I have a confession. I am a total nut about getting shit done when it comes to cleaning or every day tasks/errands. I remember my friend Barb (before she had kids - because now I'm sure it's even harder for her) telling me "How can you get that all done?" once when I listed off all I had accomplished in like a two day stretch.
BUT, when it comes to being healthy...I am so totally the definition of a lazy American. I can find time to get the house clean, pay bills, run errands, get birthday presents, etc yet I can never "find the time" to work out. BULLSHIT! In the last 10 days, I read two books = 1600 pages and watched HOURS of TV a day. Clearly I have down time. So what is it? Pure laziness and lack of interest. The only workout I've even enjoyed in my life- I mean truly *wanted* to do it is swimming. And here- the only places with lap pools are the one's that cost over $100 a month. So instead I'm stuck with a stairmaster that's down stairs collecting dust. Or I could get my bike fixed and hit the road. Or I could do aerobic videos I find online. Yet I don't. Because they don't interest me. BOOM - LAZY!
Here is where I come across gross. I have a weird love affair with fast food. Like I hear about people talking down about McDonald's as adults, that it's more a teen age, kid, or slob's food. And I tilt my head like a dog that doesn't understand what you're saying. When I'm stressed - bring me a quarter pounder! It's like I made the decision years ago I didn't need a blankie - I needed those golden fries. But it's not just comfort food when sad or stressed...it can be a reward when something good has happened. Or just a "I'm super lazy and don't feel like cooking." And hell I've heard that stat that one in 8 American's every day eat McDonald's breakfast so while I seem to hear people down talking it, there have to be many like me right?!
But what I'm saying is my weight is obviously my fault when you mix lack of interest in working out paired with a love affair with Wendy's, McDonald's, etc. Yet I don't consider my weight *too bad*..thus no motivation to change.
And now it's even worse. Last year I was in a weight loss challenge for 12 weeks. I used My Fitness Pal to track calories, I worked out 2-3 times a week on the stairmaster, and I limited fast food to once a week (sad that it's a "limit" when most people would find this average.) And I lost 12lbs in 12 weeks. Great.
Now this year I'm doing a 10 week challenge. And all I'm doing is tracking calories on MFP. No working out (other than the 15,000-20,000 steps I get in 3 days a week at work anyway). No limiting my fast food. And in fact I'd say I've been eating MORE of it these past three weeks because I've been sick so I don't feel like cooking. And the worst part?!? I'm still losing weight simply by staying under 1650 calories. That's with many meals from McDonald's being over half of my day's calories, loaded with fat. And I'm losing half a pound to a pound a week, while stuffing my face with fries - oh so delishious fries. So that TOO is not motivating me to stop! It's a sickness.
Can you imagine how much I'd be able to lose with just the tiniest bit of effort? Ugh. There is no point to this post other than trying to shame myself into doing better by this confession. I know that motivation comes from within - that's why I couldn't understand why my friend was amazed at all I could get done. I can't *NOT* make the bed every morning and do projects to make my friend smile and plan an amazing dinner for my husband and go to make donations to Goodwill and.and.and.and.and. It's in my core being. I'm in awe of you runners...it's in your core being. Good for you. But me? Its just not me.
Ice bar in Vegas 2012
Friday, September 26, 2014
Thursday, September 11, 2014
Sept 11 2011
13 years ago.
In so many ways it seems like it was only a few years ago. And in others, it seems much longer ago because of all in my life that has happened since.
Everyone remembers where they were - and I'm no different.
I was 23 and was four months into my first career job after college at KGAN TV, the CBS station in Cedar Rapids Iowa. (I sold television advertising for 7 years before moving back to my home town to marry Jeff.) Every Tuesday morning we had an 8am sales meeting. I would leave my apartment about 7:40 since I lived less than five minutes from work. Check my email real quick before going into the conference room. My boss and career mentor Matt was as usual joking around at the start of the meeting when Kathy walked in late. She said "A plane hit the World Trade Tower. Isn't that so bogus?" (Because it had literally *just* happened there was no information aside from "a plane" so like many we pictured maybe a small cessna or something. We made fun of her for using the word bogus - what is this 1985?
