I expect that this will continue for some time, which is why I label the post Part 1.
My wife is an only child. Her parents have been having marital issues for some time, and they have now come to a head. While her mother was in the state capital and her father was visiting us, her mother had either a restraining order or a protection order drawn up. When her father returned home and tried to call her mother in the state capital, her mother had the police come and serve the order to her father and force him to leave the house. With no where to turn until he is able to find out more at the court hearing on June 4, he has come to visit us.
Both mother and father have caused pain to each other in the past, and both need to make changes in order for this situation to get resolved with them on better terms with each other. I don't know that both of them will be willing to do that.
It is hard not to choose sides (other than I am fully on my wife's side), and it is hard to know how to help my children deal with this new reality. They are really struggling to handle it. Of course, I don't know how I might be able to help my wife either, but at least it's not taking her completely by surprise.
My wife read the order and started to get the feeling that she, listed as "child in common" might be restricted from contact with her mother as well. We are uncertain if that is actually the case though, as the wording doesn't make it clear and the legality of something like that seems questionable. My wife has had her own difficulties with her mother over the years, and it is hard to know if there is anything that can be done to patch their relationship now.
My wife has had issues with her father in the past as well. These seem to be improving as time goes on. Perhaps there is a chance that one day things can work out better with her mother as well.
Friday, May 30, 2008
Thursday, May 29, 2008
29 May 2008 Work (And Some From the Day Before)
No workout this morning. I got up intending to do one, but I've been noticing some funny sounds coming from the elliptical machine for a while. I've been intending to try to tighten the screws on the machine to see if that would help, but I hadn't gotten to it.
This morning I decided to try to fix the machine instead of work out on it. I did all the tightening and checking that I could think of, but it didn't change anything. Funny noises still exist, but at least I know that it's not due to something simple that I can fix.
My wonderful wife purchased an extended warranty for the machine when we bought it, and she has arranged for a part that commonly goes out to be shipped to us and a repairman to check the machine next week. She's obviously got the better idea here. :)
My father-in-law has been visiting us the past 2 days, and he, my wife, and my oldest son have tackled the jungle growing in our backyard. I got home to see a transformed near-paradise. I helped trim a bush a little bit until the door-to-door alarm salesman came to find out that we weren't switching unless he could provide a better deal. He couldn't. The backyard has been weighing on my mind, and I really appreciate all of the hard work that has gone into making it so nice yesterday, with some finishing touches taking place today.
This morning I decided to try to fix the machine instead of work out on it. I did all the tightening and checking that I could think of, but it didn't change anything. Funny noises still exist, but at least I know that it's not due to something simple that I can fix.
My wonderful wife purchased an extended warranty for the machine when we bought it, and she has arranged for a part that commonly goes out to be shipped to us and a repairman to check the machine next week. She's obviously got the better idea here. :)
My father-in-law has been visiting us the past 2 days, and he, my wife, and my oldest son have tackled the jungle growing in our backyard. I got home to see a transformed near-paradise. I helped trim a bush a little bit until the door-to-door alarm salesman came to find out that we weren't switching unless he could provide a better deal. He couldn't. The backyard has been weighing on my mind, and I really appreciate all of the hard work that has gone into making it so nice yesterday, with some finishing touches taking place today.
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Ditto
Up until after midnight. Busy researching money savings (this time on our home alarm system). Too tired to try to get up and work out. My next post might be titled Deja Vu or something similar until I can't think of any more names for the same thing is happening.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Wonderful Weekend
What an enjoyable weekend. Saturday was my wife's birthday. Sunday was the day of rest. Monday was a day to try to catch up on some house work since the yard work was put off by rain. I didn't work out any of those days (or today), but my weight came in at 355.4 this morning.
Life has been busy and a little stressful recently, and this weekend has been a welcome respite.
Life has been busy and a little stressful recently, and this weekend has been a welcome respite.
