Not Exactly Love...

But sometimes...they almost look like they love each other...

!@#$%@!#$#%$@$!#&^&%$

Pink eye is a mother f***ing b*tch

!@#$%@!#$#%$@$!#&^&%$

My eyes are so swollen that it is painful to even blink. The "goo" has completely stopped, and now they are just insanely swollen and tender. I kid you not, I look like an actual alien. Not only is the skin all around my eyes swollen, but the actual lining of my eyeballs is swollen too. It's completely disgusting. The eye drops I got from Kaiser don't provide any relief at all. I'm hoping they are still helping...even if I can't feel it.

Pink eye causes a super sensitivity to light that makes it difficult to do much of anything. Both watching TV and messing around on the computer give me a headache after 20 minutes or so. Even now, I've got the brightness on the screen turned down as low as it can go.

It would be nice to just sleep, but every time I do the swelling gets even worse. Reading is out too...that just causes more pain. So here I am, with plenty of down time, two ten page papers due in just two weeks, and no ability to actually work on them.

I tried to do some crafty stuff and managed to pump out two pillow cases last night (yes, I intend to wash them). Unfortunately, the sewing projects need a lot of bending down, which send blood to my head, which makes the swollen areas hurt like a bitch.

I've never been through this before and I hope to never go through it again.

How long does this shit last? I've already missed 2 classes this week because of it. Furthermore, I don't have a replacement, and I've got to go to work tomorrow night. I hope the swelling is at least down enough by tomorrow to teach my class.

Worst case scenario, I suppose I can wear my sunglasses...pretend I'm a movie star.

I PASSED!

This is the email I just received:

Hi Kristin,

I hope your pink eyes can read this:

You passed your first year comprehensive exam! Glenn would like you to talk
with him about your responses to the ethics/legal section, so please make an
appointment to talk with him, but only when you are doing better.

Congrats!

Annabel

WOOHOO! What the second part means is there may have been a tiny detail I left out or did not elaborate enough on that they want to make sure I know. No big deal. Either way, I passed!

Pink Eye

So I woke up this morning with my right eye swollen really badly. This is not that new for me....for whatever reason, if I cry before going to bed, I always wake up with eyelids swollen so bad they are nearly level with the level of your eyebrows and forehead. I thought that maybe since I've been sick that my eyes watered in my sleep and caused them to swell.

So, I got ready anyway and did my best to disguise the now minimal swelling with makeup. I had a big psychopharmacology exam this morning, so I didn't have a choice to miss.

Throughout the course of the exam, my eye continued to water and started seeping yummy green goo. Then, my left eye started it too. It isn't as swolen or irritated, but green goo isn't normal, which means it's in that eye too.

I called kaiser and waited on hold for 30 friggin minutes because of all this swine flu crap. They finally went, "yep, that sounds like pink eye" (which took like a minute to determine) and said that I didn't even need to go in. They are going to have a perscription sent to the pharmacy for me to pick up in a few hours.

Needless to say, I will not be attending my afternoon class. I guess with pink eye, you are highly contageous for 24 hours after starting the meds. I'm going to email my clinic professor now to see if she wants me in seeing clients tomorrow.

I think that means I'm gonna have to throw out all my eye makeup too. Poop.

Guess I'm on house arrest for the next 24 hours! Good thing I just went grocery shopping yesterday...

I feel terrible because Baby keeps trying to snuggle with me and I don't want to pass this nastyness along to her. Last thing I can afford is a big vet bill. But how to you explain this to a cat that wants to cuddle so bad? poor thing.

Oh, and I was kind enough to spare you pictures of the "greenish goo" coming out of my eyeballs. Sexy, I know.

Swine Flu

People are going WAY TOO CRAZY for this whole swine flu thing. Last night, I saw a report talking about how there were 9 confirmed cases in Canada. They then proceeded to show the entire country light up bright red like it was some kind of pandemic.

Really? You're going to light the whole country up for 9 friggin cases? Get real.

Not only that, but for every couple of confirmed cases in the US, they were lighting up entire states...I don't think an entire state needs to be lit up bright red for 2 confirmed cases.

I'm not saying don't keep yourself safe, but really...don't get caught up in all this over dramatization. We have a pretty good health care system here in the US and so far, no one here has died from it. Even if there are some deaths, it's important to remember that 35,000 people a year die from the regular flu.

Stay clean, stay healthy, and go see your doctor if you have flusish symptom. Seriously, we'll all be fine.

Vet Visit

So I got Tawny loaded into the carrier and took her to the vet this morning. I was hoping to schedule an appointment when Brian was off so I could have some help getting her little wiggly worm body into the carrier, but our schedules are so opposite that it would have had to wait another 2 days. I didn't know if she was in any pain, and didn't want to make her wait just in case.

