Talladega

We just got back from going to Talladega! We go twice a year, and haven't missed a race since we first began going. The first time we went we sat on the back stretch. We haven't sat there again! LOL!! We now usually sit somewhere in the Tri-Oval, with a great view of pit road. This year, Jody waited a little long to get the tickets so our seats were not as good as usual. We sat on the right side of the start/finish line going into turn one. Not the best seats, but a different vantage point of the track so that made it cool. I got some really good photos of the race that I will upload later.

Talladega is crazy!! The have all these camp site that they open up. We camp across the street from the track in a big field. It is amazing just to see the giant sea of campers. This time we arrived on Friday. We set up camp, ate some dinner and then headed over to the dirt track. That is some crazy racing that goes on over there. The cars can slide off the track and over the hill. I think it is amazing to watch that happen, cause usually they drive back up the hill in a few seconds. We believe that Tony Stewart was there again watching the race. He was last time we went. There were also several cup drivers that came over to race. That was pretty cool. I think that Aric Amirola won that race. I'll have to double check that with Jody.

Saturday was the Nationwide race. We did the souvenirs haulers on the way to the track. Found our seats in settled in for some great racing. Our man, Tony Stewart, won the race. This was a really really big deal, because he has NEVER won at Talladega before. He has finished 2nd many times, and usually leads a good amount of the race, to always have something happen for him not to finish in first. Usually it is the draft that gets him. Drafting at Talledega is an art form. Usually we are really close to victory lane, but not this time. I decided to start walking towards Victory lane to see if I could catch any photo of Tony. I made it and managed to get some pretty good shots.

Sunday was the big cup race. It began to rain on Saturday night, so we were a little concerned about the race getting to be started, but thankfully all the rain cleared out early morning. We arrived in time for me to take pictures of the driver introductions. I got some great shots of all of our favorite drivers.

Although it did begin to rain again, about 45 mins after the finish of the race. Perfect timing!!Tony led most of this race also. Only to be finally knocked out by a wreak with only 14 laps left!! But have no fear, one of the other guys that we root for managed to pull off the win! Yeah!! Kyle Busch won the race.

Can't wait to go again!!

Workout partner

I found me a workout partner. My new partner is my hairstylist, Mary. LOL!! I was getting my hair done the other day, and we were talking about how we needed to lose weight, and how we never go to they gym, etc..... We both belong to the same gym, and had talked about meeting at the gym before, a few months ago, but had never done it.

This time was different. We both agreed that having a person to be accountable to would help. So every Monday and Wednesday we are going to meet at the gym.

Today was the first day. We both made it. Mary kept telling me how happy she was that we were doing it. I am happy too! I walked for an hour today. I did 2.75 (ish) miles. I think it was actually 2.78 when I got off the treadmill, but am not 100% positive. I know it was at least 2.75. I also did the circuit training. On my worksheet for that, it had me do a squat using the stability ball....I just know that I am going to feel that in my thighs tomorrow! LOL!!

I am sooo glad that Mary and I have decided to do this. Even if we only meet each other twice a week...it will get us going! And maybe once we get going and make it a habit, and begin to lose weight, maybe we will go even more. I am not sure that we will be able to meet together any other day (those happen to be her days off) but, it will be nice to be able to look forward to having a partner on at least those 2 days.

I know this is just what I need. A standing "date" to go to the gym! No excuses!!

My Inspiration

When I lived in Ohio, my BEST friend was Melissa. We lost touch after I moved away and had not talked for a few years. We have recently began to talk again. We've been catching up on each other lives. Melissa has told me about some of the new things and adventures that she has been doing. She is doing a half marathon,in May. She is doing that with her mom, another friend of ours and the friends mom. This half marathon is 13.1 miles, They are going to walk it. She has also recently done a "Tackle the Tower" race. The object of this race was to climb the stairs of a 37 story building in Cleveland, as fast as you could. (well 37 flights of stairs..for a total of 646 steps) Wow!! She has also been "Zorbing." This is where you climb into a giant inflatable ball, get harnessed in, and then roll down a giant steep hill. I cannot believe some of the things she has done and is doing.

