Finally, I have a Snow Day! Well, sort of, anyway.
We're having a modest little bit of snow, but very cold temperatures. By this morning, there was about a quarter of an inch of ice coating the sidewalks. The streets were treated and they were mostly OK, but the sidewalks were terrible.
Ed walked to Metro at 4:45 AM because he was flying to California this morning from National Airport. I watched him from the condo window, but I didn't see him fall. He fell just as he rounded the corner out of my line of vision in front of the Metro. He says he is fine, it was very quick and he just jumped up. Luckily, nothing broken!
He made the flight and is now California bound. He text messaged me to let me know that the sidewalks are basically impassible -- do not go out. So, I tried to call my office but no one else was there either. I left a message for my boss letting her know I wouldn't be in. One staff person did come in, out of 6 of us. My boss didn't make it either. Oh Well....I do have to use leave for this day.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Weigh-in at Weight Watchers was fine - I lost 2 lbs. We're getting ready to commit to another 17 week session starting in February. I'm working out now in our Condo gym. (like I did when I lost this weight the last time.) It is really convenient to have the gym in the building. (Hey - something I appreciate about Condo living! Whew!) I'm doing 30 minutes on the elliptical and a strength training circuit. I'm going into my 3rd week of this.
Ed's doctor was pleased, he has lost some weight too!
I'm trying out new foods - such as greek yogurt. I love that stuff.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Note to our Condo Residents
TO: Residents
FROM: Management Office
RE: Break-in last Friday
On Friday, January 16th at about 2:00 a.m., there was a break-in and robbery of a unit here in our condo building. The following message is from the Montgomery County Police Department:
The Montgomery County Police are looking for information as to the identity of the subject in the included photos. The subject entered the elevators of your building at 1:06 a.m. on 01/16/2009, and again at 2:35 a.m. same day. Just prior to entering the elevators a second time, it is believed this subject broke through the front door of a resident's condo, attacked and robbed the residents, and fled on foot. ANYONE who has information about the identity of the subject, OR who observed the subject while inside the building, please contact Detective Dave at xxx-xxx-xxxx.
In addition would like to ask that when in and around our buildings, residents be aware of their surroundings. Be careful of people "piggybacking" behind you through the entrance doors if you do not know who they are. If you see any sort of suspicious activity in the building, please report it to the police immediately. We are still finding doors to units propped open on occasion. If you have lost a key fob in the past, please report it to the management office immediately. We appreciate your efforts toward preventing incidents of this nature in the future.
The attachments were 4 very grainy photos snapped by the tiny camera in our elevators. I could not judge height, and barely can make out that he was a black man with closely cropped hair. Who could identify anyone from that photo?
::heavy sigh::
half a million dollars in real estate
FROM: Management Office
RE: Break-in last Friday
On Friday, January 16th at about 2:00 a.m., there was a break-in and robbery of a unit here in our condo building. The following message is from the Montgomery County Police Department:
The Montgomery County Police are looking for information as to the identity of the subject in the included photos. The subject entered the elevators of your building at 1:06 a.m. on 01/16/2009, and again at 2:35 a.m. same day. Just prior to entering the elevators a second time, it is believed this subject broke through the front door of a resident's condo, attacked and robbed the residents, and fled on foot. ANYONE who has information about the identity of the subject, OR who observed the subject while inside the building, please contact Detective Dave at xxx-xxx-xxxx.
In addition would like to ask that when in and around our buildings, residents be aware of their surroundings. Be careful of people "piggybacking" behind you through the entrance doors if you do not know who they are. If you see any sort of suspicious activity in the building, please report it to the police immediately. We are still finding doors to units propped open on occasion. If you have lost a key fob in the past, please report it to the management office immediately. We appreciate your efforts toward preventing incidents of this nature in the future.
The attachments were 4 very grainy photos snapped by the tiny camera in our elevators. I could not judge height, and barely can make out that he was a black man with closely cropped hair. Who could identify anyone from that photo?
::heavy sigh::
half a million dollars in real estate
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Cold, urban Sunday afternoon
Today it great as far as sunshine, but man is it cold here. I'm freezing.