I don't remember why the meeting was so short, but I remember we walked out and into the GM's office. For those who have never worked in TV - every office has several TVs so that each one can be tuned to a different channel. Our GM - Les had 3x 50 inch screens tuned to ABC, NBC, and CBS. And I was standing right in front of them as the second plane hit.
That moment. Right then. That's when you knew "This was not a mistake. This was not a small plane. Oh my God, we're being attacked." We watched for maybe 20 minutes just standing there. The GM then got a call and we were asked to all go call our appointments for the day to tell them we would not be coming to try and sell them advertising and it would be rescheduled. It turns out the call the GM got was that all affiliates were asked to go on Lock Down, as there were rumors that terrorists would want to take control of our airwaves to air their message. (Looking back this seems ridiculous that middle of nowhere Iowa would be part of a target). But then the Pentagon was hit. And the plane in Shanksville crashed. And there was the rumor of a helicopter crash at the white house. It seemed like the sky was falling. Anything horrible seemed possible.
I also don't remember calling my mom - but I must have, or she called me. I was told we were not sure if my uncle was in the towers or not. And then the towers came crashing down. I remember going outside and chain smoking about three cigarettes while sitting on the ground thinking he was dead. My dad was on a business trip, supposed to be flying out of Florida - but as you know all flights were grounded. We were allowed to leave for lunch and I went back to my apartment and just watched more TV and cried. Having to go back to work - why I don't know we didn't do anything other than continue to watch TV - but I seemed comforted to be around people. Because I remember that night I never felt so alone. 23 alone in my apartment, with no friends in this new town, hours from my family, just watching the horror unfold.
I know I learned at some point in the day that my uncle's office has recently been moved to Tribeca and that he was alive. Days later I heard how he had to walk out of Manhattan on foot, covered in ash, helping a older woman he didn't know to get home once they crossed a bridge and he was able to get a car to pick them up. And as planes were grounded for days - my dad ended up having to take a cab from Miami to some other town in order to rent a car the next day or two and drive home from Florida to Chicago.
I really don't remember much of those two or three days after - I know we didn't really work at all, as there was no commercials airing as it was wall to wall coverage. I only remember watching NBC news non stop at home and crying myself to sleep each night.
The next memory I have clear as day was that Friday. It was our GM's birthday - and Matt had the idea that we needed to forget the horrors going on around us. And suggested the entire sales staff go to Chuck E Cheese to celebrate Les's birthday. It was empty. (And if you've been in one, there are no windows out to the world. It was this cocoon of safety to block out reality.) We were the only people there. And Chuck E Cheese sells beer (along with tons of childrens games). So for that entire afternoon, we drank beer, played wack-a-mole and skeet ball, and laughed trying to pretend the world was still innocent. New to the idea of being an adult - it was exactly what I needed. Escape reality- if only for an afternoon- and be a kid again.
That day changed the world. That day changed me. In many ways, it's the day that stole my innocence. In so many ways - that was the year I really became an adult. And that day was the day I realized it.
In so many ways it seems like it was only a few years ago. And in others, it seems much longer ago because of all in my life that has happened since.
Everyone remembers where they were - and I'm no different.
I was 23 and was four months into my first career job after college at KGAN TV, the CBS station in Cedar Rapids Iowa. (I sold television advertising for 7 years before moving back to my home town to marry Jeff.) Every Tuesday morning we had an 8am sales meeting. I would leave my apartment about 7:40 since I lived less than five minutes from work. Check my email real quick before going into the conference room. My boss and career mentor Matt was as usual joking around at the start of the meeting when Kathy walked in late. She said "A plane hit the World Trade Tower. Isn't that so bogus?" (Because it had literally *just* happened there was no information aside from "a plane" so like many we pictured maybe a small cessna or something. We made fun of her for using the word bogus - what is this 1985?
I don't remember why the meeting was so short, but I remember we walked out and into the GM's office. For those who have never worked in TV - every office has several TVs so that each one can be tuned to a different channel. Our GM - Les had 3x 50 inch screens tuned to ABC, NBC, and CBS. And I was standing right in front of them as the second plane hit.
