Appreciation

I had a really good week at work.

First off there was the Christmas party last Tuesday.  We had our annual company meeting where the President and the VP recognized those that had worked for the company for over 5 years - including myself.  I received a really nice card enclosed with a $100 gift certificate to Future Shop.

Then we did our white elephant gift exchange.  I was #1 - so I picked first - but in our rules, at the end of the game, the person with #1 gets to go back and exchange their gift (if they want) for anything anyone else received (even if it was stolen 3 times and became "dead").  I chose a night out at the movies (2 tickets, 2 drinks and a large popcorn).  I am thinking that I am actually going to give it to my brother's girlfriend for Christmas.

My desk is fairly clean and organized right now.  I worked hard last week on dealing with all the paperwork that had been piling up.  I also got the US & International copies of Alberta Venture and Alberta Oil mailed out - and it's always great when I get those sent earlier in the month.

Yesterday the President called me into her office at the end of the day and gave my a card with a nice little monetary present.  I have never received a Christmas bonus before, and it felt really good to be appreciated for all the work I have done over the past year.

It's been a bit crazy with my co-worker Jen being off work for most of 2014.  It has helped that we outsourced the fulfillment of the subscriptions to a company in Halifax, which took place in September.

Being recognized by my company has made me realize that I was not appreciated by my ex husband. All the little things I would do for him each day, just because I loved him, and he would very rarely reciprocate.  It didn't start out that way in our relationship, but I can look back and see that I was always more willing to compromise and do things to make his life easier.  It feels great now to put myself first.

On top of the reward, I was also told that before Christmas the President wants to do a job review.  I had one at three months, but nothing since then.  It will also include a look at my salary.  When I agreed to take this new position in Edmonton, the letter of employment mentioned that there was a possibility of a raise at six months.  The past year has been tough for the company, mostly because we are on our fourth controller since October of 2013.  We also have had three different editors for Alberta Oil along with two event coordinators.  Now that we have good people in place, we hope that 2015 will be a much better year.  A year that would include increases in salary.

So I had fun with my co-workers and I have been recognized for my efforts.  That definitely means it was a good week at work in my books.

The Best Laid Plans . . .

When I talked about my goals for the year I was 37 I had included the following:

"3.  I will continue to work on my online course.  I want to finish the course work by May/June so that I can complete my 4 week practicum and get my diploma.

4.  Once my course is done I will take the next big step and find a new job as a legal administrator."


Looks like my plans have been a bit derailed.  I signed up for the course in January of 2013.  Then I went to Edmonton for a week to work out of the office here and spend some time apart from my ex husband.  When I got back he spent two weeks crashing with a friend.  After that we decided to separate.

When I spoke to my aunt/the CEO of our company about leaving Venture when I moved back to Edmonton, she came up with another solution.  So I changed positions to the one I now have in the circulation department.  When I agreed to the job, I signed a contract and agreed to give them two years (from April 2013 to April 2015).

It has been almost two years and my program instructor told me that I either had to finish the course by December 31 (not happening), or they could transfer the courses I have taken and give me an Administrative Professional Diploma.

I wish I could go back and hold off on signing up for the course.  Or at least wait until I got to Edmonton, maybe even taking the program through a different institution.

It's all just a bit frustrating.  I know I should have communicated with Robertson College more clearly that I was moving and going to commit the next two years to my current career.  Thus making it extremely difficult to complete the program, as I could not take time off to do the 4 week practicum.

I also know that I should have been more dedicated to my studies.  If all I had left to complete was the practicum, and maybe one test, then I am sure there might have been some more flexibility.

I am not sure what to do from here.  I really like my job and there is potential for a raise in 2015, but my hope was to find a job where I could make even more money.  Then I would have the finances to have a child on my own.

Everything is a bit confusing right now.  I guess I will just take it one step at a time and hope that it all works out.

Weight Loss Update: Nov 16 to 26

We are currently under a snowfall warning and are expected to get 20 to 30 cm of snow, staring sometime tonight and continuing through Friday evening.  Then after the snow comes a rush of Arctic air and cold temperatures.  Good thing I already bought snow pants to wear on my travels to work.



Weight Watchers Weigh-In

Original Weight:  314.8
Previous Weight:  256.2 (Nov 15)
Current Weight:  256.0 (Nov 22)

Change:  -0.2 pounds
Total Loss:  -54.2 pounds

Total Loss since May 2012:  -66.2 pounds
Total Loss since November 2005:  -80.4 pounds


SP Weigh-In

Previous Weight:  252.8 (Nov 15)
Current Weight:  251.0 (Nov 26)

Change:  -1.8 pounds


That -0.2 pounds at WW was not expected since my home scale had me up 0.6.  It just goes to show that I should stop weighing myself so much at home and trust the calibrated scales at WW.  I will take a 0.2 loss any day.

Now, based on that silly home scale, I am down almost 2 pounds, and it is only Wednesday.  I just want to see a loss of at least 1 pound at WW this Saturday.  That will mean a weight loss streak of 5 weeks.  I can't remember the last time I lost weight 5 weeks in a row.

