Getting back to business

[Guest guest]

Morning!

Got Niki and Arturo off to the airport last night. Had a real good time

with them. Had a few surprises too! Well I wasn't totally surprised.

They had left a card on the table. I saw it as I was leaving but

thought I'd read it when I got home. Well Mike called me when he got

home and asked if I had looked at it. I said no. He said well there was

$200 in it! I really did not expect that. They had been giving us $20

every time we went somewhere to eat the whole time. This is a big deal

because last time Niki was home we got in a fight because she just

stood there while I paid for everything and didn't even say thank you.

I felt she wasn't being unappreciative and that she acted like we

should be still supporting her and that once you leave home and are

making your own money that it is not the parents responsibility

anymore. When visiting my mom I have never assumed she would pay for

things. I always get my money out and thank her when she does pay. So

this was a big deal right there. I was very impressed by that. Then

after Mike got done bowling we went to a restaurant and had dessert. As

we were leaving, Niki and Arturo and I heading to the airport and Mike

for home, Niki and I got in the Jeep and Arturo was still standing

there talking to Mike. Mike told me on the phone that Arturo was

thanking us for having him and saying how he really loves Nichole and

wants to take care of her and wanted our blessing. Mike was totally

surprised but I wasn't. I could tell right off the bat, they are very

close already. They are very good together and he is really good to

her. They already do the little " couple " things like she carries this

big purse now. She never used to carry one at all and in it she has his

things like his Lactade and stuff. It was really cute! Every morning

she would get his coffee for him with cream and sugar and the mornings

I didn't make breakfast for everybody she would make him his favorite,

Fruit Loops with hot chocolate. Too cute! They are very affectionate

with each other. She never was with her other boyfriends, in front of

us anyway. So lots of little things while they were here made me think

that he's " the one " . I think dad's just don't want to think about that.

LOL Other things made me feel good about him too. Like he helped around

here. Little things like dumping out a pot of water for me, chopping

wood and making a fire, he was petting the cats all the time. Her

previous boyfriend would say cats are no good for anything and it

really made me mad. Love me, love my cats and Niki is as big of a cat

lover as me so that meant a lot to us both. A couple times he made a

point to tell me what a wonderful job we did raising Niki and how lucky

he felt to have found her and thanked us for it. Also he just fit in

really well with us all. Our sense of humor and stuff. So all in all,

it went well. I hated seeing them go but do feel Niki is being well

taken care of and she is happy so I can feel ok about it.

One thing that kind of ruined the night was in the parking garage at

the airport was I was backing up to let a truck out so I could park

there and got hit from behind. The lady tried to say it was my fault

but Arturo said she had plenty of room to see my lights and she hit me.

My Jeep is fine. She hit the spare tire. But her hood has a dent in it

where the tire hit. She is saying it's all messed up but she opened and

closed it fine right there in front of me a few times. So I have to

call insurance today and deal with that. I'm hoping it doesn't turn

into a big headache.

We never did see any moose so Arturo keeps joking that they are just a

mythical creature. LOL He did get to see the Northern Lights though on

New Years. I saw a whole bunch of them on my way home last night. They

were all over! We've been below zero again. It got real cold when they

first got here then warmed up to the 30s for a few days. Now cold

again. In other words, it's winter in Alaska.

So, they are gone now. Back to Washington DC. They graduate from the

nursing training in April and we are planning on going there for that.

Then they go to El Paso, Ft Bliss after that. Well Niki does but Arturo

is Army Reserves so doesn't have to but to be with Niki he is going.

They were looking at apartments and stuff on line while here.

Like I said in the subject line, time to get back to business. I have

eaten enough food and drank enough booze the last 2 weeks for the whole

year I think! LOL Oh and have hardly been drinking any water and almost

no exercise. So time to get back to business. As I mentioned yesterday,

my goals this next year, well 15 months (40 the b-day March 2005) are

to exercise at least 4 times a week for at least 20 min. To drink at

least 80 oz of water a day. To eat healthier and watch my portions.

Above all to get back under 200 and then to get under 170. I'm about

220 right now. That means to get there in 15 months I need to lose at

least 3 lbs a month. a doable goal I think.

I'm going to go through some more old e-mails this morning, deleting

most. Get on the tread for a bit and then have to get going. Cassie is

cleaning the shop today and Mike will be out on a job all day so I have

to go get her then we are going to Walmart. You all have a good day.

Drink your water, get some exercise, keep your portions small. We can

do this!!!!!

Gena

284/220/200/170 or less

[Guest guest]

Gena

I am glad you had such a wonderful visit with your daughter and her

man. It sounded fun for all of you.

Its good that you are getting back to business!!!! We are here for

you and you know what to do...lol