I Have No Idea What to Name This Post

In my NJ world life has been moving right along. As you know I've been working like crazy trying to make as much money as I can. So far, so good. I've been doing well in that department. Just this week alone on one shift, I've made half of my goal. I have no complaints there. One great thing about waiting tables is that when you need the cash, you make it. What sucks is that you put in a lot of hours. The bad thing about waiting tables is that you get use to the cash flow, which means you end up spending just as fast. Luckily for me I've learned my lesson on that and I actually save. Twenty percent of what I make goes directly into savings. If I make more than my goal, I keep $50 and the rest goes into savings.

When Dan and I worked together, we would do basically the same thing. On top of that we made sure that we made money to cover our bills during the first part of the month. Then by the end of the month we're not scrambling to make cash. The big joke at work was that everyone thought we were loaded because they couldn't understand how we worked so little to make ends meet. We would just smile. We also didn't blow our money on drinking every night either, which helped with our savings.

On a different note, I'm down 10 pounds!! I can't believe how quickly I'm loosing all this weight. My goal is to loose another 15 pounds before I see Dan for our anniversary at the end of next month. The rate I'm going it looks as if I could accomplish this goal. I have to say that I feel great!! This is the thinnest I've been in nearly 7 years. I think I look great, too.

In total, I've lost 38 pounds. It has taken me awhile, but it's worth it. Everyone keeps on asking me how I've done it. I tell them that I eat smaller portions and I do keep active. That's the way to do it. And I'm not saying it's easy because there are some days I want to eat a house. What keeps me motivated is feeling good about myself and not wanting to go back to my heavier self.

And now I must go. Time to get ready for work.

Work, Work, Work

Two weeks in NJ and I definitely feel as if I haven't left. It's very weird without Dan. I miss him terribly, and I'm beginning to get anxious about him coming up. I want it to happen right now, but I have to wait.

Waiting tables, as I have been doing now for two weeks, is like riding a bike. You never forget how to do it. With that, I'm also remembering how wired you get when you get home. I've been up since 8am and I can't go to sleep. I'm exhausted because I worked a double, but it's not happening. I'm getting really close to cracking open a bottle of wine (that my folks have) and begin chugging away. I'll either get drunk or fall asleep. Now I realize why a lot of waiters/bartenders have drinking problems.

Anyway, I have been good about searching for jobs and actually applying to them. The great thing is that I'm finding jobs to apply for, which was not the case in Miami. At least I have the hope that I'll find something soon. Once we both get jobs, I know we'll get back into the swing of things.

I'm also being good about my diet and exercise. Since I've been back, I've lost 6lbs. I'm trying to eat as healthy as possible. Although I haven't been to the gym, I have been walking on Blvd. East and the city. It has been too beautiful outdoors to go to the gym. I rather enjoy the view and not realize that I'm doing it for the exercise.

So that's my update. I'll try to post more often, but to be honest it will be hard. This week alone I still have three more doubles to work. I have now begun my apartment search, which I hope to have a place by Aug. 1st. Wish me luck!! I think I'll go to sleep now.

Batman Begins

Thanks to my best friend Sal, I went to a screening of Batman Begins. What can I say? WATCH IT!! WOW! I can't even begin to tell you how great this movie is. I'm not going to discuss the details of the movie because I don't want to spoil it.

What I will say is that it has all the elements I look forward to in a movie: action, suspense, pleasantly surprising, funny, sad, and just damn good. I am also happy that the movie was not spoiled by the trailers I've seen. I did not expect things to turn out the way they did. GREAT, GREAT, GREAT!

PS: The other Batman movies should be ashamed of themselves.

Back in NJ

My first official day as a NJ resident went well. It is very hot, which for some unknown reason I wasn't expecting. The flight was delayed for an hour and we didn't get home until 1:00am. My poor dad, he was exhausted.

So my feelings--sad and numb. I'm sad for leaving Dan behind and I miss my family down there. I'm numb because it doesn't seem as if I ever left, but at the same time I feel like a stranger. Maybe I'm just tired and since I'm back at my parents without my husband, it all seems out of place. Hopefully, this transitional phase will quickly pass.

Also thanks to my dad's new eating habits, I'm dieting. No junk food!!!! I had turkey breast cutlets with broccoli, which was very tasty. Since both of my parents have to adhere to their own diets, they don't purchase anything that will sabotage their efforts. So if any junk ends up in the house, it's my own doing. No more temptations with pastelitos (for those of you that don't know what that is--stay away; they are too tasty) or any other junk food.

Well that's it for now. I'll keep you posted if anything happens to change.

Goodbye Miami!

This is it--last day in Miami! It's down to the nitty gritty. I'm almost done packing, I ordered internet access for my parent's place, and that about sums it up. I can't say I'm happy because I'm going to miss my in-laws very much and I'm leaving Dan and the doggies behind. This is the worst part about leaving. I know that everything is going to workout for us. I have great friends who are trying to get us jobs and I appreciate them dearly.

This transitional phase will be tough. Once Dan comes up and we settle down, things will go back to normal. In fact, our situation will improve drastically. These past two years in Miami have not been the easiest because all of our friends are up north. For those of you that think that friendships aren't important, never had real friends. I miss my friends tremendously. Now I'll be close to them again and that's a great feeling.

Another great feeling is being close to my family. With the addition of Bryan, I don't want to miss my niece and nephews growing up. Kids are great and they always put things into perspective. I can't wait to see them. Well, this is my goodbye to Miami. Be back soon on vacation!!