The reasons behind this weight loss are not rocket science.  I ate relatively healthy this past Saturday and stuck to my WW points on Sunday.  It didn't kill me and I still had a small treat of a 1/2 cup of ice cream.  I also had a delicious coconut curry chicken soup for dinner with garlic bread and chicken wings.  Roughly it was under my 49 extra points for the week.

I can do this.  This way I will feel much better about a small gain over the holidays.  I will also be able to keep that gain small as I will have a plan in place to eat well most of the time over the two weeks.

Weight Loss Update: November 1 to 15

I can't believe that it is already less than two weeks until December.  This time next month I will be getting ready to get on the plane to Victoria where I will spend two whole weeks.

Weight Watchers Weigh-In

Original Weight:  314.8
Previous Weight:  260.8 (Oct 25)

Nov 1:  259.0 (-1.8)
Nov 8:  256.6 (-2.4)
Nov 15:  256.2 (-0.4)

Change:  -4.6 pounds
Total Loss:  -54.0 pounds

Total Loss since May 2012:  -66.0 pounds
Total Loss since November 2005:  -80.2 pounds


SP Weigh-In

Previous Weight:  257.0 (Oct 30)

Nov 1:  255.8 (-1.2)
Nov 8:  253.8 (-2.0)
Nov 15:  252.8 (-1.0)

Change:  -4.2 pounds


As you can see, I have been doing really well over the past few weeks.  I am not sure I will see a loss at WW this week as I may have indulged in too many pieces of banana bread on Sunday after Chinese food on Saturday.

No worries, I just need to make healthy choices this weekend and keep going.  I know that I will probably see a gain after I get back from holidays in Victoria, so I want to do well before I leave.

I am super proud that I am down over 65 pounds since 2012 and 80 from my highest weight.  Those are awesome accomplishments !!

Weight Loss Update: Sept to Oct

I have really been struggling lately on my weight loss journey.  I keep using events (my mom's last days in Edmonton, my birthday, the vacation to Victoria) as an excuse to make bad food choices.

Now, it's not as bad as it could be.  I have not been stuffing my face in extreme excess.  So the result is that I have not been losing weight and I have not seen the home scale go higher than 260 (which was right after I got back from Victoria, and that would make a total gain of about 5 pounds).

Still, I really need to get back on track.  Even if that just means getting out of the office at lunch and walking around City Centre (out of the wind and slightly chilly temps) so that I get more steps in each day.

I can admit that weekdays are, as usual, easier than weekends.  Saturdays start out well with my planned breakfast and I bring snacks - but by the time lunch or dinner rolls around, I have trouble making good decisions in regards to food.

So, back to the basics.  I need to figure out my WW points for Saturdays and Sundays.  If I make a plan before the weekend rolls around, then it will be easier to stay on track.



Weight Watchers Weigh-In

Original Weight:  314.8
Previous Weight:  256.6 (Sept 13)

Sept 20:  Missed Meeting
Sept 27:  258.4
Oct 4:  258.2
Oct 11:  Missed Meeting
Oct 18:  Missed Meeting
Oct 25:  260.8

Change:  +4.2 pounds
Total Loss:  -54.0 pounds


SP Weigh-In

Previous Weight:  254.2 (Sept 13)
Last Week:  258.0 (Oct 25)
Today's Weight: 257.0 (Oct 30)

Change:  +2.8 pounds (since Sept 13) and -1.0 pounds (since Oct 25).


If you look at today's weight on my home scale, I am moving back in the right direction.  I do expect at least a 1 pound loss at my next WW meeting.

I can do this.  I just need to stop being lazy and think of how far I have come over the past two years.

A Much Needed Vacation

I spent 10 wonderful days at my parents house in Victoria from Oct 10 to 19.

It was relaxing and wonderful and exactly what I needed.  I have not booked a full week off work since last September, and I was definitely due for some time away.

I arrived in Victoria on Friday morning (October the 10th).  My dad and I drove over to The Rootcellar and picked up vegetables for Thanksgiving dinner as well as the Turkey we had ordered. We were going to have the big family meal with all the fixings on Saturday as my cousin, his wife, and 5.5 month-old son were going to come over from Surrey.

Saturday (October 11), we visited with my cousins and played with the baby.  He is so darn cute and is working on being able to sit up unassisted.  My cousin's wife added me to her iPhone picture group and now I have hundreds of photos of their son, plus I get updates.  We had our Thanksgiving dinner with maple pecan pie and pumpkin pie for dessert.  Everything was delicious, although we somehow forgot to put the cranberry sauce on the table.

Sunday (October 12), the visitors left and we had leftovers for dinner plus the cranberry sauce.

On Monday a nurse came in to take care of my grandmother for 3 hours.  My parents and I went to Wal-Mart uptown and then lunch at Milestones.  It was nice to just hang out with them.  I felt like an only child, lol.

