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WW: Week 8 Weigh-In

Well, as most of you know, I've been teetering on the brink of death for about a week now with what turned out to be a sinus infection. And not just your run of the mill sinus infection, no no, more like a no end in sight, praying for the sweet release of death sinus infection. Well, I'm pleased to announce that I think I'm probably going to make it. It was touch and go for awhile, but Bubby managed to nurse me (almost) back to health! So I'm really pleased to have lost 1.4 pounds this week, especially since I really didn't bother to count points all week (you know, being more concerned with dying and all.) That's a Weight Watchers total of -18.6 and a grand total of -23.6!

Something else has happened that's kind of cool. One day last week I had a heck of a time with the jeans I was wearing that day. They were just fitting all funky and I kept having to yank them up and I could not figure out what was going on with them, but they were pissing me off! So that night as I was fixing dinner I was messing with them again and made a comment to Sam like, "I don't know what's wrong with these frickin' jeans but they won't stay up!" Sam looks at me kind of perplexed and is like, "Seriously, um, you don't know what's wrong with your jeans?" Well, I tried to brush it off with a "well they probably just stretched out throughout the day as I wore them." But then a couple days after that I go to put on my bra and had to fasten it in the next smaller hooks. Again, I brushed it off...I mean bras do stretch out the more you wear them. But then and Ah-Ha moment occurred! But first a bit of history: about a year ago my mom bought her, my sister, and me all matching turquoise rings. Unfortunately, mine didn't fit...well, the other day I put on my turquoise earrings and thought, what the heck I'll give it a try. And what do you know!?! The ring fit! So I guess there's no denying it; I guess I'm finally starting to "feel" and "see" a difference, albeit a very tiny one, with my weight loss! Yea!!!

Here's me sporting my ring that I can wear now!

Weekend Update: REALLY!?! with Emily

So, as I drove past this sign (I'm embarrased for my people to admit, that yes, it was in Muncie while going to Grammy's), I'm pretty sure my mouth literally dropped, and I actually swung the van around and pretty much got out into these people's yard to get a close-up photo of this sign. (Hey, if they're that stupid, I don't think privacy or property rights pertain to them.)

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Now, a brief word to owners of the sign: So, let me get this straight...you actually feel so strongly about this being the absolute BIGGEST issue in the presidential election that you went out and PAID for a professional plastic sign to be made? REALLY!?! And you, REALLY believe that someone, with the exception of perhaps Hitler, actually wants to murder helpless infants? REALLY!?! Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not for abortion, but "wanting" to kill babies? REALLY!?! And do you REALLY think that you needed the blood dripping off the font of "Kill" to emphasize your ridiculous point? And for the love of all things holy, do you REALLY not know that "wants" is not spelled with a frickin' apostrophe? REALLY!?! Frick, I REALLY don't know who's dumber, the person who made the sign or the idiot waving it like a freak flag in their front yard! REALLY!?!

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BTW: if you've not seen the SNL Weekend Update REALLY!?! edition with Seth and Amy...hee...wait for it...larious!!!

WW: Week 7 Weigh-In

Week 7 weigh-in went pretty well; down 2.4 pounds this week! That's a Weight Watchers total of -17.2 for a grand total of -22.2! Or in Lindsay's terminology: 3 newborn babies! I'm still a little disappointed that I haven't really been able to notice a change yet, but maybe soon! My mom's doing great; she's lost over 20 pounds already! It's definitely a lot better dieting with a couple of buddies!

Don't Worry Cupcake, I'll Save You!!!

So Ruthie from Third Phase called me yesterday to say that the Kroger at 116th and Allisonville had somehow been missed on the morning bread run and could I go make the pick up. Well, Tuesdays are my day "off" and I was knee deep cleaning up my craft room, but I went ahead and told Ruthie I could do it. They had two great big shopping carts full of food and I just couldn't let them throw it away, if I could help it! So I went to the Kroger and sure enough there were two heaping carts full of breads, cakes, cookies, and pastries! I didn't stop by Third Phase to get the bread truck, so I just loaded everything into the back of the van and off I went to Third Phase (smelling those delicious pastries the whole time, I might add!) As I was driving back to Third Phase, I got to thinking how cool it was that I had actually, with my own hands, "saved" food that would soon be on someone's table. Yeah, I work in the food pantry on Thursdays passing out food and yes, I've driven the bread truck before while the girls have gone in and gotten the food on our daily runs, but this time seemed different. If I hadn't gone to Kroger all that food would have been thrown away. Now, I'm not saying this to sing my own praises, just to say that it was cool to know that because of a small effort on my part, some people would have food they otherwise wouldn't have had. So much food is thrown away every night by restaurants and retail stores that could be used by people who really need it. I know Third Phase is always looking for volunteer drivers to go on the daily bread runs (which may be hard for you gals with kids) and Food Rescue is also looking for more helpers to volunteer just once a month. If you're interested in finding out more, here's the info: Third Phase 773-5100, ask for Ruth - Food Rescue http://www.foodrescue.net/

