Lifestyle Changes

I visited my doctor last week and had some bloodwork done. My cholesterol is way too high and in addition to that, I have gained back almost all of the weight that I lost 2 years ago.

My doctor sat me down and explained to me that I needed to make some serious changes for my health. I have a history of heart disease and diabetes in my family so I really need to take care of myself.

My biggest obstacle in all of this is my family. The Pleaser is an extremely picky eater and Phone Guy eats the most unhealthy diet you have ever seen. He thinks three of the four food groups are Bacon, Salt, Cheese. In the 10 years since Phone Guy and I got married I have gained sooooo much weight. He doesn't seem to mind...but it's unhealthy and I feel so bad about myself because of it.

My report from the doctor must have scared Phone Guy though because he has really been trying to help me eat better. We shopped for groceries together yesterday and chose some alternative foods like ground turkey instead of ground beef. He said he's willing to do this and support me the best he can.

I also got some great support from my best friend. She is also trying to lose some weight, though hers is post-baby weight. She and I have made a standing date to walk together twice a week and she has offered up her ear and shoulder for anytime I need some support.

I have 3 months before I go back to the doctor and I want to stun him with how well I have done. I need to do this for me and for my family. I can't stand the thought of not being around for my boys as they grow up and have their own families.

Here's to a new me!

We Survived the First Week of School! Yay!

I just cannot tell you how glad I am to be back on a schedule. The kids are in school. I'm back to working my 3 days of week. All is right in the world.

Danger Boy started fourth grade. He had a good week. He likes his teacher so far and he only missed one on his first spelling test (which is outstanding for him!). I am cautiously optimistic that we will have another good year.

The Pleaser started 7th grade. That means a new school for him. His first week was OK but he already has one teacher that he loves, one he cannot stand and a couple that he thinks he can just barely tolerate. He's also got an older kid in band with him who has been bullying him a little. I don't think the band director will put up with it for long though. The Pleaser isn't ready for me to say anything. He's afraid it will just make him more of a target. But I won't let it continue long. The band director is kind of a hard-ass so I think if I bring it to his attention, he will take care of it...and fast.

Also new for us this year...The Pleaser is riding the bus to school. I was really worried about it because I have heard horror stories, but the first week was uneventful so I remain cautiously optimistic about that as well. I'm still picking him up and he prefers it that way but the bus fits our morning schedule so I hope it continues to be an uneventful ride.

Now in 9 months or so, I'll be saying, "Isn't school out yet?" But for now, I'm going to revel in the scheduled life I am leading.

2008 Fall TV Premiere Dates

Here is the 2008-2009 TV Season Fall Premiere Schedule. I've bolded what I'll be watching:

Monday, Sept. 1
8 p.m. — “Prison Break,” Fox (2 hours)
8 p.m. — “Gossip Girl,” The CW
9 p.m. — “One Tree Hill,” The CW

Tuesday, Sept. 2
8 p.m. — “90210,” The CW (2 hours)

Wednesday, Sept. 3
8 p.m. — “Bones,“ Fox (2 hours)
8 p.m. — “America’s Next Top Model,” The CW (2 hours)

Thursday, Sept. 4
8 p.m. — “Moment of Truth,“ Fox (2 hours)

Friday, Sept. 5
8 p.m. — “Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? Fox (2 hours)

Saturday, Sept. 6
8 p.m. — “Cops,” Fox
9 p.m. — “America’s Most Wanted,“ Fox

Monday, Sept. 8
8 p.m. — “Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles,” Fox

Tuesday, Sept. 9
8 p.m. — “Fringe,” Fox (2 hours) *
9 p.m. — “Privileged,” The CW *

Wedesday, Sept. 10
9 p.m. — ‘Til Death,” Fox
9:30 p.m. — “Do Not Disturb,” Fox *

Thursday, Sept. 11
9 p.m. — “Kitchen Nightmares,” Fox

Friday, Sept. 2
8 p.m. — “America’s Toughest Jobs,” NBC (2 hours) *

Friday, Sept. 12
9 p.m. — “Don’t Forget the Lyrics,” Fox

Tuesday, Sept. 16
8 p.m. — “House,“ Fox

Thursday, Sept. 18
8 p.m. — “Survivor,” CBS
8 p.m. — “Smallville,” The CW
9 p.m. — “Supernatural,” The CW

