Those 5 Pounds!

I have returned back to work after a six week absence due to having Pnuemonia and facturing a rib coughing. It's really nice to be back. I have no complaints about that. The only complaint I have right now is the five pounds I gained while sitting at home getting better. I want it to be gone RIGHT NOW!! I worked out today, a very wimpy workout because my rib still kind of hurts, but I am very proud of myself. I had to wear my "fat pants" for work and I barely fit into my jeans. I know that I will lose some weight just walking around at work, but I am very impatient about this. I want those five pounds gone!

Advice from a Friend

Today I spoke with a friend who gave me some advice. He asked about my dating life and I told him that it is nonexistent, which is 100% true! I told him that I thought it was because I'm at a weird age, 36, where guys my age are looking for younger girls and guys older than I are looking to not have any more kids or are just weird if they haven't been married yet. He asked me what I do to throw my interest out there? I replied that I throw parties and invite the guys who I'm interested in or I attend functions and make sure they are going to be there. He told me that I need to flirt to show my interest. He also told me that if I wanted to ask out a guy, to just do it. I then told him that I am fearful of rejection. He told me that guys get rejected all the time and it's no big deal. I then quoted the line from the pig on Toy Story, "I just don't know if I can take that kind of rejection!" He laughed, then got down to business.

He suggested for the flirting that I do "The Elbow Touch." He wasn't the first guy friend of mine to suggest this. I couldn't believe that this is a real flirting tool! I don't even know how to do this! I guess I'll have to try it at HB Single's Conference in a couple of weeks. There will be a ton of men that I will be able to experiment on.

As for asking out a guy, he suggested I ask him out of ice cream. He compared this to asking someone to have coffee, but since we are dealing with Mormons, he suggested the ice cream. He said if it is enjoyable, then try for another date. I admit that this sounds easy enough, but I really don't like the fact that I may have to ask the guy out.

This all feels a little weird and I guess I will have to force myself to do both things because I don't want to be alone all my life, even though not getting involved or dating would be easier. Ugghh!!! Here it goes...

Good Times with Luke!

My nephew, Luke, is here visiting me for a couple of days. I have three nieces and three nephews who all live in Kaysville, Utah. When each of them turn eight, they get to fly on an airplane all by themselves and come to visit Auntie Angela. It's kind of like their "right of passage." Those who have already visited, nieces, all talk about how cool it was and all the fun things they did on their visit. So, Luke came with HUGE expectations and has not been disappointed!

We have watched Percy Jackson: The Lightening Thief, How to Train a Dragon in 3D, Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel, and Astro Boy. Percy Jackson and How to Train a Dragon were Awesome! The other two I kind of slept through, but Luke loved them. We also went hiking today and now my rib is hurting. Man! How long is this injury going to hurt? Luke loved it so it was worth it. We also had a picnic, went to a pizza buffet and played a lot of Xbox 360. He really loves the Indiana Jones game and Karaoke Revolution. I have completely enjoyed my time with him. He is so sweet! He has been waking up at 6am and playing Xbox without the sound so I won't wake up. He is such a kind and gentle little boy. I am very fortunate and grateful that his parents allow him to visit. I am blessed!

I am feeling better day-by-day and have been forcing myself to get out of the house and walk around, even if it's only around the neighborhood. My rib is feeling better and I am still trying to control my cough. I lose it sometimes, but I am able to pretty much control my cough with my inhaler. I am hoping that next month I will be 100%.

WAAAAAAAA!!!!! Sniff, Sniff :(

Okay, so this is a painful time of the year...tax time. I hate it. I usually end up owing because I haven't had enough taken out and the same is true for this year too. I just filed my taxes with TurboTax, which by the way was awesome; even for a Flight Attendant and all my deductions, and sent everything off E-file. Technology has made my life easier in that aspect. No more standing in line at the post office waiting for an return signature card. Now, with a click of my mouse, I just sent it directly to the IRS. Knowing all this, it still doesn't make it any less painful to file and pay. Next year I vow not to pay. I am going to increase my deductions so I don't have to pay. This year was a couple thousand dollars. Yep, you can re-read that, but yes, that is what I had to pay. That is why on a Friday night, this beautiful, single and successful independent girl is crying and throwing a tantrum like a baby. Who knows? Maybe next year I won't owe and get a refund. Ha! I doubt it with the passage of O'BamaCare.

Pancakes!