Call+Response

"Call + Response" bills itself as the first feature Rockumentary to expose the world's 27 million most terrifying secrets. Those secrets: the modern day slave trade. This is slavery that is happening right now as you read this post in the form of child labor slavery, child sex slavery, child soldier slavery, and adult victims of forced labor. You know this kind of thing happens, but it's so easy to put it out of our minds here in our comfy suburban cocoon.

So here's what you can do...scratch that...here's what you need to do:

1. Visit the Call+Response website to learn more about the above forms of slavery. They offer a video regarding each one that provides background info and insight into each of the slave trades and highlights a particular organization that is fighting against each of the four slave trades. The videos are about 3-5 minutes each, but well worth your time. http://www.callandresponse.com/

2. Currently, the "Call+Response" rockumentary is not scheduled to show in theaters in Indianapolis. If...rather, when you go to the Call+Response website if you click on "Buy Tickets" on the banner towards the top, it will show all of the cities where the film is currently playing. Below that is a link you can click if you don't see your city and want to request that the film comes to our neck of the woods. When you click on it, it brings up an email message and all you have to do is type Indianapolis, IN in the message content! Yep, it's that easy! And I really want to see this film, so y'all better start clicking!

3. Take action. Any kind, no matter how big or how small...but just something. The Call+Response website has some great and very easy ways to make a difference (a lot of which you don't even have to leave your house for!) Things as simple as texting RESPOND to 90999 to donate $5 to simply telling others and making others aware to consuming wisely by not buying items produced by the slave trade. At the Call+Response website, click on "Take Action" and "33 Responses" for great, simple ways that you can make a difference.

I loved Dr. Cornel West's quote at the end of the trailer: "Never forget, justice it what love looks like in public"

Movie Review: "Eagle Eye"

Pretty solid action movie, even if the action and plot is a bit...as some might say...implausible (ahem...Dan!) The premise, as you see in the trailer, is that some "Big Brother" sort is watching and controlling the actions of Jerry and Rachel (Shia LaBeouf and Michelle Monaghan). And BTW, it's pronounced Shy-a La-Buff. I hear so many people pronounce it so many ridiculous ways (sorry if you're one of them! :-) And at just a hair over 22 years old now, I'm just now beginning to not feel so icky when I think about how hot he is! :-) At any rate, the surprise in the plot is just who "Big Brother" actually is. It really plays on people's fear of Big Brother government in today's post-9/11 society. I liked it, but it's a pretty typical action.

Em's New Calendar

Hey, folks! I just added a new feature for any of you who want to keep track of my goings-on and whereabouts! It's a calendar I've created so anyone who's interested can know what I've got going on each day! I'll also put the link in the right hand column of my blog so you can click on it in the future. Here's the link:

www.my.calendars.net/elpjackson

A Tough Lesson Learned...

So after church today, Sam and I went to Red Robin, the new-ish burger place at Clay Terrace. I didn't have any info on the restaurant in my Weight Watchers Dining Out Guide, so I thought I could just make a good educated guess! I chose a turkey burger (I did splurge by adding cheese and a few onion straws) and a half order of steak fries. Not too bad...or so I thought! When I got home I went to the Red Robin web site to look at their nutritional info and, holy crap, was I in for a surprise! The turkey burger and 1/2 order of fries was a whopping 22 points!!! (Bear in mind I'm alotted 39 points a day!) Who would have thought?!? I was thinking, hey, turkey burger...that's probably not too bad! All told it was: 967 calories and 49 grams of fat!!! Yeah, I know, holy crap! You think that's bad? Sam had the Royal Robin burger and fries: 1581 calories and 100 grams of fat!!! Yeah, he's out going for a run right now.

Still Rockin' Baby!