Friday, Sept. 19
10 p.m. — “20/20,″ ABC

Monday, Sept. 22
8 p.m. “Dancing with the Stars,” ABC (2 hours)
8 p.m. — “The Big Bang Theory,“ CBS
8:30 p.m. — “How I Met Your Mother,” CBS
9 p.m. — “Heroes,“ NBC (2 hours)
9 p.m. — “Two and a Half Men,“ CBS
9:30 p.m. — “Worst Week,“ CBS *
10 p.m. — “Boston Legal,” ABC
10 p.m. — “CSI: Miami,“ CBS

Tuesday, Sept. 23
8 p.m. — “Opportunity Knocks,” ABC *
8 p.m. — “NCIS,” CBS
9 p.m. — “The Mentalist,” CBS *
10 p.m. — “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” NBC
10 p.m. — “Without a Trace,” CBS

Wednesday, Sept. 24
8 p.m. — “Knight Rider,” NBC *
8 p.m. — “The New Adventures of the Old Christine,” CBS
8:30 p.m. — “Project Gary,” CBS *
9 p.m. — “Criminal Minds,“ CBS
10 p.m. — “Lipstick Jungle,” NBC
10: p.m. — “CSI: NY,” CBS

Thursday, Sept. 25
8 p.m. — “My Name Is Earl,” NBC (1 hour)
8 p.m. — “Ugly Betty,” ABC
9 p.m. — “The Office,” NBC (1 hour)
9 p.m. — “Grey’s Anatomy,” ABC (2 hours)
10 p.m. — “ER,” NBC

Saturday, Sept. 27
8 p.m. — “Crimetime Saturday,” CBS
10 p.m. — “48 Hours Mystery,“ CBS

Sunday, Sept. 28
7:p.m. — “60 Minutes,“ CBS
7 p.m. — “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,” ABC (2 hours)
8 p.m. — “The Amazing Race,” CBS
8 p.m. — “The Simpsons,” Fox
8:30 p.m. — “King of the Hill,” Fox
9 p.m. — “Desperate Housewives,” ABC
9 p.m. — “Cold Case,” CBS
9 p.m. — “Family Guy,” Fox
9:30 p.m. — “American Dad,” Fox
10 p.m. — “Brothers & Sisters,” ABC
10 p.m. — “The Unit,” CBS

Monday, Sept. 29
8 p.m. — “Chuck,” NBC
10 p.m. — “My Own Worst Enemy,” NBC *

Wednesday, Oct. 1
8 p.m. — “Pushing Daisies,” ABC
9 p.m. — “Private Practice,” ABC
10 p.m. — “Dirty Sexy Money,” ABC

Friday, Oct. 3
8 p.m. — “Ghost Whisperer,” CBS
8 p.m. — “Everybody Hates Chris,“ The CW
8 p.m. — “Wife Swap,“ ABC
9 p.m. — “Supernanny,“ ABC
8:30 p.m. — “The Game,“ The CW
9 p.m. — “The Ex List,“ CBS *
9 p.m. — “America’s Next Top Model” repeats, The CW
10 p.m. — “Numb3rs,“ CBS
10 p.m. — “Life,” NBC

Sunday, Oct. 5
7 p.m. — “America’s Funniest Home Videos,” ABC

Monday, Oct. 6
9:30 p.m. — “Samantha Who?,” ABC

Thursday, Oct. 9
9 p.m. — “CSI,” CBS
9:30 p.m. — “Kath & Kim,” NBC *
10 p.m. — “Eleventh Hour,“ CBS *
10 p.m. — “Life on Mars,“ ABC *

Tuesday, Oct. 14
10 p.m. — “Eli Stone,” ABC

Friday, Oct. 17
9 p.m. — “Crusoe,“ NBC (2 hours) *

Wednesday, Oct. 29
9 p.m. — “Stylista,” The CW *

Thursday, Oct. 30
8:30 p.m. — “30 Rock,” NBC

Premiering Early 2009: 24, Lost and Reaper

Irrational Fears

Danger Boy is your typical boy. He likes to get dirty, has to be constantly reminded about personal hygiene, doesn't really care for showers and he plays with bugs. Ladybugs, rolie polie's, beetles, butterflies - he has always seemed to like them all. Until today.

