Happy Birthday Tarra!!

Today is my niece Tarra's Birthday! Here she is silly stringing her uncle Steve. Have a great day and I'll see ya soon!

Trip To Laughlin

We took an overnight trip to Laughlin Nevada a few days ago. We stayed at the Riverside Resort. The hotel is on the Colorado river and we had a nice room with a great view of the river rushing by. James shopped and I played a little craps. Over all it was fun but cold and windy outside!

Still Here!

I have not posted in a while, sorry. My back pay finally came through and we have been busy making up for 3 years of poverty! This is a shot with our new camera, a Canon Powershot SD950 IS. We bought it at Costco and it is a great camera. Here we are at the pistachio festival in Newberry Springs, 30 miles east of Barstow.

College Bound

James and I are now enrolled in Barstow Community College (home of the Vikings!). We have both registered for our Spring 2008 classes. I took 13 units and James signed up for 12. We start January 14th. I have often talked about going back to school; that's usually as far as it went - talk. This time I did it. I want my nursing degree and I am going to get it! I transferred in (have already completed) 52 units, and James has his Associate Of Arts degree. He is going for his second and a transfer to a 4 year; I just want my Associate Of Science in Nursing (for now, maybe a bachelor's degree later?). I have several classes I need, so I will have to go Summer and Fall before I can apply to the program at Victor Valley College (Barstow's sister college 30 miles away). In January I am taking Microbiology (5 units), Developmental Psychology (3 units), Elementary Algebra (4 units), and an Adaptive PE class (they teach you how to strengthen a disabled body!) (1 unit). Wow! I was not sure about going full time, but oh well. I can't remember James' classes, I will post them later. Wish us luck!

Happy Birthday Bela!

Today is the 125th birthday of Bela Lugosi. I am an ardent vampire fan and Bela was a childhood idol. He was immensely proud of his roles as Dracula. He even requested to be buried in his vampire cape! Happy Birthday Bela, the undead can keep celebrating year after year!

Our New Car!!

We did it! We bought a new car yesterday. This is our new 2006 Mustang! We love it. We had been searching for several months for the exact car we wanted. We had already allowed two cars to be sold out from underneath us. I wanted a large down payment, but thanks to the government, I have not received my back pay yet. I wanted specific things on the car (Grey, blue, light green or black color, v6, manual transmission, leather interior, Shaker 500 stereo system, an MP3 player jack, low mileage and a reasonable price) Over the last two months, I have found 2 cars that have had all or most of these things within Southern California. I had already been approved for a loan, but I wanted to put something down. Well, those other two cars came and went. When I found this one (It has all the things I wanted except the mp3 jack) I could not wait any longer. So we bought it! We got it for almost $4,000 less than they wanted and it is great. We are very happy. I have always wanted a Mustang and here it is!!

One Month Report

It has been a little over one month since we started this new eating habit. I started out at 216 (one week before my first post, I started to diet), and James started out at 223. The results are in! Steve weighed in at 196 this morning. That's a cool 20 lbs. James weighed in at 205, a very respectable 18 pounds. We owe it all to the South Beach Diet and our new love of walking (Thanx Laura and Gordon!). We have reached a happy medium on the walks, twice a day 2.0 and 1 1/2 miles respectively. I did not have time to do a third. My goal is 31 more pounds, I know I can do it.

Carolyn & Kristin Visit

Our dear friends from San Francisco, Carolyn and Kristin paid us a visit. They were on their way to Las Vegas last week and were travelling through Barstow. Luckily for us, they arraigned to meet us. We were so happy they were coming! We had such a great visit. I had not seen them in almost 10 years. We had actually lost touch until I saw Carolyn's email address on a piece of mail someone else sent me! I took a chance and asked if the owner of the address was her, and bingo! I found my friend.

They stayed a week in Vegas, having a great time I'm sure! When they were here in Barstow I was telling them how hard it was to get specialty items for our diet. We do not like fish so we substitute tofu for any seafood. Well, you just can't get many soy products in Bartstow! Anyway, they were so sweet, they took it upon themselves to pick up some of these products in Vegas and deliver them to us on their way back through. I could not believe it! How nice is that? Now we are eating soy daily, even shelling those wonderful Edamame. Thanks CAROLYN & KRISTIN!! We also got to spend several more hours talking over dinner before they had to leave for the 7 hour trip back to San
Francisco. We really enjoyed our visit and can't wait to see them again!

Happy Birhtday Joe!

Today is my brother in law Joe's Birthday. We wish him all the best and many happy returns. Take it easy today Joe, you deserve it!! Have a great day!