Thanks to Mike and Shannon for another great night of Rock Band (and chicken stir-fry!)

Sammy on guitar!

Don't we look like a rockin' bunch!?!

With a little gentle persuasion from the group, Mike agrees to debut for the first time ever his singing prowess with "White Wedding"!

Robyn takes a turn on vocals, while Shannon keeps us going with the bass!

Mike, I don't think you're using those things quite right! He attempts to stab his eardrums out when Shannon and I start discussing baby names!

Sam's so smooth he can play two at once! What's he gonna use to strum with?

Nothin's better than Megan on vocals! Sab-oh-twage!!!

Sam's really enjoying his drums!

And Robyn is really into her guitar playing!

Um...yeah...what is he, a ninja? Does no one see Sam rooting around underneath the ladies??? "Ah, you underestimate the sneakiness."

WW: Week 6 Weigh-In

Once again, I was sweating this weigh-in a little bit! We had an awesome time camping with the Alts last weekend (always a great time, but a bit shady as far as the points go!) But the big "Uh-Oh" moment was on Tuesday when we went to the Celebrity Cookoff at Benihana's. Steak, shrimp, and rice...oh my! And if that wasn't bad enough, I totally endulged in a piece of cheesecake at the Cheesecake Factory! Bad habits are sure hard to break! All that considered, I'm pretty happy with my 1.4 pound loss this week! Once again, I'm only 0.2 pounds away from the next star (I was 0.2 away from the 10 lb. mark too)! I think God is getting a little laugh out of taunting me! Just kidding! So that's -14.8 so far for WW. Grand Total: -19.8

God Speaks Through Coffee Beans???

So I was at a large, wholesale store today - we'll call it PriceCo (only because there is a small chance that I may have committed an offense there that strolls through the gray area of legality.) I was walking down the aisle when a bag of coffee caught my eye. It was whole bean coffee from Ethiopia! I thought that was totally cool, since our good friends, the Elliotts, just got their referral YESTERDAY for a baby boy from Ethiopia! I was contemplating buying it for them, because I was thinking what a neat thing to find just a day after their referral. As I was contemplating, I looked over to the right of the Ethiopian coffee and was dumbfounded! My mouth literally dropped, and I'm pretty sure I said "Holy Crap" a little too loudly! Sitting right next to the Ethiopian coffee - yep, you guessed it - Colombian coffee! Now, you may be thinking, "So what?" Colombian coffee is not that uncommon. But I don't believe in coincidences! I believe in Providences! Seeing those two bags of coffee, sitting side by side, I really felt God was saying to remain patient and faithful that He would provide us a referral! Now, I know it's no burning bush or anything, but sometimes you don't need a big ole bush on fire...sometimes all you need is just a little whisper to keep going!

It's Not An Urban Legend!!!

We are SOOOO excited for our friends, the Elliotts! Shelli called yesterday to tell us that after almost a year of waiting, they finally got their adoption referral from Ethiopia! They got the call yesterday at noon and received his picture and medical history papers soon after. I stopped by their house yesterday to see his picture (they can't post his picture on their blog until he is legally theirs) and he is absolutely beautiful! His name is Sitota and he has these huge dark eyes and a really cute smile, and he's very healthy, praise God! My absolute favorite part of the story, though, is that he was found abandoned in a basket on the bank of a river under a eucalyptus tree! Just like Moses!!! So I told Shelli that I'm going to call him Moses until they decide what to name him! When we heard they got their referral, Sam and I were joking around that we had never known anyone who actually got a referral! I mean you hear about these alleged "referrals" all the time but they're like an urban legend! But they do exist!!!

Celebrity Cook-off at Benihana's!!!

Last night Sam and I attended our third Children's Bureau Celebrity Cook Off at Benihana's! Each year BSA buys a table at the charity event and since Sam is on one of the committees at the Children's Bureau (we actually did our home study for our adoption through them) we get to attend. In the past Sam has invited clients to attend, but this year the people he invited backed out and we had a last minute opening at our table. So, when Sam asked me who we should invite, I immediately thought of my friend Shannon because yesterday was her birthday!!! Hope you had a happy birthday, my friend!


Our celebrity cooks were Mike Corbin and Mary McDermmott from Wish-TV! In the past we've had Bob Sanders and Marlin Jackson as cooks and while it's neat to meet the football players, the radio and TV cooks tend to have a better...um, shall we say...personality! I think the best time we ever had was with Dave Smiley from WZPL! Mike and Mary were good too!