This hot, dry time of year always drives a few cockroaches into the house. I'm sure they are seeking water. I hate them as much as the next gal, but they don't scare me. Annoy me, YES! But they don't scare me.

So today, as Danger Boy was getting his gear ready for Karate, he starts screaming and runs down the hall because he saw a roach in his room. I was annoyed by his behavior and told him to get back in his room and get his gear so we could go. He absolutely refused, which made me even madder. So good mom that I am, I forced him down the hall and into his room and he proceeded to have the biggest near panic attack, crying episode I have ever seen. I thought I was going to have to call the psychiatric hospital to come get him. It was absolutely insane. And it was just ticking me off. I guess I should have felt compassion for him, and if it had been a spider or a hornet or a snake, I probably would have. Hell, I might have joined him. But as it was, a harmless (though disgusting) cockroach, it annoyed me to no end.

Phone Guy found the creature and disposed of it. I finally got him to calm down and get his gear and we headed to class. We no sooner than got started down the road when his headband brushed against his neck and he freaked out in the car....and I mean FREAKED OUT! I went on to Karate and he was fine there but as soon as we got home, I asked him to take a shower and he was walking on tiptoes through the house because he was afraid one would get on his feet. He didn't want to go in the bathroom because he was afraid there was one in there. He was completely looney toons about it. Even at bedtime he was still talking about them and looking nervously around the room at the walls and ceiling.

I guess I'm wrong to be annoyed and I should comfort him and coddle him but it just makes no sense to me. Do your kids have irrational fears like that? Did they come on suddenly? Am I a loser mom for being annoyed? (Wait, don't answer that last one...)

My Poor, Neglected Blog

Here I am again, after 3 months of neglecting my poor blog. It's starting to think I don't love it anymore, and that's completely not the case. So what's been happening for the last 3 months that caused my poor baby to feel so left out?

In neatly bulleted form, here we go...

• In May of every year, I am in charge of putting together (at the last minute of course) the yearbook for Danger Boy's school. It is the mother of all jobs. Don't get me wrong...I love doing it. It's just a very big undertaking for one person and unfortunately I am very bad about asking for help.
• May also brings the end of school. Something going on every day for weeks. Field trips, awards ceremonies, parties, etc. So there's that.
• By the way, I need to mention that Danger Boy won Most Improved Student for the ENTIRE YEAR and he also made 100% on his standardized state math test. Thankyouverymuch! He has come a long way baby!!
• And since I'm bragging, here's another bullet for The Pleaser. He was selected for the Honor Band at the Middle School he will be attending next year. They don't take many 7th graders so it's a big honor (guess that's why they call it Honor Band).
• I have great kids. (It just needed it's own bullet point I think)
• So after May, June came and summer vacation for the kids. That means they go to work with me every day. And when I say every day, I mean 5 days a week and several Saturdays. We are short-handed and I can sure use the money since Phone Guy's business has been so slow lately, so it's off to work I go. (Hi Ho, Hi Ho)
• June also brought Karate. Yes, the boys are learning some Kung Fu Fighting so they can kick the crap out of each other defend themselves and gain self-confidence. I think it will be good for Danger Boys motor skills and The Pleaser's self-esteem. And it won't hurt him to learn some Bruce Lee moves since he'll probably be riding the bus to school next year.
• I closed my ebay store and started my own website for my toy store. It was quite an undertaking. It took me about 3 days to type up all the listings and get them in the new store. And I have to spend quite a lot of time advertising things myself, since I don't have the advantage of ebay's marketing. Then again, I don't have the fees and BS to put up with either. If you care to take a gander at the new site, it's at www. pastimesandplaythings.com
  
• Oh, I almost forgot the most important thing. The Pleaser has started to eat. I mean, he always ate. Only peanut butter and chicken nuggets and maybe a piece of cheese pizza or a taco with no meat for 12 whole years, but he ate. It started with pepperoni pizza. Then he asked for meat on his taco. Two days ago he asked for a salami and cheese sandwich. Then he ate a bacon, egg and cheese toaster from Sonic. I guess I always knew he would start eating eventually, I just didn't think it would all happen in the same week.
  

So here we are more than halfway through July. I'm not going to promise I'll update more often because I don't like being a liar. I'll just say that I hope to stop in now and again and chat some more.