Friday, May 23, 2008
I Like Sleep
Too bad my kids don't seem to like it very much. I woke up at 4:00 needing a bathroom break, and after that, I couldn't seem to get back to sleep very well. I decided I needed the sleep more than a workout, and then not one but two of my kids joined my wife and I in bed by 6:30. So much for getting extra sleep.
I guess I could move closer to the equator so that the days were generally always the same length and changes in the time of the sunrise wouldn't affect my children so much, but I'm sure I won't. :)
I guess I could move closer to the equator so that the days were generally always the same length and changes in the time of the sunrise wouldn't affect my children so much, but I'm sure I won't. :)
Thursday, May 22, 2008
22 May 2008 workout
Time: 6:15 AM
Weight beforehand: 358.3 lbs
Length: 10 minutes
Program: The first 10 minutes of the TPRU
Elliptical Reported Calories Burned: 165
Rating: I wanted to stay in bed but felt too guilty to get back to sleep.
Weight beforehand: 358.3 lbs
Length: 10 minutes
Program: The first 10 minutes of the TPRU
Elliptical Reported Calories Burned: 165
Rating: I wanted to stay in bed but felt too guilty to get back to sleep.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Can't Win for Losing
No workout today. I wanted to try to get some things done on the computer. The baby had gone to bed early last night and was up early, so my wife asked me if I wanted to make German pancakes for breakfast because they are easy while she took care of him. I decided I'd decide later.
I went down to work on the computer, but I found something else that needed to be worked on. When I got that fixed, it was time to make breakfast. I decided to make German pancakes because they are quick and easy.
20 minutes later, after kids whining and needing help, the pancakes go in the oven for 15 minutes. This will leave me 10 minutes to eat and be on my way. When the time is up, the pancakes are not done. Back in the oven they go for 10 more minutes. They are finished just in time for me to take some to work. My wife is feeling sad that they took so long, but it's not her fault things worked out that way. Her day is not starting much better than mine has.
I get out of the house around 8:05, and I have 10 minutes to get to where I need to be. Due to rain and traffic lights wanting me to sit around forever, it takes me 20 minutes to get there. On my way into my work building, through the rain, I realize I left my phone in the car and have to go back and get rained on some more.
Oh, did I mention that I need to get gas soon, and the price of gas went up 10 cents a gallon overnight?
It's just after 9:00 AM now. Who knows what the rest of the day will bring?
I went down to work on the computer, but I found something else that needed to be worked on. When I got that fixed, it was time to make breakfast. I decided to make German pancakes because they are quick and easy.
20 minutes later, after kids whining and needing help, the pancakes go in the oven for 15 minutes. This will leave me 10 minutes to eat and be on my way. When the time is up, the pancakes are not done. Back in the oven they go for 10 more minutes. They are finished just in time for me to take some to work. My wife is feeling sad that they took so long, but it's not her fault things worked out that way. Her day is not starting much better than mine has.
I get out of the house around 8:05, and I have 10 minutes to get to where I need to be. Due to rain and traffic lights wanting me to sit around forever, it takes me 20 minutes to get there. On my way into my work building, through the rain, I realize I left my phone in the car and have to go back and get rained on some more.
Oh, did I mention that I need to get gas soon, and the price of gas went up 10 cents a gallon overnight?
It's just after 9:00 AM now. Who knows what the rest of the day will bring?
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
20 May 2008 workout
Time: 6:20 AM
Weight beforehand: 357.4 lbs
Length: 20 minutes
Program: The first 20 minutes of the Pedestal
Elliptical Reported Calories Burned: 294
Rating: With as hard as it has been to get a workout in, any workout at all is a good thing.
Weight beforehand: 357.4 lbs
Length: 20 minutes
Program: The first 20 minutes of the Pedestal
Elliptical Reported Calories Burned: 294
Rating: With as hard as it has been to get a workout in, any workout at all is a good thing.