That moment. Right then. That's when you knew "This was not a mistake. This was not a small plane. Oh my God, we're being attacked." We watched for maybe 20 minutes just standing there. The GM then got a call and we were asked to all go call our appointments for the day to tell them we would not be coming to try and sell them advertising and it would be rescheduled. It turns out the call the GM got was that all affiliates were asked to go on Lock Down, as there were rumors that terrorists would want to take control of our airwaves to air their message. (Looking back this seems ridiculous that middle of nowhere Iowa would be part of a target). But then the Pentagon was hit. And the plane in Shanksville crashed. And there was the rumor of a helicopter crash at the white house. It seemed like the sky was falling. Anything horrible seemed possible.
I also don't remember calling my mom - but I must have, or she called me. I was told we were not sure if my uncle was in the towers or not. And then the towers came crashing down. I remember going outside and chain smoking about three cigarettes while sitting on the ground thinking he was dead. My dad was on a business trip, supposed to be flying out of Florida - but as you know all flights were grounded. We were allowed to leave for lunch and I went back to my apartment and just watched more TV and cried. Having to go back to work - why I don't know we didn't do anything other than continue to watch TV - but I seemed comforted to be around people. Because I remember that night I never felt so alone. 23 alone in my apartment, with no friends in this new town, hours from my family, just watching the horror unfold.
I know I learned at some point in the day that my uncle's office has recently been moved to Tribeca and that he was alive. Days later I heard how he had to walk out of Manhattan on foot, covered in ash, helping a older woman he didn't know to get home once they crossed a bridge and he was able to get a car to pick them up. And as planes were grounded for days - my dad ended up having to take a cab from Miami to some other town in order to rent a car the next day or two and drive home from Florida to Chicago.
I really don't remember much of those two or three days after - I know we didn't really work at all, as there was no commercials airing as it was wall to wall coverage. I only remember watching NBC news non stop at home and crying myself to sleep each night.
The next memory I have clear as day was that Friday. It was our GM's birthday - and Matt had the idea that we needed to forget the horrors going on around us. And suggested the entire sales staff go to Chuck E Cheese to celebrate Les's birthday. It was empty. (And if you've been in one, there are no windows out to the world. It was this cocoon of safety to block out reality.) We were the only people there. And Chuck E Cheese sells beer (along with tons of childrens games). So for that entire afternoon, we drank beer, played wack-a-mole and skeet ball, and laughed trying to pretend the world was still innocent. New to the idea of being an adult - it was exactly what I needed. Escape reality- if only for an afternoon- and be a kid again.
That day changed the world. That day changed me. In many ways, it's the day that stole my innocence. In so many ways - that was the year I really became an adult. And that day was the day I realized it.
Friday, September 5, 2014
Getting Something off my chest
Can I say that the trend the last few years (I'd say the last three it's become so much more prevalent) of sanctimommies and articles to that fact annoy me? If you don't know what a sanctimommy is here is the STFU website's definition of it: parents explaining parenting to their childless friends.
And they do it in such a way as to be making a show of being morally superior to others (specifically us childless people).
*PLEASE NOTE - I'M NOT SAYING THIS ABOUT ANY OF MY FRIENDS THIS IS MORE THE ARTICLES OR NEWS STORIES TO THIS EFFECT.
And they do it in such a way as to be making a show of being morally superior to others (specifically us childless people).
I just saw something pop up on my feed...a Huffington Post article called "5 Reasons I love my husband more after having a child". Now I'm sure many women *DO* feel this way, but it's the trend of how it comes across - as if those of us without children can't possibly love our husbands as much or even understand the love - because of our lack of child. PLEASE.
Guess what? That's just what YOU went through to strengthen your love. It doesn't mean it's the only thing. I have friend's going through and bravely fighting cancer - I bet facing that down by each others side has strengthened their love. I know couples that made it through their child's untimely death - I bet that struggle sad and unique as it is can make you see and love your spouse in a different light.