Diet: Week 3 ish

A lot has changed for James and I during the last 3 weeks. We did weigh ourselves after 2 weeks was up; only to be shocked by the results. I had lost only 1 pound, down to 203; James actually gained 1 pound, up to 214. I was shocked and a little disheartened. We followed the eating plan to the tee. The only difference is that we became addicted to walking. And when I say addicted, I mean ADDICTED! We decided we had put on the weight through the build up of muscle mass. We now walk 2 times daily. We walk 2 miles in the morning and 1 1/2 miles in the afternoon. James wants to start walking a third time after dinner, that would be another 1 1/2 miles for us. I am hesitant, I think we should take it slower but he is raring to go. This new found love of walking was inspired by Uncle Gordon and Aunt Laura on one of their visits to Barstow, thanks so much for the inspiration. I have never seen James like this. All of a sudden he is a diet and exercise fanatic. I know I am loosing fat though, my clothes fit much better. Shorts I stopped wearing because I could not button them are now loose on me! Here we go......

Congratulations Daniel!

My nephew Daniel is graduating from Marine boot camp today. It is hard to believe it has been three months, but today is the day. My family has made the trip to South Carolina to be there for the big event. Daniel has wrote about how he has really found his niche in life. He has really excelled in the environment. I wish him all the best. Stay safe. We love you.

First Week

After the first week on the South Beach diet the results are in! James went from 223 to 213. That's a 10 pound loss in just 1 week! Yea!! Steve went from 211 to 204. That's a 7 pound loss in just one week! I'm very happy with the results. I feel better. I have more energy. We have also started walking 1 1/2 miles a day. This is not much, but for two people whose main activity was changing channels, it's a good start. I really like the food on this new eating plan. 98% of the recipes are ones I would have over and over (the other 2%; not so much!). We are going to keep it up, this is more of a new way of eating than a diet. We will be changing our habits from now on.

Goodbye Pretty Boy

On September 10, my parents cat Pretty Boy Hannibal, passed away. They loved him very much and he will be sorely missed. James and I send our condolences. My uncle Tito wrote this poem for him:

CATTITUDE

Poems you have read about Hannibal Lee
This is the first poem about Hannibal Me
Tough cat I am.
So what's it to you?
I'm quick and I'm slick and I'm known to be cool
Some call me Brat Cat. Ya wanna know why?
I do what I want all day and all night
Others call me Fat Cat. It's known for a fact
I eat too much which is why I'm so fat.
It matters not what they say about me.
Cause everyone loves sweet Hannibal Me.

Here We Go!

Today we started the South Beach Diet. I am 211 pounds (I was 216 at the highest. I started watching what I ate and lost 5 pounds already) and James is 223. I am very uncomfortable; my clothes do not fit and I can't take the heat anymore. According to the diet site my ideal weight is between 120-160. Yeah right! I'll be happy to get down to 170. I posted a picture of us so you can see were we are starting. (Also so you can see my shiny head!) The first day was pretty good. I was never hungry, but my body was not sure of what was going on! I was light-headed all day. I just assumed it was from the sugar leaving my blood stream. We are going to follow the Phase 1 plan in the book for 2 weeks then we'll see were we are. Wish us luck!!

Happy 25th Anniversary

Two of my most favoritest people are celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary. On August 11, 2007, my Uncle Gordon and Aunt Laura hosted a great party for the occasion. James and I were lucky enough to attend. Thanks to my sister Dee and my brother-in law Joe, James and I were able to rent a car and make the drive. We stayed with Dee and my aunt and uncle for the trip. The party was Hawaiian themed and everyone dressed for the occasion.

This is my aunt and uncle's house in San Francisco. I had not been here for 20 years. The last time I was here, the houses on either side were not built. I almost did not recognize it when we drove up. Here it is decorated before the party started.

My sister Dee and her friend Laura were the muscle behind the event. They put so much time and effort into making the day a success. They worked so hard and kept things going behind the scenes throughout the day.

One of the best things about this trip is that I got to visit with my cousin Chyrisa and her husband Charlie. They made the trip from Idaho. We were so happy to spend time with them and their son Bobbie and his friend Daniel.

This is the wedding cake. Dee's friend Laura worked really hard on this and is was great. Those are purple orchids all over the cake.

Gordon, Laura, my brother-in law Joe, and my niece Tarra.

Different shots of us getting ready. We set up the monkey and the surf board to greet the quests.

A great picture of Aunt Laura, Uncle Gordon and my cousin Chyrisa. I love them so much!