So, I took the carrier out a few days ago to get them used to it. This morning, I threw a toy in right before it was time to leave and she ran right in after it. Easy peasy lemon squeezey.

She CRIED and CRIED and CRIED the whole way there. I'm actually pretty glad Brian wasn't there because he hates it when they are scared and crying. I'm totally gonna have to be the parent that takes our kids to the emergency room, lol.

She was scared and kept trying to hide through the whole exam. They loved her though because apparently it is rare to have a female orange tabby? They kept saying she looked like a creamsicle:-)

SO, they clipped her nails, gave her a rabies shot, and administered a deworming pill. They also gave me another pill to give her 2 weeks from now. They had me bring in a stool sample so they could analyze it and make sure she doesn't have any other issues going on.... I'll find out tomorrow if everything is ok, or if we need to take her back in.

$156 dollars...ouch!

She was very happy to come home and be let out of the carier. She's only been home for 2 hours and she is already back to her normal behavior. As I'm typing this, I'm watching her throw one of her toys in her water dish and then fish it back out. lol.

97 in April?!?

I've got to say...I'm certainly not ready for the heat just yet. My apartment felt like it was ON FIRE today when it reached 97 degrees in the middle of friggin April. This is the kind of weather Brian and I so eloquently refer to as "Ball Soup." I don't think I need to elaborate on that one...

I know the cats are feeling it too. Usually they wake me up around 6am when they start playing/fighting with one another. It was so hot that they both slept right on through the morning.
Not only that but I usually put Tawny's toys away in a little box each night only to wake up to find them scattered. It was so hot that all the toys were still in the box this morning.

Although I must say....I originally thought that having a giant window right behind my bed was a downside to this apartment. HOWEVER...with no AC on a 97 degree day, it is rather nice to lay in bed with a window fan blowing cool air in from outside right behind your head. I'm digging this.

In other news, it looks like Tawny will have to go to the vet. She pooped outside of her box today (which she has never done) and there was some blood in it. There is obviously something not right about this, and I have made an appointment for her to go in first thing Thursday morning.
Hopefully it is nothing more than some kind of tummy parasite or something else relatively minor. Maybe this will also explain why her number two's smell so incredibly foul. Seriously...it's like the worst ever.
Once again, I don't think I need to elaborate more on this point.

And on that note, I'll post more when I know the details.

Lazy Saturday

Happy Birthday Baby!

My baby turned 27 today! We opened his presents at midnight, slept in till 9:30, and then I took him out to breakfast this morning.

I tried to make fun of him for being old, but he turned it around and told me "well yea, but in woman years you're way older than I am."

At breakfast, he told me that I should "ask for the senior citizen discount."

That quick witted little snot...

That's why I love him:)

It's too bad I can't spend the whole day with him :( I had to have him go home around 12:30 so I could work on the numerous assignments due tonight and tomorrow. BUT, he's going to dinner with his family while I am in class tonight, so that should be fun for him :)

I was going to make him a cake but between the whole no bake cheesecake Holly made him, and the half of a no bake cheesecake and apple pie we were forced to bring home from Easter, I figured that would likely be a sugar overload. Maybe I'll wait a week or two and then make it for him.

Happy Birthday My Love!

I Made It!

I made it through my comps!

AND...

I feel like I did REALLY well!

I'll find out for sure in 2-4 weeks...stay tuned!

Since I now have permission...

I can share this image from the wedding. love, love, LOVE it! Click to see it full sized.


Thanks Brittany!

Yes, my eggs wear hats...

Even at the age of 25, I still love dying Easter eggs.



My big exam is in two days, and I still made time to dye some eggs :)

It All Makes Sense Now..

Is this her way of telling me she needs new toys?

This is a photo of my kitty holding on to and rabbit kicking A BAG OF WHEELS.


These wheels WERE in my closet (they go to some big plastic 3 drawer dressers.) I watched her carry them from room to room like prey, and was able to snap a shot of her trying to "kill" them.

She has since decided she is bored with them, and left them in the middle of my living room to go spend time in the window.



I now understand why, when I come home from a long day at work or school, my apartment sometimes feels messier than it was when I left....

Why Did I Do This To Myself?

The exam is coming up this Friday and I'm majorly stressing to memorize everything I need to in order to fully diagnose an adult and child client and come up with ways to treat them. It is SO much information to know by heart. I'm finding that the more I memorize, the more the stuff I memorized in the beginning starts to fade...even if I knew it really well before.

The sleepless nights have begun. Not so much because I'm up all night studying, more so because I want this exam to be over. I'm sitting here now struggling to remember the criteria for all of the mood disorders I covered today. I need to know them better than this so I can move on to anxiety, personality, eating, and child disorders.

