :)  Time flies when you are doing something – I forget, I’m old!!

I have the class tomorrow, then a long drive back to Chicago and then a long day of travel home.  My next trip starts in Sunday, Mother’s Day.  The good news there is that I don’t leave until later in the afternoon so I can spend some time with mom :)

Well, it’s 19:00 now so I guess I will go down and get something to eat, luckily I am having a typical travel appetite where I hardly eat :)  I should travel constantly!!!

I am gonna wrap it up because I don’t think I will have anything amazing to add tonight.  Goodnight and sweet dreams :)

Day 124 – The Day I Traveled in 3 States

By Diana

Today I had a training session in the morning in Calumet City, Illinois and then I drove through Indiana and ended up in Findlay, Ohio! I would say that second to Florida I have driven more in Indiana then any other state!! A couple years back I had done some training for the Indiana Rail Road and on that same trip did training for the Louisville and Indiana Railroad. I ended up driving between them and saw some very nice country. This trip today was about 5 hours and not as interesting, mostly straight interstate type roads.

I did however, see a windmill farm, is that what it is called – I don’t know but I am pretty sure that was the first time I have ever seen that in real life. Did have to pull over to get some pics. Also, all the fields were bare and no real farming happening so that made it a little dull too.

I am super glad I got the rental car I did – it was really nice driving over here. Tomorrow afternoon the drive is not very long, I think like 45 minutes but Thursday night I have to go all the way back to Chicago.

I grabbed me some Subway for dinner, it was very good :) That happens to be what we had for lunch too. That was not as good – the platters never are :)

I miss my folks and I miss those sweet sweet puppies :) I called and asked how they were. My mom said that my brother Carlos came over and played with them until they couldn’t play anymore!! Makes me very happy :) I think I left them with 1 tennis ball and dad said he found about 6 around the woods – ha ha ha!

Alright, I am still a little bit snotty from flying so I am going to try to get some sleep – didn’t sleep too well last night – SHOCKING I know :)

In honor of my friend Chris, since I drove through his town today – SEE YA!!!!

Windmill Farm - taken with the Moment Wide Lens
Windmill Farm – taken with the Moment Wide Lens

Day 123 – The Day I Spent in ATL

By Diana

This morning’s travel was special. I realize when I get through security that I have forgotten my wallet at home… Luckily I have a company credit card and my ID on me. Now I am sitting in the Atlanta airport and they have oversold this flight so I decided to take the incentive and go on a later flight. They gave me $1000 in Delta dollars so I am hoping that will come in handy when I want to go someplace this year. Plus now that I am going later I can get me some Panda Express here at the airport!!!! Awesome :)

I am sitting in a little corner so I can’t really people watch, but there was an interesting character behind me talking on his phone very loudly and about very personal stuff – never a dull moment if you just pay attention :)

I was able to get some Starbucks, it was good, haven’t had it in a bit.

I have to wait here until this flight boards and then I am off to the other concourse. Oh and that is the one with all the shopping too!!!! Wait, don’t have my wallet, that is probably a blessing :)

Well, they ended up not needing anyone to take another flight so I am in my hotel room ready for bed :)

I rented a brand new Dodge Charger, it is really nice. I had the option to get a new Fiat, but I am going to be driving a lot this trip so I am very glad I got the Dodge. It is very comfy.

Also, there was a Panda Express near by so I got that for dinner. Not really able to eat a lot of it, my tooth is killing me all of the sudden. Oh well, it is a good thing for me to not be eating :)

OK – just wanted to wrap this up and goodnight!!!

Sitting at the gate - now we wait ;)
Sitting at the gate – now we wait ;)

Day 122 – The Day the House was a Sandbox

By Diana

Again, again the puppies came back from an adventure covered in sand…  They probably weigh a good 2 extra pounds from all the sand – it is just so so very much.  Amazing!