Monday, May 19, 2008
I'm Not in New York for a Reason
I knew my wife had a doctor's appointment today to discuss some problems she's been having after her hysterectomy. I did not know how scared she was about it until after my trip got canceled. She didn't want me to worry.
Saturday, we had our 8 month old little boy outside a fair amount while doing some yard work. Sunday, he could hardly breathe and had to be taken to the emergency room. He's still struggling today, though not as much as yesterday, and he has an appointment with the doctor this morning before my wife's appointment with the other doctor.
These are the kinds of things that make me glad that I'm not in New York this week for business. There's not a whole lot more that I can do here than I would be able to do from there, but I feel like I can do more being here.
Due to our boy needing breathing treatments every 3 hours during the night, I decided to not try to work out this morning while he and my wife were finally sleeping. I was tired too, but it sounds better if I say it was only my considerate nature. :)
Saturday, we had our 8 month old little boy outside a fair amount while doing some yard work. Sunday, he could hardly breathe and had to be taken to the emergency room. He's still struggling today, though not as much as yesterday, and he has an appointment with the doctor this morning before my wife's appointment with the other doctor.
These are the kinds of things that make me glad that I'm not in New York this week for business. There's not a whole lot more that I can do here than I would be able to do from there, but I feel like I can do more being here.
Due to our boy needing breathing treatments every 3 hours during the night, I decided to not try to work out this morning while he and my wife were finally sleeping. I was tired too, but it sounds better if I say it was only my considerate nature. :)
Friday, May 16, 2008
I Just Saved a Ton of Money by not Switching my TV Provider!
It has been suggested that some might be interested to hear about how we will save over $300 over the next year due to what happened yesterday. I feel blessed that it worked out this way.
We currently get DirecTV bundled with Qwest, which gives us a $5.00 a month discount for bundling. We have been thinking about switching from Qwest to be able to get faster internet and using Voice over IP (internet phone calling) to save money on our phone bill. [Side note - that's probably not going to happen now as I'm hearing that the internet provider I was thinking of using is not the most reliable, and phone service has to be reliable.]
So, here comes the math!
Current DirecTV bill ~ $72
Current Qwest price ~ $67
We had an offer to upgrade our hardware for free from DirecTV if we extended our contract with them for 2 years. I've heard ads on the radio for satellite installers to set us up with a new account that would save us $23 a month on the bill but cost us $100 for the equipment. To skip all the gory details, I called DirecTV and told them what I could save with the local companies, and here is what they did for me.
1) Cancel unneeded protection plan. Savings ~ $5 a month forever, or $60 a year.
2) Give me $10 off per month for the next year. Savings = $120 for the next year.
3) Give me ~$80 lump credit right now to get my average savings up. Savings ~ $80 for the next year.
4) Give me a $20 credit for switching to billing via email rather than paper, even though I ended up not being able to switch since I'm with Qwest. Savings = $20 for the next year.
5) Give me a $200 equipment upgrade with a $200 equipment fee waiver, plus charge me $19.99 for the install. Savings = -$20 for the year, but $80 over going with a local company.
So, here's what it looks like now.
$60 + $120 + $80 + $20 = $280 in savings over the next year. $60 will continue after that. If we take the $19.99 away for the new equipment, that goes to $260 for the year. If we count the $80 saved by not switching, that goes to $360 for the year.
$280 divided by 12 = $23.33 a month, more than what the local companies could provide for the year, plus I still get the Qwest $5 discount. $360 divided by 12 = $30 a month in savings. :)
I expect that, if I could put all of our savings into a monthly bill instead of some of the lump sum credits we are getting, our monthly bill with the Qwest savings would be about $44. Instead, we'll have one month where we don't pay anything, one month where we'll pay about $27 to $47, and then the rest of the year the bill should be around $52.