Tuesday started off with my dad and I trying to get blood work done on my grandmother.  Something about the lab being busy, and nothing being checked off on the requisition form, and they turned us away saying they needed an order from a BC doctor.  So we went over to the walk-in clinic at the Superstore where there was a very short wait and they had her already on file from a previous visit. Later, my mom dropped my dad off at the airport in the afternoon for his weekly trip back to Edmonton.  My grandmother and I continued to work on her puzzle.  Actually, we had bought a few 300-large-piece puzzles, and she was able to do them pretty much on her own.  But I would help with a piece or two every once in a while.

My grandmother and I watched a submarine head out from the naval yard.

Wednesday my mom and I took my grandmother, along with the BC requisition, to get her blood work done.  We had good timing and were in and out fairly quickly.  I also went for a nice walk along the top of the hill where my parent's live.

Thursday is another day when a nurse comes in to take care of my grandmother.  My mom had a physio appointment and so I had lunch at Floyd's Diner and enjoyed a dish called Jack's Toast with the Candied Banana topping.

Then I made a trip to Michael's, and then I went back to pick up my mom.  Later a woman came in to do my grandmother's hair (curl and style).  I also went to pick my dad up from the airport.  I only missed one turn, because I could not get into the right lane (too busy), but I remembered that I could take a different exit a few blocks up, so it was all good.

Friday my dad and I made another trip to the Rootcellar.  I could have filled the shopping cart with apples & pears and been very happy.

We also ordered Romeo's pizza for dinner.  It's my favourite pizza place.  I got the Maui Luau (with no chedder) and I froze the leftovers and brought them home with me.  Yummy.

It was a windy, drizzly day, but I got some awesome pictures of the waves on Lagoon Road.

 

Saturday we went out to the Keg for dinner in a super old building on Quadra St in Saanich.  I realized it had been ages since I had a good steak.  Mmmmm red meat deliciousness.

All too soon it was Sunday and I headed home.  It was a beautiful day and I ate lunch sitting on the deck and watching the sailboats.

I don't know why, but we left for the airport at 2:45 for my 4:00pm flight.  So when I got to the counter at 3:30pm, they had closed the flight for checked baggage.  I got rebooked on the 5:00pm flight to Vancouver (instead of going through Calgary), but all the flights out of Vancouver (on Air Canada) were booked with people already on stand-by.  I ended up on the 9:55pm flight to Edmonton and crawled into bed after 1:00am.  I was tired Monday, but mostly I just wanted to still be on vacation.  I also learned that I need to make sure I am at the airport 1 hour before the flight leaves the hard way, lol.

Goals for 37

Looking back over the past year I realize that I have accomplished a lot, even if it was not exactly part of my goals for the year I was 36.

I lost 28 pounds.  I wish that number was higher, but at least I did lose weight and the scale is moving in the right direction.  If I was not going to Weight Watchers meetings and participating on Sparkpeople online, that number would definitely be different.  I could just have easily gained 28 pounds (or more) over the past year.

I am more than halfway completed in my online course.  There are 18 different modules and I have finished 9 and I am working on the 10th.  I got 97% in Customer Service (that was a boot camp), 80% in Business Communication (76% on the first part and 84% on the second - and this was a workshop), and in Office Procedures I got 98% on the first 4 chapters, and 96% on the next 4 chapters and I am now studying chapters 9-15.  All the MS Office modules were online assessments and I completed them 100%.

Over the summer I found and moved into my new house.  All of the boxes are unpacked, but I do need to organize my room, especially the closet.  We also packed and moved my parents out of their home of the past 29 years and then moved my grandmother out to Victoria as well.  So much work, but it was all worth it.

The divorce is finalized.  I have only spoke to my EH a few times over the past year, and most of those communications were quick instant messages or emails about the divorce proceedings. Weirdly, he wished me a happy birthday on Monday, but I just deleted the email without a response.

Now I want to make some goals for my year as a 37 year old.

1.  I need to exercise more.  Whether that means Wii games or videos at home or the gym or classes  at the rec centre/YMCA - it doesn't matter.  I will start by making a plan and scheduling exercise.  Maybe a reward system for doing a certain number of days a week?

2.  To go along with the exercise, I need to eat better.  I want to make sure I am tracking most of what I am putting in my mouth.  I am much better at not going overboard on the weekends.  Now I just need to continue and make sure that I stick to my WW points.

3.  I will continue to work on my online course.  I want to finish the course work by May/June so that I can complete my 4 week practicum and get my diploma.

4.  Once my course is done I will take the next big step and find a new job as a legal administrator.

5.  I want to put myself out there again and start dating.  I have an online dating profile, with eHarmony, but I have not really done anything with it lately.  I also want to look at some of the MeetUp groups in Edmonton.  If I put some effort in I think I could at least make some new friends.

6.  Ultimately, whether I find someone to spend my life with or not, I want to start saving/looking into being a Single Mother By Choice.  I really want to have a child.  I have no problem with using a sperm donor, but I know that I need to be healthier and to make more money (hence goals 1 through 4).  It probably won't happen this year, but I want to put the gears in motion for next year.


I know that these are achievable goals.  I just need to make some plans and be more dedicated instead of procrastinating.