Speaking of anxiety, I think the reason I am so freaked out is because every year, about 10% do not pass. I know I am a very intelligent individual, but I am only 1 of 3 who also keeps a job while in the program. While I get very good grades, when my scores are looked at in comparison to the other 12 people, mine are consistently in the bottom half. I don't have the time to devote to studying relentlessly like others do.

The good news is that if I don't pass one (or both) sections, I have one chance to retry. Unfortunately, the retry is with an entirely different exam, but at least you get another chance. If you fail the 2nd time, you're out of the program entirely.

I can't imagine what I would do if that happened, and am trying not to think about that possibility. Trying isn't so successful though. I should have been asleep an hour ago...

My diet is SO COMPLETELY on pause this week. The last thing I want to stress about is points at a time like this.

DISCLAIMER:

To all my blog readers (all like...2 of you, lol) who I happen to come into contact with this week:

I am likely going to be super self-absorbed, high-strung, and maybe even a little bitchy. Furthermore, please do not expect me to apologize for my behavior, as I will be too self-absorbed to even notice it.

Thank you.

Bad Timing

Why is it that people ALWAYS happen to knock on my door when I'm sitting around in my bath robe?

I don't get a lot of visitors...nor do I spend a lot of time lounging around in my bath robe.

Nevertheless, whenever people come over is right at this time.

Go figure.

Weight Watchers

Both times I have done the weight watchers program, I have done it on my own. Not everyone likes the idea of going to meetings every week to be "weighed in" in front of a bunch of strangers.
It can be done very easily on your own, as long as you understand the program, and have the desire to follow through with your weight loss plan.

I figured I would post a blog on all the information I have about the weight watchers points program. You can very easily find the weight watchers starter kits on Ebay for around $40-60. These kits are going to include the dining out companion with point values for many common fast food items, the complete food companion with many other common food items, a food journal, and a points calculator. While these things are very nice to have, they are not necessary if you are willing to put in a little extra leg work.

Getting to know the program:

With this program, it’s pretty basic. Find your points range according to your current weight. All food has a point value. Stay with in your daily points range with the foods you choose. Choose your food wisely.

Points

Current Weight = Daily Points Range

less than 150 = 20

150-174 = 22

175-199 = 24

200-224 = 26

225-249 = 28

250-274 = 30

275-299 = 31

300-324 = 32

325-349 = 33

more than 350 = 34

This would the be Points Per day you would want to eat. You really don’t want to go below your range according to your weight. You can go below everyone once in a while, but if it happens too often you may prevent your self from losing weight, you body will store everything you eat in "starvation mode.”

I really do recommend journaling your food every day when you begin the program. You can easily create your own little log like this:

Food Points Balance (starting with 20)

1.5 cup Cereal 2 18

1 cup Milk 2 16

Chicken noodle Soup 4 12

Caesar Salad 7 5

Smart Ones Ravioli 5 0

Water 4 bottles

This allows you to keep track of everything you have eaten for the day and helps to remind you to stay within your points. You will find that the longer you have been on the program, the less you will have to log, but I really think it is necessary to do it when you are using the program for the first time.

Water is very important. Always be sure to drink the equivalent to 4 16.9oz bottles of water each day. I cannot say enough how important this is. No matter how much you are sticking to the points, if you are dehydrated, you will not lose easily.

Time is also important. I usually try to eat my meal within the 6'oclock hour, and have my last snack by 8. You want to make sure that when you go to bed, your body has had enough time beforehand to digest the food you ate earlier. Remember that more sleep is associated with more weight loss! Try your best to get those 7-8 hours in!

How to Calculate Points

The three most important components when you are on the weight watchers program are calories, fat, and fiber. If you have invested in a weight watchers calculator, you can compute this very easy. If you are like me and decided to save the money, you can figure out points with a few small calculations.

Calories: divide the total calories by 50

plus

Fat: total fat divided by 12

minus

Fiber: total fiber divided by 5

In other words, that's (calories/50) + (fat/12) - (fiber/5)

Whatever the final number is, you may need to round up or down to the nearest points value. If it is .4 or below, go ahead and round down. it is .5 or above, round up.(e.g. 3.2 would be 3 points while 3.6 would be 4 points)

Here is an example:

Calories = 100 --> 100/50 = 2

Fat=12 --> 12/12 = 1

Fiber = 5 --> 5/5 = 1

SO..... calories plus fat minus fiber is 2 points.

As you can see...FIBER IS YOUR FRIEND!

Exercise

If you are going to exercise, you can earn extra points with exercise. You MUST factor in exercise, or else you are in danger of eating too few points. A safe guesstimate is about 1 point for every 20 minutes of exercise where you’re a bit winded; you should be able to still talk. Start off small if you have moved around in a while. Don’t go out and kill yourself, find something you enjoy. Many of you have cell phones, if you have unlimited minutes grab your phone walk out the door and call a friend or family member and catch up, you be amazed at how fast that time will go by and you killed 2 birds with one stone. Some people have malls that encourage walkers. If you want it, you will find a way.

