Tuesday

labro

I woke up this morning around 5 and haven't been able to fall back asleep. I'm working from home today so at least I have that going for me. I just have a case of the Tuesday blahs. I have three meetings today and I'm really dreading two of them. The first one is a meeting with our client. I'm really feeling frustrated with them because they are constantly demanding data from me and my boss....and honestly we don't know anything about it but somehow we're the responsible ones for figuring out how to collect it all. Basically I'm a contract manager and they are asking me for lists of call tickets, product roadmaps, things that sales and IT would know about...not me. I've set up reminders in my outlook calendar to provide them with certain data for certain software packages we provide and I've been trying to pull together what they're asking for but apparently it isn't happening fast enough for them. I can't force my contacts to respond to me or provide me the information I'm requesting any faster and I'm the one on the hook for it. I'm trying not to take it personally but it just gets super frustrating some days when we get emails questioning why we haven't given them x information. I'm also not looking forward to my team meeting this afternoon. I always feel completely out of my league because the other three people on my team have been doing this for years. They're able to go on and on about whatever they're working on and I'm just like...oh well here's this one thing I've got that takes up most of my time. oh and this other small thing and 30 seconds later I'm done.

What's going on with everyone else today? I know a bunch of you had yesterday off for MLK Day. My mom and I met with our florist yesterday. I was having trouble coming up with a really defined idea of what I wanted to do and she helped me out a lot. So now I'm waiting on a proposal from her to see what the damages are. We basically decided to just go with "in an ideal world what do we want" and then pare it down from there. My BM's dresses are going to be in a burnt orange color but I didn't want to have that color all over the place so we discussed doing a bunch of neutrals and greenery instead and I think the effect is going to be really beautiful.

Swazzle

Morning! I hope your meetings end up going well, @lmhollister. I know what it's like having to wait on a response from someone else and everyone's waiting on you and you're the one "responsible" for it in their eyes. So frustrating.  

I had a nice long weekend but I'm already annoyed with being back at work today. Of course the first coworker I bump into this morning is the one I loathe. He was really chatty and I just wanted to get my coffee and get to the elevator. 

We're expecting a big snowstorm later today which I'm also cranky about. They're calling for 10" between now and tomorrow morning. I am SO over the snow and it's only January. H and I have a Devils game tonight. If the snow is bad, though, I might try to talk him into staying home and snuggling instead of venturing out in it. 

I mentioned this on the accountability thread but I want to end this on a positive note so I'm bring it up here too: I LOST 4 LBS SINCE JOINING WW LAST TUESDAY! WOO HOOOOOO!

Dignity100

I'm so tired!!  My stomach was upset and woke me up around 4AM - I got up and found something for it but I laid in bed until 5AM (my normal time to get ready for work).  I got ready for work and I came in but I'm tired and just feel a bit off.  The way my team works is there's just me and another guy and the other guy worked all weekend so he wanted to take today off so I'm stuck here.  It's days like today's I'm SO glad I have an awesome employer that lets us wear whatever we want to work (jeans, sweatshirts, flip flops - pretty much anything goes).

@Imhollister - No $200 popcorn charge yet on your floral :-) .

@Swazzle - Again, Congrats on the weight loss!!

Blue & White

Oh god ten inches @swazzle?! I saw WV and VA were getting pounded so this shouldn't surprise me but my sis is in NYC with her boyfriend who was born and raised in Florida right now. They're gonna freeze to death in ten inches.

@lmhollister good luck with your meetings! I hope you get your info you need! Similarly I've been waiting 3 weeks for a recommendation letter I need so that I can proceed to the next step of this job application. I'm so sick of waiting and sending "did you send it yet?" Emails.

Today should be fun. Gonna play horn with some old people and then work on addressing my invite envelopes. And hopefully I'll hear from the invite vendor to see if this fourth printing came in right. I'm not sending the envelopes empty after all

[Deleted User]

Today needs to be the day I get some things done! Work was weird yesterday because I learned a new task which I'll be doing again today so I'll be thinking about that until I go home. H and I need to go to the tax commissioners office so I can put his name on my car title and also change my name on it. It's not 100% necessary that we do this now but I figure when the day comes that we decide to sell my car then we will need to have that information changed on there. Afterwards we are going to CrossFit and coming home for dinner.