My husband has a noisy Steven Seagal on the tube. We've been out to Bob's for the Fit from the Farm yogurt crepes. We've stocked up the fridge for the week at Harris Teeter. Ed will probably end up flying to California on Wednesday for a meeting in Palo Alto.
I'm reading: Sunset Magazine: Living in the West; skimming Oprah which is increasingly filled with too many glossy ads to be valuable.
I'm eating: dark chocolate Cocoa Roast Almonds and drinking diet Fresca Black Cherry Citrus, sparkling flavored soda.
I've worked out in our gym every day this week and last. Weight Watchers is tomorrow, and I think it will be a good weigh-in. I feel good.
My H will need to finalize his transfer documents at work this Monday or Tuesday...at least some of the documents. This will be a complicated process. We have to make decisions about when the actual move of household goods will occur...in a month, in two months, in 2 years....shoot, it is difficult decisions. We have to elect which parts of the relocation package to accept. Each part of the decision process will have consequences and it is hard to know which to accept and which to reject. I'm grateful to have choices, but these are difficult choices that will have long term impact on the quality of my life.
I keep reminding myself, Part of getting what you want - is to know what you will have to give up to get it. I know we loved living in No. Cal. But this is going to be a tough couple of years, with an unknown and unknowable end in sight. That's where part of the stress comes in.
::heavy sigh::
I think I'll go bug Ed to make some soup for dinner. and turn the TV to my soaps. ;)
My husband has a noisy Steven Seagal on the tube. We've been out to Bob's for the Fit from the Farm yogurt crepes. We've stocked up the fridge for the week at Harris Teeter. Ed will probably end up flying to California on Wednesday for a meeting in Palo Alto.
I'm reading: Sunset Magazine: Living in the West; skimming Oprah which is increasingly filled with too many glossy ads to be valuable.
I'm eating: dark chocolate Cocoa Roast Almonds and drinking diet Fresca Black Cherry Citrus, sparkling flavored soda.
I've worked out in our gym every day this week and last. Weight Watchers is tomorrow, and I think it will be a good weigh-in. I feel good.
My H will need to finalize his transfer documents at work this Monday or Tuesday...at least some of the documents. This will be a complicated process. We have to make decisions about when the actual move of household goods will occur...in a month, in two months, in 2 years....shoot, it is difficult decisions. We have to elect which parts of the relocation package to accept. Each part of the decision process will have consequences and it is hard to know which to accept and which to reject. I'm grateful to have choices, but these are difficult choices that will have long term impact on the quality of my life.
I keep reminding myself, Part of getting what you want - is to know what you will have to give up to get it. I know we loved living in No. Cal. But this is going to be a tough couple of years, with an unknown and unknowable end in sight. That's where part of the stress comes in.
::heavy sigh::
I think I'll go bug Ed to make some soup for dinner. and turn the TV to my soaps. ;)
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Inauguration Day 2009
Because we work in the DC region, and are Federal employees, we had the day off today.
We stayed in our condo and watched the whole day of live coverage of the Presidential Inauguration of Barack Obama. I think it is a good day to be an American. We all have such high hopes for the future of this president and the future of the USA.
We thought about going to attend the event in person, but there were so many warnings about the transit into the District, crowds expected in the millions, so we just opted to stay home. I must admit we stood on our balcony and watched the metro...it didn't look too crowded to us, but then it was getting back that might have presented a problem.
That, and the fact that it was about 14 degrees. And windy.
We had planned to be in WV watching this on the tube with family. We both would have liked that better, but the fates decreed that was not to be.
We started for WV Monday morning, looking forward to seeing Mom especially and many others we care about. We drove about 35-40 miles and stopped at Bob Evans for brunch. They were a bit slow, and I took an extra bit of time in the ladies room in anticipation of the long ride ahead.
We no sooner got out of Frederick than traffic ahead of us came to an abrupt halt. It was snowing pretty hard, and I had been bitching about driving conditions. We were able to stop OK, and traffic behind us soon piled up also...emergency vehicles came up on the shoulder. Within a few minutes it became obvious we were being routed off the I-70 West and not permitted to re-enter. After a little vigorous debate, we turned back toward Bethesda.
