It's a Boy!

Yes, there has been a new addition to the Hall family. May I introduce, weighing in at 50+ pounds, Toby (aka Morty)!



Toby joined the family last Friday, after I made a disturbing drive up to East Cobb. WAY too many pick-up trucks and strip malls for me to be comfortable.

You may notice that Toby has a few war wounds on his back leg and neck and is a little too skinny. His journey to the sanctuary of East Atlanta has not been easy.

First he was found wandering around Cobb County and picked-up by animal control. At first it seemed like good news, he owners where tracked down and contacted. They didn't want him back? Why? Because they were moving to Texas...I didn't know dogs weren't allowed in Texas but hey I could be wrong. We it turned out a good thing for Toby, he was diagnosed with Heartworms. This is when I became involved. I heard about Toby through Basett Hound Rescue and I couldn't think about this poor old man, did I forget to mention he is 13 years old, alone, living in a kennel. Unfortunately, while waiting to begin his heartworm treatment he was attacked by two Bull Mastiffs at the kennel. I got a frantic phone call, "we don't know if he will make it", "if he does, can he come right to your place and not back to the kennel"...god of course! On Friday I got the call that he was ready to go...I had already planned on taking the afternoon off work so I headed to the wasteland that is Marietta.

Toby is doing better than expected, his wounds are healing and he really doesn't seem bothered by his new surounding or new brother.



It looks like he will be up to this first camping trip to Black Rock Mountain with the hash this weekend. Always a good time for both dogs and hasher. More on that next time.

Sisters are doing it...

Yes the Ladies Boilers didn't let me down last night. They beat Georgia Tech and are off to play Georgia in the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA playoffs.

The MSNBS.Com women's bracket already has Purdue in the Elite 8...I hope that is a good omen.

Rebates

Last December I finally broke down and bought a new computer along with high-speed Internet. I found a great deal on an okay computer, monitor and modem. The down side was this could only be accomplished with a slew of rebates, $454.95 worth to be exact. I was skeptical, figuring I would be lucky if I got half of that back. Company are counting on the fact that you won't take the time to fill out the paper work and make sure you have everything you need. Well my anal retentive attention to detail paid off...as of yesterday I have received 5 out of 6 ($404.95) and the last one is expected next month. It is kind of a bonus for me...since I have already paid for the computer, et al.

We will just add it to the other credit cards.

TLC

I watch a program last night on TLC about feral children...children abandoned or neglected and left to be 'raised by wolves'. Very tragic...one girl was tossed out to live with the dogs in a kennel because her mother wanted a boy, another was the son of a chronic alcoholic who started to live with the neighborhood strays when his mother could/would no longer care for him and a third spent her first 12 years living in a dark room, either sleeping in a cage or strapped to a potty chair. As you can imagine these children have serious, long term behavioral and learning disabilities.

I am still shocked and horrified that anyone could treat a child like this. I cried a little when I saw the house the thrid girl was kept in for most of her life. It is also heart warming to see that children, much like dogs, will give us another chance.

Waiting for Weight Loss

So I've been working out consistantly, I've cut WAY back on the beer and trying to eat better, so why isn't the weight coming off? Yes, I have lost some weight, close to 10 pounds since the first of the year. I also know I didn't gain all this weight at once and it will take time to come off...but I am a little discouraged and feeling a little bit alone. Everyone I've asked to do 'exercise stuff' with me turns me down. Right now I feel like I'm just hiding at the gym. At least there are people there, unlike my house. Everyone is just 'too busy' to be bothered doing anything with me. D and I are not doing well. I don't feel anything for him right now...I'm guessing by the time he 'figures things out' it will be too late for us. I just don't have anything else to give him or anyone else really.

Mid-March Madness

I'm done with Basketball for a few more months. My beloved Boilermakers lost to Florida yesterday. I had high hopes early on...Purdue seemed to be in control for most of the first half. I managed to contain my urge to call my friend, who is a BIG Gators fan, and begin my trash talk. Thanks goodness. They fell apart in the the second half and I think they lost by 10 when it was all over.

Mid-March Goals

I meant to post my progress of March goals on the 15th.

So here it is...

1) lose another 4 pounds - it fluctuates so much I can't tell you where I'm at on this one.
2) run 75 miles - I'm a little ahead here @ 45 miles for the month
3) strength train 10 days - I've been 7 times so far
4) finish my book - I haven't turned a page :(
5) complete one on-line course for work :(
6) finish my taxes - yes, okay technically I didn't finish them until today but they are done and ready for the post.

Irish Eyes

Saturday was our annual St. Paddy's Day Hash...what a cluster f**k that turned into. In the end everything worked out but I just don't deal with that much disorganization very well.

It was a good hash and a beautiful day to be out. I did become a little nippy once the sun started to set. I packed up and headed home for some corn beef and cabbage at home, alone.

One Tired Pup

I also meant to post this last week but never got around to it:

Ruben after a day of 'hashing' at the Black Sheep Founders Day:



Okay so Ruben didn't really hash, he was a bimbo. I wasn't up to the task of carrying him for 4 miles that day. He spent the day baby sitting MC's new pup Licorice and the hasher known as Choice of a New Penetration.

He fell asleep at the feet of Burning Bush and ButtPipe, it was the most shady spot in the entire clear-cut parking lot.