When we were friends, she was the heaviest of the two of us. I was beginning to get curious about if she had lost weight, or was losing weight. I didn't know how to ask her though. The last time I saw Melissa she was about the weight I am now. I did not want to make her mad at me for asking though, so I asked to see a picture of her. (I didn't get a picture when I had asked because she was on her way out of town.) Recently, I was looking at the website for her new business. While I was on there, I found a picture of her. This is the picture that I found.....

WOW!!!! I'm sure this looks like a very simple picture of a girl....... but to me...it is just amazing! The last time that I saw Melissa she was the size that I am now. That's right! And now she is a size 6!!! Wow!!! She is now my new inspiration!!

You hear of people losing weight everyday. They are always people that you don't know. And those stories can inspire some people. But to know someone who has ACTUALLY lost a lot of weight....that is just truly inspiring. She looks amazing!! I am soo blown away by her. Melissa has always been the type that will not tell you what she weighs/or lost. So I can't tell you exactly how much she did lose....cause she won't tell me! LOL!! But I can tell you, that when she began her weight lost journey, she wore a 16-18. (she kept a pair of size 18 jeans to remind herself, how far she has come). The other absolutely amazing thing is this....She lost the weight in only 1 year!! 1 year!!!

So I had to pick her brain. I asked her a TON of questions. Such as what made her finally do it, what did she do, how did she do it...etc. Again I am so impressed. She did it the way that I want to do it. She did it completely by herself. No magic pills, no weird diet. All that she did was start working out. And as she did that, she changed her diet in a healthy way.

It has been over 7 months now, since she quit losing. She says that her weight does fluctuate up and down (by about 10 pounds), but when she gains, she usually gets back to the weight that she is currently, within a week. She wants to lose 10 more pounds, so that when she does gain a few pounds it won't be more than she is currently. She told me that she even "allowed" herself to be "Bad" during the holidays. She said that she gained about 12 pounds, but as soon as the new year began she got serious again. She lost the weight within 2 weeks. The funny thing is, she did not go to the gym during this time....so if she had actually still gone, she may have gained very little, if any at all.

I am sooo inspired by her! I hope that a year from now, that I will be able to share a weight loss story like hers! Wish me luck!!

My Step-Kids

My Step-Kids just spent the week with us for their spring break. They are William (13), Logan (9) and Emi (7).

Of course it had to rain almost everyday that they were here. We had a great time though. We went to Chuck E. Cheese. We went to the park. The kids played on the trampoline (when it wasn't wet) We played board games. They played with all of their toys in their rooms. The boys went fishing and worked on trucks with their dad. Emi and I went shopping. We bought her first digital camera! I can't wait to see what she takes pictures of. (as long as they are not of me!)

This week was the first time that we had seen William in 2 years. (He has gotten soo BIG!!) I was SOO nervous about him coming. Mostly because so much time had past. I did not know anything about him anymore. Plus we'd been told that he had a really bad attitude at home. So I was not sure how he was going to act and behave when he got here. It went GREAT!! I think he had a good time. He said he did. I think he had really missed coming to see us. It's a long story of why he was not coming to visit us anymore, but I do think that he will come to see us more often in the future.

Logan, was fantastic this week too. The last time he visited, I was very very frustrated with him. Everytime I tried to talk to him he would give me a horrible look and/or walk out of the room. There were a lot of things going on at his Mom's house, that I think was contributing to his attitude. This week he had NONE of the attitude. He was absolutely darling! Very very sweet all week.

Emi....What can I say about my Emi? She is always soooo adorable. Well most of the time. The last morning she was here, we were at the mall shopping. All of the sudden she turned to me, and said that she has "soo much fun" at my house. She also told me she did not want to go home. My heart just broke! She says it is not fun at her house. I am almost positive that she gets more attention and love when she is with her Dad and me. The night before we "baked" cookies together (the kind that you just place onto the cookie sheet and bake) Nothing special, but you could just tell, that to her, it was.

Jody and I would LOVE for the kids to come and live with us. We are trying to convince the kids mother that them coming to live with us is what it best for them. I hate to take them away from their mom, BUT the environment that they are in is not good for them. Again, a very very long story.......They NEED to have a more stable environment. They need to have better role models in their lives. She has said that it was up to the kids. The thing is, when the kids are here with us, they say they want to live with us. But then they go home.... I am not sure if they are scared to tell their mom that they want to come here or what, but so far it has not worked out in our favor. Maybe this time will be different. Maybe the kids will be living with us by the next school year. I hope so!