Yesterday I woke up craving pancakes. I had purchased a new cookbook and there was a very simple recipe for pancakes that promised they were unbelievable! So, I tried it. It was VERY easy and extremely yummy. I will never buy another pancake mix again! The recipe made about 7-8 pancakes so I ate two (barely) and froze the others. I had two frozen ones this morning and they were still delicious. These are quick and can be on the table within 10 minutes. Here is the recipe:

Fluffy, Thick Homestyle Pancakes
1 1/2 C. flour
3 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 Tbsp. sugar
1 1/4 C. milk
1 egg
3 Tbsp. butter, melted

In a large bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, salt and sugar. Make a well in the center and pour in the milk, egg, and melted butter; mix until smooth. Heat a lightly oiled griddle or frying pan over medium-high heat. Pour or scoop the batter onto the griddle, using approximately 1/4 C. for each pancake. Brown on both sides and serve hot. Makes 8 servings.

Recipe is from Worldwide Ward Cookbook.

I also slept through the night last night for the first time in three weeks! It's been great! I thought I would be really bored staying home all this time, but I've been really tired and sleeping most of the day. It just means my body is repairing :)

My Health Care

Today I made my fourth trip to the dr. this month! It really is getting ridiculous, but today I finally got some sort of diagnosis. I have a fractured rib. Just as I suspected two weeks ago, I broke my rib when I was coughing so hard. I heard it pop and it really hurt. Even though there isn't really a treatment except manage the pain with meds and lots of rest. So, I am going to rest another two weeks. I am really tired of being sick, but now I kind of feel like I'm finally getting somewhere.

I am very glad that I have great health care, but I am extremely worried that this great nation has really made a HUGE blunder! This government, whom our forefathers escaped socialism and oppressive governments and rulers to establish, has passed and now will be signed into law, a mandatory health care program that I as a tax payer and citizen must pay for. So, my freedom to make decisions on my own health care, including any tests that I may opt to pay for, will no longer be my decision, but my government, elected officials who have sworn an oath to represent the people! Yes, this is the United States, the Land of the Free? My only hope is that our wonderful Constitution bails us out of this huge blunder that has been done.

Vanity

Well, in my previous blog I mentioned my Dr. told me that I would feel younger. If he meant that I wouldn't be able to sleep all night and stay up until 5am, he was right! I finally fell asleep after eating a bowl of Cheerios. My Grandpa Thatcher always ate a bowl of Honey-Nut Cheerios before going to bed. It really worked for me last night. I fell right to sleep after eating :) It's funny what one remembers about their grandparents.

In my tossing and turning I was thinking about a friend of mine who is getting plastic surgery. This is isn't my first friend to do this, but the first who is LDS. I've always promised myself that I would get a breast lift as my 40th birthday present to myself. Being sick these past couple of weeks and having surgery on my hand last September, I am rethinking my whole 40th birthday plan. It would all be in the name of Vanity, right?

So, this got me thinking last night as I was tossing and turning...Is getting optional plastic surgery vain? I thought through all the reasons one might give as justification for it. "To feel better about myself," "I've always wanted to do it," or my favorite "I want to do something for me after my divorce to be more attractive." I myself have the excuse and justification that if I get my breast lift when I'm 40, they will be right back where they are now when I'm 80!

I remember a couple years ago a talk given in Conference that advised women of the church to not give into the wordly preoocupation of self and on the physical. We were warned that it is spiritually destructive. I tried to find the talk and this link will take you to the one I think it is. If it isn't, please correct me!

LDS.org - Ensign Article - To Young Women

I could probably go on all day about this, and I know that my nieces read this. I just want them to know that we all come in different shapes and sizes. No one is a perfect size or shape! Look in the mirror and celebrate what makes you wonderful and special! I will start! I love my freckles. Have I always? Nope. In junior high I hated them. I love my hair. It sometimes curls, but it has a little bit of red in it (naturally) and it brings out the little bit of green in my eyes, which I also love. I love that I have an hour-glass shape too! I am not a small shaped person and never will be, but I have been given this body for a reason, important reasons. One of those important reasons is to perform service like Visiting Teaching! There are so many things that I love about myself that once I start thinking about them, the small things I don't like become pretty insignificant. Of course, these are physical things, which are pretty unimportant. The real importance is what kind of person you are and who you want to be! I am also including Natasha Bedingfield's Song Freckles. I love that song and pretty much sums up what I am talking about.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrIA-DZmtGQ