So this morning I am doing laundry and then around noon I am going to head to the grocery store and pick up stuff to make spaghetti sauce :)  My mom keeps wanting it so I said I would make it today.  Here is a link to the recipe – Yummy Spaghetti Sauce

I finished all my laundry and packing – I am ready to go :) I am going to jump in the shower and get ready for bed.

I have all my devices on charge and all my meds in the bag. I need to go grab my coffee cup here in a sec to make sure I don’t forget it.

Just remembered I didn’t reserve a car – guess I better do that. Also need to make a couple more hotel reservations. UGH!! OK, all done with that now :)

Gonna go play with the puppies one last time for a whole week :( I am so sad. By the way, I think we started with 17 tennis balls. I currently have 3 in the bucket… Not sure how that happened.

Goodnight all :)

Yummy Spaghetti Sauce

Yummy Spaghetti Sauce

Yummy Spaghetti Sauce
Print Recipe
A pretty easy alternative to just plain jar sauce that doesn't take much effort - except chopping veggies!
Prep Time
20 minutes
Prep Time
20 minutes
Yummy Spaghetti Sauce
Print Recipe
A pretty easy alternative to just plain jar sauce that doesn't take much effort - except chopping veggies!
Prep Time
20 minutes
Prep Time
20 minutes
Ingredients
Servings:
Instructions
  1. Brown ground sirloin in skillet and drain grease.
  2. Chop the peppers, zucchini, squash, and onion.
  3. Combine all ingredients into large pot and bring to boil. Don't worry that the sauce seems thick, all the veggies will add the extra liquid that is needed.
  4. Let simmer for as long as possible, but no less than 1 hour. Simmer on the lowest heat. You want the veggies to be a little soft.

Day 121 – The Day I Got My Hair Did!

By Diana

Today was a pretty busy day. I took mom to the base to drop off and pick up some prescriptions and then I got my hair did!!!!

I LOVE getting my hair done. I have the best hair dresser and she always make me feel great!!

I washed a couple more bed sheets and am going to mess around with getting clothes in the right drawers tonight. And DONE!!!!

I wanted to paint the metal of the desk today, but it didn’t really work out. I finally got to sleep in, I think I woke up about 10:30, not for the first time, that would be too awesome. I still woke up several times during the night.

Paul and dad worked on the gate and that is working again. That makes me so happy, I love not having to get out of the car and it is really great for my mom.

Tomorrow is laundry and packing day. My flight is not super early on Monday, but early enough. I am gonna pack pretty light since I am going to help the field people. I am going to wear jeans and probably my safety boots, but maybe not. I can’t image there will be any extra time to be going out out. I didn’t even think that it might be a little bit cold up there. Guess I better check the weather and might have to take a couple sweaters :)

Alright, I am going to watch some Netflix and go to bed :) Good night!!!

Paul and Dime, she is just so loving :)
Paul and Dime, she is just so loving :)

The Real Starting Point

By Diana

Today I went ahead and made my weight loss goal. I am 5’2″ and I currently weigh 190 pounds. I want to weigh around 125 pounds – that is a 65 pound weight loss.

That sounds crazy to hear, I think if you know me it might sound crazy to you that I feel like I need to lose that many pounds. Well, it is what it is. 125 pounds for someone my height is not going to be skin and bones. When I was in high school I weighed around 115 and I always thought that I was a little fat. I don’t ever remember being “happy” with my weight, with a crazy flip side that I don’t feel this fat. Right now, I do. I know I have gone overboard with my diet the last couple months and I feel the consequences. Which is why I am laying it down like this – after I just ate some ice cream…

I was supposed to start working out this month and I did the treadmill once. That was it, just once. Why – I don’t know. I just lack motivation so much that it feels like it cripples me.

I have to start making progress in the downward direction before I get too far gone. I hope to be able to post updates that are positive on here and not more sob stories. I may try to find a doctor to see if there is something that I might be qualified to take to help, but that will be secondary to actually working at it. If I don’t see results when I try then we will go that route because something might be wrong.