As for me...the years of shooting myself with injection after injection and Jeff being in awe of my strength and resolve to *try* to have a child might be as strong as this article's author's husband's admiration for how hard it is to be a mother of a new born. Jeff caring for me and being at my side during the hours of miscarrying our son - might mirror how her husband was at during her labor...only hers ended in joy and ours was cloaked in sadness. Doesn't make the love less down-to-your-core amazing and help you fall further in love with your spouse.
I guess what I'm ranting at - is do not belittle or undermine the sheer amount of different experiences each individual couple may go through, or each human has simply because it's not yours. I truly do believe this woman has fallen further in love with her husband because of their child...but I have fallen in love more because of our lack of one. One is not "more" than the other.
*PLEASE NOTE - I'M NOT SAYING THIS ABOUT ANY OF MY FRIENDS THIS IS MORE THE ARTICLES OR NEWS STORIES TO THIS EFFECT.
And on that same trend...here is a clip from NBC's Tamron Hall trying to explain this thought on a broader scale of sanctimommies and how us without children are "less than" in their eyes. I don't know if this will work - but if not go HERE
Time for Us
So I have a friend, well really just someone I was friendly with in high school (we were never really close) that is going through IF and semi-open with it on FB. I have reached out to her through private message to cheer her on and explain some treatments but I know after three IUIs nothing has worked. She had a status this week of "I just need a vacation from my life!" and I commented that in the past five years I have found that it *IS* needed even if only for 24 hours to get the hell out of dodge.
Some people may say "but Kati, you don't understand - we don't have the money." Trust me find a way. If you can borrow a tent and pack some food - go camping (basically free except for gas). If you have a friend three hours away - agree to a visit down there. Search out groupon or hotel sites for fire sale cheap deals. Just do anything you can to at least twice a year for at least 24 hours get out and enjoy time for the two of you (with or without friends). This is what I firmly believed help Jeff and I make it through.
And in that spirit - now that we have more money since we spent several years paying down debt, getting promotions, and finally being done keeping as much money as we can find for treatment we're stepping it up damn it!
This weekend we are heading out to a casino in Michigan. Sure just a 36 hour get away but we're really looking forward to it as it's something we enjoy together. Spending all that time together for the car trip, dining, a king size bed (aahhhh) and the laughs we have along the way will be worth it!
And we are planning a trip to Vegas in the spring. Now, I know earlier in the year I said I wanted our next vacation to not be gambling. But we agreed if we got the house we wouldn't have a vacation this year. And we're not. It's NEXT year people, and hell we just both decided we really want to go back so screw it if most of our vacations are gambling.
PLUS we will have a non-gambling vacation next year too. My cousin was supposed to get married in Miami in April...but they've now decided to have a destination wedding in Puerto Rico with only bridal party and close family so we're off the hook (this is when we decided to go to Vegas instead). My dad however was sad this meant we wouldn't have the opportunity for a family vacation (we've not had one since I was 22ish) and he had been working on getting us all to spend a whole week in a house rental for the wedding. My brain kicked into high gear (since I know my dad was jealous of the family vacation we took with Jeff's side four years ago) and I said "Barb's parents own that house in Lake in the Ozarks - why don't we see if we could rent that out?"
It's perfect because it has enough space for us 6 adults and three grandkids. It's on the water. It's between my parents in OK, and my brother and I in Illinois. AND Barb's parents agreed to rent it to us in mid June for five days for $800 - so less than $270 per family. We can split costs of food to cook in the kitchen and maybe go out just once or twice. We could rent a pontoon. Overall MUCH cheaper than my dad's house and flights to Florida. This is totally stuff up my dad's alley, while we all agreed we were not thrilled with the idea of Miami during spring break - as we're not beach people and hell - we're not college kids. While he pouted a bit (because he likes to do the planning and I've put everything together for it) but he's come around to appreciate that we will indeed have a family vacation - the first in 15 years. Yes, we will all get together for Christmas in Oklahoma this year (they get every other year). But a real, out of our homes, vacation together.
