Yada yada yada.... and I'm back!

Now I know this is a really poor excuse for a 1-year absence, but the desktop I am writing this long overdue post on has literally not worked in over a year. And no that doesn't mean I deserve your pity because I have been cut-off from the cyber-world since then. It's just when I got it back today, up popped my long neglected blog as my home page and I suddenly felt the inexplicable urge to blog again - go figure!

So here's a quick recap on what's happened to me since I last bothered to post:

My job as an Event Coordinator at a new $7 million Conference Center in NW Okieland has been a complete blessing in my life. I think it's possibly the best fit in a job I have ever had and I NEVER expected to find something like it out here.

One of the reasons I have not been around is due to the quite frankly astounding success the Conference Center has enjoyed and continues to do so, since it opened last March. We were expected by our City bosses to do somewhere between 25-50 events in 2012, we did 147 in 9 months! We already have around 110 booked for 2013 and since the New Year have received an enquiry daily and sometimes two.

Christmas decor at work

I love my work as it's just so varied. Our events have included weddings, family reunions, trade shows, seminars, safety meetings, banquets, church services, birthday parties, a PBS premiere, fundraisers... in fact there really isn't much we won't turn our hand to if asked. My friends and family would tell you I was born a planner and organiser and so it's no surprise I enjoy it so much.

2012 was also the year I took control of my life long weight issues. I gave WeightWatchers the time and effort it deserves and it has rewarded me richly. I lost 60lbs in 9 months and it has made such a difference in so many ways. I slipped somewhat in the last 3 months when we were crazy busy at work and I let it lead me astray, gaining some 18lbs back. But nothing disastrous and I am now back on the wagon and aiming for a very achievable 40lbs gone in 2013 which will put me where I want to be for good.

Tip: Huge baubles make a girl look skinnier!

I'd like to thank WeightWatchers for living up to its promise, "because YES it works" if you commit to it and you really do not feel deprived. I'd also like to thank Jennifer Hudson, who I personally feel is the best ambassador they have ever had, she has certainly inspired me.

December 2012

 

The Hubster is still my better half and we have now been happily married just over 7 years. 2012 was a difficult year for him, with the sad loss of his mother and a stressful few months leading up to it. Then in November he had an alarming health incident known as Transient Global Amnesia, which gave us both a very scary week until the tests were complete and we had an answer. But there are no lasting after effects and it will hopefully never re-occur, so life has returned to normal.

In May we joined a new church and it would be true to say in my case I have finally found my spiritual home. It has renewed my faith, strengthened it and I now find myself growing in my faith on a daily basis. I am in no doubt it's one of the main reasons I am finding the trials of life we all have to face easier to handle.

I finally found an American sport and team to love, like I had back home. Come on down.... NBA Basketball and the Oklahoma City Thunder.... I am now a huge fan! We got to attend a couple of games last season (including a play-off) and are going again in a few weeks to see them play the Minnesota Timberwolves.

On April 15 a massive tornado hit the west part of the town where I work within a 1/4 mile of my workplace, causing extensive damage and loss of life.

The storm claimed six lives and injured 36 people. The storm impacted 224 homes and businesses in the area. Of those, 73 were destroyed, 22 sustained major damage and 21 had minor damage. My workplace was in the center of the damage field and for 3 days I had to drive through Police barricades to get there. Believe me, it looks so different than on tv when it's somewhere you drive through daily and I was pretty emotional for a few days immediately afterwards.

One of the damaged homes in this picture belongs to someone I indirectly report to, he had a narrow escape without injury. I know a young girl who was sucked out of her house and miraculously survived being blown a 1/4 mile away! There were others affected who I work with or know personally, and the whole experience was an eye-opener for me on strength of community, faith and moving forward after a natural disaster.

I got to vote for the first time in 2012 and was proud to do so.... and I exercised one of my constitutional rights when I bought this!