To be quite honest, I haven't exercised much at all while on the program. But on the days I do go to the gym, I always add on about 2 pts extra to eat that day.

Fast Food, Eating Out, and being out without snacks

Over time, you will find things at each place that you can eat without feeling guilty. You can still have these things, but make sure to utilize the websites to find out how many points are in the items you want. Just know that if you decide to go have that double decker taco at Taco Bell, you are probably going to have to shave a few points off in other places throught the day.

For me, I have found that getting the grilled chicken sandwich from McDonalds is quite yummy. I usually order it plain and put a little ketchup on it to avoid the extra 5 points in mayo. For a side, you can order the apple dippers off the dollar menu. They are good, and save a TON of points that you would consume if you had chosen french fries.

I also like Wendys because they too offer a grilled chicken sandwich and will allow you to substitute french fries for a baked potato or a side salad.

Subway is also a good pick. I'd suggest always going for wheat bread, and making sure to use little to no mayo. Mustard is pretty much "free" so if you like it, slather it on! Oh, and always pick Subway over togos. Their bread oh so delicious but is oh so terrible for you!

If you like fresh tomatoes and salsa, Taco Bell has some good substitutions that allow you to swap the beans and other junk for lettuce and fresh salsa.

In all honesty, while it is ok to go nuts every once and a while and get something "diet unfriendly" off the menu, you will often find that the points you spend were not worth it when you are hungry again just 2 hours later.

It is always a good idea to have some kind of granola bar or other portable snack in your purse. I like to carry around those fiber one bars, or buy fruit in bulk and divide it into little snack size portions. My fruits of choice are apples, grapes and strawberries. Baby carrots also travel well. Having these healty snacks on hand can save a lot of guilt, an will allow you to pass up that candy bar in the grocery store aisle. Also, the more water you drink, the less you will find that you want to consume snacks during the day. DRINK YOUR MINIMUM OF 4 BOTTLES!

Snacking

I mentioned this before, but I love to buy strawberries and grapes, wash them, cut/pick off and put them in little individual baggies in the fridge. Let's face it, when a snack craving hits, the last thing you want to have to do is pull out fruit and do all that crap to it. By taking 10 minutes or so to do this when you get back from the grocery store, you now have quick individual snacks you can pull out of the fridge at a moment notice. Add some lowfat vanilla yogurt those fresh strawberries and you've got an even more delicious snack!

I also LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the 100 calorie packs of popcorn. They are surprisingly filling and come in both regular and kettle korn flavors. These make sure that you don't over eat, and are very yummy. My boyfriend loves to have one too whenever I do :)

I also like to take jello fat free/sugar free pudding mix (especially chocolate) and mix it with some fat free milk. I then pour it into 3 small little tupperware dishes before it sets, and put it in the fridge. This makes a nice snack to satiate a sweet tooth. Add some fresh strawberries to it, and it is even better.

There are lots of other snacking options out there. You really just need to experiment to find what fits your budget and tastes. I usually keep diet sodas in the fridge as another defense against a sweet tooth. I wouldn't recommend having more than 1 a day (if even that) and if you do, always make sure you still drink your 4 bottles of water! You can also buy those little zero calorie packs that make your bottle of water into a sweeter drink. Once again, I would't recommend doing it a lot, because these do have sodium, but they can help to fight a sweet tooth.

Motivation

Dieting is not easy, and takes a lot of patience. Don't get discouraged when the pounds drop off quickly for the first couple weeks and then seemingly stop. While you may lose more in the beginning, remember that it is normal to lose anywhere from 1-2 lbs a week on average (and maybe even less some weeks), so don't get discouraged when your body slows down to this pace. THIS is the time when you may find motivation dropping because the payoff isn't as big as before. Stay focused!

You may also find yourself losing motivation when the foods and snacks you loved in the beginning are no longer that appealing. It's hard to look forward to the same old food you eat every single day. To get over this hump, start looking for new "point friendly" foods and experiment a little. Variation is key to keep you from getting bored!

If you slip up, don't let it get you down! We all have our days when we go out and totally blow our diet for the day...or even the weekend. So often, people give up their diets after getting off course for a while. This is normal! Just jump back on the horse and start it right up again the very next day. You may have gained a little when you strayed, but you can lose it again!

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Well, that's a lot of information for one blog. I've been wanting to share what I know for a while, because this program really does work, and is very easy to pick back up again at any time. I used it 3 years ago to lose 30 lbs and recently started again to lose 10 I gained back. Over time, you will become an EXPERT with the program, and will learn how to eat to maximize your weight loss. Keep with it and good luck to anyone who decides to try it!