I know IF brain makes a lot of you think "we can't plan that far ahead" and I totally get it. (We thought if we got KU from the June IVF I couldn't go to Miami.) But seriously ladies still going through it. Find a weekend in the next few months, even if it is to go see the leaves changing color somewhere and a little bed and breakfast. And get the hell out of dodge for a day!
Some people may say "but Kati, you don't understand - we don't have the money." Trust me find a way. If you can borrow a tent and pack some food - go camping (basically free except for gas). If you have a friend three hours away - agree to a visit down there. Search out groupon or hotel sites for fire sale cheap deals. Just do anything you can to at least twice a year for at least 24 hours get out and enjoy time for the two of you (with or without friends). This is what I firmly believed help Jeff and I make it through.
And in that spirit - now that we have more money since we spent several years paying down debt, getting promotions, and finally being done keeping as much money as we can find for treatment we're stepping it up damn it!
This weekend we are heading out to a casino in Michigan. Sure just a 36 hour get away but we're really looking forward to it as it's something we enjoy together. Spending all that time together for the car trip, dining, a king size bed (aahhhh) and the laughs we have along the way will be worth it!
And we are planning a trip to Vegas in the spring. Now, I know earlier in the year I said I wanted our next vacation to not be gambling. But we agreed if we got the house we wouldn't have a vacation this year. And we're not. It's NEXT year people, and hell we just both decided we really want to go back so screw it if most of our vacations are gambling.
PLUS we will have a non-gambling vacation next year too. My cousin was supposed to get married in Miami in April...but they've now decided to have a destination wedding in Puerto Rico with only bridal party and close family so we're off the hook (this is when we decided to go to Vegas instead). My dad however was sad this meant we wouldn't have the opportunity for a family vacation (we've not had one since I was 22ish) and he had been working on getting us all to spend a whole week in a house rental for the wedding. My brain kicked into high gear (since I know my dad was jealous of the family vacation we took with Jeff's side four years ago) and I said "Barb's parents own that house in Lake in the Ozarks - why don't we see if we could rent that out?"
It's perfect because it has enough space for us 6 adults and three grandkids. It's on the water. It's between my parents in OK, and my brother and I in Illinois. AND Barb's parents agreed to rent it to us in mid June for five days for $800 - so less than $270 per family. We can split costs of food to cook in the kitchen and maybe go out just once or twice. We could rent a pontoon. Overall MUCH cheaper than my dad's house and flights to Florida. This is totally stuff up my dad's alley, while we all agreed we were not thrilled with the idea of Miami during spring break - as we're not beach people and hell - we're not college kids. While he pouted a bit (because he likes to do the planning and I've put everything together for it) but he's come around to appreciate that we will indeed have a family vacation - the first in 15 years. Yes, we will all get together for Christmas in Oklahoma this year (they get every other year). But a real, out of our homes, vacation together.
I know IF brain makes a lot of you think "we can't plan that far ahead" and I totally get it. (We thought if we got KU from the June IVF I couldn't go to Miami.) But seriously ladies still going through it. Find a weekend in the next few months, even if it is to go see the leaves changing color somewhere and a little bed and breakfast. And get the hell out of dodge for a day!
Tuesday, September 2, 2014
The House Debacle (Catching Up)
So...if you were reading my blog in April and May you know that we searched through about 20 house tours (and countless online listings) and put offers in on five houses. The first one we couldn't negotiate a price after a week of back and forth from the home owner (short sale). Two we were out bid on. One when we heard there was four other offers we simply withdrew our bid the same day. And the fifth was excepted straight up the day we offered. All but the house we withdrew on are short sales - because in our area and price range that's simply what's available. Two out of 20 house were not short sales, one was foreclosure. (Welcome to one of the fastest growing area's during the housing boom of the late 90's and early 2000's!)
We put the bid on what I've now come to think of as "Our house" May 30th.
I was told by someone (can't remember who anymore) that in 2010-11 - short sales took about 9 months. And in 2012 as they became more common it took around 6 months. I was told the last year; it takes about three to four months. So I figured come end of August we would be looking towards a closing date.