Our Benihana cook showing them the ropes!


Shannon was practically beside herself when she saw Dallas Clark. I, on the other hand, am a little embarrassed to admit that I didn't recognize him from Joe Schmoe off the street! Anyway, we make a cute Dallas Clark sandwich, eh?


After dinner, we went to the Cheesecake Factory for dessert! It was NOT a good Points night! But boy was it fun!


We called Robyn to see if she wanted to join us at the Cheesecake Factory!


Mike & Sam


Sam & Em

Indiana Dunes State Park

Last Friday we loaded up our camping totes and, along with our camping buddies the Alts, spent a beautiful weekend at the Indiana Dunes State Park! It was perfect camping weather, sunny and crisp during the day and pretty chilly at night so the campfire felt great!

Oops! We ran out of propane for our camping stove and had to cook our breakfast over the campfire on Saturday morning! That's real campin' folks!




Zac takes a moment to rest with Daddy!


All bundled up!


That afternoon we took a trip to Mt. Baldy sand dune - one of the biggest in the world! Sam posing by the Mt. Baldy sign - he'll always be my Mt. Baldy! :-) hee hee


Looking out over Lake Michigan from the top of the Mt. Baldy sand dune.


Looking down the beach


Looking down the other direction of the beach is this nuclear power plant.


The dunes


On your mark - get set - GO! We get ready to race down the dune!


Take a look as we run down the sand dune!



Dan, Margie & Zac


Em


Sam & Em


Margie, Zac & Dan strolling down the beach! What a perfect day at the beach!


Sam


This way to the beach! Check out those guns!


Margie and Zac measure their "wingspan" at the Nature Center! Does anyone find it a tad ironic that Margie's wingspan is the same as a Canadian goose?




We met this weird little furry guy while checking out another campground in the area.


It's been a long day and Sam, Margie, and Zac are sleepy! Nappy time!


Sitting around the campground, trying to stay warm!


Em & Margie


Why yes, that is an electric blanket that I'm wrapped up in sitting by the fire! That's how I roll!


We had seen this sign earlier that day in the park! We couldn't tell what it said, but we sure had a good time sitting around the fire that night, drinking beer and mojitos, trying to figure it out!




Uh-oh, someone's had enough with the pictures!


On Sunday before we headed home, we went to the beach inside the Dunes state park. There's a huge area in the parking lot that has caved in due to a sink hole!




Sam & Margie try to help Zac fly his little kite! Unfortunately, all the wind we had on Saturday had died down!


Margie flying the kite...well, more like Margie running around dragging the kite behind her!


Dan shows off his mad log tossing skills!


We take turns trying to see who can toss the log the farthest!

Next, Sam tries his hand at log tossing!

Margie gives it a shot too!

In the distance you can see the Chicago skyline across Lake Michigan!

More beach pictures!

Sam & Em


Skipping rocks with just the boys!


Crossing the creek that flows through the state park into the lake, to get to the other side of the beach!


Steady now!


Posing on top of the dune!




Jumping off the dune!


Next up, it's Margie's turn!


Finally, Dan gives it a try!


Sam turning tricks!


We found this not-so-little guy on the dunes!






Awww! How sweet, Sam makes a sand message for Em!


And...then of course, Dan makes a sand message for Sam! Yep, that says "DA + SJ BFF"


A little weird...but that's how they roll!


Sam & Margie showing off their wicked Mr. Miyagi crane skills! And the really funny thing is that they both showed off the same move without knowing the other one had done it! Look, they even have the same foot raised...they're like separated at birth or something!




Zac's had a good day at the beach!


We were just finishing breaking down camp and packing up the cars when the rain drops started! As we head home, Sam & I stop by this candy factory just outside of Merrillville!

Inside, they actually had a glass pipe with chocolate flowing from the ceiling! Just like in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory!

A little further down I-65 we stopped at the Fair Oaks Dairy Farm! http://www.fofarms.com/ We were hoping to maybe just pick up some cheese, but we got a whole lot more than we anticipated!

When we arrived there was a cow that was just about ready to give birth. We waited in the "birthing area" the farm has set up for about 40 minutes and were able to see the whole birth of the calf! It was pretty cool, but a little gross. The cow was having a bit of trouble pushing out the calf because of some sort of obstruction, so one of the farm hands tried to internally manuver the calf out.