We later found out there was a large multi car crash, that resulted in two deaths and multiple injuries. Apparently the sluggish service at Bob Evans saved us.
The traffic here is always horrendous, sometimes worse. I have grown to hate that drive, unless it is done in perfect weather between 10AM and 3PM on slow traffic days. Traffic here is usually bad clear up I-270; then I-70 to Hagerstown. Sometimes it gets better after we get through Hagerstown.
In the last year since Mom's stroke, I've made the trip more than 20 times. Round trip, that is an 8 hour drive. Initially we were going every weekend from Feb. though sometime in May, then we cut back to every other weekend. I've been working extra hours to accumulate time off I could use every other Friday. We just could not go on this way. It's not just the WV long weekends.
In addition to the many trips to WV in 2008, Ed also had trips to more than 20 different cities, including but not limited to:
Tampa
Sacramento,
Las Vegas,
Palo Alto,
Biloxi,
West Palm Beach,
New Orleans,
Phoenix,
Anchorage,
the list goes on. On the plus side, I was able to go on a few of Ed's trips with him. He is now.... make that WE..... are now coping with the fact that he has accepted the California job. Which is good and bad. I have a job here. I've worked hard too, getting my graduate degree and moving up in my profession. I am not ready to give it up. (Nor should I be expected to.) Although I have given up professional positions for his career moves in 1989, 1992, and again in 2005. Sometimes I think, Hey, enough already! But, I like California. I like Ed (most of the time.) It just feels like the timing is off. I still need to be close to Mom. Real estate is in the dumper and we will definitely lose $$$ if we sell the condo now. I know its not all about the zorta, but I sure would hate to lose our lifetime of real estate profit, and I only lose if I sell now. It is a difficult choice, and like an interesting diamond, has many facets.
Whew, talk about a lack of life balance. One of my main theories of life happiness is prioritizing family and having plenty of family time. Doesn't seem to be working for me right now. I'll have to work on that.
On the optimistic side, Cancun is just less than 60 days away! Quality time with my kids! Yay!
My work on Weight Watchers continues to go well. We didn't weigh in this Monday, Federal Holiday. I lost 1.2 lbs last weigh in. I've decided to up the ante a bit, and I'm using the gym our condo building. I've been doing some strength training, and 30 minutes daily on the elliptical. I have a goal of losing 10 lbs by the time we go to Cancun. I'm part way there. I feel good about my healthier habits and my efforts to build a new, better lifestyle. I think my motivation will enable this to be a permanent change for me. I feel good about this way of eating. I feel better than I have since we moved here.
And for that, I am truly grateful.
We stayed in our condo and watched the whole day of live coverage of the Presidential Inauguration of Barack Obama. I think it is a good day to be an American. We all have such high hopes for the future of this president and the future of the USA.
We thought about going to attend the event in person, but there were so many warnings about the transit into the District, crowds expected in the millions, so we just opted to stay home. I must admit we stood on our balcony and watched the metro...it didn't look too crowded to us, but then it was getting back that might have presented a problem.
That, and the fact that it was about 14 degrees. And windy.
We had planned to be in WV watching this on the tube with family. We both would have liked that better, but the fates decreed that was not to be.
We started for WV Monday morning, looking forward to seeing Mom especially and many others we care about. We drove about 35-40 miles and stopped at Bob Evans for brunch. They were a bit slow, and I took an extra bit of time in the ladies room in anticipation of the long ride ahead.
We no sooner got out of Frederick than traffic ahead of us came to an abrupt halt. It was snowing pretty hard, and I had been bitching about driving conditions. We were able to stop OK, and traffic behind us soon piled up also...emergency vehicles came up on the shoulder. Within a few minutes it became obvious we were being routed off the I-70 West and not permitted to re-enter. After a little vigorous debate, we turned back toward Bethesda.
We later found out there was a large multi car crash, that resulted in two deaths and multiple injuries. Apparently the sluggish service at Bob Evans saved us.