Some things happily remained the same, our very own fur-babies on the right over there are all still with us and thriving. I'm still part of a great book club and I still regularly get a laugh or a kick out of life here in the USA from a British perspective! And yes I'm still confusing the locals with Brit'isms like chuffed, car park and loo.

In fact just today I had a giggle when I passed a Plant with a large sign proclaiming it to be the 'Snubbing Division'! I commented to the Hubster that us Brits are all experts at snubbing.

So that's the highlights and lowlights of 2012 in a nutshell, it's a year we won't forget.

As for 2013 - well I already know it's going to be crazy busy at work, we have our very own HGTV project having inherited Gary's moms home which is in need of major refurbishment, and we will become grandparents in May.

Plus it looks like I'm blogging again!

Happy belated New Year!!

Yes I'm still knocking around out here in the wilds of Okieland, it's just been a period of transition and blogging dropped off my 'to do' list for awhile.
I have been with my new employer for almost two months and it has proved to be a great move for me.  I have been welcomed with open arms by my new work colleagues and felt right at home very quickly.  We are not in the new Conference Center yet, thanks to much needed rain/snow and other construction delays but we should be moved in by the end of this month.  I might not be on the much envied school hours and vacations anymore, but this is more than outweighed by better pay and benefits.

My longer journey to work is not an issue at all, I just have to think back to my nightmare M25/M1 journey in England and I still thank my lucky stars for no traffic!  And I am now working in the closest major town to our home so I can just pop out at noon and do the shopping, which is extremely handy. The Hubster has been an absolute star and taken on getting dinner ready without complaint, as he is home 40 minutes before I am.

The weight loss project is going great.  I have been with Weight Watchers Online since early January and have lost 20lbs without too much suffering and deprivation.  I actually believe I may have cracked it mentally this time and am set for success. The key for me has been breaking down the total amount I want to lose over a 12 month period and this has left me with a very do-able target for each month.  This way I am focusing on the small monthly target not the scary total amount!

And I have finally found a professional US sport to love and follow - NBA Basketball.  This has been helped by the stunning success of the OKC Thunder.  We have tickets to see them play the Denver Nuggets this Sunday and are looking forward to a fun holiday weekend.

Because it works!

I started back on Weight Watchers this past Monday, using their etools program as the closest meeting is 30 minutes from me.

Weight Watchers has had alot of press coverage recently after coming out top on a couple of 'weighty' surveys as the best weight loss plan out there. I also think Jennifer Hudson has been their best celebrity endorsement ever, as she seems approachable, somewhat normal and now looks amazing.

I can vouch for their claim as this won't be my first time, in the past I have not only lost 40lbs but also not been hungry, food obsessed or miserable. The truth is it just works, but the harder part is sticking to it.

But I have finally reached that critical age (45) where it has dawned on me that if I want to live a long healthy life with the Hubster and not bankrupt us with medical costs for knee replacements etc, then I need to lose the weight for good. It's kind of been an awakening and it's all about my age and seeing so many heavy older people having health issues I am headed for without an intervention now.

So actually I am quietly confident this time. I have a good life and I want to be here to enjoy it for many years to come to it's fullest.

So I am putting it out here that I am aiming for 105lbs weightloss, I have gained 35 since that picture over there with the Hubster was taken! You may still think surely she doesn't need to lose that much, well first off I am tall and the weight is spread evenly all over so I carry it. Secondly to be in healthy range I actually need to lose 85lbs but I want to be skinny slim for the first time in my life and get to wear clothes I have only ever dreamed about.

I will add a little weight loss tracker somewhere here to keep me accountable to any of you that want to comment and I may occasionally blog about major milestones. I am going to take it in 25lb segments and my first target is 30lbs by Christmas and since Monday I have lost 5lbs for a great start.

Finally if any of you are using Weight Watchers Online and would like to add me as a friend on there, please email me at sukie175@hotmail.com.

I need all the help and support I can get :-)