We currently get DirecTV bundled with Qwest, which gives us a $5.00 a month discount for bundling. We have been thinking about switching from Qwest to be able to get faster internet and using Voice over IP (internet phone calling) to save money on our phone bill. [Side note - that's probably not going to happen now as I'm hearing that the internet provider I was thinking of using is not the most reliable, and phone service has to be reliable.]
So, here comes the math!
Current DirecTV bill ~ $72
Current Qwest price ~ $67
We had an offer to upgrade our hardware for free from DirecTV if we extended our contract with them for 2 years. I've heard ads on the radio for satellite installers to set us up with a new account that would save us $23 a month on the bill but cost us $100 for the equipment. To skip all the gory details, I called DirecTV and told them what I could save with the local companies, and here is what they did for me.
1) Cancel unneeded protection plan. Savings ~ $5 a month forever, or $60 a year.
2) Give me $10 off per month for the next year. Savings = $120 for the next year.
3) Give me ~$80 lump credit right now to get my average savings up. Savings ~ $80 for the next year.
4) Give me a $20 credit for switching to billing via email rather than paper, even though I ended up not being able to switch since I'm with Qwest. Savings = $20 for the next year.
5) Give me a $200 equipment upgrade with a $200 equipment fee waiver, plus charge me $19.99 for the install. Savings = -$20 for the year, but $80 over going with a local company.
So, here's what it looks like now.
$60 + $120 + $80 + $20 = $280 in savings over the next year. $60 will continue after that. If we take the $19.99 away for the new equipment, that goes to $260 for the year. If we count the $80 saved by not switching, that goes to $360 for the year.
$280 divided by 12 = $23.33 a month, more than what the local companies could provide for the year, plus I still get the Qwest $5 discount. $360 divided by 12 = $30 a month in savings. :)
I expect that, if I could put all of our savings into a monthly bill instead of some of the lump sum credits we are getting, our monthly bill with the Qwest savings would be about $44. Instead, we'll have one month where we don't pay anything, one month where we'll pay about $27 to $47, and then the rest of the year the bill should be around $52.
16 May 2008 workout
Time: 6:15 AM
Weight beforehand: 359.1 lbs
Length: 20 minutes
Program: The first 20 minutes of the Pedestal
Elliptical Reported Calories Burned: 313
Rating: It was the best I could do for now.
Weight beforehand: 359.1 lbs
Length: 20 minutes
Program: The first 20 minutes of the Pedestal
Elliptical Reported Calories Burned: 313
Rating: It was the best I could do for now.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
And the Band Played On...
We tried to go to bed early last night. It was fortunate that we did, because we were able to hear our 8 month old boy have a big vomiting episode and be right there to help him. We're trying to get him to put on a little more weight because he is very skinny, and now we're thinking maybe we should have a doctor check him as well.
Anyway, sleep didn't come any earlier, I was still too tired to get up and work out, but I felt better about why I was up late. :)
Anyway, sleep didn't come any earlier, I was still too tired to get up and work out, but I felt better about why I was up late. :)
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
We've Got to Stop Meeting Like This
Tired, and my wife is sick. Kids went to bed at 7:30 because they were tired and grumpy. I didn't sleep so well. No work out today.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
13 May 2008 workout - New Program
Time: 5:45 AM
Weight beforehand: 358.2 lbs
Length: 40 minutes
Program: The Hill. See below. Here's the visual.
333334444456789 10 11 12 12 12 12 12 12 11 10 987654444433333
Elliptical Reported Calories Burned: 554
Rating: I modified the Train program so much that I decided to rename the new program to the Hill. I tried to combine the getting up to speed portion of the Train with the strength training portion of the Pedestal and TPRU. Click here to see an explanation of the other programs.
Doing the harder programs has made me stronger as it doesn't hurt as much to do them now. The Train didn't really seem to be meeting my needs anymore, especially since I'm trying to make my workouts harder in order to start losing weight again.
Here are some comparisons of the Hill to the other programs.