The traffic here is always horrendous, sometimes worse. I have grown to hate that drive, unless it is done in perfect weather between 10AM and 3PM on slow traffic days. Traffic here is usually bad clear up I-270; then I-70 to Hagerstown. Sometimes it gets better after we get through Hagerstown.
In the last year since Mom's stroke, I've made the trip more than 20 times. Round trip, that is an 8 hour drive. Initially we were going every weekend from Feb. though sometime in May, then we cut back to every other weekend. I've been working extra hours to accumulate time off I could use every other Friday. We just could not go on this way. It's not just the WV long weekends.
In addition to the many trips to WV in 2008, Ed also had trips to more than 20 different cities, including but not limited to:
Tampa
Sacramento,
Las Vegas,
Palo Alto,
Biloxi,
West Palm Beach,
New Orleans,
Phoenix,
Anchorage,
the list goes on. On the plus side, I was able to go on a few of Ed's trips with him. He is now.... make that WE..... are now coping with the fact that he has accepted the California job. Which is good and bad. I have a job here. I've worked hard too, getting my graduate degree and moving up in my profession. I am not ready to give it up. (Nor should I be expected to.) Although I have given up professional positions for his career moves in 1989, 1992, and again in 2005. Sometimes I think, Hey, enough already! But, I like California. I like Ed (most of the time.) It just feels like the timing is off. I still need to be close to Mom. Real estate is in the dumper and we will definitely lose $$$ if we sell the condo now. I know its not all about the zorta, but I sure would hate to lose our lifetime of real estate profit, and I only lose if I sell now. It is a difficult choice, and like an interesting diamond, has many facets.
Whew, talk about a lack of life balance. One of my main theories of life happiness is prioritizing family and having plenty of family time. Doesn't seem to be working for me right now. I'll have to work on that.
On the optimistic side, Cancun is just less than 60 days away! Quality time with my kids! Yay!
My work on Weight Watchers continues to go well. We didn't weigh in this Monday, Federal Holiday. I lost 1.2 lbs last weigh in. I've decided to up the ante a bit, and I'm using the gym our condo building. I've been doing some strength training, and 30 minutes daily on the elliptical. I have a goal of losing 10 lbs by the time we go to Cancun. I'm part way there. I feel good about my healthier habits and my efforts to build a new, better lifestyle. I think my motivation will enable this to be a permanent change for me. I feel good about this way of eating. I feel better than I have since we moved here.
And for that, I am truly grateful.
Friday, January 09, 2009
So what are you doing today?
Most interesting news item: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-marine-conservationjan07,0,439698.story
Enjoying: listening to NPR at work
Eating: Kiwi
Drinking: Venti Skinny Vanilla Latte
Working on: Setting up the plan for 2009 evaluation committee for computers and electronics at work. Also, today is the deadline for turning in my list of 2008 accomplishments to my boss.
Latest Movie I actually went out to see: Milk
Movies I have missed that I want to see: Secret Life of Bees; Gran Torino (Clint Eastwood); Cadillac Records.
Reading: Dewey, The Library Cat
Looking forward to reading: Three Rivers (story of the Amazon near Peru)
This is a kind of sequel to River of Doubt -about Teddy Roosevelt's adventure exploration of the Amazon.
Also enjoying that Ed drove me to work today and we stopped at Starbucks where I was lucky enough to buy him a Venti Earl Grey. ::She Smiles::
Enjoying: listening to NPR at work
Eating: Kiwi
Drinking: Venti Skinny Vanilla Latte
Working on: Setting up the plan for 2009 evaluation committee for computers and electronics at work. Also, today is the deadline for turning in my list of 2008 accomplishments to my boss.
Latest Movie I actually went out to see: Milk
Movies I have missed that I want to see: Secret Life of Bees; Gran Torino (Clint Eastwood); Cadillac Records.
Reading: Dewey, The Library Cat
Looking forward to reading: Three Rivers (story of the Amazon near Peru)
This is a kind of sequel to River of Doubt -about Teddy Roosevelt's adventure exploration of the Amazon.
Also enjoying that Ed drove me to work today and we stopped at Starbucks where I was lucky enough to buy him a Venti Earl Grey. ::She Smiles::
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)