Looking for a New Car

Looks pretty sharp. And the little Vader is cute.

Dumbass Move, Pirate

I'm not entirely convinced it was my fault. I think it was a glitch. Or a ghost.

There is no way I locked my keys in my car while it was running.

Except, I did.

This wouldn't have been such a problem - I have spare keys - only they are at home. Locked in the house with no one home. The brother that lives with me: in Florida. The closest spare home keys: with my mother. I'd call her, only my cell phone is in my bag. Locked in my car. And her phone number...I'm not 100% sure I remember it. (I never dial a number; I speed dial.)

My first reaction - after swearing and stomping around in the parking lot - was to punch in one of my windows. Break it with a rock or something other than my fist? Didn't even cross my mind. After deciding it would be more expensive and more of a hassle to replace the window, I chose not to break it - and my hand - in an attempt to unlock my car. I then had the ice scraper - the reason I got out of my running car in the first place - wedged into a crack of the door and was in the process of trying to pry it open when I decided that any further action on my part to open my locked car was going to result in more trouble than it was worth.

I went back inside work to try solve my locked door problem. (Beats standing in the snow storm outside.) With no real clue who to call - and here's where my brother will laugh his ass off because he's been telling me to get AAA ever since I bought my used piece-of-crap car - I had to stop and think this situation through.

After attempting to get ahold of my one local police contact with no such luck, I called my grandparents to get my mom's cell number. See, she has a key to my place. If I could just catch her before she heads home from work, she might be able to swing by and get me into my house so that I can get my spare car keys and unlock the door.

Only, I get her voicemail. And the kicker? She can't call me back because of my lack of cell phone and no direct line to my phone at work - everyone in the office had gone home to beat the snow storm outside, leaving all incoming calls routed through to voicemail.

After some more telephone work, I managed to get ahold of my spare house key, my extra car keys, and eventually made it home.

Needless to say, my night did not go as planned. Any drive I had to eat healthy, exercise, clean house, and do work evaporated. I'm writing the night off.

On my To Do list for Wednesday (the next night I have any free time): a AAA membership, a list of important phone numbers to keep in my wallet, and some research into keyless entry to my garage.

Not My Marathon

My brother is running the Walt Disney World Marathon this morning. I received his first text at 1:20 AM as he was getting around to head out to the race. Later I saw that he started his run at 6:04:48 AM.

I believe my uncle signed me up to receive race updates via email, and for this I couldn't be happier. See, I was supposed to be running this marathon with my brother.

And then I didn't train. Not like I was supposed to. Not like I promised to. Not in time to run this marathon I sort of talked my brother into running. How completely uncool of me.

As I slept in bed this morning, the updates came in. 5 miles at 58:31; 10 at 1:58:09; half at 2:37:41; and 20 at 4:15:51. I'm sure he's near done by now. I'm proud of what the little Monkey is accomplishing at this very moment. I wish him the best.

My plan is to be at the Disney Marathon next January. I think my brother said he might even go down and run the half. Hopefully this time I won't disappoint him, or myself.

Congrats, Monkey!

LEGO Advent Calendar 2010 - Day 25

Finally, I was able to upload this video recap of the 2010 LEGO Advent Calendar. Don't know what went wrong with the last two uploads. However, this was fun.

I don't know if I'll do the same next year, or find something different. Hope you enjoyed watching.

My One Christmas Decoration

My grandma thought I needed to have at least one Christmas decoration. (She was right.)

Week of Loss - Dec. 26

This week I gained 1.6 lbs., and am 4.6 lbs. under my year-end goal weight (199 lbs.).

Continue to monitor my progress and other health and wellness information over at A Year of Loss and Health, Pirate.

(It was all the Christmas foods.)

What We'll Be Delivering 2010

This is what the Monkey and I have purchased for presents this year (with the exception of a mirror - it's wrapped with a couple of stars and leaning away from the door so it doesn't break before we deliver it). Not a bad little pile of presents to deliver.

I Brought It Back

We haven't done Christmas stockings in my family for a few years...until NOW! I brought the stocking back. This one is crammed full of Christmasy goodness for my brother, a.k.a. The Monkey.

LEGO Advent Calendar 2010 - Day 24

There are some glitches from editing in this, but the video matched up with the music pretty well. I was happy to finally see the train engine that would connect to the two train cars. And with this, the calendar is done.

A NSFW "A Christmas Carol"

I found this to be hilarious and entertaining and entirely the opposite of the Christmas spirt.

Duane Swierczynski's "A Christmas Carol."

It is highly inappropriate and contains naughty, naughty language. (You were warned.)

Snowman of the Year

I wish I could say I thought of this, but I didn't. Still, this is the snowman of the year.

It Grew

My Grinch-heart grew this evening. Not all the way to normal size, but just enough that I was able to think of an idea that will make Christmas a bit better for someone I know.


It's not a new idea, but something that's been missing for a few years, and I'm happy to bring it back. I'd tell you what I'm planning, but that would spoil it the surprise.

Now I'm actually looking forward to Christmas.

To All You Diet Haters

I just wanted to prove to all you haters that I DO eat. It might not be many calories, but I'm eating. And eating healthy.


566.55 calories.

I had tuna with mustard, an applesauce cup, pistachios, blueberry Craisins, carrot chips, mozzarella cheese, and cranberry/blackberry V8 Fusion juice. It was a nice lunch.

LEGO Advent Calendar 2010 - Day 23

This was a fun build. Liked the tree, and was able to add a song that fit nicely.

LEGO Advent Calendar 2010 - Day 22

Only 2 days to go. Thinking about putting it all together into something to recap the experience for Day 25.