When that didn't work they tied this stirrup thing with handles around the calf's front ankles (which were sticking out) and both had to pull to help manuver the calf out! When they finally got the calf out the whole room cheered! It was a girl!

Here the farmers strap on the pulley thingy to the calf's legs.

Still trying to get the little heifer out!

This is the final video of the birth! Unfortunately, my camera battery died right before the final push! So this video was taken with Sam's cell phone. Sorry for the poor video quality!

Indy's Best and Brightest

In keeping with typical, low-key, reserved, Sam fashion, he didn't make a big deal about the fact that he was nominated and one of the finalists for Indy's Best and Brightest Award. As the name suggests, this award is given to the top 10 professionals under 40 in 10 different areas of specialty: accounting, banking, education, government, health & life sciences, law, manufacturing & retail, media, real estate & construction, and finally technology. Out of thousands of nominations, the applicants were narrowed down to 10 finalists in each of the above 10 categories. Sam was one of the 10 finalists in the Real Estate & Construction category. Although he didn't win his category (some president and CEO of a large construction corporation won - overachiever) I'm still very proud of his accomplishments! He didn't even tell me when the award ceremony was until after it was over! Three cheers for Bubby! Hip hip hooray!

That's Sam in the upper left column!

Yeah, this kid is going to be in a clock tower with a rifle in like 20 years...

So on Wednesday, a seven year old boy in Australia, went on a 30 minute killing rampage at the Alice Springs Reptile Zoo in central Australia. The boy was caught on the zoo's security camera jumping a security fence and then killing three lizards by bashing in their heads with a rock (including the zoo's beloved 20 year old goanna) and then feeding them to the zoo's 11-foot, 440-pound crocodile. And it didn't stop there: he then fed a string of live animals (including a turtle, bearded dragons, and thorny devil lizards) to the crocodile. By the time he finished, he had killed 13 animals! (The picture I included is from the security camera of the boy tossing the turtle into the crocodile.)

So here are my thoughts: #1 I seriously hope this child (who's name will not be released and who will not be prosecuted because he is under 10 years old) has some sort of special needs or is mentally handicapped, because if this child is "normal" then he's got some serious problems! Isn't that how sociopaths start out, by killing animals! He'll be the young man in like 20 years who goes psycho one day and takes out a bunch of people with a rifle and all of his like 2 semi-acquaintances are like, " Well, he was such a quiet guy and kept to himself. And except for the whole torturing animals thing, he seemed pretty normal." #2 What in the H-E-double hockey sticks, were this kid's parents doing during his little killing spree? A seven year old kid, unchaperoned for half an hour in a zoo? I can only hope that the kid had slipped away, or gotten "lost" from his parents, and they were desperately trying to find him the whole time, because if not, they're just as responsible in my opinion! I've never been a big proponent of those kid leashes, but jeez, this kid needs a straight jacket! Maybe they could put a little stuffed bear on the back so it doesn't really "look" like a straight jacket, but just a bear backpack, that's really tight...and doesn't have arm holes.

WW: Week 5 Weigh-In

I was a little concerned about my week 5 weigh-in today. Remember, I was down home for five days last week! And did I mention that my Aunt Joyce made biscuits, sausage gravy, bacon, eggs and preserves EVERY morning for breakfast! Delicious, but not very friendly as far as my points are concerned. So I dressed in the "lightest" clothes I had and even shaved my legs this morning (just in case) for my weigh-in. The good news: I lost 4.0 pounds! I'm actually more excited this week, even though my weight loss was less than the first week, because it means that I faced the down home, lardy, food monster...and WON! Yea!!! That means I've lost 13.4 pounds (18.4 including the 5 I lost before my first weigh-in).

Smoking Kills...And Here's the Pictures!

I was looking at CNN.com this morning as I do every morning as soon as I awake to make sure the world's still turning, and I came across an article talking about the new warnings the UK is now requiring on packs of cigarettes. Apparently they've seen such a good response to the bold, black and white printed warnings like "Smoking Kills" like what we have on our cigarettes here in the U.S., that they've decided to take it a step further. Starting today, cigarette packs must be printed with graphic pictures emphasizing the dangers of smoking. The pictures will included a red, bulging tumor on a man's neck and blackened, diseased lungs, as well as the two pictures below. My absolute favorite one is the picture warning of impotence! Those Brits are so funny! Anyway, I thought it was a pretty interesting idea, all in all.