Loni's Life

Ok, I'm enjoying my last few lazy weekends before the Master's Degree homework kicks in. This weekend my hubby was moving the last of the people from the old office to the new office, so he wasn't available to play... so I ended up knitting, stamping, watching TV, doing laundry, doing some spring cleaning, taking some naps, doing some yoga and some walking and went to the movies. Just a Lazy Weekend :)

Ok, since I've got some reflective time on my hands since I was lazy this weekend and didn't study for the upcoming CISA exam (and yes, I will get to that this week during the week and in the next few weekends)... I figured I'd check on my progress towards my various goals for 2008 Knit or Crochet 25 preemie caps for stitchesfromtheheart.org 11 done, 14 to go Follow the Jenny Craig Program to lose 65 pounds this year! Not so well on this one; so I'll modify this to continue to follow the JC program and work to lose 25 pounds between now and December... with HHH training coming I'm sure that 25 will be very do-able. Ride strong in the DFW MS150 in May ~ Complete!!! Had a total BLAST riding with the pack this year... Go Frito-Lay Cheesy Riders!!! Ride the 25 mile short route of the Hotter than Hell 100 cycling tour in August and finish under 3 hours... Modified this one ~ my cycling partner and I decided to try the 50 Mile route instead... though we reserve the ...

I went to the Annual Company Picnic yesterday and had a blast. It would have been more fun if either my hubby or my best girlfriend would have been able to go... but alas, he got called into the office and she wasn't available to play with me since her hubby wanted to go to a movie or something that was in-range of his office (since he has to be within 30min of his office during his call weeks). I was asked several times 1) where's your husband and 2) where's M?... pretty much M & I are like two peas in a pod and where you see one, you usually see the other, LOL! I arrived at the amusement park just in time to park and get to our picnic pavilion area on time. Got lucky enough sharking the parking lot and driving the aisles that I was able to get a spot in only row 28; so that wasn't too bad. Arrived at the picnic pavilions about 3:55 with serving starting at 4:00 and there was, of course a line... with just over 1000 tickets delivered, I knew there would be a line....

Gee, I'm almost LOST without a pair of back to back training rides... this weekend I took off to enjoy just some R&R. Friday, I got to celebrate the graduation ceremony of a dear family friend.. then on Saturday I spent some time at an annual Crawfish Boil given by some friends.. had a blast playing with a pair of 4 year olds in the pool and hot tub (well not hot, since we had little ones about; but certainly warmer than the pool side). Today, it's just been catching up on paperwork for my TOPS Chapter as well as stuffing envelopes for the Company Picnic. I also checked in with all the dear Moms that I had mailed Mother's Day greeting to.. my StepMom, my Mother-in-Law, my best girlfriend's Auntie, my best girlfriend (mom to a dear Yorkie), and my College Mom. 3 of the 5 had received their cards; I left a message for my MIL, but didn't hear back.. my hubby was happy that I had mailed a card with gift card since he's been so busy with his Office movi...

Ok, I've been pussyfooting around with the Graduate Studies... and really wasn't going to go back any day soon... but then I was reviewing paperwork (have all the paperwork at the office already approved for Tuition Reimbursement)... and I finished up my Undergrad degree in 2005... so if I didn't want to have to go thru the whole re-admissions process including getting Official Transcripts from every school I ever attended, then it was time to sign up for a class. I had hoped to start off with MGT6177 Human Resource Management since I enjoyed the Undergrad courses I took with the Professor I had selected. Unfortunately, his distance learning section was already filled and I didn't like the looks of the syllabus for the other section of the same course by a different professor. So I'll be taking ECO6140 Managerial Economics instead.. term paper/grad project and all. And for my College Mom, who I know is reading this post, yes, I really am taking class because a) I...

Ok, if you are a Survivor Fan and you haven't watched it yet because it's on Tivo or elsewise recorded.. skip this post if you want to remain surprised... Boo and fooey! I don't think that Parv deserved to win the million; but I don't think that Amanda could have won up against Cirie (my favorite) either... You'd think after Survivor China that Amanda would have figured out how to do better at swaying the Jury. So I'm disappointed that my fave didn't win; I really think she could have swayed the jury pretty well.. but I am happy that James won the $100K for being voted the Sprint Player of the Season. Gee, now what am I going to do on Thursday nights until the next season comes on?

A great big Happy Mother's Day to all the Moms of the world! http://www.dayformothers.com/mothers-day-humour/my-mother-taught-me.html My Mother Taught Me… To Value A Job Well Done If you're going to kill each other, do it outside. I just finished cleaning. Time Travel If you don't straighten up, I'm going to knock you into the middle of next week! Logic Because I said so, that's why. Foresight Make sure you wear clean underwear, in case you're in an accident. Irony Keep crying and I'll give you something to cry about. Osmosis Shut your mouth and eat your supper. Stamina You'll sit there until all that spinach is gone. Weather This room of yours looks as if a tornado went through it. Hypocrisy If I told you once, I've told you a million times. Don't exaggerate! Circle Of LifeI brought you into this world, and I can take you out. Behavior Modification Stop acting like your father! Envy There are millions of less fortunate children in this world who...

So the key to getting photo by the Official Event Photographers is to make sure that you cross the Finish Line each day of the tour... and another tip is to separate yourself from a huge pack of riders too! Here's one of my favorites coming into Sundance Square, downtown Ft. Worth TX. By this time I had sufficiently recovered from the hellacious hill(s) that appear right before the doggone finish line. Had that one hill been any longer, I'd have surely been walking it since I had used the full range of gears and had none left in reserve.

Finish line smiles in Sundance Square, Ft. Worth Texas; May 4, 2008. That's me on the left and my cycling partner on the right. I thought those last few hills into Sundance were going to kill me... but I actually made it without having to stop and without having to walk... there was plenty of cussing under my breath going on.. but crossing the finish was worth the effort.

Oh my gosh, only 1 more day until we are riding seemingly endless hours for a good cause.. The SAM'S CLUB MS 150 is a two-day, cycling adventure through North Texas that raises funds to help people living with MS. To make a tax-deductible donation securely online... or for a mailing address to mail a check or money order follow my link (it will continue to a secured link for credit card donations) http://www.ms150.org/dallas/donate/donate.cfm?id=207326

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge . When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable. All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind. They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster. You have been spotted, and when you and your special...