Finally, some pictures to wrap it all up. Note the symmetry I put into my programs - yet another of my OCD tendencies.
Weight beforehand: 358.2 lbs
Length: 40 minutes
Program: The Hill. See below. Here's the visual.
333334444456789 10 11 12 12 12 12 12 12 11 10 987654444433333
Elliptical Reported Calories Burned: 554
Rating: I modified the Train program so much that I decided to rename the new program to the Hill. I tried to combine the getting up to speed portion of the Train with the strength training portion of the Pedestal and TPRU. Click here to see an explanation of the other programs.
Doing the harder programs has made me stronger as it doesn't hurt as much to do them now. The Train didn't really seem to be meeting my needs anymore, especially since I'm trying to make my workouts harder in order to start losing weight again.
Here are some comparisons of the Hill to the other programs.
| Program | Resistance Units (RU) | Percent of Total Possible RU |
|---|---|---|
| TPRU | 480 | 100% |
| Pedestal | 289 | 60.21% |
| Hill | 254 | 52.92% |
| Train | 150 | 31.25% |
Finally, some pictures to wrap it all up. Note the symmetry I put into my programs - yet another of my OCD tendencies.
Monday, May 12, 2008
12 May 2008 workout
Time: 6:20 AM
Weight beforehand: 361.0 lbs
Length: 14 minutes
Program: The first 14 minutes of the TPRU
Elliptical Reported Calories Burned: 284
Rating: I'm getting tired trying to keep up with everything. I'm getting tired of not losing weight recently. I feel like I have to fit the whole workout into half the time. I did quite a bit of this program at the same speed that I do the Train at, which is why I averaged over 20 calories per minute, but also why I stopped after 14 minutes. I hope that I can at least make some little progress this way.
Weight beforehand: 361.0 lbs
Length: 14 minutes
Program: The first 14 minutes of the TPRU
Elliptical Reported Calories Burned: 284
Rating: I'm getting tired trying to keep up with everything. I'm getting tired of not losing weight recently. I feel like I have to fit the whole workout into half the time. I did quite a bit of this program at the same speed that I do the Train at, which is why I averaged over 20 calories per minute, but also why I stopped after 14 minutes. I hope that I can at least make some little progress this way.
Friday, May 9, 2008
Bedlam can be Fun!
My sister flew in from across the country to visit us Wednesday night, and we spent some time chatting and visiting. She stayed the night, and I was too tired to work out on Thursday.
Work was busy, home was busy, and Friday came which is my middle son's birthday! I was too tired to work out again. We're having fun with my boy's birthday except for the fact that he has wanted to be 5 since he was 3 (so he could go to school). Today he has turned 6, and we are adjusting to not thinking of him as being 5 like we have for the past 3 years. :)
Hopefully I will be able to settle into a more normal routine next week, and then the following week I have a business trip to northern New York to throw me off again. Such is life.
Work was busy, home was busy, and Friday came which is my middle son's birthday! I was too tired to work out again. We're having fun with my boy's birthday except for the fact that he has wanted to be 5 since he was 3 (so he could go to school). Today he has turned 6, and we are adjusting to not thinking of him as being 5 like we have for the past 3 years. :)
Hopefully I will be able to settle into a more normal routine next week, and then the following week I have a business trip to northern New York to throw me off again. Such is life.
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
7 May 2008 workout
Time: 6:20 AM
Weight beforehand: 359.7 lbs
Length: 20 minutes
Program: The first 20 minutes of the Pedestal
Elliptical Reported Calories Burned: 294
Rating: I have been so busy recently that I had to stay up late last night trying to catch up. I did manage to get up just before 6:00, and I figured that 20 minutes was better than nothing. The workout itself went better than the last time I tried it - I think doing the Pedestal and the TPRU workouts has made me a little stronger. I may have to make the Train program harder soon.
