The Phoenix, Part 1

I know what you're asking.  It's the dilemma that's taken hold over your thoughts, dreams, and actions during the last two months.  Why haven't you written Charles?  Well, the weekly blog thing was a good idea but I really ran out of time last semester.  I don't know how I stuck to my commitment to refrain from doing homework on Sunday's, but I did, and I didn't use the time for blogging.  It was mainly used for napping.  After school was over I was in Texas.  When I got back, I figured I'd wait until classes started to give an update.  But I'll finish talking about my ridiculous Fall semester before I move on to this semester.

I was taking 18.5 Units and it was pretty rough.  I did have my tutoring job until the end (about 8.5 hours a week).  The Chalet I eventually "quit."  They stopped giving me hours when their budget was tight and I didn't want to work there anyways (more time for homework/naps on the weekend).  I turned in my two weeks notice before they could either (a) schedule me during finals/holiday times and/or (b) fire me.  I didn't look for another job after that since my two-day a week availability really only works with a retail job, and I don't know of a retailer that would hire someone in November/December who would be away on the holidays. 

I don't really remember why last semester was so hard besides the unit load.  I know I was making sure that school wasn't taking priority over spending time with Merilee.  I just remember pulling all-nighters a lot after I kissed her goodnight.  But it finally ended, and I eventually slept. 

Texas was glorious.  Merilee has a sister there, Sarah, who I'm very much a fan of (she planned our wedding, for one).  Me, Merilee, and Bonnie, had all bought tickets back in May so we could spend Christmas with Sarah and her family in Spring.  We were the first ones there, so the first couple days we basically just took naps all day.  Once more people arrived, we spent most of the time watching movies, playing games, eating chocolate, and laughing at how much Sarah's youngest hated Merilee.  I probably ate my weight in chocolate (there seemed to be an endless amount!) and even forgot what day it was a few times.  Like I said, it was glorious.  It was also good to get to know some of the Peterson clan better.

Day Before Marriage

We had been there two weeks (the 19th to the 1st) and when we came back I had three whole weeks before school started.  I weighed myself and surpassed even my wildest expectations when I found that I had gained about 10 pounds over the break.  I was 165 when I got married, then I somehow gained 10 pounds, then after the break I weighed in at 185 (a weight I only had once when I was in high school).  You can see in these two pictures the 20 pounds I've gained since that most wonderful day in July.

 

 

 

Jan 1st, Returned from Christmas in Texas

I committed myself immediately to losing those ten pounds in one week that I had accumulated over those two weeks.  I started running, using my dumbbells, etc. and succeeded.  Fortunately, I also gained 5 pounds or so of muscle, so I'm still hovering between 180 and 185.  Anyways, I'm fine with being 185 as long as more of it is muscle, but my pants are getting tighter and I don't like it (too much hip muscle?).

I don't know exactly how we started talking about it, but it came to my attention that my brother-in-law, Don, was wanting to use the P90X program he had but wanted someone to do it with.  But I'll talk about that more in my next post, since this one is already pretty long.