You Know it's Fall in Minnesota When....
When you log into Facebook and notice that all of your local friends have pretty much the same comment....

"Woke up to frost on the grass!"

"Had to scrape the windshield this morning!"

"Needed to scrape my windshield and couldn't find the scraper. Had to use a credit card instead"

"Had to dig out the gloves this morning. Hats and scarves will be next."

I don't know what would give it away that it was chilly here this morning? Do you?

Anyone Got a Tweezer?
I've written before about the fact that I ride the bus to work. For those that take mass transit, you learn that there are "regulars" who ride the bus the same time you do.


It is not uncommon to know exactly where someone departs the bus once you get downtown. This proves to be especially helpful when you fall asleep on the bus and your stop is approaching.


Like I would know what that's like.


Anyway, the other day I'm on the bus and as we are departing the bus at my stop, one of the regular riders (who gets off at my stop too) hands me a flyer and says, "Here! You should come!" As she hands me a flyer she starts rooting around in her bag and pulls out a stack of business cards and hands me one of those too.


I made my way to the Caribou for a coffee and as I'm standing in line waiting for my coffee drink I look at the flyer & business card still in my hand and began to read it.


As I did, my eyes grew wide.


You're Invited to a Threading Party


Never heard of threading? Here's the definition: A cotton thread is pulled along unwanted hair in a twisting motion, to trap hair in a mini lasso, and lifts hair right out of the follicle.


I about died.

And immediately headed for the nearest bathroom to see if I had grown something.
Like a moustache.
Or beard.
Or goatee.

My Quest to be PW Squared....
If you haven't heard, I love the Pioneer Woman.

Love her.
Want to move in next door to her.
Want to cook with her.
Want to swoon over cowboys who push cattle and say "yes ma'am"
Want to cuddle up to her basset hound, Charlie

If you don't head over there, you have no idea what you're missing. Click the link on my side bar--on the right. Over there -------------------->

Anyway, PW (as she's known to us who stalk her read her blog) is a pretty darn good photographer too. On her site, she has tutorials for working photos in Photoshop. When I think of Photoshop I think of graphic design and marketing. Makes me feel very tech savvy...

Well, my gal-pal Tracy and I went in together and bought Photoshop. We are determined to learn how to have fancy, schmancy photos like PW.

The best part? Photoshop is easily $1000. Yes. That's thousand, not hundred. It's not cheap. But because we work for an online school we are allowed to buy software from our bookstore for super cheap. We were able to get photoshop for less than $200. WOOO!

Look out, PW. We'll have photos like yours soon.

Well. As soon as we figure it out.
And take a class.
And buy an instruction book.

I Suddenly Have the Urge to Run.....
Why is it that every time I watch the Biggest Loser I want to get up off the couch and run a 5K race?

I haven't run since 10th grade gym class.
Wait. No. There was that time at camp where there was a severe storm coming across the lake and I was asked to get back to the office to check the weather. I do recall running across camp. And collapsing in a heap on my desk.

Anyway....I wonder how many people are motivated to get up off the couch and move after seeing that show? I'm sure there are quite a few. As my best friend, Julie says, "...if a 400 pound man can run on a treadmill for 10 minutes, so can I."

There you go.

And speaking of running, if you have some time (because the post is quite long), Fletch completed his 24 hour run last weekend. If you remember, Fletch is a camp dude who wanted to raise money and awareness for Winston--a special needs child of two other camp folks Jennifer & Chris Bertrand. If Jennifer's name sounds familiar, it should! She's the HGTV Design Star from last season!

Anyway, you can read about the run here. In a word: AMAZING.

CFAB has never been more true

CFAB: Camp Friends Are Best (pronounced SEE-FAB)

Edited to add: Thank you for all of your wonderful encouragement! So fun to read all of your comments! You are all the best!


The Infamous Diane Keaton Photo. Revealed....
Did you know I met Diane Keaton?

Yes! I did. Read about it here.

Got a photo with her too.

Oh. You never saw it? Ahhhh, yes. That's right. I didn't show it, did I. I believe I said something about being a fatty patty and wouldn't show that photo. Granted, anyone standing next to a size 2 woman in a fabulous black and white polka dot skirt, would look big.

But, kids. I looked like a B-I-G P-I-G.

It was after that photo that I decided it was time to get back on track and start taking care of myself. As any big girl will tell you--we've had our ups and downs with our weight. There are the "big years" (for me that would be 1997-2004). There would be the "smaller years" (that would be 2004 - 2007). And there are the years where we make our way back to the "big years" (2007 to present).

When I taught (2005 to 2007) I was active. Literally. I was moving around the classroom, I was running to my office every 20 minutes. Up steps. Down steps. To the copier. To the printer. To the student raising their hand.

But when I moved to advising, I ended up behind a desk. Guess what I found at that desk? Twenty eight pounds. Oh yes I did. Twenty eight big ol' pounds. It doesn't help that people bring in all kinds of goodies and we have a party for everything. I have zero self control and feel the need to tell people how good their dessert, treat or goodie is.

Damn office politics.