Weight beforehand: 359.7 lbs
Length: 20 minutes
Program: The first 20 minutes of the Pedestal
Elliptical Reported Calories Burned: 294
Rating: I have been so busy recently that I had to stay up late last night trying to catch up. I did manage to get up just before 6:00, and I figured that 20 minutes was better than nothing. The workout itself went better than the last time I tried it - I think doing the Pedestal and the TPRU workouts has made me a little stronger. I may have to make the Train program harder soon.
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
6 May 2008 workout
Time: 6:00 AM
Weight beforehand: 358.2 lbs
Length: 40 minutes
Program: The Train
Elliptical Reported Calories Burned: 437
Rating: I didn't want to do it, but I did it, and it turned out okay. The weight was a surprise. I'll bet it's higher tomorrow.
Weight beforehand: 358.2 lbs
Length: 40 minutes
Program: The Train
Elliptical Reported Calories Burned: 437
Rating: I didn't want to do it, but I did it, and it turned out okay. The weight was a surprise. I'll bet it's higher tomorrow.
Monday, May 5, 2008
Weekend Report
Wow, I think I found out that it's almost as far to our destination in Idaho as it is to Las Vegas from our house. The drive ended at 11:30 PM on the way there, and at 10:45 PM on the way home. Fortunately, we only had to stop for one major break each way. The kids did really well overall.
We had a wonderful time visiting family and participating in the blessing of a beautiful baby boy. We were well taken care of, and we really appreciate that.
Due to the late hour of our arrival each time, we decided to try to sleep as much as possible today. The boys ended up sleeping so late that they will not be going to school, but we're nearing the end of the year, and they are academically doing just fine so I'm not worried.
The scale says I've moved up above 360 lbs again. I need to start working out and drop those pounds.
We had a wonderful time visiting family and participating in the blessing of a beautiful baby boy. We were well taken care of, and we really appreciate that.
Due to the late hour of our arrival each time, we decided to try to sleep as much as possible today. The boys ended up sleeping so late that they will not be going to school, but we're nearing the end of the year, and they are academically doing just fine so I'm not worried.
The scale says I've moved up above 360 lbs again. I need to start working out and drop those pounds.
Friday, May 2, 2008
Swing and a Miss
I knew going to bed that I wouldn't be able to get up at 5:30. I set the alarm for 6:00 in the hopes that I'd be able to get out of bed and shaved and ready to work out.
I got out of bed. I shaved. It wasn't very quick. I was dragging. By the time I finished everything I need to do before I work out, it was about 6:25.
I thought about doing an abbreviated workout, but then my little 3 year old daughter came wandering into the room with her usual morning cheerfulness. I would much rather play with her than work out.
So I did. :)
Oh, I got a haircut too (I should have weighed myself before and after just to see if it makes much of a difference). And we're leaving to visit family in western Idaho this afternoon. It'll be a long but fun trip.
I got out of bed. I shaved. It wasn't very quick. I was dragging. By the time I finished everything I need to do before I work out, it was about 6:25.
I thought about doing an abbreviated workout, but then my little 3 year old daughter came wandering into the room with her usual morning cheerfulness. I would much rather play with her than work out.
So I did. :)
Oh, I got a haircut too (I should have weighed myself before and after just to see if it makes much of a difference). And we're leaving to visit family in western Idaho this afternoon. It'll be a long but fun trip.
Thursday, May 1, 2008
1 May 2008 workout
Time: 6:20 AM
Weight beforehand: 358.3 lbs
Length: 20 minutes
Program: First 20 minutes of the Train
Elliptical Reported Calories Burned: 221
Rating: I am so tired, and it's not due to the workouts. I'm worried about my family, I have a cold, and I didn't sleep well.
Weight beforehand: 358.3 lbs
Length: 20 minutes
Program: First 20 minutes of the Train
Elliptical Reported Calories Burned: 221
Rating: I am so tired, and it's not due to the workouts. I'm worried about my family, I have a cold, and I didn't sleep well.
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