Throwing down the gauntlet

OK, I am finally putting it in writing.

January 17, 2009: I weigh 171 pounds. I am 5'1". I have gained 10 pounds since Christmas.

I am going on a diet. No, rephrase that. I am changing my life. From tomorrow forward, I will be working on eating healthier (fewer processed foods, more veggies). Eventually I will start an exercise plan. No more fast food. I won't be perfect but damn it, it is time to make some changes. Longterm I want to weigh 130 pounds or less and be able to run a mile.

Goal #2 is to save some money. I was short on cash this month and paid the bills late. Next month will be tight as well. In March I should be able to start saving at least $100/mo to start building up my non-existent savings account. My cc raised my interest rate from 5% to 15%, and I carry a large balance ($12k). I pay $1k/mo on that card, but I have to put car repairs and class tuition on it this month. Paying it off is a priority but I can't find more than I'm currently paying unless I take a third job.

So. The theme for this month is going to be Gaining Control. Perhaps I will be able to apply this to my classes as well.

Alive

I'm alive. However I am now also sick. I got my mom's cold when I went home, and now I am having asthma crap again. Waiting to hear from the doc on whether or not I go back on prednisone.

Hugs to everyone from Newman the stinky dog and all the rotten cats.

Ah, snow.

Well, it snowed. About 14-16" in fact. It took me 3.5 hours to manually shovel out the little dirt lane we share with our neighbors. Then I had to get my car out. I did break the shovel, however, so I need to obtain another one ASAP. Happily Newman and I made it to the groomer's house by 11 am and now he is clean and not very smelly.

I really shouldn't have driven again last night, but there was a diabetic boarder (twice a day injections) at the animal clinic and she was a cranky old lady (cat) so of course I liked her and really wanted to keep her levels steady. I spun out twice while driving to the clinic, once in a traffic circle. The roads were utter crap, 3-4" of slush and ice. My wiper blades suck and I need to get new ones today, assuming I can get the car back out onto the street.

Anyway, I am playing hooky today. I need to clean the house and do laundry. I also need to get the car ready to go out tomorrow morning to drive the hour+ to have it serviced at the dealers. Apparenly nobody works on Suzukis anymore. My next car is going to be a real name brand, I swear. Oh and I got a 77 on my chem exam. Sigh.

Oh hey, does anyone know why I can't post comments on this thing? I keep getting "error on page."

Bleh.

I worked from 11:30-5 then 6-10:30 yesterday. Walked home to feed/walk Sir Newman in between. So I guess I walked 4 miles total (1 mile each way x2). It's funny, I was completely dragging when I left at 10:30 but the walk home woke me right up.

Hmm, what else. Hi Sam and Kathy. :)

I have to study for my chem exam today. It's tonight at 6. I am pretty screwed but I am going to try to at least cram a few "if you see XXX problem do YYY" prompts in my brain. Will they stick? We'll see.

Next semester I am going to actually try the time management tips I read in the book How to Become a Straight-A Student http://www.amazon.com/How-Become-Straight-Student-Unconventional/dp/0767922719 which seriously, I wish I had known about when I was in undergrad.

Random fact about me: I am 5'1".

The requisite first post

Yippee.

This is the blog of a neurotic science-type/medical wannabe attempting to choose a path in life. Should I aim for Vet school or med school? Either way I need straight As in all my makeup classes (that pesky 2.98 undergrad science GPA) and I need to learn how to study. Did I mention I have 2 jobs, 3 cats, a dog and a goldfish? And I'm applying to volunteer at a hospice. Oh and that EMT-B class next summer. I'm sure I can do it all.

Well, this will be a fun experiment. Post comments if you actually read this.