I'm hoping that our internet has been fixed today. We have an exclusive provider because we live in the boondocks and their internet is awful! It has been shutting off repeatedly for the past few months and we have Apple TV so everything we watch is through streaming. I'm very annoyed! If they don't fix this, we may be moving out faster than what I imagined. It's funny to think about how much we rely on internet today.

Swazzle

@Dignity100 - Thanks! I hope you feel better!

@Blue - Did you AW your invitations and I missed it or I've forgotten?

[Deleted User]

@lmhollister - can you AW the dresses you picked and some ideas of the greenery/flowers?  I think it sounds beautiful.  I love greenery in weddings!  I really didn't get what I wanted for a lot of my wedding because I was at odds with my mom about pretty much EVERYTHING.  if I could go back and change it, I would, but since I can't... I want to see yours!! 

yesterday was a BEAUTIFUL day.  H and I both had the day off.  we slept in until 9:30 (YES!!!) and then did our Insanity recovery week workout.  I made us some toast with PB and banana and honey, and then we spent a few hours outside.  H tilled the garden, added fish emulsion (OMG IT STINKS), and tilled it again to prep for spring planting next month.  I spent a lot of time doing dog poop patrol (ugh) and raking up all the dead leaves and trash that come from the park next door and the construction workers down the street.  then we moved to the front yard and pruned our bushes way back (my rose bushes were at least as tall as me, ridiculous!) and cleaned up the flower bed.  we're going to lay new mulch in March after I trim the bushes again.  they grow like crazy!!

we cleaned up and then went out to the Nike Outlet store to get some new crosstrainers for me to work out in.  I've been wearing my Brooks running shoes, but since I supinate like crazy they are pretty stiff/firm... which is good when I'm running but bad when I'm trying to jump and move around like crazy.  I ended up getting these (LINK - closest I could find, I got the luminaire's in a berry and pink color combo) for 45% off the original price!!

since we're planning on hiking a few times this year (starting out with easy trails here in the state and working up to bigger ones, with the grand finale being hiking in Santa Fe when we go in November), I also looked around at their athletic clothes.  they had some cute stuff!  I didn't buy any because I wanted to wait until closer to time.

we are going rock-climbing this Friday, so it'll be my FIRST climbing experience.  I am excited!

I'm also thinking of getting something like THIS, but they have some cheapy ones at Target (the Gaiam brand) that I might try instead.  has anyone used anything like this?  I work out on carpet most of the time if that makes a difference.  my feet do slide when I'm doing warrior poses or sometimes hip flexor stretches.

[Deleted User]

@Imhollister - I think your neutral floral idea sounds great with your bridesmaid dress color! Hopefully your estimate is reasonable. Flowers were one thing I just couldn't really justify in our budget...but I love weddings with tons of flowers!

@Swazzle - I totally support you and your H staying home and out of the storm tonight.

I had to work yesterday, so nothing exciting to tell here.

beanbot2002

I'm grumpy and at work. We're supposed to be getting slammed with like 8 inches of snow later today. I'm excited about the snow. I'm NOT excited about being forced into a truck to get a ride home in it. I hate hate hate being forced into social situations and having to 'chit chat' with people I'm not friends with. BUT since I live the closest to the office out of my whole team, I'm expected to be here no matter what. If the offices are open, they will send a fucking plow (not even kidding guys) to come pick me up at home and deliver me to work. I'm not thrilled about it, but I know I'm also just being a stubborn grumpy asshole, so there's that. MEANWHILE my family (mom, Bean, and el Senor) are all snuggled up at home enjoying the day off. I WANT TO BE THERE!. Ok...I'll stop now.

 

CASK85

Hey friends!  

I have a snow day today!! And yesterday was a holiday. God bless the Federal Government. I'm not used to getting MLK day off (grad school never sleeps), nor am I used to a snow day for 4-8 inches foretasted (Chicago eats that many inches for breakfast). I'm using the free time to finish the edits on my dissertation. JOY!

Nothing too exciting is going on over here. DH and I bought a new couch this weekend, which is pretty cool. 

@CocobellaF I'm jealous of your day yesterday! Are you seeing results from Insanity? I am thinking about getting P90x3 since I like the original so much. 

buddysmom80

@lmhollister, I HATE meetings and we always have on for something.

