Reflections on Cancer Awareness

Let me start off by saying the color ribbon designated for colon cancer is brown.

Back to the main point, October is widely recognized as breast cancer awareness month and people of both genders wear pink in support. Gaining in popularity is prostate cancer awareness month in November celebrated by men growing mustaches all month-Movember. I assume women can grow mustaches if they like as well.

Here is the disconnect in my head. Breast cancer is designated as pink and prostate cancer is designated as light blue. Either everyone needs to wear pink in October and light blue in November or women shouldn't have to shave (anything) in October while men don't shave in November. I'm just saying it should be fair...

*I know multiple people with all of the cancers listed in this post and while it is a serious issue, this post was meant with no disrespect.

November Already? Updated!

Obviously I haven't been keeping up on the blog, I believe my last post was in July. Here's a really quick run-down of the last 4 months:

July-bought a house
August-officially graduated from Highline with 2 associate degrees; my niece turned 1
September-had a delightful time at 'family camp' which was in Ocean Shores this year; started a new job as a help desk support technician; my first day of "school" at Central Washington University, I broke my foot (the cripple foot, not the good one)
October-went from a walking boot to shoe and crutches to my grandpa's cane (no, he wasn't using it; the 30th my grandpa had some mini-strokes, he is home, but it's hard to tell the 'damage' since he has Alzheimer's; for Halloween Jeremy was Brian from Family Guy and I was a penguin
November-I am 'walking' cane free, but still slowly and carefully; I roasted 2 pumpkins and have plans to make pies for Thanksgiving; Jeremy cut down a tree/bush in our yard and insulated the pipes under the house.

I will make more of an effort to blog before this year ends.

Update: I don't know how it slipped my mind, but my little niece Indy is going to be a "big" sister in March!

Home Sweet Home

As of July 1, I am a homeowner! The house needs a wee bit of fixing up (patch the fence, new faucet, re-caulk the tub, etc), but in general it is move in ready. That being said, I've now spent slightly more time at the house than at Home Depot buying miscellaneous supplies. Jeremy, Wally and I hope to move in this weekend. I'll admit, I'm a little nervous as this is the first time in my life that I have ever moved and technically I'll be moving to a new city!

Stay tuned for before and after pictures!

Catch Up

I obviously haven't posted in a few months and it has been crazy. Here's the last few months in a nutshell:

• March-participated in Pacific Rim Cyber Defense Competition (PRCCDC). Super stressful, humbled me some, but was overall very fun.
• Winter quarter-got 4.0's in all 4 of my classes...woo!
• Got accepted into CWU's bachelor's degree program
• Spring quarter-4.0, 4.0, 3.8, 3.6....not as happy
• June 9-walked at commencement

From June 9 until now-

• Had 1 week of summer vacation
• Started summer classes
• Had a job interview (I was second choice and essentially got offered a different position)
• Found out my work study funding won't cover summer so I'll have no job as of 6/30
• Bought a house
• Wrote this post

Water Baby

Tonight I got to see Indy at her swim class. She is a girl after my own heart...loves the water. Auntie Jenny will take her swimming anytime she wants!

13.8 lbs

Somehow I managed to survive the first 17 days of my diet and lost 13.8 lbs. It was a tough road for someone used to the fast food, gravy covered, eat until I'm stuffed lifestyle. I'm not going to lie, I broke down and cried one night because I wanted bread so badly. You may laugh, but food addiction is real and hard to beat. The day after my breakdown, Jeremy let me "cheat" a little because I had been doing so well...not to mention, it was Talan's 5th birthday and it would be rude not to have a birthday brownie. I think I would have lost slightly more weight, but certain circumstances were out of my control.

On the plus side, I'm now wearing a size smaller pants (without a muffin top) and in one more size I get to go try on a wedding dress that might be 'the one'. The second phase of the diet almost might be tougher. While I get to add in red meats and certain starches (every other day), I have plans that keeping to the strict diet would be impossible. Such as two full days of completely catered meals and a potluck tomorrow.

Sad Day

It's been one year since I lost my best friend. Today, in her memory I donated to the BullsEye Dog Rescue.

I love you Tobby and I hope you are happy.

Weighting Too Long

So I just finished my first week (and a day or two) of my diet and I suppose I should give an update.

Living without bread/pasta/doughnuts/pizza/delicious things is HARD! I am a firm believer that a food addiction is the hardest addiction of all. Why? Because we need to eat to live and food is everywhere; billboards, tv, radio, stores, break rooms, etc. I can't avoid seeing it or hearing about it on a daily basis. One of the hardest things right now is not having a "grab and go" meal.

On the plus side, I have lost 9.5 lbs and counting!

Snow Helmet

And that's after part of it melted!

RJ45 Army!

This is what nerds do in their free time.

17 Days

Today mom, Jeremy and I started the "17 Day Diet." Basically you have 4 main cycles that are 17 days each and each cycle, like most diets, lets you add in a little something more. The interesting part to this diet versus the million or so other ones that I've seen, is that the last cycle expects you to have a life. It basically says that you are on the diet from Monday at breakfast to Friday at lunch and then you can eat whatever you want on the weekend. Of course it gives the caveat of being reasonable with your choices so you don't lose all of your progress in 2 days.

When I come to terms with not eating carbs or sugars, I'll talk more about what the diet entails. But for now, I must go grieve the loss of some very very good friends.

I'm a Firm Believer That:

1. Streaming netflix is amazing

2. Dexter is the best show I never knew about

3. Finding over $150 in cash and gift cards makes a great day

4. If my arteries were cut open, I would spew gravy and hollandaise

5. Beagles have the saddest puppy face, probably because they are so terrible!

At This Point

Wow, fall quarter ended, winter break ended and winter quarter is now in its third week. I'm technically taking two less credits this quarter, but the workload almost seems harder. So what am I taking?

Unix/Linux system administration

Intro to forensics

Network intrusion detection

Data network design/management

Oh yeah and I'm still doing the work study thing at the school. Jeremy has night class the opposite days that I have night class so it's been a bit of a challenge and it will only get worse as the quarter progresses (tests and midterms and papers oh my).

High Horse or Short Pony

What makes you think you have the right to judge situations when you walked into it less than 3 minutes ago. You haven't been there, you don't know what happens, so what makes you the resident expert? You are so quick to criticize that the words that come out of your mouth end up being lies.

You're quite obviously better than everyone else and know exactly what and how things should be done, but wait, you're qualified how? Oh that's right, the mental sitcom that plays out in your head translates directly into reality.

Well I'm not going to play victim to your games. There is a fine line between sticking up for one's self and being rude and frankly, I don't care how you perceive it.

You may have ridden up on your high horse, but you need to leave with the tail between your legs on a short pony.