Day 120 – The Blue Day

By Diana

Today I tested out the two blue colors I got for the metal parts of my desk. I wasn’t sure which I would like, even though I was pretty sure I would like the darker one, so I decided to paint a “test” piece. When I was painting I was sure of the dark blue, but seeing it in inside light vs the sun I am no longer sure! Real problems over here ya’ll!!

I did some web conferences today and even though I messed up the meeting invite 2 times – the meetings actually went pretty well. I do one in the morning and cover the same material in the afternoon and it is pretty amazing the difference in interaction :) It being Friday doesn’t help, but it was about half the time of the morning meeting :)

Mom is feeling much better today, she was walking around and eating pretty well. I took her this afternoon to go get a prescription and then we grabbed some food. She didn’t go in anywhere, but she was out of the house.

The people who purchased my old mobile home were supposed to move it today and I was kinda curious to see how it went, but they decided to move it on Monday and now I am going to miss it. Oh well :)

I must tell everyone about what happened last night after I posted the blog. These stinking puppies went to some mud hole and rolled around in it and came home COVERED in sand and mud… I get them a great pool, fill it with nice cool water, and this is how they repay me! Nickel had the most, there was no way he could come in the house like that. Well, stay in the house for the night. I took him right into the shower – he was not excited and I did have to drag him across the tile floor. Once we were in there, he did good and we got him all clean. After that I swept the floor and I just believe the amount of sand that was on the floor from the front door to my room.

Tomorrow I have a hair appointment!! I LOVE getting my hair done and can’t wait to see what we do tomorrow 😉

Alright, I am going to wrap this up and get ready to take the puppies out again for a workout. I am really getting concerned about what they are going to do over the next two weeks when I am going to be gone. Hopefully they won’t be terrors!!

Goodnight everybody!!

The blue paint test!
The blue paint test!

Day 119 – The Day of Batteries

By Diana

My sister is selling my old mobile home and they needed the Blazer moved and the wheels were locked up so we really needed to start it to get it to move. My dad and I went over there to change the battery and we got it moved – I think he was a little surprised, but I don’t know what we would have done if it didn’t start.

I also had to grab the AC out of the window for Carlos. That little guy was a bit heavy :)

Work had some challenges today, but just kept pushing through them. I think I will go ahead and work from home tomorrow again because my mom is still pretty bad off. She ate very little today and is still pretty weak.

I made flight arrangements for the next trip, I am out next week and then the following week as well. I am going to be traveling so much in these two weeks – should be a different hotel every night on both! I haven’t done that in a long time.

I changed my bed sheets tonight – which includes the cover blanked – to a brand new one I got – I love it :)

I am going to be playing with the puppies soon to tire them out. I tried very hard to keep them awake today so that they will be tired when it is bed time.

I want to have a picture on every post so that it looks a little more interesting on Facebook. I am not trying to make them all pictures of the puppies, but so far that has been the case. So enjoy :)

Goodnight!!!

It makes me crazy that she lays here, but she loves it :)
It makes me crazy that she lays here, but she loves it :)

Day 118 – The Day My Mom Got 8 Water Guns

By Diana

We try to use water guns to get the puppies to stop barking in the house, but Nickel had ate the one we had. I got like a 12 pack from Amazon, but they were a bit too cheap and didn’t really work. So mom decided to get some better ones from the store. I just had to get one because Nickel keeps barking inside. It is so freakin loud. I haven’t used it yet, not sure if he will hate it or not really care.

I am feeling a lot better about my room now that I am basically done with the “remodel”. Not sure what to call it, how about makeover.

Nickel is being crazy tonight. I have figured out that he sleeps all day and decides to gain all this energy when it is time to go to bed :) I have played tennis with them 3 times in an effort to get him exhausted, it has not worked…

So sorry that this blog is not to interesting. Will work on being more interesting tomorrow :)

BYE!!!

He was sound asleep like this - crazy!
He was sound asleep like this – crazy!