@swazzle I hate the snow (I swear I'm in a good mood!), we're only are predicted to get 8" here, but still GAHHHH where's summer? Also congrats again on your 4lb loss!

@dignity100 feel better!

@blue&white good luck with the invites!

@cocobellaf, I just got new sneakers for Christmas from FI and I LOVE them, I find that I need a new pair of sneakers every year or they start messing with an old knee injury that I have. Once my knee starts acting up, time for new sneakers.

@allusive007 it feels like Monday so bad here! The short weeks always drag for me!

This weekend, I was SO busy! Friday night, FI got out of work early and picked my mom up from Poughkeepsie so I didn't have to drive! While he was doing that, I cleaned the house and get the guest room ready for my mom. By the time my mom and FI got home, everyone was too tired to do anything, I think we just hung out and talked.

Saturday morning, mom and I went to a dress shop that I went with my friend last week to try on those dresses again. My mom only liked one and even that one she wasn't crazy about. After the appointment we headed back to my town and had lunch, shopped and I bought a ton of stuff for my centerpieces at Hobby Lobby since everything I needed was on sale!!!! We came back home and started watching a movie that by the time it started getting good, we had to leave for another dress appointment.

My second dress appointment was at Alfred Angelo and the place was HUGE. I had a full-on anxiety attack (my mom totally didn't help with that either, she kept telling me to calm down, it's not that easy). The saleswoman I worked with was amazing and we tried on all different styles. I've narrowed down my choices to 4, maybe 3 dresses. I made a follow up appointment for Saturday to try them on again with another friend of mine. My mom had 0 reaction to any dress I tried on or it was an extreme from "I like it" to "you look fat" so yeah, thanks mom.

Saturday night we ordered Chinese and finished watching the movie we were watching before we left.

Sunday my friend (the same one who's coming with me Saturday) came over and we headed out to meet with my travel agent and go to David's Bridal. We got all our info for Europe and I'm so excited. She planned so much stuff for us to do, the only times we're relaxing is when we're traveling from one country to another. But two months from now I'll be in Europe! Holy shit! I also booked our honeymoon, FI and I decided to go to Jamaica and my travel agent referred us to Sandals, specifically Negril so we're staying there. We have our own butler and it's a two-story suite. I showed FI and he got really excited (he doesn't get excited about anything).

David's Bridal was a hot mess. I had TWO dresses I specifically wanted to try one, she had me try on everything but the two dresses until my mom finally said something and the saleswoman told us we had time to try on one. So, even though I found one dress I liked, it was such a clusterfuck there, I won't go back.

When we got home, we watched the Patriots lose to the Broncos

Monday I brought my mom back to Poughkeepsie then spent 4 hours and $900 at the dentist, but at least my one front tooth isn't yellow anymore, it actually looks really nice!

[Deleted User]

@CASK85 - the best part about the federal government is the federal holidays.    oh, and results from Insanity?  my appetite has shot through the roof (like last night I couldn't sleep I was so hungry, so I had some cashews, cherries, and a small glass of milk just to sleep)...  and so I gained like 6 lbs (which is a lot for someone 4'10").  I've worked off 3 lbs, so I'm still 3 lbs MORE than I was when I started... and it's NOT just muscle.  my belly is bigger.  WAH WAH WAH.  I'm just HUNGRY.

@buddysmom80 - I am excited about my new shoes!  my stiff running shoes were NOT cutting it.  I'll get to try out my new flexy ones on Wednesday.  YAY!
thankfully my dress appointment (I just went to one and found the dress I wanted, THANK GOD) went smoothly.  the rest of the wedding planning was like a war.  I hope your next appointment(s) go better than this last one. 

CASK85

@CocoBellaF - I was always super hungry during P90x too! I know I gained muscle, but I swear I didn't lose as much weight as I wanted because I felt compelled to eat more. Your heart is happy, I'm sure  

[Deleted User]

CocoBellaF said:

 H tilled the garden, added fish emulsion (OMG IT STINKS), and tilled it again to prep for spring planting next month. 

@CocoBellaF - That stuff does smell awful! A coworker and I used that stuff to prank a guy we work with. The prank was awesome (he cleaned his entire office trying to find the smell and even thought it was himself since he rode his bike to work that day!), but we both almost threw up when we opened the bottle. You should read the reviews on Home Depot's website. So funny! Talks about raccoons digging up people's yards and what not trying to find fish. hehe.