Anyway, after going wedding dress shopping, and seeing the stellar photos on the camera phone, I realized that either the dressing room mirror was designed to make me think I was a runway model or I was just out of my mind because I had not had coffee at that point. Let's face it folks. The camera doesn't lie. I looked so-so. My BFF will say differently (she'll say I looked fab. God I love her). But really, it boils down to this. I was not happy. At all. Not one bit.

I decided to take matters into my own hands. I joined Weight Watchers. Again. For the 4th time in my life.

Yep. I did.
And I'm just now telling people. Truth be told, I've only told 4 people. Why? Because I didn't want the proverbial question of "So....can you have that on Weight Watchers?"

I know people are just asking to learn about the program, but for the love of Pete, is it just me or when you're watching what you eat do people seem to then really start to notice what you're eating? And ask questions? Almost like you have a big, fat, blinking sign above your head that reads, Yes! I'm losing weight! Yes, I can eat this! Please stop staring at me and my food.

To date, I've lost 20 of that 28 pounds.
My goal, by the wedding in May is to lose that remaining 8 and 15 more.
My goal, by the reception in September is to lose another 10.

What is different this time? Easy. I had the desire to change. Yes, this is my 4th time at Weight Watchers. The first time, I lost about 20 pounds. But my then boyfriend and I were on the rocks, so I gained it back. I then joined 2 other times, but I was not into it. I had no desire to count points, measure food portions, drink water. Blah blah blah. Yes, looking good in a wedding dress is part of it, but the wedding is just one day. I want to be healthy. I want to be strong. I also want to stop shopping in the plus size department. The Big Guy has mentioned that he wants to be a former Big Guy. You can't make someone change, and the Big Guy knows that when he's ready, I'm here. Love is good that way.

Besides, you can't change someone (including yourself) unless you're ready to do so. My ex tried to do that to me.

That is why he's my ex.
Ahem.

Here is the Diane Keaton photo to give you a "true" before photo.... (OK....it's says "PROOF". Obviously that is a "photography proof" not "proof you're fat"...working on a "non proof" photo.)



The first series of afters will be in the next few weeks when our engagement photos are up for sharing!

The New Amy's Angels Site....
OK. There is a little something to share.

After an impromptu team meeting the Friday before Labor Day (read: Amy and I at lunch), we decided to create a team site for our 3-day team.

Wanna check it out? Click here to see it

Now. The big question is: anyone know how to create a drop down menu much like this site? See how you can roll over her header bars and get a drop down? I want that, but have no idea how to do it and people who do know how charge way, way, way too much money.

I think I'm in the wrong business!

I Got Nothin'.....
I feel like I am fresh out of ideas to blog about. Ever feel that way?

Wedding stuff is at a stand still. So, nada.

The Big Guy took the new camera out with his buddies for the annual Gun Day and he left it in his friends car. ahem. So, can't take any photos.

I don't blog about work. So, nothing there. Though there could be stuff. But I won't.

I'd write about what a &$%@*^!# Kanye West (I don't even think I spelled it right. Whatev's) was at the VMA's, but everyone is doing that.

Blah blah blah.
Yadda Yadda Yadda.

Nothin'.....

Come to Mama....

During the 3-day, I broke the Big Guy's little point and shoot camera. I thought the strap was around my wrist. It wasn't. Next thing I know, I'm picking up batteries off the sidewalk.

That's what happens when you go to high-five someone during closing ceremonies.

I brought his camera because my camera is a film camera. You know. The old kind of camera?

Anyway, I confessed to the Big Guy the other day that the camera is dead.

Done.

Finished.

Adios.

See ya' later, gator.

We talked about cameras and after a little research we decided on this.

Hello, lover.

Where have you been all my life?

Tracy--we need to think about some photography classes, sister! I need to work on channeling my inner Pioneer Woman.

UPDATED TO ADD: Check out the few photos I've taken. Nothing "fancy" but I love, love, LOVE the sharpness! So worth it!

The decorative towels in my kitchen that my mom made for me.

I have these land grants that my grandma had hanging in the living room. I've reframed them and have them hanging in our living room. This photo was taken from across the room!

Recognize the signature? That would be President Harrison, our 23rd President!

The tomatoes after the rain this evening. You can count the water droplets and see the "plant hair" on the branches!

Back Where I Come From....

There is a poem that was created a while ago at camp that talks about "where I'm from". This isn't a "where I'm from" in regards to cities and states or countries. It's about what aspects of camp make me who I am.

This weekend, I got to spend Saturday at Camp Lincoln & Camp Lake Hubert for their 100th Anniversary Celebration. As I was there, parts of this poem came to mind.

Like....

I am from long dirt paths that lead from cabin to cabin

I am from the lake that glistened and danced when the sun kicked the clouds out of the sky and that could roar and charge when the winds howled

From where the sounds of the halyards hitting the masts is mesmerizing.

From the boats which let me float across the water, from the canoes that let me glide and the horses that let me fly

From constant laughter so much my belly hurt

From found energy when I was convinced that I had none left

From where as a grown-up I remembered how to be me
From where I learned the most valuable lessons and where the people I love most are
I am from forever friendships

From a place that even when I am no longer there, I know that my heart will always be.

Thanks for a great weekend everyone!

This weekend....
While you're celebrating the last weekend of summer, I'll be here.....

More to come Monday.

CFAB!