Yeah, no. So the short sale mortgage was originally held by Bank of America (dumbasses). Unbeknown to us, *our house* was in a large group that they then sold to a smaller bank and it went through on August 1st. So now we have to start from scratch with the new bank. I asked a friend "Why would they do this when here we sit perfectly happy to pay them money for it?!?" He explained - Say BoA has 400 houses that are all upside down and/or up for short sale. Each house has a mortgage worth $250k and are short sale listed around $200K. They have 100 million wrapped up in these houses that people are no longer paying on their mortgages. Sure they could wait out all the short sales and headaches and get 80 million of it but that will take time and their balance sheet keeps looking crappy. But say a smaller bank says "Hey, we'll pay you 60 million for those homes and we'll deal with the headache!" BoA balance sheet starts to look better for them in the short term and the little bank wins because in the end they'll make a profit.
OK - at least that I get. But I want my house NOW! So if the clock started over Aug 1st. And people are saying it will be faster* now that it's not with BoA who is notoriously slow that still puts the average 3 month time frame at around Halloween with a closing date after Thanksgiving! Ugh. At this rate I just hope we're in there by Christmas. (Let me tell you I do NOT want to decorate this place only to pack it and decorate the house. Putting up Christmas once takes time. Doing it twice in one year? No thanks.
But seriously - since it's already been 3 months already - I'm totally moved in in my mind! I've been through it three times (Once before offer in May, One in June for inspection, and once in early Aug so my mom could see it). We have a mental list of what gets fixed or painted asap (all appliances and first floor), what we hope to do in first year (hard wood floors on first level and paint all of second level) and what can wait more than a year (finish half basement, new backsplash and countertops in kitchen etc). I've been internet window shopping for appliances and furniture, daydreaming of color schemes for paint and curtains, pinteresting on backyard fire pits and maintenance for deck. This is OUR HOUSE.
My dad after the latest update was like "OMG, I could NEVER buy a house this way!" Yeah? Well give us another 50k and we could look at houses that are not short sale! Thankfully our townhouse we've lived in these past six and a half years the landlord loves us and is willing to give us a 60 day out clause (which we've now had in place since May 1st) so there's no rush except the desire to just get in there already!
We put the bid on what I've now come to think of as "Our house" May 30th.
 |
| Isn't it so cute?? |
Yeah, no. So the short sale mortgage was originally held by Bank of America (dumbasses). Unbeknown to us, *our house* was in a large group that they then sold to a smaller bank and it went through on August 1st. So now we have to start from scratch with the new bank. I asked a friend "Why would they do this when here we sit perfectly happy to pay them money for it?!?" He explained - Say BoA has 400 houses that are all upside down and/or up for short sale. Each house has a mortgage worth $250k and are short sale listed around $200K. They have 100 million wrapped up in these houses that people are no longer paying on their mortgages. Sure they could wait out all the short sales and headaches and get 80 million of it but that will take time and their balance sheet keeps looking crappy. But say a smaller bank says "Hey, we'll pay you 60 million for those homes and we'll deal with the headache!" BoA balance sheet starts to look better for them in the short term and the little bank wins because in the end they'll make a profit.
 |
| Arial shot of deck and HUGE yard (play set will be gone) Trees are much more mature as this was taken years ago |
But seriously - since it's already been 3 months already - I'm totally moved in in my mind! I've been through it three times (Once before offer in May, One in June for inspection, and once in early Aug so my mom could see it). We have a mental list of what gets fixed or painted asap (all appliances and first floor), what we hope to do in first year (hard wood floors on first level and paint all of second level) and what can wait more than a year (finish half basement, new backsplash and countertops in kitchen etc). I've been internet window shopping for appliances and furniture, daydreaming of color schemes for paint and curtains, pinteresting on backyard fire pits and maintenance for deck. This is OUR HOUSE.
My dad after the latest update was like "OMG, I could NEVER buy a house this way!" Yeah? Well give us another 50k and we could look at houses that are not short sale! Thankfully our townhouse we've lived in these past six and a half years the landlord loves us and is willing to give us a 60 day out clause (which we've now had in place since May 1st) so there's no rush except the desire to just get in there already!
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