[Deleted User]

@CASK85 - I do have to say that I have more muscles than I did before I started.  my legs are getting more toned, and I can feel biceps and triceps that weren't there before.  I have slightly more stamina to finish the workouts.  I do know that it is a wonderful thing for me to be able to do such intense exercise (I've never exercised at this level of intensity) and to do it everyday without quitting.  we're going to try T25 next.  I'm really hoping that my appetite will level out.  I was supplementing with scoops of PB and cookie butter when I'd come home starving, so now I'm trying to keep snacks with me AT ALL TIMES.  better than a Snickers, right?  we'll see after month 2 how it ends up!

[Deleted User]

@allusive007 - I caught the dogs in the fresh, fishy dirt this morning.  guess who is getting a bath tonight?!?

Blackbird230

I was up at 6 a.m. for a 7:30 assignment which was GAH WHY IS IT STILL DARK? But I got a photo with Senator Chris Murphy which was cool. I do love my job sometimes. I'm heading out of here around 2 and going down to FI's so I can hopefully avoid the snow and parking bans. 

[Deleted User]

@CocoBellaF - Oh no! I'm sure they enjoyed it though. Why is it that dogs love the stinkiest smells?

Ollie08

@Imhollister - I totally know what that feels like having to wait on other people. It has helped in the past to tell them up from that you're going to find out the information they requested but it could take x amount of time. Set that time period for longer than you anticipate so that they're happy when they get the response sooner. Although that's backfired before. Also, was there any mention of popcorn or parking from the florist yesterday?

@swazzle - 4 LBS?! GO YOU!!!! Seriously, that's awesome! Also, I'm all for you guys staying home safe and warm tonight.

I'm working again today. I worked yesterday too. No snow days for us here in the south. I'm not looking forward to tonight. The girls have been at their dad's all weekend, and my oldest DD with super thick, long hair apparently got head lice from her step sister. And guess who gets to get rid of it? 

Peaseblossom55

I'm working from home today we're supposed to get a pretty big snow storm.  Even though it's not snowing now. I don't have much work to do actually so it kinda sucks.  I spent yesterday researching and calling limo companies and hair/make up artists.  I just don't have much time right now for any trials which really sucks.  Ill try to figure out something.  I'm supposed to have rehearsal tonight but I bet it will be cancelled.

[Deleted User]

@TwoDimes - CUPCAKE!!

Dignity100

@buddysmom80 - maybe I should be thankful my mom has 'politely declined' dress shopping with me, she'd be the same way and I'd probably get really frustrated!!  Did you happen to get any pictures?

KeptInStitches

Morning. Gaming yesterday. Slept in. Didn't accomplish anything. Had the blahs yesterday, have the blahs today. Studying for orals. Waiting on equipment. Tick tock.

labro

Thanks everyone! I just hate meetings with this particular person because she really has no clue what it is that she wants. She just kind of sends out these vague data requests and then we'll spend weeks sometimes narrowing it down to what it seems she's really looking for. It's hard to not feel like it's a waste of time. 

@CocoBellaF I'm using some images like this as our inspiration. Hopefully when I get a proposal back from the florist I'll be able to give a better example of what all is included. But basically we discussed cotton bolls and unopened pods, lotus pods, eucalyptus, sahara roses (they're kind of a pale brownish color in the middle) and stuff along those lines.

These are the top three dresses I actually have images for. I haven't really been able to find the others online. Some of the boutiques have been ridiculous about sharing the style numbers with  me. I suppose because they think I'll go online and buy it from a knockoff store for less. My other top dresses include another satin one that's pretty similar to the one I have a picture of although the beading around the waist is quite a bit different and then there's the one I posted a picture of me in from the other day.

.

 

labro

@Swazzle YAY 4 lbs!!! Congratulations!

@buddysmom80 I'm sorry dress shopping didn't turn out like you would have liked. Are there more options in your area aside from David's Bridal and Alfred Angelo? I've honestly been avoiding any of the large bridal retailers for the exact experience you described at DB. It seems less "all about you" when you go to DB just because they're so overwhelming. Also, your HM plans sound amazing!!!! I want a butler! I also want to steal your trip to Europe. FI and I are definitely thinking we want to go to Munich for our HM so we've started some Duolingo German lessons and I've reached out to my cousin who lives sort of near Munich to discuss ideas.