Now I've done it

I decided the other day that I'm such a great runner I will try my hand at a 10K. This moment of delusion came after an exceptionally good run the other night.

I've set a goal to run a 10K in under an hour by the end of next month. I had no idea how long it would take me to run a 10K. I've ran a few 5K and I'm usually in the 35-40 minute range. Using my great math skills I figured it would take me 70-80 minutes to do a 10K at that pace. I've never trained for a run before but I've been pretty consistent with working out over the last 9 weeks so I thought what the hell.

Yesterday I laid out a nice 6.2 mile route through the 'hood, set the timer on the watch and took off running. I learned that a big, greasy Gyro will give you a ton more energy for a run than a bowl of brown rice and cabbage. I was dragging my ass about 2 miles in...I walked a lot more than I had planned but I made it in in 68 minutes. So I would guess 1 hour is a possibility. I have like 8 weeks to train. Anybody have any suggestion?

I guess now that I've told everyone I'm going to have to follow through with the race.

On to another goal...Weight Loss

Nine weeks in to this I have lost 9.6 pounds, or 6.3% of my original weight and 10% body fat. I think a pound a week is something I can maintain. My worst fear is after all this work I can't maintain the weight I want.

Other goals...

I haven't even begun.

Lazy today

I don't really feel like writing...so I'm going to give you 20 reasons to lose 20 pounds (I'm half way there).

1. Because you whine that you need to. Have you ever been wrong about anything?

2. Twenty pounds of warm human fat can refill every bottle in an empty case of beer, with enough left over to fill your blender.

3. The statement "There's more of me to love" has an actual bedroom translation of "There's more of me to endure."

4. It's not scaling Everest or writing the great American novel. You can do it in your spare time.

5. You'll speak of toaster pastries the way you talk about that dirty blonde from the blues bar in Berkeley, another whiskey-soaked lament over a love too great to last.

6. It's the difference between being thought of as jolly or witty.

7. You'll lose weight everywhere, including the suprapubic fat pad at the base of your penis. So as your belly shrinks, something else appears to grow.

8. Decreased: your chances of developing heart disease, prostate cancer, diabetes, sleep apnea, depression, back pain, impotence, gallstones, joint problems, high blood pressure, low sperm counts, and an impressive collection of prescription-drug bottles.

9. Increased: your chances of putting four fingers on a basketball rim.

10. You'll literally get closer to women.

11. Holy sh— . . . abs!

12. Men who lose weight never have less sex. They may not have more, mind you, but they never have less.

13. You'll shock the world at your local pool by being the only "big splash" champ to win the "little splash" crown.

14. Research shows that since you'll have less weight propelling you into the windshield, you'll also have less risk of dying when your car hits a semi.

15. Every time you pick up a 20-pound dumbbell, you'll remember.

16. You'll be able to reach even more places to scratch.

17. The clothing cliche: It's liberating the first time your pants fall down by themselves.

18. More pullups, because there's less to pull up.

19. Wait till you ride a WaveRunner, quad, or snowmobile when you're 20 pounds lighter. Vroom, baby.

20. In our society, people respect weight loss. Even if you do nothing cool or interesting or memorable for the rest of your life, you'll have done that.

In like a pissed off lion

Rain Rain go away...

Take the tornadoes, blizzards & winds with you. Can you say WOW, the weather yesterday was something. I spent much of last night watching weather.com while Darren was watching Survivor. It looks like Atlanta missed the worst of it.

A New Month and some New Goals

Let's see how I did last month:

1. lose another 4 pounds - Lost 2.5 not quite what I was looking for but still a step in the right direction
2. run 50 miles (I stole that one from ITP) - Ran 76 miles
3. strength train 2-3 time a week - lifted weight 8 times so yep twice a week
4. Get back to one dog and keep it that way - Yes, Bingo left before my trip
5. Have a date (I'm not sure about that one yet?) - Still in question (what color is confusion?)

For March

1. lose 4 pounds
2. run 75 miles
3. strength train 10 times
4. finish my book
5. complete one on-line course for work
6. finish my taxes

Good new at the Doctor's office

According to the doctor I have lost 11 pounds since my last visit. YEAH me! He was impressed. My blood pressure was also 100/60 (fyi normal is considered under 120/80), I also wanted to get a lipid panel and glucose level but I wasn't told I need to fast so I have to go back. Otherwise, everything looked great.

One thing disturbed me a little, there is a new form of birth control on the market: Implanon. It is implanted under the skin (like Norplant) and is good for 3 years. My Doctor recommend it for me...in 3 years I will be over 40 and my chances of having a child will be pretty slim. Please no stories about someone that had their first child at 45, I know it is possible but I also know the odds. I don't think I want children but to know the end is near and that my doctor doesn't see it in my future makes me a little sad. I just don't FEEL that old not that I am but...the clock is ticking.

Girl's Night Out

We had our first GNO in quite awhile this week. With the holidays and all things got away from us. It was a good crowd but early on I was out numbered married to single by 3:1. I've never had that happen before.

The single ladies rallied late and eventually took over the room.

Thanks Beth, Kay, Karyn, Erin, Melissa & Betsy for the good times and numerous bottles of wine. (I hope I didn't forget anyone).

Extra Pay Check

This March is one of those special months were I get paid 3 times. I was all excited on what to do with the extra cash and then I wrecked my car. Want to take a guess where the extra cash is going? Oh well at least I have (had) extra cash.