@Dignity100 and @Ollie08 No mentions of popcorn or parking. Then again, I'm still waiting for a formal proposal from the florist. I did tell her about my dream though and I'm pretty sure she thought I was crazy. I do feel tons better after talking to her though. I did some more reading up on the florist (we didn't get to choose her, she's exclusive to our venue) and she's currently on the Board of Director's for the GA State Florists' Association, among a ton of other high level positions, plus she's been featured in Southern Weddings magazine and a bunch of other stuff. She had some pictures of a wedding she did a few years ago with a similar style to what I think we'll end up doing and it really helped to create a visual for me.

GoldenPenguin

I was thankful for the long weekend, but I really don't want to be at work today. Not for any other reason than I want to be lazy on the couch. 

Saturday was BFs birthday - I had to work, but then we went to dinner at our favorite little restaurant. It was nice. 

Sunday we went skiing, because that's what he wanted to do. It was fun - I took a lesson, and my instructor said I was the best in my group, and kept using me as an example because I was "a natural." So that made me feel good. Later in the day, I went down one of the bigger hills with BF, and fell twice, but I came away with all limbs intact, so it was a success in my eyes! I'm still a little sore - I didn't know I had some of these muscles - but I totally want to go again.

Yesterday I was lazy. We did go and buy a new coffee table, which I LOVE. Violet looks skeptical in the picture, but I think she likes it too.

Hummingbird125

Good morning! My day has been crazy busy so far. I drove FI to the train station at 8, then rushed home to finish putting together an Etsy order I'm supposed to ship out by tomorrow. Of course, once I finished getting everything ready to ship I realized that I don't think I have to correct shipping address, so I had to email the customer. At 11am I had a phone interview for a job I think I really, really want. The salary would be lower than I've made in several years, but it's only a 10 minute drive away, and I think I'd be really happy there. My unemployment is supposed to run out in a few weeks, so if I don't get a full time job soon I'm going to have to start tutoring or something part-time to make ends meet. Please keep your fingers crossed for this job for me!

Luckily, I don't think I have to babysit today. While I hate giving up any money, I don't trust my tires in the snow and would prefer to stay put. Unfortunately, we don't have any food here, so I may need to try to make it to the supermarket at the very least. We'll see.

bethsmiles

@Swazzle congrats on your weight loss!

I'm in a grumpy mood today. I have a meeting I need to go to at 10:30 with a member of my thesis committee. I've tried e-mailing him to update him on what I'm doing and where I'm at with the project but I never hear back. I have no idea if he has been getting my e-mails which makes me a little anxious going into the meeting because I changed my method since the last time we spoke in person.

I really not looking forward to seeing one of my co-workers today. He's just an ass all the time and I don't have patience for it anymore. For some reason he is my boss's favorite though so no matter how many of us complain about him, nothing ever happens. I really can't wait until I graduate and leave my university behind. I really hate how poorly things are run in my department and would never recommend that anyone come to this program.

I have plans to go to the gym tonight. I'm going to do cardio and then I'm starting a weights class. I'm hoping it all goes well. I really want to start losing weight.

[Deleted User]

@Brisox81- the coffee table looks great! Violet looks guilty of something lol. She is so cute!

[Deleted User]

@Bethsmiles - Looks like you've already lost 12 lbs! Stay positive. I'm trying to get healthier right now too. I know it's tough to stick with it when you hit a plateau, but if we do we'll be looking HOT by summer!

Blue & White

@swazzle I don't HAVE my invites yet!  BUT I did get a call this morning that the invites (on their fourth printing) FINALLY came in in the right color - these will show up at my mom's tomorrow in theory.  I sure hope they're silver.  I'll pick them up sometime between then and the end of the month and hopefully mail them out the first week in February.  I will AW once I have them

@buddysmom80 My FI is getting SO good with dealing with anxiety attacks since the whole me being in the hospital far too much this summer.  He knows that you have to just talk quietly and/or leave me alone and remind me to breathe.  My mom?  She is getting better (all three of her daughters have panic attacks...) but sometimes I just want to wring her neck.  One time I asked her if my lip was swelling and she goes "OH YEA!" like all nervous sounding.  I of course flipped out.  Then we had a talk about how she has to react more calmly next time haha